Interlude MLVI: Of Courtly Engagements
Of Courtly Engagements
Tenth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC
Richard Lonmouth was not the sort of knight who had much interest left for the glories of command. He knew well that his surest task would be at his king's side as it had been all these five years, a sword and shield against the foes of the realm, but still he was well content to see the men assembled to take up the mantles of Marshals of the realm. Well... three men and a floating book, though somehow the Fallen Archon was even more disconcerting to look upon when he rested inert in the hand of one of his dark-robed servants, like some wood carving of a dark wizard's grimoire to scare off Scholarum Initiates with.
"Well they will look good for the mirrors at least, though there will be quite a few in the Vale who will be disappointed Donnel did not pass the muster," he heard Waymar say from his left. "A pity really that Westeros should fall so far behind the times, for all the valor in the world cannot make up for all of it. Like as not the first highborn Marshal of the Imperium is now still in leading strings with yet a long while to go in the Academy and on the field of war before he dons the gold fringed cloak."
"Leading strings you say?" The boy Maelor asked, his sly tone giving away a jest. "Why not a marshal yet unborn and set to be begotten of two lines known for valor and for cunning such as had never crossed before?" He does not look towards Tyene, but he does not have to.
The Dornishwoman catches his meaning and sniffs. "I've better things to do with my time than incubate fresh servants for the realm. The Flesh Forge does it better and in bulk." For his part Waymar studiously avoided the discussion, though the lad could not quite keep his ears from reddening.
"I don't think the Imperium is quite ready for that Broken Roots fellow," the silver-haired sorcerer replies glibly. "It is a fellow, right?" he glanced at Vee, though the girl is not inclined to play along. Formal occasions like this one with trumpets blaring and horns blowing and many fine speeches are not where she finds herself most at ease, but she is here just the same for the sake of the meeting that comes after this one, the one that is going to decide the Minister of Magic since technically that worthy would have authority over most of the Companions.
Even me by strictest ruling, Richard thought amused, though in some ways I would make the world's poorest wizard. Something about the way he had learned how to break down magic and cast it back upon the foe meant that if he did try to learn sorcery of his own he would instinctively sap and weaken his own spells according to Lady Lya and the King... damn it, Imperator. That was going to slip out in public one day, much to the amusement of those who took issue with a petty knight of no great house carving out a name and legend in the east while they lay obedient as lap dogs at the feet of Tywin Lannister.
Of course he would almost rather deal with the bitter and the jealous than the other sort of Westerosi that had shown up at court over the past few weeks, the sycophant. He had over the last few years been rather spoiled by the fact that most of the princes and nobles of Essos were intimidated in approaching the silent 'barbarian swordsman' in black armor ever at the right hand of the throne. Western nobles on the other hand, Stormlanders especially, knew the Lonmouths well enough and some of them knew him as well from the days before the Usurper's War. It was a wonder and a marvel how many folk he shared a coffer of wine or a tankard of beer with half a decade or more ago who thought they were his closest friends and could presume upon it to gain the ear of the throne. Or worst of all the ladies looking to draw his eye with soft looks and impressed sighs over his exploits, which had the gift of making the knights seeking their hands all the more bitter, and so it turned.
When he had brought up the matter with Tyene she had just shrugged and said 'Marry, that should cut down the list of hopefuls to only those who would accept being a mistress.' That was one bit of advice that was as useless as it was true, for the one he had eyes for was not the sort a man would wed or even lightly woo. Richard had not shared the thought, for the last thing he needed was for the news to spread from daughter to father. Oberyn Martell would be the sort to try to give advice which did not bear bloody thinking about.
Alas, he could not push the matter out of his mind for long as Waymar, having recovered from the embarrassment and wanting perhaps to get his own back, asked Maelor, "So who are you taking to the Voices' Ball next week?"
"Do I looks like a high lord that needs to mingle with the commons so they will know not to cross the street when they come across one of the Voices?" The ball had been Queen Rhaella's idea, and a sound one as far as Richard was concerned. Open to all members of the Curia as well as their families, it was supposed to get members of the upper and lower chambers comfortable with each other socially as well as professionally. Officially it had been billed as a way for east and west to come together, though really it was more to get the Princeps used to rubbing shoulders with elected Voices and their kin.
"Well you are looking into holding land or so I heard. It would behoove you to set a good example," the young Dornishwoman pressed.
"Fine then, I shall dance with a merchant's and craftsman's daughter from every province in the realm before the night is done," the boy laughed. After a moment's thought he added, "I'm going to need a list. Do you think Garin can make a list, preferably of ones that are not too boring?"
Richard shook his head in brief sympathy for the poor Inquisition adjutant who would have to make a list of potential dance partners. There was more strangeness to life than one might find in far off lands and long forgotten ruins.
OOC: A bit of an interlude to show how the Companions are adapting to the newly expanded court and just generally a bit of a breather before we dive right back into appointments. Not as much mention of the Marshals here since only the Codex was far enough ahead that I was sure he was going to pass, but there will be more scenes with them later. The previous vote is still open.
