Chapter 35; The art of persuasion;
Characters of the chapter
Agatha, Bard of Orlais
Roslin Tully, Lady of Riverrun, widow to Edmure Tully, the former Lord of Riverrun
Ser Kenton, Knight in the service of House Kronos
Cursive/Bold text is in Orlesian
'"So it's confirmed then?" Ser Kenton asked of Agatha. The two were meeting at the battlements of Riverrun, discussing recent news. At first they had been receiving scattered groups of soldiers from House Sea. They claimed that Jaime Lannister had destroyed their army and had since then been moving his army northwards. Agatha and Ser Kenton had sent out a few scouts in response to look for that army. And now ravens carrying their findings had returned to them.
"So it seems to be. My people sent word they had spotted the Lannister army perhaps a few days march from here. We can't know if they're just passing by or if they're going to come here and we shouldn't be taking any chances. I issued an order to my scouts to return as soon as they spotted the enemy force. They'll riding hard to reach the castle before the enemy army does. Those of my people already here I'll have prepared for battle, just in case. You need to do the same." She said.
"I don't take orders from you. We have a shared command, remember? Those were the orders given by my Lord and your Emperor. And you can be thankful that those orders were issued. If not for them I would never agree to share command with a woman. But even my orders can't make me take commands from you." Kenton replied, making no effort to hide the venom in his words.
Agatha could not help but roll her eyes. "Consider my words to be suggestions if that makes you feel better. As long as what needs to happen gets done I don't give a fuck. But frankly I think we have much more pressing problems than your damn pride. No one said we have to like each other, but if we want to survive we need to work together."
"I'll have a chat with Lady Roslin. If the castle becomes besieged she might be useful in more ways than one." She added.
"What makes you think she'll even talk to you?" Kenton asked.
"Trust me, that is not going to be a problem. It's the opposite that is the issue. And the fact that she's saying the wrong things at the moment. Given how many times she's threatened to flay us all alive I'm starting to think we may have accidentally captured a Bolton instead of a Frey." She jested.
Kenton simply stared at her frowning in puzzlement. "What?"
"You know, the former northern House that liked to…" She tried to explain before tapering to a halt, exasperated that a Westerosi of all things didn't get that joke. "Ugh…never mind. I'm going." She said and left the room. ¨
"Humorless asshole…" She grumbled as she walked through the hallways of Riverrun. The initial meeting between her and Ser Kenton had proven to be indicative of his attitude in general. He was someone who still very much held many of the traditional attitudes of Westerosi, an approach that was often incompatible with the Thedosian way of viewing things.
This was far from the first time they had had harsh words for each other. In the time that they had been here their differing personalities had caused verbal clashes between them on almost daily basis. Some of that animosity had spilled over to their respective groups, causing several scuffles. The only reason matters had not escalated further was because both sides knew that if blades were drawn there would be no going back. With so many enemies beyond the walls the people inside them could not afford to slaughter each other, particularly since some of those enemies were on their way here.
Finally she was in front of a door guarded by two of her people. She might have preferred to put Lady Roslin and her son Hoster into the local dungeon, where they would be secure. But Kenton had insisted that it would be wholly inappropriate to treat those of noble birth so. Even in Orlais nobles were also afforded greater courtesy than mere peasants, so she had felt compelled to concede his point that time. So instead they had sealed the two in their rooms in the family's wing of the castle, taking every precaution to ensure there would be no escape for them. At least Kenton had not interfered when she had separated the boy from his mother upon their capture despite the rather fierce protests from Lady Roslin at the time. The separation was essential to what Agatha had planned on doing next.
She nodded to the guards and one of them turned to unlock the door, while another one was standing watch in case Lady Roslin unwisely tried to burst out of her room the moment an opening was presented. Fortunately the Lady of Riverrun was not foolish enough to attempt anything so futile. The room was a fairly simple one, obviously made for a noble to live in, but far from the ornate styles of Orlais. Viewed from the door there was a bed on the left side of the room, a round table and some wooden chairs on the right hand side. Near the foot of the bed there was a shelf with some books in it. Some distance beyond the table there was a fireplace and on the far wall there was a window that allowed light into the room, but one which was also too narrow for a person to fit through, since this was a castle built with primarily defensive purposes in mind.
On entering Agatha found the Lady of Riverrun sitting on her bed, staring at a book. Staring, because while the book was open before her, her eyes weren't moving in a way that would indicate she was actually reading the words, though obviously she was trying. "Probably too restless to do so." Agatha thought.
Noticing the Orlesian bard enter Roslin slammed her book shut, tossing it to the floor as she stood up, and closed the distance between them in a few strides.
"You! I demand to see my son! You will bring him to me immediately, or by the gods I swear to you when this castle is retaken by the Queen's forces I will have every last one of you…" Roslin snarled, face twisted in anger.
"Yes, yes, everyone knows what you've threatened to do. And no one cares. Now sit down, shut up and listen to what you are being told!" Agatha barked back, irritated. For emphasis she gave Roslyn a sharp shove to the shoulder, making the other woman fall backwards into a chair just behind her. Her irritation fading away, a slight smile tugged the corner of the Orlesian's mouth. Agatha then strolled to the other side of the table and seated herself, one arm leaning against the table.
