[Phase 4] An ounce of prevention [Addam and Daeron]

At first he was curious why his cousin had brought him and Ser Addam along with her rather than her husband. He and Lysette still had a friendly relationship, but it was increasingly interrupted by their political differences and should she become Lady Starling he had no illusions that she would consider declaring for Ser Daemon. However, once she began to speak about Ser Norren all concerns about political rifts left his mind.

Daeron winced. Not out of guilt for his raid, but because he had failed to kill or capture the blackguard when he had the opportunity.

"The blackguard is indeed a terrible opponent, I recall fighting him... at Whitewalls. He was tougher and more ferocious than I expected. As much as I admire and respect our lord, Norren truly is a better fighter."

He gives a furtive glance around to make sure that none of their fellow riders had ridden within earshot.

"So what do you propose we do to prevent future attempts?"

His face flushed at hearing the normally genteel Lysette openly propose to murder their archnemesis. By the Seven, am I in love with my cousin? It would be a little fucked up if conspiring to kill someone is what brought us together though.

With a downright wicked smile he responds, "Oh my lady, you have no idea how much it pleases me to hear you say propose that.

I assume that if you brought us out here that you have at least an inkling of a plan on how to achieve it though? It goes without saying that unless you've got a small army hidden away under your skirt that most of our conventional means of killing him will be difficult to execute."

Addam had always hated these "hearts and minds" rides. There were infinitely more important things he could be doing then riding about the countryside listening to the wails and woos of peasants. Better to waste Ser Ulf or Dustan's time with this nonsense. He was just about to fake an injury so he could go home when Lysette had finally decided to possibley get some benefit out of these excursion.

"We have talked about it. Even Ser Roland has had some ideas as well. Unfortunately we are stuck on finding a way to skewer Lord Piggy without sending us to an early grave or see that we freeze our balls off at the wall." Addam shot a glance at Daeron while he pondered his next words carefully. "I did discover that Mya Hawyick is not dead, or atleast she didn't die with her family as most believe. Unfortunately its not enough to go to Lord Leo about, mainly just rumor and hearsay confirming what I had already discovered myself. I've been thinking about reaching out to Gormy for help. At this point I'm sure he would do anything to not have Tanda marry the man and there has been something his been wanting me to do. Maybe a favor for a favor."

"That is the same conclusion we have reach. Of course, there is always the option of rescuing her, but I have been advised that that wouldn't be the most prudent option."


"You would also be assuming that Eldon would even care if Gormy did have any leverage, which he most certainly would not. And as you said, without Lady Mya testimony, nothing will happen."

Addam merely waved of Lysettes disapproval "Nothing that would tarnish mine or House Starling's reputation. We are merely at a disagreement on which fine lady of the realm should have my attention. The way I see it, even if Peake had the opportunity to strike, he can't. The price of failure is that Eldon would finds friends of a different political leaning. BUT, if he were to put resources into the hands of a House that already draws the ire of Longtable, then he already has is scapegoat should we fail. Should we prevail, Tanda free to marry who ever she pleases, there will be a new lord of Longtable, one who's more malleable and less like to possible turn his anger to other houses which might hurt Peake's aspirations, and I of course would then be free to turn my attention over to lady of a certain house that would benefit him."

"Ultimately, unless we are willing to turn brigand, we are ill equipped to fight this war. Lord Eldon strikes from the shadows. We need the resources and knowledge to do the same, or at the very least, know when this attacks will occur so that we might live long enough to let the pigs excesses catch up to him."

“Well, if Gormy’s assistance isn’t need, what do you have in mind because it seems like we have three options. First would be to ambush him on the road. The problem there is we would need a sizable force to ensure there are no survivors. While we could muster the strength from our garrisons, I don’t see your father approving it. And, while must people would be glad to see the pig is dead, it would be the ruin of House Starling if it ever got out publicly. Second, we sneak into Longtable and kill him while he sleeps, but without an easy way in and out, we face a low chance of success and almost certain death. Last option would be we let him ambush us. We wouldn’t need to win, just be able to capture and escape with someone important enough to bring there confession to Highgarden. A near impossible task.”

"Not a witness, but a murderer that would forfeit his life by his own testimony, so he would deny it all, regardless of his guilt, he could be put to the question of course, but remove enough of a man's fingers, starting with the nails, and he will say anything to make you stop." Lysette grimaces at that idea.

"To torture a potentially innocent man might give us a testimony we could use to bring justice to Lord Eldon, or it might unravel on us like the plot in the days of Aegon III when the conspirators brought forth Lord Rowan as a witness only to be revealed as false when confessing to every outrageous thing they inquired that he might have done"

Lysette ponders. "Short of hiring the faceless men, or others of similar profession who are more affordable, turning brigand may be the one option available, but this must be an undertaking by knights acting independently and accepting all possible consequences to be suffered only by themselves, no lord could possibly risk involvement or even knowledge. But are there enough knights of sufficient skill to perform such an undertaking? Willing to act dishonorably and against the king's peace for the greater good while risking the wrath of a lord unlikely to find his thirst for vengeance satisfied before the loved ones of his enemies are made to suffer? And more importantly, can enough be found and recruited without a single one of those approached turning coat to sell out the rest?"

Nothing seems to spring to Addam's mind at this moment, probably at least a dozen knights will be needed, and likely considerably more capable than ordinary ones as well.