Post by The Smith on Feb 5, 2009 14:54:14 GMT -5
Lyn was already ready for the dinner with his cousin when Denyo arrived. Lyn wore his finery, all in purple and white, with a checkered purple and white cloak and all the white squares had golden coins in the middle. Denyo was also wearing his finery and it turned out to be purple and gold, very much like Lyn's in color, though not in style.
"Denyo, we are ready to leave, but not before you tell me one thing." Lyn grinned "What are my cousin's secrets that you talked of before?"
Denyo smiled "Oh, Alayne has been quite a bad girl. But also a clever one. Her father was just a knight that fell in love with the daughter of a minor Braavosi noble. Neither her father nor mother were very intelligent, or ambitious. However, she was. She married Lord Salloreon Antaryon. You see, the Antaryons are an old, rich and powerful family. A few Antaryons were even sealords. But Alayne Payne wiped them all out. She killed them all, even her husband, who was left heirless. So, she became the lady of the palace and one of the most powerful figures in Braavos. The old sealord closed his eyes to the obviousness of the assassinations, but the new one might be interested in it."
"I see. It seems like I hold my cousin." Lyn nodded. "Let's go then, Denyo."
The two went to the canal where Lyn's barge awaited. They entered and Lyn's servant slowly started to sail towards the Antaryon palace. It was quite close, closer than Lyn thought. It was large, made of white marble covered with red stripes. It looked exotic and the owner had to have a great deal of money to build it and keep it the way it is. On the entrance of the palace stood a beautiful woman in a long green dress. Lyn and Denyo got of the barge and went forward to the woman.
"Alayne!" Lyn smiled at his cousin
"A great pleasure to see you, cousin." she smiled at him, but smirked when she saw Denyo "I see you brought our dear Volentin with you."
"A pleasure to be in your presence, oh beautiful lady." Denyo nearly burst into laughter
"Well, come in." she gestured towards the door and led the way.
They entered the large palace and saw that from the inside it was even more beautiful than from the outside. It had rows of columns, all made of the same kind of marble as the walls. The floors were covered with soft Myrish carpets and a large tapestry from the Summer Isles was hanging on the wall. Alayne led them to the great hall where a dinner was prepared. They sat and the servants started serving food.
"So, Lyn, I hear you are now the deputy ambassador to Braavos." She smiled at her cousin
"Yes, Alayne, and I will need some help. Of course, you are family and you will surely grant it." he smiled sweetly
"What kind of help." Alayne narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh, nothing too big. Things like access to all your money and spies and such." his smile disappeared and his look became cold
Alayne was outraged "My position is higher than yours, cousin, why should I give you these things?"
"Because I might run over to lord Delinal and tell him a few things. Things that would be enough to throw you out of this beautiful palace." he looked at her triumphantly
Alayne's gaze turned to Denyo and hate was quite obvious "You have no proof."
"I might have something." Lyn smiled knowingly. He didn't really have anything but through his life he learned that bluff is important.
"You dare come to my house and blackmail me?! Me, not only your kin but the Lady Antaryon?" she was outraged
"Yes, I think that sums up the situation quite right." He nodded.
Alayne opened and closed her mouth over and over again. Then she closed her eyes, breathed and opened them again "What do you want?"
"Not much, really. Only that you tell me all the information about the Braavosi court right now." his eyes were cold and commanding
Alayne sighed "You will probably confront the sealord quite soon. He is very clever and he will always be ahead of you. He will also insult you, he sometimes even insulted me and I am the lady Antaryon. Though he doesn't often discuss anything with ambassadors, he leaves those things to his council. Sophilos Nullio is his spymaster. He is a new addition to the council and I don't know much about him. His lady of coins is Rella Accros, also a new addition. You will probably want to know who will most likely be the next sealord, so I might as well tell you. Lord Tagganaro Ullhor, a friend to Westeros. His son is married to the princess. He is also a powerful man."
"That will be enough for now. Tomorrow both of you will send out all your spies to find out all the information on the council. When I say all, I mean it and you would both better listen to me." he said
The second problem was solved and Lyn left the third one for the day after.