"I have received some rather disturbing reports of late. I'm told that a sizeable force of Twin Kingdom's forces is headed in the direction of Riverrun. There is a good chance they intend to engage us to take this castle back." She said.
Roslin's expression turned from anger to smug superiority. "Then I suppose the judgement for your crimes is almost upon you. I'll make sure all of you understand the severity for your crimes before the end."
"No. That will not be happening. Because you are going to help me make sure this castle will not be taken." Agatha replied, continuing to smile.
Roslin scoffed, turning up her nose.
Agatha shrugged. "I take that to mean you will not cooperate. Well that is unfortunate."
She pretended to look concerned about the situation for a moment. Then her smile returned. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention. I had a chat with your son earlier. He's a smart boy. You should be proud." Then her expression turned sad, all an act of course. "Such a shame really…"
The bard's words sinking in, Roslin's expression changed again, first into shock, then right back to anger. "If you have done anything to him, I swear…"
"Oh, I have done nothing. Nor do I intend to. Your son is perfectly safe." Agatha interjected.
"Trust me, harming children is not something I'm in the business of doing. That said, it is a sad truth that for every one of us that would not harm children there is another that would. Some of them wouldn't even have to be paid for it. There are some bards of such character here I'm afraid. That is something that is almost impossible to filter out you when choosing people to take part in a mission, you understand. But still, you need not be concerned. A good bard master knows her people." She explained, Roslin's eyes slowly growing wider as she talked.
"I know which ones won't do harm to your son… and which ones would." Agatha continued, making sure to put the tiniest emphasis on the last word.
"I'll make sure that the wrong kind of individuals don't come into contact with your boy." She said. Then she took a dramatic pause before shrugging. "Of course, in some hypothetical situations, say, if the castle's defenses were to be breached by an assaulting army, well… I must admit that, uh… things could get…complicated. Yes, that could be… problematic. I would of course do my utmost to ensure your boy comes to no harm but… all that chaos, all that fighting… all my focus would be on battling the intruders, not in watching my own people. Unfortunately, in such circumstances it would be hard for me to…"
"Stop." Roslin interrupted, fighting back tears. "For the love of the gods, stop."
The Lady of Riverrun bowed her head, defeated. "You've made you point. What would you have of me?"
Agatha gave a wicked grin. "I am glad that we understand each other finally. First we will tour the castle together, and you will tell me everything about the castle's defenses. Its strengths, its weaknesses, its defensive layers, the order in which they are to be utilized, how they will funnel the enemy. All the hidden tunnels, all its secrets, surprises, and traps. Everything."
"I-I'm afraid I might not know all that much. I'm not very learned in war or the construction of castles. I'm not originally from this castle, and my husband, he did not tell me very much…" Roslin stammered.
Agatha leaned over the table and gently took the other woman's hands into hers. "You will tell me as much as you are able, and hopefully, hopefully, that will be enough. I do hope you will not forget anything of importance. As I believe we both agree, we do not want Riverrun's defenses breached by anyone.
"No. No. We don't. I'll tell you everything. Everything I know." Roslin said.
"That's good to hear." Agatha said. "Now, that was the first thing I require of you. The second thing I need your help with is something that may or may not come into play, depends a little on how things go. You see, hopefully the enemy army will simply pass us by, being none the wiser to our presence. But if that does not happen, if they actually come here and besiege this castle, then you are to stand on those battlements and command them to leave. I would have made Lord Edmure do this, but alas he's not here to do so."
"Because you killed him." Roslin said quietly.
Agatha nodded. "Because we killed him. But since he is dead, you are the next best thing for this. Certainly they would not listen to us if we told them to leave. But as the Lady of Riverrun you can tell them that their presence is not welcome, that they have no business being in or near Riverrun, and that attempts to force their way in will only endanger you and your remaining family."
"I'll do it. Anything you ask. Just give me my son's safety." Roslin said.
"I shall. So long as the conditions are suitable to so doing. Good talk. But now I'm afraid I have some things to attend to. We can start touring this castle when I return." Agatha said, then stood up and moved to the door, intending to leave.
"Wait." Roslin said. "My son. I want to…" She said before she caught herself, struggling with the next words. "I would like to see him. Please." She pleaded.
Agatha nodded. "Of course. I'll have him sent for you. You'll have one hour to be together. After that he'll have to go back to his rooms, so make the best of it. Afterwards we have work to do, you and I."
"Thank you, My Lady." Roslin said quietly, keeping her eyes cast down, quite a different display from the indignant noblewoman there had been when they started their conversation.
"My Lady?" Agatha said before laughing. "Factually incorrect, but feel free to keep calling me that. I rather like it. And I rather think that keeping me on a good mood will be a good strategy for you. Just a hunch."
When Agatha exited Roslin's room she was displeased to find Kenton on the other side, leaning on the far wall, glaring at her bards. Apparently he was unable to leave well enough alone.
