As morning breaks in the Inn, I step downstairs to a quiet tavern, and catch the attention of the innkeeper. "No, I haven't seen your friends, all I know is they've paid for their room until midday, and that's what matters to me…" These morons can't manage anything! This is what happens when you put a dangerous mission in the hands of our idiot lordling. I had tried to remind the bard the risks of this uphill battle…always the hero, that one.

I asked the innkeeper about what he knows of the Redwyne family. His pupils practically turned into gold dragons when he told me about the family's wealth, and  I decided this would be a good place to find work while I wait for House Jasper. That way, if I come across my travel companions, I can play my job as a way of getting closer to where I thought they may be.

I approach the castle gates, and appeal to the guards saying I'm looking for work. They denied me for a handmaid position, but did say I could work as a dishwasher in the kitchen. I'm escorted through the lavish castle halls to the cook, who is very clearly and simply, a madman. Waving his ladle and pointing in a guards face! This should be interesting. The cook admits he needs a dishwasher (as the last one quit after a week, running away in tears-seven hells!) He offers to pay me a penny a day, and it's all I can do not to laugh in his face. I warmly explain that I must make a living wage in order to afford living on this island, and we agree upon 50 pennies-almost a silver a day. Between that and my meager savings, I can make this work until I figure out a next plan.

Over the course of a month, I settle into castle life, sometimes staying overnight in the kitchen as means to save money, I'm able to pick up on rumors among the town and castle, most notably that Teddy was captured, not once, but twice, the first time with the maester, the second, pulling the poor bard into his mess. I'm grateful for my decision not to get weighed down by the foolishness of our lordling, and often remind myself how better off the seven kingdoms would be if lordship was based on merit rather than bloodlines.

After blending into the routine of House Redwyne, I begin taking leftovers from the house feasts to the guards in the prisons, confirming the location of Teddy and Dolins. Now that they know I'm here, for the sake of my head should they live, I must take action…but I will do so in my own time. The guards begin to anticipate my delivery, and build trust with me. When I hear that Lord Paxter has returned to the island, and a trial is scheduled, I decide now is the time to poison my special deliveries…