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Post by Father on Sept 22, 2019 13:44:59 GMT 1
The greeting hadn't changed much in Laena's recollection, but the youthful fire and zest in her eyes had been replace by one burning brighter and hotter, taking it's toll on the woman whose face now seems to have finally lost ground to aging, but also makes her appear even more fierce than before. Her customary joke is darker, asking almost knowingly if Laena might have had a hand in various demises, all of them shorter and less painful than deserved, though she hastens to tell Laena not to answer, for a lady must deny such accusations and then Allyria would be disappointed with the conclusion that they must have died for unrelated reasons, though some contention she would still find in the evidence that The Stranger does listen to prayers. |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 22, 2019 15:50:54 GMT 1
"I find it is best to remember that it is The Seven *who are one*, so while The Stranger is unknowable and distant, in truth, they are *also* The Maiden, who looks out for virtuous young ladies, and The Father, who seeks justice. So, I have little surprise that matters turned out as they did." With that observation, she side-steps either confirming or denying Lady Allyria's suspicions.
"While the matter is not yet finished, with the blessings of the Seven firmly on the side of justice, and Bloodraven himself seeking the last and most heinous criminal out, are ..." She huffs out a breath. "For me to experience what you have is literally the stuff of my worst nightmares. The difference being I wake from my nightmares. So I know what you have suffered enough to know that 'peace' is likely beyond your imagining, but have you at least stopped waking up and, for a brief moment, have the belief that it was all a nightmare? That Ashara was still alive? Before the reality comes down on you and you feel the pain afresh all over again?" Her soft, haunted voice implies without saying that Laena herself is speaking from experience on the matter.
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Post by Father on Sept 23, 2019 15:56:24 GMT 1
"I will know peace when my little girl knows peace" she snaps harshly, not directed at Laena, not truly, but she is too proud to apologize, her voice is lowered and softened a little bit, a vengeful smirk on her face. "Only a pity that there likely is only one, a man can die but once, yet Tyanna of the Tower recorded a great many slow and painful ways to end a life"
"Like as not, there are at least three different men in need of such a fate, my daughter was taken away from me, my brother was taken away from me and someone tried to take my son. Is it too much to ask for the chance to lay my hands upon but one?" Laena had heard about the attack upon Lord Blackbar and Robyn's heroics, who had not? Though everything pointed to that being Lord Blackbar they were after and Robyn being caught in the middle. Not that Allyria was likely to care much about such details.
She does not say it, but her face tells it all, going after her family was a mistake those responsible would come to rue. "With such rage, there is no place for sorrow"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 23, 2019 21:32:39 GMT 1
Laena lets a mere raised eyebrow serve as chastisement for her cousin - she can hardly criticise the woman for her wrath without being the worst of hypocrites. She could tell her what Bloodraven told Laena, giving her the identities of Ashara's and Ser Vorian Dayne's murderers. But Laena did not have faith in the other woman's ability to keep her actions discreet, nor even her ability to succeed. Plus, in the latter case, saying what she knew was decidedly against her interests. Still, if more discreet methods failed, then using her as a weapon against the Cordwayners was always a resort, albeit a last one.
It did concern her, though. Allyria wasn't stupid. If she kept digging into the death of Ser Vorian, it was possible their interests would ... misalign. Something to be aware of, certainly.
The only would-be murderer she doesn't know the identity of is that of Ser Robyn. Not that she particularly cared - she'd spent time with him when he was but a babe, around the time of her legitimisation, but not had more than occasional casual meetings since. Certainly not enough that she'd cared to bestir herself to investigate a matter that likely didn't even have him as an intended target. Maybe if she didn't have so much already needing her attention...
Still, that was no reason to be rude, so she put on a sympathetic face. "Yes, I heard about Ser Robyn's brave actions. You must be proud. So few are knighted so young. Hopefully, with more years, and more acts of a similar nature behind him, he'll be able to win a good match." Maybe the switch to talking about her son's accomplishments might calm the other woman. Laena didn't really believe that, it wouldn't work with her, but she felt it worth the attempt.
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Post by Father on Sept 24, 2019 13:56:57 GMT 1
Allyria is mostly happy that he lived through it and didn't do anything foolish like throwing his and Falyse's lives away by trying to save everyone. The knighting he would be better off without for a few more years.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 25, 2019 20:32:03 GMT 1
"Men - young men particularly - oft have a hard time recognising their limitations. It is a good sign that he does not seem to have that flaw. Hopefully knighthood won't change that.
