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Post by oznerol on Jul 20, 2020 12:21:41 GMT -5
”Lord Hand.”Greeted the King, curtly. Stannis has traded armour for a plain black doublet, though Lightbringer still hung from his waist in an ornate scabbard. There was little difference in the King’s demeanour from a few months before, but Baratheon had had his first good meal and night’s sleep since the Blackwater, and a little colour and fat had returned to his emaciated cheeks and sunken eyes. ”I trust you have grown used to your new quarters. Tarly was prudent not to waste funds on idle comforts.”Compared to even how Jon Arryn decorated the Tower, the quarters were rather spartan. ”We must fill the realm’s coffers and honouring my brother’s debts. I sent for Ser Lucion Lannister from Casterly Rock to take up the post of Master of Coin.”Ser Lucion had a reputation for frugality and diligence, or so he had heard. The King began pacing around the spacious quarters, whilst Ser Horpe stood lax by the door. ”Simply put, we have no coins that are not borrowed. And the watch must be rebuilt, the city repaired, and the farms of the Crownlands and Riverlands repopulated.”Baratheon was gazing up at a tapestry with a frown of distaste, as if appraising the value and finding it wanting. He turned back to Davos. He said. The Hand wore wool and leather, both very simple in design and cut. But, he was also wearing something that looked out of place for Davos: a cloak covered with embroidered onions, a gift from Marya that he couldn't refuse to wear, even if he felt quite self-conscious. "There was a lad this morning telling me we owe dragons in the many thousands, sire. I've never seen so much money at once and it's all a huge debt. And the folks at the treasury say they don't understand the ledgers from Littlefinger's time. They're impossible to read. The Imp at least left a clean record while he was in office and he went through Baelish's accounts and found them wanting"Davos had to wrap his head around all those things that were quite beyond his grasps.
"If your Grace wants a happy smallfolk offer those in the city free lands to settle in the Rivers, where many died of plague, famine and war, sadly. Flea Bottom always has a thousand too many folks living on it and if you were to offer them good tracts of land you'll have new peasants paying taxes. And these mouths won't be missed at the capital, anyway"
He looks to the king, who looked healthier, Smith be thanked. "I also suggest sire that you tax heavily those fat merchants growing rich on trading with grain, they're most foul and there're none more hateful than those gaining wealth from people's hunger"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 20, 2020 12:42:56 GMT -5
”I intend to bring our old friend Littlefinger to the capital to answer for these irregularities. I have long suspected his corruption.”
The King was not at all surprised by the revelation that Baelish had been sabotaging the royal expenses. He had ever poured his poison into Robert’s ear and the kingdom had suffered as a result.
”Less mouths to feed in the city and more hands to till the fields is a sound solution.”
Stannis looked faintly pleased, or at least wasn’t frowning or grinding his teeth.
”There is no royal fleet, either, since the last of Robert’s ships were smashed on the Blackwater. I thought to send for Lady Greyjoy, for the Ironborn are skilled seafarers despite their barbarity.”
Balon had been a fool, but the new lady of Pyke seemed to be cut of a different cloth.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 20, 2020 13:06:30 GMT -5
”I intend to bring our old friend Littlefinger to the capital to answer for these irregularities. I have long suspected his corruption.”The King was not at all surprised by the revelation that Baelish had been sabotaging the royal expenses. He had ever poured his poison into Robert’s ear and the kingdom had suffered as a result. ”Less mouths to feed in the city and more hands to till the fields is a sound solution.”Stannis looked faintly pleased, or at least wasn’t frowning or grinding his teeth. ”There is no royal fleet, either, since the last of Robert’s ships were smashed on the Blackwater. I thought to send for Lady Greyjoy, for the Ironborn are skilled seafarers despite their barbarity.” Balon had been a fool, but the new lady of Pyke seemed to be cut of a different cloth. He nodded. "But I'm afraid building up a fleet will be far too expensive, we will have to relly on sellsails and conscripts while the crown has no coin. I know how much a ship costs, sire, and we can hardly afford it. Cersei's three-deckers costed the treasury and fortune and they're all lost. I suggest sending men to Pentos and Myr and Lys to make sure we face no threat at sea and use whatever Greyjoy and others can summon as long as we're broke"Said Davos. He suddenly remembered something, picking some scrolls from the table and reading them, narrowing his eyes to follow the words. "Ah, yes, yes, I almost forgot. On my way here I received oaths from your vassals of Dragonstone, the fiefdom is restored to you. Maybe lady Shireen could take posession as heiress of the isle and its bannermen"He added.
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 21, 2020 4:30:19 GMT -5
”We will have to find coin then. I will not have my royal fleet be made up of freebooters and sellsails, ready to flee from battle as soon as the winds turn.”
The King had built his brother’s fleet and taken it to smash the Greyjoy’s off Fair Isle, the prospect of having few ships clearly galled him.
