The Boar's Tooth Lodge

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"If they do, then they risk Hoare's wrath," he said, wary gaze watching the foreigners as he spoke. "And mine."

[The Forgotten God]

"Now that's my cousin," she said. Geralt hears arguing from insid, and loud angry voices of women and men in three languages.

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Excuse me for a moment," Geralt told his cousin with a sigh as he headed toward the commotion, the responsibilities of an anointed knight a burden at times.

"I'm not sure how they do things in the East, but from where I hail, we talk to women with a civil tongue," he informed the foreigners, with a hard set jaw, before turning to the women. "What seems to be the problem here?"

[The Forgotten God]

A woman pointed at them. "These unwashed savages are trying to chargeback us double for their liquor!" She said. The man looked confused and his friends get back to yelling. "The Lady Elisha will have your dirty little hides you pricks!"

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"There is no need for insults, or such language," he remarked, trying to remind himself that women outside the reach were hardly ladies at all. "I assume a price was agreed to before this unpleasantness? Does anyone speak...whatever it is they are speaking?"

[The Forgotten God]

The woman turned to him. "Of course there was! How else would I know he is demanding double!" The man babbles out.

"For one! You buy TWO!" The woman looked furious.

"You said fifty coins!" The man shook his head and his thugs went to reclaim the wine barrels.

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

Geralt made no move to stop the foreigners from retrieving their barrels. As long as the women had not yet paid them, it was still their property. It sounded to him as if something had been lost in translation during their original negotiations. He merely watched to ensure things did not escalate further.

[The Forgotten God]

The three brutes get their barrels and walk out. The woman looks incandescent with fury. Florys walks in behind Geralt. "That looked fun," she whispered. The other woman stormed upstairs. Th inside of the lodge is a mishmash of furniture and styles, and the prince sees three men relaxing, as he hears the lances clash in the back again, and now the sound of men training with steel.

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Hardly," Geralt replied, not relaxing until the foreigners had departed. "This is why you don't treat with foreigners, not when there is Arbor red to be purchased."

[The Forgotten God]

"And such is business conducted," Flores said, laughing at the woman's anger. "Going overseas to buy wine when you have the vineyards of Lord Redwyne at your disposal indeed," she said. "One would almost think that an offended party would rectify that particular insult."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Or perhaps seeing as they are now short on wine, you should swoop in and save the day by offering a few barrels from our stores," he said, knowing full well no Reach lord travelled to an event such as this, certainly not the royal family, without a few barrels to ply tongues and garner good will. "I hardly need to have a monopoly on Gardener heroics and I'm sure it would further endear yourself to your new friends."

[The Forgotten God]

"Your new friends," she said. "I've sabotaged my rivals already. Once you're in this little club we can pump them for all they know. They don't hold their drinks worth a damn," she said. "And I heard one talking about the Arryn girl who vanished. That seems worth a look."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Well it would hardly be gallant of me to liquor up noblewomen just to loosen their tongues," he remarked in a mock tone of disapproval, before flashing a knowing smile. "Though if a bit of charity on my part manages the same effect, well, that is just a happy accident."

He approached the woman who had been offended by the foreign men.

"I hope you are not too shaken by the unpleasantness, but I may be able to be of assistance," he said, flashing a bright white smile. "I could not bear the thought of the fine patrons here going thirsty due to those borish foreigners. On behalf of House Gardener, I would like to donate two barrels of Arbor Red to your stores, if you would be amenable to such a donation."

[The Forgotten God]

One of the women sighs in relief and hugs him. "Thank you so much, my prince!" She cried in the melodramatic fashion of a true ditz. "Your generosity is beyond compare!" Florys watches with amusement and Geralt hears some men outside discussing the tourney.

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"My pleasure," he replied graciously, returning the ecstatic woman's embrace. "I only ask that you treat those gathered to a round. We may hail from different kingdoms, but we can all celebrate together in true Westerosi fashion."

[The Forgotten God]

"Are you the Warrior himself?" She asked, clearly slightly intoxicated. "Come to save us from our descent into boredom?" She seemed to consider him a bit differently. "We're having a real party later," she said. "Should I invite you? We could use some big strong men to make sure nothing untoward happens."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"A true knight saves a damsel wherever she is in need, whether it be bandits or ennui," he assured the inebriated woman. "And that certainly sounds like a task for a knight of the Order of the Green Hand, especially with reavers about."

[The Forgotten God]

"Good," she kissed his cheek. "We will be in touch." She heads upstairs and Geralt hears her calling servants to help her change. "My father needs me, Elsa," she said. "I think my white worship dress shall do."

Florys laughed. "You were quite a hit," she said. "Not that I expected less."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"One of the things we have in common, cousin," he said, with a self-satisfied smile. "Now, which one did you hear mentioning the Arryn girl?"

[The Forgotten God]

"Harriet Dalt," she said. "You can't miss her; she has one eye."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Then would you be a dear and make the introductions, cousin?" he asked, with a conspiratorial wink.

[The Forgotten God]

Florys rose and took his arm, then led them upstairs. Elisha's room is locked but the others are all cracked open, eleven rooms in total. She knocks on one, and a few seconds later Harriet answers. She's a woman of thirty, perhaps, a widow to the pirates of the Stepstones, having a lost an eye avenging her husband's death. She grins at Florys. "Well, what a pleasant surprise! It sounds like there was fun downstairs." She turned to Geralt. "But your cousin must have settled it. Come in, come in," she said, waving them to two small chairs. "However can I help you today?"

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"My cousin here was practically giddy to introduce me to her new friends," Geralt said, taking a seat, doing his best not to stare at the woman's missing eyes as he flashed a warm smile. In truth, Florys had often enjoyed introducing him to her friends, making him regale them with stories of his knightly adventures. It had of course had a symbiotic benefit before he was wed, but good company and family time still had its merits. "I must say that she has chosen them wisely."

[The Forgotten God]

Harriet chuckled. "Is there a school you Reachmen go to to learn to speak so politely?" She asked. "I approve of it. Your cousin is a treasure to have around, and I do not say that about Gardeners lightly," she added. She puts her eye patch on and offered them a drink of something strange smelling. "I am out of wine," she said apologetically, "but I have this special wine made of cactus fruit juice I thought to try. I picked and fermented the fruits myself." It has a sharp smell to it, and Florys raises her small glass to sup it.

"My cousin will love to try it," she said, "but being a noble knight, he hears a tale of a princess in distress, and he cannot help but imagine if it were his own sister," she said. "And unlike those braggarts in the yard, well, Prince Geralt is no faker when it comes to being a true knight."

Harriet looked at her, then him. "Is this true?" She asked. "You seek knowledge on. Her?"

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Manners maketh man," Geralt replied, as he studed the strange cactus wine. He had heard enough infamous tales of Dornish poison, but decided it was safe enough to drink when the others did.

"I do," he answered. "A princess in plight is surely a knightly matter that transcends kingdom borders."

[The Forgotten God]

She laughed. "Indeed. And so o the rewards. The Princess Isabella is believed to have run off with a mercenary group of women. I believe that is a lie," she said, "and I think she is here."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"And what reason do you have to believe that?" Geralt inquired, leaning forward.

[The Forgotten God]

She smiled. "She is in love with Lord Drumm," she said. "Madly, uncontrollably. She's been on one of his ships waiting for him."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"That is a serious accusation," he remarked, though it seemed more out of character for a princess than a reaver. "Have you informed her family of your suspicions?"

[The Forgotten God]

"no," she said. "I dislike the Arryns and their strange ways. They'd suspect me of being complicit, likely, then send me to their dungeons where none are seen again."