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Post by Davos Dayne on Jun 27, 2021 4:56:34 GMT 1
"Half of that. You've heard of the Faceless Men? The House of Black and White is a temple to their god, the 'Many-Faced'. Death, and the peace to be found in it. People go there to die, or to have others die. If I was going to give up, it would have been then."
No comment on the Vulture Hunt connection, or Vorian. The implications are fairly obvious so she must have some reason for not wanting to discuss it.
He holds his arm out politely got her to take.
"Let us depart from this cheery topic. Tell me, Lady Laena Pyre, are you happy?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 27, 2021 13:36:45 GMT 1
Laena blinks, and her mouth opens slightly when he reveals what the purpose of that temple was, before swiftly recovering.
When offered, she gracefully takes his arm and walks with him. "I would say I'm *mostly* happy. I would like to see my children more often, but to secure them a decent future, I need to be out here, making friends and connections, and that involves more travel than would be healthy for them. At least I can rest easy knowing Aerion is there looking after them. Hopefully not spoiling them."
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 6, 2021 18:26:56 GMT 1
"I can't say I know them well, but they seem to be doing well enough. They miss you, of course."
He ponders her words.
"What would it take for their future to be, in your words, 'decent'? If Lander were to find happiness as a blacksmith's apprentice, or Sylvina as a tavern maid, would that be enough? Your motivation is commendable, but your goal seems less than well-defined. If I were to give you the keys to my home in Braavos, and enough coin to never fear hunger, would that be sufficient?"
He shakes his head.
"On the other hand, is any amount of wealth, power, and connections sufficient if this land goes to war? Few in this land understand the true nature of war - or the reach of it's destruction. is Starkwood a safe place? Of course not. One attack like the one on house Blackbar and there is a heartless murderer with a hatred for all things Starkwood as Lord of Blackbriar, right next door. Who would come to our defense, an out of the way minor house of little strategic or political importance?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 7, 2021 0:26:58 GMT 1
Laena firmly shakes her head. "That is how the smallfolk live - born to a blacksmith, become his apprentice, replace him as blacksmith, teach son how to be a blacksmith, die. Static. Simply put, I want my children to have *ambitions*, which they have at least a chance of achieving, even - or perhaps especially - if it takes them a lifetime. If you do not have a dream, or something to *drive* you, you may be living, but you will not be *alive*. My role as their mother is, no matter how this war ends, to be able to place them somewhere where they can *live*."
When talk turns to the Blackbriars, she tries to choose her words carefully. "I wouldn't worry much about Ser Balon. Rumour links him to the murder of Lord Blackwood's unborn natural child." She looks down in thought, and speaks softly. "Whether that's true or not doesn't really matter - there's enough people with enough resources seeking Lord Blackwood's favour that a single knight lacking the support of his birth house likely isn't long for this world. And the next brother is much more ... level-headed about such matters." And if he is heartless, it's only because I ripped it from his chest.
"But even should that happen, I can tell you who would come to Starkwood's aid.
"I would." The words, ridiculous as they may sound, are said with complete confidence, and quiet conviction.
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 7, 2021 6:48:45 GMT 1
Davos lets the conversation lull briefly while he procures a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses.
"Can an artisan not have ambition? It is no mean feat to serve as the head armorer in the Red Keep, for instance."
He waves the idea off before she answers.
"No, it is not the same. You desire them to have the ambition to be a people of influence; much as you seek to be."
He leads her to a quiet, private spot he had scouted out for just such an occasion.
"If Lord Blackwood could not have him killed on the battlefield, it is unlikely that he will be able to do so off of it. The support of House Peake and House Oakheart means much, for now. Perhaps my brother or sister may do better. I am fairly sure he killed my brother Vorian as well. I'll not get answers from him, but his brother, I suspect, I might have better chances with. But enough of him."
He pours the wine, and hands her a glass.
"Let us drink to wit, wine, and wisdom - wine without wit is worrisome and wit without wine is wearisome, but wisdom knows that wit with wine is winsome."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 7, 2021 8:38:53 GMT 1
Happy to leave the subject of Balon behind, she raises her glass after a moment's consideration to pick apart the tongue twister to confirm it wasn't a trick. She opens her mouth to make some subtle comment about his tongue, but stops and looks down, flushing slightly when she remembers he clearly still misses his wife, and it is probably not the most appropriate or appreciated thing to do. "To being winsome, then." She says, after a moment's consideration.
Settling down, she decides to stop dancing around the subject. "So, tell me: did you suggest wine so as to cushion the blow of letting me know you have no interest in the hypothetical plan, or so we may discuss it in further detail?"
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 7, 2021 18:36:23 GMT 1
Davos chuckles.
"Neither. I had the wisdom to want to share some wine with a winsome and witty woman, an opportunity I would be a fool to pass up. That we had another matter to discuss is of lesser importance.
As I said before, I am somewhat interested in the hypothetical plan. What little faith I had in the legal proceedings of this realm died at the trial of Simon Tarly. Nor am I pious enough to take comfort in murderers getting their due in the afterlife. Nor am I callous enough to ignore their acts."
He shrugs.
"I am left with few options, but I must be convinced that the target is deserving of punishment before I resort to, shall we say, extra-legal activities."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 8, 2021 18:50:58 GMT 1
Laena gives a small smile and toast at the continued alliteration. When he says that he must be convinced, she raises an eyebrow. "You are not yet convinced these men deserve worse than death? Whatever you may have heard about me, I assure you, I do not suggest such an act lightly. I still have yet to hear exactly what they did to the Blackbar ladies, and as you yourself said: the information you cannot get is just as significant as the information you can. It must have been truly horrific.
