5th Moon, 114 AD
The castle of Seagard loomed over the Bay, looking down upon it. The smell of sea and salt was strong here for the castle was located the furthest out from the mainland on a cliff side. It's location gave the castle of Seagard a strong command of this particular coast of the Ironman Bay. And the Mallisters had relished in the tasks they had given themselves, protecting the riverlands from the ravages of the ironborn.
So it was something of a stain on their self-given task that Harwyn Hoare had been able to bypass Seagard and then go on to conquer the entirety of the riverlands.
Something his father and his father before him had been so incessant in telling him again and again over the years.
And when the ironborn had been cast out, his lord father had more than relished in the thought of returning to their old duties, which included building something of a fleet to keep the ironborn at bay. A fleet that he could see at work exercising in the waters of the bay.
"Look at them." His lord father, Lord Henryk Mallister said with a sense of proud as the ships went about in one maneuver after another. "Beautiful, aren't they?"
Lyam nodded his head as he looked at the ships in the sea. Although a bit far out into the sea, he could count a couple dozen longships, several dromonds and what seemed to be one single large war galley. His lord father had boasted that it could hold two hundred oars and was the pride and flagship of their burgeoning fleet.
"I'm quite amazed father. You have been busy over these past few years." He admitted, letting his Lord Henryk his appreciation for all the work that he had done over the years.
Lord Henryk shrugged his shoulders as he watched the ships at work. "You can appreciate me at a later date, son. When this fleet of ours has proved itself. The ironborn have started their raids again, last week pass, before you arrived, they raided House Paynter lands. Thankfully, those little towers of our king gave us enough of a warning to Paynters to be prepared and us to send the fleet to their aid."
"It's seen action already? How did we do?"
Lord Henryk's grin was something to behold. "We beat them bloody. Killed dozens and captured many more. No more will we have to run away from these savages, no, we'll meet them at sea and fight them off! It will be just like the olden days!"
Lyam wished he was as confident in his father's words as much as his lord father did. The Iron Islands were known as the lands of a thousand kings for a reason. Even if they had nothing else but longships, they could still very much swarm their small fleet if they so wished.
Father had once said that he was far too cautious for someone of his age, but he liked to think himself wise. Well, as wise as someone like him could be.
There was nothing to be shamed off in thinking things a little, that's what he liked to say to himself. He would prefer to be cautious than foolhardy and reckless. He liked to think it was these qualities that his coz so valued and kept him around.
For someone as reckless as him, he would need someone to pull him back and bring the wider horizon into view for his pleasure. His coz was a great man to be true, for everything he had done, he was surely to be in the songs and histories of all time, it just didn't seem like he thought things through.
After all, if it had been him, he wouldn't have risked attacking Harren as much as he had done. The thought of such a thing would not even have come to his mind.
"You said we captured some of them, what do they say of the Iron Isles?" He asked as the sound of a distant horn among the crashing of waves and the crying of seagulls could be heard.
Lord Henryk snorted. "Same news that everyone has known for years of now. The Greyjoys and the last of Harren's loins fighting amongst themselves for those blasted rocks."
Lyam nodded as he closed his eyes in thought. "There have been more raids as of late."
"True, true," His father agreed as he nodded his head. "Wars cost gold, don't think the ironborn care much for gold, but they do care for the poor womenfolk they carry off to be raped. Perhaps that's how they ply for allies among those lands, promising women and whatever wealth they can wish." His father cracked a grin though, as if he found something amusing. "Though I doubt it would last for long. Merchants and sailors that have been sailing south have seen the signs of a fleet being built in Lannisport."
That took his interest. "The Lannisters plan to fight the ironborn?"
"Well, I suspect they want to do something with this fleet they are raising. Attacking the ironborn in their state of weakness seems the most likely to me. Perhaps the Kings of the Rock can finally find themselves a way to rid the ironborn away from Fair Isle. That's always been something of a stain on their golden asses."
"Interesting." Lyam let out loud.
"Interesting?'" His father repeated before shaking his head in mirth. "Is that all you have to say about the matter? Well, it matters not. What exactly is that nephew of mine doing with you in Riverrun exactly? What is it that you do?"
The heir to Seagard couldn't help but stop for a moment to think about it. His...role in his cousins council was quite undefined to say the very least.
He cocked his head to the side for a moment. "I think I am most likely his closest adviser and confidant?"
Lord Henryk let out a noise. "Is that all? That Mooton sop is a glorified coin counter, an actual position that means he is of some use to our little kingdom and you're nothing more than an adviser?" He shook his head as his lips thinned for a moment. "For goodness sake son, a Frey of all things is on his council!"
Lyam shifted uneasily at his father's words. "I sit on his councils. That must surely count for something."
"Well, that just isn't good enough. How close of an ear do you have of Edmyn's? Does he listen to your counsel? Are you the first person in his head when he needs sage counsel on a matter? Well? What is it?"
His father meant well with all these questions, of that he was sure, but the tone that he was using was the one that he didn't recognize could come from his father, but that one would come from Lord Henryk Mallister of Seagard. The lord, not the father.
"Like I said father," He began uneasily, trying to catch himself. "I think-."
"Think isn't good enough son." Lord Henryk cut him off, still using the voice and tone of the Lord of Seagard. "You have to know where you stand. If Edmyn wants you nothing more of an adviser, I think your time is wasted their and better spent here in Seagard. If my sister's son so wants a Mallister for an adviser, I'm sure he'll accept Olyvar. Bookish and not much of a warrior, but good enough for an adviser."
