Ch. 3 - Unorthodox

Drezielle
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After a good long sleep, Zel no longer felt the ill effects of the mine, and she was eager to be going. The others all were as well, and it was early in the morning when they got out onto the road again at last. It would be a long trip to Blackbane Hall, and they would travel more slowly than Zel liked, but she would at least stay near Florie until the girl was home. The trip was uneventful, much quieter than their initial trip had been, until a week in when the Maester started getting tired more easily, and he finally made enough noise that Florie agreed to stop in a little village called Chequey.

They stopped in at the public house for food and drink, and were enjoying the atmosphere. There was even a singer with a lute who was quite talented, singing about some bandits called the Kingswood Brotherhood. Then three men came in, and from their brown robes, shaven heads, and bare feet, Zel could tell they were begging brothers, although the sheer size of them and the iron cudgels they carried showed they were used to harder roads. The one who
seemed to be in charge yelled out for food and drink, more of an order than begging, and when the innkeep said that by his piety, he would offer them porridge, they grudgingly accepted, but then turned to the crowd to make noise about better food and drink. Largely to quiet them, Ser Toby offered his mutton, and Florie was just about to make sure they got beer when one of the men who had been so grateful to Toby a moment before saw the copper gypsy charm around his neck.

The brother said he was no true knight if he wore it, and he would not stand to see this heresy. Zel made herself small and made sure her own charm was tucked safely away. Whatever it meant, she didn't want them to get a look at it now. Sir Toby removed the charm at Florie's behest, but would not give it over for the brothers to destroy without explanation, which made them even angrier. They said it was for the seven heresies of the Kingswood Prophet, and that was all they needed to know. But when they started trying to incite the crowd, Florie stood and used the crowd against them, until everyone was ready to see the brothers well on their way. With the crowd and innkeepers against them, the men left, and Zel breathed a sigh. A little too much excitement always seemed to happen around the Felswards.

Tobias
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Still on edge after the incident with the begging brothers, and none too happy about their accusations, Toby downed another beer, and tried not to worry about what would happen if the men were waiting for them when they left the inn. Florie was clearly still frustrated at the lack of answers, but then it seemed she had an idea, and she called the bard over. He had been singing about the Kingswood bandits, so surely he knew of their so-called prophet as well. He said he wouldn't like to speak of such heresy, and that it would be a shame if drink loosened his tongue enough to do so. This was the sort of language Toby understood plenty well, so he bought the man a drink and began asking questions.

The bard said that the Kingswood Brotherhood bandits were led by soemone called the Prophet, but nobody had any idea who that might be. There was rumor that the famous lady outlaw the White Fawn might be the Prophet's consort, but she supposedly loves Simon Toyne, so it might all be rumor. Another drink, and he began to speak about the heresies. The Prophet espoused heresies for each of the Seven. The heresy of the Mother, the bard told them, was that her children are her own, and that children are not to be treated or punished as adults. The heresy of the Maiden was that a woman owned only her virtue, and that it oculd not be bought and sold, only given for love. The heresy of the Crone was that only the Crone's lantern throws the light of wisdom. The Father's heresy was that children serve no man but their father. The Warrior's heresy said that no man should raise a sword except to fight for himself or his brother, and never against an unknown enemy. The Smith's was that a man owns the sweat of his brow and the fruit of his labor. And lastly, the heresy of the Stranger was that he claims mystery for his own, and no man should seek illumination in the ground or sky.

Tobias saw the danger and the appeal in these, but he was still reluctant to give up the charm that a grateful mother had given him in thanks. Surely there might be more to this than they had just heard, since this was the first they'd even known of it. They slept, and in the morning, they found that though the brothers were gone, their saddlebags had been marked with seven-pointed stars, upside down. Florie ordered them buffed off, and they headed for home, even more somberly now than before.

When they reached Blackbane Hall, Zel Flowers spent one night and then said he must be about his duty. He gave an apologetic look to Florie that Toby wasn't entirely sure how to interpret, then saddled up and headed once more for the King's Road.

Florie's Journal - Letter to Argent
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Dear Argent,

I have nowhere to send this letter yet, but I feel I must write it. I have to get my thoughts out as honestly as I would with you, and this is the only way. You would be relieved to hear that we got our arsenite, and with Maester Cyril's attention, both Mother and Jonys have improved. Jonys is up and walking about, but Mother was so weak before her treatment that her improvement is much slower. She is senseless most of the time, and doesn't yet know about you.

The silver we procured from Silver Hill was mostly lead, making the Silver Hill Greyfells our enemies still. Father was furious when he found out, and after some brief questioning about those we had talked to in Silver Hill, he decided to take our armed forces, leaving only the garrison for protection, and lead our men to Silver Hill and bring the town to heel. He left Ser Toby in charge of the men, and me in charge of the household. He looked fearsome in his armor, like I only remember from a few times when I was a little girl. And then we were alone, and I was left to contemplate.

I've spent a lot of time in the sept. I know you likely think it's silly, but I've always prayed that the Seven guide my steps, and I need it now more than ever. Some knights accused us of heresy, and when we learned the heresies being spread through the population, they gave me pause. The heresy of the Maiden is that a woman cannot be made into a gift, or a commodity bought and sold. It is a heresy that a woman should give herself only to a man she loves. I've no wish to defy the Seven, Argent. I wonder if my dreams of love were childish fantasy or even worse, and I think now more than ever, I must understand my duty to our family. The marriage Father chooses will have to be the right one. And that too, may be wishful, for dark days are ahead, and much could happen before there is any chance for marriage.

Axel Florent sent another letter to Mother. Cyril intercepted it, and when he did, I felt a little bad about taking it from him with no explanation. He said in his letter that he would send the key again by other means in case Colin had not had the chance to pass it on. He reiterated what he had said in the first letter, and noted that he would be eagerly awaiting an answer, for what he spoke about was near at hand. I tried talking to Toby first, but he told me that though he would do anything to help me, perhaps I should speak to our Maester, and let his learning help guide us. So I told Cyril everything, and watched his expression go stunned, but he again assured his loyalty to our family-- whichever family we choose to be. That's the problem, though. We can wait until Florent sends the key once more, but then we must decide how to answer him, if we answer at all. If he and others make war against the Tyrells, there is no way to stay out of it. If we stand by our honor as bannermen, no doubt Florent will still expose us as Gardeners. The Tyrells, and perhaps even King's men will try to destroy us, even as we carry their banners. Our other option, then, is to stand by our blood over our loyalties, and to try to take Highgarden into our hands. And we are still likely to be killed. I do not know yet how to make this decision.

Ever your loving sister,
Florie