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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 25, 2016 19:20:15 GMT -5
A beautiful island, now run by House Redwyne again. The current lord is twenty seven and married to a Harlaw, as part of the peace signed between Killion Greyjoy and Joanna Lannister. Its capital and seat is Ryamsport.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 6:32:01 GMT -5
It's a warm fall day in the Arbor as the colors up north change. Seldom do the leaves switch to orange or yellow or red this far south, except in the mountains of the interior which can reach four thousand feet, but at Ryamsport the ships sail in and out like clockwork, every hour a dozen changing position. Gulls and osprey fill the skies and the scene is like something from a fairy tale. No place in Westeros is more celebrated for its beauty than the vineyards of the Arbor, and few products are more appreciated than the sweet wines which come from them.
Late in the day, as the sun reaches its last hour or two of light, Lord Jakob sends word to his cousin Lyonel to meet with him on a matter of some import. He's to be found at his favorite spot; a balcony on the manse in the town itself which overlooks both the harbor and, to the left, the mountain of Redwyne, the tallest point on the island. A lovely female musician plays a harp softly as the young lord sips wine, overlooking his domain.
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 7:13:42 GMT -5
Always worried with punctuality, Lyonel arrives soon after his cousin sent for his presence. He had just arrived back home from a day in the field making accountings for a couple small vineyards in the region. This meeting with Lord Jakob would sure be an annoyance to his rigid schedule, Lyonel still had several revisions to make in his ladders due to a failed crop in Vinefield's land, therefore messing up all his ship allocation for the next three months. That night would be a long one, yet also thrilling for Lyonel is that type of man that finds a whole new adventure in every number added to his books. Some man would call this a job, Lyonel preferred the term "Fun".
But Lord Jakob had summoned him, and Lyonel's duties to his Lordship came before entertainment. As a matter of decorum, Lyonel brings a bottle of Dornish Red, part of his private collection, as a gift for the invitation.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 7:21:00 GMT -5
The young lord nods his thanks for the bottle as he sees it. "Your taste is as impeccable as always," he said. He has a couple of letters in his hand, and he is looking at them with some sort of annoyance. "I trust the accounts are balanced? The Bellarias can always be annoying when their figures are questioned. If they overproduce one more time I'm sending in a few knights to cut half their vines." No punishment in a wine-rich land is half so cruel as vine cutting. "How long has it been since you've been to Oldtown?" He asked. The magistrate can see that one of the letters bears the Tower of the Lords Paramount of the Reach.
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The Arbor
Jul 27, 2016 8:05:02 GMT -5
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 8:05:02 GMT -5
Lyonel's eyes twitched at the image of half the Bellarias' vines being cut. That would definitely ruin any plans he had related to sticking to the Braavos Delivery Schedule. The same reaction would have been produced for any other of their clients, but due to his special relation with the braavosi clientele, that thought made him specially itchy. He let out a nervous laugh, before taking a seat before his cousin.
"Two years, seven moons and seventeen days, my Lord." Lyonel said with the precision that his family knew him for. Even after eight years back home, his voice seemed to cling tightly to his acquired braavosi accent. "Had a marvelous meal in the Golden Quill that afternoon. Pork salted with spices from YiTi... If my Lord is planning to visit Oldtown, I could ask my Secretary to write you the location." That was an utter lie, Lyionel had no secretary, those were for incompetents. But often his family had accused him of working too much, they seemed to subside on the complaining after he started saying that.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 8:20:23 GMT -5
Lord Jakob is a supremely patient man and his cousin's eccentricities are at best a minor quirk in comparison to his usefulness. "Not me," he said, "I have been remiss in my duties to the family," he said calmly. "My sister is approaching an age where it is inappropriate for her to remain unwed." He waves to the stack of letters. "These are all...requests," he said with a ghost of a smile, "for her presence. Oldtown, Gulltown, Eddard's Rest, Cider Hall..." He looks at one, "Skyreach, even. Apparently the Dornish want help for their Ironborn problem, but that's for another day." He holds up the last envelope, the seal hidden from the steward's view for the moment, then he laid it on the table. "And Casterly Rock," he said, looking to the man. "The queen has two sons. Apparently there is to be a tourney there shortly. I will send my regrets at business keeping me here, but..."
He knew as well as anyone he didn't need to say the last part aloud, but did anyway just to hear it. "Casterly Rock and Oldtown both may be interested in my sister joining their family. Lady Arania in Oldtown sends word her son is going to the tourney, apparently he is some sort of prodigy, and a prince could be a human shaped toad for all I'd care if they asked for her hand." He tapped the table and looked to Lyonel. "But of course I cannot send her alone, and there is more business than just a wedding. Would you do me the favor of escorting Leona to Casterly Rock and ensuring she represents House Redwyne in only the best possible way? She is beautiful and intelligent and should have no trouble capturing the heart of any bachelor present. See that she doesn't catch the other parts of them for now."
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The Arbor
Jul 27, 2016 9:27:38 GMT -5
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 9:27:38 GMT -5
Lyonel raised an eyebrow, calculating how much work he'd have to postpone or delegate because of this new task. Of couse, he couldn't refuse a request from his cousin, but this would require some serious rework of his schedule. Anyway, if there was someone in this world who could manage this task, it was Lyonel.