Lyam blinked in disbelief. "Uncle Olyvar is your seneschal though! And invaluable, you would so easily let him go?"
His father waved him off. "I'll have you take his place, be involved in the running of the castle and of Seagard. I have more than one person capable of assuming Olyvar's duties if something was to happen. You are one of them, and the position will give you some experience in governing."
There was a silence amongst them as they watched the ship in the distance stop their exercises and began to make their way back to port. It seemed the days exercises were over and he was sure after a few moments of rest, the ships would set upon patrolling the waters of the Bay.
The calm waters of the Bay on the other hand, did not at all reflect how Lyam felt inside. It was his duty as a son to obey his father. His father made many points that he would agree with, but he doubted that Uncle Olyvar would be able to get the same amount of trust that he and his coz shared between the two of them.
Lyam believed that even if he didn't hold some title like that of Lord Mooton and Ser Franklyn among others, what he did was still important. He was part of Edmyn's inner circle. Couldn't his father's pride not let him see that being on his cousin's inner circle was a better situation for House Mallister than some seat on a council?
But when his father was set on something, he doubted that he would be able to change his mind unless something was done. It seemed he was going to have to talk with his cousin the first chance he got.
Until then, he had to deal with his father, but he would admit, the silence between them, broken as it was by the crashes of waves, the cries of seagulls and the sounds of the city below, was beginning to feel oppressive. "The Grand Maester expects that Ellyn will be giving birth in a couple of moons." Lyam finally said, breaking the silence.
His father blinked in surprise. "The Grand Maester? Never mind." A smile came onto his face and Lord Henryk Mallister, the Lord of Seagard disappeared to be replaced by the father instead. "Excellent! Excellent! Ha! Another Mallister in the world, surely, we have some strong seed resting in our loins! Quite proud of you, and you've only been married for a few moons! Brilliant!" His father gave him the sort of green that he had seen on many a men when they saw a particularly lusty serving wench in the great halls of lords passing by. "You simply have to tell me all about it."
Oh by the gods no, he hoped that was never going to happen. Something were just never to be talked about between parent and child.
Lord Henryk didn't give him a chance to speak as he continued to talk on. "When is young Ellyn going to come and settle into her new home? I know you spend your time now in Riverrun, but child, she is to be the lady of this castle, we should make sure she settles in as quickly as possible."
"After the babe is born. I'll come with her to Seagard." His eyes looked over the city as he made that promise. He wondered whether his lady wife had ever seen a settlement of this size before? Surely it was to grow larger as the years rolled by. "Riverrun just happens to be a place of convenience for the moment."
And he didn't want to risk the babe growing within her by travelling on the roads.
"Good, good." His father nodded his head. "Still though, I have to say, my kingly nephew simply took his time when it came to finding himself a woman to marry."
Lyam let out a sigh. "I can agree with that father. The longer he went without a wife and a heir, the more uncertain the future became. It's good that he finally decided to settle down and build upon his dynasty."
"Why did it take him so damned long anyway?" Father asked, shaking his head in wonder. "I'm sure Lady Anya offered him a bride from her house early on and he refused! I've seen all of Lady Anya's daughters and I wouldn't be paid quick enough to bed them. Even the old lady himself." He finished with a laugh.
Lyam looked around uncomfortably as he muttered underneath his breath. "Don't let mother here you say that..."
"Hm, did you say something?"
"I said he was looking for excellent marriages, he couldn't find any, so he settled for a good marriage. His wife comes from an ancient, respected and wealthy House. All in all, it couldn't have been any better."
"Well, I suppose it's better than a Frey." His father looked down at him, his blue-grey eyes looking for something on his face. "Tell me, is it true that he was about to marry a Frey?"
He sighed in defeat. "I think he toyed with the idea before myself and Ser Franklyn convinced him otherwise."
"Ser Franklyn stopped the rise of his own House?" Lord Henryk gaped, an expression that was quite unbecoming for a lord of his stature.
"Ser Franklyn thought a match between House Tully and House Frey would not be beneficial to the riverlands." Lyam had been quite surprised by Ser Franklyn's selflessness. Lesser lords would have been more than ready to try and sell their sister to for a royal match but Ser Franklyn had done the opposite. He was truly quiet the selfless man. "It doesn't matter, the Mootons were a House that Edmyn recognised as a House that he had to bring onto side."
Lord Henryk stopped gaping eventually and started shaking his head. "But a Mooton...I suppose a worser choice could have been made. The Tully's control the west of the Riverlands and now joined with the Mootons, the east of the lands might as well be his and with him having Gared's brats in his hands, the south as well."
"Suppose that leaves the question of the north then." Lyam mused.
Lord Henryk's face tightened some, and Lyam didn't quite like that. "I wouldn't worry so much about them, but I've been hearing some strange things as of late." Lyam just had to remain quiet for his father to continue speaking and he wasn't disappointed. "It seems we aren't the only ones building ships. Lannisters, Mallisters, Mootons and now there's whispers among the sailors of ships sailing the northern sunset sea bearing the sigils of bears and horses and mailed fists. It seems this Torrhen Stark has finally decided to reverse the folly of his forebears."
Lyam couldn't help but grimace at the thought. "The northerners mostly keep to themselves..."
"And hopefully, it will stay that way, but I fear that turbulent times are ahead of us." His father stared off into the distance. "Peace in Westeros is a commodity that is in very much short supply."