Harbor

[Leman Harlaw]

The principal port of the north. Open year round, it is a bustling place, with the smell of sea permeating everything.

[Leman Harlaw]

The Grey Horse and Lemans 3 other vessels sailed into white harbor separately, mooring at different docks. His other men would look for oarsmen and recruits, while he sat on the deck and waited for Vickon. He took out the letter he had received what had seemed so long ago and read it's contents again. A small table was set up on the deck, on which were laid out numerous charts of the crownlands. He looked over them, his eyes seeing the lines but his mind on the land, seeing the woods and coves. He was tired. It had been a long time since his ship had last rested, and it was beginning to show. His ship desperately needed refitting, and he wanted to cut her a new mast. Briet came up behind him, quite as ever, and sat on his lap.
'Where are we?' she asked in her small voice.
'Right here'
'Do you want to see my tricks?' Leman smiled and nodded.
The little girl threw her dolls high in the air, juggling them as expertly as any performer. They flashed and shined in the light, and the man's booming laugh echoed over the water.

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

The large influx of Iron Islanders entering 'The Shady Lady' indicated to Vickon that Leman Harlaw's small fleet had arrived. Putting down his ale, Vickon left the inn without paying, much to the animosity of the inkeep, a fat old hag who yelled and screamed as he left. Vickon wondered if she was The Shady Lady but decided it was best if he didn't know. Outside, the wind was strong, blowing against his face. Had he still had his longer hair, the wind would surely take hold of it, he had chosen however to cut his hair short and allow his beard to grow. Less chance of being recognised he figured.

A thick cloud cover sat over White Harbour and Vickon guessed that it would storm later in the afternoon. Making his way around the docks Vickon took tally of each ship moored there. Most were small fishing and trading ships, but the occasional warship stood tall amongst the lesser vessels. Standing tall above all, was a great ship, one he recognised, of the Iron Fleet. Although her sails were drawn, the flags mounted on the ship bore a 4-bladed scythe, the personal arms of Leman Harlaw. Vickon was relieved.

Reaching the entrance to the ship his passage was blocked by a huge man, his skin darkened from years spent in the sun. "State ya business or piss off." He stated bluntly. Vickon straigthened himself. "My name is Vickon, I am here to see Leman Harlaw." The large man sniffed the air before barking, "Rudder! tell tha' Cap'n he's go' a visitor. Says 'is name is Vickon." A small slim youth appeared behind the burly man and ran up the gangplank towards the deck. "Yous can wait 'ere for tha Cap'n's orders."

Vickon leaned himself against a barrel on the far side of the dock. From where he sat, he could see what he thought were axes flying in the air on deck. He cocked an eyebrow in puzzlement.

[Leman Harlaw]

Catching a axe as it came careening straight at his skull, Leman scowled in a fierce display at the small child, but she was undaunted leaping at him to get her toy back. They rolled back and forth, finally coming up with Leman having one meaty hand wrapped around her ankle. He held her upside down, her yelling words quite inappropriate for a nine-year old to know. He laughed and held her over the side of the boat, her tiny fists swinging back and forth, trying to hit her persecuter. His crewman came up then, completely unfazed by the activity going on. "Cap'n, man to see you. Vickon or something of the like, you want us to show him off the docks head first?"

Good. Then the fool wasn't dead or imprisoned. "Show him up Mr. Swiggs, and tell Larry he can leave us in peace for a while, why don't you two go get something strong to drink. Don't except to be here long." He flipped him a coin, turned back to the little rascal. She was kicking his hand as hard as possible, but it wasn't really doing anything. Then she bit him. Leman yowled, cursed, and dropped her over the side of the boat.

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

Vickon heard a high-pitched yell and then a splash. Startled he walked to the edge of the dock and gazed into the water. Moments later a child emerged, smiling and laughing. The large sunburnt man had also turned to look but appeared far less concerned than Vickon was. A faint hint of a smile had crept along his face but it quickly vanished when he noticed Vickon watching. His face turned turned into a scowl and Vickon thought he might attack him. Fortunatley the young man returned then. "Captain says you're right to go through. Also told us to go get something to drink Larry." He held out the coins in his hand. "Courtesies of the Captain himself." The big man smiled and put his arm around the smaller youth as they began to walk away. "It's been to long! Did I ever tell ya my motha owns tha best inn here. Called the Shady Lady it is. Named after herself ya see..."

Vickon allowed himself a smile as he made his way up the gangplank. Reaching the main deck of the ship there stood a lone figure leaning on the railing. Vickon marched over and introduced himself. "Captain Harlaw I presume? Vickon Pyke."

[Leman Harlaw]

Leman offered his hand "So you're the man who proposed to burn the White Harbor to the ground. How many men do you have?"

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

Vickon returned Harlaw's handshake. It was strong, his hands rough and calloused. He averted his eyes however at the question. "None. My plans at acquiring more men were foiled. But no matter. The element of surprise should be more than enough to make up for it."

[Leman Harlaw]

Leman frowned for a moment, then took the man by the shoulder and led him to the side of the ship. He pointed upward at the old castle that dominates the outer harbor. "Do you see that? Do you know what that is?"

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

Vickon nodded slowly, sensing some form of trap. "Lord Manderley's Castle. The Castle of White Harbour."

[Leman Harlaw]

He smiled genially "actually no, that's the Wolves Den up there, which contains it's own garrison of 500 men. Let's look to the left, inside the inner harbor where there is a 10 ft. thick wall separating us from anything of value. That's the New Castle, where Lord Manderly resides. Did you account for that?"

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

Vickon frowned. "Two castles?" Vickon stood staring for a while, calculating numbers in his head before quietly breathing out. "We don't have enough men..."

[Leman Harlaw]

"Ah don't let that stop you! Let's say we manage to breach the wall, all the guards are asleep, and we manage to make off with something. Look up there, near the entrance to the outer harbor, the rocky peak." Lemans voice turned cold "That's Seal Rock, where they will rain fire and bolts down on us as we try to escape. Where we will burn and die. Not counting the fleet that numbers at least ten warships which will follow us, and drag us back to languish in that wolves den for the rest of our woe begotten lives."

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

"What if we just set fire to the town itself? Avoided the castles altogether. Could burn a few ships too. We could escape in the confusion before the guards sallied out from the castle."

[Leman Harlaw]

"Those men in the Den and on the Rock would fire first and ask questions later. We'd lose half our ships, for what gain? Where is your father? Where is the Lord Paramount, who you assured me would support this plan?"

[Iron King Vickon Greyjoy]

"I ensured no such support. My father cared little and less for your offers of piracy. My father is weak. I heard tell you have not been to the Iron Islands in quite some time. Perhaps you had forgotten?" Vickon shook his head. "It matters little. Unlinke my father, I saw opportunity. If we had struck at White Harbour, the North would be crippled and we would be able to crush them. Word is however, Lord Stark has decided to remain in Winterfell, ignoring the summons of the royal house." He scratched his short beard. "I see now that I was wrong. It is not yet time for war. But there must be opportunity available to us..."