Gathering At MarshendIndex | HomePage | GameLogs | MarshendGameLogs | Gathering At Marshend It was early the next morning when the small party crested the hill and looked down at Mariam's cottage, where all (after their interrupted night) seemed peacefully asleep. The sentry guards, seeing them, looked up and waved. Lancer, asleep beside Derron under the wagon, pulled himself to his feet a little stiffly, and came out into the open to give a welcoming bark, which set people to stretching and groaning as they slowly woke up. Derron was woken by Lancer's bark. He glanced around and saw Niko and Hex, along with the marsh woman and an older man, riding into camp. He slumped back to the ground and let out a sigh. Part of him simply wanted to sleep longer, but there was planning to be done, work to be started. He rolled out and to his feet, stretching and scratching a bit. They needed to get the men fed, then decide what was first to be done. He had promised to cut the trees several paces to give Mariam a bit more land, and they should probably also send out a patrol, as well as still have two or three men standing guard. He strode towards the firepit, planning on warming up before anything else. Lancer's bark, combined with the incomplete return to sleep that Merivel had after the encounters in the night, brought reluctant waking to the Maester of Clearwater's eyes. He brushed himself off in time to head to the doorway of the Septa's house to see the reason for Lancer's barking this time and then walked amicably toward the firepit. Mariam was on her doorstep. She seemed to be counting the newcomers ... then she gave a little nod and made her way to the firepit, where she could be seen issuing instructions to Binnder - clearly arranging that everyone should eat. Niko was suprised that the woman and her father had chosen to ride back with them- he'd supposed that they would be going on their way to ... whereever they had come from. But they were easy companions on the ride back, and soon enough they were in hailing range of the Septa's cottage. Niko had seen the steward come out, to be joined by another man- one that seemed familiar and not so much so at the same time. But their paths took them to the fire, and so it was that Niko had guided his party that way. "Steward Thorne," he said when they grew close enough. "We return with information, and surprisingly enough, not all of it is bad." he said, dismounting and walking towards Derron and his companion. Derron nodded and grinned. "Any news is welcome, but good news more so." He paused and was about to speak more. And out of the mists, four more figures emerged- two humans, and two half-grown direwolves. Those who had seen them before could easily recognize Catriona and Keary. Keary's direwolf was nearly the same color as the mist, and could only be picked out by her movement, but her head was low and her ears back, and her eyes were silvery points of reflected light. "I never thought a firepit could be such a lure in the early morning." Merivel said wryly, his eyes regarding Niko for a moment, and then turning to the appearance of yet more strangers, with direwolves. "Merivel Belmore of Clearwater." he murmured in introduction, to everyone and no one at all. "Maester Merivel?!?" Niko asked, surprise in his voice. "Your attire foxed me for a moment- this one had no idea! Did Lord Draupaud send you?" Derron answered, "Actually His Lordship sent FOR our Maester here. He had been visiting Holdfast, and we sent a raven asking him to return when Her Ladyship was found...stricken. Now, the good lady Mariam seems to be in charge of readying the morning meal. While we have a moment, please report your news." Merivel nodded at Derron's introduction and smiled slightly at Niko's comment on his attire. Niko prepared to speak as Derron had asked, but as more people began to congregate around the firepit, waited. As Catriona and Keary approached the firepit, the hunter gave nods of greeting to Derron, Hex, Niko, and Mariam. She took up a position around the fire from which she and Keir had protection to their backs and as clear a view of their surroundings as she could get from here. Her green eyes steadily assessed Merivel as Niko and Derron spoke, but when there was a pause, she extended her hand in greeting to the Maester. "Name's Catriona." A thumb motioned to the black direwolf beside her. "This is Keir." Giving Keir a respectful space, Merivel took Catriona's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Catriona." Niko nodded in return, a ghost of a smile on his face as he acknowledged her. Keary was still hooded, but everyone could see that he was sizing them up. His glances were either paranoid or distrustful, but not outright hostile. "I'm Keary," he said. "And this is Mist... Gabe's direwolf." Merivel bobbed his head in greeting to Keary. Niko likewise nodded, his expression clouding a bit at Keary's look. After waiting for Keary to introduce himself, Catriona looked directly at Derron. "The marsh is swarming with sellswords. That rat-b@st@ard