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Post by Father on Jul 28, 2019 15:33:20 GMT 1
The morning on one of the more uneventful days of the tourney, a young man dressed as a squire, with no sigil or markings of any kind seeks out Balon to deliver a message, one he insists upon whispering in his ear so that it is for him alone that Ser Aegor would like to meet at noon on the stands in the fields, with no jousting or melee this day, none are like to be there, another sign of secrecy being involved.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 28, 2019 22:15:32 GMT 1
Either word had reached Bittersteel's ears of Balon's willingness to take action (a nice way to say kill) for the cause or this was a trap set by one of his enemies, a list that was sure to be growing. Balon nodded at the squire and dismissed him, mulling over what to do. Balon had feared he'd left a bad impression with Bittersteel after the hunt at Highgarden only to presumably please him when he helped Ser Otho kill Lord Quentyn Blackwood. This meeting could prove to be another opportunity to prove his worth to the leaders of the rebellion.
Donning his training leathers Balon took his shield, bastard sword, and a few other items as if he was heading to a training yard before veering off to the stands. He approached from the best possible vantage point wanting to make sure he wasn't walking into a trap. Once satisfied he went into the stands to await Ser Aegor.
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Post by Father on Jul 29, 2019 0:59:28 GMT 1
No trap, no, just secrecy. "I do not believe in wasting time, ser" Bittersteel greets with his perpetual frown. "But I must have your oath that no matter how much you dislike what I am about to ask, you will not tell leave so much as a hint to any other soul that such a request was ever made. It is not something I can expect any man to take upon himself, and I would frankly be a little concerned if I you do not find it distasteful, ser."If you cannot keep silent on it, no matter how vile the act, I cannot ask it of you in the first place, most knights would be horrified at the mere contemplation of it, Ser Daemon would personally have the head of any who would do this, but each life dishonorably taken here may save us another hundred on the field of honor." |
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 29, 2019 1:05:27 GMT 1
A small sigh of relief escaped Balon's mouth when he saw it was Bittersteel.
Balon met his gaze and did not flinch, "You have my oath, ser." Balon copied Aegor's bluntness. "I will never repeat to anyone what we discuss here today regardless if I agree to it or not." What's one more body amongst the foundations?
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Post by Father on Jul 29, 2019 1:25:29 GMT 1
"Good" He still frowns, his intense gaze doesn't really show any signs of happiness, but maybe less suspicious, maybe. "What I need, is for a child to be murdered."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 29, 2019 7:54:56 GMT 1
He still frowns, his intense gaze doesn't really show any signs of happiness, but maybe less suspicious, maybe. "What I need, is for a child to be murdered." Balon had expected the worst but when Aegor said child murder his heart skipped a beat. Letting out a long sigh Balon ran his hand through his hair stopping to itch the back of his head. His mind went back to the conversation he had with his mother at Highgarden... "My father once said that to kill a man in cold blood is the true test of a man's limits." Shiera does not seem so convinced. "Some men could not even do such an act willing, freezing when the deed is to be done. Others have the stomach required for it, one cannot raise such men, they are simply born to be so.""There will come a time, should we prevail, that if we can crown Daemon as king, there is a distasteful task that must be done, the princes must die, every single one of them, and not just the four grown ones, but their young sons, and one cannot risk their wives to give birth to any claimants. Ser Daemon would never approve, Redtusk would defend their lives with his own. So it falls to others, like Gormon Peake and Bittersteel to ensure that there is no claimant alive for the opposition to really around. And they will need killers to do it, all knights may be warriors, but not all knights are killers." Her words seemed prophetic now. Here stood Bittersteel asking him to do something any chivalrous knight would not only outright refuse to do but challenge Bittersteel on the spot for questioning their morality. So why wasn't Balon doing that? Why was Balon going over the pros and cons? At Highgarden Lady Jeyne (Cuy) had directed his hatred of the Dornish towards Ser Walton Wyl. The result was the death of one of the King's most able tacticians. His demise would see thousands of Blackfyre soldiers spared on the battlefield as a result. But what was Balon's reward besides secretive praise from Blackfyre supporters and a weeks worth of Jeyne's pussy. Not much unless you counted the possibility that Jeyne's baby was his. If he was going to do this the reward had to match the heinous nature of the request. Sure he'd fantasized about killing before. Lord Jon. Lady Erena. That loud mouth cunt Lady Mya. But never a child. Balon tried to picture drowning Joffrey in a stream, his small boy arms weakly trying to fend off Balon. The thought repulsed him. He tried to imagine stabbing Joffrey but all he could see were his eyes, the look of confusion and hurt in them as he bleed to death. It sickened Balon. He pictured throwing Joffrey off the castle walls but all he could hear was the horrifying screams of a child as he plummeted to his death. It made Balon want to cry. Can I do this? Am I a monster if it saves lives in the long run?
