Post by The Seven on Jun 11, 2008 20:28:40 GMT -5
New Oak
Early July, 1499
The hot sun beat down on the coast of the Sunset Sea as the people worked. They had come from all over the northern Reach, united in building the destroyed castle and town of Old Oak. Not long ago there had been twenty thousand people in the city. Now there were barely twelve.
"Well, the seaward tower is better," Lord Derek Oakheart said, his handsome face tanned by the constant work, his long brown hair plastered to his back with sweat. Lord Domeric grinned at him.
"Great, only three more to go. We'll have this place bigger than ever when we're done, mark my words. Then we can finish on the town." As the Mander's largest coastal town, Old Oak was of vital importance to the economic welfare of the entire region. With it wrecked, the kingdom had a much harder time receiving the shiploads of fresh fruits and vegetables and meats from the Sunset Kingdom's most fertile region. Lord Tyrell had come with a thousand men to assist in rebuilding, and had been astonished to see his former goodmother Lady Oakheart still alive, albeit still a little changed from her imprisonment on Pyke.
The weather had been unusually cooperative, the summer sun hot yet the sea breeze keeping the workers cool enough to continue without dropping from heat stroke. "Yea, and with those new coastal lighthouses up, we won't be caught off guard like that again, even if those bastards try." Derek pointed at a few workers. "Reinforce those stones there; if this comes to battle again anyone could know those right off!." The foreman grunted and the dozen men dragged mroe stones to the corner and mortared them in.
"So Lord Derek, I see your new wife is enjoying the sun." Domeric watched as Amia Oakheart strolled the unfamiliar beach, graceful barefoot as she spoke with the elder Lady Oakheart. Derek laughed.
"She's a spitfire, that one, I reckon we'll have four kids by the time you finally get one of your own." At Domeric's annoyed look to him, Derek laughed. "Lighten up, old friend, you know I jest. I saw that Lyelle once in Braavos if you son't remember, and I figured you'd have married her right then and there." Dom chuckled despite himself. Derek Oakheart knew him like no else.
"I'll have an heir soon, I promise." he laughed. His old wife, Derek's sister, had died trying to give him one. Hopefully the Lady Qorgyle would be spared that fate. How did the other lords take the Hand's decision?" Derek considered.
"Better than I would have thought. Your old rival Merrywether complained to me, and I think he tried getting Rowan on his side, but Lord Van is no man for such shenanigans. I think our little friend wanted the scorpion warming his diseased bed." Domeric shuddered at Lord Bralyn Merrywether with Lyelle, his wormy eyes and his cruel lips. He'd be another Leo all over again. Still, Domeric had no desire to get rid of his Longtable lord; it kept him sharp having an enemy nearby. And Bralyn angered all his other lords as much as him, so he feared no alliances being made against him.
"If Bralyn did't try a move against me, I'd be vastly disappointed. He'll be in the front row when I marry the Lady of Dorne, and I'll be sure she wears the sheerest dress just to watch his old lecherous ass squirm." Domeric saw it was nearing evening. "Still, I suppose he could stir up some trouble with the Dornish heirs. I'll put Daryl on him; he's a sneaky man. If Bralyn moves too far off the road, he may have trouble finding his way back on it. His heir was raised by the Tullys as I recall, perhaps he'll turn out better. Lord Dawnrose may prove a problem too; the old man is notoriously anti-Dornish, but as this was requested by the crown, he should prove able to bend. Caswell's son is a good man, though his father is already missed. The Shields are firmly loyal, save of course the Grimms. Lord Rowan is a loyal man, and as long as I am no fool he will keep his knee bent. Tumbleton is an old man, and his heir is nearing fifty himself, and HIS heir is still older than I, and they're loyal so long as they get forty percent of their bridge toll. The Fossoways of course are loyal, and so all that remains is having a meeting of lords to discuss the coming years' business. I am thinking early September."
"Yes, my lord."
After three weeks, Domeric left to head back to Highgarden to await Caron's arrival, happy that Old Oak was being rebuilt as strong as ever.
