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Post by Horas on Jan 19, 2008 2:07:42 GMT -5
Horas shrugs. "Dorne is currently at war with the Six Kingdoms, Emelia. If you can convince Fowler to lay down his arms then I will have reason to trust you. Until then, I do not. It is as simple as that."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jan 19, 2008 2:19:12 GMT -5
Emelia looked at Horas and smiled coldly. "Very well, then. You have fair cause to distrust me, but you have full knowledge that all that cause is based from enemy action and you continue to treat me as an enemy, to the extent of compromising my networks. A plague o'both your houses, then."
She neatly scribbled out a letter and sealed it with her ring.
Lord Quentin Fowler, Marshal of Dorne,
Consider the courier I send this letter to compromised in the future, as well as this message. Horas Blackwood is reading and sending this letter, and as such he'll have to know where I'm sending things. Likewise, I'm avoiding the usual codes for the same reason.
The Emelia currently on the Sun Throne is an imposter, the Faceless Man that she has accused -me- of being. I assure you, this is not the case, and the Emelia on the Sun Throne does not know that you bedded three of my serving girls when you were falling out with your wife, nor that their names were Rhana, Nymeria (as if anyone in Dorne -doesn't- use that name) and Arielle, in order of first encounter.
Accordingly, you are to return yourself and your army to Sunspear immediately, with no explanation given. Once there, you are to imprison "Emelia" in the Tower of the Spear, or slay her if she resists, then give over rulership of Sunspear to Lucian until I return. I'll identify myself properly when I return.
Feel free to mobilize the navy to kick out any Ironborn who take this war as an excuse to reave, of course; I'll leave that judgement to you and Lucian.
She sealed the letter and handed it to Horas.
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Post by Horas on Jan 19, 2008 2:41:11 GMT -5
Horas accepts the letter with a nod. "I do apologize for this treatment, Emelia. I despise rudeness, though it is sadly necessary for the time being. Consider it a measure of my respect for your abilities that I feel you must remain confined until your intentions have been proved by action."
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Post by Princess Ariel Targaryen on Jan 19, 2008 2:48:35 GMT -5
Emelia shrugged placidly. "The confinement is illegal by a treaty that I and mine have not broken, but not an insult so much as an annoyance. The insult is the damage you do to Quentin's honor by reading the correspondence. Use your own couriers for this, since a raven to Storm's End isn't exactly discreet and I'm not willing to compromise my own network by placing it in your hands."
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Post by Horas on Jan 19, 2008 3:05:07 GMT -5
"Of course," Horas says. "Until we meet again, Princess Emelia." He leaves the room and his guards follow him, the last closing the heavy door as he goes.
Horas seeks out Ser Dortmund for a last word before he departs from the castle entirely.
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Post by House Dustin on Jan 20, 2008 15:46:06 GMT -5
Ser Dortmund was in the courtyard just inside the gate of Castle Grafton overseeing the drills of some young Grafton men training. He sees the Hand approaching and gives a deferential incline of his head.
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Post by Horas on Jan 20, 2008 15:53:18 GMT -5
"I will be taking the young boy -- Brynden Royce -- back to the Eyrie with me. As for the other prisoners, they are not to be released or moved unless either Lord Bettley or myself comes here in person and tells you to. That is all."
Horas nods curtly to Dortmund and departs sometime later with Brynden and his guardsmen.
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Post by House Dustin on Jan 20, 2008 15:55:09 GMT -5
Ser Dortmund Grafton gives the relevant orders, and soon the boy is produced under a light guard with his effects.
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Post by Horas on Jan 20, 2008 22:54:13 GMT -5
////////
Horas returns to the castle and makes the trek to Emelia's tower cell once again, escorted by a dozen of his guards.
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Post by Horas on Jan 20, 2008 23:28:50 GMT -5
Four guards and their captain, Ser Brandon Rivers, enter Emelia's cell and stand at attention around the room. Horas follows them, and the remainder of his escort remains out of sight in the hall. Horas does not waste time with pleasantries and greetings and instead gets to the heart of the matter.
"Fowler has marched south, though not because of your letter. It seems we are in a strange situation." Horas stares off in the hallway, as though deep in thought. "You see, it seems Fow--"
Without warning in his stance or voice, and without any discernable reason, Horas Blackwood suddenly dives headfirst out of the room into the corridor. He rolls and gets back on his feet running. At the same instant Horas clears the door a guard in the hallway slams it shut, clearly alerted of this beforehand. Each guard in the room draws their weapon. All five move in on Emelia Martell without hesitation, their swords raised to strike.
Shouts can be heard from the hallway. "ASSASSIN! THERE IS AN ASSASSIN IN THE CASTLE!" Lord Blackwood's guards stay remarkably calm. Several move down the corridor and stand in front of Nymeria Martell's cell.
OOC: Time for Smith to roll some dice.
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Post by Horas on Jan 22, 2008 1:53:37 GMT -5
-----------------
The flames of Emelia Nymeros Martell's death had raged hot and fierce. But in time they cooled and went out, and Horas Blackwood returned to the room, flanked by several of his guards and surrounded by several concerned Grafton soldiers and servants.
"B-but what happened, m'lord?" An older man in Grafton colors squeaks. He appears to be some sort of senior servant and had been desperately trying to regain some semblence of control over this wing of the castle.
"This... abomination... attacked me," Horas says. "A thrown needle -- I was lucky it missed. One can not be sure with the body so badly burned, but I suspect it was a faceless man."
"A faceless man?" the servant squeaks, "How terrible! How can you be certain?"
"I cannot," Horas says, stooping to investigate the charred bodies, looking for anything odd. "But there were signs. Her mannerisms were different, yet I told myself I was imagining things. But Emelia Martell was far too cunning and cool-headed to attempt such a doomed assault -- only an assassin whose duty was more important than their life would attempt such a thing. And this... unholy fire. Only in the East do they teach such things. I can only imagine the Sealord wants me dead, and his assassin took the form of an important noble in hopes of bypassing security."
Horas fixes his gaze on the servant. "If this Emelia was of the faceless, it is possible her retinue is not genuine. I doubt there would be another faceless man among their ranks, but look-alikes would not be difficult to produce. I will be taking them into my custody until I can determine whether or not they pose a threat. Inform your master."
The servant scurries off.
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Hope you all are well and happy.