>>5798504Your train of thought was interrupted by the deep call of ser Duncan <span class="mu-i">‘’Boy come here, lets see that helm’’</span> and you hastened to act, ser Duncan rarely tolerated insolence and in your early years under him it had earned you more than a pinch of the ear or a clap around the head. Ser Duncan of Ironoak was a grizzled knight who had come from the Vale with the dowry after your father had married the lady Grafton, you had once resented him as her creature but you had since seen many asperions from him that cast that into doubt, perhaps he simply was as ornery towards her as he was to many others or perhaps it was that he saw her as you did, it was hard to read his one good eye and gray-white beard what he thought at the best of times. His first question was simple as you approached <span class="mu-i">‘’can you take it off?’’</span> a question you found to be self evident over the next few moments as exertion proved, Ser duncan merely tisked and bid you stop, grasping your armored chin he passed inspection with his one eye before remarking with exasperation <span class="mu-i">''your damned brother's broken it, we'll have to see it fixed or replaced in Dragonstone''</span> he paused a moment seeming to chew his words <span class="mu-i">''You put on a good show there boy, you've got good instincts about you but mind yourself, too many men have died for a lack of caution’’</span> he nodded sagely, more to himself than you before curtly finishing <span class="mu-i">’’go see Gregor and Petyr about getting that helmet off then clean up’’</span> and without further mention he marched to the helm as you bid to task.
Gregor and Petyr were not blacksmiths or quartermasters, simply men-at-arms long serviced under your father but they knew as much about armor and arms as ser Duncan did though they japed and hooted at your predicament to a point that caused you to bristle quietly as they pried the helm off you, with a final laugh they had bid you farewell handing you your cracked helm as your retreated to your quarters where you washed with a basin of water and exchanged your breastplate for a cloak and padded gambeson for fine cloth surcoat adorned with your houses colors, taking the small mirror you had you noted that your brother had dealt you quite blow already the skin was contused and a motley of discolored bruising quite the mark but one you would survive.
You realized suddenly that ser Duncan had not given you orders, either he had left you to your own devices or it had slipped his mind.
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