Meeting with Lord Piers

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Lord Rhodri, son of Alyn, awaits Lord Piers Bettley in his solar.

[The Smith]

Piers follows up Lord Rhodri.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Well met, friend. I don't know if I've even had the chance to congratulate you on your nuptials and welcome you to the clan," Rhodri says, pouring two glasses of plum brandy. "A toast to my fine naunt Lilith."

[The Smith]

Piers drinks the wine and smiles at Rhodri, "It was quite the festive day. And also I must add completely unexpected. I love Lilith, but marriage is a harsh fate. Yet it felt right." He shrugs, "I am sorry about your son's long trip, but I know he will return unharmed.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"It is all a strange mystery to me, but I have put my faith in the Old Gods. My soul tells me now that he is on the Isle of Faces, and I believe it. So I do not mourn his disappearance, though I miss having a son."

"My lady wife informed me that you already know of this plot -- or hoax, I do not know which -- that my family has fallen victim to. I realized long ago I was not in your class as a schemer. As you are in the family now, I thought it time to call upon your talents."

"The riddle, if you have not heard it, goes like this -- 'What is worth both living for and dying for?' -- I received it by raven at the Golden Tooth. Someone went well out of their way to deliver me this message. It might be passed off as very poor humor but for the report I received from my Captain, Galwyn. It seems the Steward to the Grand Maester who sent this raven off died shortly thereafter, and there is no record remaining of the sender."

"Whoever sent that ominous note has taken care to cover his tracks. This tells me he intends more."

"I also wonder how this relates to other events of late. The murder of Lord Terrence, the disappearance of young Taria -- are these related? Even today I heard that several unknown knights of the Reach argued with my cousins Aranya and Jon in the Godswood. Normally I would dismiss such a thing entirely, both of them have too much temper. But now I wonder...is it related?"

"These are the thoughts that vex me, mi'lord."

[The Smith]

Piers swishes the wine about in his glass and looks up at Rhodri and he laughs just once, "Everything is connected Rhodri but to what extent is always hard to see. Since Clegane killed Blackwood, and I have corresponded with men who saw him in the riverlands last week. I think we are seeing the begining of the Peace."

"A year ago if you had a grievance with your lord you called up your armies and marched to war. Clearly this is no longer the case. Peace is being enforced now, so to gain advantage over another house there is a different path. Knives in the dark."

"I do not see a cause for Taria's disappearance. That makes me very worried. I heard about the pushing and shoving in the God's wood, but I put that down to two prickly people meeting rather then some grand scheme."

"And to be honest the King made a large gaff there. The Tyrells were the first to support him and they got Redwyne on the Small Council, and two King's guards. If Lannister had been treated like that Baldwin would have poisoned our royal majesty. The Tyrells are bitter to our King, but they can not go to war. There is a dark cloud in King's Landing, not from dragon fire, but from unartful ruling."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"I am better with marching and armies, I suppose, than knives and darkness. I do not appreciate any threat to my family, and will take any steps necessary to keep them safe. As to the king's rule, I have not set foot in King's Landing since he appointed me his Hand. I will do all I can to be the rudder he has lacked, but one man can only do so much."

"Your point about House Tyrell bears some thinking. I recall when House Royce felt its efforts were not being duly rewarded by the first dragon king, there was a sting of bitterness."

"Even today I met with the boy who will be the new Lord of Highgarden, I had to ensure him our houses were at peace. We had not crossed swords in over a half dozen years! It seems they have a lingering thought that the Valemen are their foes, and have forgotten all the good that came between us since."

"House Tyrell did stand for Callen first, and they are due something more than they have received. But it is hard to say what the King has left to give, now that he has wed the northern woman."

"His brother is unwed, though that is clearly a lessor prize. Do you have any thoughts on how to placate the Rose?"

[The Smith]

"I mistrust this Barret to be honest, and I do not know how much we should placate him. He seems more like a man who always wants what is on his neighbor's plate. Once that neighbor shares, the gobbler always wants a little more."

Shrugging Piers adds, "But I think that would be a good first step, once we know for sure Anya is pregnant. We should cement that line before we play the Andry card."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"I think I share your distrust, and your distaste. But I won't have his lackeys sniping at my kin, not when real threats are all around."

"You say the lost dog has returned to the Riverlands, and yet Taria has vanished. Do you think her kidnapping is the work of someone else?"

[The Smith]

"Yes. I know the lost dog had nothing to do with this. It is some new madness. There are only three organizations capable of stealing away Taria. It was a complicated level upon level plan. One works for me, and the other I have pentrated to the very core. So it must have been the Black Finger Bones responsible." Piers leans back and stares at Rhodri.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Black Finger Bones? Some gang of toughs, I take it? Would they have taken Taria to be a threat against Jon as a Goldcloak, or against Horas as Whisperer?"

"And what do we do to stop them? My way will probably leave Taria dead as retribution."

[The Smith]

"The Black Finger Bones would have done it for coin, they have the resources and men, but no motive. And it is always possible that a team was brought in to King's Landing from elsewhere. But I think I would have heard of them."

"If I had done it, she would already be on a ship. Keeping her in the city would be suicide. I tracked down the ships that left in the hours following the kidnaping and when the Watch started searching vessels. Which ever one does not arrive at its intended destination is the boat that had her."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Then I trust you will inform me your sources supply that answer. As for the Bones, we cannot allow these gangs to have their way in this city, or they will rule it, not Callen. Jon was an ill choice for the Goldcloaks, but I fear his replacement is just as bad in the other way. And meanwhile control of this city slips from our hand."

"The Bones will need to be dealt with, but perhaps after the girl is found, for her safety."

[The Smith]

"On the assumption that the Black Finger Bones were working for some one, they have passed the girl on to the next person down the chain."

Piers nodded, "To destroy them would be a good thing, I hopefully could infiltrate sources into what ever group replaces them."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"And you cannot infiltrate the Bones? Should we take up our leather and steel then? I can assemble a hardy force."