Chapter 7

Kari Lane

Lady Lane was sitting on her chair with her grandson Stone on her lap. She needed the distraction from worry for her two sons. The Eldest Son was in serious serious condition last she heard and her youngest was set to duel a Lord in the Vale. She almost had a drink of wine but she knew if she drank every time he sons caused trouble she would not last long in this world. She bounced the little child on her lap. "With how your uncles act there is a good chance you will be the next lord of steel lake."

"Steel Lake!" Stone shouts with a huge smile on his face. Kari smiled at him and kissed his head. The door to her chambers are pushed open. Maester Anderson emerged from the hall. He used to be a soldier for House Lane until a javelin pierced his leg during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Apparently Dale's father saw potential in the young man and sent him to the Citadel to be taught. Bastion as served the family ever since, the one problem was the amount of bastards Bastion had fathered, Maesters were sworn to a life of celibacy but Bastion had troubles keeping true to that vow. "My lady, news from you husband at King's Landing. Jasper has awoken and looks to fully recover from his injuries. They are on there way from King's Landing and should be back in two weeks."

Kari smiled at the news. "Any word from Brynden about Dutch?"

Anderson shook his head. "I'm afraid not my Lady."

Kari nodded but kept her smile. "That will be all Anderson." Anderson bowed his head and left Kari alone with Stone.

Kari continued to play with him indulgently him until the doors opened again. This time it was Breanne with her husband Dakota. Kari had no ill feelings to Dakota, he was a strong young man who served House Lane by designing many of the castles towers and buildings when Dale wanted to add a new armoury or barracks. However he wasn't a Lord with powerful armies to help protect her family or with great wealth. He was just a young man who fell for her daughter. Dale told her that they didn't have anything to worry about. The Lanes have served House Tully better in one century then many of the other River Lords in five. Which was true, despite Lord Hoster being very sick do to his age Edmure filled the role rather well, or as well as you can expect giving his inexperience and considers Dale one of his most loyal bannermen after Robert's rebellion.

"Thanks for watching him mom." Bre walked over and lifted her son . The child couldn't help but laugh as he was lifted into the air.

"No thanks needed. There are few things as wonderful as watching my grandson."

Bre set Stone onto the ground, once his feet touched the floor he zipped over to his father and grabbed his hand. "Clop Clops!" He started to pull on Dakota towards the door.

"Looks like we are off to see the horses. I'll be back in about an hour, he should be tired by then."

Kari and Bre sat across from each other. "Thanks again mom, it's nice to spend some alone time with Dakota, It feels like we haven't had any time together in months."

"Alone? Does this mean I am getting another grandkid soon?"

Breanne couldn't help but chuckle. "No no, maybe in a year or two. You know if you marry Jasper off you could get a grandkid a lot sooner."

Kari wrinkled her nose at that. "To who? You know your father has not been willing to ask you kids to marry strangers and Jasper is too much like his father. He will only marry a girl he fancies."

"And we both know who he fancies." Kari shook her head ruefully. "And we both know the feelings aren't returned." The older woman looked out the window, the full moon shone portentously. "I think it's time to call it a day."

Bre bowed her head and left her mother alone in her room. She sat, thinking. Jasper would need to marry, there were a couple of options, some even around the same age as Jasper. She decided to bring it up to her husband when they returned from King's Landing, before she started to arrange things so the boy could have the chance to fancy the correct girl.

The first week of waiting for her husband's return passed fairly uneventfully, but the next week proved to be more consuming. A handful of young men, no older than 18, were brought to her for stealing gee gaws from a traveling merchant's wagon. They were not local lads and she was curious as to where they came from, she gave them the standard option for petty thieves. The Wall, three fingers off one hand, or to join the army and serve House Lane. To her surprise all five of them chose to join the army. The Master of Arms laughed when he heard them in the courtroom and walked over to them. "Don't worry milady. These summer kids will be begging for the wall or the cleaver by tomorrow." The criminals took it as a challenge but Kari simply nodded her head. She bet that three of them would change their minds and try to escape.

"I should warn you boys, if you do change your mind and don't ask for one of the other options then it will be your head instead." She heard the youngest on gulp before Liam escorted them out of the room.

The next one was a rape allegation. A young girl stepped forward holding a mud and blood stained dress that was ripped down the middle in her arms and an older man close to her most likely the father. On the other side of the room a man who was so fat Kari could easily make out three chins, and maybe a fourth if he didn't raise his head so high, straining to look down his nose at the assembly. Standing next to him was a young man, starting to resemble the softness of his elder relative with the blue hair of many men who come from Tyrosh. The older man spoke first. "My Lady, my daughter was out watching our cattle, when theses bastards-" He turned and pointed his bony finger at the two Tyroshi. "Attacked her, they took her and….." The old man couldn't finish.

Kari raised her hand, Maester Anderson rose and walked to her side. "Young lady, follow my Maester, he will check to see if your hymen is broken." Both the farmer and his daughter looked confused. "Hymen milady?"

Kari shook her head. "It's a special body part in a women that helps us to check her…. Purity. If those men truly forced themselves on her it will be broken, there will be bruising." A bluff, but Kari was counting on their lack of knowledge on the hymen to find out if the young lady was truly raped. Surprisingly,the merchants smiled, looking pleased with the prospect; it was the farmer and daughter who looked worried.

"Milady, please, I wish for my daughter to not have another man defile her." The girl's father stuttered.

Kari made her tone sharp. "I'm afraid you will have to, your daughter may have a bloody and torn dress but I see no bruises on her at all which is rare when a women is taken by force. While yes, I see the torn dress with blood and mud... but I wonder whose blood that is, maybe a cow? I wonder if my men would find a freshly slain cow on your farm?"

