HoldfastHillsToClimbIndex | HomePage | GameLogs | HoldfastGameLogs | Holdfast: Hills to Climb Corryn tread through the halls of Holdfast with Volf at his side. They moved with a heavy quiet, as if caught at the edge of a brewing storm. That silence followed them through the courtyard, and Volf knew better than to break it. Cold malice lurked in his master's hazel eyes, ready to erupt in a tempest at the slightest provocation. Once they had passed through the outer wall and were completely alone, Corryn motioned for Volf to stop. "I shall speak to you about this now away from the others," Corryn said with icy venom. "And once I have done so, you shall serve your punishment and this will never be mentioned again." His hand snapped out and cuffed Volf behind the ear. "Do you understand what happened here today? You embarrassed me, you embarrassed your peers, and you embarrassed yourself. Damn you, Volf! I don't care what you were thinking, even though I don't believe you were. You should have stayed where you were. Anders, be damned. That moment of cowardice could have cost you your life. Your life!" He gripped the boy around the neck, pulling him close so that they touched foreheads. The anger in his voice had ebbed away, tainted by despondency. "Do you understand I nearly lost you today, my son? I could have lost you. The Boltons have taken one son from me. I will not lose another. Not even a dullard like you." And he meant it. Perhaps that was what had been gnawing at his heart all day. That once again, those Flayed Men had nearly stolen his family from him. But not today. Not again. From this point forward, the Boltons would pay for the strife they carried with them like an infectious disease. Tomorrow, he would see them pay dearly. For now, however, he would be thankful for what he still possessed. Corryn stroked the boy's hair, unashamed of the tears forming in his eyes. "Damn you, Volf. Never scare me like that again. Promise me, boy." There was tears in Volf's eyes - and not from pain. "Ser ... I promise you!" he said earnestly. Finally, Corryn released the boy and gently pushed him toward the camp. "Now get to you duties. Phalan will have your 'uniform' ready for you." Corryn watched Volf head into the viper's nest, which was surprisingly quiet for a change. Curious as to this uncharacteristic calm, he followed close behind and gazed around the camp. What caught his attention immediately were the scattered belongings that formed a colossal pile in front of his wagon. Clothing, bric-a-brac, journals, armor, tackle, and more; all laid out in some arcane fashion. He wasn't entirely surprised to find his wildling daughter at the center of this miniature mountain. "Limosa?" he said, unsure and wary. Limosa looked up - and her face lit up at the sight of him. She gestured with pride to the mound before her. Gradually her became aware of his men, hiding behind corners of the wagon, the erected pavilions ... from the fascinated gaze of Holdfast smallfolk. From what he could see of them - generally heads, shoulders, knees and feet - none of them seemed to be wearing many clothes. Corryn's face lit up when he saw her smile. Wars could begin for a beauty such as hers. And they just might in the near future. But that was the future and this was the present. He preferred to live in the now. The view was far prettier. He began to walk over to her when he noticed the familiar faces of his men peeking out. The sight of their state of dress gave him pause. He cocked his head curiously. His eyes drifted from the men to the tower of possessions before Limosa and then back again. Clothes, men; men, clothes. He cocked his head the other way. "Huh," he grunted lightly. And with that he sat down beside Limosa and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. "I guess you're going to tell me what you've been up to while I was away?" She pointed with pride to an array of cards spread out before her. There seemed to be a rather improbably high number of godcards among her hand. "We were teaching her the game of Suns," a voice called from behind the side of the wagon - it was Phalan. "She suggested a little wager ... we didn't realise how good she is." "Very good," agreed another voice dolefully. A general murmur of agreement went round the hapless gamblers in their places of concealment. "In fact," said Phalan, "the only things she lost all day were her shoes. Kevan has those now. Not that he has much else, of course ... " Limosa turned a look of melting innocence on Corryn. Corryn slipped his arm around her and kissed her head once more, beaming with pride and affection as they described her gambling skills. At the mention of the shoes, he turned his eyes towards his men. A moment later, he broke into a fit of laughter. It felt good to laugh like this, the tears in his eyes coming from mirth rather than sorrow. He continued to chuckle, wiping the tears away. "You do realize she lost her shoes on purpose, don't you?" he snickered. He hugged Limosa tightly, the laugh rebuilding in his chest. "I think the goddess finally smiled upon me to bless me with you, my dear." His daughter smiled up at him, her grin quite unrepentant. Kenrith emerged from the stairs which led down into the dungeons. After speaking with Mal and Jayne briefly, he started to walk towards Corryn's band and their unusual queen of the hill. The Old Wolf noticed Kenrith approaching and helped LImosa up to greet him. "Ser Hardy," he said, smirking broadly. "I must apologize. I believe my men were learning the lesson of humility and forgot to begin dinner. Will you still join us?" Limosa smiled at him ... but Kenrith realised she was also looking slightly behind him, as though she was hoping to see someone else with him. When he was clearly seen to be alone, her smile faded a little. Corryn caught the glance and cocked his head curiously. And then he smiled lightly as he realized who she was probably searching for. Well, she could certainly do worse. And yet, he felt an odd tinge of jealousy. He ignored it as best he could and focused on the matter at hand. He glanced over his shoulder, "We have nobility for company, you sorry lot. I don't care if your narbles are hanging out, we don't leave a guest without a drink in his hand, eh? Now hop to it!" His