"So?" The knight asked.
"I have secured her cooperation." She said with forced cheer.
"You have? And how have you managed this miracle?" He asked dryly.
She smirked. "Let's just say that we have made a bargain."
"Wait. What bargain? What have you…?" Kenton asked, shocked.
"Oh stop being so bloody paranoid all the time you oaf. It's nothing that will compromise you or your masters. I just reminded her of the things that are truly important." She said.
"Love. It's such a potent force, is it not? Particularly the love between a mother and child. There is power enough there to turn aside entire armies." She added, continuing to smirk.
"What on earth are you going on about, woman?" Kenton demanded, now utterly confused.
Agatha rolled her eyes. "Don't strain your brains with it. It is of no consequence right now. And your efforts would be better focused on doing your part in making this castle ready to be defended."
"Strain my brain? Did you just call me..?" Kenton said, confusion changing to being offended.
"Well, if you have to ask…" Agatha interrupted, then unceremoniously turned to the guards at the door:
"The Lady asked to see her boy. Fetch him for her. Then wait one hour, and bring the boy back to his rooms." She told them.
"Hey, wait a minute! I didn't authorize…" Kenton tried to protest.
"I did." Agatha cut him off once again. "It is important for her to see that her son is alive and well. It is essential to ensure she will remain cooperative."
"And one more thing. From this point forward I don't want you or your people interfering or interacting with the prisoners. They're my turf now. My people will attend to them." She added just as Kenton was about to speak again.
"By what right do you imagine that you get to just dictate…?" Kenton said.
"I was the one who managed to make her do what we tell her to. You didn't even think that was doable. We achieved results, and so we will be the ones to manage this now. I will not have your people and their ham-fisted attitudes mess this up." She interjected yet again.
"My people are ham-fisted? May I remind you whose fault it is that we are dealing with the Lady of Riverrun instead of the Lord himself in the first place?" Kenton countered.
"You may. Whether I give a damn is another matter entirely. But if you or any of your people tamper with the prisoners they will do so at the cost of their lives, and damn any deals done between your bosses and ours." Agatha said.
"Are you threatening me?" Kenton said menacingly.
"Why, yes, in terms simple enough that I thought you might understand them." Agatha replied. "Was that too much to hope for? Shall I dumb it down further?" She asked.
Kenton narrowed his eyes at her, snarled and grabbed his sword, drawing it partway out of its sheath. But as soon as he made a move the guards at the door brought their hands to their weapons as well, making him freeze. In a slow, deliberate motion Agatha placed a hand on a dagger at her belt, fixing Kenton with an icy glare. A tense standoff followed, Kenton weighing his options. He was carrying his sword, but not his armor, as he was not been expecting to enter combat. At the moment he was outnumbered three to one. And no doubt he had heard how efficiently the bards had cleaned out the castle from the rebel Tully guardsmen. And if he raised a hand against them, it would be the final straw in the animosity between their groups, leading to all out violence. Even he knew that was a terrible idea with a Lannister army bearing down on them.
Eventually Kenton decided that this argument wasn't worth the hassle that would follow, sheathing his sword. "Fine!" He spat, and strode away.
Once the knight had disappeared behind the corner Agatha closed her eyes and blew out a relieved sigh. That had been too close. As much as she would have liked to put that arrogant Knight in his place, that was not an option. Like it or not, peace between them had to be maintained. That said, the current situation was already ugly, and not a good foundation for their planned joint defense of their castle. This time they had gotten away with a scare, but how long could that continue to be the case?
"Until the Lannisters arrive." She decided. When that army got here they would have a common enemy that would distract from their mutual rivalries. At least until that time she would have to strive to ensure things would not boil over.
She turned her attention back to her guards. "Fetch the boy for his mother, and follow your instructions. I'll be back for her when she is done meeting her son. We will tour the castle so she can instruct me on the defenses. I want you two there as an escort in case she decides to try something. In the meantime if Kenton or any of his people try to get into talks with either of them at any point in the future, tell me, and I'll sort it out. Inform the guards watching over the boy as well and spread the word once you get off duty." She told them.
Both guards nodded.
"An enemy army will be here in a few days' time. By the time they arrive I want everyone here prepared for battle. I'll make sure everyone knows. You on your part make sure that you and everyone you know are ready when the time comes." She continued.
"Understood." One of the guards said.
"Before the enemy arrives we can expect our scouts back, possibly more survivors from house Sea as well. Send my people that arrive to me for assignment in manning the defenses, and point the Westerosi at Kenton for the same." She added.
"Are we sure we wish to send the Westerosi to him, Ma'am? Considering everything that is going on." The other Guard asked.
"I'm sure. Even as we have a highly dysfunctional relationship, we have managed to establish an understanding of sorts. He handles the Westerosi, and I handle my people. It is one of the few points we have managed to agree on without arguing about it, and so I won't mess with his people. Mostly because I don't want him start messing with mine." She said. After that she left, moving on to the thousand other tasks that still needed completion before her people and Riverrun could be considered ready to resist a siege.