A Game of Thrones - Winter Chills | AGameOfThrones-WinterChills / Morning Outside Marshend-- Niko and Merivel browse

(Continued from Morning Outside Marshend)

Merivel looked at his fastiduously clean bowl and nodded to Mariam. "Thank you." He said, and then looked at Niko. "The porridge will fill your belly nicely." he said. "Given my tumult of the last few days, I am content to have a little more, if there is any." he added, looking back at Mariam briefly before looking back at Niko.

Mariam served him silently and then moved on to serve Niko.

Niko shoveled food in his mouth with considerable haste before realizing that he was in the presence of not only a woman, but a Septa. Swallowing what he had already in his mouth self-consciously, he looked up, saying "Sorry."

"It... is very good though... I will take more also, if there is any to be had."

Mariam served Merivel silently and then moved on to serve Niko.

Merivel gave a grateful nod of the head as Mariam served him some more, and waited for Niko to receive his portion before speaking.

"I've come to respect your sword skills since you first came to Clearwater." Merivel said, keeping his voice rather low. "While I've learned in a theoretical sense how to judge an opponent, you've had more practical experience in sizing up a potential foe, even if you haven't quite dictated your entire story to me." Merivel smiled slightly.

"What think you of the knight and the squire?" Merivel asked Niko. "There is something odd about their relationship."

"Hmmm?" Niko said through a full mouth of food, his head coming up in interest at the Maester's words. He quickly swallowed the mouthful he held, even as he thought.

"Odd how?" he asked, even as he thought on what he remembered of the pair.

"Something that our good Septa noticed." Merivel gave a nod in the direction of Mariam before returning to look at Niko. "You have traveled much more of the world than even I, and I wondered if you might have noticed the strange relationship that the two exhibit toward each other. For example, ser Knight is, for lack of a more fitting word, is overly solicitious of his Squire."

"To what extent?" Niko asked simply.

"Mariam reported a conversation between the two, where the Knight seemed the inferior or the junior, to the Squire. As if they were playing at each other roles, or the Squire has some sort of strange hold over the man who is ostensibly his lord."

"I was wondering if you might have noticed anything between the two that might help unravel the knot of mystery about the two." Merivel said.

"No," Niko said, "I can not say that I have. But this one would not be overly concerned; it is not unknown for someone of a higher social standing to squire under someone of a lower one. As long as the squire is still deferential, as they must be, this one would think that was the explanation."

"Perhaps you are right." Merivel said in a guarded tone. Like a worried bone, or a problem or question that vexed him, Niko would recognize Merivel's closed and cautious tone of voice that suggested that the Maester's mind had not quite been put to rest.

He took a spoonful of porridge and ate it before continuing. "Derron might have a fresh perspective, too. I think, though." he looked at Niko. "that regardless of their relationship, wariness with respect to the pair would be wise on all of our parts."

Niko merely nodded. "Considering our charge, wariness of any strangers will be wise. After all, no matter what the Lord Draupaud says, until he has another heir, or Ranulf takes the Black, his son remains Heir Presumptive."

Merivel gave a nod. "Guarding our tongues about that would be wise." Merivel agreed after a moment's contemplation of the remainder of his porridge. "It's a cold wind, Niko, that seems to be blowing from the North. Even though the season has not changed, one might even call it a Winter's Chill."

Niko grunted in response his mouth full of porridge.

Merivel looked up as he watched Derron lead the Hedgeknight to the cottage. He motioned his head for Niko to see for himself. Once he did so, the Maester lowered his voice. "Derron is taking the initiative in this." Merivel said, with a tone of pride in his voice. "It would be too suspicious to the squire for me to have tried the gambit. Derron is a much more straightforward looking man."

Niko grunted again, this time questioningly. He looked over his shoulder and after a moment nodded, returning to his food.

Merivel saw Niko's greater interest in the porridge than in his words, and smiled to himself.

"I can speak enough for both halves of the conversation." Merivel added after a few moments of his own porridge. "People expect a Maester to be inquisitive and look askance at when they ask many questions." Merivel explained. "Derron is not a schemer, and so hopefully the squire won't think much of him drawing the hedgeknight aside, as he might if I tried it."

At this juncture, Ranulf appeared around the side of the house and began to make his way a little uncertainly towards the large pot of porridge still cooking over the fire.

