Bloody Murder

[The Smith]

The night after the Joust the doors to Lord Gwayne Hightowers chambers bang open, and the head servant rushes into wake the Lord. His hands are covered in blood as he shakes his lord awake.

[Marie]

Gwayne was somewhat groggy having spent some time drinking before he retired. He rubbed his eyes with a groan. "Yes? What is it?" He did not at first register the blood.

[The Smith]

"There has been a murder my lord." The man gasped.

[Marie]

Gwayne sat up and then, as he adjusted to the light, he saw the blood. "Dear gods!" He threw back the blankets and jumped naked from the bed, reaching for a robe. "Who? Tell me, quickly, I shall have to go and speak with...someone once I know more details."

[The Smith]

"It was Ser Mace Hightower. My lord." Blood dripped from the servants hands onto the floor.

[Marie]

Gwayne frowned. He didn't know Mace particularly well, but the man had been his gook brother. He fought down rising shock and panic at the terrible news. "Cordon off the area, see that nobody sees him but me. I will dress at once. Where is he now?"

[The Smith]

"My lord... a maid saw his day ajar and went, and then ran screaming to get me. I went to verify, and there was already a crowd. I ordered two of your guards to hold the door and came for you myself. But there is no way to keep this quiet." He looked ashamed at the ground.

[Marie]

"Damn them to seven hells," Gwayne snarled, though who he meant was unclear. "Fine. Send the crowd away and I shall investigate in a moment."

He was moving about the room seeking his clothing.

"I assume you have not caught the perpetrator?"

[The Smith]

"No my lord. The room was empty." The man waited to see if there was another question before leaving to follow his orders.

[Marie]

"Go," Gwayne replied. "I will be there presently.

///////////

He dressed quickly in a simple tunic, breeches and boots and hurried along the corridor to the room. Once there he hurried to the body to determine the cause of death and anything else of interest.

[The Smith]

Mace laid atop of his bed. He had been stabbed at least eight times in the gut before his throat was cut. He was fully dressed laying on a made bed. Blood soaked the bed and there was trails of it arcing to the exit

[Marie]

Gwayne stood over the body, frowning. He followed the trail of blood to the door and looked to see where it went after that. House Hightower might get the blame for this, so he had to do what he could to sort things out.

[The Smith]

The blood trailed out into the hall, but he remember the blood caking the Head Servant, and knew at least some of that was from him. Beside the door was a bloody dagger. He could see a bloody handprint on it's hilt clearly.

[Marie]

He picked up the dagger, finding the cleanest part of the hilt to touch. He tried to find other signs of who the attacker might be.

[The Smith]

The dagger was Valyrian steel, but unadorned otherwise.