Thelbane slipped away like an eel," she growled. "Probably only a matter of time before he finds similarly colored vermin and turns up again." "The marsh swarms with many things," Merivel agreed. "Many of them very unpleasant." Once all of them were there Niko spoke up. "Well, as the information we have affects everyone here, and in the interest of not repeating myself, this one will tell all at once." He checked quickly with Hex and Derron before continuing. "We rode out- myself, Hex, and Gwendla- to determine what sort of force Thelbane had left holding her father, and to see if we could affect a rescue. What we found when we arrived was rather startling. There were supplies, and the old... Gwendla's father... as we expected. But holding him was only one youth." "We planned a simple rescue- Gwendla and Hex would approach to allay his suspicions, while this one circled around and took the boy from the back. But on a changing battlefield, things never go as planned. Just as I approached from the back, 5 riders approached at full gallop. The boy planned to take his hostage against the approach of Hex until the riders arrived, but had moved too far from him, for before he could get there, this one cut him down, and continued towards the riders. Hex impressively feathered four of the riders before they could get to our position, and this one captured the fifth. This is no slur against them- for they held as solidly as any charging force could against a skilled archer," he said, nodding with approval towards Hex. "Hex put the question to the remaining soldier, so I will leave it to him to tell what he learned." Mariam was listening intently. Derron looked at hex and waited patiently. Merivel, whose mien was one of rapt attention to Niko's story, turned his eyes to Hex at this prompting. "Go on." he urged quietly, taking a tone of encouragement. Hex swung down from behind the crannog man. He crossed to pull the farm boy off of Niko's horse, and applying some pressure to the young man's shoulder left him kneeling in front of the Steward. "His name is Vine," Hex reported. "And he is much as he appears, a farm boy from the Barrows. He was employed by a minor offshoot of the Freys to help a group of men who called themselves the Stranger's Lost Hounds." Hex paused to see if the name meant anything to any of those gathered before continuing. Merivel shook his head, but looked around at the reactions of Catriona, Derron and the rest of the assembled group to the names before Hex continued. "He was hired directly by Temmet Frey. Along with a group of about twenty - they're camped two miles to the South of where we found the old man. Vine rode up to the the inn at the southern end of Marshend with three of the others. Once there they met some of the Brave Companions looking for Thelbane, who does seem to be the master of that group. Under the guise of helping, two of the Companions rode with Vine to where they held the old man." "It would seem they have no particular interest in Marshend, and as far as Vine knows neither do the Companions. Or at least they did not. They were heading for the Ghost Fens to meet someone. The Companions told Vine they'd pay him and let him on his way before they reached the Fens. The Companions seem to be well paid, with silver readily available to them." Hex gestured towards the bags slung behind the riders' saddles. "We kept hold of their weapons as well, perhaps a smith's eye can tell us if they are personal weapons or issued from a central point." Hex paused, and then continued. "Thelbane will seek out his men, as I expect they search for him. Having seen the lady hunter and her wolf, and I expect somewhat irritable after his capture, he'll either head back here to burn the cottage to the ground and skin all he finds here for bearing witness to his defeat or wait until we separate and take each group, force on force." Hex looked to Catriona and Keary, and added. "If Thelbane has not yet reunited with his men, it may be best to try and take them in the Fens. Unfamiliar ground to them, but I wager well known to the lady and her gentleman. My wine cart will likely lead us to any that remain in Marshend itself." The dornish glanced back towards the crannogs, and then continued. "I see no reason why they would follow Gwendla and the old man back to their swamps, and it may be best if they were on their way. And if so, swiftly, before Thelbane thinks to take them hostage again." Merivel remained silent for the moment, a pensive look on his face at Niko's story and warning of likely imminent trouble. Derron's brow was deeply furrowed, and his expression clouded. Merivel and Binnder knew this meant he was boiling with anger, but he was also doing his best to focus on the problem at hand, rather than giving vent to his feelings. He finally exhaled loudly, then spoke. "If they wish to head into the fens, I'll not stop them. I have no doubt that Thelbane plans to come looking for Catriona and Keary. To catch one and kill the other. And he is probably angry enough that he'd split