Merivel looked up from his conversation at Ranulf's tentative approach.

"Please join us, Ranulf. Get a bowl and sit down with us." Merivel said in a welcoming tone. "Mariam has made enough porridge and to spare."

Ranulf hesitated fractionally, and then came over towards them.

"What is happening?" he asked, glancing towards the squire - and then looking around for the hedgeknight.

The squire was looking around too.

Niko frowned, looking up to make sure he hadn't missed anything in his Quest for Food. "What do you mean?" he asked the boy.

"Do you mean Derron's business, Ranulf?" Merivel enquired. "Or is something else disturbing you this morning?"

"I meant the Steward," the boy said.

Merivel nodded and opened his mouth to speak but then closed it.

The Squire had left the horses and was walking over to them now.

"Later." Merivel said, in a low voice to Ranulf and Niko. He returned to the remnants of his second helping of porridge. The Maester flickered his eyes up at the Squire as he approached.

"Come to break your fast?" Merivel asked him mildly

"Aye," said the squire. "When I've seen my master served, that is. Have you seen him?"

Merivel shook his head at the Squire's question.

"Nay, I haven't seen him this morning." Merivel said after a moment taken to finish a bit of the porridge on his spoon.

"I have," said Ranulf helpfully. "He went into the Septa's cottage."

"Alone?" said the Squire sharply. Merivel bit his lip in surprise at Ranulf's blunder. He blinked rapidly. "Thank you, Ranulf." he said to the boy and then looked at the Squire, and then to his own mostly empty bowl.

"Since I am finished, I will go and fetch him for you." Merivel said to the Squire, rising to prevent any argument. "Sit and have some of Mariam's porridge in the meantime. It is delicious and nourishing and you would insult our hostess by not having any." Merivel flickered his eyes to Mariam. "If you would, good Septa." he said to her.

"I expect your master is taking advantage of a few moments rest on something other than cold ground." Merivel explained as he began to walk toward the cottage. "As I would counsel anyone to do whenever possible."

He continued his path to the cottage door.

(Merivel's thread continues in Morning Outside Marshend Merivel Joins Derron)

Deciding to distract the squire from another angle, Niko said, "Come, boy. Sit." He looked over his shoulder at the squire discerningly. "Your master will be along soon enough, and it would probably be best if you were fed by then." If Merivel's observations were true, then it was very possible that the squire would take umbrage at this form or address...

Ranulf trotted over and sat obediently next to Niko.

The squire stood for a moment, wearing a scowl that came close to a sneer. Then he said, "I should inform Ser Granger that we are ready to leave. Then he may decide whether I should break my fast first."

"Is this one mistaken, or did he hear the Maester say that he was going to see to your master? Or do you think yourself more capable of that than he?" Niko asked, even as he turned back towards his porridge.

"Aye," Hex added as he walked up behind the squire. "Surely it's best to leave the highborn to their palaver, Master Squire. They can be so temperamental about such things."

As he walked up, Hex cut another segment of sausage and lipped it off the blade. The dornish had remained by the barn while the Steward spoke with the knight and squire, and stayed in place as Thorne and the hedge knight walked right past him en route to the septa's cottage. Although Hex had made a concerted effort to maintain a low profile the last few years, somehow succesfully passing amongst the small folk never quite lost its sting.

The Squire hesitated a moment longer, glancing around as though coming to some decision on his mind. Then he shrugged, and accepted the bowl of porridge that Mariam was holding out to him.

"This Steward of yours," he said, as he started to eat. "A good man?"

"In truth, he is not my steward." Hex answered, slowly chewing."However, he has done well by me and my traveling companion at no small risk to himself. Beyond that, I cannot really say."

"Our young Niko could give you a better read," Hex continued, gesturing to the captain. "But not, I suspect, while there's still porridge to be eaten."

Niko looked up a bit sheepishly as he finished the bite he had been devouring. "Yes," he said at last. "He can be a bit harsh, but he is good- and not just in the way of those that blindly serve their master. At least in the opinion of this one."

"Truthfully, he does not want the position... Steward, that is. And this one has found that in most cases, those that do not seek position are the best fit for them."

