Elane's House

[Deleted]

"Thank you," Elane smiled. "You are far too kind to me, dear Ollo." As dinner ended, the three of them walked outside towards the front gates. "And thank you for the guards."

[Horas]

Ollo smiles indulgently, like an uncle doting on a favorite niece. "It is nothing, Naemyr. I am sure Colloquo will be satisfactory, but do not hesitate to whip him should he not be. Until we meet again," Ollo says, then turns and leaves.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Ser Brandon watches the street as Ollo leaves. Merely having the door open is putting him on edge.

[Deleted]

The gates were shut behind him and they retreated into the house. Colloquo was put on guard at the door, and Elane directed the servants to clean up the table. Her eyes were glinting. "Nobody is going to try and kill me again. I am not going to die in this city, by the hand of some assassin."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"No, you won't. Not if I can do anything about it. Thank you for the dinner, Mistress," Ser Brandon says, before he bows and departs for his chambers.

[Deleted]

Elane did not sleep. After checking on Rose and Viola, she made rounds of the house, frustrated that she could not do more. If she ever found that archer, she would wring all his secrets out, every last one. Elane would make sure of that. She would not rest until she found who was trying to attack her.

She sat in her garden, ignoring the bravos standing guard in the shadows and the prowling shadowcats. The shadowcats were a new addition, and were trained to attack intruders.

Eventually she fetched a glass and a bottle of wine, and sat in the garden drinking slowly while the crickets chirped around her and breeze ruffled her hair. Her eyes seemed to see far into the distance, as if probing the night for its secrets.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Ser Brandon can see Elane in her garden from the balustraded balcony of his chambers, but lingers in the shadow so she does not know. He wonders how he will regain her trust, and if she'll ever accept him.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

After a few moments, the Stormshield slinks back into his room, then heads to Rose and Viola's chamber to play with his girls, and try and put the weighty thoughts of adults out of his mind.

[Deleted]

Elane was too deep in thought to notice her surroundings. She tapped her wine glass in frustration. "Perhaps I should hire a Faceless Man after all," she said in a low voice. Their skills went beyond assassination, didn't they? Elane wondered glumly how much it would cost to make them do detective work.

[Deleted]

After some time, Elane gave up and went back inside. She would ponder this tomorrow, and perhaps see the Sealord about this.

As she passed the girls' room on the way to hers, she heard sounds of laughter and felt a pang, but set her mouth firmly and continued on to her room.

[Deleted]

A couple weeks later, Elane received a letter. She stood horrified. Then she went and knocked on Brandon's door.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon opens his door. It is late at night, his daughters are abed, and he is recently arisen from his nightly bath. Not expecting Elane, he is dressed only in his nightshirt, a thin tunic to his thighs.

[Deleted]

Brandon had never seen Elane looking so tense. There was anger in her normally calm brown eyes, and a hint of fear. "Ollo Tregario has been murdered," she said, showing the briefly scrawled note from Ollo's secretary. "They think it's by a Faceless Man. A Faceless Man! And when he came to dinner, I said I wouldn't hire one in the hopes that it would discourage others from hiring them as well!"

She covered her eyes with her hand. "I just cannot believe it."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon is shocked. "The man seemed to know his business, I'm stunned that they got to him. Mistress Elane, you must flee this city, it is a hive of villainy. Your kin can keep you safe back home!"

[Deleted]

Elane summoned Colloquo and told him, as well as five others, to stand guard directly outside Rose and Viola's door. A trained shadowcat was also let into their room, to make sure nothing entered the room. Elane had heard too many stories of snakes being snuck in to do away with people.

"I am not going to be chased out of Braavos, ser," Elane said grimly. For the first time she seemed to notice Brandon's state. She flushed, but said, "Please dress and come with me, if you would. I had considered going to Ollo's house to investigate, but it is too dangerous. We are going...elsewhere."