He looked to Aegor, trying to find any kind of remorse or hesitation in his eyes. What was so important about this child? Finally Balon spoke, "Who is the child and why must they die? When, where, how. I need to know all of this first." Balon steeled himself, "And once you tell me I'll tell you my price." Apparently it was his soul. |
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Post by Father on Jul 29, 2019 15:15:48 GMT 1
"Lord Blackwood's bastard, unborn at that, I am led to believe that he loves the mother dearly and protested heavily at her being sent away from Raventree Hall, he is to be betrothed to Lord Darry's daughter, and having a mistress with a bastard in the belly under his roof would complicate negotiations, so she is to be sent away to Riverthorn, two day's ride from Fairmarket where it supposedly is safe should fighting break out in Battle Valley. Now imagine how a lord with cheeks as smooth as a babe's arse would react to the news his true love being slaughtered by unidentified outlaws would conclude and react to such news so soon after she was sent away from the safety of his walls?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 29, 2019 19:52:17 GMT 1
A pregnant woman... Was that somehow more palatable? A woman as opposed to a child? He listened to Aegor describe the who, why, and where but then when and how remained. "What is this woman's name? Is she a commoner? Some rich merchant's daughter? Where is she staying in Riverthorn? A small cottage tucked away somewhere or the holdfast of some landed knight?" Balon began to go over methods to carry out this task if he accepted. He mentally referred to the woman as a target instead of a person to lessen the guilt he was feeling. "You said outlaws. Are these men you're supplying or do I have to go find my own? I assume you want this done shortly after the tourney here has ended?""Now imagine how a lord with cheeks as smooth as a babe's arse would react to the news his true love being slaughtered by unidentified outlaws would conclude and react to such news so soon after she was sent away from the safety of his walls?" Balon rubbed his chin in thought. "The Blackwoods would be the aggressor... Moreover he'd suspect someone within Raventree was a spy. He'd become distrustful of his own men."
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Post by Father on Jul 30, 2019 10:03:17 GMT 1
"Marei is her name, the daughter of some nobody at Raventree, a pretty whisp of a thing, brown of hair, young. Walk by the Blackwood camp and you're like to see her, her belly has grown just enough that it should be recognizable if you know to look for it" Bittersteel conveys the information as if giving final instructions to a subordinate right before a battle. "She will be the guest of, Ser Hoste of Riverthorn, not much of a place in truth, a sept, a mill, two rows of houses, the knight has a wooden hall the townsfolk might take refuge in, a single bailey of palisade and earthworks to protect it, 28 able bodied men as per the latest count given to Lord Blackwood, among them Ser Hoster's brother, his own son and his nephew, those would have a knight's training, the rest are peasants assembled to train with arms twice a fortnight. Like as not, Balon might reason, just about every man in Bracken and Blackwood lands knows how to wield spear and shield in formation, and keep these in their homes. In The Reach, many lords will ask the same of their bannermen, but Lord Tarly is the only one Balon can think of that can be bothered to ensure that they all do this. "I assume that Bloodraven have enough informants among such men as I could send to defeat the point, Lord Bracken must be able to deny all knowledge of this deed, ser, so I have not told him, but there is no difference between my men and Lord Bracken's in the eyes of those who might be swayed by Raventree's claim of provocation. A tourney like this attracts all sorts of scum, I am sure you can find enough for your needs, though I would recommend Ser Erryk Rivers who knows the area and hates the Blackwoods almost as much as he likes coin. Lord Peake will reimburse any expenses, he is quite content not needing to know what he paid for."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 31, 2019 7:37:30 GMT 1
The daughter of no one important... Ser Hoste and approaching two score men... A wooden hall with palisade and earthworks... Ser Erryk Rivers...
If Balon was lucky they'd be able to avoid assaulting the defenses head on but if he was relying on luck he was doomed to fail. This would take solid planning and able men. Hopefully Ser Erryk was a good judge of skill. "I told you if I agreed to your mission I'd want something in return." Balon did his best to mimic Bittersteel's mannerisms, showing no sign of regret or hesitation. "Lord Jon (Blackbriar) is a weakling and a wastrel. Lady Erena is a loyal subject to King Daeron. I want both of them dead. Sooner than later. Use an assassin. Use bandits that intercept them and their retinue when they inevitably go to a wedding or event. Just kill them before I return to the Reach." Balon didn't need to elaborate. They were an obstacle to another house in the Reach flipping to Fire.
