Post by The Stranger on Jun 24, 2008 15:56:00 GMT -5
Delfino was an old friend in more ways than one; she had known him since she was barely more than a child, new to the Sea Lord’s palace, and horribly naïve—painfully naïve, even. As such, she saw fit to meet the aging man at the harbor; she had arranged for him to stay at her manse—she would accept nothing less from the man who had acted much a father to her while she lived in the Island Kingdom; he had been one of her mothers closest friends; a man she had trusted. Cerrelle Loume was not a woman who trusted easily, and her faith in the thinly-framed wisp of a man said a great deal for his loyalty, and the strength of his resolution—he was not loyal only to the Loume family, though; indeed, his original loyalty had been to the Sea Lord, and, in fact, aging, though he was, he still ranked high in the Sea Lord’s network. His status as a well-informed, high-ranking officer ensured Serafina access to information she would otherwise have no chance at obtaining, and their long-standing friendship guaranteed that little detail would be spared when he related his knowledge of current events to her.
Serafina helped him from the dock with a steady hand, “Easy, Delfino,” she said softly, “Your knees are shaking like leaves in a strong wind.”
“They are not what they used to be,” he answered in the tongue of Braavos—though he spoke many languages, the tongue of his home had always been most comfortable for him, and he knew she understood it well.
“How was the voyage?” she asked, taking his arm, and walking slowly to match his feeble pace.
“It will not be over until I am seated comfortably in a large chair beside a fire—the chill of the sea is cruel to an old man, and the breath of the land-wind is no more accommodating. Less talking, more walking…I tire of travel.”
Serafina nodded, a wry smile playing on her lips at the old man’s temper—she wished she could say it came with the troubles of age, but in truth, he had always been generally ill-tempered, though his jibes were always playful, and no man could mistake his perpetual grouchiness for genuine anger.
Later in the evening, when Delfino had gotten his seat, and his fire, an expansive meal was brought before him, with Serafina close behind. She took a seat across from him, sharing the warmth of the blaze, and just as she was about to speak, Myrie interrupted—“My Lady,” she said with a slight bow of her head, “My Lord,” this second part was directed towards the sickly man who had piled blankets atop himself; “I am off this evening; I will return in the coming months, though my absence will not be short by any means—I appreciate your hospitality,” she nodded again, “I hope to return with good tidings.”
“You are to Casterly Rock, Myrie?” Serafina asked.
“To Casterly Rock, and then to White Harbour, and Duskendale.” She answered.
“What of Gulltown?”
“From what I’ve heard it is best left a separate project entirely, My lady—it is a difficult place to penetrate even by subtle means.”
“Very well—good luck, Myrie, and thank you.” The woman nodded, and left hurriedly; “What business brings you across the Narrow Sea, Delfino?” she asked, redirecting her attention to the elderly man.
“Bad business,” he replied, “The Martell woman is going to be executed soon, and it will likely happen in this city—the wake of her death will be…interesting…We are not certain of the potential reprucussions, but Lord Delinal has a specific interest in the various Lords and Ladies personal reaction—he is also interested in the boy—the rebel’s son.” He explained.
“I see.” Serafina answered, though she was not entirely interested in this explanation, “and he sent you so far to see to that?”
“Far indeed,” Delfino answered—“there were others more suitable physically, but I am more adept in the ways of subtlety and diplomacy than any of these young upstarts.” He scoffed.
“That is true,” Serafina answered, “there is no man so well adept to his roll than you—however, I wonder if you will be in need soon of an apprentice to your position…certainly you could find a man who could run your petty errands for you, while you operated the controls?”
“Soon, perhaps…” he grunted.
“Myrie, for example,” Serafina suggested, “is quite physically capable, and wonderfully diplomatic…the poor girl has never had a chance in proper politics, given her common birth…But I simply know she would sing at the chance, and she is very quick, and follows directions well. I think she would be a fantastic candidate—but that is only my opinion,” Serafina muttered. “They are sure to be many men in Braavos eager to replace you as soon as you appear incapable—maybe you should take one of those men as your apprentice?”
Delfino frowned, “I had rather not speed up my own retirement,” he barked; his work was his passion, with no family, and no friends to speak of, it was all in his life he had, and Serafina philosophized that death would claim him quickly once he set his hands from work.
Serafina shrugged, “Myrie could never hope to replace you,” she commented.
“and she’s just left for several months, isn’t that so?” he asked suspiciously.
“Indeed,” Serafina replied, “but if she were to be offered such an opportunity, I would be remiss to neglect to offer it to her…if you were interested in taking her as an apprentice, I would send word immediately…. I have a few ways to contact her still. I would miss her sorely, that is true enough—but I know she would return to me more able than ever having worked with you.”