”My daughter I plan to seat in Storm’s End. It should have been my seat, and so it shall be hers. But for now Dragonstone shall suffice, as it did for me when my brothers lived.”
Stannis had sent for his wife and daughter as soon as the city was won. They and all the Florents would likely arrive soon, a swarm of them
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Post by oznerol on Jul 21, 2020 8:17:57 GMT -5
"It will be hard, my king, more so in winter, many men and women and children will die before spring. Hardly will they pay taxes if they're dying by the hundreds"
Said Davos.
"I counsel your Grace not to make the populace pay or raise any taxes, they have little coin and whatever they have they will have to use to buy grain and food in the many months of hardship that will come. If you were to take that we'll lose thousands upon thousands and leave lands barren and inhospitable"
He added.
"As you wish, my king, certainly it's a princely seat. I also called for my younger lads, Stannis and Steffon, and my own wife to join me here, if that's agreeable to you"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 21, 2020 9:44:11 GMT -5
”If I had the funds, I would have bread doled out to the populace. As it stands we rely on the shipments from Braavos and Highgarden.”
Gulltown sold grain but only irregularly and at extortionate prices. Likely, the work of Baelish.
”Of course. I suspect they will find the Hand’s Tower to be more spacious than your Onion Keep.”
Stannis looked from the window down at the city below, which was still damaged from the siege.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 21, 2020 10:07:10 GMT -5
”If I had the funds, I would have bread doled out to the populace. As it stands we rely on the shipments from Braavos and Highgarden.”Gulltown sold grain but only irregularly and at extortionate prices. Likely, the work of Baelish. ”Of course. I suspect they will find the Hand’s Tower to be more spacious than your Onion Keep.”Stannis looked from the window down at the city below, which was still damaged from the siege.
He said. "Posibly so, my king"Davos added, with a smile. "I have to look for good knights for them both to squire for, but I don't wish to send them away from the capital, my heart would break if I see them part again so early"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 21, 2020 12:13:09 GMT -5
”I would squire them, or find able knights and lords to take them on.”
Offered Stannis, rather off-handedly for such a weighty honour.
”Your sons that I knew were good men, as loyal and able as any of my knights. I would see your youngest ones raised to be the same.”
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Post by oznerol on Jul 21, 2020 12:34:52 GMT -5
"You honor me, my king"
Said Davos.
"But if you want to hand that honor down to greater lords than me, for seeing them happy and have their loyalty I wouldn't mind if they were to squire for a mere knight, at long as he's good-natured and honorable, to raise them good"
He added.
"Reast easy. My wife says both are of good stock, like their elders..."
Stannis was a cheerful and willful kid, Steffon seemed to be more shy and maybe more willing to forge links at the Citadel than wielding a sword. Time would tell.
"...I'm thankful for your words, sire. It means quite a lot"
The day Stannis lost the Blackwater Davos lost four sons, strapping lads them all, the eldest married to a good girl, honest and kind. She had remained with Marya as some sort of domestic help and Davos' wife spoke to him in letter (written by the maester) about getting a handsome Stormlander for her, maybe a retainer to one of Seaworth's own bannermen.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 22, 2020 6:40:06 GMT -5
A small company of riders, a knight and four men-at-arms escorting a wheelhouse were granted access into the Keep. The man in charge wore a surcoat emblazoned with a black ship and a white onion, on a grey field. He unmounted and openned the door of the carriage, helping to get down a middle-aged woman, graying hair and somewhat comely, albeit she was fleshy and aged by some many pregnancies; certainly she wasn't beautiful, neither she conducted herself like a highworn, but she was homely and pleasant. Behind her trailed two kids, a strapping lad, tall for his age, with a bowl-cut and a hooked nose, and another, quite shy, almost hiding behind his mother's gown, with long hair and melancholic air. Both have brown hair and eyes and rather ordinary faces, and they pretty much look alike.
Davos was warned of their arrival and awaited them at the Tower's gate, with both arms open:
"Come here, ya'lads, don't ya' miss yar father?"
"Dad!"
"Father!"
Yelled the youngest, throwing himself at his father's arms, where he received a warm embrace. The oldest, at the cusp of puberty, did as much, but more composed and trying not to embarrass himself. Davos messed up both their hairs and hugged them twice, thrice.
"Look at ye both, so handsome and tall, ye're gonna be taller than yer old man soon enough, won't you? And who's that young and beautiful maiden that came with you?"
"Oh, you rascal, come here"
She said, hugging and kissing her husband in the lips, softly. Davos held her in his arms.
"I missed you. Your smell... You smell of home. Thanks for coming, Marya"
"Wherever ye're so will be, husband, my sweet old onion"
"Hush, don't embarrass myself before the lads of the guard"
"Look at you, looking like a noble, almost. What's that badge? Is that the Hand's thing?"
"Aye! Handsome thing, innit?"
"Not as much as you, Davos. You lucky I can bear no more children, else you'd be having your eighth"
"Ah, come on now... I have a meal and warm rooms waiting inside, this wind is freezing my bones"
"Daaad, can we pick our own rooms?"
