"Ser Jasper has been pretty good about allowing me to control how I live my life as his ward but there were always trade-offs. Be careful not to underestimate him."

"As for the gambling, well, it can be good for business to be seen to be prospering and willing to make deals. At least that was my excuse. Now that I think of it I am sure you are right, coz. I won't tell you too much about the other wager I made lest you become cross with me,"

He looks over at Lord Raylon Ravensong then back to her, "He has a ring that belonged to my father. It has the Blackfin and Mooton markings on it so I think it may have been quite important."

Gwen nodded at the advice concerning Ser Jasper. “That is helpful, Bryn. I am aware of his reputation, but you have a far superior understanding of the man. Is there anything else you think would be helpful for me to know about Ser Jasper?

The Blackfin heiress pressed her lips together. ”It sounds like something offered upon betrothal or marriage, so I’d tend to agree the ring is important. Good luck, coz, and I don’t need details if you think it best to withhold them.

Bryn shakes his head, "I can only tell you the obvious really. He is disliked by many as the Durrandon's tax man so anything that would cast him in a positive light to the people of the Riverlands or improve his usefulness to the royal family should be easy enough to sell. Clearing Riverthorn of banditry for families to return and opening up a new source of tax income should do both of these."

He thinks a moment before continuing, "He has no specific weaknesses that you could exploit apart from a fondness for Dornish wine and cheese from the Vale if you could get any. He is clever, shrewd and proud. Though for you it may work it is best not to attempt flattery or pander to him, but deal directly and lay out the strength of the benefits he receives for supporting your plan. Let him know your value to him as a partner."

He surreptitiously eyes Lord Ravensong once again before partially mumbling, "It was two bets actually... Oh look it is Darvil's tilt against my champion."

He grimaces a little, "It looks like that last one took a lot out of him, I hope he does not push himself overly hard."

Gwen listened carefully to what Bryn had to say about Ser Jasper. Every bit of knowledge she gained could potentially help. ”Thank you for the insight, Bryn. That is all very helpful. Hopefully he sees this as something where everyone comes out ahead, if we are successful. And Ser Jasper won’t be risking all that much - as you say it should be a fairly easy sell unless he has other plans already in motion.”

She looked over at her other cousin who was positioned with lance in hand ready for his next tilt. She cupped hands around her mouth to offer encouragement to him. ”SWIFT AS THE CURRENT, BLACKFIN!”

"Oh!" Jenny gasps, covering her mouth in shock. She had been afraid of this. She sways for a moment but reconsiders dramatically fainting because Thoren is here and she's afraid the Ironborn might learn about it. At least it eases her heart to see that Dunstan is all right, and she keeps her gaze on him, sympathetically.
"Well fought by Valen. Truly impressive" she says to Caeltyn, courteously.
She is more subdued cheering for Darvil afterwards. "Is Darvil all right? That looked like a tough fall" she says, worried for him.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Sun 20 Feb 2022.

"Doubtful, my lady," he responded. "Tournaments are not my speed. Best to let those with the skill in these arts entertain us." There was art to them, no doubt, and talent and skill at arms among the men that participated. There was the possibility of glory, and also of injury. He had a knighthood by title and right on the field of battle, but he was no knight of the joust.

In the squires tournament, he cheered both for his son Darvil as well as for the young Vance, as both of their success would speak well of House Blackfin.

He approved of both of Darvil's tilts, both the one that he won, as well as the won he lost. He rode well, and took his fall like a man. He would tell him as much later.

"It was a hard fall, but nothing he can't handle," he said confidently.

Cat replies to Jenny, "Yes. Really, they both fought well. I really do feel the Warrior guiding Valen's hand today, though. I pray to the old gods and the new that he may win his knighthood this day." Cat seems quite forthright about everything she's saying, apparently just letting out her thoughts in the excitement.