his reward with this other band. After all, his band is now small enough that each share has increased. On top of that he'll be looking to kill the rest of us in any case. We need to prepare. While it might smart to attack that camp of these so-called Hounds, even if Thelbane and his Companions are there, I can't leave this place undefended." He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "Binnder, we'll need our archers scouting at times, up in trees at others. The rest of the men will take shifts on watch. And let them know what we're up against. I had planned on cutting the tree line back several paces, as part of our agreement with Lady Mariam to extend her garden, and it would be excellent to have the open space, I'm not sure we can spare the men right now. Mariam, do you think any of the local folk would be willing to cut trees for some money and the wood?" Derron nodded at her reply. "We can resolve that all later, though. Keary, Catriona, as the people of interest to Thelbane, you're welcome to stay with us until this is settled, or take your chances on the roads and in the fens. I have to admit having your bows and wolves here would be a great boon." Catriona exchanged a look with Keary, then shrugged her shoulders as she glanced back at Derron. "If we leave, Keary and I could play cat and mouse with Thelbane until he freezes in the next Winter. And even if we leave, your danger from Thelbane is no less. Even if he catches us elsewhere, he'd probably come here to gut the lot of you for the sheer pleasure of it." She let out a small sigh, then added, "And it's true that we can offer you skills that might aid your defense here." She drummed her fingers along her belt, then stopped abruptly. From the set of her jaw she had come to some internal decision. "Derron Thorne, if we agree to stay and ally ourselves with your defense until the threat from Thelbane is over, I ask for the right to ask a boon of you." She motioned around at the rest of the Clearwater camp. "I will ask nothing of Clearwater or its lord, or of Mariam, or of Hex or the crannogs. Just of you, Derron Thorne. Not as the steward, but as yourself." She relaxed her arms against her sides as she awaited his reply. Hex had been considering Merivel. A maester of Clearwater by way of Holdfast might have news of his cousin, and almost young enough to have trained with Rhys at the Citadel. Though Hex had always had trouble judging the age of maesters, the lack of vices leaving their features youthful long past the time the dornishman considered reasonable. As they awaited the steward's reply, Hex again crossed to the horses and removed the sacks containing the weapons and other possesions retrieved from the dead. The weapons he dropped to the ground, save the arrows Vine had been fletching which the dornish tied to his waist. Hex set his shield face down on the ground and began sorting through the various possessions, using the inside of the shield as a rough table. While doing so, Hextall considered the Steward's words. The cottage would make a reasonable defensive position were Thelbane to attempt an outright siege. But Thelbane's only interest, apparently, was the wolf woman while the rest of them had their own individual agendas. If Thelbane were patient enough, he could easily outwait the defenders and once the sense of imminent threat passed, pick them off at his leisure. If left to his own devices, Hex considered himself possessed of a certain facility for trying others' patience. Feathering a few of Thelbane's men each night as they made camp would likely do. Derron looked a bit surprised by Catriona's request. He thought a few moments and said, "Well, I guess whatever it is, you wish it a secret from others, so I won't flat-out ask what it is." He paused as he pondered. If she had a request of him, rather than on behalf of Clearwater, it must be something he could do. He truly only had one special skill. For some reason his curiosity was now very intrigued. "Very well, you may ask a boon of me. And if it is something I can do, without betraying other oaths I have made, I will do what I can. Is that fair enough?" He saw what Hex was doing out of one eye and was already trying to decide who would be better on the roof of the barn with a bow. Probably the merchant, as they'd want Catriona closer to the ground to control her direwolf. "Aye, that it is," Catriona replied, a faint smile flickering across her face. Keary nodded as well, though he looked a little paler. "All right. But... any guess as to how many men we'll be up against? If it's more than a small company, this will be a delaying tactic at best." "I am only moderately trained in arms." Merivel spoke up, having been quiet as talk of battle had echoed around him, his eyes focused and his ears open throughout the exchange. "I submit that my single link however is in healing, and I may be of aid after the battle rather than during it, unless the need is dire." As he was speaking, they all became aware of hoofbeats along the road - a single horseman, it sounded