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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 2, 2019 5:27:21 GMT 1
Parmen eased his horse out of the line. He rolled his shoulders and tried to stretch as much as his saddle would allow him to. He was healing well after the melee but the milk of the poppy had worn away and a day spent bouncing in the saddle was not going to make his bruises disappear or his stiffness feel any better. It would be a long ride back to Highever.
As much as he had enjoyed the time with his brothers and cousins and the opportunities to accumulate riches and glory that the tournament had provided he was happy to head home. It was still often hard for him to believe that he had a wife, castle, and people of his own now and he yearned to be back. He was also happy to hopefully leave all of the backstabbing and scheming that had given the Black Tourney its name behind him.
But hope was not a strategy, nor even a plan. And he would need one soon. For that he would need friends.
"Ho, Malyk! I heard that you were a busy man yesterday," in a softer voice "How is Lady Lyanna? Alys and I heard the stories, is it as bad as they make it seem?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 2, 2019 6:01:16 GMT 1
The Senechal inclined his head towards the approaching Knight. "Greetings Ser Parmen. You seem mostly recovered from your trials. I am glad."
Today he was dressed in burgundy astride a nimble grey corsair. Not his usual colorful attire, but not the sombre black of the past few days either. He gazed at the attractive Knight for a moment. "You will forgive me, Ser Parmen, but I do not gossip about others to satisfy idle curiosity." It was not a rebuke, simply a statement of fact. "As far as I am aware, she has recovered from her fall from the bridge. If you wish to know anything more, you will have to speak to Lord Levalle." The pleasant tone softened the bluntness of the words. Obviously Lady Lyanna was not a subject he intended to discuss.
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 3, 2019 3:56:01 GMT 1
Parmen visibly bristled at the rebuke but then turned thoughtful. Perhaps the comment was justified, but more importantly it was an clear reflection of the man who had said it. Malyk was famously loyal and close-mouthed. Those were rare qualities in the Reach these days. It was why he was trusted by the highborn and low alike.
"The fault is mine. I suspect that Lady Alys will reach out to her father. She is concerned for her brother and good sister."
Parmen turned his horse back along the path. The two rode in silence side-by-side for several minutes before Parmen raised a different subject. "You created quite a stir with your speech last night. It made several at the feast rethink some of their assumptions about Lord Levalle." Including myself. There is more to my Lord and good father than he lets on. "What would you have us call you from now on? Will you be adding a Waters or Flowers to your name now? I must admit that I would never have suspected that you were one of Aegon's children."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 3, 2019 4:15:07 GMT 1
"I am Malyk. I have always was been Malyk. The blood in my veins is the same as it always was. I thought very long and very hard about this. My history is the same. My experiences are the same. My choices the same. I do not think I would change any of those choices. The path of regret leads to misery. I do not miss a life I never had, and those who had the benefit of the life I would envy do not seem the better for it.
This will change things going forward, with some at least. I have a new perspective I did not have before. Some questions I had are answered. I do not know how this will alter my song. I only know that it will. However, the songs we sing in the future are always different from the ones we sang in the past. In that I am no different than I was before, or different from anyone else."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 3, 2019 4:25:24 GMT 1
"You may not be different than you were before but it will change how others see you. Some will respect you for having dragon blood in your veins and others will fear you for it, or try to use you."
"And you are wrong, if you believe that you are no different than anyone else. I did not mean it as an insult when I said that I did not suspect that Aegon was your father. You are a good man. You care for others, often at the expense of your own interests. You have empathy, self-awareness and self-control. None of those traits are associated with the Unworthy."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 3, 2019 5:10:18 GMT 1
"If nobles respect me, that is an improvement over their current attitude. I doubt smallfolk will know or care. Some may fear me. Good people need not fear me, and evil people probably should. People already try to use me to gain the advantage of my position or my closeness to Lord Levalle. That will not change, except they may try to take more care.
