Gregar listened to the black knight, evaluating his words with a skeptic look as the man was a black knight after all - a warrior for hire, or outlaw if he desired to be one. But he spoke with a remarkable tone, and even knew a motto in the language of Kings. [b]“Well, it seems we have common grounds then. Your source is here, if I am correct. I never knew your mother, you'll have to forgive me for that. But if this is where you were born then it looks like you might have problems.”[/b] Gregar spun the wine in his cup around and then took a sip, looking at the black knight and judging him at the same time. The man was not truly a master at arms, more so just a very dirty fighter. That was no insult, it was just a style. Gregar had seen him in combat and could conclude that this man, while skilled, had no godly boon that others did not have. He was mortal, as anyone, and certainly seemed to be more unlucky than lucky. Never the less.. the man was interesting. [b]“I have little to offer to you, there is no land I can give you for the Whitelands are not so fertile. I have little wealth as I am a simple duke in the North, not a Southerner. But I can assure you our loyalty and values are stronger than that of anyone else, and that is what I can offer you.”[/b] It would be unclear what Gregar meant exactly with this, but he was getting to a point. [b]“You have no doubt heard of the army that marches here? Undoubtedly, you were part of the very same army after all. They are coming here, 'your source' as you worded it, and they're not coming to liberate it. They will burn it if we give them the chance. So I need every man and woman that can wield a weapon to be here, on the walls, in the keep, defending it.”[/b] The hall remained rather quiet, everyone maintaining their conversations at a hushed tone while Gregar spoke to the knight. Many of them did so out of respect, others out of interest for what was being said. [b]“So I can offer you just that. Loyalty and values. If you accept, then you will no longer need to toil in that armor of yours, blackened not by paint but by other people's views of you. Instead you will be one of the men you sung about in your troupe - a knight in service, fighting for the honor of his lord.”[/b] Gregar smiled at the man, as an offer of knighthood was extended rarely, and even more rarely to a black knight. Never the less it was not a free offer, as the man would have to agree to it first, and then swear an oath. Finally, he would be expected to fight for Gregar. [b]“Perhaps God has not forsaken you. Maybe your heart didn't choose the North for you, maybe God did. God and his children work subtly, knight of the black. There is certainly glory in war, you just need to find it.”[/b] [hr] Joakim grumbled as Gregar offered the black knight a place amongst his knights - a group filled mostly with noblemen and noble sons, all of which Joakim had known for years and, in some cases, even trained with for years. And then this man walks in, and gets offered a place almost instantly. Just because he can juggle apples about. He stuffed more pork into his mouth, chewing and looking at Tomas as he spoke. [b]“He's made of tales, card tricks and lies, it seems. Brought up by a troupe.. pah.”[/b] Joakim normally didn't have anything against his sort, but it was obvious the man annoyed him. [b]“Excuse me. I want to take a look on the walls. It seems everyone is getting more and more drunk, and nobody is paying attention anymore.”[/b] He shot Amber a quick look, as he realized she would probably attract much more attention than they could use right now. Gavin must already be turning the wheels of the spy networks he had, but Joakim understood little of that. He just assumed that he'd try and run interference between all the tidbits of information that got sent out. No doubt would he persuade some people that Amber was, in fact, not here. But it didn't take a genius to understand that Gregar would've taken Amber with him to the north, as they escaped together. [b]“I wouldn't want anyone to assassinate the pretender duchess.”[/b] He stood up from the bench, nodded to Tomas and them clapped his hands against his pants, urging Bravery to follow him. He stepped away but changed his mind it seemed, turning around and stepping back to the table. [b]“My apologies, Amber. But you [i]are[/i] a pretender from this moment. People will be after you, if not the duke himself then it will be bounty hunters.”[/b] He smiled, but it wasn't a genuine smile. For a small moment in time he felt like Gregar made a wrong choice to bring her here - she would be more trouble than good. Tomas, on the other hand, seemed to be more capable than Amber. He left the hall, walking past the black knight without even granting him a look. As he passed the man he even grabbed the hilt of his blade, making sure that the man got no ideas. It was all a show, ofcourse, to let everyone, and especially the black knight himself, know that the man would not be tolerated by Joakim. Those looking to gain favor with Joakim would no doubt shun the man too, although now that Joakim had lost his position as lord regent, these people were small in number. Agile as always, Joakim walked up the stone stairs that led to the wall. His dog followed him quickly, walking up the stairs with remarkable ease for a dog. A man was posted here, as the guard was still on triple duty. Not far from him, barely 10 meters, the next guard stood watching over the forests ahead of him. The white snow was a blessing and a curse, a blessing because anyone would easily be seen in the white, giving a nice contrast to the grey armor most people wore - but it got awfully cold and cold soldiers fight worse than those near a warm fire. Joakim greeted the guard, who returned the favor with a quick nod. Leaning on the battlements, he looked out over the horizon. The sun had risen since the feast had started and the blizzard had calmed down, though it was still snowing. Below him he heard the sounds of encampment, no doubt the warlords' men, who had been forced to stay outside as a safety measure. In the distance, wolves howled as they left their holes. Joakim merely watched for any disturbances, petting his dog as he did. [hr] Arryn and Rosemary walked past Brier, who hurried down the corridor with clenched fists. And although the lady seemed.. broken, she remained beautiful. Arryn turned her head to watch the lady as she continued down the hall, moving towards the feast. Slowly the sounds of the feast started echoing into the hallway and before she knew it she was there - watching as a black knight was having words with Gregar. Paying no mind, as it wasn't her place to do so, she continued walking along the sides of the hall until she found a table. Seated there were a man and a woman, whom she didn't know. Had she known that this was the (former) duchess of the Forklands and her brother, she would've seen to another table. But she didn't know, so she sat down along with Rosemary. [b]“Good morning, Arryn Thorne, handmaiden of lady Catryn, pleased to make your acquaintance.”[/b] Arryn spoke to Tomas and Amber, with a hushed and soft voice. Lady Catryn turned around as her door opened, still in bed. She faced her visitor, her face weary and tired. [b]“I thought I told you to leave!”[/b] she said thinking that it was Arryn and Rosemary that had returned. But it wasn't, and she noticed too late. [b]“Oh, it's.. you, Brier. I'm.. sorry. How are you? How is Kevin and your young one?”[/b] she asked, though it was more for social requirements that she asked than that she asked out of interest. It seemed as if she stopped caring, about anything and anyone. For that reason she hadn't even heard of Kevins death, nor Brian's.