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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 17, 2019 0:35:14 GMT 1
Trystane, growing tired of the palpable fog of frustration following him around, finally decides that, if he's already asking for help from Eustace Daverhyl, then asking for more help from Laena is hardly going to make things worse. After all, she was partly why he was in over his head at Whitewalls. It was her command that set in motion the chain of events that found him now heading for her tent with a bottle of the best wine he could get at short notice.
She's not going to like this request. Least I can do is bring her a present to assuage her somewhat, he had thought.
Perhaps you should have sought her advice after the first failure, before going to Eustace. Now he knows who you're after and can use it against you. Good luck keeping it quiet if he decides he wants to throw you under the cart.
He tries to push such thoughts away before announcing his presence and requesting to speak with his sister.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 17, 2019 1:13:49 GMT 1
Having received the latest payment of her stipend at the tourney, Laena was busy allocating it to cover existing debts, and carefully budgeting it to cover any foreseeable upcoming expenses, trying to get as much disposable income as possible.
The more money she had, the more exotic and painful the poison she could use on Lady Maegelle, should Laena's suspicions of her ordering Ashara's murder be confirmed.
It was thoughts like that which kept her slogging through the tedious work.
Still, any break was a relief at this point. So, when the servant came to her to tell her of the visitor, she sent him and the female servant she had attending her out to bring her her chaperone before letting her brother through.
She used the delay to hide the work she was doing - a lowborn knight like Ser Mikel may see value in her doing petty administration, but she didn't wish to lose face before any of her siblings. Instead, she rests a tome of history beside her - one covering the Dance of Dragons - as if she'd been reading it.
Eventually, the septon arrives. "I expect this conversation will cover house-confidential matters again, so wait outside the entrance, please. Just close enough that you're confident that you can hear any .. misbehaviour."
Finally ready, she sends for her brother to enter. While waiting, she adjusts the angle of her chair for a more commanding position, and wiggles her guest's - slightly lower - chair, to ensure it's well-settled on the ground, before leaning back confidently in hers.
"Brother." She greets him with a small smile when he arrives, but doesn't rise. "Please, take a seat. Refreshment?" She asks before she dismisses the servant.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 17, 2019 1:35:26 GMT 1
Trystane gives the septon a little nod as he passes him, and greets Laena with a reserved smile.
"Yes, please. I'd love some refreshment," he responds, moving over to his seat but not yet taking it. "I also brought you a little something. I'm told this one is very good, so I hope you enjoy it."
He sets the bottle of wine down next to the history book, taking a glance at the tome.
"Delving into the family history, are you? Any particular points of interest?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 17, 2019 2:16:08 GMT 1
Laena gives her servant a gesture, and she begins pouring out a glass for each of them. "A local cider. It's ... different than I'm used to - they grow different apples up here, apparently. Not sure if it's better or worse, but it's worth trying at least once." A brief smirk. "Like many things, yes?"
Her eyes brighten in excitement, and she carefully embraces the bottle as she accepts it with a wide smile. "Very nice! You know the right kind of treasure to appease this fickle dragon."
Putting it back down beside the book, she addresses his question, beginning with a sigh. "Mostly, for the first time, I'm actually glad that the scaled dragons are gone. I've always wanted to see one with my own eyes, but the descriptions given of their actions during the Dance ... knowing that Aerion and others I care for will be going out to fight ... I'm glad they don't have to face that. Also for myself. There is no 'staying safe behind fortifications should a dragonrider decide that that fort must fall. And dragonfire does not take hostages or accept ransom. Did not." She corrects herself.
"So, finally an upside to one of the great tragedies of recent times." With the servant finished pouring, she raises her glass to him. "Cheers." Before dismissing the servant with a gesture, so they may speak in privacy when he wishes to switch to his true reason to visit.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 18, 2019 3:50:18 GMT 1
"Well, it takes a fickle dragon to know a fickle dragon, I suppose," he grins, taking his seat with a casual flop, folding an ankle over the opposite knee. He does not seem to notice the difference in height between the chairs, or if he does, he is unconcerned by Laena being poised above him. "And regarding trying anything once, I heartily agree, though for some things, once is enough. Cider is not one of those things, mercifully, peculiar Riverlands apples or otherwise," he adds, tipping his cup towards her to answer her little salute in Dornish.
"Topa!"
He takes an exploratory sip, taking the moment to savour the taste, observing for what makes it 'different'. He gives his assessment a few seconds later.