men began, sheepishly, to move around the camp. At a look from Corryn, Limosa allowed them to retrieve their clothes, but she was pouting. She had won them, her face clearly said, and now he was making her give them all back! He lightly touched her back and then narrowed his eyes at the men. "Although I am abundantly aware you need your britches to go about your business, you will pay the Lady the equivalent of what she won. She won the wagers fair and square. I will not see her cheated of her victory. Maybe next time you'll be more wary of the bets you make, eh?" Corryn grinned at her proudly. "Not to worry, my dearest. I will see to it that they give you the proper payment. The Laughing Knives pay their debts." Kenrith grinned and offered his open hand to Ser Corryn. Once they were close, he said quietly "I had hoped to head out sooner rather than later, but I don't wish to offend your sense of hospitality... might there not be a chance we will find him still alive and kicking, and the trail fresh, if we, or some of us at any rate, head out as soon as it is possible?" "You're right, of course," Corryn said. He patted Limosa's shoulder and went to the men. "Boys, we have a missing maester that I've agreed to help find. I need four of you to go with Ser Kenrith's party. Grab your gear as well, what's left of it and go with the young ser. Follow his lead and remember who you're representing out there. Be on your guard." Felix, Horse, Odor, and Indigo volunteered for the search party. The four men-at-arms were highly skilled at tracking from years of ferreting out bandit camps along the Eastern Coast. Corryn briefly introduced them to Kenrith. Felix Snow had a drop of Tallheart blood in him and had served faithfully as one of Corryn's sergeants. Horse and Odor, twin brothers, were aptly named for their defining characteristics; Horse being roughly the size of a warhorse and Odor smelling like one. And finally Indigo, a short, rapier-thin fellow, had the intensity of a shaken ferret but handled his crossbow with obvious skill. Kenrith stepped forward and managed to shake Felix's hand before a servant in Hardy livery rushed up with his boiled leather. As he nodded through the introductions, he temporarily unbelted his sword and moved so that his armor could be strapped around him. He had worn his present from Lord Tully when he first arrived, but the woods were no place for full plate, and he didn't want the time to don it either. Divided though his attention was, much of it was on Ser Corryn and his men. While this frustrated the servant, Kenrith at least had the grace to stand still. Limosa was watching, her expression fascinated. Perhaps Kenrith thought this was because of his crippled arm - but that hardly explained her walking around behind him to examine how the greaves were fastened. It seemed that the whole concept interested her ... and there was an innocent enjoyment in her interest too. Kenrith had a small smile in reply, as he recalled her earlier innocent fascination and sympathy with his arm. "I'd appreciate it if you brought them back in one piece," Corryn said. He quickly corrected himself with a smirk. "Well, Odor you can leave in the woods, but the others I want back." "If we travel far enough, the river crossing should save him from that," Kenrith said with a smile. "I'll keep them safe," he said more seriously. His eyes burned with ferocity and frustration, but he was otherwise the master of his features. "I'll see if Rhys and Tamlyn are ready to depart, and pick up some Hardy men as well while the horses are saddled," Kenrith said with a nod to the party as he made his own slight adjustments to the straps. "We will be travelling slower... so we should see you some time tomorrow," Kenrith said as he patted Corryn's left shoulder. Then he felt another hand, making an adjustment on one of the straps that restrained his crippled arm. Limosa .. some of her hair brushed across his cheek, and her face looked intent as she moved round to his frront to check the strap. Satisfied, she gave a little nod to indicate that it would serve. Kenrith shivered and, for a moment, Corryn, only an armspan away and directly in front of Kenrith, could see Kenrith blink back what was almost a tear from watery eyes. His expression was one of profound sadness, not physical pain. As he covered a cough with his strong right hand, the weakness of his face passed and it was once again his usual mask... but there was definitely something deep and sad beneath his hard shell. But Limosa wasn't finished. She regarded him for a second and then suddenly rose up onto her toes - and her lips brushed lightly on his cheek as he felt ... something. It was only when she backed away that he realised she had fastened a scarf she had won in the game to the leather that covered his crippled shoulder. Her favour to wear. And then, suddenly, she turned and was racing away from them through the camp of the Laughing Knives. Corryn smiled throughout his daughter's antics. When she was done, he looked into Kenrith's eyes and nodded with deep respect. "To win her favor, you must truly have a good soul. Of that, I have no doubt. You've grown up to be a fine man, Kenrith. Lady Emelyn would have been proud." Kenrith turned so that Corryn could see his face full on, but the rest of his men would have his profile at best. He smiled sadly and nodded when Lady Emelyn was mentioned. He placed his hand on Kenrith's shoulder and gave him a warm grin. "Ride well, Lord Hardy. We'll talk more upon your return, eh? I'm sure Limosa would enjoy sitting down with you and Godwyn. Now best be off while you still have the light." Corryn patted Kenrith's shoulder one last time and gestured for his men to follow. "Be off with you all. We'll make sure the Boltons don't tear the place down while you're away. With luck, Ser Herys will choke to death on a chicken bone tonight and his whelp will tumble down a well. What better bless of return could one hope for, eh?" With another of his brief nods and his smile did not mask the resolution in his eyes. He motioned for the four to follow him without looking back to see if they were following as he climbed into the saddle of his horse and rode over to meet the others who had likewise prepared to leave from Holdfast. |
