The Tourney Grounds and Market

[The Forgotten God]

As the events are ready to begin, merchants flood the area, hawking wares and selling and buying anything that can be found. The riots are quelled by heavy guard rotations, and bread and circuses is doing the trick in Harrentown as in Rome. The melee and joust and archery are on the same field, the pool for the swim is the flooded bear pit, and the other events are scattered as appropriate.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

Alyssa did not bother to attend the swimming, and decided instead to check out some of the merchant stalls. She had triple the number of guards with her than normal, but seemed relaxed enough as she moved round.

She walked over to the spice stall to check if there was anything exotic there.

[The Forgotten God]

She is greeted by the smells of a hundred lands, cumin and cinnamon and saffron about, strange peppers from Yi Ti (supposedly), even smoked fish from Lys. The most honest looking stand has dozens of customers but still more space for browsing, and the owner is a small man with a hole in his nose caused by the consumption of too much of the powder from Sothoryos. "My lady," he said in his nasally whistle, "you honor me and mine with your presence." His voice sounds rather like an elephant speaking human languages. Alyssa sees other nobles shopping, the notable ones a few westerners, and a young woman wearing Martell colors. Saris said, Alyssa seems to recall her name being, the elder of the two princesses.

A few people in red and black are about as well, but Alyssa doesn't believe they are of the main line.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

She smiles to the man and walks round browsing until she is by the Dornish Princess, she looks up at her and smiles, "Good day. Not interested in a silly swimming contest either?" She asked her, looking back to the spices.

[The Forgotten God]

The princess frowned. "They have women as the reward," she said with a pinched face. "Can you believe the gall?" She grabbed a stalk of rosemary. "You're....Lady Alyssa, right?" She asked. "So old to see a peer around. Everyone falls under a spell at a tourney, makes them lose all their damned sense."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"I heard tell they are being paid and are willing... still it is in bad taste" She agreed nodding her head, "I am she. And you are the Future Princess of Dorne?"

[The Forgotten God]

"You're trusting his word they're willing," she said. "I am a current princess of Dorne, but sadly my brother is older than me by ten whole minutes." She smiled. "the curses of age. Those ten minutes held all the wisdom in the world." She sniffed some cinnamon. "Still fresh," she said in approval. "Do you enjoy foreign foods?" She asked.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"I do," She said smiling at her, "I feel the most lucky to have grown up in Oldtown, it exposes you to all manner of foreign things, food, people... really helps to put things into perspective." She said with a nod.

[The Forgotten God]

Sarissa seemed to agree. "Quite," she said. "I'd like to visit. Sun spear isn't so large but it has the advantage of being closer to Essos." She looked at some of the eastern sixes and began purchasing them. "Are you busy, my dear? t is hot and I am quite thirsty."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Never too busy to have a drink" She smiled and paid for some herbs that rarely made it to oldtown. "We shall smell quite wonderful with all these." She did not think the hot statement was true, even on a chilly day, Dorne was hotter than this. "You are welcome to visit any time, I would be delighted to have you." she said with a smile.

[The Forgotten God]

"Good to know," she said. "Some Reach folk don't make me feel so welcome," she noted. She pointed to a small outdoor stand with tables and chairs. "They make good summer wine," she said. "If you like that sort of thing. Have you met the Targaryens yet?"

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Oldtown is different, we get so many people there that it is better to not judge people based on where their from. So long as they have good to trade all are welcome there." She said, "I have met one or two, Prince Baelor seems a good man." She looked at her and ordered two bottles to save the woman server returning. "Have you?"

[The Forgotten God]

"I did," she said, "the littler prince and his sisters while our parents chatted. They are...interesting," she said. "Like a hive mind or something. I fear for their spouses to come." She held up her cup and grinned. "Do you care for any of the events at the tourney?" She asked.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"I care for this event" She said, holding up her cup, ."Good wine. Good company. Good times" She grinned back, "Why fear? Because they are all so close?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Well that and the old Targaryen way," she said. "I hope they don't partake." She laughed at her joke. "I can drink to that. I know there's been some....untoward things happening here," she said, "the prince is recovering, I heard. Almost walking even."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Really?" She said, and smiled a bit, "I am glad, it was such an awful thing... for the duel to end like that. I did not want a duel at all, but you know how reach men are about honour." She shook her head, "There are untoward things happening everywhere though, it was a foolish person who did not think they could happen here, all these kingdoms in one place, tensions... pride."

