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Post by Father on Aug 21, 2019 18:34:49 GMT 1
The arrival of Bloodraven appears perfectly timed, as if he knows just when and where Laena just happens to have a spare moment with nothing pressing on her mind. From what she could tell, this happens much too often whenever he wants something for it to be a coincidence. Some think it magical, Laena knows enough to suspect that he has eyes and ears and a list of people he wants to meet without wasting time having to wait around for them to finish up other business or avoid irritation of interrupting other affairs. "How have you been, sister?" He appears strikingly similar to Lord Desmond in some ways, nearly free of all emotion. But unlike Desmond, he seems to Laena to use this coldness to his own advantage by allowing himself to engage in ruthless calculation to win this war. If Laena sat on the Iron Throne, she would probably want this man as her hand, not the feckless Ser Ambrose Butterwell. Perhaps not in name though. Perhaps let everyone think Ser Ambrose was the hand, but take Bloodraven's counsel. She does not have the impression that this is anywhere near the case. Bloodraven is not an easy man to like, and the rest of the small council would surely feel ill at ease with his presence on it. If so, they are fools.
Presumably around the time of the Goldengrove wedding, since Bloodraven is there and Laena also I believe. |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 21, 2019 19:24:28 GMT 1
"Well enough to not complain, brother." She gives him a casual smile. He knows his presence unsettles others, and she knows (or at least strongly suspects) that he plays that up, in the hopes that nervous lips might let something slip they wouldn't otherwise. So she greets him as casually as she would any other of her siblings. He knows that she's not as blasé as she presents herself, merely that she knows his game, and she knows that if he truly wished her scared, she would be. "Whenever I feel like my problems are bigger than I can handle, I just think of the poor thankless men who have to keep the entire fractious realm from burning itself down completely in the next few years.
"So," with a knowing smirk. "On a *completely* unrelated note, how are you, dear brother? Aside from 'busy' - I may not be quite as well-informed as you, but I can be confident of that much."
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Post by Father on Aug 21, 2019 23:20:53 GMT 1
"I don't have time to stop and think about it, if I had, maybe I would have concluded that whoever poisoned Lord Hightower had a much better idea of dealing with king's enemies than trying to find the proof I need to have their heads on pikes, and the man they hope to crown stepping forth to stand against them if they demand trial by combat" He shrugs. "Does my lady have any idea just how right she was that night that feels as is as many decades past as it really just are months? The panicked fumblings of Lord Gormon proved the truth to it, though I do not think I would have been certain had another not provoked him further to test that theory"
"However, the list grows by the day, Ser Vorian Dayne, Lady Ashara, Matthis Rowan, Lord Desmond Bridges and others besides, I only need them to make a single mistake big enough to have them dragged kicking and screaming to the headsman, they have made enough that I have some very good ideas as to who are responsible."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 22, 2019 11:34:45 GMT 1
Laena doesn't even blink as her brother idly muses using cold-blooded murder. She *does* when he mentions about Lord Gorman's 'panicked fumblings'. And then frowns, responding softly so as to be sure not to be overheard. "He targeted Lady Alicent Yronwood, presumably to gain Lord Eldon's favour - and likely would have succeeded if not for Ser Roland Cordwayner; and he targeted the Florents, successfully recruiting them to his side. While not *entirely* successful, that does seem to be slightly better than 'panicked fumblings'. And seemed to me to more likely be using the hunt as concealment for a political motive rather than being focused on the hunt." From her tone, she's clearly puzzled and trying to figure out what she's missing, rather than attempting to contradict Bloodraven. She knows better than that.
Her eyes flicker about in memory. "For obvious reasons, I have not displayed a particular interest in the matter. What 'further provocation' do you mean? I can't remember hearing about such, off-hand, just a fair amount of speculation as to identity." She smiles apologetically, but forgives herself for not being as well-informed about matters as the most notoriously well-informed man in the Kingdom.
When he mentions that he has very good ideas as to who is responsible, her breath clearly catches in her throat. "You have strong suspicions as to who murdered Lady Ashara?" While the other deaths were undoubtedly tragic for those involved, Laena makes no attempt to hide where her interests lie. While her suspicions naturally led to Lady Maegelle Cordwayner, Bloodraven's suspicions likely had some actual weight to them.
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Post by Father on Aug 22, 2019 14:47:31 GMT 1
"No, he targeted Lady Alicent because he thought she was the hawk, then someone made a very convincing breadcrumb trail for him to find pointing towards the Florents, it is coincidence only that he emerged as the hero who saved Ser Aladore. If only I could prove it, I just can't make the statement and expect everyone to believe it to be so. Others would have shouted it from every hilltop if they had discovered only half as much as he, without a doubt. And easily be rebuked and ignored.
