[D3, EE] To buy or not to buy...

[Ser Reynard]

With the sun setting and cold starting to roll in for the night, Roycelyn was less than pleased that her brother was still agonizing over his purchase. "You know," she said, being both surly and dutiful, "there's only so much difference in these. Any new weapon will feel a little awkward at first."

Reynard shook his head. "But I need every advantage I can get. Father would say, don't take unnecessary risks. So I need to make the best choice..." The strapping young man stepped away from the display table, obliviously stepping back into the flow of people behind him.

[Kaliya Redding]

As Reynard stepped backwards, he almost collided with Kaliya, who was heading for the warmth of the Dirty Dornishman in the castle town. She side-stepped, turning to see who had been so careless.

[Ser Reynard]

Reynard, still slightly oblivious, realizes his peril when his sister slaps his shoulder. He steps away from Lady Redding to give her respectful space, then bows significantly to help hide his embarrassment. "Ah, milady, please excuse me. My thoughts are elsewhere and I beg your pardon for the inconvenience." He straightens but bows his head, looking sideways to his sister who is glaring at him. With a roll of her eyes she turns to the lady and interjects: "My lady, please excuse my foolish brother. Ser Reynard Goodbrook is many things, but disrespectful and a lout are not among them."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's expression was one of curiosity, rather than disapproval. "No harrm done," she glanced between the siblings, "if he is Rreynarrd," the name rolled off her tongue with a trill, "who does that make you?"

[Ser Reynard]

"Roycelyn Goodbrook, milady," the girl smiled and dipped her head respectfully. Wearing pants and a sheathed blade on each hip she couldn't really curtsey, even if that were her style. "Ser Reynard here is hoping to represent both House Terrick and our family well in the tournament, making even simple decisions very important." Reynard's head had risen and he glared at his sister for the backhanded compliment, but he didn't say anything as he patiently listened to the exchange.

[Kaliya Redding]

An eyebrow rose smoothly, "I know he has a tongue in his head," Kaliya teased, "do you do all of his talking for him, Rroycelyn?" After studying the siblings for a long moment, "twins?"

[Ser Reynard]

"No, I do plenty of talking," Reynard pipes up, sounding slightly annoyed. When the lady and his sister both look at him, though, he turns sheepish. "Roycelyn's just a little better at it sometimes."

The younger Goodbrook's protectiveness kicked in about this time, and she spoke up again. "My noble brother is much better at killing ironborn than I am, though we're both improving in that area," she says with a warm smile. "Ah, but that's not a topic for polite company. Please excuse me, Lady... Uh..."

[Kaliya Redding]

"Well, it is a rrarre thing to find someone who knows when they arre betterr off keeping theirr mouth closed," her tone is still teasing, her smile cattish. "I am Lady Kaliya Rredding," she offered a small curtsy, "surrely I have neverr been so forrtunate to almost be trripped," her gaze assessing the pair.

[Ser Reynard]

Roycelyn smiles while Reynard blinks, not entirely understanding the compliment. With her brother not immediately responding, Roycelyn piped up again. "Our condolences, Lady Redding, on the most terrible passing of Lord Tyrell. It's a great loss to the realm," the girl says solemnly. Reynard, catching up, nods with appropriate gravity.

[Kaliya Redding]

"Indeed, thank you," she glanced past the pair, "and what arre we shopping forr this evening?"

[Ser Reynard]

While Roycelyn was stifling a sigh and then smiling indulgently, Reynard retook the spotlight. "Something less vicious than my usual weapon. A morning star is a bit too dangerous for a tournament seeing," the knight said, perhaps a little sadly.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya moved closer to the weapons table, she didn't really know anything about weapons that weren't spears or daggers, but she peered interestedly at what was offered. "Well, the Dorrnish cerrtainly believed so. My parrents liege lorrds, the champion of theirr House is titled Sworrd of the Morrning. They say his blade is forrged from a fallen starr," she hoped that would cover for the fact that she didn't actually know which of the arrayed weapons was a morning star, or if there was even one there.

[Ser Reynard]

"That sounds quite impressive," Reynard said, his interest in hearing more trumping any objection to Kaliya's creative response. "My morning star," he says, a bit reverently, "is rather like this ball and chain, if you shortened the chain and attached it to a handle about so long." Reynard showed the approximate length with his hands, having pointed first to the weapon that would give the lady a reference point.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya made a show of grimacing, "I would say that it sounds quite violent indeed, but I suppose that is the intention afterr all. And you arre looking forr something less dangerrous? do I underrstand correctly?"

