The Tourney at Ashford

Warryn stood at one of the stalls looking at.... something? He wasn't sure what. It seemed to be something for ladies?

"That may be something ladies use for... I don't know." Kevan wanted to help and started the conversation but in the end he was none the wiser what the heck those things were.

"My guess too." He frowned. "I want to step away, but I am fascinated by this mystery." He turned to Kevan. "Ser Warryn Wydman, heir to Old Peake."

"I am now sure to ask one about it. Kevan Dunn, heir to the Burrow, sadly not yet a Ser." The lad offered an honest smile. "I wonder if they look the same way at men's items, the women."

"I assume they just laugh at us." He smiled. "Well, I am sure your knighting is just around the corner. A fellow of the Reach, If I recall correctly?"

"Indeed. Silver Hills are not far from here. And yes, you'll probably right, they'd laugh. If of nothing else than by watching us making fools of ourselves by trying to use those things in strange ways."

Warryn smiles. "Let's be off then, on the sly." He let out a small laugh. "Before they mistake us for something else. Silver Hills, eh? A short and peaceful journey, I hope."

"Not necessarily, it appears. Something has delayed my father." Kevan stepped away from the stall. "I sent a rider down the route this morning. Maybe there was an incident on the road."

A look of genuine concern crossed Warryn's face. "I hope all is well. Wydman are happy to help if need be." He knew he would be riding down himself if something like that would be happening in Wydman lands.

"At this point I and my sister Maera are what separates attendance from absence at a gathering when my house is obliged to be represented. So until anything is learned I have a duty here. Thank you for you offer, Ser. I will remember your honour." Kevan showed his respect to the other man.

"You're serving your House well, and that is what matters." He showed a brief smile. "So, tell me about the Reach. It's my first time visiting."

"It is pretty diverse, not just fields of grain as many think of it. The closer to Dorne the harsher the landscape gets. My house has guarded the prosperity of the kingdom by deterring and fending off attacks from Dorne for centuries so that it could keep its idyllic reputation."

Kevan Dunn wrote:"It is pretty diverse, not just fields of grain as many think of it. The closer to Dorne the harsher the landscape gets. My house has guarded the prosperity of the kingdom by deterring and fending off attacks from Dorne for centuries so that it could keep its idyllic reputation."

"Haven't been that far south.... well, I haven't been this far south either." He smiled. "Hrm... must be strange for you then, to see Dorne as not an enemy to hold but as... well, just any old cranky neighbor I guess."

"You could call it that. But then, would you bet your life on it that Dorne will not move against the realm ever again?" Kevan looked curiously at the knight of the Vale, far removed from the problems of the south.

Warryn shrugged. "Perhaps, perhaps not." He moved towards a weapon seller now. "I can understand some wariness... those who think there's peace in the Seven Kingdoms are mistaken." He had a matter of fact air about him. "Have the Dornishman moved against you yet?" He asked curiously.

"My father does not leave them the option to do so. Lords of the Burrow are called Lords Commanders in the Reach for a reason." He looked at the wares too. "There's a spike in banditry plaguing our lands recently. This may be sponsored from those who'd like the Dunns' hold of the border loosened." Kevan's own thoughts were more complex but he had to provide good rationale for his father's ideas. The old man hurt his reputation enough already by not arriving yet.

Warryn frowned. "Bandits are the bane of good man... I can sympathize." His tone was sincere as he spoke, even as he was looking at a bastard sword. "Your forces are not bored at home sitting on their asses then, I take it?"

"It's a difficult trade-off between keeping them combat-ready and concentrated at defensible positions or spreading them around to control and police the entirety of the frontier. Especially with the support for our efforts dwindling in peacetime." Kevan owned his faithful bastard sword, and now a greatsword too, so he perused the blades out of curiosity rather than anything else.

"Mhm, I understand that feeling.... spread thin or be too defensive. It's never an easy decision." He moved onwards, checking out a boar spear next. "Hm... your cousin was mentioning a hunt."

He let his hands linger on it, for now.

"House Dunn doing all well besides some annoying and suspicious banditry?"

"We have some difficulties but so far we've been getting by. In the long-term, however, our military posture can be sustained only if the old treaties with the other lords of the Reach are honoured and they continue providing us with their support. Our fief is not known for bountiful harvests." Kevan mused, not really hiding his scepticism about the the likelihood of maintaining the status quo.

Kevan Dunn wrote:"We have some difficulties but so far we've been getting by. In the long-term, however, our military posture can be sustained only if the old treaties with the other lords of the Reach are honoured and they continue providing us with their support. Our fief is not known for bountiful harvests." Kevan mused, not really hiding his scepticism about the the likelihood of maintaining the status quo.

"Ha, yes! Sadly many Houses try to leave alliances as soon as convenient." He lets out a bark. "Were is the camaraderie of old, I ask?" Warryn shook his head in disdain. "Mrm... having too much men can sadly be a strain. Perhaps we can help with that? If you'd like to discuss at a later time."

"Certainly, Ser. There's no harm in trying to build something new on honour and camaraderie." Kevan smiled a bit and saluted with his fist to the chest. "Perhaps tell me about your house more then. I already know one thing, you are formidable jousters." He chuckled.

"Ha! Well, it's in our blood. Our founder, my grandfather, defeated 5 knights in one day in jousting, only to lose out to his own father, after his horse has given up." He was obviously proud. "Besides that, we have been tasked with restoring an old land that has been taken by the mountain clans. Old Peake, our castle is one of the first Andal fortresses, built into the mountains. We are still in the process of taking back all the land though." He decided to let that slip by for now.

"Very impressive background, Ser. And I see. And how many men do you still need to lay a successful siege?" Kevan tilted his head.

Warryn shrugged. "Some." He glanced around. This was a delicate topic. "Perhaps we could discuss this over wine tomorrow?"