[2.5] What Little Blood at Kingsbridge (Lysette and Roland)

Hugh Blackwood, Roland's squire these past years, was sent ahead to announce his master's arrival. The typical Blackwood slight build was a marked contrast to the fully grown Roland, a tall and powerful man even by the standards of the well bred and well fed nobility.

The young knight bowed to his lord's heir, now having taken to wearing the Cordwayner arms alongside House Starling's winged bridge. A further contrast, this time with his previous attempts to distance himself from Hammerhal.

"My Lady Lysette, your father's knight is at your service."

Books, always with her head in a book. Still, she emerged from them long enough to find a worthy husband and is an adornment and an honour to her father's house. She is half a maester herself, Kingsbridge may prosper with a knight of the mind to rule with a strong Andal knight beside her.

Roland expected the odd knight to now seek service elsewhere as Lysette's hand was taken, but many would stay with the Companions due to the body's camaraderie and reputation.

Roland took the offered seat, reaching for a goblet with his left hand.

"Ever since the outrages by my bastard brother and sister by marriage at Highgarden my lady."

"I realised that avoiding the humble boots of my blood may have dissociated me from ill deeds I wanted no part of, but it meant all the court knew of House Cordwayner was from frauds that claim Hammerhal's arms."

"Better to take up my family's colours and do better deeds in them, so all the realm knows there are those loyal to the King and chivalry that wear the green and gold."

Seldom one to find his feelings beyond the bounds imposed by knightly behaviour, Roland's tone towards Normyn Flowers and Maegelle Cordwayner was contemptuous.

"Highgarden was just the start of my sister by marriage and bastard brother's latest wickedness. I sincerely believe they slew my brother - the tale of him choking on a chicken bone is a fanciful fiction. I mean to prove as much."

Roland laid out the Cordwayner case as he had done for others that would listen.

His brother's words at Summerhall, suggesting he intended a confrontation with Maegelle Cordwayner. Roland was certain this had precipitated a fatal confrontation.

Ilyn's fondness - much mocked - for breast over the richer dark meat on the bone. The damning absence of a letter from Hammerhal to inform Roland of his brother's 'fate'.

He notes that he is aware of one that heard Lord Ilyn's fateful declaration, the very words that doubtless doomed him. He does not, however, name Gwayne Oakheart, unwilling to risk the squire's identity as yet despite his trust of Lysette.

Normyn Flower's lost duel to House Levalle's own man. The need to secure a learned maester who could testify independently to the common Cordwayner colouring shared by Roland, his brother, their father and countless famous Cordwayner knights before them.

"Only a fool would ignore all of this evidence."

As the conversation turns, he is frank on political matters.

"The upcoming rebellion as you put is a sorry but indeed appears inevitable. I can see no just cause for it, simply ambitious men seeking to ride a better man to improved rank and status. And hateful men seeking to settle old enmities alongside them too. No cause that permits Otho Bracken or Balon Blackbriar to commit public murders will find me among its supporters."

"However many friends I have among likely rebels, however high my esteem for Ser Daemon Blackfyre, I swore oaths. I am the king's man good and true, few can doubt such."

Roland was no stranger to revealing his cards. Indeed, some of the crueler wits at court had pointed out he sometimes seemed to be playing without a full deck.

"He stood for you and House Starling against Rennifer Waters, even if he could not overcome the blackguard's dishonourable tricks."

False modesty prevented Roland from noting that he himself was one of the few to have done so, albeit absent skulduggery from his foe.

He drank from his goblet, pausing and setting it down on the table with his left hand.

"I do not share your father's views on how men serve in the Riverlands, and things would be different among those I ruled at Hammerhal. But I do not rule, here or at Hammerhal so knights may do as their ambitions compel them to do, rather than as their oaths demand."

"Then let us both do the right thing for the right thing's sake. That at least is what your father has always sought to do. A neutral maester testifying to likely Cordwayner breeding can only aid justice and my brother's memory."

"If by word or deed I can aid you in having your lord father declare for the king then you need but ask. My only disappointment would be not to have acted on the opportunity already, but should you spot a gap I shall charge in to it."

"I would be happy to lend my pen to such a letter, signed and sealed," said he, little heed given to any subsequent trouble such a letter could cause if the political winds shifted in Kingsbridge or beyond. "Maester Donn's plan seems wise indeed."

Roland make a pretense of considering the idea of a Levalle maester testifying, studying his goblet and taking another drink.

[OOC: Roland's passive deception of 2x4 = 8 is likely to easily be seen through by Lystte.]

"The Levalles are unlikely to be seen as neutral in the matter, given the duels the and their sworn swords have fought with House Cordwayner over alleged nephew's legitimacy. Indeed, House Levalle's victories in such are further evidence from the Seven of my sister by marriage's guilt. A neutral maester not seen as partisan towards Blackfyre or the King would be good, ideally some respected figure from the citadel."

"Sadly here I can best find flaws rather than answers, as I know more of troops and tactics than the learned minds of Westeros."