"While a fair bit drier than Reach cider, it's perfectly pleasant. I approve. As ever, your taste commends you. As does the interest in history. Those who ignore it are doomed to repeat it, after all. Which makes it all the better that the 'bestial' dragons are no longer around, as you say. I confess I share your curiosity, but not enough to want to face one as it bears down on us all. And the way things are going, there will already be plenty of destruction and death to go around without living, flying, bottomless containers of wildfire swooping around, melting our castles and devouring our loved ones. Though there are a few folk I would love to see being eaten by a dragon," he adds with mock wistfulness that only lasts a moment as he takes a second, larger sip of cider, before he fixes his eyes on hers in earnest, though he circles the rim of his cup with his index finger as he begins to speak, a hint of wariness not yet voiced.
"Which, in a way, brings me to my main reason for coming to speak with you. I've gone rather down a rabbit hole in pursuit of our mutual goal, and, well, it occurred to me that I perhaps ought to stop digging briefly and consult my more astute and clever sister before the hole becomes so deep that it literally buries me."
He lets out a little sigh of resignation, knowing that he can't - and shouldn't - be circumspect with Laena.
"My attempt to be proactive did not go as planned, as I'm sure you know by now. I cannot adequately express my frustration, but there is still time, and I have potentially secured a second chance that also serves some other goals. However, now that I've done it, I fear I may have erred in doing so. Now, if what I'm about to say angers you, I am going to ask that you try not to maim or kill me until after I have explained myself. Can you agree to that?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 18, 2019 4:08:20 GMT 1
"The tragedy of history is that even those of us who don't ignore it are doomed to repeat it alongside everyone else." She quips wryly.
She opens her mouth to respond, hesitates, then continues. "So long as you haven't brought danger or dishonour to myself or my fullbrother Aerion, you have my word. If you have, I suggest you speak quickly and are sure to protect your eyes." Her tone is ambiguous enough that it's unclear if and how much she's joking.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 18, 2019 4:53:16 GMT 1
"True enough," he nods along with her comment about history. "Gods, history is depressing."
He takes a moment to think if his actions fulfil the conditions she states. Though he detects a hint of jest in her voice, he has no doubt that she could and would do him immediate, painful, and lasting damage if she wanted to.
"I don't...think so, or at least I think I have come here before getting to that point. I will just have out with it because I think you would want me to be direct."
As he explains the situation, his speech speeds up a little with the bubbling of suppressed anxiety inside him, and the thoughts tumble out in a disorderly wave as he voices the tangle he has gotten himself into.
"I went to Eustace Daverhyl to get his brothers to help with Eoric, so I could have a way to eliminate him in the melee while maintaining enough distance for plausible deniability, or at the very least for them to beat him up enough to make a last ditch attempt of my own easier, because the Gods know I can't beat the little toad in a fair fight. And Balon Blackbriar has decided to pick a fight with me now too, so for all I know I might not get the luxury of avoiding that lot if those two decide to go on an anti-Dornish rampage, but that's sort of aside from the main point. So, anyway, now Eustace knows what I'm up to, and I expect so will his brothers. And, in return for his brothers going after Eoric in the melee, he has asked me to do two things; try to nudge an appropriate eligible lady towards Abelar Hightower to help him become Lord Hightower, and to spy on his niece, to find out if the rumours about her are true or not."
He forces himself to stop and take a couple of long, slow breaths, sipping his cider in between, and gives Laena space to take in what he has said and respond to it.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 18, 2019 6:33:56 GMT 1
Laena listens carefully and silently as Trystane speaks, not attempting to interrupt him, though she frowns a few moments after he mentioned 'Daverhyl', once she recalls why that name is familiar; and her lips pinch together when he mentions that he is being targeted by Balon.
Silence hangs in the air for a good few moments as she considers matters carefully.
"Firstly, I would suggest you forget Ser Eoric for now." She holds up a forestalling hand. "I know, I'm the one who pushed you into this situation, but that was before Ser Balon decided to pick a fight with you. He is driven, talented, and not a man to let anything stand in the way of what he wants. Ser Eoric will still be around once Balon's moved on to fresh meat - and if he isn't, the job's done for us. I suggest you focus entirely on surviving Ser Balon's attention. He is dangerous, and to do any less will only exacerbate the danger.
"Having said that, let's dissect the situation you are in already. To begin, some questions:
"Were there any other nobles in the room when you spoke to Eustace Daverhyl? Or anyone else whose word would carry any weight?
"Why approach the Daverhyls at all? I'm not particularly familiar with the family, save that one damn near killed Ser Roland Cordwayner, and the only reason my rage towards Lady Lynesse is not *murderous* is because, despite how hateful, spiteful, uncalled-for, inappropriate, and unforgivable her words at my heart-sister's funeral were, there were others who pushed things beyond comprehension, making her atrocity seem less obscene than it really was.
