288 AC

In the Distance Ryam saw the Silver Trout of house Tully approach, it was a small contingent of men no more than twenty all ahorse with each horse saddled with provisions and equipment.
Unless they planned on travelling around before returning to Riverrun it seemed like they were overprepared.
Alester stood beside Ryam on the battlements and looked pleased at the showing of the Tully host, front and center was Edmure Tully.
He looked youthful with his auburn red hair long enough to flop with each step of his horse. He had a wide grin on his face which bore fair features.
Whilst it was too early to say for sure Ryam's fears over the disposition of Edmure Tully were partially abated. The Gates were opened and Edmure and his entourage were welcomed with opened arms

Lord Florent ever the stickler for social customs stuck out his hand to be shaken

"Ser Edmure"

Edmure met his hand and patted the Lord on the back quickly losing the laxed smile and now a more serious face.

"Lord Florent, you took my aunt into your house and met her with nothing but generosity and warmth, from every letter she sent she sung your praises, I cannot wait to experience the famed hospitality of House Florent".

Ser Edmure's face then returned to the relaxed half smile that seemed to be his natural way of looking

Whilst absolutely an attempt to butter up Lord Florent that did not stop him from looking proud that even in the Riverlands his house was well known.

Before Lord Florent was even in a position to introduce Ryam to Ser Edmure, Edmure assumed the small boy with sharp ears in Florent attire beside lord Florent was his squire to be and so embraced the youth in a large bear hug.

"Cousin! I can not wait to be shown around this beautiful home of yours and to finally see where my future squire's strengths lie"

Edmure then broke the hug and gestured to one of the members of the entourage he had, A tall blond man that Ryam did not recognize the sigil of. A Pink maiden on a blue background. This Man wore the same casual smile that Edmure had.
"Marq and I here have been wondering if you will end up preferring the bow or the blade"

Ryam was baffled by this display of affection as did most of the House around him and yet the boy smiled all the same as Edmure already had taken a liking to him.

A short cough was emitted from Lord Florent and all eyes returned to him.

"I will see your men fed and housed for the duration of your stay. Now Come I will show you around"
Lord Florent gestured for his steward to lead the men to where they will be staying, a subtle way of reshowing authority and steering the conversation back to himself.

"You have my thanks Lord Florent, please lead on and show me the castle so oft praised by my aunt"

Ryam did not presume said tour would involve himself as it seemed likely that Lord Florent wished to get a better gauge of Edmure in a more private setting. Those thoughts were broken as once again Edmure hand was placed atop Ryam's shoulder.

"Of course, my squire will attend to me whilst I roam this castle. Who knows what enemies lurk behind every corner!" Edmure finished with a smirk.

If this displeased Lord Florent, he didn't show it.

And so, the trio walked through the great halls of Brightwater Keep showing off the vast wealth of a well to do Reach house. Despite being Lords Paramount of The Riverlands and The Trident, House Tully would be comparably materially rich as House Florent by themselves, but House Florent couldn't hope to muster as many men nor beat House Tully Financially when including the taxes of all the vassals of House Tully.

Edmure looked the part of a fawning guest always speaking flatteringly of the architecture or the finery littering every hall, but Ryam could see that this bored the man silly. After another turn down another long corridor Edmure slightly shook his head and piped up,

"Is This the way to the yard?"

"Yes, just down this hall and through the great hall then you can feel free to test Ryam to your satisfaction"

Ryam knew that this part of the castle was practically as far away from the yard as it could be, and the route given by Alester was to walk back through half the castle.
Ryam could only guess Lord Florent didn't want to seem as if he was showing off too much of the Reach's Riches and Edmure didn't want to be seem commanding another Lord in his own castle.

Marq Piper was in the yard already sparring with the Master of Arms of Brightwater keep.

Kirk was an older man with faded red hair, but he was keeping his own against the much younger and spryer man though it was clear the old man was tiring. Piper quickly feinted to the right then began a barrage of blows with his longsword against the other man's left until he was forced to drop his shield and then threw his sword to the ground, "I Yield"

"Twas a good bout Ser and If you were five years younger you would have trounced me"

"Well Too bad then I only seem to get older"

Both men lightly chuckled and went to drink some water.

Apon entering the yard Ryam noticed Edmure immediately met the eyes of Marq and slightly tilted his head, Marq replied with a quick shake of his head and Edmure then gave a nod.

Ryam was utterly confused by this but didn't question it. It was common in this house for there to be thing Ryam was told not to look too deep into so this didn't shock him.

Edmure walked over to Master Kirk and had some quick conversation with him, but both kept hushed tones.

Lord Florent spoke to Ryam

"I have ravens to send, make the house proud"

And with that Lord Florent withdrew.

"Let's get a gauge of my Squire" Edmure twirled a thin blade in his arms.

"Pickup whichever you feel most comfortable with" He then gestured towards a table with an array of weaponry, Ryam was not comfortable with any weapon really but he had started his training with a shortsword so he might Aswell continue with it.
Ryam then returned to the ring with Edmure.

"Now let us begin!" Edmure spoke too optimistically.

Hours passed as Ryam would enter the ring get thwacked and tapped as Edmure instructed him on his footing then Ryam would get a different weapon and the process would repeat.

Truly Ryam had no skill with any of them be they bladed, blunt or backwards they all felt wrong in his hands.

Edmure now covered in sweat, never stopped grinning, always positive and always encouraging Ryam that the next weapon he picked up would finally click.

To be truthful the boy thought he was being mocked, every light hit he received from Edmure was an admission of guilt that he wasn't worthy of being his squire and no matter how he adjusted himself he always found himself in the way of Edmure's blade.

Finally, as the day grew dim Ryam picked up a small falchion from the ever-shortening pile of different weapons his house stocked and once again got into position.
Immediate comments from both Marq and Kirk were given to widen his feet, higher his grip and turn his hips.
Ryam was tired, angry and frankly embarrassed so he just charged not even waiting for Edmure nor the spectators to stop giving comments before the bout would begin.

He quickly smacked Edmure's sword, the surprise of the attack meant that Edmure's grip was lazy, and the man's sword went flying. The look of shock quickly overtook any smile Edmure could muster as the boy's sword was raised to his throat.

Ryam looked fearful that he had overstepped but before he could even begin to apologise Edmure and the other two men then started whooping and hollering. With big grins all around Edmure comforted the young man saying they knew going into this that Ryam was not skilled at all, but they wanted to learn if he had any ability to fail, to learn and to give his all to it.
Now they knew that. Ryam was then officially brought on as Edmure's squire and the boy felt pride. Everyday training in the yard only led to him getting hit but now Ryam felt proud.

Ryam quickly washed himself and went down to the main hall where himself, Lord Florent, and Edmure with his men would all eat before departing on the morn'. Lord Florent himself seemed surprised by Ryam's "Victory" over the Tully man but he did not speak to Ryam about it all throughout the meal, though to be fair he didn't usually speak at all to Ryam during meals.
Edmure though told the tale as if Ryam was the Warrior come again though embellishing it with even more weapons tried out and even more hours passing.

Ryam had always felt at home in Brightwater keep but he was always at the fringes, here surrounded by the rivermen all clapping his back and hooting about his tale made the young Florent feel wanted.

Sleep came quickly for the boy as his head hit the pillow as he was exhausted from the day training.
When the sun broke through the Skies, he saddled Edmure's and his own horse he now was leaving the home he knew his entire life and was to now adventure all around the Riverlands.

Ryam was deep in conversation with Edmure about the Mud Kings of Old as their horses trotted on, not even noticing the Castle behind them disappearing into the horizon.