Page 550: Are You Content?
Are You Content?
Summary: Leon and Mortimer discuss the affairs of the region, work and life in general.
Date: 24/Jan/2013
Related Logs: None specifically
Players:
Leon Mortimer 
The Green, Terrick's Roost
The Green is a large field of deep green grass, nearly flat, that runs along the base of the towers. The road into town runs along the far edge, hemming it in neatly to a confined area where beyond a line of trees serves as a subtle windbreak. This area is most often used for drilling or practice for the guards but also serves as home for festivals, tournaments, and another other gathering that might require the space for a large number of the local residents. A well-trodden path winds around the side of the wall and moves towards the coastline. Another heads southwest, toward Kingsgrove.
Thu Jan 24, 290

The Green is mostly deserted at this time early in the morning, but there is a small group of young men fighting with wooden swords or, as the fight progresses, just trying to wrestle each other down. Among them is Ser Leon Undyl, easily recognizable by his hair. It is also his undoing, for another knight gives his blonde mane a painful tug until he drops his sword. "I could have your ass now, Undyl.", he declares proudly, "You should get rid of that hair." "Never!", Leon protests and with a swift kick brings the other one falling down, then grabs his sword back and holds it against the other knight's neck. "And you shouldn't talk so much, I suppose."

Ah, early morning drill, certainly one of those joys of the military life that Mortimer does not miss. Along with night time sentry duty, sentry duty over winter and, well, sentry duty in general really. As it is though, today the Deputy Sheriff is up and about watching for early morning archers, of which there are none. Still, he wouldn't have known that had he not got up to check. It being too late to head back to bed, but not yet quite time for breakfast he stays to watch the ongoing training, wincing slightly as the tactics descend beyond what might be considered sportsmanlike.

After a little while longer the training ends and the wineskins go around as the young men chatter among themselves and make rather bawdy jokes about the other ones' styles, talents or tactics. Finally the group disperses and Leon is left behind, scratching his head as he ponders his next move. Spotting the vaguely familiar Deputy Sheriff nearby, he offers him a little bow and calls out "Good morning!" in passing.

Mortimer had been pondering his own next move as well, what with the end of the training and there still being no sign of any of the elusive archers. Conversation though, that he can do. "Morning Ser," he offers with a polite nod, taking a moment to work out where he knows the younger man from. "Passing through from Kingsgrove?"

"I've been here and there.", Leon replies vaguely, "Visiting old friends in Stonebridge, spending time with my sister… and trying to keep in shape.", he adds with a nod towards the now deserted Green. "I am thinking of returning to King's Landing though. There is more there for a man of my abilities…" He sighs a little wistfully, perhaps thinking of something or someone in the south, before he brushes it off with a shrug and a grin. "Caught any interesting criminals recently?"

"Ah, my mistake Ser," Mortimer replies with a slight nod, "I assumed you'd sworn to the Groves. I know your sister has and all." And a crazy Groves at that, but such is life. He nods to the comment about Kings Landing, although he does seem faintly dubious about such a long journey. "What is it specifically you're after?" he asks, glancing across to the younger man, "I'd have thought they'd be any number of lords looking for more men given the times." As for criminals, that he just shakes his head at that, "alas no. Although most interesting ones right now are those who did for the Ashwoods. We've no reason to think they're near here mind, but we've increased patrols just in case."

"Yes, my sister is very loyal to Lady Rebecca.", Leon says slowly and carefully, though an undertone might imply that he is not all that happy about it. "It seems a common misperception that I'm also sworn to her, but this is not the case. I have been looking for new employment, indeed, but … I suppose I have been spoilt by being in King's Landing and living among the men there. It doesn't matter.", he quickly adds, "Once my sister is safely settled, I can always return south…"

Mortimer nods slowly at the implied sentiments, he has only met the Lady in question once, but he knows enough of the castle servants to have heard some of their gossip. Interesting stories those. "Have you spoken to Lord Ozric?" he asks after a moment, "I can't say for sure that he's looking for more knights but I imagine he might well be. You'd be close to your sister too." Okay, so the Terrick's and Groves aren't that close politically, but geographically there's no denying the proximity.

"I have not.", Leon admits, "Perhaps I will." Though there are other things going on behind the scenes. "Loyalties in this area have been shifting a lot since I first left for the South. How long have you been here?", he suddenly asks, "Were you on active duty already when Stonebridge happened?"

"Here at the Roost?" Mortimer asks before looking Leon up and down once, "since I was younger than you are now I'd wager. Twenty years a soldier and six or seven now working for the Sheriff." Two different sheriffs mind, but six or seven years all the same. "You mean the incident this summer?" he then asks, regarding Stonebridge, "there's been a lot of back and forth over that town the past eighteen months as I'm sure you're aware, what with them switching allegiance to House Nayland last summer. An' if by active duty you mean as a member of the garrison then no, not since King Robert's War, but as Deputy Sheriff then aye."

"Seven years a deputy sheriff? Aren't you due for a promotion then?", Leon smiles good-naturedly, then shrugs. "I lost my family in said … incident. I've been talking to several people, trying to find out what happened and most of all why. I was hoping that it might give me peace of mind, but that has so far eluded me. It seems that they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time…"

"Only promotion available is Sheriff itself," Mortimer replies with a faint grin, "and Lord Justin is more than welcome to that one I can assure you. That's the sort of job for a Lord, or a knight at least." As the conversation returns to Stonebridge he sombers a bit, nodding silently as the other speaks. "I can understand your want," he offers after a moment, "there's a lot lost from the Roost during the Ironborn siege that we just can't place. Can't find word what happened to them. It's.. difficult. Ain't nothing you can do about it though, you just have to take the time to grieve and then move on." So speaks the voice of bitter experience.

"I know.", Leon says soberly, "It was quite a shock to come home to this but I'll live. I know many people have lost loved ones over the last few years. War is never kind to mankind. You are content though, with your life?", he muses.

"I can imagine," Mortimer answers with a faint nod "and no, war is never kind." These a whole rant there but he figures that Leon doesn't need to hear it, unlike some of the more bloodthirsty youths around. "Content?" he ponders for a moment before nodding slowly, "Aye, I suppose so. The past year has been trying, and there's things I'd change if I could, but on the whole yes, I'd say I'm content."

"Might be interested in a job like yours some day.", Leon admits, then laughs. "Though I doubt I'll live long enough to make it. Anyway - it was good to talk to you - Mortimer, isn't it?", he wonders, "I should be on my way though."

"It's not a bad one," Mortimer answers with a grin, but then maybe he's a tad biased. "I wouldn't try to second guess the Stranger though," he offers with a shrug, "I managed twenty years in the garrison and I'm still here after all." As the knight makes to depart he gives him a brief nod in confirmation, "Aye Ser, Mortimer Trevelyan." He'd add Deputy Sheriff but they've already covered that, "have a good day."