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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 3:44:39 GMT -5
Starting new thread.
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 3:47:14 GMT -5
Piers met them alone, but stood and warmly shook Timm's hand. Looking him dead and in the eye, Piers sighed deeply. "I miss the past to much. I am getting old." Piers sat down in his chair putting his feet up. "Lil, or Rhodri, or some one else may join us in a bit. But please start Princess."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 3:51:30 GMT -5
Emelia sat down directly. "All of us are getting too old for this," she said.
"I've received the new reports. Apparently, Michael's out for the count, and his lords will join forces with Marten and Benedicta. Benedicta also informs me that Marten and Cedric have had a falling out."
She looked at Piers. "My own knowledge tells me that if there's an alliance between Benedicta and Marten, Benedicta will lead. Marten is strong and reliable, but he will trust in Benedicta's ability. Cedric, meanwhile, has not managed to inspire Marten's loyalty, and that has repercussions for his ability to control his other lords."
She looked at Piers. "So that's the situation as-is. Benedicta is winning handily. So that leaves what we do about it. Shall we hand Benedicta the regency and end the mess?"
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 4:03:04 GMT -5
Piers laughed, "Benedicta took up arms. I am inclined to give it to the Lord who has not called up troops. And waged war on others. A least Cedric is waiting to hear who I name Regent and is not marching around with knights."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 4:08:19 GMT -5
Emelia grinned. "Benedicta only mobilized troops to protect Marten Lannister and Keyce," she responded. "She hasn't claimed the Regency or killed anyone yet; Cedric has declared himself Lord Regent by proclamation and his men have fought off an attack from Michael. And given the situation, raising troops and defending Marten against someone who has already attempted to attack Casterly Rock is definitely fair game."
She looked at Piers. "So no, don't claim Cedric is innocent. Benedicta has committed the fewest crimes in this affair, all in all." She grinned at Piers.
"But then, we both know that Benedicta will rule in Casterly Rock only over your dead body. Though she is not as evil as you believe she is; a child's wrong is not set in stone, should she be caught early enough and molded in the proper direction."
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 4:15:09 GMT -5
"Yes, if molded in the proper direction." Piers agreed with a small laugh.
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 4:27:03 GMT -5
Emelia grinned. "I must hold some pride in doing so. I rather think I've succeeded in curbing her wilder tendencies and taught her that needlework isn't to kill over. She has ice water for blood, of course, but that's nothing to be called wrong in a ruler."
She then shrugged. "Alright, in that case, the question is threefold. One, who do we give the regency to; two, do we give Jeyne to the regent or elsewhere, and three, what -do- we plan to do about Benedicta?" She looked at Piers.
"As it stands, my Lord Regent, Benedicta may be able to decide the matter by force majeur, barring external intervention. As she -hasn't- done anything yet, paying her off is probably easier than fighting her. Particularly with the loyalty of certain other Kingdoms an open question. Two kingdoms in rebellion may inspire other rebel movements."
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 4:33:24 GMT -5
Piers laughs again, "Yes our problems are large." Piers takes a bottle from underneath the desk and pours two glasses of wine. Sitting he takes one and motions for Timm to take the other. "I assume you did not travel all this way with out ruminating on our problems."
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Post by wookie on Dec 27, 2007 4:37:02 GMT -5
There is a knock on the door. After a brief moment, Ser Benfry enters. He ignores the Lady Emelia and Timm Vikary and instead walks across to Lord Piers. He hands him a note and bends down to whisper a quick few words which Emelia cannot make out. His message delivered, he straightens up and stands behind Piers, glancing at Timm & Emelia but still saying nothing. He shows no sign of departing.
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 4:39:33 GMT -5
Piers reads the note and shakes his head sadly. Then folds it and puts it away.
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 4:43:11 GMT -5
Emelia nodded. "My suggestion is to give the regency to Benedicta. Cedric will back down if we do this, and Benedicta is the one faction in this who does -not- have a horse in the race." She smiled thinly. "For some odd reason, those who follow Andal customs would look oddly at the two marrying. So, despite your misgivings, she's safe pretty much by definition, unless she can kill Cedric, Jeyne and Elena all at once and she's not that good. Now, as for marriage..."
She shrugged. "Cedric, in my mind, jumped the spear by declaring himself Regent openly without your consent; furthermore, he's too close to Jeyne in blood for my comfort. Benedicta's out of the question." She looked at Piers. "That leaves Marten. Would he be an acceptable Lannister of Casterly Rock?"
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 4:50:29 GMT -5
"Marten's father and I are old friends. I have trusted Maurin with my life several times. And he always came through." Piers leaned back and looked into the past. "If it was up to me, he would have been the Regent instead of Randal."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 4:58:04 GMT -5
Emelia nodded to Piers Bettley calmly. "I think, then, that my idea is the best possible. Benedicta gets a carrot, and she'll undoubtedly leave power with her nest well-feathered. Jeyne will flower soon, and Marten is of good blood and, from what I have seen, a good man, without lacking wisdom like some other good men." She smiled at Piers Bettley.
"I can't think of a better way to divvy things up, unless you have another suggestion?"
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Post by The Smith on Dec 27, 2007 5:05:33 GMT -5
"To be honest feeding Benedicta is not a primary concern of mine." Piers replies sipping his wine glass. "I have a box. Some where. In that box are several parchments that will reign in almost any of the Wester Lords. My reputation out there is still very strong, and if I were to walk unarmed into the west, every army would lay down their arms as my passing."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Dec 27, 2007 5:16:08 GMT -5
Emelia looked at Piers and shrugged. "Ah yes, the inevitable box of dark secrets which you didn't see fit to tap for Callen. It's a crude method of management, but to each their own."
She looked at Piers Bettley. "H'm," she said. "I still believe it best to co-opt Benedicta rather than oppose her, a regency doesn't give anything away permanently and she -has- been a stabilizing force in the area. But I'll admit that I don't share your animosity for her. Nor," she said, "do I base my political decisions on my personal affinities one way or the other. If you believe Benedicta will be an active problem in wisdom, or you believe that I'm just putting my tentacles in the west where you won't get them out..." She shrugged. "In the latter case, it really shouldn't be a problem for you. My web of power has invariably worked to aid the Realm. The problem is that you're one of the rare folk who actually believes I'm going to do something that will harm my grandchild's kingdom."
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