[Phase 2] In The Wake of Outrage [Trystane & Laena]

Laena doesn't respond for a few moments, continuing to stare into the middle distance, before she finally turns to look at her brother. Even then, she doesn't answer immediately, instead jerking her head and leading a path clear of any listeners. Not like what she had to say was incredibly private, but paranoia was a good habit to have.

"Unless the idea of withdrawing the right to a trial by combat takes root - and I don't believe it will - Lord Eldon will escalate. He won't be able to help himself. He's already escalated from raping his own smallfolk to kidnapping and raping servants under the protection of other lords.

"It's only a matter of time until he targets a noblewoman. Probably one who wouldn't be able to call on a powerful or well-connected house to avenge her."

She closes her eyes in thought for a few moments before opening them again. "Also, expect to hear a rumour soon from the crown-loyalist camp that explains the result away by claiming that Ser Daemon lost because in the eyes of the Seven he's worse than Ser Rennifer for standing idly by while the Kingdom hurtles towards civil war - the blood on that Blackguard's hands pale in comparison to the death toll the upcoming civil war will have, and Ser Daemon is one of not even a handful who could perhaps put a stop to it.

"Meanwhile, the revolutionaries will deny the defeat of their icon - they have more faith in him than they do in the Seven. They will attack the King for rigorously upholding the laws just as surely as they'd attack him as a tyrant were he to ignore them.

"Lady Lysette should not travel anywhere without heavy guard from now on. She clearly just took a shot at the pig, and missed. His pride will not allow that to go unanswered. Any friends or servants of hers should similarly expect to be targeted, and she should be prepared to inherit early. And briefly. It is a bad time to be a Starling.

"Beyond that, it's easy to only see the surface, a fat man ruled by his appetites, but Lord Eldon is cunning. He *will* take advantage of this opportunity for advancement beyond simple vengeance and sating his desires. I don't know exactly what form that will take, but with few houses wishing to weaken themselves militarily with civil war looming close, and legal recourse now likely futile, I expect House Merryweather to grow in power in the short-to-medium term.

"But all those are just rough thoughts, since I have had but a short time to ruminate on them. Still, I probably under-charged for them."

"You *do* realise you shouldn't be asking me that? I've cut ties with the house and struck out on my own. I have no more right to speak for the house than you do." She sighs. "Having said that, I can make an educated guess: the King obeyed the law and performed his duty as an executor of justice, however unpleasant the result. House Starkwood quietly but firmly approves of his actions, not that anyone will care enough to ask. Meanwhile, the house ensures that at any event where the Merryweathers are present, no female travels outside the camp unescorted.

"In a word: endure. You do not have the military power, political influence, or allies to be relevant in any conflict involving the Merryweathers. Lord Eldon is a problem for maybe a decade or two. Lord Ulbert focuses his attention on generations-long improvements to his land, so that maybe in a half-dozen generations you'll be powerful enough to actually have an impact on the world around you.

"If you were hoping for a bold stance, striking out for what is right, then I believe you will be disappointed. Lord Ulbert is a man very aware of the limits of his grasp, and is at pains to not try and reach beyond them, however tempted he may be. His father did that kind of thing, and that's how we ended up with the 'Grand Sept' of Brandon."

She considers the question a moment. "I would say 'yes'. He has no personal tie to Lady Lysette or Ser Daemon, so his passions are unlikely to drive him to rash action. *However*, that is of course subject to change should others try and influence him. Fortunately, most of those who feel personally invested will be too put off by his skin to try and rope him in."

She considers a moment. "Definitely keep an eye on him. Were I a powerful, influential and amoral member of the revolutionary faction, I'd try and anonymously encourage a group of hot-headed young loyalist knights to ambush Ser Rennifer with a rallying cry of 'justice'. Given how he was able to defeat Ser Daemon while being constrained by the rules, the damage Ser Rennifer could do in a situation where no rules apply is unimaginable, so he'd almost certainly slaughter them all. I, as the schemer, would then use this and the knight's loyalties to quietly try and bring Lord Merryweather into my camp, using his resources to support my schemes. And Ser Symon is the perfect target to include in such a scheme.

"But ultimately, it's down to him. Either he will learn to master his emotions, or he will be destroyed by them, and there's little anyone else can do to influence that. He may be Lord Ulbert's son, but that means he's Lord Brandon's grandson as well."

"Sure." She nods. "I'll judge how highly you value my opinion by what you get me." It's clearly an attempt at levity, but it falls flat. Her heart just isn't in it.

Instead, she simply nods, turns, and begins ambling away, having lost her usual powerful stride.

She's halfway through mentally composing the first paragraph of her next letter to Ashara talking about the matter before it hits her what she's doing, and the pain of loss hits her all over again.

[/scene from my end]