Early July, 1499
The hot sun beat down on the coast of the Sunset Sea as the people worked. They had come from all over the northern Reach, united in building the destroyed castle and town of Old Oak. Not long ago there had been twenty thousand people in the city. Now there were barely twelve.
"Well, the seaward tower is better," Lord Derek Oakheart said, his handsome face tanned by the constant work, his long brown hair plastered to his back with sweat. Lord Domeric grinned at him.
"Great, only three more to go. We'll have this place bigger than ever when we're done, mark my words. Then we can finish on the town." As the Mander's largest coastal town, Old Oak was of vital importance to the economic welfare of the entire region. With it wrecked, the kingdom had a much harder time receiving the shiploads of fresh fruits and vegetables and meats from the Sunset Kingdom's most fertile region. Lord Tyrell had come with a thousand men to assist in rebuilding, and had been astonished to see his former goodmother Lady Oakheart still alive, albeit still a little changed from her imprisonment on Pyke.
The weather had been unusually cooperative, the summer sun hot yet the sea breeze keeping the workers cool enough to continue without dropping from heat stroke. "Yea, and with those new coastal lighthouses up, we won't be caught off guard like that again, even if those bastards try." Derek pointed at a few workers. "Reinforce those stones there; if this comes to battle again anyone could know those right off!." The foreman grunted and the dozen men dragged mroe stones to the corner and mortared them in.
"So Lord Derek, I see your new wife is enjoying the sun." Domeric watched as Amia Oakheart strolled the unfamiliar beach, graceful barefoot as she spoke with the elder Lady Oakheart. Derek laughed.
"She's a spitfire, that one, I reckon we'll have four kids by the time you finally get one of your own." At Domeric's annoyed look to him, Derek laughed. "Lighten up, old friend, you know I jest. I saw that Lyelle once in Braavos if you son't remember, and I figured you'd have married her right then and there." Dom chuckled despite himself. Derek Oakheart knew him like no else.
"I'll have an heir soon, I promise." he laughed. His old wife, Derek's sister, had died trying to give him one. Hopefully the Lady Qorgyle would be spared that fate. How did the other lords take the Hand's decision?" Derek considered.
"Better than I would have thought. Your old rival Merrywether complained to me, and I think he tried getting Rowan on his side, but Lord Van is no man for such shenanigans. I think our little friend wanted the scorpion warming his diseased bed." Domeric shuddered at Lord Bralyn Merrywether with Lyelle, his wormy eyes and his cruel lips. He'd be another Leo all over again. Still, Domeric had no desire to get rid of his Longtable lord; it kept him sharp having an enemy nearby. And Bralyn angered all his other lords as much as him, so he feared no alliances being made against him.
"If Bralyn did't try a move against me, I'd be vastly disappointed. He'll be in the front row when I marry the Lady of Dorne, and I'll be sure she wears the sheerest dress just to watch his old lecherous ass squirm." Domeric saw it was nearing evening. "Still, I suppose he could stir up some trouble with the Dornish heirs. I'll put Daryl on him; he's a sneaky man. If Bralyn moves too far off the road, he may have trouble finding his way back on it. His heir was raised by the Tullys as I recall, perhaps he'll turn out better. Lord Dawnrose may prove a problem too; the old man is notoriously anti-Dornish, but as this was requested by the crown, he should prove able to bend. Caswell's son is a good man, though his father is already missed. The Shields are firmly loyal, save of course the Grimms. Lord Rowan is a loyal man, and as long as I am no fool he will keep his knee bent. Tumbleton is an old man, and his heir is nearing fifty himself, and HIS heir is still older than I, and they're loyal so long as they get forty percent of their bridge toll. The Fossoways of course are loyal, and so all that remains is having a meeting of lords to discuss the coming years' business. I am thinking early September."
"Yes, my lord."
After three weeks, Domeric left to head back to Highgarden to await Caron's arrival, happy that Old Oak was being rebuilt as strong as ever.