Lord Royce pays a visit to Lord Cave

[Horas]

Lord Bayard arrives at the Cave manse in a litter. His guards remain in the courtyard, while his attendant Cassar goes before him to announce the Master of Laws presence, and his desire for a meeting with Lord Cave.

[The Stranger]

He is ushered in. Expensive wine and small snacks are provided, and soon Lord Cave appears.

"My Lord, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Long overdue."

[Horas]

"Indeed, Lord Saxon." Bayard seats himself in one of the comfortable chairs and accepts a glass of wine. "My thanks for the message you sent me. The intruder had already been slain by that point, but the thought was appreciated." Bayard sips the wine. Cave had good taste in vintages, he had to admit. "Your man mentioned that you would only divulge the identity of the thief's master at a face-to-face meeting." Bayard gestures as if to say, here I am.

[The Stranger]

"Here you are." Lord Saxon agreed. "How much are you aware of the events that led up to your family taking possession of the clutch of eggs?"

[Horas]

"My family has passed down a version of the events," Bayard says, "But I would be curious to hear your version."

[The Stranger]

"Ah.. but I asked first," Cave said, with a smile.

[Horas]

"There is not a great deal to tell," Bayard replies. "They were entrusted to my ancestor a century ago by King Daemon, and those who knew were killed to keep the secret from spreading. Unsuccessfully, it appears."

[The Stranger]

"Indeed, although you can not blame any of your ancestors. It is a secret I am aware of because, in a manner of speaking, my ancestors past the story down to me in a similar manner."

[Horas]

"Is that so?" Royce asks slowly. "I am afraid I am unaware of your house's history, particularly in this regard."

[The Stranger]

"Ah.. ancestors in a less literal sense. The man who was my father in a... professional sense. He was a member of an ancient brotherhood, with a long pedigree stretching back to the days of King Callen."

[Horas]

Bayard tried to recall what he had learned of King Callen. The Builder King, the generous historians called him. The accounts not paid for by the crown were rather more critical, but nothing to suggest the man had founded a secret order of what... spymasters?

"A brotherhood of... information gatherers, then?" Royce asks. "You do have a colorful history, Lord Cave."

[The Stranger]

"Men devoted to helping the realm... often in spite of itself, hence their importance in the age of King Callen. Of course that was also the age when the name of the Cult first appeared." Saxon explained, "Of course during the Long Night, and in the aftermath under Queen Rhaenys, the Cult's cruelty became more widely known, although they are a mere... footnote for scribes now."

[Horas]

"The Cult of the Dead God? Were they not defeated long ago? They raised their monsters during the Long Night, but those inhuman creatures were beaten back and destroyed."

[The Stranger]

"Can you defeat winter, Lord Royce? It always returns. And no matter how far in the future it seems they are preparing for it. They are not the force they once were, that is true, but they are none the less a force. And the thought of possessing dragons eggs is enough to lure them out."

[Horas]

"I will take your word for it, Lord Cave. But this only explains how you know about the eggs, and how I know, but not how the Cult caught wind of it. I have been very discreet on the matter, I assure you."