Snippet #1468177

The day, such as it were eventually came to close. And with the fall of night House Winsler and it's retainers were forced to camp. Something Jamie found distasteful, for his personal guard and indeed all the soldiers and knights accompanying could have covered quite a bit more distance before retiring for the night. But the Lords,Ladies, and other useless folk weighing them down forced an early stop while there was still bright sun in the sky. While the headstrong young man usually approved of his Lord Father's decisions, only because they brought him nearer to his plan's fruition, this was not one of the approved decisions. He frankly found the man half-mad, then again the same could be said of him at times. There was no strength or glory represented by the Lords and Ladies of their holdings. If anything it stank of weakness, this parading of their nobility.

In the end though it didn't matter, what mattered was the plan. And if he had to put up with the useless folk of this column then so be it. And so he quieted his disgust and helped the servants, soldiers, and cooks set up the evening camp. Dismounting his charger the reckless knight left it in the care of the groomsmen and stable boys accompanying them. Then he saw to the placement of the sentries, saw that the servants had all they needed to fulfill their duties, even helped the hunters bring down a fine batch of graceful deer so that there was no need to eat the preserved provisions they had brought with them.

All this only added to Jamie's impatient attitude, well the hunting was always good fun. But he comforted himself by fancying he could smell the stench of Flea bottom from here. For he had been to King's landing once before, a year past to scout the place out so to speak. Unlike his twin Jamie put little stock in books and reports, preferring seeing things with his own eyes. Officially he had been on his way to a tourney being held in the Dornish Marches at Lord something or another's castle. But what his family didn't know wouldn't hurt them. Overall he had been underwhelmed by the experience. King's Landing was in his eyes little more then a cesspit were the nobles and King pretended they couldn't smell the shit overflowing from the sewers.

Then again his stay had been brief, and the very nature of it meant he couldn't use his noble status to explore further. And so he left the cesspit of King's Landing and went to the Dornish March Lord's tourney. Where he had won second place, a rather hefty chest of money. First prize had been the Lord's daughter's hand, something Jamie had no interest in so in the final round he had yielded after giving the crowd a good show for formalities sake if for nothing else. After all the knight he had been facing Ser Gungthir or something like that obviously was head over heels for the girl and she for him. Reckless he may be but Jamie was still a knight and firm believer in the code he swore to up hold. Besides what was second place compared to doing a little good for two people. The Seven knew he would need that kind of goodwill once the plan was put into motion.

Shaking his head clear of such thoughts he returned to the tasks his body had been doing while his head was lost in the clouds. This keeps up I'll be writing poetry next He chided himself as he saw to the raising of his own tent, a red and black thing set with his houses sigil and flying the banner of House Winsler. This being done he decided to relax and enjoy the calm and serene night. The cooks had saw to it their Lord master's son and his guard were given the choicest portions of the deers he and the hunters had brought down. Jamie, ordering a small cask of Dornish wine to be broached, made good on his word to Ser Eilis.

" Tis a good night tonight." Jamie spoke as he and his guard sat to dinner, sitting around the fire that had been kindled in front of his tent. Every few bites he word take a sip of the Dornish wine, surprised as always by it's nature. Fortified though it may be it nonetheless was a tasty brew and far better then the barely beer favored among some. He had never grown accustomed to it's taste.

"How so Ser." Eilis asked a questioning tone in his voice as he preferred clearly the drinking of the wine to the vension, for he supped little and drank two goblets to Jamie's half a goblet.

"Because we'll reach King's landing tomorrow and half this snail's journey will be over. And I can show the Damian's what I really think of them, while doing all that political crap Kervall says I should try."

"You'd be referring to your little gift, aren't you?"

"Yes indeed Ser. They won't see it coming and it'll be the prefect start to my plan."

"I suppose your Lord Father approves?" Eilis asked with some hesitation. He was after all the commander of Jamie's guard but at the same time his so called true loyalty lay with Lord Winsler.

"I haven't told him a damn thing Ser. My father would likely soil himself if he knew how much this little gift cost in money alone. But it's not like I emptied the vault."

"Your twin is a clever man."

"Indeed he is Ser. Teralo is no warrior but a more intelligent man you could not find. He took my tourney winnings and made me a rich man. And made possible the first step of the plan."

With that the headstrong knight fell silent as did his guards. For there was no more to say. Realizing this Jamie sent for a bard and one was sent. A tall and long legged woman of great appeal. While she sang sweetly and skillfully the young knight was willing to wager his golden armor that her beauty was as much a reason for her fame as her skill at her chosen craft was. But be that as it may the willful young man merely sat in silence, listening to the songs, till one caught his attention.

" And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear"

The bard was looking right at the young knight, no doubt gauging his reaction. Many of the others had no idea of the meaning of that song. Although no scholar Jamie knew that song, knew it by heart. It was quite the metaphor and gave Jamie an other idea, a new step in the plan.

" That was well done milady." Jamie said clapping lightly.

"You mock me with a noble's style your Lordship." The female bard said in a tone of mock injury.

"All by no means I don't. There is something I would like to discuss, if you would care to come into my tent. Ser Eilis if you would be so kind I am feeling tired." Jamie said with a wink to veteran knight. Eilis like Jamie knew that song and unlike the rest of the guard knew Jamie wasn't inviting the bard in for such crude reasons.

So Eilis and Jamie's guard made themselves scarce with much laughing and ribald suggestions. Jamie for his part entered his tent being closely followed by the bard who closed the entrance flap as Jamie lit a few candles to provide some light.

"I knew my boldness would catch your eye your Lordship." She said with a saucy twist of her hips.

"It's just Ser and you can drop the act no one else is around." Jamie replied with a smile despite his words, the woman was quite beautiful, with none of the demure manner of the noble women he was use to. It was a refreshing change for the young knight.

"I think my Lord likes the act nonetheless. But business before pleasure they say."

And with that Jamie discussed the next step of the plan, the two working long into the night to smooth it out. But when dawn came it found the two inevitably sharing the same sleeping roll. She had been quite the bold one and left unashamedly in the predawn light wearing rumpled clothing. Jamie for his part left his tent a few good minutes after she did wearing a freshly pressed black silk tunic, brown leather breeches tucked into black knee high riding boots, and his valyrian steel blade Memory girt upon his hip. Sometimes camping early had it's advantages.

Searching out his twin he found Teralo outside his tent with his inevitable escort of sorts, the young Emaya. Sending a nearby servant to find Kervall the reckless knight approached his brother with last night's smile still fresh upon his face. It was partially simply the aftermath of such things but also the pleasure of seeing his plan come together so well.

"Hail mighty Teralo, bane of assassins everywhere. I hear the Faceless Men have put a bounty on your head that would tempt even our Lord Father." Jamie gave his twin a few seconds to react to that before launching into his real reason for coming here." But all kidding aside Teralo I have something I would like to show you, something I need your opinion on. Don't look so shocked it's not the first time I've asked you for advice. If you would follow me I'll take your right to it."

And so Jamie turned a sharp about face and with his long legged stride headed towards the wagons. And in particular the wagon assigned to him. Jamie being Jamie the wagon was full of weapons, armor, and supplies needed to look after weapons. Then again he did plan to compete in the tourney unlike Teralo.