Hex turned to Niko with a startled look on hearing the young man's last comment. The merchant's thoughts turned back to his own time learning his former trade in the punishment tent.

The fat little tyroshi had picked Hex from the ranks to be his understudy, seemingly at random. Hex had not sought to become the Beast, but perhaps Niko was correct.

At this juncture, the door of the cottage opened and the hedge knight emerged, looking thoughtful. The squire half-rose to his feet.

By now done with as much porridge as he could put away, Niko observed the squire's expression as the hedge knight approached with interest.

He also saw Merivel emerge from the cottage a few moments afterwards.

The squire was looking at his supposed master with consiiderable suspicion. The hedgeknight gave a weak smile and a shrug as he approach and then said, with forced cheer. "Porridge, eh? Enough for all?"

"Indeed," Niko said, still observing them analytically. "Indeed. Come, break your fast," he said, moving to make room for the hedge knight. "Your squire was so concerned for your well being that we almost had to make him take his leave. Very unusual for someone with such hard work not to jump at the opportunity to eat when it comes," he added.

"Remember, Ser." Merivel called to the hedge Knight as he approached the table. he took the tone of a physician reminding a reluctant patient of his duty.

"I warned and warn you not to eat too much of the porridge, or else your digestion may suffer."

What?" said Ser Granger. "Oh yes ... yes."

He looked almost furtive but then, what man wouldn't when given such advice in the open air.

"A small bowl for me," he said to Niko.

The Squire was still frowning, but then he said, "Let me serve you, Ser."

Ignoring the squire's interjection, Niko began to prepare a portion of porridge for the hedge knight. As he did, he said to no one in particular, "To serve, one must sometimes wait."

The hedgeknight took the bowl from Niko and settled down to eat, quite hurriedly.

"Are we ready to depart?" he asked between mouthful.

Merivel watched the interaction between the knight and his squire with an air of relative disinterest.

"Yes," said his squire and then, belatedly, "Ser."

Merivel blinked and then glanced around as if looking for someone or something. However, he remained quiet for the moment.

"Where do you head?" Hex asked. "I need to move my goods to market, and have already been assaulted and abducted one time too many this trip. Perhaps we could offer one another some company and protection along the way."

Ser Granger looked relieved. "Aye," he said heartily. "Such an offer of company I like well."

The Squire looked as though he liked it less, but he made no objection.

"A good thing, that is," Niko said calmly as he sat the bowl in front of the hedge knight. "Many people with no good intentions are on the roads now," he added. "It is not good to travel alone."

The Maester nodded in complete agreement. "Even those with skills in fighting." he gave a nod to Hex, the Squire and the Knight "should not risk the roads alone, these days." he agreed. "Traveling in larger groups is far safer. The best way to win an encounter with unsavory characters on the road is to travel in such as way as to discourage their appearance."

"You must forgive my manners, ser." Hex said. "I spent the night sleeping in the rough and missed introductions. I am Alexander Hextall, a travelling wine merchant. Though I'm afraid at least half my inventory has been taken by bandits. I don't suppose you've come across a wagon laden with spirits in your journeys? Perhaps crewed by some rather tough looking fellows?"

The hedge knight shook his head definitely. "No, good Master Hextall, Something like that we would have remembered. But if you wish to join us on our journey, you may. We'll be heading to Marshend ourselves, first."

The Squire looked disgruntled.

Merivel listened from his position not far from the door to the cottage. While his head tilted in the direction of the speakers at and near the table, he did not comment. Instead, he affected a look of concern and watchfulness over the Squire, as if studying and watching a patient who was just administered a remedy of which he wished to judge the efficacy.

(Derron's thread merged from The Return: Catriona, Derron)

At this point, Derron was seen approaching.

Derron called out in as conversational a tone as possible, "Niko! When you've finished breaking your fast, join me inside."

He then entered the cottage and once more sat down with parchment before him and began to write.

Having already finished, Niko concluded serving the Hedge Knight, bowing to him. "It was a pleasure to serve, Ser," he said. "The steward summons me, so this one shall his leave take. Travel safely," he finished, before turning to follow Derron into the cottage.

(Niko's thread continued in The Return: Derron and Niko, Merivel's thread continued in The Return: Derron and Merivel, and Hex's thread continued in Morning Outside Marshend: Hex and Gwendla)