Snippet #1498456

King's Landing

Ulfred watched the crowned prince out of the corner of his eye. Raban's demeanor was improving, as well as his skill. One on one he could easily defeat Ulfred's other students. The lad seems to be doing better. It's time.

"Harod, Loues, and you too, Dale, on my signal I want you to attack Raban." Ulfred turned away from the boys and limped over to the crowned prince. "Ho, lad, I could've sworn that old bag of wind, Syrus, had you this afternoon. No matter, do you remember that stance I showed you day before last? I hope so."

With a short bark at the assembled pages Ulfred swung his legs over the rail and looked on with interest.


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Eastwatch-by-the-sea

The irregular crash of waves on the ice covered cliff walls below the keep were soothing to Dagovere Baewhite's ears. He sat in another meeting with the First Ranger, his captains, and the captains of Eastwatch. The conversation, though heated, was held in whispers. It made things more civil, no one shouted because they all strained to hear. Derfel Kenny, a captain of Eastwatch was speaking.

"I beg yer pardon, First Ranger, but we have fewer rangers than any other bastion along the wall. And most of our rangers are needed here. Wildling raids have increased so much that we've heard of coastal villages beyond the Gift being massacred. You ask us to petition for more men to take the black, but our ravens are no more capable than yours of convincin' the high born bastards of protectin' more than their own small interests. Increased numbers of raiding wildlings, even the beasts of the land are movin' south and we never see them 'til they've crossed the wall. All I'm sayin' is that with all o' this knockin' on our door and so little men it just doesn't make sense for you to ask this of us."

There were grunts of agreement from certain of the Eastwatch rangers. Dagovere kept his peace. One of the First Ranger's captains spoke up, Derrol or something, "There's always wildlings and we're always short of men. The fact is, you lot haven't sent a recruiter in years and you be the best equipped for such a voyage. I saw at least five ships docked out there, and I've spied many of your rangers layin' about like it's the Winter Festival."

Derfel put his hand up to stop the Eastwatch rangers from arguing that and replied, "If you were half so perceptive as you think you are, you would've noticed three in lifts being repaired. But I will admit that we're long over due in sending a Crow-picker. And I thank the First Ranger for not out right tellin' us to do it, and allowing us to work it out ourselves."

The mood settled after that, the heated tempers gone. Dagovere sipped on his second glass of wine since the start of the meeting. Another one of the Eastwatch captains gave his opinion,"Hullo, lads, I'm Captain Moriarty of the Maiden's Caress. The Maiden be ready to leave at a moment's notice, and I just happen to have a favor owed from the Greyhardts. I don't know if they'll come through on it, it was a small thing that's details do not bear on this discussion." Moriarty shuffled his feet awkwardly for a moment. "Perhaps someone they know would be best able to convince them to at least lend us a hand."

Everyone looked at Dagovere. Moriarty coughed. Dago set his goblet down and stood. "Well, that's decided."