"We've discussed the Hightowers before. I mentioned that I lacked information about the political standing of many of them. Did you manage to discern anything I didn't already know from his request regarding Ser Abelar?
"And finally, I've been actively avoiding seeking out information on 'Lady' Excrement-Vomiter, for fear I'd be too tempted to be distracted by her before the more serious offenders had all been dealt with. Are there particular rumours he wishes investigated?" After a moment, she frowns. "Hold on a moment. Find out if the rumours are true? Not find out their source? You're sure about that?"
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 18, 2019 16:59:11 GMT 1
"Gods, well, at least I attract a high standard of ire," Trystane quips drily. "I'd hate to have untalented men punching me for existing. Not that is was terribly much damage, just dampened the evening a tad."
He switches back to a serious tone. "But I will focus on avoiding the attention. I am actually somewhat relieved you said that. I was not relishing the prospect of trying to deal with them both if they decided to swarm me. And I would rather not drag my brothers or friends into that particular fray needlessly. I also don't want it interfering with the groundwork I was putting down with Lady Erena, if it hasn't already."
He takes a second to collect his memories of the conversation with Eustace.
"As for why I went to Eustace for help with Eoric, there are a few reasons; one is that I thought I could learn more about the Hightower situation by getting closer to the Daverhyls. To answer your question there, I don't think I've learned much other than Eustace's preference of liege lord, but if I can cultivate a rapport with him, perhaps I can dig deeper. I also thought he was shady and disliked enough that, should he turn on me, there would be fewer negative legal ramifications from retaliating. I needed someone ruthless and resourceful who wasn't attached to Eoric in any meaningful way and who would not consider the job a great undertaking. Someone I could be on good terms with but not too good. I could have gone to Lord Durwell, but I felt that was too risky and that he'd probably consider it beneath him. I could have asked Ser Daeron but he's already focused on the Merryweathers, and he's not exactly subtle. Mikel, Aerion and Ser Roland are all too honourable to even countenance such a thing. Eustace seemed a good fit, in the circumstances."
He shrugs.
"As for exactly what he said about Lynesse, his words were that he has "heard troubling talk of Lynesse's visits to The Rutting Boar. Merely whispers, and if nothing but idle fancies, as hoped, sure to be drowned out by the talk of everything else that happens to be true". He said he does not believe in taking chances, so he would like to discover if there is reason to worry about her reputation, or if not, whom might be slandering her, if that is indeed what is going on. So it seems to me his initial request is to look into whether or not it's true first, and then only who is spreading the rumours if it's not actually true."
Only then did the slight peculiarity in that occur to Trystane, but he continued.
"Then, he said that looking into that would suffice to make up for lost effort in the matter of Eoric, but that he needed more from me than that. That's when he started talking about House Hightower. He said, of the four current candidates, he has a preference for one who "would not force upon House Daverhyl the choice between breaking its vows to the King or breaking it's vows to its liege lord. That would ordinarily mean strengthening Ser Raymun's standing, but the man does not have much in the way of support to begin with, so Ser Abelar appears an easier candidate to push through. The problem is that his allegiance might be pliable, and seeing as the man is unwed, it would be critical to arrange for him a wife of the 'right inclinations'. I believe the phrasing he used was "One that would signal a proper stand in this question, and preferably with the strength of personality to make her voice count in Oldtown."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 18, 2019 19:22:23 GMT 1
Laena quietly taps her fingers in thought as he talks, nodding firmly in agreement with each listed as he eliminates alternatives.
"Interesting. So both Ser Eustace and Ser Raymun support the King? And Ser Abelar may, but is much less committed. And we can relatively safely assume that the ladies lean the other way. Very, very interesting. And valuable. You did well to discover this." She gives a casual shrug. "As long as Ser Eustace wasn't deliberately feeding you false information, of course.
"As for the Lady, Lady Aemma Rowan would signal the right standing, but I wonder if that's the right way to go, or if it would simply paint a target on Ser Abelar's back. Not to mention she is not known for her strong personality." She considers a moment, then snorts. "I wonder if Lady Daena Flowers would be acceptable. House Durwell is reasonably powerful, and both sides wish to court Lord Durwell's support. And I very much doubt someone so close to Lord Durwell would be politically naive. Of course, then there's the risk of Lord Durwell coming down on the side of the revolutionaries, but that's why the marriage would hopefully not drastically increase the risks of Ser Abelar being killed." She makes an idle gesture. "I'll think on it.