"I haven't heard. Will he be continuing to serve the new Lord Elwood, returning to Starkwood, or striking out to prove himself as a newly-minted knight as much as possible while there are still tourneys being held, do you know?"
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Post by Father on Sept 27, 2019 12:12:44 GMT 1
Hopefully with the Starkwoods, he is a knight now and can do as he pleases Allyria says with a sigh. Obviously not something she is pleased with. Though keeping him away from tourneys? That she won't even try.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 28, 2019 23:59:10 GMT 1
"Do you know anything about who was behind the attack?" It was obviously something Allyria cared about. Laena would suspect ambitious neighbours looking to expand, but something so brutal didn't really fit her impression of Lord Florent. Maybe a Hightower vassal looking to use the confusion over the regency to gain power without much in the way of oversight? But that was just speculation. She wondered if Lord Elwood had already been assassinated by now, and she'd just yet to hear of it. Maybe his sister's survival had saved his life, for now at least.
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Post by Father on Sept 30, 2019 11:26:55 GMT 1
Sadly, no, but Allyria does hope Laena might help with that. While it may well be motivated by hatred of all things Dornish and put a fear into other houses, Starkwood included, it may simply be that is what the murderers wants everyone to believe, though surely those leading the attack must be driven by such hatred, how else to explain their acts of cruelty to Lady Zia? Though Lord Ulbert wants them properly tried and hanged, she does suggest that she think proper justice involves the same treatment they would have given Robyn, crucified and fed their own members.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 30, 2019 19:55:10 GMT 1
Laena bites back a small sigh. She considers before answering, and as she does so, her initial reluctance fades ... somewhat. She already *has* answers as to who murdered Ashara, and that has moved on to the 'risk to life' stage. Maybe if she agrees, she'll have a replacement thrill ready should she survive the Cordwayner situation.
At the very least, she loses nothing by agreeing to look in to the matter. Worst case, she can just not find anything. And .. something about it concerns her. An attack by those who hate the Dornish with a passion, but a *Starkwood* is one of only two survivors? And the other only survived due to his actions? She was aware of one man, easily manipulated by his hatred of the Dornish, who is sworn to not directly attack the Starkwoods, who she would very much wish were *not* involved, given the brutality and cruelty displayed. But she cannot be confident he was not.
And now that fear haunts her. And she realises she will investigate the matter, for her own peace of mind if nothing else. Though what she'd do if the trail did lead through Ser Balon, she didn't yet know.
"The kind of people who would do such brutal violence. The kind of man who would order it. They are not the kind of people it is in any way safe to ask questions about. I have heard the story showing how little respect they have for the sanctity of a noble lady.
"If you ask this of me, I will do it, for I am better equipped than many to do so.
"But I wish for us to be clear as to what you are asking of me. What you are asking me to *risk*."
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Post by Father on Oct 2, 2019 16:34:22 GMT 1
Allyria would expect Laena to be perfectly able to judge how much caution is prudent, and surely they might ask her pale brother for a favor? Does he not owe them a couple of those?
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 2, 2019 20:32:14 GMT 1
Laena tilts her head. "It may come to that. But if you only have a couple of gold coins, and no way to easily get more, you only spend them when lesser currency will not suffice. And certainly, you never use them as your first resort, unless the situation is so dire that your first resort will also be your last, and we are not there now."
She puffs out a breath. "Fine. I'll see if I can arrange to meet your son as soon as possible. Working from first-hand testimony is far more reliable than from rumours and hearsay."
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Post by Father on Oct 3, 2019 19:26:22 GMT 1
And sometimes a matter is important enough to spare no expense, but if Laena thinks that unnecessary....
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 3, 2019 19:37:57 GMT 1
Laena nods firmly. "For now. Give me time to see what I can accomplish with my talents. The days will only get darker and more dangerous in the future, and we may need those favours in the future should we catch wind of a direct threat to the family, rather than what may or may not threaten the family at some undetermined point in the future.
"If I can't find anything, it becomes too dangerous for me, or I catch wind that the same people are targeting you next, obviously I will revise my answer accordingly. But my brother should be a last resort for answers, not a first one."
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Post by Father on Oct 6, 2019 16:42:37 GMT 1
As Laena says, then.
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