A Rousing Game (EE 1)

[Alessia]

Alessia turned about in her chair when he wheeled over to her side. Facing him directly. Reaching forward she would take one of his hands if he let her, be it through confusion or consent, and placed her other hand over his as well. Holding his hand like that she looked him in the eye and said, "I am sorry that happened to you."

[Maester Oswell]

Oswell's curiosity prevented him from acting against Alessia, and the touch of an undeniably beautiful woman was always welcome.

"Very kind of you," he replied softly. "It is a burden indeed, but one that drives me to better understand my gifts I think." He adds before moving Percy into his own old spot and stealing the place beside Alessia.

"Just don't start thinking of me as a cripple first and a person second. You sympathy is sweet and genuine, but I can't stand the pity with which most look upon me."

[Alessia]

On that note, she offered a light smile that turned up more at the left corner of her lip. Letting his hand go she turned back to her seat proper, all the while keeping the conversation open.

"I wonder, do you think you would have been the same man if you had not been crippled as you were? From the sounds of it your father was one with money, wealth," she asked, earnestly curious.

[Maester Oswell]

"Probably, for the most part." He admits as the dice finally turn his way, pocketing enough of the kitty to break even and using the rest to buy more booze for the table.

"Was always more of a thinker than fighter, so was unlikely to ever be a knight or a soldier. Might've gotten married off to some high lady or another to secure an alliance and just run the household instead, but as there's no merit in a head of house who can't carry on the line that path was closed off to me too."

"Can't say it's turned out too poorly. There are people out there without two coins to rub together and without a roof over their heads. All in all, it could be worse. Speaking of which, has my mystery nameless warrior maiden made arrangements for her accommodation while here for the celebrations?"

[Alessia]

Alessia raised a curious brow, laughing a little she said, "I do not think I have ever been referred to as such, Maester."

With a light smile she continued, "As far as accommodations, I had to sleep along the road last night and as something seemed to be watching me this morning I do not think I will be doing that again anytime soon. Leaving me to my intent of this evening. To find the tavernkeep after I am finished here and securing myself a room."

[Maester Oswell]

"Well when one is denied a name with which to refer to their partner in conversation, one must of necessity improvise." He grinned as the new jug of ale arrived, though he didn't fill his own cup yet.

"But if there's people out there harassing the guests, then yes something closer to the town itself may be best."

[Alessia]

"Alessia," she offered quickly with a light smile by way of apology. "Though I had thought it more likely it was a lone wolf, or something of a kind. It must have been watching me for some time, as I never noticed it's approach."

[Maester Oswell]

"Hmmm," Oswell mused. "I would have expected the increased patronage of the area to have driven off most of the wildlife. It must be a very brave or curious specimen indeed to stay in the area."

"Thank you for the warning Alessia, I'll be sure to led my Lord's representatives know to be careful."

[Alessia]

"You know better than I Maester, I only can say what I witnessed," she replied with a shrug.

[Maester Oswell]

"My experience with animals is truly rudimentary at best m'dear. Ravens and that stubborn old mule who pulls me around is the extent of my expertise there. But I'm sure there's probably a huntsmaster around here who can shed some light on it."

Reaching over, Oswell tops up Alessia's cup and then his own.

[Alessia]

"That, or I should find a Maester with more chains." she said with a raised brow and a cocky grin. Taking her cup she found some more refreshment while enjoying her wit.

[Maester Oswell]

"Shouldn't be too difficult, we're holding a Conclave here in a few days. I'll introduce you around if you like. I'm sure you'll have a grand old time with all the stuffy, old, curmudgeonly types with enough chains to suit yer need." Oswell quips back, enjoying her wit also.

[Alessia]

"I am sure you know exactly which of those Maester's attending is precisely the one who has been waiting ages to speak of all sorts of forest creatures and their habits, but none to listen to his tales," she said with a light smile.

