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Post by Father on Oct 26, 2019 12:38:33 GMT 1
Eldon does not think it wise to bring in another, secrets have their ways of not remaining so if too many know about them. Besides, one never knows what one's supposed friends and allies would think of the dishes to be served, and Eldon's desires sometimes might be considered petty by others, particularly when they run counter to their own designs. Trust is difficult enough to establish between two people in such an alliance as they will be forging here, initiating a third he will not do. If this man is like Ser Eustace in wits and resources, Eldon doubts Lynesse would risk so much by coming here with her proposal, so her friend cannot possibly be as formidable, but if equally ambitious? Such a man should not even be informed of their arrangement, perhaps he may be of use, but one never should allow an agent to know more than he needs to do his job, that way, should he betray you, you lessen the damage done.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Oct 30, 2019 11:19:38 GMT 1
Eldon's words dim Lynesse's hopes of using a mutual ally to consolidate her position. She would not argue the point of Balon's merits, but would rely instead on Eldon's line of reasoning to exclude Eustace from their arrangement.
"Longtable is the heart and symbol of your power Lord Eldon, a power known and respected throughout the Reach. Why not have Eustace host you in Oldtown instead? The Daverhyls maintain a manse there, and it would give my uncle every opportunity to properly impress a man of your standing with gifts, favours, and tribute. Let our meeting in Oldtown be the symbol of the influence we shall broker in a fresh alliance, between you and I."
It ought be a tempting offer, given Eldon's expressed wishes. He might press the issue, as a gesture of power and control, but Lynesse would not allow herself to be cornered in Merryweather lands with naught but Ser Eustace for support, and would refuse such terms.
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Post by Father on Nov 21, 2019 17:09:34 GMT 1
Eldon holds out his hand as to make her stop that line of arguments, noting that he had a mind to meet just the two of them much sooner than that, just after the farce of a trial as it happens. Noting that such a sumptuous feast for the eyes and mind as Lynesse happens to be is something he would very much like to savor once more for the occasion, his tone, expression and wandering eyes being no more comfortable to feel upon one's person than before, the man is clearly aware that only his power allows him to act out on his appetites. Besides, what self-respecting conspirators would not take the opportunities offered with so many lords and ladies all in one place?
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Dec 2, 2019 7:53:10 GMT 1
The trial over, her testimony given, Lynesse follows Lord Eldon's direction to meet once more, trusting in the tension within the gathering to force some manner of restraint upon him.
[Implementing the time skip here, sorry for the delay.]
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Post by Father on Dec 4, 2019 0:31:08 GMT 1
Lord Eldon is in a surprisingly good mood, all things considered. Noting with mock reluctance that it might seem that Lynesse and him are not meant for each other it would appear. Licking his lips and making a remark that not to worry, as King Aegon IV so clearly demonstrated, much of what The Seven Pointed Star prescribes obviously were added in by misguided men, is the king not addressed as His Grace, no? Implicitly investing him with divine selection, hmm? So Lord Eldon will very much oblige once Lynesse is ready to be made into a woman grown, but enough about such delightful future events. It does seem as the foul man believes that she will eventually relent to his advances and bed him, and for certain he is not foolish enough to believe that she would do so without heavy leverage to his advantage.
Ah, yes, he had his marriage prospects in mind, Lord Gormon of course understands that to incur the wrath of Longtable is bad for one's prospects, and as an apology he has made a peace offering, a union between their two houses. And Lord Gormon must admit that in terms of beauty, Lady Tanda does rival Lynesse, if perhaps not possessing such an admirable mind of such strong will and fine intellect. Lady Tanda, however, is a dreamer, still believing that Lord Durwell will ride by and sweep her off her feet to carry her to Norhall and give her the gift of a few handsome tourney champions to be proud of. If a man is measured by who his competition is, Lord Eldon can scarcely think of anyone who would bring him more honor as a rival for a lady's heart than Lord Marq. However, such youthful fancies rarely survives reality, hmm? Perhaps Lynesse might help Lady Tanda to understand that she has a duty to her house, to obey her lord father's wishes?