"It would be an honor to escort little Leona to the Lion's Den..." Lyonel giggled, at the thought that came into his head. "Which is quite amusing, my Lord, considering both the names Leona and Lyonel derive from the word Lion." It didn't take long for him to realise Jakob probably wouldn't be interest in his comment.
"How are the plans for the journey, my Lord? I could help with the itinerary, if my Lord wills it." A careful observer might have noticed a glimmer in Lyonel's eyes. There Sat a man who loved, above many things, planning a travel. Having visited the four corners of the planet, Lyonel was acquainted with the best locations to stay, eat and spend gold.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 11:05:55 GMT -5
"They proceed," he said, but he noticed the glimmer, "which mostly means I have put aside my best and fastest ship for my sister's disposal. Sort of a...pre-wedding present, as it were." He slid a second note to the man. "This will be the dowry," he said, and Lyonel reads a list that'd make even a noble in Volantis or the queen herself raise an eyebrow. The amount of gold and spice and wine is almost beyond comprehension at first glance. One would think Leona was an actual princess. "Assuming that the queen agrees to the betrothal, of course. The Hightowers or..." His voice trailed off at the unpleasantness of thinking of her we'd to another family, "whoever will receive less, but the dowry must be seen in person by the Queen or one of her advisers. The war with Tyrosh and the stopping of my profits being split to go to their old King has boosted our funds to levels unheard of," he said, "as you've noticed over the last two years."
In truth, Lyonel couldn't properly explain how the family had quite so much money; the dowry before his eyes was at least seventeen months' income for the entire family, not just profit. "Spare no expense, cousin," Jakob said. "Our family must be raised to the zenith of Goldlands society, where it belongs."
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The Arbor
Jul 27, 2016 16:39:30 GMT -5
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 16:39:30 GMT -5
"I'll make sure Her Grace will see this first hand, my Lord." Lyonel smiled, folding the list and putting it into one of his coat's pocket.It has been quite some time since he had prsented before a royal court, the closest thing had been his visits to the Sealord's Palace during his stay in Braavos. "Honestly, there's no better match in Westeros than our dear Leona. And now, accompanied by such a generous offer, Queen Joanna would be losing her sanity if she refused the offer. "
"Leona will be safe, cousin." Lyonel stuffed his chest. "As you might be aware, I have been trained by my dear friend, the First Sword of Braavos, in the exquisite art of Water Dancing." He waved an imaginary rapier towards Lord Jakob, letting out an excited 'HA-HA' as he did so.
"Safe and on time... If you don't arrive early, you are already late, that's my motto." He smiled.
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The Arbor
Jul 27, 2016 17:06:54 GMT -5
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 17:06:54 GMT -5
Jakob smiled. "Of course," he said. "Do you think it wise to send Alysse with her sister? She is fifteen and will need a suitor herself soon." The sisters were Jakob's half siblings and to Lyonsl's knowledge they had never been overly close. "And she isn't as...willful as Leona. Might be a more appealing match to a traditional man."
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 17:33:57 GMT -5
"Oh, of course. The sooner we start looking for a good marriage for the child, the greater is the chance to find us the perfect man for the task." For the blink of a second, Lyonel's white smile faded; the thought that he might have been doing the same for his little Lys, had the Seven chosen him a different fate, was like a dagger to the guys. He tried to avoid the subject of his wife and daughter as well as he could, but it was undoubtly hard considering how close to Alysse's age his Lys was. He couldn't drown his memories with work, when work was what brought them back to his mind. "I can handle the two of them, can't I?" He forced a smile dismissing his preocupations.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 27, 2016 17:40:40 GMT -5
"Of course you can't," he laughed. "Not together. The best you can do is try to rein them in a bit." He looked back over the ships. "but if anyone has a chance, it is you," he confirmed. "Real lords," he said, "none of those petty ones with fancy names. House Redwyne is the strongest house in the Foldlands except Hightower. We shall act like it, and the kingdoms will see our influence expand." He waved. "That said, Gulltown is supposed to be sending its lord's son, and I hear he's some sort of wizard with a lance. May be worth talking to them, their proximity to Pentos and Braavos is not to be despised."
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 27, 2016 21:04:28 GMT -5
"Graftons, huh... I've handled a couple of them in the past. Nine years ago to be more precise, some of our ships to Braavos had been stopped by their harbormaster. Bloody fool had the wrong numbers, claimed there were irregularities in the shipment. I had to drop from Braavos to make sure he released the goods." Lyonel snorted, incompetence was a deadly sin in the shipping business. He hoped the fool had been hanged for the insolence of messing up that much. "How old is the boy? My dealings were mostly with the Harbormaster but the Lord was kind enough to receive me for dinner, could have stumbled with the kid.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 28, 2016 6:13:45 GMT -5
"I don't know," he said, "probably seventeen or so. Once Richard Grafton rebelled against the Starks they made some changes I heard. Not that it matters. Their family name can be Mudd if it means they still have the gold to be a profitable partner."
The young lord rubbed his jaw. "You know the problem with this damn world?" He said. "No one keeps business business anymore. Always want to make it personal."
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Post by Lyonel on Jul 28, 2016 9:07:58 GMT -5
"Ditto. People can't keep their private lives off their work. It is and will always be the downfall of progress and efficiency." Lyonel said unenthusiatically; staring out the window. "It's only human to do so, I'd say. Unfortunately, something we can't change."
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