"Plus, from what Ser Robyn told me, their leader has reasonable grounds to believe that Ser Robyn may recognise him should they meet again. So there are reasons both emotional and pragmatic for them to target Ser Robyn sooner rather than later.
"If you are instead concerned that the plan may hit innocents instead of their true target, rest assured, I intend to ambush them as they attempt to commit the act, so there can be absolutely no doubt as to their guilt. I wish to be able to look the Father in the eye come my Judgement."
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 9, 2021 20:02:07 GMT 1
He frowns slightly.
"No, I do not need to be convinced that those who attacked the Blackbars deserve to be punished. I do need to be convinced that the targets were the correct ones, yes. Not only to avoid harming innocents, but to be assured that the threat of the guilty has been removed. you intend to draw out the attackers with some sort of bait. Who will be that bait, and whom do you expect will stick their neck out to bite it?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 9, 2021 22:08:38 GMT 1
"Honestly, I don't know yet." She holds up a forestalling hand. "Let me explain. To my eye, there are three main possible targets I view as most likely to be next: the Footlys, the Norridges, and the Woodrights. The other targets are either Stone Dornish - and so I suspect a lower priority - or simply a tougher target than they have dared up to now.
"My intention is to approach the patron, hint that I have my own agenda to take advantage should a particular target be next, and try and persuade him to reveal who he intends for it to be - in fully deniable language, of course. What a coincidence, it turns out that his next target is precisely the same target I have my own schemes in play regarding. I then travel to that house - in the patron's eyes, I'm preparing to take advantage of the situation, while in fact, I am warning them of the danger, and encouraging them to send out a decoy to draw out the attackers. Which is where your team comes in."
She gives a small shrug. "I know not exactly who will be leading the attack, but so long as they wield House Gardener shields, I believe we can be confident they are the same group."
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 12, 2021 18:55:47 GMT 1
"Whom is the patron you mean? There are at least three lords involved in the various murders, though one I am fairly sure is 'merely' permitting it to occur, for political reasons."
He considers her plan.
"I have no doubt you can be very persuasive... but getting someone to admit they have ordered the murder of someone, even in deniable terms? Especially when the deed has not yet been done."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 13, 2021 3:30:20 GMT 1
"At least three *lords*?" Laena raises a querying eyebrow. "You appear to have me at a disadvantage. I have simply been tracking the killers' movements as best I can, to create a 'suspect zone' for their home base, in which one particular lord stood out as being the most likely. How are you so certain so many lords are involved? As the saying goes, 'three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead'."
When he expresses doubt as to her plan, she gives a slightly smug smile, before taking a sip of wine. "You've spent a long time in Essos, so you may not have discovered yet that many people - men, especially - will do far more foolish things than that at the prospect of potentially getting a leash on a dragon. I would not suggest this plan were I not confident in my abilities."
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 13, 2021 17:12:01 GMT 1
Davos shakes his head.
"Three lords, but not in concert; and with different motivations, means, and levels of involvement. Peake, for instance, merely allowed for his men to participate in the murder of my brother. His motivation, I suspect, is only to keep Oakheart happy and willing to participate in the Blackfyre cause. Old Oak will be of great tactical significance if the Westerlands stay true to the king."
"Oakheart, on the other hand, hates all things Dornish, stony included. However, he is also not so stupid as to put his House and the Blackfyre cause at risk by attacking Tyrell vassals in the Reach. Without Lord Leo's involvement, the Reach will be at best divided and at worst the war will be over before it begins."
He smiles conspiratorially.
"A simpler plan would be to attack the patron directly, in the same manner in which they have been attacking others. No need to convince them of anything, no need to put potential victims at risk. After all, anyone can paint their shields with Gardner sigils."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jul 13, 2021 21:11:38 GMT 1
Laena frowns in thought for several moments, then speaks, clearly choosing her words carefully. "Is there anything you're aware of tying Lords Peake and Oakheart to the 'Gardener killers' - for lack of a better term - aside from similar hatreds? I am not aware of any. While it is *possible* the Gardener killers murdered your brother and those merchants using Lord Oakheart's Vulture Hunt as cover, I do not believe that to be the case - if nothing else, because they seem to be very focused on the Reach, and that attack was in Dorne." She holds up a hand. "I understand why that is a driving motivation for you, truly. But conflating the two sets of killers simply because of a presumed similar motive... promotes over-reach, at least. Best to focus on one target, weaker than the other two names, and actually accomplish something. We have to keep in mind our limitations."
When he suggests outright murder, her mouth opens slightly, then purses. "Are you so absolutely confident in your suspect that you would wager your soul on being right? I am not. Part of my reluctance to actually share the name of my suspect with you is the knowledge that I will then share partial culpability with you for anything you subsequently do with it. My plan may be rather more convoluted than yours, but it ensures that the suspected guilty party are indeed guilty, beyond any doubt, and what if the patron is unexpectedly with his family when you attack? Plus, should our actions be uncovered, the consequences are much more manageable if we are seen as acting defensively."
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Post by Davos Dayne on Jul 13, 2021 22:40:28 GMT 1
"Peake no, though I suspect he at least knows and does nothing. Oakheart yes. He definitely knows and, and after facing him in the Riverlands, I am fairly confident he knew in advance and implicitly if not explicitly gave his approval. The 'Gardener killers' - that's a detail that escaped my attention - were ostensibly under his command during the Vulture Hunt, but no one seems to know where they went or what they did. Oakheart is a good enough commander to notice their absence - yet from what I have heard he seems not to have... or he knew and didn't care or approved."
He considers for a moment, connecting threads and ideas, bits of knowledge, and comes up with a conjecture - one that can be easily tested.
"Have you decided upon a wedding present? Surely if you wish to get close to a lord you would want to impress."
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