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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 10, 2019 12:31:47 GMT 1
Taking advantage of Maegelle Cordwayner's politically motivated absence, Roland approached his brother in a quiet moment.
"Lord Cordwayner," he bowed, before smiling. "Thank you for sanctioning my betrothal to Lady Alicent. All being well, I shall have a chance to make an impression on the head of her own house in coming days."
"I have concerns raised from the accusations leveled at Ser Normyn Flower's and his swift yield in the subsequent duel he provoked."
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Post by Father on Mar 10, 2019 17:23:23 GMT 1
Would that their brother could have humiliated that mummer's knight and put an end to such vile talk, Lord Ilyn mutters in the words of his wife, but better to yield when beaten than risk life and limb on no more than principle.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 11, 2019 10:35:11 GMT 1
"The matter was barely started, and Ser Normyn bore fewer injuries than I did coming from playing at war in the melee, rather than having our whole family's honour at stake. If this was some private matter his cowardice would be his part alone, but he damns my gentle niece and gallant nephew with a duel he started."
"If our brother cared for our family and Hammerhal as both of us do, why then was he not willing to bleed for it?"
Roland's tone if of sadness and regret rather than anger. So far.
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Post by Father on Mar 11, 2019 16:56:47 GMT 1
It is far more important, Ilyn notes defensively, ever used to being the dominated part in any conversation, that someone stood up against these accusations. What would the realm come to if Redtusk lost all sense of gallantry and spewed insult and allegations as pleased his fancies? And made a habit of killing those stubborn enough not to yield before him. What good would it do for their brother to keep fighting when all he could accomplish was to risk death or maiming? Lord Alliser's dog in a knight's tabard is a man without honor, liable to seek to deliver a deadly blow given half a chance, his own accusations rang hollow at the choice of such a blackguard to defend them. Winning matters not as much as Lord Yronwood and other men like him are like to claim.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 12, 2019 23:09:10 GMT 1
Roland nodded along, keen to encourage his brother and pleased they retained common ground despite the years and distance between them.
"We are of one mind on this brother - a strong knight should not use duels to bully their view of the world in to a reality. Redtusk issuing such challenges to force his version of a tale would be an outrage and out of character indeed. Such is a disgrace to the Seven and invites their wrath."
"But here we hit a key part of my concern, for Ser Normyn issued such a challenge rather than having it forced upon him by another. Then shamefully swiftly cried hold. As you say, competing with honour oft says more of a man than a wicked victory, but it is here our brother failed. There was no fortitude, no valiant defeat."
He shook his head.
"Ser Normyn is a skilled knight. Does some guilt gnaw at his heart and weaken his sword arm?"
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Post by Father on Mar 13, 2019 15:47:45 GMT 1
But were he not forced to issue it? Vicious slander left unanswered is a sign of guilt in the eyes of gods and men, so The Seven Pointed Star decrees. The warrior may grant his favor to an innocent man, it is said, but nowhere does scripture say that the Gods always ensures victory to the righteous. Lord Ilyn recalls the teachings that most young nobles learned, most tutors had found that a copy Archmaester Solas' relatively short treatise on warcraft tended to make young boys much more enthusiastic about learning to read, than say, The Seven Pointed Star, it was oft better to retreat in good order given the chance than to press forward, running the high risk of your own force melting away before your eyes. If the fortunes of one battle does not swing your way, it might be wiser to seek to give battle at a field more favorable. Normyn's words, Roland expects, Ilyn had never had a great interest in such things while their brother no doubt could recite it by heart.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 13, 2019 18:01:48 GMT 1
"That vexes me too brother - one moment our natural brother has the strength to break six lances against a Kingsguard, days later he calls off a duel he provoked over the same accusations with scarce a scratch on him."
Roland scratched at his chin and turned to a servant for a top up of his wine. He turned back to face his brother.
"Just one more thing on those duels."
He paused.
"Between overthrowing a hedge knight, and throwing a duel against a knight who has not attained such rank, only one thing had changed."
"Ser Orton Ambrose. With his name on tongues once more, our brother either lost his heart for the fight or the Seven took it from him."
"All vouch for Ser Orton as an honest knight, a quiet man. I was young when he left Hammerhal but remember him as such too. Your good wife would have had him duel our natural brother over accusations Orton's eyes and hands wondered where they should not have. Most out of character for such a knight. You did not let such a duel come to pass - why not?"
Because however beaten down she has made you, you remain a good man. You would not let your wife silence a man who had done no more wrong than see and hear something he shouldn't have.
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Post by Father on Mar 13, 2019 19:36:23 GMT 1
The words of one man getting terribly drunk are sometimes best ignored, not so, the accusations levied obviously in full sobriety and knowledge of the insult that is delivered. Ilyn is on the defensive, stammering a little bit, clearly uncomfortable, but he has clearly deliberated on this answer, this one might be his own, but more likely that of his wife. Were Ser Orton to repeat them when he had sobered up, he would surely have to answer for them with blade in hand, Ilyn sounds quite sure of that, at least. It may be quite like him to devise such a strategy, never a man for bold action, some would say any action, and he had certainly shied away from confrontation. It had always been Normyn who had stood up for him against any bully in their youth. If Quentyn and Denyse truly are Ilyn's children, then this appears not to have changed at all. But it is obvious that it is not Ilyn who makes the decisions at Hammerhaal, except the one to accept the offer of Ashara's hand for Quentyn if rumors were true. Perhaps that decision had given him more grief than if he simply had left the matter of bride up to his wife, like all the other decisions. Or perhaps the problem was that when a lord not used to making decisions finally breaks that trend, his choice is unwise?
