The journey to Driftmark had not been very pleasant, huge waves had gotten even some of the hardened and sea-bred Ironborn sick with the sea illness. Considering the tension between the Iron Isles and the Waterlands, and considering her history with the princess, Saga had opted to stay clear of the royal family. With a thirsty and hungry crew at her heels, she had found an inn suitable for them to indulge and satisfy their needs, and most importantly, get better from their troubled stomachs. She had learned how to deal with nausea over the years, the reward of being a mother of four, so while her men all seemed to suffer to different degrees, she got over it as soon as their feet touched land. The sickest ones got to bed quickly, the rest along with herself decided to make merry and drink the night away. Saga was laughing and joking with her men all night, they took no real notice of the newcomers who would walk in through the doors of the inn. Her focus remained on her men until she heard her name being uttered, in that moment her mind was pulled back into a different time and place, a night in an inn like this so very long ago.
She cast a lazy look at the man who said her name, she instantly recognised the face, hell she even recognised the voice, it was hard to forget considering the circumstances he had brought upon her in the past. Her blue gaze flickered to focus on him, she briefly thought of Dagmar when her gaze crossed his, her daughter’s resemblance to the man sitting next to her obvious even through the hazy fogs of the five goblets of ale currently bubbling away in her stomach. “Drinking,” she answered his query, holding up her cup for a moment. Saga’s tone of voice betrayed that she thought it the most obvious thing in the world. There was not much kindness in her voice, but a tolerance and a touch of familiarity still persisted. She had never been one for sentimental reunions, only her children would see such a soft side of her. The Blacktyde woman knew, of course, his question had been born from the desire for another answer, but she was not about to share her reasons for being at Driftmark so easily. “What else would I be doing while still awake in an inn, Lord Vaith?” Inns were only good for grabbing a bite to eat, chugging down a goblet of ale and to find a bed to sleep in, be it her own or someone else’s. “I am more interested in what you are doing here.” A thought suddenly struck her, it bloomed from their past experience together. “Here to meet a beautiful lass?” Saga asked, her eyebrow raised as she quickly took a look around to try and find a pretty face among the crowd of burping men, telling their vulgar jokes and challenging each other in order to see who could down the most ale in one go.
mykal was no stranger to news and rumours and talk in court. his previous question could be excused by mere incredulity: he was aware of the current tensions between the iron isles and – from what he’d heard – most people in this part of westeros. it was nothing but brave, and certainly something mykal would expect from a woman such as herself. their past encounters were proof enough of that. but his question, as it was, was borne out of pure surprise – and it wasn’t often that mykal found himself in such a state. he drank more, and managed a small laugh at her answer. he wanted to know more. surely, she was aware of that. ( old habits were always hard to shake, and he’s always been known as one who asked about things he shouldn’t be curious about. )
“i...suppose you’re right.” it was a rhetorical inquiry; if he’d been in the right mind, with far more sobriety, he would’ve avoided the pitfall that ended up getting him absolutely nowhere. paranoia threatened to bubble to the surface – did she follow him? did she track him down? had something happened to their child? – and the initial panic quickly settled into a harsh interest. he had to at least pretend, to cover up, to lie – “it seems the beautiful lady has found me.” deflect; refract attention. years ago he might’ve been glad to see a familiar face in a foreign land. now he wished to only see new faces who did not haunt him, and the mere thought of it had him gulping back more alcohol at a quicker pace. “it’s been a while, saga,” he mumbled, politeness and courtly propriety traded for something more direct. “i’m glad to see you’re alive and well. i...trust you’ve passed on my gift to...?” child. daughter. he couldn’t say it, so he drank more, and said nothing further on the matter.
