Searching for Templeton

[Gandalfus]

After a few weeks in Longbow Hall, Manfred had gotten used to the place. Occasionally he would ride out with Lord Hunter to dispense justice, hunt for bandits, deserters, and clansmen. The life of a sworn sword.
But Templeton's prize filled his waking moments, a lord's ransom of gold. Thus, he began his work, drifting lazily around the castle, striking up idle gossip with serving maids and courtiers concerning Hunter's numerous mistresses. A man of vice, was Lord Hunter, with a fair number of bastards. One among them was Lady Templeton's child, a stupid boy named Hugh, though he was as strong as an aurochs.

"Lady Templeton, eh?" He asked, joining in with the idle chatter of a group of courtiers, "They say her brother wants her back. A healthy price on her head, too." He had searched the castle idly in the first week of his stay, not finding any sign of her. Perhaps she wasn't here. Or perhaps, he needed to look harder.

[Oznerol]

The master of horse, Ser Yros Melcolm, an unassuming fool who looked confused, replied:

"Oh, a healthy price... I wonder where she is, truly"

Longbow, captain of the household, chuckled.

"If she isn't on Harry's bed I don't know where she could be"

Lady Mya Upcliff, a terribly ugly cousin of Lord Upcliff, laughed loudly.

"That wanton woman"

She leans forward and whispers.

"I've heard Ser Denys Arryn caged her and made Templeton his concubine!"

A choir of laugh, muttered comments and japes ensues.

"The man is dead, Mya!"

Said a still confused Melcolm. The next speaking was the most clever of the lot, Robert the Red, a second cousin of Lord Ruthermont.

"I've heard the lady didn't want to foster her bastard and left soon after the birth. I bet she had no love for Lord Hunter, but it was only... a mistep"

"I must be the only one Hunter hasn't taken to bed"

"No wonder why, Lady Mya"

More laughs.

[Gandalfus]

Manfred joined in with the laughter, for if he could agree on one thing, it was that Lady Upcliff was truly hideous.

"Ah well, good fortune to the man that finds such a prize. Wherever she may be."

[Oznerol]

Robert the Red spoke:

"Really, if you want to know something you should ask her son. He might know something, if you manage to make him understand your questions, of course"

Melcolm said the obvious:

"The boy is a bit thick, he he"

Everyone laughs a bit nervously, eyeing the only fool in the room.

"Or the maester! That one knows many things. Still he hasn't found evidence of my lineage! Have I told you my story about how my great-granfather was...?"

"I have to go"

"I just remembered my wife wanted me to do... some chores"

"Eh... Hummm... yeah. I need to... go for a walk"

Everyone ran for their lives.

[Gandalfus]

Manfred similarly muttered some kind of excuse, smiling falsely as he went off to find this... dolt known as Hugh, who apparently was Templeton's son. Dullards and fools are usually paid little mind, so he may know something of import.

[Oznerol]

Hugh was playing with his younger half-brother on the courtyard. Well, he served as his younger sibling's mount and jousted against an imaginary foe. Likely a tree. Hugh was amazingly strong for a boy of his age and he effortlessly carried his brother around. The unlikely jouster was a very thin kid, with long hair and big eyes.

[Gandalfus]

Manfred took a seat on a nearby rock, and watched the peculiar scene unfold as he bit into an apple. Once they had caught sight of him, he beckoned them over.

"This must be Hugh, yes?" He said, revealing rows of oddly shaped teeth.

[Oznerol]

Both stopped before the man. Gyles asked in turn, still sitting on his brother's shoulders:

"Yes, and who are you?"

His sharp eyes look at him quizzically. His dim-witted mount simply nodded.

"Aye, aye, why 'u ask?"

[Gandalfus]

"Ser Lothston, a man sworn to your father." He replied, taking another bite of the apple, watching them astutely.

[Oznerol]

"Hummmmm"

Gyles bites his lip.

"We don't wanna to speak with ya'!"

"Aye, as Gyles said, we don't wanna talk to you! Leave us or we'll tell daddy!!"

Hugh woud grow to be a most fearsome man, but dull and thick as a wall. Gyles looked a bit scared, but Hugh was strangely eyeing the knight curiously. He glanced his brother' frowned brow, but still it was too much for his simple mind.

"Ehh... hummm... why do you ask?"

Gyles pats his head.

"I waaaaaaant to knooooow, Gyyyyyyyyyyyyyl"

[Gandalfus]

Lothston shrugs, and pulls some kind of treat from his pocket, procured earlier from the kitchens.

"I've come to help with your teaching at swordplay, young lord. Thought I could get to know my charge before I train him." He tries to look as friendly as possible, which is to say, not at all.
"Your mother was a Templeton, right? Grumpy lot, those." His gaze drifted from both Hugh to Gyles, contented with an answer from either.

[Oznerol]

"Aye, mommy is called Lorri"

Said Hugh, clapping. He shared the tread with Gyles, both eating it delightfully.

"You aren't supposed to say that literally to eeeeeeeeeeeeeeveryone who asks you, Huuuuugh, dumbass"

Replied Gyles angrily.

"I'm sorry... I forgot...Gyl, don't be angry with me, please"

"Nah, don't worry"

Gyles looked back at Lothston.

"His mother was Lorraine Templeton, I've met her! She doesn't stay much here..."

"Aye, makes me sad. I miss her. So long since she sent me... something"

Hugh's eyes were teary. Gyles pats his head to comfort him.

[Gandalfus]

Lothston pretended to look sympathetic, his smile disappearing for a moment as he nodded sadly.

"I never saw my mother much either, lad. Though she never sent me presents, like yours did." Pausing for a moment, he added; "Where did she leave to, if she didn't stay here? Did she go back to Templeton?"

[Oznerol]

"I haven't seen her... The chained man got a raven or something like that"

"The maester, Hugh"

"Oh yeah, that guy"

Gyles was still on his brother's shoulders. Hugh seemingly didn't tire at all.

"Daddy has the letter, he reads it to me whenever I want! But I don't know where she is... I want my mommy"

The smarter bastard hugs his brother's neck. Hugh sobs a little.

"Don't worry, Hugh, we have each other, right?"

"Aye"

[Gandalfus]

The Maester... Curious. Lothston rose from his crouched position, and tossed the apple core to one side, before handing Hugh the sugared treat.

"We can begin your lessons later, lad. Get practising." Leaving the boys in the courtyard, Lothston set out to see if he could get into the rookery...

[Oznerol]

Maester Wyllis, a lanky Westernlader with dirthy blond hair, was at the rookery, reading a message that had just arrived from Gulltown. He raised his gaze from the parchments. He was truly young for a maester but his chain had many links.

"You are Ser Lothston, right?"

[Gandalfus]

"Yes." Came the reply, as he stalked slowly into the rookery, casually checking his surroundings.
"So this is the rookery. Where all the damned birds come home to roost." He said, idly, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

[Oznerol]

"Yes"

Said the maester, abruptly.

"What brings you here?"

[Gandalfus]

"You're going to help me with something, Maester. That's what you're for, isn't it?" With a grin as sharp as blades, Lothston was still lightly grasping his sword.

[Oznerol]

"Maybe. I don't serve you, but Lord Hunter. It depends. What do you need?"