[Maester Oswell]

"Not yet." Oswell admits. "I came here from the Burrow rather than the Citadel, so I'm not sure of who will be in attendance yet. Although I imagine in the next few days I'll see some familiar faces and be able to point you in the right direction."

He turns to face Alessia as he passes the dice on after another failed turn. "Out of the goodness of my heart of course." He adds sarcastically.

[Alessia]

"I am certain you would, Maester, but I think I will have to decline this generous offer and allow someone else that is a bit more troubled by it than as merely a curiosity of a time that has passed," she replied, glancing to the table as the dice went about again. Though she had played a turns earlier it had been a bit since she actually accepted the dice. No one seemed to find her lack of playing to be all too much of a concern as long as she stayed, it seemed.

[Maester Oswell]

"As you wish. Probably best if we leave things in Ashford lands for our hosts to deal with anyway. Would hate to be accused of being a meddlesome busybody...again." He laughs heartily at his own joke before drinking deep of his cup.

"If you do find yourself in need of my particular talents over the next few days however, just ask around at the Dunn pavilions. I shouldn't be hard to find."

[Alessia]

"I wouldn't need to head to the Dunn pavilions for that, I am certain that if I where to ask where the man in the wheeled chair was off they would be clamoring to tell me all about it," she said, a smile in place of a good-natured laugh.

[Maester Oswell]

Oswell snorted in laughter spilling some ale out of the corner of his mouth.

"Hardly inconspicuous am I." He agreed with a nod. "I'm hoping my talents won't be needed at all while I'm here, but whenever you get a bunch of headstrong young lads on horses, accidents are bound to happen."

[Alessia]

"Men don't tend to consider an argument settled until one of them is at least bleeding," she responded in kind. "Braavos, Westeros, nowhere is saved from it."

[Maester Oswell]

"Save us all from hot blooded young men with something to prove. Although I think they would gain little prestige from beating on an old cripple such as I."

He nudged the hot young woman beside him.

"Something tells me that you're far more likely to hold their attention than I."

[Alessia]

"Only until they decide the best way to win my attention is prove one is the strongest, and begin crossing swords or fighting," she said jokingly, a light smile to accompany it. Never actually having had anyone fight over her quite like that.

"Let us change the subject," she said, looking more directly to him and with that smile of hers. "The world could do with a few less words spared on young guys and their antics. You haven't been to Braavos, but I have Maester, and I can promise you the world won't weep for a little less attention their way."

[Maester Oswell]

In the wake of that smile, Oswell acquiesced to her demands, they weren't so demanding after all in the grand scheme of things.

"What would you prefer to discuss then? When was your last trip across the Narrow Sea? I haven't seen the shores over there for going on just over three years now."

[Alessia]

"Recently, within the year," she said, but then shifted her hand slightly to show the pause was only momentary. "However, it was to travel to Westeros. My instructor informed me I had nothing more to learn from him and I agreed, so now I am here. Looking for what's next."

After a drink she looked to Oswell again with a light smirk, "I haven't had quite as many years as you."

[Maester Oswell]

"Yes, I've noticed as much. Just make sure you do manage to rack up a decent number of years, or at least cram as much living into the ones the Stranger allows you." Oswell waves the dice on, focused more intently on the conversation for now.

"So what do your plans entail, if I'm not prying overmuch? What is next on your to do list?"

[Alessia]

"Learn."

Alessia waited for a look of recognition for what she meant by the word alone, but continued after regardless. Turned to face him she now crossed her arms over one another in her lap, one touching the hilt of her blade as she spoke about it. Gave her a sense of purpose.

"My instructor in Braavos told me that he had taught me everything I could possibly learn from him," she said, tilting her head to the side a little. "Way I saw it that meant I either scour Braavos to find a new instructor or I take matters into my own hands. Of course, I took matters into my own hands. Coming back to Westeros was a solid option, how better to improve myself as a swordsman than to learn how to combat different methods of fighting?"

Smiling, Alessia was quite proud of that idea of hers.