Ser Lyn Payne moves towards Master Manipulation
Ser Lyn Payne moves to Apprentice Diplomacy
Denyo Volentin moves to Noteworthy Intrigue
Lady Alayne Payne moves to Expert Intrigue
"Denyo, we are ready to leave, but not before you tell me one thing." Lyn grinned "What are my cousin's secrets that you talked of before?"
Denyo smiled "Oh, Alayne has been quite a bad girl. But also a clever one. Her father was just a knight that fell in love with the daughter of a minor Braavosi noble. Neither her father nor mother were very intelligent, or ambitious. However, she was. She married Lord Salloreon Antaryon. You see, the Antaryons are an old, rich and powerful family. A few Antaryons were even sealords. But Alayne Payne wiped them all out. She killed them all, even her husband, who was left heirless. So, she became the lady of the palace and one of the most powerful figures in Braavos. The old sealord closed his eyes to the obviousness of the assassinations, but the new one might be interested in it."
"I see. It seems like I hold my cousin." Lyn nodded. "Let's go then, Denyo."
The two went to the canal where Lyn's barge awaited. They entered and Lyn's servant slowly started to sail towards the Antaryon palace. It was quite close, closer than Lyn thought. It was large, made of white marble covered with red stripes. It looked exotic and the owner had to have a great deal of money to build it and keep it the way it is. On the entrance of the palace stood a beautiful woman in a long green dress. Lyn and Denyo got of the barge and went forward to the woman.
"Alayne!" Lyn smiled at his cousin
"A great pleasure to see you, cousin." she smiled at him, but smirked when she saw Denyo "I see you brought our dear Volentin with you."
"A pleasure to be in your presence, oh beautiful lady." Denyo nearly burst into laughter
"Well, come in." she gestured towards the door and led the way.
They entered the large palace and saw that from the inside it was even more beautiful than from the outside. It had rows of columns, all made of the same kind of marble as the walls. The floors were covered with soft Myrish carpets and a large tapestry from the Summer Isles was hanging on the wall. Alayne led them to the great hall where a dinner was prepared. They sat and the servants started serving food.
"So, Lyn, I hear you are now the deputy ambassador to Braavos." She smiled at her cousin
"Yes, Alayne, and I will need some help. Of course, you are family and you will surely grant it." he smiled sweetly
"What kind of help." Alayne narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh, nothing too big. Things like access to all your money and spies and such." his smile disappeared and his look became cold
Alayne was outraged "My position is higher than yours, cousin, why should I give you these things?"
"Because I might run over to lord Delinal and tell him a few things. Things that would be enough to throw you out of this beautiful palace." he looked at her triumphantly
Alayne's gaze turned to Denyo and hate was quite obvious "You have no proof."
"I might have something." Lyn smiled knowingly. He didn't really have anything but through his life he learned that bluff is important.
"You dare come to my house and blackmail me?! Me, not only your kin but the Lady Antaryon?" she was outraged
"Yes, I think that sums up the situation quite right." He nodded.
Alayne opened and closed her mouth over and over again. Then she closed her eyes, breathed and opened them again "What do you want?"
"Not much, really. Only that you tell me all the information about the Braavosi court right now." his eyes were cold and commanding
Alayne sighed "You will probably confront the sealord quite soon. He is very clever and he will always be ahead of you. He will also insult you, he sometimes even insulted me and I am the lady Antaryon. Though he doesn't often discuss anything with ambassadors, he leaves those things to his council. Sophilos Nullio is his spymaster. He is a new addition to the council and I don't know much about him. His lady of coins is Rella Accros, also a new addition. You will probably want to know who will most likely be the next sealord, so I might as well tell you. Lord Tagganaro Ullhor, a friend to Westeros. His son is married to the princess. He is also a powerful man."
"That will be enough for now. Tomorrow both of you will send out all your spies to find out all the information on the council. When I say all, I mean it and you would both better listen to me." he said
The second problem was solved and Lyn left the third one for the day after.
Ser Lyn Payne moves towards Master Manipulation
Ser Lyn Payne moves to Apprentice Diplomacy
Denyo Volentin moves to Noteworthy Intrigue
Lady Alayne Payne moves to Expert Intrigue