Casting her eyes over the arrayed weapons, "how is that possible? all of these things arre designed to kill and maim," and she can't suppress a shudder that goes through her, "how can a weapon be less dangerrous?" She was, to a degree, familiar with Tourney lances that were designed to break rather their pierce, that had been explained to her, and she had seen fighters spar with covered weapons, but she was rather unsure on the business of the Grand Melee.

[Ser Reynard]

Reynard looked thoughtfully at Kaliya, a little surprised and a little confused--both emotions probably evident on his face--but his response was quite conciliatory. "Lady Redding makes an excellent point. All these weapons are intended to kill. Wielded with skill, or with recklessness, they will do that. So none is really any less dangerous than another. Some are, though, easier for a man to control. And especially for a Grand Melee, which simulates actual combat, a little bit of control may be what makes the difference between a knight injured and a knight killed." He looks at her earnestly. "Please forgive my inelegant words. I will try to be more careful with them."

[Kaliya Redding]

"It is quite all rright, the worrld is a violent place, therre is no sense in shying frrom that." Kaliya nodded with her greater understanding, in hindsight, she better understood the flashy and excessive style of Dornish fighters: it was about control. "Is therre anything herre, then, that takes yourr fancy?" she really seemed to be interested.

[Ser Reynard]

Feeling secure on familiar ground, Reynard became a bit more animated as he spoke. But, his energy also slowed as he thought carefully about his options.

"I started the day thinking a warhammer or maul--one of those long, heavy clubs like that," he says, trying to help the lady make sense of his thoughts. "But it occurred to me that using both hands for a weapon leaves no way to carry a shield. I'm used to having my shield," he pauses, looking around for an example. "Yes, and not having protection like that"--he points to a round shield about twice as wide as the Dornishwoman--"would be a big change for me. So I think something smaller, a single-handed weapon like a mace..." He points. "Or a ball and chain..." Pointing. "May be smarter."

He pauses a little longer now, exhaling a serious breath. "And it's important that I make the right choice."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya gave him an approving smile, "it seems that you have a functional brrain in that skull of yourrs, no doubt you will make the rright choice. I shall have to watch forr you, I will be interested to see how you do."

[Ser Reynard]

Reynard smiles, a little shyly, but laughs too. "Lady Redding honors me with her kind words," he jokes. "I do appreciate the support, though." He seems unsure what to do next with the conversation.

Roycelyn slips back into the conversation to rescue her brother again. "And you, Lady Redding?" she asks warmly, curiously. "What brings you to the tournament?"

[Kaliya Redding]

"Curriosity," Kaliya answered with an enigmatic smile. "Do you two come as a set, or do you occasionally allow him off on his own?"

[Ser Reynard]

Roycelyn meets the woman's eyes and smiles at her with obviously artificial friendliness. "Ser Reynard can do whatever he likes." The girl maintains her defiant smile until Reynard puts his arm around her shoulders. He gives a very gentle but noticeable squeeze as he remarks, "I'm not sure if Lady Redding was making an invitation or just... Expressing her curiosity?

[Kaliya Redding]

"Invitation?" Kaliya inquired with faux innocence, "whateverr might you imagine I would be inviting you to?" She made a show of thinking for a few moments, "howeverr, the Rreddings would not be who they arre if it werre not forr theirr grracious hosting skills. If you wished some wine and converrsation, then I would be most happy to supply both."

[Ser Reynard]

Reynard's eyebrow rises a little, no doubt emulating something he's seen his sister do, but it slides back into place gently.

"The Goodbrooks of Thornwood aren't noted for our gracious hosting," Reynard begins--"but," Roycelyn breaks in, "we would never decline an invitation. Whoever is invited," she says emphatically, "would certainly be honored to attend you, Lady Redding." The girl seems unbothered by her apparent change of heart, though a brief look of consternation crosses Reynard's face. He ends up smiling at Kaliya, though perhaps not comfortably so. "Indeed," he says simply.

[Kaliya Redding]

Looking from one to another gives Kaliya an idea, and with a growing, cattish smile, "excellent. It would be my honourr to enterrtain you both some evening soon."