Chapter 17

Lady Celtigar, to what do I owe this surprise visit?" I asked as the Woman in Question sat across from me.

"Well, when a Woman visits a man in his Solar, there are a few things that spring to mind." Replied the rather Curvy Redhead with a wry grin.

"Are you flirting with me? A mere vassal to house Celtigar? How Scandalous, what would Lord Ardrian Say?" I grinned back.

"May I be Frank with you, Lord Irons?" She asked.

"Only if I can still be Robb." I replied. Good old nervous humor, always there when I don't need it.

"Yes, how droll. To answer your initial question, My Grand uncle wishes to strengthen ties between our two houses. As this normally means betrothal, I asked him to be allowed to negotiate my own betrothal. So, to get to the point, what would you offer House Celtigar in exchange for this marriage?" She asked.

As she spoke I was sipping mead from a drinking horn. I was certain that if not for Gamer's Mind, I would have done a spit take all over that lovely, low cut dress she was wearing.

Instead I replied, "My Lady, allow me to repay your Frankness in kind. I'm not entirely sure you've thought about this from my perspective. I may have risen up the ranks to nobility, but I was born a bastard. I was trained to do many things, to fight, to sail, to command both ships and men on the field of battle, even simple economics, as a captain needs to have a decent grasp of how best to spend his plunder or trade his cargo. What I was not trained in was to think like a noble socially. So please forgive me when I say that this is a really impersonal way of proposing marriage and it is making me quite uncomfortable to barter myself out like this."

Tact thy name is Robb Irons.

"I was told this might be an issue. My Lord of Irons, you may have been born a bastard, but you have been ennobled now. Like it or not, you are one of us now. This sort of thing is all very standard." She Replied.

"Well, can't say I didn't warn you. Let's talk simple economics then. Are you aware of the concept of supply and demand? I would understand if such mercantile concepts were not taught to you by a Septa, but every Ironborn who hopes to Captain a Ship eventually learns, if only to get the best deals on selling plunder or cargo. I shall not go into detail, but I have something you want, 10,000 Troops, large tracts of Developed lands, four Castles, a fleet of modern ships, and of course my personal talents. House Celtigar has what? Claw Isle? A Fleet of Glorified Pleasure Barges? Mayhaps 2,000 Men? It seems that it is not I who should be paying you for this betrothal." I replied.

"Am I not enough for you?" Pouted Amelia.

"You were the one who decided to treat this as a business deal rather than actually seeing if we were compatible. You do not get to complain when negotiations go poorly for you." I replied.

"What would you have of me then?" She asked.

"I would have you stop treating this like a negotiation and start treating this like a potential relationship." I sighed.

"Well what would you suggest?" She asked.

"Sailing, tomorrow afternoon, followed by a meal. See if we might be compatible and not lock us into a marriage neither of us would be any good in. By all accounts that sort of thing has led to something downright venomous leeching into the Royal Court. Neither of us wants that." I replied.

She raised an eyebrow at that and said, "And what if we aren't compatible?"

"It isn't as if a failed courtship would mean I won't still be your vassal. We'd then be free to pursue other courtships, possibly better opportunities for both our houses if you want to look at it like that." I replied.

"True. Consider my interest piqued Lord Irons. I shall see you tomorrow afternoon." She said.

"I'm looking forward to it." I replied with a grin. . .