The courtyard is a chaos of raised voices and the neighing of horses and the splashing of mud, which coats the ground; it has been churned loose from the frosty ground and warmed by the trampling of hundreds of feet.


Across the courtyard from you is the inner keep, a building made from Roman stone and patched with Anglo-Saxon woodwork. It is where you host your warriors and organize meetings, and it also functions as your personal quarters.


You should organize a meeting soon, but it would be wise to meet with your family first.

You find your son

In the courtyard, you grab a passing servant girl by the arm


"Have you seen my son?"


The servant seems unsurprised at your arrival; evidently news travels fast. She bites her lip nervously


"Ah... yes, yes I have, but-"


"Where is he?"


You inquire incredulously. The servant blushes


"He's in the stables my lord, but I really don't think you should-"


Waving off her concerns, you thank her and depart towards the stables.


The stables are large and ornate, a mix of carved wood and interlocking wicker. The smell is heavy of stale hay and horse manure, but the atmosphere is pleasant nonetheless.


At least three-dozen horses of various shades rest in the shade of the stable's long awning, but your son is nowhere to be found.


On a hunch, you decide to check the stable master's quarters, at the rear of the stable.


As you approach the door you hear a muffled laugh through the porous wood of the door. Undoing the latch, you throw open the door and enter the dimly lit room.


Inside, you son Eamon, a long-haired blond boy of seventeen lies under an old cotton blanket alongside a freckled girl of similar age. The pair are twined together, moving rythmically, and apparently neither noticed you open the door.


You clear your throat politely. The girl gives a shriek of surprise, and covers herself with a fold of the tattered blanket. Your son looks equally surprised, but emits only a startled cough. You grin


"Hello Eamon"


You turn your attention to the girl lying beside him.

You say "Get out"

"Get out"


You snap idly, sparing her hardly a second glance. Blushing profusely, the young servant girl slips a threadbare tunic over her freckled body and hurries out of sight. Your son stares after her longingly, he sighs exasperatedly


"You didn't have to do that father"


You fix him with a hard stare


"I'm sorry, I merely assumed you would prefer to see your father rather than rut in the muck with some servant girl. Apparently I was mistaken."


Your son mutters something under his breath, you stare him down, daring him to argue with you


"What did you say?"


Your son returns your glare


"Her name is Lynette"

You say "You shouldn't get too attached to her."

You bite your lip awkwardly


"You shouldn't do this"


Your son stares at you incredulously


"I shouldn't love someone?"


"You are only making this harder for yourself"


Your son glares back at you


"I don't want to marry just anyone. I want to marry someone I care about"


You grab your son viciously by his shoulders


"Are you insinuating that I don't care about Catheryn!"


 Your son backpedals hurriedly


"Of course not, father you know I wouldn't-"


He searches for words


"I- I just... what if it doesn't work out for me? What if I don't love my wife?"


You let go of his shoulders limply


"I'm sure you'll love her"


Your son doesn't seem so convinced. He slips on his trousers and shirt and departs the stable master's quarters in silence, brushing past you on the way out.


You sigh tiredly and depart the stables alone.