"Don't be silly, Steffy!"
"Aye, Steffon. Boys, you have like... a dozen to chose from. I have five less fingertips to count with, so I might be wrong"
That said and done the four Seaworths entered their new home, one they would have never guessed would be inhabiting, the Tower of the Hand. A merry family reunited.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jul 23, 2020 19:29:25 GMT -5
Ser Rolland Storm comes to see the Hand of the King. Upon entering, the bastard looks up and around at this building's interior.
From Onion Knight to Hand of the King...
The bastard says, seeing how far Seaworth had risen up. A hint of jealousy within his tone, but Davos deserved these honors. Everyone knew of his loyalty without end.
Lord Davos? Lord Davos?
Storm's voice was heard as he entered in a little further.
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jul 23, 2020 23:07:53 GMT -5
Ser Justin Massey also comes to the Tower of the Hand, seeking out Lord Seaworth. Who better to advise him on rebuilding the City Watch of King's Landing, he had thought, but a man who actually hailed from the city? And the part of it in direst need of decent policing, at that.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 24, 2020 3:12:44 GMT -5
The Onion Hand was laborously reading a pachment, his eyes narrowed and trying to focus on the matter. "Smith be gracious, Ser Rolland, come, take a seat if you may"Said Davos, putting the parchment aside. Lady Marya was with a kid, who was reading something to her. The boy looked vaguely like Davos, with his plain face and brown hair and eyes. Apparently it was a chivalric tale.
"I've seen you gained some meat on your bones again. That's good"Ser Justin Massey also comes to the Tower of the Hand, seeking out Lord Seaworth. Who better to advise him on rebuilding the City Watch of King's Landing, he had thought, but a man who actually hailed from the city? And the part of it in direst need of decent policing, at that. Said Davos, stamping his seal on a parchment. It was enjoyable to put your seal on such documents. Reading them was fairly more difficult: some scribes' handwritting was certainly notoriously hard to read. With him there was a teenager, with brown eyes and hair and who looked bored.
"Dad, you promised we'd go hunting. I'd go ride every day in the keep, but you keep me grounded. I need to go out"
"I told you it's unwise to go out into the Kingswood, this is not where you come from"
"But...""Hush now, Stan, ser Massey arrived"Seaworth turns to the king's man. "What brings you here?" |
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jul 24, 2020 8:51:21 GMT -5
The Onion Hand was laborously reading a pachment, his eyes narrowed and trying to focus on the matter. "Smith be gracious, Ser Rolland, come, take a seat if you may"Said Davos, putting the parchment aside. Lady Marya was with a kid, who was reading something to her. The boy looked vaguely like Davos, with his plain face and brown hair and eyes. Apparently it was a chivalric tale. "I've seen you gained some meat on your bones again. That's good"Rolland Caron, formerly Storm, came into the room, just some ways ahead, to find the Lord Hand. And I have you to thank for that, Lord Davos. I certainly would still be rotting there if not for your fleet.Seaworth had ensured him, and other loyalists, were recovered by his actions. His Grace has been kind to remove the stain of my bastard birth and name me as Lord of Nightsong. I will be leaving soon to reclaim it.Lord Caron sits down before the Lord Hand. Will you ever be given the chance to see your new home? I heard you were raised as Lord of Rainwood.
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Post by oznerol on Jul 24, 2020 11:34:12 GMT -5
The Onion Hand was laborously reading a pachment, his eyes narrowed and trying to focus on the matter. "Smith be gracious, Ser Rolland, come, take a seat if you may"Said Davos, putting the parchment aside. Lady Marya was with a kid, who was reading something to her. The boy looked vaguely like Davos, with his plain face and brown hair and eyes. Apparently it was a chivalric tale. "I've seen you gained some meat on your bones again. That's good"Rolland Caron, formerly Storm, came into the room, just some ways ahead, to find the Lord Hand. And I have you to thank for that, Lord Davos. I certainly would still be rotting there if not for your fleet.Seaworth had ensured him, and other loyalists, were recovered by his actions. His Grace has been kind to remove the stain of my bastard birth and name me as Lord of Nightsong. I will be leaving soon to reclaim it.Lord Caron sits down before the Lord Hand. Will you ever be given the chance to see your new home? I heard you were raised as Lord of Rainwood. He said. The kid couldn't help himself but stare at the knight until his mother told him not to. "Oh well, you see, there's no actual keep and I've been lord of there for a time now. The Rainwood has never been... a lordship before. So, nothing else beyond my small tower in the Stormlands. I'm afraid those lords are sworn to the smallest castle in Westeros"
Davos had had a stone and wood tower, a fortified manse surrounded by a palisade, for some years now, since Stannis handed it down to him. A humble keep with a couple villages sworn to it. Not much. And now it was seat of a high lord, ruling over a score of bannermen. Davos figured out he'd have to build a new castle, but he prefered to use his coin for something else.
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