Without a doubt, this was amongst one of the most comfortable journeys she has ever had in a wheelhouse before. Most certainly not the best, that one was reserved for the journey to Riverrun to meet her betrothed, even though that had been more taxing on her rear than this one.
She decided to accredit the comforts of this journey to a clever man that she was proud to call her husband. The roads, the wheelhouse and this thing he had referred to as 'suspension' made all this much better.
Zhoe couldn't help but be excited for the day when she would take little Ciri and Alfie to Maidenpool. Their journey there would be quicker back and forth than the usual times, especially with the sort of entourage royals brought with them.
Alas, this particular journey didn't bring the sort of royal entourage that a queen would mostly bring. This journey was for something that needed speed, so she had done away with the usual servants that would come with her, only taking one companion with her in the form of Lady Ellyn who had insisted on coming along on this self-given task of hers.
"Either this is either going to be a piece of low cunning from you or very foolish."
Zhoe smiled at her closest companion. "It all depends on how the gods will it."
A well looked after eyebrow slowly rose up her brow. "But it is quite dangerous and through of untold risks?"
"We have knights and men-at-arms with us," She smoothed her skirts. "I think we will be safe."
"Knights that could very well be much outnumbered by the rabble that cluster around this-this, Luthor." Lady Ellyn Bracken sniffed her nose in disgust. "I wonder what he thinks he is doing, destabilizing the kingdom so."
"Perhaps he thinks he is doing the works of the gods?" She suggested with a shrug of her slender shoulders. "Not all men know the damage they do when they believe themselves to be in the right."
Lord Brandon had reported in a cabinet meeting that his men had finally found the roving septon-no, it wouldn't be right to call him a septon. He might speak and preach, but from all accounts, he rejects the notion of being acquainted with the clergy of the Faith.-whatever he was.
"Have you made contact?" She could remember like it was yesterday when her father posed that question to the lordling.
The lordling had smiled as he shook his head. "Unfortunately, not yet my lord. My men are just keeping track of him as he makes his way round the lands, but from reports, he seems to be moving in the direction of Riverrun."
Father had nodded his head at that. "Good, good, keep aware of his location. The king shan't be long to return now. Sent an invitation to the man. His presence here would be much appreciated by His Grace."
"I'll see to it as soon as possible, my lord."
It was at that moment that something wild had sprouted into her head and she had spoken before she had thought to give the notion a look over. "Perhaps the invitation can be done in person?"
Lord Brandon had blinked in surprise before cocking his head to the side slightly in confusion. "...Your Grace?"
"A personal invitation," She continued, too late to turn back now. "From me, make him most likely to not refuse such a thing."
Lady Anya had looked shocked for a moment before she spoke. "That perhaps may not be the best of ideas, Your Grace. The situation is quite...delicate as it is now. There is no need for you to take to the field personally, lest the wrong impressions are given."
"And let's not forget the danger." Father had spoken with a steel to his voice. She could remember that voice, the voice that had berated her for whenever she brought the notion of going outside the castle walls back in her youth.
But she wasn't young anymore. The world was vast and she wanted to see it. There was no ironborn to fear.
She raised an eyebrow of curiosity at the older lady. "What impressions? I am merely inviting a person of interest to the court. A person that the court knows my husband has taken an interest in over the moons, and I wouldn't be surprised if the news had spread throughout the four corners of the kingdom itself."
The other lords had argued against her, but she was adamant. In the end, she was queen and all they could do was follow.
Father is probably going to be mad with me. No, that was wrong. Father was already mad with her. Father was more than likely going to be livid with her, but she thought the gains from this would more the make-up for it.
Yes, Father was going to be livid, but it was going to be worth it.
"Have you read his treatise about the Faith?" She shook her head. "Nothing but trouble I tell you."
"I thought it well done, though in bad taste. Holy men and women breaking their vows in brothels? They have sworn faiths abdicating themselves from such earthly vices."
There was an amused sigh that escaped Ellyn Bracken's lips as she shook her head. "You give men much to credit, Zhoe. I'm sure throw a shapely enough naked wench in front of man, he will most likely taste upon her wet lips."