[The Forgotten God]

"Well, people who don't know how to hold a sword shouldn't get mercy for being fools," she said. "He's lucky to have lived after such foolishness. The Hoares are an odd sort." She smiled. "Don't quote me on that," she added. "I am also sorry for that awful song," she said. "I found out a Dornishman was responsible for it. I was wondering if you'd like him whole, or just his head?" She asked. "I do not believe smallfolk should mock the highborn so."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Mocking is is all they have sometimes... I think having the person who penned it killed will only give truth to it.., not that I would mind it not being sung anymore, it is not pleasant listening." She said waving it off as if it was little concern to her. "Thank you for the offer though, your opinion on our hosts shall not pass my lips,"

[The Forgotten God]

"Well, I'll have him killed anyway," she said dismissively. "It would set a worse example for a Dornish princess to let slander like that go unpunished." She finished her first cup. "Some rather over-clever men here," she said. "I hate those. Men are better when they are stupid and predictable."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Agreed." She said with a laugh, letting the killing go, it was her choice. "I am lucky to have married one such. Have many simple men caught your fancy?"

[The Forgotten God]

Sarissa rolled her eyes. "I don't know," she said. "The Durrandon boy is so sweet but, let's face it, I don't want to be kneeling to King Harmund in four years when he takes it all over." she counted on her fingers. "The Stark heir is a catch but he lives in the North, and my delicate parts freezing off doesn't appeal, and their alliance's impact is sadly minimal. The two princes of the other kingdoms of course are much grander prizes. And then of course there's good old solid Desmond, the one my mother wants me to like. No one ever likes any man their mother wants them to like. I think I'll just pick the one I find the most attractive. I'd pick ability in the sheets but sadly testing that out is frowned upon." she jested.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"A shame that, disappointment in bed could indeed ruin a marriage. It is also a shame that or choices must be approved by our parents. I got no say when I married my husband." She replied, with a dramatic sigh, "perceon is a sweet man though, if you like that sort of thing."

[The Forgotten God]

"You got a city at least," she said, "I'll get some pretend respect for being a lady." She arched an eyebrow. "I don't particularly think one way or another about sweetness. It's never something any of us really expected." She leaned back and looked to the sky. "How exciting we all once thought life would be."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Until a year ago I thought the same as you... it seems so unfair I only get to keep some power because my brother died." She frowned a bit remembering that. The city was hers anyway.

"There are ways that women can gain their own respect, and can wield great power over their men if they have the right one." She looked at the Martell with a thoughtful look.

"That is true... the things we expect when we are younger never come true, usually to our detriment, what a sad though,"

[The Forgotten God]

"Of course," Sarissa said, "it is just a shame that my best way to wield influence is through a nonentity of a husband, there are so few strong men who know that they are stronger with a woman's counsel than without." She shrugged. "But I will manage quite fine. I have always intended to come shopping in Oldtown," she added. "Your clothes are magnificent! Maybe we were simply dumb when we were children," she joked. "And this is the better way, but I'll never believe that I wans't meant to have a pet dragon."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Perhaps you will?" She said with a grin, looking in the direction of the lake, bringing th conversation back to the targaryans.

[The Forgotten God]

Sarissa looked mock shocked. "How crude!" She giggled. "There is a cousin....he has quite the features I seek," she admitted. "Purple eyes and big...well, muscles," she winked. "What do you think of them?"

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

She smiled and looked back at the Martell, grinning as she spoke. "A cousin may do for an alliance with a powerful family like theirs?"

"I like them well enough, it is always hard to tell with people from other lands, always better to have friends than enemies though."

[The Forgotten God]

"Well, his family owns their own section of land and are sworn to the crown so they at least inherit on their own," she said. "And a crown is a bit overrated." She leaned in. "Oh come on now, this is girl talk. Nothing sensitive, but I like to hear. I think Baelor is a dream and if he were a widow I'd be sneaking in his ship this very instant with a bottle of wine he could drink off me."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Perhaps you could coordinate your visit with his, just to be able to ogle him from afar of course. He is very handsome." Alyssa agreed with a grin, though she out wine drinking like that away in the vault from r things to do with Geralt.