Thank you for the kind words. I do try to do what is best. Sometimes I don't know what is best or sometimes I am prevented by those who view it as not best for them. You are right about my self control. All men have a beast inside them. Some let it roam free. Some lock it in a cage. I always knew my particular beast was nasty and vicious, I just didn't know it was a dragon. My lineage just makes my work all the more important. I do not believe the sins of the Father are visited upon the son, nor that bastards inherit the sinful acts of the parents. I have never believed the Seven to be so cruel as to unjustly punish an innocent child.
However, I do believe I have some duty to make up for the evils of my Father, no matter how small those attempts may be by comparison. It is another reason to do what is right, not that I really needed another reason to do what is right. If I have a regret, it's that my actions will no longer be viewed on their own merits, instead being viewed as done to spite my lineage, or perhaps an act to cover my 'true' motives. I will be viewed more seriously, but I will be viewed with more suspicion; but given I serve House Levalle, I am used to that by now. Still, if I continue to try and do the right thing, the effect will be the same regardless of what others may think of my motives.
It has given me a greater insight to King Daeron. How frustrated he must be that he works for the good and prosperity of the realm and ease the sins of his Father only to be slandered and denounced for it. Everyone always says that they desire a good King, but from the little I know of history we rarely appreciate them when we have them. The most well-respected Kings were always the ones that were feared, not loved. Aegon the Unworthy was the exception, but he was the exception to many things."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 4, 2019 5:26:56 GMT 1
It has given me a greater insight to King Daeron. How frustrated he must be that he works for the good and prosperity of the realm and ease the sins of his Father only to be slandered and denounced for it. Everyone always says that they desire a good King, but from the little I know of history we rarely appreciate them when we have them. The most well-respected Kings were always the ones that were feared, not loved. Aegon the Unworthy was the exception, but he was the exception to many things."
"It is not just kings. Men usually fail to appreciate the things that they have as much as they should." Gods know that I am guilty of that crime. "Daeron may be a clever king and possibly even a good king but he is not a warrior and will always be seen as weak because of it. King Jaehaerys was called the Wise and the Conciliator, but he had Verminthor and Blackfyre and the strength to use them both effectively. He was feared and loved. It was the combination of the two that earned him respect."
" King Daeron is a massive improvement over his father but that may not be enough. I fear that the Black Tourney may be a harbinger for greater conflicts to come."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 4, 2019 6:02:31 GMT 1
"Of that we are of the same mind, Ser Parmen. Little good has come of this tourney and I fear less will."
He hesitates as a hooded young man rides up to speak softly with Malyk. He is obviously not comfortable riding the sedate rounsey, but his seat is good enough for the speed they travel.
"No." The Seneshal replied. "We will not be waiting to repair it and I will leave no-one behind. The carts are lightly burdened. Redistribute the cargo, unhitch the horses and leave the cart to whomever has the initiative to fix it, or for firewood for all I care. I will delay to step foot back in the Tear for not a minute longer than necessary."
As the boy rode back, Malyk returned his attention to Ser Parmen. "King Daeron may be no warrior, but he listens to good council and is surrounded by such men. He has many Kingsguard and Lords who are presumably fine warriors. The role of a King is to make choices, and there are no shortage of less-than-clever men to swing swords on his behalf. I do not think those who will rebel will have the easy time they think. The military might of Westeros is superior in every way to Dorne, but the Dornish are also clever and Westeros military might was no match for it. Such is the situation we have now. They call the Dornish dishonorable, but if an interloper marched into my home I would fight them with whatever weapons were at my disposal. I certainly would not meekly accept servitude, nor would I fight them by their rules. Considering how much nobles and knights like to hunt, I have to wonder at their thinking. One doesn't attack a wild boar then think it impolite if it gores you to death.