"As for the rumour, I can answer that one easily. I saw her myself at the Rutting Boar. Only in passing - I didn't see any detail as to what she was up to - I was in the middle of a card game. Obviously, I can't confirm that publicly, since I shouldn't really have been there myself, so do not pass my identity on to him. But that at least gives you the basic information you were after." Laena offers the information entirely blandly, though if Trystane could trust anything she says about a woman she so nakedly despises is for him to decide.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 23, 2019 14:47:00 GMT 1
"I would thank you for the praise but you yanked it away again too quickly," he smirks. "I suppose the question would be what would he gain from deceiving me about it and having me do what he asks if it is not what he wants? I am also a relatively unknown value to him, so I doubt he has any specific plans to trap me. I may not be an expert on intrigue, but it seemed to me that he was offering a genuine try for a genuine try, so to speak."
He sips his drink a moment and thinks on the prospect of Aemma Rowan and Daena Flowers.
Well, I suppose that'll put paid to my own inclinations in those directions...
"Lady Aemma would be of good enough standing and virtue, certainly, though as you say, is perhaps not as strong a hand as Eustace is looking for. I have spent a little time with her and have her good graces though, so I believe I could persuade her if she did turn out to be the best candidate, though I can say exactly the same of Lady Daena."
His eyes widen in surprise when Laena claims to have seen Lynesse at the Rutting Boar.
"You are certain it was her? Just the common room or did you see her go to the backrooms? Oh, and don't worry about your identity. I would never tell anyone, though I confess now I'm intrigued. Did you have fun?" he asks, with a knowing pump of his eyebrows.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 23, 2019 19:21:18 GMT 1
"I would thank you for the praise but you yanked it away again too quickly," he smirks. "I suppose the question would be what would he gain from deceiving me about it and having me do what he asks if it is not what he wants? I am also a relatively unknown value to him, so I doubt he has any specific plans to trap me. I may not be an expert on intrigue, but it seemed to me that he was offering a genuine try for a genuine try, so to speak." She nods. "It could well be genuine information. I just don't know the man well enough to judge. 'Blind trust' should solely be reserved for those who have unreservedly earned it over an extended period, not simply tossed to strangers because you don't know them well enough to see any angles they may have." "Lady Aemma would be of good enough standing and virtue, certainly, though as you say, is perhaps not as strong a hand as Eustace is looking for. I have spent a little time with her and have her good graces though, so I believe I could persuade her if she did turn out to be the best candidate, though I can say exactly the same of Lady Daena." She raises an eyebrow. "Likely uncovering valuable information on the Hightowers, *and* having pre-existing relationships with relevant ladies? My, my, you're a useful man to have around, brother. But this is not a decision to make on the spur of the moment. I will consider the matter carefully, and get back to you." His eyes widen in surprise when Laena claims to have seen Lynesse at the Rutting Boar. "You are certain it was her? Just the common room or did you see her go to the backrooms? Oh, and don't worry about your identity. I would never tell anyone, though I confess now I'm intrigued. Did you have fun?" he asks, with a knowing pump of his eyebrows. Her expression goes through a rapid mix of emotions, before finally settling on one like she'd just bitten into a lemon. "I want to say it was definitely her. But, to give her far more credit than that virtueless bastard daughter of a pox-ridden sheep-herder deserves, it *could* - technically - have been someone trying to look like her, for whatever reason. It was across a fairly dark and crowded room. She wasn't doing anything special - the only reason I noticed her at all was because of my antipathy towards her. And I was only looking around so as to portray an image of calm disinterest in the game I was playing, so I couldn't keep an eye on her or anything. "But yes, I had fun. I cleaned out the men I was playing against. I, ah" she flushes somewhat "I wore a dress .. less appropriate than I normally would, and kept the men too focused on my teats to focus on the game. Ended up spending almost a third of my winnings making sure they all had a good time after the game, so I didn't need to worry about them taking what they merely *thought* was on offer, but still ended up significantly ahead. "My brother could probably have provided me with twice the coin I gained, simply for the asking," her face firms "but I *refuse* to be a beggar. Everything I have, I earned." It's unclear if she misunderstood his implication, or she's deliberately deflecting from answering.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 23, 2019 20:09:32 GMT 1
"Fair enough. I don't know him well enough to know all his angles, it's true. I know full well he is not to be trusted, since everyone seems to agree on that. But I had to start somewhere, and it seems to me that nobody gets anywhere being honourable around here. And they have the cheek to call the Dornish dishonest," he scoffs.
"But anyway, I would value your conclusions once you have made your considerations, about Eustace and about matches for Ser Abelar. And if there are any other ladies you want me to get close to, I'm happy to oblige. I'll even behave myself. I've got a bit more cache now that I've performed well at a couple of tourneys, so hopefully I can be even more useful in future. The knights and gold I have brought into the House so far has certainly been appreciated by Ulbert. Did you see I even got us Ser Lyonel of the Cockleswhent, as you suggested?"