At first, her friend's crass language might have caused her to blush something fierce at how inappropriate it was, but for how long she had come to know her, she didn't care no more. All she could do was sigh in exasperation and mind her to not speak as such in front of the children.
"They swore oaths."
"That they did."
"To the gods."
"They also did that."
"They have to uphold them lest they damn themselves in the Seven hells."
Ellyn shrugged. "I'm sure if they pay enough in coin, they might just forgive themselves enough for the breaking of oaths."
Zhoe nearly gaped at her friend's. "Don't tell me you believe in his writings?"
Her friend merely shrugged once more, as if the topic wasn't of all that much importance. "I have to admit; the man makes quite a few good points and I tend to agree with them."
They continued to talk amongst themselves as they continued to travel towards their destination. They conspired between the two of them of potential engagements between their children, of children they had yet to have. They talked of the court, of all the lords, ladies and lordlings that had since come with all their goals and aspirations and how far they were close to meeting them.
Riverrun's court was far larger and more exciting than anything she had experienced at Maidenpool. The feasts, the balls, the music, the people. There was always something to do, someone new to meet, to talk, to know.
Then the carriage came to a stop and a knock came from the shutter that closed them off to the world. "Your Grace, my lady, we have come upon him."
Zhoe pulled up the shutter to look at the vistage of her sworn shield that had accompanied her all the way from Maidenpool. A knight that she had known since she was still nothing more than a little girl who went dancing and prancing about in the castle godwood.
"Ser Benard," She greeted warmly with a smile at the aging knight. It was always good to see him. "Thank you."
He nodded with a smile on his face as Ellyn pulled herself up and headed for the door. "Suppose we should get this over and done with."
"I suppose we should." Zhoe replied mirthfully as she followed close behind her friend, Ser Benard helping them down the steps of the wheelhouse. She was not ready to meet the size of the congregation that had set itself beside the road. Her eyes roamed over them all, men, women, children and even babes still at the teat. "Gods, they are hundreds of them."
"Closer to two hundred, Your Grace." Ser Benard walked closely to them, allong with a Mallister knight by the name of Ser Kyle Hawking. Their sword hands clasped tightly over the handles of their swords. "Give or take a few."
"Perhaps a dozen or so." Ser Kyle Hawking added with a firm nod. He motioned towards the one man they all seemed to have sat around a man in a great circle who stood atop a wagon, preaching to them. "And that would be Luthor, I suspect."
"You have an eye for the obvious, ser." Lady Ellyn japed.
"One of my many talents, my lady." The ser replied in good humour. "What should we do?"
Zhoe thought about it before making a decision. "Let him finish his sermon, no need to antagonize the crowd by interrupting. And I think he has taken note of us." Although the man spoke, his hands moving about with wild accuracy, his eyes seemed firmly on them.
Even from this distance, she could feel his gaze upon them. Perhaps, even her.
Lady Ellyn sniffed her nose, squinting her eyes some. "Can't say I'm terribly impressed so far by what I'm seeing. He doesn't look all that exceptional, forgettable in fact."
"It's a shame then, that he can't seem to make himself forgettable for the sake of the kingdom. Clearly there must be something about him that attracts people so." She waved a hand over the large gathering. "Where are they all coming from? Such a large group of people would have been easy to find yet, Lord Brandon had trouble."
Ser Kyle answered her question, having a better knowledge of the locale than Ser Benard. "There's a few villages around this area, not connected by roads, but by trails through the woods and hills."
"I thought the king's roads connected every settlement on a map." Lady Ellyn said.
Ser Benard smiled some. "Not all villages and hamlets are on maps."
They didn't have to wait long before Luthor finished his sermon. He bid the smallfolk back to their homes to prepare for the coming night, but he mingled some in the crowd, shaking hands and talking with them all. He even kissed the heads of babes.
Something about how much influence he seemed to hold amongst the people disquieted her. Something that she had to bring up with her husband when given the chance. The people needed to see Edmyn, not Luthor as someone worthy for such an honor.