Oh and one more thing, Lord Eldon has been attacked savagely, and he can better aid Lynesse through a position of strength, a position where all respects his wealth and power. Wealth and Power draws those hungry for a share of it, and it dissuades those with a sense of self preservation. But only as far as a lord such as he rewards boons to him with great generosity and his response to such foes who defy him is swift and terrible. Lord Eldon gives out a little lecture about just what Lynesse could expect should she find herself counted among the former, and the sort of examples he intends to make. Kingsbridge will burn, soon enough the realms will be too busy fighting for one dragon or the other. Lord Willem will answer his liege's call without a doubt, and he will return to find that sellswords put the castle town to the torch, breached the castle and dragged away his darling daughter to an unknown fate. He grins fiendishly, suggesting that he has given the matter some thought, though an easier mark is Lord Hastwyck and his daughter, they will be ambushed on the road, much less mercenaries required, and it can be blamed upon the same group that targeted Lord Blackbar, even if everyone knows that would be some narrowminded thick-heads living in a past where Reachman and Dornish took turns to rape, pillage and burn the lands of one another. Those would have no interest in The Hastwycks.
Oh, no, Eldon spoke a few words too many, didn't he? Surely Lynesse is not so horrified by such talk that she feels compelled to act against it like a great many of the self-righteous knights would? To hold her mask politely, then say her farewells and hurry off to warn the Hastwyck's that in his eagerness to demonstrate the extend of his reach to frighten a young vulnerable lady into his bed as her uncle surely hopes to be the result from the overtures he has made towards Longtable, Lord Eldon the fat revolting pig let slip his plans for them and the Starlings. Surely he and Lynesse are such good friends and allies that she will not betray his secrets so carelessly divulged and urge them strongly to take the other way, to the Mander and take a barge to bypass the entire ambush? Should Lord Eldon later determine that it was Lynesse who betrayed his secrets...well he would be very wroth of course, but then her uncle must search elsewhere for a husband.
The planned ambush on the road would appear to be a fiction, though it is not readily apparent to Lynesse why that an attack on the river would suit him better. But he wouldn't ask her to make that happen if he had not concluded that it did. Given the song he wants her to sing, it would seem likely that he does not intend to unleash sellswords upon House Starling, but it also seems unlikely that he came up with that idea solely for the benefit of duping The Hastwycks.
So in the dealings of the quid-quo-pro game, intriguing Tanda into accepting to marry him would be a minor favor and intriguing the Hastwyck's into taking the river would be a major favor. Can commence with both simultaneously if she so desires. And if she doesn't feel bad about that, she has definitely joined the dark side.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Dec 13, 2019 9:51:26 GMT 1
Everything had worked so well, so why was she shaking?
Lord Eldon offered her a way out, a way that would not indebt her to him, but he to her. Her marriage to Eldon – a death sentence for Kyle – would be put to rest. Tanda was the daughter of perhaps one of the three men to exceed Lord Eldon in power within the Reach. If that did not stay his hand, and soften his temperament, then nothing would.
The Hastwyck’s would be endangered, but reprisal was a certainty given their aggression against Eldon. Her small part would be to make certain their path. Had they not committed perjury? Had they not gone out of their way to antagonise the most dangerous lord in all the Reach? This outcome was an inevitability, an inevitability from which Lynesse could reap some bittersweet joy.
So, as she knelt on the cold stones of the Sept floor and struggled to find the words of prayer, why could she not stop the infernal shaking?
Lynesse will accept both tasks, but feel bad about it.
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Post by Father on Dec 15, 2019 12:43:47 GMT 1
A stern septa seems to sense her inner conflict, the brief look she gives Lynesse is most likely a suspicion of a repentant fornicator, or maybe even that could be ascribed to imagination and the septa is just an envious grey-hair grieving for her own lost youth, but it would not be a stretch for a nervous soul to imagine that the grey-garbed woman sees right through her and knows Lynesse is asking for the seven's blessing to commit sin. Or maybe it is the seven's response to such a plea? Who can say?
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