Manse Manderly

[Horas]

Quentyn smiles. "A most useful remedy, I have no doubt." He stands. "I will leave you to your studies, then."

[Deleted]

"Feel free to stop by if given the chance." Sojen said, walking him to the door.

[Horas]

Quentyn nods. "My door is open as well." He makes his way out of the manse.

[The Smith]

/////////////////////////////////////////////

Lord Milo Bettley knocks upon the door of the Manderly Manse.

[Deleted]

Hab Coul greeted Bettley as he opened the door.

"Hi." He said, smiling whitely. "Here for...?" Such a tactful person was Hab.

[The Smith]

Milo whistled slowly, the pitch dropping low, "I have come looking for the late, great Lord Thatcher. Is he here?"

[Deleted]

"Uh." Hab started, confused. "Let me ask." He turned to go back inside.

[The Smith]

Milo decided to wait and see if the fool found Lord Thatcher, he had some questions for that dead man.

[Deleted]

After a moment, the door reopened and the large frame of Valrus Manderly filled the doorway. Almost literally. Behind him stood an abashed-looking Hab.

"Bettley?" Manderly asked, stepping aside to allow the man entrance. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[The Smith]

"I have come to speak to the new hand." Milo replied, and entered the house. Looking around he grimaced slightly before turning back to Manderly, "And you would be the first in a long time who describes a meeting with me as a pleasure."

[Deleted]

"It is always a pleasure to meet someone of your esteem and notoriety." Valrus said simply. "I am not so quick to believe everything I hear in any case. Truth be told, I'm not too quick at a lot of things any more." He said this last part with mirth, patting his gut and chuckling.

"So here I am, new Hand and all. I'm sure my size and jovial nature disappoint you. My countenance is dissimilar from the late Thatcher, though I think it will be surprising to discover that I have no less ferocity. Wine?"

[The Smith]

Milo waved his hand, "I have no thirst." He began to pace, "I have just returned from the business of the Crown in Dorne, and I wanted to speak with you about the murders. When did the King speak with you about taking the Hand's position?"

[Deleted]

"Shortly afterward." Valrus said, motioning for Hab to close the door behind them.

"I am sure it is not that suspect to appoint a Hand once the position becomes vacant?"

[The Smith]

Milo snickered, "Of course not. But I would suspect the new hand of arranging to the absence to increase his own power. Hypothetically of course, I do not think you would do any such thing. However your son was missing."

[Deleted]

"My son left, but he's been cleared of suspicion." He smiled. "It was a happy surprise to me to find that I was being elevated to Hand of the King. I had no deigns to this position, and anyone who knows of me could accurately say I haven't the tact or want to lay a trap such as this." He chuckled.

"It's all by the by, I plan to help the King most mightily in the time to come, for however long he sees fit to keep me here."