The farmer's face went pale, he griped his daughter's arm. "I will not have my daughter poked at by more men, we are done here." he spat the words out, barely containing his anger. The man moved toward the doorway but two guards crossed their spears, blocking his exit.

"No, we are not done." Kari rose from her small throne and walked down the steps, loosing none of her dignity even while peering up at the man. "For wasting my time I will be taking one of your cattle as payment, and the merchants need to be compensated in some way for their loss of business attending to this matter, as well as any damage to their reputations, so another cow for them will do nicely. My men will be down within the hour to collect them. I hope that you will not give them any trouble." The man looked at her, anger and fear competing in his visage, Kari smiled at him and waved her hand above her head as she returned to her seat. The two guards moved there spears aside and the farmer stomped off with his shamefaced daughter in tow. The merchants thanked her for being a wise and fair ruler. They told her they would definitely stop by in the future to do trade in her lands and pass along the word of the wisdom and fair dealings that strangers received from the House of Lane.

The days continued to fly by, until her husband and son finally showed up. She walked out to the castle walls to personally greet them. "Well, it's about time you two showed up."

"Sorry mom, Dad ran into Lord Mallister on are way back and spent an entire day talking and drinking with him." Kari grinned at the common complaint, all of Dale's progeny were stumped by his outgoing nature and ability to turn a chance five minute meeting into a day long tete a tete.

Dale scowled at his son. "It was only for a couple hours."

"It didn't feel like a couple hours."

"Hush, both of you." Kari scolded. "You've both been on the road for two weeks, come inside, I have a nice meal prepared for you." Jasper hopped down from his horse and jogged up to the door, as he moved to open it, Kari could make out the sound of small hooves clacking across the floor. "Look out Jasper!" She regretted the warning upon uttering it, as Jasper stared at her, wondering what she was talking about.

Fast as an arrow, a ball of fur crashed into Jasper sending him sprawling to the ground. There Bloodtusk began to lick Jasper's face. "GAAAAH! down. down pig!" Jasper pushed the small animal off of him, chuckling to himself. "If you do that again then you're going to be breakfast." Bloodtusk simply sat down and looked up at Jasper.

While the men cleaned up, Kari sat down at the table with Breanne and Dakota. Stone was playing with a spoon, every once in a while smacking it on the table and giggling to himself. Finally, Jasper and Dale graced them with their presence. Dale took his spot at the head of the table next to her and Jasper sat across from her next to Dale. Dakota was the first to break the silence. "Jasper, I heard you jousted against a mountain. How did it go?"

Jasper gave him a sarcastic smile. "Oh it was great. I was embarrassed in front of the entire kingdom."

Dale quickly interrupted him. "It was hardly embarrassing, You jousted one of the strongest men in Westerose, most people would have soiled themselves if they were put up against him."

Jasper nodded. "Well I at least did better the Ser Hugh."

Dale let out a deep sigh. "It was very tragic, it was the man's first joust; may the Father judge him fairly." Dale continued, talking about the melee, how Thoros of Myr rode his horse waving his flaming sword around. Most of the knights were bucked off their horses when they reared up in fear. When Kari asked about the Archery competition both Dale and Jasper confessed they chose not to watch.

The meal went on and on with Dale constantly scolding Jasper for his bad table edicate."Smaller bites, and resting your elbows on the table, you're a lord, not a peasant." Jasper rolled his eyes but did as he told.

Stone quickly shouted out. "Uncle Ass!" Dakota spit up his drink as Bre covered her mouth laughing.

Jasper feigned hurt feelings . "Its Uncle Jazz, Stone, can you say that?"

"Oh I think he said it perfectly." Bre chimed in

The entire family had a good laugh, including Jasper, but it was short lived as the doors were opened; silencing the familial mirth, Stormy, House Lanes spy master, walked into the dining room. Kari noticed how Jasper seemed to sit up straighter when she walked in but she took no notice of the young lord and addressed Dale, she leaned in and whispered into his ear. Dales face darkened as he pushed his chair out. "I have to go, Excuse me." Despite no one excusing him he made his way to his chambers.

Kari followed after him, when she opened the door she saw him with Liam who was helping him don his armor. "What is going on?"

Dale looked up at her. "Catelyn Stark has kidnapped Tyrion Lannister."

Kari's face darkened, but she held her tongue, until Liam had tied off the last strap to her lord's armor.

"Leave us." Liam bowed his head toward his lady and left the room. She looked up at her husband. "You don't need to go. You already fought in one war, send Liam to lead your forces and stay here. You haven't even been back for a day and you're already leaving?"

Dale cupped her face in his cold armored hand. "I swore my blade to Lord to House Tully, like my great grandfather; I have to keep my word."

Kari knew there was no use arguing but she still had things to say. "Will you be taking Jasper with you?"

Dale shook his head. "No, Jasper will stay here. He is not completely healed from his beating, although he will not let it show." His eyes locked with hers, "and in case the worst happens."

Kari's eyes watered up. "Don't talk like that." She wrapped her arms around Dale. "You need to come back, you need to watch Jasper grow into a strong lord, you need to prepare Dutch and Stone to grow into strong knights, you need to bounce all of Bre's children on your knee and you need to outfit Alli before she runs off to the other side of the world."

Dale placed his head on hers and kissed her nose lightly.. "I will do everything i can to return. But I'm noting going to sugar coat it. The Lannisters have a larger and better equipped army then Lord Edmure. The Starks are too far away to give us the help we need."

Kari dried her eyes and spoke with mock ferocity. "I get it, just be careful, you have thousands of men under your command. Let them die before you do, understand?"

Dale smiled at his wife. "Good bye." He kissed her forehead and walked out of the room, leaving her alone, yet again.