Find-A-Way02

Story Two: Return to the Wisenwood

Scene 1: Arrival at Wisenwood

• When the traveling party arrives, they are greeted at the gates by Wisent Bulls, the infantry of House Wisent.
• They pass through the town, allowing Ayrant to refamiliarize himself with the town - and to spot new constructions, like the half-built New Market.
  • Ser Ryfe tells him that his brother started the New Market as a project a few years ago, but the money dried up.
• Arriving at Wisenwood Tower, they are greeted by Lady Elizabel.
  • She tells them that Lord Josian is away hunting, but should be home in time for the big feast she is planning to welcome Ayrant home.
• Marten is glad to see Garwyn again, and wants to show his big brother some of the "sword fighting tricks" that Ser Ormun has shown him since they've been apart.
• Lady Elizabel has her cousin, Daenar Harclay, the castellan of Wisenwood Tower, show them to their rooms, to let them rest up.
  • Daenar also shows the maester the rookery in construction, and introduces him to Jorge, the carpenter from the town who is working on the rookery.
• Ayrant relaxes into a bath, chatting with Carenzo, who is laying out his master's clothes for the feast tomorrow.
• While Maester Tolbric is setting up his quarters, his pet dog Mutt chases his raven, Harold.
  • The yipping draws the attention of the youngest Wisent, Dania, who peeks into the room. She bursts in when she catches sight of Mutt, declaring him "the bestest doggie in the world - way better than papa's slobbery old doggies!"
  • Nanna Snow follows her into the room, apologizing for the invasion. She and the maester make plans to sit down and plan out the girls' education times.

Scene 2: Welcome Home Feast

• At the welcome home feast, Josian gets drunk and lights into his brother.
  • Nanna tries to escort the children out, but Josian insists that they should remain, and know what kind of man their uncle is.
• Josian berates his brother for his irresponsibility, making it plain that while he doesn't think Ayrant actually raped anyone, he did put himself into the position where such an accusation could be believed, following his whims with no thought for anyone else.
• The storm brews anew when he discovers the fate of the Wisent Valyrian steel blade - it has been reforged from a longsword into a Braavosi blade, much to Josian's absolute fury.
• He kicks everyone out of the room; he orders Maester Tolbric to stay, however.
  • Josian wants him to know why he got the Citadel to send him here.
  • His House is in trouble. He has a man known as a raper for an heir, his father was a madman, and he himself would rather be in the woods or in his cups. He needs someone to help fix things.
  • He started work a few years ago on the New Market, but that's stalled out because of money.
  • His banner house has better military might than he does.
  • He also mentions that he'll never have a son, because... but he stops himself there, and looks into the fire. He opens his eyes and tells him that he should go to bed, and stumbles as he stands.
  • The maester has to help him up to the Garret, where Lady Wisent sits up by the fire sewing. She regards him kindly, and thanks him for his help.

Scene 3: The Tour of Wisenwood

• The next day, Ayrant and Tolbric are given a tour of the tower by Daenar, introducing them to the household servants.
• Leaving, they find Ser Ormun Ironsmith drilling some of the Bulls, and introduces them (drill-instructor style) to them.
  • "Come along, you wee calves! This is the younger brother of Lord Wisent, and he's the House Heir. When His Lordship isn't around, it's Ayrant here what wears the Horns O' the House, and you'd best mind up and step to! Take a good look - this is the man whose blood you may have to die for someday, and I expect each of you wee calves to do it with a firm footing, a square jaw and a spit in the eye of your foeman before you fall!"
• From there, they travel to the Weeping Gardens, the Wisent godswood.
  • The tree is covered in ribbons and the remains of ribbons.
  • There they meet Maggie, proprietress of the Severed Hand, the older inn in town. Her daughter Sadie and Sadie's husband Crovin are praying at the Old Wise Man, the heart-tree of the Weeping Gardens. Maggie says they are praying for a baby.
  • When Maggie and her family leave, Ayrant spends some time at the tree while Tolbric examines it closely, as it is the first heart-tree he's ever seen up close.
  • Ayrant excuses himself and goes around to the Wisent Lichyard, in a walled-in clearing behind the godswood proper, to spend some time at his father's tomb. He draws his blade there, seeming to show it to the grave.
• Afterwards, Daenar takes them to see the New Market, where they have luncheon at the Red Aurochs, the newest inn in town.
• They close out the evening drinking at the Severed Hand, which Ayrant and Garwyn both like better, no small thanks to Maggie's fine heather beer.

Scene 4: A Trip Away

• Garwyn returns to his old routine, and Maester Tolbric finds quite a lot put on his plate rather quickly, including a love of the local cheese-crofters' goods.
• Ayrant, on the other hand, does what he can, but doesn't have much that needs doing, so he fills his day with Water Dancer training on the top of the tower, and his evenings at the Severed Hand.
• One afternoon, Josian comes to find Ayrant and Garwyn at the Severed Hand. It is clear they haven't seen him there in a while, and Maggie is very pleased to see him.
  • Over a cup of heather beer, he tells Ayrant that he thinks he should go and spend some time at Palewood. He's extended an invitation to House Blackhorn for a hunt there; they'll want to meet him anew, and to take his measure on the hunt.
• Later that day, as Garwyn is preparing the horses for the trip, Lady Elizabel stops in at the stables. She suggests taking Marten on the hunt with them, and asks what he thinks of the new heir.
  • She also asks if he's thought about marriage at all, and suggests that perhaps the upcoming tournament (in Torrhen's Square, celebrating Kaila's betrothal to Benfred Tallhart) might be a good place to find a wife, if he's so inclined.
  • She says that she will have Josian find him a small house and croft if he decides to marry and found a family.
• While Ayrant is preparing for the trip, Kaila finds him and asks if she can go on the hunt with him. She explains that she's a good hunter and could help him. He thinks about it, and then agrees.