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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 26, 2018 3:29:16 GMT 1
Septon Abelar is strolling through the market, observing the stalls and doing a bit of light shopping, when Hugh Blackwood comes running up.
"Septon! Septon! You have to come quick!"
"What's this? Who are you again?"
"I'm Hugh Blackwood."
". . ."
"Ser Roland's squire! You have to come!"
"I will, forthwith. What has happened?"
"They killed the septa!"
"WHAT!? NO! TAKE ME TO HIM AT ONCE!"
Abelar hurries off after Hugh.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 26, 2018 11:29:58 GMT 1
Hugh led the Septon in to a large Starling pavilion, a plain and functional venue in keeping with the house's martial focus and finances.
Roland bowed his head in sorrow.
"I am the bearer of grim tidings Septon. On a walk with Lady Alicent Yronwood, we were set upon by assassins. I slew them but only because the good Septa Tyane, our chaperone, had given her life to shout a warning."
"I slew those of the vermin responsible, and sent a further two captive to Lord Tyrell's dungeons. Erryk and Hobb are their names, may they be remembered with infamy."
"As one of the ranking authorities of the Seven I felt you should be among the first to know."
From force of habit and to fulfill expectation of courtesy, Hugh stood to one side offering goblets of wine and water to cool guests against the day's heat.
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 27, 2018 4:00:18 GMT 1
Abelar clutches his face, ignoring the goblets and Hugh entirely. "How . . . how could they? A woman of the cloth. A holy maid!"
He closes his eyes and falls to his knees.
"Now we lay her down to sleep,
I pray the Father her soul to keep.
In His golden hall may she wake,
I pray the Stranger my soul to take.
So after life's last breath aways,
I pray beside her for endless days."
After a long moment, the septon raises stiffly back to his feet and wipes the tears from his eyes. "You said 'assassins.' They were meant for Lady Alicent?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 27, 2018 7:22:17 GMT 1
"I am afraid so, making their murder of Septa Tyane all the more pointless and her bravery all the more inspiring. They were quite content for me to walk away, stating they were not here to assault Lady Alicent's virtue. Murder was on their minds from the outset."
"This was doubly sure when Lord Durwell and I put one of the prisoner to the question afterward."
Perhaps such overstated Roland's contribution to the interrogation.
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Post by Septon Abelar on Jul 30, 2018 21:26:41 GMT 1
As Roland speaks of the assassins, the sadness drains from Abelar's face, replaced by cold fury. "Ser, you did well in defending the lady and in putting the murderers to the question. Did they reveal their master? The true purpose of killing Lady Alicent? And did you seek out Lord Durwell for assistance upon your return?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 30, 2018 21:59:36 GMT 1
Roland shook his head.
"They spoke of being hired by some hooded man with a hint of stubble and paid some small amount of silver stags each, with the promise of a gold dragon upon their success. They were given their murderous tools by their employer, and bid to leave them at the scene. Presumably some maker's mark will then point to the plotter's desired culprit, but that means there may be a deeper scheme afoot."
"The one we questioned has not given up his paymaster yet, and may indeed be unable to do so. However they said they were to find out who Lady Alicent had heard talk of Ser Aegor Rivers' involvement in Ser Daven Bracken's death from, then silence Lady Alicent. Presumably they then meant to move against the source of such talk. I learned of the source of the talk, but fear to speak the name lest this draws danger to her. I fear there may be spies listening at pavilion flaps."
"Worse still, the tale the attackers told did not line up. The assassin swore he was hired before Lord Hightower's remembrance ceremony, yet good lady Alicent said he only heard rumours of Ser Aegor's involvement after that sorrowful occasion."
Roland rand his hand through his hair and scratched the back of his head.
"I am but a simple knight, but such does not make sense to me, mayhap the plotter knew that gossip was rife and sought the lady Alicent as a convenient route to the source? But how could they have been certain she would hear of it?"
"I encountered Lord Durwell as I returned with Lady Alicent by good fortune, as some of the hunting parties were later in coming back than others. He was most adept at putting my first prisoner to the question. The second is with Lord Tyrell awaiting being put to the question, we shall see if their stories are consistent. May the Father deliver justice for this outrage."
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Post by Septon Abelar on Aug 1, 2018 7:02:02 GMT 1
When Roland mentions spies at the tent flaps, Abelar nods and steps closer. As the full story comes out, he clutches his forehead with a hand before casting it down in frustration. "Blast it all. So this is about the Blackfyre affair as much as anything else, or at least it has the appearance of such.""I am but a simple knight, but such does not make sense to me, mayhap the plotter knew that gossip was rife and sought the lady Alicent as a convenient route to the source? But how could they have been certain she would hear of it?" Abelar does not press Roland to reveal the name, given the possibility of eavesdroppers as well as his liking for Roland. Lady Alicent may not be telling it true as to when she learned the tale . . . and her betrothal has not been without controversy. Too many possibilities here . . . "I will leave the investigation of this matter to Lords Tyrell and Durwell, unless I am called upon. But the matter of punishment demands an immediate response. The smallfolk must be fully apprised of the attack against the septa, so that the full force of their fury may be channeled into Lord Tyrell's chastisement of the prisoners. The shadowy stubble-chinned master will surely quake when he sees the masses cheering the execution of his men!" |
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Aug 7, 2018 14:44:33 GMT 1
"If my part in this is not ended be sure that I shall seek the faith's assistance."
Roland thumped a gloved fist in his other palm in assent at the Septon's speech and bows.
"Well spoken Septon."
Abelar was right, they must seek to root out the puppet master behind all of this.
[/scene]
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