like. With a hand signal to Keir, Catriona pulled back from the firepit to hug the wall of the cottage. She moved cautiously along the cottage wall to peer around the corner at what trouble approached. She paused for only a moment to string her bow, the black direwolf moving silently into position alongside her. Merivel finished his words and turned to regard the apoproaching rider. Derron turned and watched for the rider. He began to move towards the road. Hex moved to his borrowed horse and freed his bow. Keeping the body of the horse between himself and the approaching rider, he slid the quiver at his back down to his waist and slipped an arrow to the string. "Might be best to move Vine inside," he offered in a casual tone. "Could make for a bad first impression." Mariam nodded her agreement. "Will you help me, Maester?" she said. "Yes." Merivel agreed. He moved to help Mariam and having secured the prisoner, returned outside. It was some minutes before the rider came into view. He looked tired - as though he had ridden far and hard - but beneath the white dust of the road, it was clear that he was wearing the livery of a soldier of the Dreadfort. Derron raised his hand in greeting. "Good morning to you. If you wish to water your horse, please do. Do you have business here or in Marshend?" The man shook his head. "Other than a place to water the horses and, for preference, my self and my companions. We are five, but I rode ahead alone, that I might introduce ourselves and solicit your aid without you thinking us a threat." His face twisted in a wry smile. "My name is Eddin and I am a man of the Dreadfort, a sargeant at arms there. My men ... we have been betrayed by treachery in Holdfast, and we must bring news to my Lord Bolton. May I signal my companions to join us, that all is safe here?" He was watching the wary appearance of those gathered - not least the direwolves and their handlers. Inside the house, Merivel felt Mariam stiffen beside him. "I know the man," she said softly. "A good, steady man and true to his Lord." There was a certain grudging respect in her tone. Derron pursed his lips. "Five? More than I thought. I do not expect that to be a problem, but let me consult with the landowner in the cottage. For the moment, please, dismount and water your horse." Derron turned and called out to Binnder. "Offer this man some food, if we've any ready as of yet." He was confident that Binnder would keep an eye on the fellow. But he also knew that Mariam was wary of any who hailed from the Dreadfort. If she did not wish for 5 to rest on her land, they'd have to move on. He strode to the door, knocked and pushed it open. He stepped in and closed it behind them. He faced Mariam directly. "He says his name is Eddin and is from the Dreadfort. He asks that he and four others be allowed to water themselves and their horses. If you wish them to ride on, I will convey your preference." He also glanced at Merival and said, "I assume you left Holdfast before the supposed betrayal by the Hardy family and are unable to shed light on the claim." "Nothing substantial." Merivel said regretfully after a long moment of thoughtfulness. "I don't have any direct firsthand knowledge to share." (After the prisoner was secured inside with a Clearwater guide, Merivel, Derron, and Mariam returned back outside. The Bolton was a distance away, watering his horse.) Niko frowned at this news, but held silent, merely looking to Derron to let him know that he had something to say. Catriona stayed still around the corner of the cottage, keeping watch to see what trouble the Bolton lackey brought. Her bow remained at the ready. Keary merely scowled up at the man on the horse, clucked at Mist, and turned with her to move some distance away from the pair. Derron looked to Niko. "Something to add?" "Just an observation this one has about what the Bolton man said," Niko started without preamble. "From the exp... From what this one knows of the Hardy clan, they could be called demons in a fight, or even stubborn bast... hardheads." From how he spoke, it seemed that he spoke from experience, not hearsay. " But those that know them say that they value their honour above all else. This one would find it hard to credit that they would betray something as sacred as guestright." Derron nodded. "Aye, that's true. But I'm not sure we're in a position to accuse anyone based on what little we know. Unless Maester Merivel wants to accuse Hardy of anything, and I am sure the Boltons would verify his claim, whether they had knowledge or not." Unwilling to let it drop at that, Niko replied, "An eye towards a betrayal of our own would seem an appropriate step, this one thinks." "I have not enough information to make an accusation that would be anything other than a baseless insult." Merivel replied. "I know this man to be honorable," Mariam said shortly. "The Boltons are not among the best loved of the men of the North, even by our own, but they are faithful bannermen of the Starks, and have been this long while. Eddin will serve his Lord