"The assassins were traced to Cider Hall, but they were supposed to be paid at Ashford, which is why they had that map, Lady Maegelle and Ser Normyn were present for the feast at Cider Hall when the betrothal of Ser Aladore and Lady Jeyne was announced, shortly thereafter, the murderers began their journey to Summerhall, I cannot say with certainty that there were none others who hired those men at the same time, it was a feast and they went out hawking for a day, but not a tourney or a festival, no great gathering where others might easily slip in through the commotion, but it is possible. None of the other guests would have any motive, and few would be able to know just whom to approach to have such a thing arranged without leaving a trail to follow."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 22, 2019 16:25:09 GMT 1
Laena frowns as what she *thought* she knew about the goings-on behind the Black Tourney were upended in a single breath. "Oh." Dull surprise, mixed with contemplation as she rearranges the puzzle in her head. Then, she stops moving, and her eyes widen. "Ohhh!" As finally the pieces come together. "That means that ... the Black Tourney ... the events that *made* it the Black Tourney - barring Lord Jon's murder, at least - which had such an effect on making the political situation as frantic as it is.
"It was me." She breathes softly.
I want to live a life that will shake the heavens. Her words to Lord Marq at the Bread and Salt ceremony of the same tourney. While hardly an upending of the entire world, it seemed she'd already impacted the world far more than she'd expected.
Far more than most women. And vastly more than any who (half) hailed from a minor backwoods house.
"Well," she swiftly corrects herself. "It was Lord Gormon who actually *did* it. But I threw the stone." From her tone and body language, she's still rather stunned by the revelation, but she makes an effort to collect herself.
"So 'someone' used Lord Gormon against the Florents. Likely with the objective of weakening both houses. Or perhaps with the objective of ensuring the Florents took whatever side the Peakes did not. And 'someone' poisoned Lord Jon Hightower as well, at the same tourney. Which did weaken them considerably." She tilts her head in thought. "Discounting those three, there are not *that* many people playing at that level with the cunning to escape your eyes." While technically flattery, she says that as a mere statement of fact. "I wonder if they are one and the same person." She straightens and shrugs. "Idle speculation only. I know when matters are above me, and best left to others." A small smirk, easily missed by those less attentive, implies that she doesn't always heed that knowledge.
She listens attentively to what Bloodraven had to say about the assassins, then frowns as something nags at her. "Ashford ... just down the Cockleswhent from Cider Hall, and Lady Maegelle's former family. Lord Ashford inherited early due to his father choking on a chicken bone, didn't he? The same story given for how Lady Maegelle's late husband passed. Interesting 'coincidence'." From the way she says that, she's clearly far from certain it is as suspicious as she's implying, but is definitely sceptical enough to deem it worth asking about.
She carefully controls her reaction on getting (to her) good enough confirmation that Lady Maegelle was behind Ashara's murder, freeing her from her oath to Balon. Still, she'd hold back for now, to give Bloodraven a chance to end her life legally. Much safer, given the attention the house had right now.
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Post by Father on Aug 22, 2019 20:09:24 GMT 1
"It is surprising how easy it is for a servant, or one pretending to be, to serve a cup of death to the unsuspecting, or add a little bit of extra to the wine in front of him." Bloodraven doesn't seem to think it that difficult. Laena could probably do it. Although lords were getting more paranoid as of late. "Stringing Lord Gormon along like that, however, that whittles down the list of suspects with the required wits and resources, and I think we can eliminate The Florents. But the pattern suggests someone more interested in finding out if the rumor was true than to set Peakes and Florents against one another, but the choice of Florents might imply that our mysterious instigator wanted a target equipped to spot Lord Peake's hand if he made a mistake. It might also just be a plausible choice, Lord Reynald would be among those who might discover such secrets and decide to spread them through an agent."
"I think it more likely that Lord Ilyn choked because hands were clenched around his neck, and the chickenbone was added after to explain the look upon his face, though I am hardly an expert on detecting such a thing. But I doubt that the deaths of Lords Ashford and Cordwayner are connected other than by the alleged manner of their passing."
By my recollection, Bloodraven asked rather directly about whether Laena knew anything about that rumor she spread or were just messing with people's heads.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 22, 2019 20:18:06 GMT 1
[Just answering the OOC part, since I don't have time for an IC post right now, but I believed I previously answered that question here, so I saw it as largely rhetorical.] |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 23, 2019 15:22:50 GMT 1
Laena lets the subject drop, but makes a mental note to discreetly poke into the death of the former Lord Ashford. It could be worthwhile, whether it had anything to do with the Cordwayner situation or not.
"Hmm. Anyway, fascinating as all that was, you *did* ask me a question before I got distracted." She gives another discreet look-around to make sure no-one's moved within eavesdropping distance since she last checked. "And I'm afraid my answer hasn't changed since the last time you asked, though now I no longer feel like every single blade of grass is solely focused on identifying me, I can be a little more explicit.
"All I knew for *certain* was that a certain sibling of ours is not a capable enough liar to successfully repeat the same lie over and over without a sceptical enough person realising it, at least while he believed himself among friends. The 'truth' I presented was pure speculation, based on how I predicted things likely to turn out.
