IC: Elane and Brandon

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Elane Royce escorts Brandon to a quiet chamber, her indoors watergarden.

After struggling to get comfortable on the silk pillows that serve as chairs, Ser Brandon speaks to Elane.

"Mi'lady, I apologize now for the deception. There has been more than one. By now, of course, you have recognized the Lady Saella. Her hair is darkened to look like mine and we have gone to great lengths to give it curls. She must be kept safe here. There are men in Westeros, strange obsessive men, who want to kill all spawn of Targaryen blood, and her grandmother was the Lady Daella Targaryen.

The second deception is the contents of that letter. Horas is not your assassin. The man was in Vikter Jast's employ. Jast is a master criminal and ganglord in Oldtown. Even now Rhodri and Horas are exploring in whose pay Jast might be. Rhodri wrote the letter in case spies in his tower would convey his words to Jast; this secret was only meant for me to speak to you and to be told to no one else. Lord Rhodri is pursuing the matter; it is our only goal to keep you safe here. Word will be sent when the matter is resolved."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"I doubt he cares at all. But the coin in his purse tells him otherwise. He acts not towards his own ends but to those of his patron. And we suspect his patron is not motivated by a hatred towards you but rather to drive a wedge between Royce and Blackwood, should Blackwood be blamed for the murder."

"That is why Lord Rhodri will behave as if he suspects Lord Horas of the deed, to make his true foe believe the plan is working."

"You must not communicate this to anyone, not even to your sister. She may act rashly."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"My encounters with him have been brief, though I know the Hand finds him distasteful. Nothing would be beyond Lord Balor, either. Rhod despises the Ironborn."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"We all must be careful. I am to watch you and Saella, and I will guard you both with my life. The younger girl, the babe, is an orphan Rhod rescued in the Vale. I will endeavor to raise her as well."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

////////

Ser Brandon Buckler approaches Elane Royce with troubling news.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"We must leave Braavos at once, Mistress."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"He shall, or his successor. Callen Baratheon intends for him to die, and all Westerosi in Braavos will be in danger should that happen. Especially kin to a powerful Westerosi nobleman. Rhodri and the new Hand, Lord Piers, bid us move to Pentos or Myr."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"We cannot go to Lys. We were told to avoid Lys especially. As for the Hand, Rhodri stepped down, he tired of politics. I told him he would."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"I don't know. The messenger said Rhod was very unhappy with the plan."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Brandon blushes. "Of course, mistress."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Indeed. Let us make ourselves unimportant."