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 13, 2019 23:53:14 GMT 1
"Ilyn, we must be consistent here - but minutes ago you were doubting duels of honour, now suggesting one if Ser Orton repeats these allegations. Ser Orton has a good reputation, and doubtless meant his long silence as a favour to you and Hammerhal for past kindnesses. Clearly his words either shook Ser Normyn or turned the Seven against him, turning him from a man who defeated a Kingsguard to a mouse that fled from an upjumped peasant."
If my suspicions are correct, you may even have saved Orton's life in avoiding a duel between him and our bastard brother.
"We can take our time - we are simply discussing a matter in the safety of our family. Seven know I oft review decisions made about House Starling's patrols or my captaincy in the melee and find them wanting."
Roland repeated the as yet unanswered questions.
"Did my sister by marriage press for a duel when Ser Orton departed all those years ago? Why did he leave our family's service? I am your brother - together we can face down any challenge, but first it must be identified."
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Post by Father on Mar 14, 2019 18:26:08 GMT 1
Ilyn notes that even upjumped commoners can be skilled knights, the old king named four such men to the kingsguard, one of them possibly not even a knight when so appointed. And Ser Robyn was knighted in the field for his prowess, such men were usually better with weapon in hand than most noble sons tutored by a master at arms from a very young age to become skilled warriors, were they not. And Ser Robyn had fought dishonorably besides.
Maegelle pressed for no duel that Ilyn recalls, the man simply left their service, like so many others that took issue when she demanded that they reciprocated the generosity of the House that gave them a place at heart and table, Lady Maegelle has never tolerated idleness and complacency, and perhaps she treated them unfairly to make those setting bad examples seek service elsewhere so that room might be made for men more hungry for winning glory and honors in the name of House Cordwayner to join and inspire each other to excellence.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 14, 2019 18:49:06 GMT 1
"Does 'those setting bad examples' extend to me then? She made it clear there was no place for me at Hammerhal when I should have been serving you and our family. Did I not win further at Highgarden than our natural brother? Did my peers not name me as captain rather than him? Even years later when I was long gone she hid my letters to Denyse."
"Brother, she drives away competent knights and replaces them with her own creatures. She would rather have our natural brother at Hammerhal than me. The question is why?"
"Because she is hiding something. Is it the same thing that robbed Ser Normyn of his strength once Ser Orton's name resurfaced?"
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Post by Father on Mar 14, 2019 21:22:34 GMT 1
The part of Roland being sent away, he clearly regrets, meekly repeating a line he most certainly had been given by Lady Maegelle about it was best for Roland to craft his own destiny in a place where he had room to grow. Hammerhaal has a lord after all, and a fine healthy heir of good prowess, and a Great Bastard, lest one forgets. He evades answering the question Roland again tries to ask, does he not want to confront it? He might not even have the strength in him to stand firm against the suspicion even if there is nothing for him to hide or be ashamed of. Almost twenty years of marriage with that foul woman had cowed him, unlike the Martells, he was bowed, bent and broken.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 15, 2019 11:20:03 GMT 1
Roland places an arm on his brother's shoulder. For the moment it is a gesture of reassurance rather than a panicked grip.
"Ilyn, this is no way for the Lord of Hammerhal to live, surrounded by doubters and rumours."
"You are not alone - I am a man grown now and can stand beside you against any trouble. I shall speak plainly, for etiquette has failed me. The first step to defeating a challenge is to confront it, no matter how large or imposing it seems to have grown."
Time for a decisive end to the matter, one way or the other.
"Are Ser Quentyn and Lady Denyse your issue?"
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Post by Father on Mar 15, 2019 12:35:12 GMT 1
Even that question Ilyn evades, but does not deny, even if such tales were true, what would follow after? Better to live with rumors than tragedy.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Mar 15, 2019 14:15:42 GMT 1
Better to drag Ilyn onwards than quibble. He was at least facing matters in his own manner, willing to countenance what comes next.
"A Cordwayner must sit in Hammerhal, but you are right that we must consider what comes after. Our family's emblem is simple and honest, we should strive for these virtues."
"It need not be tragedy - there is honour in service with the Silent Sisters and in taking the black. My niece and nephew are innocent, and they must remain at Hammerhal in places of honour or in places of esteem at nearby lands. You raised them and were there father in action even if not in origin. The Seven strike down practical men who would counsel other paths for Quentyn and Denyse. Such men are not fit to wear our family's honest boots."
A pragmatic man might counsel differently, but Roland not such a man. Not yet. Better to act with honour even at the cost of creating tomorrow's problems.
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