Delfino nodded, chewing his food thoughtfully, “Very well then…” he said, “I suppose it would do no harm to have a little help in my old age.”
Serafina nodded knowingly, “No harm at all,” She said.
Results:
Serafina advances to Master+ Intrigue
Myrie advances to Expert+ Intrigue
Swann Network extends to include most agents in the Sea Lord’s network.
Serafina helped him from the dock with a steady hand, “Easy, Delfino,” she said softly, “Your knees are shaking like leaves in a strong wind.”
“They are not what they used to be,” he answered in the tongue of Braavos—though he spoke many languages, the tongue of his home had always been most comfortable for him, and he knew she understood it well.
“How was the voyage?” she asked, taking his arm, and walking slowly to match his feeble pace.
“It will not be over until I am seated comfortably in a large chair beside a fire—the chill of the sea is cruel to an old man, and the breath of the land-wind is no more accommodating. Less talking, more walking…I tire of travel.”
Serafina nodded, a wry smile playing on her lips at the old man’s temper—she wished she could say it came with the troubles of age, but in truth, he had always been generally ill-tempered, though his jibes were always playful, and no man could mistake his perpetual grouchiness for genuine anger.
Later in the evening, when Delfino had gotten his seat, and his fire, an expansive meal was brought before him, with Serafina close behind. She took a seat across from him, sharing the warmth of the blaze, and just as she was about to speak, Myrie interrupted—“My Lady,” she said with a slight bow of her head, “My Lord,” this second part was directed towards the sickly man who had piled blankets atop himself; “I am off this evening; I will return in the coming months, though my absence will not be short by any means—I appreciate your hospitality,” she nodded again, “I hope to return with good tidings.”
“You are to Casterly Rock, Myrie?” Serafina asked.
“To Casterly Rock, and then to White Harbour, and Duskendale.” She answered.
“What of Gulltown?”
“From what I’ve heard it is best left a separate project entirely, My lady—it is a difficult place to penetrate even by subtle means.”
“Very well—good luck, Myrie, and thank you.” The woman nodded, and left hurriedly; “What business brings you across the Narrow Sea, Delfino?” she asked, redirecting her attention to the elderly man.
“Bad business,” he replied, “The Martell woman is going to be executed soon, and it will likely happen in this city—the wake of her death will be…interesting…We are not certain of the potential reprucussions, but Lord Delinal has a specific interest in the various Lords and Ladies personal reaction—he is also interested in the boy—the rebel’s son.” He explained.
“I see.” Serafina answered, though she was not entirely interested in this explanation, “and he sent you so far to see to that?”
“Far indeed,” Delfino answered—“there were others more suitable physically, but I am more adept in the ways of subtlety and diplomacy than any of these young upstarts.” He scoffed.
“That is true,” Serafina answered, “there is no man so well adept to his roll than you—however, I wonder if you will be in need soon of an apprentice to your position…certainly you could find a man who could run your petty errands for you, while you operated the controls?”
“Soon, perhaps…” he grunted.
“Myrie, for example,” Serafina suggested, “is quite physically capable, and wonderfully diplomatic…the poor girl has never had a chance in proper politics, given her common birth…But I simply know she would sing at the chance, and she is very quick, and follows directions well. I think she would be a fantastic candidate—but that is only my opinion,” Serafina muttered. “They are sure to be many men in Braavos eager to replace you as soon as you appear incapable—maybe you should take one of those men as your apprentice?”
Delfino frowned, “I had rather not speed up my own retirement,” he barked; his work was his passion, with no family, and no friends to speak of, it was all in his life he had, and Serafina philosophized that death would claim him quickly once he set his hands from work.
Serafina shrugged, “Myrie could never hope to replace you,” she commented.
“and she’s just left for several months, isn’t that so?” he asked suspiciously.
“Indeed,” Serafina replied, “but if she were to be offered such an opportunity, I would be remiss to neglect to offer it to her…if you were interested in taking her as an apprentice, I would send word immediately…. I have a few ways to contact her still. I would miss her sorely, that is true enough—but I know she would return to me more able than ever having worked with you.”
Delfino nodded, chewing his food thoughtfully, “Very well then…” he said, “I suppose it would do no harm to have a little help in my old age.”
Serafina nodded knowingly, “No harm at all,” She said.
Results:
Serafina advances to Master+ Intrigue
Myrie advances to Expert+ Intrigue
Swann Network extends to include most agents in the Sea Lord’s network.