I understand you have taken the Fire side in this." Again, not a rebuke, simply a statement of fact. "Presumably you believe Blackfyre will make a better King. Perhaps he may. I have never met the man."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 7, 2019 8:06:41 GMT 1
As the boy rode back, Malyk returned his attention to Ser Parmen. "King Daeron may be no warrior, but he listens to good council and is surrounded by such men. He has many Kingsguard and Lords who are presumably fine warriors. The role of a King is to make choices, and there are no shortage of less-than-clever men to swing swords on his behalf. I do not think those who will rebel will have the easy time they think. The military might of Westeros is superior in every way to Dorne, but the Dornish are also clever and Westeros military might was no match for it. Such is the situation we have now. They call the Dornish dishonorable, but if an interloper marched into my home I would fight them with whatever weapons were at my disposal. I certainly would not meekly accept servitude, nor would I fight them by their rules. Considering how much nobles and knights like to hunt, I have to wonder at their thinking. One doesn't attack a wild boar then think it impolite if it gores you to death.
"My brother Garth stands with the Kingsguard. I would never underestimate him or his fellow white swords. I am no maester but my elders taught me enough battlelore to realize that all rebels work to convince themselves that their glorious cause will succeed despite all the odds. The reality is often different and more bloody, oftentimes for both sides. As for the Dornish well...they are clever warriors to some, bandits and raiders to others. In the end I suspect that they are just men like the rest of us. You remember that Lady Alicent told us that it was only the Ryohner who have tails." Parmen grins remembering her jest before turning serious again. "The Dornish take pride in that they successfully resisted The Dragon and his Queens, although it devastated their country, and that they threw out the Young Dragon's Lord's and even ambushed and killed the King himself. They talk less about the wars of the Vulture Kings or about how King Jaehaery's and his sons crushed a Dornish invasion in a single day without losing a man. I have never fought in a war but I would wager that battles are more complex then the singers make them seem."I believe that Ser Daemon is a great knight and that he would make a strong leader. I appreciated his willingness to stand against The Brute when he slandered our Lord and his family. I think that good men like my brother Roland follow him because they believe in him and trust in his honor. I believe that he has much to offer the Realm if he was given the opportunity to do so."Parmen hesitates for a second, drawing his horse and Malyk's off the road and farther from prying ears. Can I trust him? I believe so but only time will tell.
"I must ask to speak with you in confidence now, as a trusted friend and advisor. You have heard the rumors? The ones about my sleeping with Lady Jeyne Cuy?" After a nod from Malyk "They are true. All of us have our weaknesses and women are mine. I have told Alys. It will be difficult between us for a while but the past cannot be undone, only lived with.""I received a letter blackmailing me. The writer offered to keep our...indiscretions secret if I would support the Blackfyre cause. I first planned to ignore the threat but Lady Jeyne received a similar letter. She begged me to go along with the demands for both of our sakes. I may have compromised my honor but I retain enough not to let others suffer for my misdeeds."
{OOC: apologies for taking so long to post. A baby with a stomach bug cut into my gaming time this week.}
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 7, 2019 9:48:35 GMT 1
The Seneschal did not register even the slightest surprise at this news. He simply regarded the Knight with those mismatched eyes of his, considering the words. "You did right in protecting Lady Jeyne... although if you wished to truly protect her you might of thought of that prior and resisted her charms." He sighed. "Still, what is done is done. I am aware of your weakness, which means your wife is as well. She will forgive you in time, she has no other option. You will undoubtedly stray again. Most men cannot resist their nature indefinitely. I would only suggest that you refrain from such problematic liaisons in future. I am sure their are ways to satisfy your weakness without putting yourself and others in such an uncomfortable position.
As to the blackmail, this is only the beginning. Now that you have done as they ask they will ask for more. What is the limit you will pay for their silence? Lord Levalle is a Blood supporter. Would you give them information? Would you betray his plans? Would you steal? Would you kill to keep this silent? What is the line you will cross, Ser Parmen? Decide now what it will be and prepare for the time when they ask you to step over it, for they will ask. Is there any proof of this indiscretion, or can it be put down to idle gossip?"
