A Quick Interlude

Posted on Thu Feb 11th, 2021 @ 10:06pm by Lord Jonah Tully

Mission: The Great Council
Location: Near the Great Sept
Timeline: Just after the Funeral Ceremony

"Lord Tully!" One of Jonah's houseguards called to him as he walked out the Sept. As Jonah approached he saw a rider heading towards the procession leaving the Sept. As the man drew closer Jon recognised the face and cracked a smile while also shaking his head. "You're late." The Lord of the Crossing said as the horse pulled next to him.

Jevan bit back a pithy comment as he reined his horse to a complete halt. He exhaled, sucked in a fresh breath and glanced up at the majesty of the sandy coloured building before responding. "Sorry, Jon," he apologised swiftly, brushing dust off his breeches as he regarded Lord Tully. Then he couldn't help but add, a little defensively, as he slipped down from the saddle to the ground. "I did ride straight from Seagard..."

A long, stern look covered Jon's face as glanced slightly up at the younger man. Then he broke and smiled again, slapping the knight on the shoulder. "Did the Mallisters agree to the new terms at least?"

For a moment there, he thought he'd get a lecture about propriety and timekeeping, but Jonah's expression shifted lighter as Jevan's darkened just a little. "Uh, not exactly," he reported. "They wanted to negotiate. That's why I'm late."

"Right, tell me while we ride up to the Red Keep. The ceremony just finished and I'm expected at the reception. It'll be good for you to meet some of the most powerful lords and ladies. Maybe we can find you a wife." Jon turned to his guard. "Elric, my horse." The guard pulled the horse up and Jon swung his leg over. "You do remember your manners for such occassions?"

He vaulted easily back up into the saddle and patted the dapple grey mare's neck as she dipped her head. "S'okay," Jevan told his horse gently. "Not far now." His gaze followed Jonah then as the elder seated himself and asked his question. Behind him the Red Keep looked every bit as fancy and imposing as it had the last time they'd been here, some considerable time ago now. Jevan kept his mouth shut with regards the funeral itself, but considered himself fortunate in being too late to attend that part of the proceedings. "Yessir," he answered dutifully, though the thought of marriage wasn't top of Jevan's to-do list. In his experience the low-born tended to satisfy plenty without needing any permanent attachment.

"Of course I remember!" Jevan answered the manners question with a derisory confidence, though in his head he'd been wandering through protocol on the ride down. "And I thought you were the one looking for a wife?" He threw back with a filthy grin on his face.

Lightning fast, Jon's hand slapped the back of Jevan's head. Just a light smack, as he had done a thousand times before. "You're twenty-four Jevan, and no simple hedge knight. Either you and I look for your wife, or your brother just might." Jon tapped his horse into a casual jog towards the castle. "And yes, I need a wife too. I'm not getting any younger, and heirs are required of me."

Jevan rarely bested Jonah in this battle, and as he rubbed the back of his head with one hand, he screwed up his face in displeasure. Not for any sense of pain or humiliation, but at the mention of his eldest sibling. The current Lord Darry. "My sister says Koryn's been courting. No one cares if I sire an heir or not. We should focus on your future sons. Don't worry, I'll tell the women tales of your bravery and heroic deeds." He nudged his horse to keep pace with Jon's and kept a look-out around them. "Just pick the one who stays awake," Jevan returned, and ducked sideways just a notch.

--------