Under cover of night

[sethgreyjoy]

Seth arrives late in the night to discuss something with Francis Varner.

[The Flint]

Francis is bent over a writing table, making notes by candle light.

"Lord Falgrave, welcome." He says before Seth announces his presence.

[sethgreyjoy]

"Well, I have a bit of indisputable evidence, Francis, that Lord Horas committed the atrocity."

[The Flint]

"Well by the seven, lets take a look at it." Francis said, turning around in his chair and looking intently at Seth.

[sethgreyjoy]

"As part of my investigation, a spy for Piers brought me a man who works for Horas Blackwood. The man had clearly been tortured but confessed that he helped plot the assassination, and he recieved his messages the usual way. Horas did not hand him his instructions, but they came from the usual source." Seth sighed.

[The Flint]

Francis nodded. That fit with everything he'd been told already. "A man, confessed to a crime under a torture you didn't witness How do we know he worked for Blackwood? Because Piers spy said so? That seems far from incontrovertible. Do you have anything else which would give us no doubts?"

[sethgreyjoy]

"It isn't much, though I will say that I know the spy and I know him to be reliable." It's so hard to do you duty when other things are on your mind. Seth thought.

[The Flint]

"Well I guess since we aren't naming names." Francis said, "I have no way to judge that for myself. Though with the Beetle in a coma, I'm wondering whose giving his men their orders." Francis was wondering if he wasn't just beginning to chase the ghosts inside his skull. Maybe Horas simply did do it.

"Is this the extent of it? a spy you trust told you he tortured a man until he said he was Horas' man and that he arranged the killing?"

[sethgreyjoy]

Seth sighed. It was much less credible when laid out that way. Perhaps he should be doing some actual investigations?

"Nevermind, Lord Francis. Nevermind."

[The Flint]

"No Lord Seth, this tidbit is of use to us. But I'm not certain how yet. Others take them." Francis said, unclear who "them" was in this case. He slammed his fist against the table in an uncharacteristic, but carefully selected display of frustration.

"The boys Seth. His own agents. Massacring a handful of trained wall crawling snoops to cover up for one plot? I suppose its not impossible, but its foolish. And why leave them there to be discovered? And why does Lord Horas sit in the Westerlands, waiting and doing nothing, even while we investigate his treachery with his fingerprints all over it. I can not shake the feeling we are being played for pawns."

[sethgreyjoy]

Seth shook his head. "If I wasn't so sure of the severity, I might suspect a prank on Piers' part." He smiled. "I am distracted of late. If you didn't know, Aerie is expecting a child."

[The Flint]

Francis hadn't heard. "Yes I know." Francis calculated, "Congratulations are in order, but I suggest you get her wed and uh... bed, soon. My own wife is expecting any day now. But no Raven as yet, still good tidings come in pairs eh? Forgive me, I'm so rude. Wine for a toast?"

[sethgreyjoy]

Seth laughed. "No thank you, I was merely offering a pathetic excuse as to why I have been so distant with my mission. One would think a royal charge would be more than necessary to put some smoke beneath my heels."

[The Flint]

"That or the nefarious and bloody murder." Francis said, "But all men are motivated by different things. I wish I knew what motivated these damn killers. If there are any men still available from that list, I would still like them detained. Even if we learn nothing more, it will blind and distrupt Horas, at least temporarily, so that if he did do it, we can respond without tipping his hand."

[sethgreyjoy]

"Ah, that. They are being detained as we speak." Seth fumbled, his mind absent. "I wasted your time, however, I willr eturn when I have something more substantial."