Mechanically and chronologically speaking I want them (Erena being the priority) dead before the new batch of Phase 2.5 events in order to remove the penalties/drawbacks she is incurring.
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Post by Father on Jul 31, 2019 11:33:22 GMT 1
"A lord and his lady in exchange for a commoner?" Bittersteel shakes his head. "I think not, have you even considered whether a wastrel lord might serve our cause better in life than in death?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jul 31, 2019 22:49:20 GMT 1
"A lord and his lady in exchange for a commoner?" Bittersteel shakes his head. "I think not, have you even considered whether a wastrel lord might serve our cause better in life than in death?" Balon waved his hand dismissively, "Don't talk to me like she's *just* a commoner. We wouldn't be here if that's all she was. She's more than that. She's a catalyst, a spark that sets Battle Valley ablaze. Her death gives you your war on your terms." "A wastrel like Lord Jon has served as a good example of King Daeron's legacy," he said the last word dripping with scorn, "for the last ten years but their time is almost over. Every resource will be needed if Ser Daemon is to become king." Balon paused, he knew asking for both their deaths was a stretch but one was more than fair. "If two nobles is too much then I accept a pregnant lady for a pregnant lady. The death of Lady Erena is enough to bring House Blackbriar under control of the right people." |
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Post by Father on Jul 31, 2019 23:37:27 GMT 1
"Is it?" Bittersteel seems doubtful. "If her death serves the cause, I assume Lord Gormon will be inclined to devote the resources needed if it is justified. Otherwise, no, we are not in the business of murdering people over petty grudges and ambitions, ser. We need men like Redtusk and Ser Aubrey Ambrose to carry the Blackfyre standard for us, moreover, we absolutely do not need Ser Daemon excoriating his own supporters. Have you any idea how difficult it is to bring a man to declare war when he abhors everything a war would bring with it?" He shakes his head, more in frustration at that last part than anything Balon said. "Nobody cares about some commoner they never knew, nor her unborn child. A noble lady, though, pregnant as well? You speak as if you have no idea of what will be coming for you should she die under mysterious circumstances."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 1, 2019 7:53:31 GMT 1
"It is." Balon said firmly.
"You tell me we need Redtusk, Ser Aubrey, and knights like them to carry Blackfyre's banner and I agree. But we also need men like you and I in the shadows, doing what is necessary to give us the best chance for victory. You want Lord Rodrik's lover and unborn child dead? To do it I need to carve through several knights and two dozen men. I'm putting my life on the line to help House Bracken. Shit I might need to burn the whole fucking village down and I will but it will cost Lady Erena."
Balon's tone softened, "Pregnancies are hard on women. An assassin with a knowledge of poisons can assuredly make it seem like she died from complications of carrying a child. Her husband remains. Her son and heir to Gyldenhaal remain. That is my price. If not..." Balon shrugged, "I wish you good luck. I'm sure you'll be able to find a knight with the same tactical ability and martial prowess as me who is also willing to damn his soul to see Ser Daemon take the throne."
Listening to Bittersteel lament about Ser Daemon's reluctance to rebel was the first time Balon questioned if Blackfyre even wanted to be king. Balon had heard the rumors; this was all Gormon, Bittersteel, and Fireball's plan. Daemon was the puppet. Balon had refused to believe it but a small seed of doubt crept into his mind as he spoke with Aegor.
"I've considered the consequences. Just as I considered the consequences of my duel with Ser Walton. I can take it."
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Post by Father on Aug 1, 2019 11:50:40 GMT 1
"A passable swordsman and tactician will serve us just fine if he has the proper dedication to the cause, ser." Bittersteel states flatly, implying with his cold eyes that it is Balon's demonstrated willingness to perform the unpalatable that happens to be what he needs, there is disappointment there, as if he had thought Balon the one to show more loyalty to the cause "I was raised a Bracken ser, and every Bracken knows the lay of the Blackwood lands well, the strength of every village, every holdfast, it is much easier for me to visit death upon Marei than your Lady Erena. I can find someone else to stand in the line when vacant lands and titles are to be distributed should King Daemon climb the Iron Throne, or we might force King Weakling to make the Blackwoods cede some of that which is rightfully ours on account of Lord Rodrik breaking the King's Peace in order to have it restored."
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