[Aftermath] When the Hurlyburly's Done [Laena & Daeron]

Laena carefully closes and sets aside her book before answering. "You put in a good showing. You got in a few good hits, and you hung on long enough against some terrifyingly powerful blows that I had begun worrying for your life. No-one will say you gave anything less than your all.

"How do you feel? Do you wish for me to call for a healer?"

Laena puts on a contemplative face. "I heard the healers mentioning something about you not having any alcohol for two weeks ..." She manages to maintain her sombre face in view of his reaction for just a few moments, before it cracks into chuckles, revealing she was just joking with him. "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist.

"Last I heard, Master Lucas's upbringing was going to be arranged by Lord Leo. Unfortunately, I'm not fully informed on that matter. For some strange reason, House Meadows is not best-disposed towards me at the moment." She notes dryly. "Still, Lord Leo will not want to be seen as disrespecting a Great Bastard, so I'm sure he'll find a good home." And with his claim so thoroughly discredited, he'll hopefully live long enough to enjoy it.

Laena doesn't inform him how close Ser Manfryd came to actually doing so. That would likely lower the mood somewhat.

"I imagine Lord Leo - or more likely, his advisors - agree with your idea for him to move to a provincial house. While House Starkwood would fit that description, so too would many others, and I suspect he'd prefer a more independent house have the honours. My presence wouldn't affect matters, though - for one thing, I'll be leaving House Starkwood shortly to strike out under the Pyre banner; and for another, even a blind man would have been able to detect the murderous rage Lady Johanna had towards me as she was lead off. I doubt even my presence near her son could increase that rage any."

She cocks her head. "You know, given how you fought for his mother, taking Master Lucas as your squire could well be yours for the asking. There would certainly be prestige for you having a Great Bastard as your squire, and I'm sure his relatives would be overjoyed at having him raised by a knight as skilled as yourself, in a place as chivalrous as Kingsbridge." She shrugs. "I don't want to get your hopes up unnecessarily; it could be Lord Leo already has other plans. Or perhaps you have other plans in the works for your squire. But off the top of my head, it sounds like an idea where everyone wins."

She gives an indulgent smile. "I take no offence to the asking. And calling myself 'regent' is too arrogant, even for me - House Pyre has no lands. I simply resurrect their banner to make the divide from House Starkwood explicit. The reasons are ... fairly complex. But put simply, my blood afford me freedoms hardly any ladies have, and I intend to seize said freedoms fully. I hope you do not make the offer of hospitality casually, for I will most likely take you up on it at some point. You are correct that it removes any real chance of remarriage, but it is clear my association with House Starkwood is no help, either. I spent the entire tourney trying to find a suitable husband. For one reason or another, nothing panned out. You know how many men actually pursued my hand across this entire tourney? Including at the end, when betrothal arrangements reached a fever pitch? One. One man was interested in me. And he couldn't even get his own kin to approve it." While she tries to remain clinical, there is a definite hint of bitterness in her tone.

"So, I have accepted that I will not have another husband. That any children I may have in the future would be bastards, and mark me a whore." She pauses to sniff slightly, and rub a spot beneath her eye which was clearly itching slightly. "Sorry, I said too much. Point being, I will no longer wait for a man who will never come to make me happy. I will make my own happiness." She nods firmly.

"Of course I will help you write a letter to Lord Leo. We're family. If we don't look out for each other, who will? Though perhaps I should give you a day to think the matter over? You're barely conscious, and a squire isn't a decision I feel you should rush into."

She smiles and shakes her head. "I'm not looking for anything permanent. I want to travel the Reach, meet new people ... then leave, before I wear out my welcome." She chuckles. "Maybe eventually, I'll want to find a place to settle, but I doubt that will happen for some time. And thank you. I can't claim to be entirely calm over the idea, but I am also definitely excited."

She gives a small smile. "Well, if you're sure, I'll certainly help you." She leans in, and speaks quietly. "I also have some findings regarding the name you gave me, if you're still interested?"

Laena hesitates a moment, biting her lip, before shaking her head. "Sorry, I couldn't find anything linking him to the foul events of this tourney. As far as I could tell, he makes his money through digging up dirty secrets, and using them to win big gambling on jousts and the like. While he's clearly no True Knight, I found absolutely *nothing* linking him to anything as ... extreme as kidnapping and murder. In fact, given his proclivity for blackmail, he's exactly the kind of person any schemer with an ounce of sense would keep *well* away from their plots. If he has any loyalties to anyone beyond himself, he keeps them hidden too well for me to find in the time I had available."

She sighs. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you were hoping my investigation into him would provide a solid lead for you to follow. But it looks like a dead end to me."