Eventually, he took it upon himself to come their way, followed by a dozen or so men and women, all of varying ages. She noticed the particular pendant they wore upon their necks. A Seven-pointed star, one she saw worn amongst the men and women of the Faith, but this one, instead of gold was made of nothing more than simple wood.
"It is rare for me to be given audiences by men and women of high birth, but I am more the willingly to give you a sermon if you so wish." Luthor said in greeting.
Lady Ellyn's eyes narrowed some. "You have spoken to highlords before? Pray tell, who are they?"
Luthor smiled some at the lady. "I wouldn't call them highlords of your stature most like. Just lordlings of lesser nobility. Not enough to garner your attention. Ah, where are my manners, I am Luthor, it's a pleasure to meet you...?" He trailed off as he bowed.
Zhoe gave him a polite curtsy. "Zhoe Tully, a pleasure."
Luthor seemed taken aback, along with his followers before they all went to their knees. "Oh, my apologies Your Grace, forgive my rudeness. I did not recognize you so."
"I doubt you could have, this is our first meeting and I happened to have forgotten my crown in my wheelhouse." She replied gently, bidding them to their feet instead of their knees.
"What can I do for you, Your Grace?"
Before she could answer, she had the sounds of a commotion coming from the back of her company of knights and guardsmen. A commotion that gained the attention of everyone present.
Ser Kyle frowned before making to move and casting a glance in the direction of Ser Benard. "I'll go see what's the problem. I'll leave them in your care, ser."
Ser Bernard nodded but he did not have to worry as a group of riders rode forth down the side of the road. Lady Ellyn cursed underneath her breath. "Oh brilliant, this is going to be a problem." She cursed once more. "What are the Warrior's Sons doing here?"
For they were indeed the Warrior's Sons, for they carried the rainbow-colored banner of the noble order with rainbow colored cloaks and armor made of silver plate. They rode towards garnering the attention of the few smallfolk that had yet to leave for their homes.
And on they came before Ser Benard and Ser Kyle along with several other knights on horseback came to move in front of Zhoe and Lady Ellyn. Ser Benard stepped forth. "I think you'll go no further, good sers, lest you state your intention."
The lead rider urged his horse forward, his features hidden by a full helm that made his voice deep and booming when he spoke. "I am Ser Tallard the Pious of the Noble and Puissant Order of the Warrior's Sons. And my intention," A gauntled hand rose and pointed straight at Luthor. "Is to carry out the order given to me by the Most Devout Florian to apprehend the man that calls himself Luthor for the crime of Grand Heresy." He finished with seething disgust.
"They can't do that." Zhoe let out.
"I think they can." Ellyn countered.
She shook her head before stepping forward. "Noble knight, the only authorities that can yield an order of arrest to any subject of the Kingdom of the Trident are those beholden to Riverrun. As noble as your order is, it has not authority in these lands."
The seemed to take the knight aback for a moment before he regained himself a spoke once more. "That's impossible! All crimes against the gods are beholden to the Faith to punish!" A rock smashed thrown from the crowd smashed into the knight's helmet and he reared angrily to the crowd of smallfolk. "Who did that!"
Several more rocks pelted him and his fellow knights. "Leave 'im be you corrupt fuckers!" Someone in the crowd yelled that was quickly followed by another. "You ain't takin' Luthor anywher' ya hear!?"
"He's a good man! Better than you lot!"
"He speaks for the gods he does!"
"Fuck off back to your little whorehouses!"
"And take your buggering septons and septas with you!"
Ellyn tugged at her gown, anxiously. "This isn't good Zhoe," She muttered quietly as she looked at the people shout and continue to throw rocks at the knights that had taken to protecting themselves with their shields. "We should get back to the wheelhouse."
Ser Benard was of the same mind. "I agree, back to the wheelhouse, now." She didn't bother arguing for she saw the danger herself, the crowd was yelling and throwing even more rocks now, some even hitting the knights that were not of the Warrior's Sons.
"PEOPLE!" She heard Luthor call out as she moved back to the wheelhouse. "HEED ME! PLEASE REMAIN CALM! THERE IS NO NEED FOR VIOLENCE!"
That was the last thing Zhoe heard before men started screaming.