The Savage Storm of Golden Geese

Henry

"The Hand's tourney is the cause of all the trouble." The Commander of the Golden Guard complained to the council.
"It is the King's tourney," Edgar corrected, interposing. "I assure you the Hand is only following his commands."
"Call it what you like, my Lord. Knights are appearing in the city with every moon that falls, and with every knight we get merchants, men at arms, whores and freeriders. Who knows what thieves are being brought into our home... last night we had a murder, three fires, a rape and a riot originating at a tavern table. The night before that a body floated to the Golden shores. No one knows who the victim is."
"Wrathful business." Lord Baegon whispered, with an exagerated tremble of his body.
Lord Samuel Mirthfall was far from sympathetic.
"If a tournament can cause such trouble for our city, perhaps the Golden Guard should appoint someone more suited to command and protect, Jon."

Angered and beet red, Jon Barrington rose like a puff of smoke from a chimney.
"The Chipped Blades could not keep the peace, Lord Mirthfall. I need more men from your father."
"How many men?" Edgar asked with a sigh. As always, Taghai could not be bothered to bless the council with his presense, so it fell to his Hand to speak.
"As many as the King shall grace me with, Lord Sinnet."
"Hire thirty men," Edgar commanded. "Lord Muhsin will see you get your coin reimbursed."

Henry's avoidant eyes perk up.
"I will?" he asks.
"You will," Edgar Sinnet says with a callous tongue. "I'm sure you can scrape a few coppers together to keep the King's peace."
Henry wished other members got the disgrace of commands, instead of sitting in silenced before heading to their grand homes.
Edgar turned back to Jon.
"I will also give you fifteen swords from my household guard, to serve with you until the crowds have left."
"Thank you, Lord Sinnet." Barrington said with a bow. "I promise peace."
When the commander took his leave, Edgar turned to the council.
"The sooner this tourney starts and finishes, the sooner I can enjoy the kingdom."
Henry could tell that the Hand had no say in the tournament being placed in his name, a ploy from the Mirthfalls for gold in their pocket.
"The realm prospers from events like this," Lord Samuel Mirthfall said. "The chance of glory calls Houses from far, and the peasants entertaintment."
"The crowds place coin in many pockets," Henry added. "The whores walk with jingles as fat as their arse."

Lord Samuel laughed at this statement.
"My brother is lucky to be headed West, his mind free from such trivial matters. All this talk of brothels and whores would make him as red as Jon Barrington. I recall when he went to his wife's bed like a man marching into a war, a dark look that called for his need to fulfill his duty."
Edgar had not joined the jest. "I wonder about your brother. I wonder when he will join this council, instead of travelling to places he is not needed."

"No doubt when all of the whores wash up on the Golden Coast." Lord Samuel joked, Henry couldn't help but laugh.
"I've heard enough," Edgar says standing. "Until the morning."

Henry watched the back Edgar's grey and thin hair get smaller as he walks down the hall.
"My father chose his Hand well, though Sinnet were an obvious choice. An honourable and esteemed man." Lord Samuel analyses.
"What would I have done without your vision, Lord Samuel." Lord Baegon says sarcastically.
The title was a courtesy due to his position on the council, Baegon was the lord of nothing but secrets, the master of none but his storytellers.
"I know we both do love your father," Lord Baegon says as he stands, stretching his soft hands. "Never has a King been so beloved as our Taghai, but you possess none of the qualities I love about him."

Lord Samuel is visibly offended, he opens his mouth to yell obscenities and curses before the large wooden doors swing open. Lord Baegon turns his head and immediately sits back down.
"Get back in there." a voice ordered down the hall.
The footsteps belonged to a plump gentleman joined by one, the sound told them that, yet their eyes told them the impossible. King Taghai has arrived at the council meeting, accompanied by an annoyed and tired Edgar Sinnet.