"That's understandable. I'm sure you'd be very impressive in a melee, though. Wielding the ax is an art, that's what my father always says" Jenny said to Thoren, letting her Ironborn side show a bit.
She nodded, reassured that Darvil would be well. "You put my mind at ease, ser"
Jenny was impressed by Caetlyn's piety and happy for her sucess. "They did, it was quite a joust and I'm very proud of Dunstan. I'm sure the Warrior is guiding your champion. This day of victory is a gift from God to your and Valen, Caetlyn." she said, smiling. "Be sure to enjoy it or I'll be cross with you" she added with a giggle.
"The Warrior and the Old Gods both? That seems a little unfair to his competitor, leaves him outnumbered" she teased. She found Caetlyn's mix of old and new Gods puzzling... although she herself had ambiguous feelings between the Drowned God and the god of the Seven. In this case, though, she was only joking.

"Yes. Both. House Mooton was here before the Andals. It seems only right to honor both the old gods and the new." Recognizing the teasing she playfully added, "One should always seek advantage before entering combat, no? It would be best for Valen's side to outnumber his opponent's."

Gwen winced when Darvil fell, but like her uncle expected he would be fine. Her cousin didn't seem to be moving as fluidly as normal, but he had some time to recover before they returned to Blackfin Den. With good treatment and good fortune, he would hopefully be fully recovered by the time they left Castle Lychester.

Valen's tilt went better, and Gwen applauded his effort. While he wasn't currently directly attached to her house, that was something that could change should he manage knighthood at the tournament. Ser Valen had a nice ring to it, and she would be pleased to see him anointed sooner than later.

Gwen observed the chatter between Catelyn and Jenny, both of whose favors were worn by squires that had progressed to the last four. She was glad to see the two conversing, and looked forward to chatting with both of them further. Gwen hadn't yet had the opportunity to have a good chat with Catelyn, but they should have the opportunity soon.

The Blackfin heiress' gaze went to Ser Berion as he gave his remaining squire encouragement and instruction. With fortune and the grace of the gods, Valen would emerge victorious. When the squire looked in the direction of the Blackfins before taking his first pass, Gwen smiled and lifted a hand in recognition and encouragement.

When Valen looks over to toward the Blackfins, Cat shines a big smile and waves to him to show support. If he were closer he would sense better how giddy she is with excitement while still being nervous that she might see him struck hard.

Cat claps for Valen. But her applause is definitely muted when she sees his opponent spit blood. "I want Valen to win, but I really don't want his opponent seriously injured in the process."

Gwen looked over at Lady Aliana and considered the feelings that she must be experiencing at that moment. Having children was a blessing, but watching them voluntarily ride into danger had to be heart-wrenching. Perhaps Gwen would one day be blessed with children of her own, but would then have to sit and watch just like Aliana did right now. The Blackfin heiress knew that she'd react exactly the same as Lady Aliana, and could only hope her future husband would behave differently.

She agreed with Lady Catelyn, of course. "Indeed, but Daveth seems to feel the need to prove himself whether prudent or not." Perhaps Gwen wouldn't react exactly the same as Lady Aliana. She might attempt go over Ser Lyonel's head were she in Lady Aliana's position. Hazel eyes scanned those with the power to declare a victor - Ser Edam first, then Ser Adham, then Lord Lyman.

Bryn claps as the squires ready themselves for the next clash but there is a look of slight concern on his face and he adds to Gwen's comment, "Darry has already more than proven his point to his family by making it this far, I think there is something else going on. I only befriended him at the feast but I doubt I am misreading things, pushing himself like this seems out of character. Perhaps if the prize had not been a knighthood he would have retired the field."

The concern spreads into a grimace and he casts his voice low so that only those immediately nearby might hear, "Hopefully this Vance squire can end it decisively with this tilt and without maiming or killing his opponent."