"So, to answer what I believe is your question within a question: No, I had absolutely no idea they intended to murder Lord Quentyn. If I did, I would have warned you last we spoke."
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Post by Father on Aug 24, 2019 12:54:01 GMT 1
"It is not like I did not warn him that Ser Otho might do such a thing, I also recall them being more frightened of what Ser Balon might do to Ser Symon Starkwood, or perhaps Ser Lambert, the latter did turn out to become a real worry, though it did not end quite as Lord Middlebury had envisioned it." Bloodraven doesn't seem to mind. "And I tend to agree with Lady Levalle on the matter of Lord Alliser's participation, one's contribution to a team is rather diminished if you are in need of protection, and I doubt Ser Otho has forgotten Lord Alliser's words at the black tourney, though I think most have, and who can blame them with everything else to lay claim upon their memory?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 24, 2019 14:27:21 GMT 1
There's a pause as Laena dissects his words. I won't apologise for 'them' - presumably naming Ser Roland, as the team leader, without actually naming him - being worried over Ser Symon. The threats were credible, and if I apologise, that implies a debt that I, of all people connected, do not owe.
But what is he getting at? Presumably the mention of Lady Delena Levalle is him showing his power - 'look, how even private conversations between husband and wife become known to me'. But given how, to the best of my knowledge, Ser Otho *didn't* try and murder Lord Alliser at the Black Tourney, he must be mentioning the threat for some reason. But why? He presumably knows we've had dealings before, but what use would I be against a purely physical threat, even if his objective really is to try and protect Lord Alliser without expending much in the way of effort?
"Yes, I found Lord Alliser's words against Ser Otho at the Black Tourney ... curious, for one so politically savvy. Though Ser Otho is a fairly ... blunt threat. Maybe he is putting his faith in Ser Robyn to protect him, and gain favour through ending the brute in self-defence?" Her tone is speculative more than anything. "That's a bold strategy, if true."
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Post by Father on Aug 25, 2019 15:11:30 GMT 1
"A melee is dangerous and chaotic, and despite others being there to protect you, enemies might still succeed." Bloodraven notes, again without any emotion or judgement in his tone. "I would wonder how well Lord Alliser might be protected if Ser Otho had others of questionable concern for gallantry and considerable prowess with him to lay claim to attention, such as Ser Balon?"
"I wonder, does my lady care as to what deeds that man has committed, or is he just a plaything to be discarded if his actions becomes liabilities?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 25, 2019 16:20:54 GMT 1
Laena bites back a wince when her brother's true subject of discussion becomes clear. She believed it would come sooner or later, she'd just always prefer it not be *now*.
Still, she will not run. Instead, she raises an eyebrow. "I am a survivor, brother. There are *very* few people I would cling to even when they have clearly become irreversibly a liability. And Ser Balon is not among that number.
"However, until that time - or such time as he bores me or whatever - I *do* have quite the interest in his actions. Can I, with my talents, drag that man back from the precipice he was teetering on? Stop him from dishonouring his father's legacy by becoming a blackguard? While I doubt I could ever make him a true knight, my claws are deep enough into him that entrenching him firmly into roughly the same moral plane as most knights occupy - at least the more ambitious ones - *should* be possible." An apologetic smile. "Obviously, I can do nothing about his allegiance. He was doomed to be a rebel ever since he was pushed into Lord Gorman's web as a child. As well expect a child to overcome a shadowcat armed with naught but a butter knife as for him to have any other allegiance."
She frowns as she recalls Balon's new scar from a 'training accident' after the vulture hunt where Ser Vorian Dayne died. His notable silence when the subject of Lord Desmond Bridges' death comes up.
She gives a small sigh. "Given how you started this conversation by saying you were closing in on the criminals behind a bunch of assassinations, and you're now asking me if I care about Ser Balon's actions, I'm going to guess that you're about to give me some bad news on that front."
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Post by Father on Aug 26, 2019 13:23:18 GMT 1
"I am sure some would believe Redtusk to be capable of such." His face is not cut out for humor, even if he does seem to have some. "I am almost certain that Ser Vorian Dayne and his men were killed on Ser Balon's command, if not by his own hand, though my search for witnesses and evidence has proven frustrating enough that I am beginning to suspect that such among Ser Balon's accomplices as none will particularly miss have all been silenced and buried with whatever trophies they might have. The King cannot solely act upon my suspicions, others might."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 26, 2019 14:38:47 GMT 1
Worse than I'd hoped, better than I'd feared. A small sigh. "I understand. And are the Daynes already aware of your suspicions? Or will they be soon? I'll keep the game going until the end, either way, if for no other reason than to try and spare Lady Allyria more grief, but it's against my principles to get in the way of vengeance." A darkly amused smile. "A lady must always look out for her health, after all."
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