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 8, 2019 4:05:41 GMT 1
As to the blackmail, this is only the beginning. Now that you have done as they ask they will ask for more. What is the limit you will pay for their silence? Lord Levalle is a Blood supporter. Would you give them information? Would you betray his plans? Would you steal? Would you kill to keep this silent? What is the line you will cross, Ser Parmen? Decide now what it will be and prepare for the time when they ask you to step over it, for they will ask. Is there any proof of this indiscretion, or can it be put down to idle gossip?"
At this point the secret appears to be out. Compared to everything else that has happened these past few days I suspect that my scandal will be quickly forgotten. If it is remembered then I will deal with it as it comes.
I am supporting Ser Daemon because it protects Lady Jeyne, and because I think that he is a man whose qualities I admire. I owe her protection but I owe Lord Levalle and Alys more. I owe no loyalty to blackmailers and would appreciate your advice as to how I may identify who is responsible. You have a talent for solving puzzles that leave others frustrated. I seriously doubt that it was Ser Daemon, he is too honorable, but his more radical supporters seem to not share his nobility.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 8, 2019 4:44:20 GMT 1
"If the secret is out, then I presume both of you are seeking refuge in denial. However if Lord Lancel hears this, as he surely will one way or another, I would not count on him easily forgiving or forgetting. He will likely seek the truth."
Malyk pondered for a moment. "My first advice is to inform Blackfyre. If you respect him and would serve his interests, he is entitled to know how you came to be under his banner. If he is an honorable man, as you say, then he should know the lengths and actions those who follow him are willing to take to press his cause. He likely already knows to a degree, but if you would serve him, you should be honest with him. Either he is worthy of your trust, or he is not. You need not go into particulars if you do not wish. You should at least find out if he was aware of the situation. Men who would use blackmail or condone it are not worthy of your loyalty.
As to who learned of this, it is not a simple matter. It depends on the circumstances. It could be simple servant's gossip. It could have been an educated guess which just happened to be true. It could be that you were being spied and on targeted for recruitment. It could even be Lady Jeyne herself. I do not know the woman very well, but it would not be the first time a women has been used to entice a man into a compromising position. Finding the correct person would be a difficult task, and they might go to lengths to protect themselves. You must weigh the risk with the reward.
If you feel they can no longer harm you, perhaps after informing Blackfyre you should let the matter drop. Be it revenge or justice, it always comes at great personal cost. It may be that you are not the one destined to visit that punishment. Such men who use such tactics eventually receive their reward. The Seven have a way of balancing the scales be they lowly thug or King Aegon.
You know, of course, that once war starts you will no longer be able to serve Blackfyre and Lord Alliser both. Trust me when I say that no servant can serve two masters. In the recent case you mentioned of Lady Lyanna, I can say that I have sympathy with Lyanna and duty to Ser Imry, but my loyalty is to Lord Levalle alone. When the battle lines are drawn, Ser Parmen, you will have to make a choice which side of the line you will stand."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 8, 2019 5:09:27 GMT 1
"If I have the opportunity to state my case to Ser Daemon I will take it. With this tourney ending the opening may not present itself for some time, which gives me time to consider what you have said."
"Is war truly as inevitable as you make it out to be? Blackfyre has so far as I can tell never shown an interest in claiming the Iron Throne. I and many others think that he should be placed in a high position commensurate with his character, lineage, and qualities but does he need a crown? Bittersteel and others think so , but Bittersteel is not Blackfyre. The King takes great credit for his role as a peacemaker. Surely one who is daring and cunning enough to bring Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms can bring his own half-brother into his circle of advisors? Unless he is fears that to do so will somehow diminish his own standing? I could see a situation where Ser Daemon and Prince Baelor work together or a situation where they fight to the death. I know which one I would rather see."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Feb 8, 2019 16:05:40 GMT 1
"They want war, Ser Parmen, and they cannot go to war without him. He has surrounded himself with men who constantly tell him he should be King. It would take a man with a greater will than I to hear that day in and day out without starting to believe it." Malyk was renown for his iron will. "Remember that for him to openly declare his intentions would be an act of treason. The war would start the moment he does. He will not do so before his forces are ready and he is prepared to fight. Until then he holds himself aloof above the rabble rumblings and King Daeron has no legal cause to arrest him. He will not throw his gauntlet at the King's feet until he is prepared to draw that legendary sword of his."
