"Sister-in-law?"
Jacelynn bites her lip at Palla's question. Here it is... Does she know?
Lady Palla Lynderly eyes her squire curiously. "I suppose there's a family resemblance, but I'd be hard-pressed to believe Jacelynn would ever allow her hair to get that tousled." She sighs, and smiles wistfully. "I'll never get the humor some knights get in mocking young squires. One of Ser Ondrew's men was fond of making the squires dress in women's smallclothes beneath their armor - to teach them to -"
She turns away, deftly wiping away an unseen tear.
"Jace, please. Fetch us some breakfast."
Relieved to be out of the conversation's spotlight, Jacelynn wanders over to the bar to find the serving wench. Warm eggs... bacon... anything but that cold oatmeal from on the road...
While the meal is prepared, Jacelynn overhears snippets of Palla's explanation to the knights Laton, Jarl, and Patrek, and the third House Vantri man - Mhyrko. What little she misses, she knew already, having lived it herself. Palla and Ser Ondrew meeting at a tourney; secret trysts between the House Weatherley heir and the House Lynderly daughter. Palla's father's illness, and her brother Jon's ambitions - hoping to essentially sell off Palla in hopes of cementing an alliance with a powerful house - the Hunters or Graftons, perhaps. She tells of the kindly septon in a village that married Ser Ondrew and herself in secret - a much briefer description than Jacelynn recalls, but then, these men likely aren't as interested in tales of lace and flowers so much as steel and steed.
Jacelynn returns to the table with two breakfast servings as Palla is moving into the end of the story.
"... I... I had returned to Sunkenwood to make final preparations to leave; to join Ser Ondrew at his keep. He had a short campaign to lead against some bandits - it wasn't supposed to be difficult, but it would keep him away for a few weeks, so I had time. I left without my brother Jon's knowledge, but I did say goodbye to my father; although with his illness I'm sure he remembers naught. I'll spare you kind Sers the details, but suffice to say, I knew I was pregnant, and wanted to be safely with Ondrew before sending a raven home to my brother with my deed."
Her breath catches, a painful memory in her thoughts.
"I met Jace on the road a day out of Sunkenwood. Ser Ondrew had been killed by the bandits, and his uncle Slynn had more-or-less moved to take over the house; I would not find shelter at Squallfield, nor home again at Sunkenwood given my pregnancy. I didn't - and still don't - know where to go. With Jace's sword to guard us, we began riding south; I have a few friends in the heart of the Vale; I guess I had hoped to find someone willing to house us until after the birth."
She places a hand gently on her stomach, the signs of pregnancy just enough that the men present could believe them.
"This child will likely never see its true home. Only the old septon knows of the marriage, but with Ondrew's death - Slynn Weatherley will decry my word as some sort of Lynderly plot to steal Squallfield; I suspect Jon will fight against my claim as well - he'd be as like to claim Ser Ondrew misled me in an attempt to steal status from Lynderly; denying the marriage is the only way to keep me 'pure' for a more advantageous union."
Palla seems to gather strength from an appreciative glance at Jacelynn. "The rest I'm sure you know. During our flight, we got caught in the rainstorm and our horse tripped. I remember nothing of what happened next, but Jace tells me that Ser Laton's entourage found us and cared for us until we got to this inn. And now with a good night's sleep, my headache is lessened, and the maester says I should be fine for some easy travel."
She takes a small bite of her meal while her story is absorbed by those present.
"I don't know what to do now. I do not wish to return to Sunkenwood, but valiant though Jace is, I'm sure the young squire cannot stand against any of you knights, let along your armed men. But I have no where else to go either." She sets down her utensils, and folds her hands demurely in her lap. "A passing fancy I had was that you might escort us to the tourney at Lakelights, Ser Laton; at such a gathering I might find someone willing to aid in my plight, and remove me from the tangled mess Jace and I have dropped on your lap. It's not a small request though, I know, so I will hold no ill will against you if it you do not wish to press Ser Patrek on his own duties..."