Observing Gwen do doing so, Bryn likewise looks to those who could call an end to the joust, "They could end it now but it might be seen as an incomplete victory for the winner, though a serious injury or death as part of the wedding celebrations would surely be an ill omen. What a difficult position to be in."

Gwen nodded at her cousin's observations. Her response to him was at a similar volume so that it would be difficult to overhear the brunette's musings. "It is tantalizingly close for them both. Difficult to quit when the score is still a draw and your stepfather is employed by those that would declare a winner in case it is still drawn after all the passes. Valen needs a clear victory. Daveth just needs to maintain the status quo."

She gave her cousin the slightest of smiles. "And you may be calling that Vance squire Ser in the not-too-distant future, coz." She glanced again at the family Lychester and their retainers before returning her gaze to Bryn. "Even if they gave thought to stopping things, it is a situation of damned if you do, damned if you don't."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

"Quite a strategist" Jenny said to Caetlyn, smiling. She clapped politely for Valen and looked a little nervous when Caetlyn mentioned the condition of his opponent.
"The Isles are full of that kind of foolish bravery. They have a game where they throw axes at each other."

As the remaining pair of contestants again rode toward the other, Gwen sat forward in her seat, her attention fully on the two squires. Her hands were folded in her lap as she watched the fourth pass unfold, and she held her breath as the moment of contact approached. The Blackfin heiress winced slightly as both lances struck true, a departure from the mask of neutrality that she so often wore.

Gwen brought both hands up to cover her mouth as she watched in horror as Daveth's mount ended up on his leg, though she didn't look away even as Daveth screamed in agony and Lady Aliana cried out in anguish. The sound of splintering bone wasn't one that Gwen would soon forget, and she fought against the tears that threatened to spill forth.

After the initial shock and observation of the aftermath, her gaze drifted around the stands to see how others were reacting.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

Cat had been watching so hopefully, and then she just cringes, gasps, and can barely look. She keeps subtly glancing up, hoping to see each of them walk away from that impact.

"Ah," Bryn exclaims at the collision which had unhorsed the pair of squires, leaping to his feet and absentmindedly placing a reassuring hand on Gwen's shoulder before removing it soon after.

He claps with some enthusiasm when it becomes clear that his new friend would survive but frowns when the hedge knight calls out from field below.

"He is right," he mutters under his breath, "both should be knighted."

The young Blackfin listens to Lord Lychester's declaration and sighs, turning to his cousin, "The Vance squire, Valen, yes? A fine warrior. I shall have to speak with him later, do you imagine he would see a set of Darry-made plate as an insult?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:18, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

"Oh my God!" Jenny cried out in horror. Her heart went out to the injured Daveth. But she calmed down; she had to be there for the other ladies. She gently squeezed Catelyn's hand to encourage her. "Valen's all right" she said softly, soothingly, not sure what Caetlyn could see.

Gwen felt Bryn's reassuring hand on her shoulder and settled her own hand on his for a moment, letting her cousin know that she appreciated it. She nodded at what Bryn added, though it was a moment before she found her voice. "I don't think he'd see it as an insult, no. Rather I expect he would consider it an excellent consolation prize." She looked over at Bryn and forced a smile. It was a good idea, but the shock of the final clash weighed heavily on her.

Bryn nods, taking another look at the hedge knight below and taking in what he can of the man's appearance and heraldry from this distance. Another man worth speaking with perhaps.

"The main joust event should start soon, I wonder if we will be in for more of this sort of excitement," he comments as if to himself.

Gwen nodded. "I hope it's a different sort of excitement than the final pass here, but yes, coz. I look forward to seeing what the knights have to offer."

Once things are sorted down at the joust Cat looks up more clearly. She stands up and says, "I hope so. I'm going to check," to Jenny. Then she finds her way out of the stands to head around and find Valen.

"There's nothing more exciting than a joust" Jenny said as though she were experienced in these matters and not a novice. "Especially when Lady Gwendolyn's champion is going to compete" she said, smiling.