truly and will not lie. But the Hardies, for all their honour, have a grudge against the Boltons - and Ser Herys Bolton in particular, for it was his son that died of the summer fever at Holdfast, and brought the disease among the family there. Some of the children died, and tis said the heir was so maimed that they sent him away into the Southron lands that he might be forgotten. That is a powerful cause for anger." Derron looked at Mariam and said, "I take it then you will allow them all to water their horses? If when you see the others you wish to change your mind, it could get sticky." Niko kept his tongue in check, merely nodding with the sageness of youth at the Steward's words. Keary maneuvered around close to the house, letting Mist stay before getting within talking distance of the group. "What do you think?" he said. "Let them water their horses," said Mariam. "I left the Dreadfort five years ago. Happen some will know me - but there's no price on my head." She sounded a little uncertain about the last. "But my sister had best keep her wolf from sight - and you too, Keary." She did not add that another reason for concealment might be that the Boltons would be surprised at the existence of this sister at all. Derron nodded. "The one lad there may have already seen them, but at worst it should make them think twice about starting any trouble. Besides, if they are all as exhausted as Eddin, it would be foolhardy to atack our larger group. And having a few more men about might even deter our friend Thelbane." He strode over to Eddin. "The lady of the house has consented to allow your comrades the same privileges you are now enjoying. Feel free to signal them to come in." No doubt at least one man was watching for a wave, or scream, from Eddin. "You're lucky to be in one piece. We were attacked on the road by sellswords, and I fear there are more about." Eddin shook his head. "We feared pursuit from behind ... we did not think we would encounter such danger. We must get back to the Dreadfort with our news." He sighed. "We cannot afford to rest long." Merivel tensed briefly at Derron's mention of sellswords but quickly cooled his reaction and gave a nod of agreement to the preparations. Catriona continued to keep watch from around the corner of the house, Keir at her side. Her eyes briefly traced Derron's movement as he moved from where the others stood conversing quietly to where the stranger watered his horse. As fragments of the Steward's words reached her ears, she returned her attention to what she could see of the outskirts of Mariam's lands and the road beyond. She did nothing to conceal her readied bow. Eddin gave a long, low liquid whistle - and three other men rode into view. Two, like Eddin, carried their riders and such gear as a man might normally carry on such a journey, but the last man in the group was carrying a monstrously large pack which viosibly weighed down his horse. "What is that large burden that man carries?" Merivel enquired of Eddin, his head indicating the last man. Niko's face betrayed the fact that he was not happy with the current arrangements, and that his mind held the same question that Merivel stated. He waited in silence for the answer. Around the corner of the house, Catriona saw the monstrously large pack and her eyes narrowed. A pack that large was large enough to conceal someone. Like a dirty rotten scoundrel named Thelbane whom she frankly believed was capable of just about anything in his efforts at deception. She muttered a word to Keir, whose ears pricked up at the sound, then checked that one of her best arrows was nocked to her bow, and waited as the men drew into closer range of her bow. "Stay," Keary said to Mist as they moved around to the other side of the building. Like Catriona, he nocked his own bow and stayed out of sight of the approaching group. Derron looked at Eddin expectantly. He thought a moment, then prompted, "If you may be bringing trouble on your heels, I think we have a right to know if you've taken something the Hardy clan holds dear." Eddin gave a little laugh - and then nodded to the man whose horse bore the pack. He hesitated - and then gave a pull at the ropes that bound it close. At first all that could be seen was green - branches and moss. And then two logs fell to the ground, not long, but thick and heavy from the noise they made as they dropped. "A decoy," explained Eddin. "My Master was rescuing a lady who had been pledged to the Boltons - and seduced away by a notorious sellsword." Merivel showed an obvious look of relief as the contents were revealed. Beside Catriona, Keir lifted her head and stared up towards the brow of the hill closest to Marshend. She gave a low, warning growl. Mist's ears pricked and she sniffed the air in the same direction. Derron nodded in appreciation. "Which sellsword? Mayhaps we've run into his band already." He tried to mask his irritation. The last thing they needed was to get caught in some feud between Boltons and Hardys.... Merivel turned to listen to the answer to Derron's