A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

Fifteenth Day of the Eighth Month 294 AC

Gerold Dayne would not be taking part in the joust. The realization did not come to him all at once in some flash of insight, and a good thing too for he did not trust those one whit since at the age of eight and ten and still new to the city he had thought to seduce the Black Pearl of Braavos, which had gone about as well as one might imagine. He had been finding the recollection a bit less mortifying and a bit more amusing as time went by, which was part of the reason for his abstaining. He did not feel he had any more glory to find on the jousting field.

It was only a game, he thought as he looked out with a familiar eye upon the stands going up for the joust to come. It had always been a game of course, but one played as close to deadly earnest as the circumstances allowed. One had to have a fine horse and the skill to hold your seat, a well-balanced lance and the boldness to use it.

Never is a blink more telling than in the joust, least it be in the throes of passion, the old saying went. Like many things that were old it had lost much of its sharpness in this new age.

Just this evening Gerold had heard from a wizard with three pints in him that the Schoolarum of the Shadow Tower had a room where the shadows came alive as foes of every sort to train against. The knight had asked if they could be fought with sword and shield as well as with spell and the answer had been a firm 'yes'.

It only made sense really. They did have spell-swords like Ser Royce in the tower and for them marshal skill was as much a part of their training as magic. So why then could not these false battles be fought ahorse with lance and shield? No reason really. Well, no practical reason at least. The joust was not really here to train cavalry, it was to celebrate the upcoming wedding of the Imperator and his lovely bride, it was a matter of prestige of being seen and adulated by the roaring crowds. Oh how he used to crave that once.

A man could get drunk on that alone, and much like drink the healers should warn against it, the Darkstar thought then laughed softly under his breath. He had done it now, gotten himself to where he would not be able to enjoy winning, and if that were so it would be churlish of him to even make the attempt.

"Let the young bloods have their fun. By the time their children are old enough to earn their spurs they might not even want them," there was something hollow in Darkstar's chest when he said that aloud, even if only softly, unheard by any other in the bustle and good cheer of the tavern. It was hard to contemplate in such a place as this, but Gerold knew as well as any man could that any new beginning must carry within it the shadow of an ending, and there were a lot of things beginning this month in the City of Sorcerers.

"You look like you have just seen a ghost, Ser. I do hope you reported it to the Scholarum," a soft voice heavy with amusement and the faintly sing-song accent of the Reach called out from his left. Turning she saw a woman who was obviously of noble blood and just as obviously associated with the Academy of Fine Arts here in the capital from the green cap and swan feather.

"No ghost, my lady, only a vision of loveliness so bright that I thought it at first the work of some spirit," the knight replied as he rose from his seat to give a proper bow. "Gerold Dayne, at your disposal."

"Truly?" There was no mistaking the coquettish gleam in her eye. "Lynesse Hightower..."

Right, of course she would be a duke's sister, Gerold thought. His luck had never been that good. Still, no one was going to be calling for his head over a bit of light flirtation and he could use some distracting. "Did you see the Wave Parade this morning? Truly breathtaking. Almost makes me wish I had learned how to swim, and me a proper Dornishman."

"It is really not that hard. Why, I would wager even I could teach you..."

It was more than Gerold's head that got distracted by the time the evening was done.

OOC: Yes, the Dornishman did just get seduced by the lady of the Reach. He might never live it down if Oberyn ever finds out. Might still count it a fair trade.