Malyk smiled softly. "Each man must sing his song as he believes is best. I believe this war is based on a faulty premise. It is supposedly based on the hatred of Dorne and that they enjoy benefits the other six kingdoms do not, but this is simply propaganda. The real reason is that certain Lords want power and the freedom to use that power as they desire. They rightly assume that if they manage to place Blackfyre on the throne he will be beholden to them. Blackmail comes in many forms. The most insidious is convincing someone that what you want is what they want then owing you a debt for it. Even if he be the best King in history, he would be shackled to men with evil in their hearts.
The compromise solution you suggest could only happen if both sides agree, which will never happen. The King cannot allow challenges to his authority, and Blackfyre's supporters will never relinquish their chance for power. For compromise to happen, both sides must set aside their interests for the common good. Perhaps the King might give Blackfyre a position of authority, but they would be, cannot ever be equal, and that does nothing for his supporters who seek to feather their nests in his wake.
The intent has always been to bring Dorne into the fold. King Daeron quite cleverly chose not to do the same thing every other King has done and failed in the past. Only fools or the mad do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. What was the cost of this peace? The Dornish get to keep their titles and traditions. Does it matter if they be called a Lord or a Prince? In the end it is a word, nothing more. For a time they get advantageous tax relief? If they are now part of the Seven Kingdoms, is it not advantageous to us that they rebuild from hundreds of years of attacks and grow strong economically? However much in taxes the King gains, it is more than the zero taxes they were gaining before. There are too many Dornish in King's Landing now, they say. How many is too many? If they are part of the Seven Kingdoms now, is that not to be expected? Are there any more Dornish now than Reachmen, Northman or Valemen?
Lord Peake will have his war, and may it bring him all he deserves. I just wish they would leave the smallfolk out of it. The average miller, tanner or farmer could care less who sits on a large spiky chair thousands of miles away. They only care about the day to day business of doing their work, having a roof over their heads, protecting their families and raising their children. The whole reason we have Kings and Knights, going back to the first Kings, was to protect the common people from outside enemies. Those who could not fight supported those who could. It seems to me those in power now have forgotten the bargain they made thousands of years ago. Now smallfolk are looked down upon, if they are remembered at all. They are now an expendable and necessary evil subject to the whims of the nobility. Animals are given higher respect. Lord Tyrell hangs hundreds of men without giving it a second thought, but if he was asked to kill hundreds of sheep unnecessarily, or slaughter hundreds of horses, he would be appalled."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Feb 19, 2019 6:27:39 GMT 1
"Blackmail comes in many forms..." Parmen had never thought about it in those terms before but hearing it articulated now he saw the truth in it.
Parmen focused on Malyk's words...the steward had a way of seeing things that others missed but and his ideas were forcing the young knight to look at things from a different perspective. "Lord Alliser has tried to teach me that in a negotiation, the objective is to find a point where the other side believes that their interests are better met by agreeing to a deal then by walking away. Could this same principle play out in the game of thrones? Perhaps it is not necessary for both sides to set aside their interests for the common good as you say. I agree that that seems unlikely, especially with some of the more unscrupulous lords. Is another option to convince both sides that they stand to gain more from peace then from war?"
"Blackfyre is the key. You have said that regardless of what his partisans desire they can not declare a war without him. And Ser Daemon is unlikely to declare unless he thinks that he can win. What does Ser Daemon actually want? How to show that he gets more by supporting the Iron Throne then by fighting for it? The Crown stands to gain a great deal by preventing a war. Win or lose the costs of a civil war will cripple the Kingdoms. What can they afford to give to bring Daemon into the fold, to make use of all of his obvious gifts and skills?"
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