question. Not being in Keir's or Catriona's line of sight, but within earshot of the group at the door, Keary gave a low, tremulous towhee whistle; he left it up to the others to figure out that such a bird wouldn't be anywhere around two direwolves. Focused on Eddin and the band of Boltons, Niko noticed no bird, real or imagined. What he did know was that it was very... fortuitous.. that the band of Boltons happened to have such a *large* pack on them when they supposedly fled the Hardys. And that a few logs did not resemble a person in any real way... a person was dead weight, where a log was not. Something was strange, he was sure of it as he had been of anything in his seventeen years, and he was just stubborn enough to focus on that and his indignation that no one had listened to him through the few signs that someone was approaching. And so he watched them, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "They call him the Riverwolf," said Eddin. "They say he's killed more men than slept with women - but in both he's prodigious." He scowled. "By birth, he's a Manderley of White Harbour." Not being in Keir's or Catriona's line of sight, but within earshot of the group at the door, Keary gave a low, tremulous towhee whistle;he left it up to the others to figure out that such a bird wouldn't be anywhere around two direwolves. Alerted by the growl, Catriona tracked along Keir's line of sight, and scanned the brow of the hill for signs of who or what had alarmed the direwolf. Focussed on Eddin and the band of Boltons, Niko noticed no bird, real or imagined. What he did know was that it was very... fortuitous.. that the band of Boltons happened to have such a large pack on them when they supposedly fled the Hardys. And that a few logs did not resemble a person in any real way... a person was dead weight, where a log was not. Something was strange, he was sure of it as he had been of anything in his seventeen years, and he was just stubborn enough to focus on that and his indignation that noone had listened to him through the few signs that someone was approaching. And so he watched them, waiting for the other shoe to drop. At the top of the hill was a mounted man, sitting on his horse with his bow drawn. Keary recognised him as Ser Corryn Manderley, the Riverwolf, a rogue of a trader that Keary had known in his days as Gabriel the innkeep. "Rider on the hill," Catriona warned in a voice just loud enough to reach Derron and the others around the corner of the house. She kept her arrow targeted at the stranger, ready to let it fly at the slightest sign that this newcomer intended trouble. (Events for Keary and Catriona continued in Wolf at the Gate) Derron turned in the general direction of the hill from which the road came, but could see no one. He then turned back to Eddin. "It sounds as if we have company." He thought a moment then said, "I'd best consult the mistress and see if she wants to allow another stranger in our midst." He barely waited a second for a reaction from Eddin before turning to go ask Mariam if he should approach the newcomer. Merivel, too, looked in vain in the direction of the hill. "I wish I had one of those glasses." Merivel said, to no one at all. "Now I see how they might be very useful indeed in some situations." "Yes, Sir," said Eddin quietly. It was noticeable that he moved to a defensive stance. Since Derron didn't say specifically that Niko couldn't see the rider, he moved to the side of the cottage, still keeping the Bolton band in view- he wanted an appraisal of the stranger, and Eddin's reaction to his approach. It seemed rather ... coincidental. This approach, after Eddin's talk of this 'Riverwolf'. He did recognize the name Manderly as he had come through White Harbour on his way back from across the sea, but didn't recall anyone in the family specifically, so wanted to see what the man looked like. From this position, Niko could clearly see the man on the horse, wounded in one arm, talking easily with Catriona and Keary. Merivel stepped back a few paces, toward the door of the cottage. He gave a nod to Mariam. "There has been enough death." he agreed with her, but he turned and kept his back at the cottage door, waiting and expectant of possible trouble from the latest, unknown visitor. Derron nodded respectfully to Mariam. As his head came up, he flashed her a quick grin with a wink. "I'll do my best to keep a lid on this." "Thank you," said Mariam sincerely. "Not just for me - but for your Septa - and the children." She moved closer to Merivel, perhaps for protection. He turned to where he could hear a horse coming around the cottage so he could size up the man. But he also risked a glance at Eddin's companions, and his own men. Not surprisingly, Binnder was distracting the men with offers of food. Most of the men seemed to be eager to try Binnder's good stew, and were already exchanging jests with him. Only Eddin stood aloof, pale and tense, watching Derron closely, like a greyhound in the slips. (Events continued in A Wolf Arrives at the Cottage) |