He watches her as she talks about gambling in the Rutting Boar's common room, not really believing that was all she went for. As she finishes, he leans forward a little on his elbows, giving her a knowing look.
"Well done on manipulating men out of their money, but oh, come now, you didn't even partake of the Boar's renowned full body massages? Either you're lying or you're missing out. They loosened up muscles I didn't even know I had," he grins, remembering the fun he had bought for himself, though it was more than just a perfunctory rubdown.
"No point in acting coy with me, dear sister. I know what you're like behind closed doors. You can be honest about who you are with me."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 23, 2019 21:13:50 GMT 1
"Fair enough. I don't know him well enough to know all his angles, it's true. I know full well he is not to be trusted, since everyone seems to agree on that. But I had to start somewhere, and it seems to me that nobody gets anywhere being honourable around here. And they have the cheek to call the Dornish dishonest," he scoffs. "It doesn't matter from where they hail from, people are people. And it's easy to judge a distant people by the worst examples, since those are the stories that spread and linger. And even easier to use that to justify your own actions, since 'at least I'm not as bad as them'. "If you believe the Dornish are any better, I suggest that it is solely due to your relatively sheltered upbringing there. If Dorne is behaving better right now, it is likely largely because - barring the marcher lords - it is relatively unified, while the Reach is torn apart by the seeds of our father's legacy." "But go back thirty-forty years, to when Dorne was invaded, and you'll see them behaving in a similar, if not worse, way. Violated guest right, assassinations under a banner of peace. See people in a time of peace and prosperity, and you'll see the best of them. See people in a time of adversity and hardship, and you'll see their true face, no matter the colour of skin it wears." "The knights and gold I have brought into the House so far has certainly been appreciated by Ulbert. Did you see I even got us Ser Lyonel of the Cockleswhent, as you suggested?" Laena gives him a wide smile. "I did! And a Ser ..." she clicks her fingers for a few moments impatiently "Ser Horas! As well. He may not be as renowned, but every knight sworn to the house is a noticeable achievement. Good work. I'm sure Lord Ulbert is very pleased you joined the house, given how you did with no real connection, beyond one through Ser Davos. "Are you pleased with your choice? Or do you feel the cold, wet, dark woods unsettling and unwelcoming, and feel that maybe you'd be better off elsewhere?" "Well done on manipulating men out of their money, but oh, come now, you didn't even partake of the Boar's renowned full body massages? Either you're lying or you're missing out. They loosened up muscles I didn't even know I had," he grins, remembering the fun he had bought for himself, though it was more than just a perfunctory rubdown. "No point in acting coy with me, dear sister. I know what you're like behind closed doors. You can be honest about who you are with me." She sniffs haughtily. "You may know more of my nature than most, but even among that small crowd, a lady does *not* kiss and tell." She raises an eyebrow. "A fact you should be grateful for. My brother knows me very well, yet he will never hear a peep of my actions behind closed doors from me." And he is *far* from the worst person I could tell. "You may believe - and fantasise - what you wish. But you will never get confirmation from me." She doesn't seem offended by his words, but she seems quite firm in her refusal.
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Post by Trystane Sand on Jul 24, 2019 1:37:14 GMT 1
"I did not say that the Dornish behave better," Trystane firmly clarifies. "Only that we are no worse."
Her broad smile about his achievements for House Starkwood are mirrored by a smile of his own, and he feels renewed pride in those actions.
Before you started doing shady things. Don't fall too far now. He who battles monsters and all that...
"Ser Davos may have been my primary source of introduction, but Lady Allyria and my mother have been friends for many years. I have always thought of her like an aunt, albeit from a distance until recently. But, even without that, I am happy with where I've chosen to be. I have warmed somewhat to the damp woods," he jokes. "But more crucially, it is the people I have met and become closer to that have made all the difference. Lord Ulbert, Lady Allyria, Ser Mikel, Aerion, you. I hasten to add that is not my order of preference," he says quickly, with a playful grin.
Her refusal to comment further on her time at the Boar reaches him in earnest, and he knows not to push it. He puts up his free hand, palm towards her, and slightly tilts his head to indicate her message is received and understood.
"Very well. I shall press no further. You may continue to be a woman of immense and fascinating mystery. Wouldn't want your 'man you love with the many complications' to find out anyway. By the way, about that - I couldn't help but notice who carried your favour this time. Is your mystery man the Red Lion himself?"
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