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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 15:14:58 GMT -5
Callen sat in the small council chamber looking over documents and signing proclamations. He rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the ache that had taken root there. God's I'm only 25 and I feel like an old man already. Callen thought as he lit a new candle with the old one that had almost burned down to the bottom. He looked up as he saw Horas Blackwood enter the room.
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 15:25:09 GMT -5
Horas Blackwood walks into the Small Council chambers, empty for all save the king. He takes a seat directly across from Callen, watching his expression in the candlelight.
"Being king is not an easy thing," Horas says, his own expression relaxed, "But the whisperers never cease murmuring. Shall I tell you the news of the realm?"
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 15:30:02 GMT -5
Callen sighed, finished signing a piece of paper and looked up. "Yes, you might as well tell me what new treasons the lords are plotting. Can I offer you some wine? We got a shipment from the Tyrells the other day."
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 15:44:21 GMT -5
"Thank you, my king, but I am notoriously choosey with my wines. I carry my own with me wherever I go." Horas unhooks a small silver flask from his hip and takes a drink.
"Treasonous lords... and septons too, my Lord. Our new High Septon despises you. He has ordered his men to build a wall around the Great Sept, presumably to keep you out. The goldcloaks are disgruntled as well -- it seems Lord Jon is not quite as popular as one might have hoped."
"But not all is bad news. Ten thousand Dornishmen have joined the Riverlands army. They may be tricky to manage, however, as they care nothing for the Lannisters. Give them ships, however, and they'll gladly bleed themselves fighting the ironborn."
Horas pauses for a moment to allow the King a chance to speak.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 15:53:57 GMT -5
"I've already ordered the wall torn down, we need those materials to help rebuild the city, not satisfy the High Septon's desire for privacy. If he complains we'll donate a few dragons to the coffers in Baelor's Sept, that will shut him up. I confess that although I have faith in the Seven, I have little in their most beloved of servants. You can also inform the goldcloaks that they'll have Slynt back when peace is restored, he's capable enough against the common pickpocket and homeless boy, but Jon has more experience with bandits and ruffians." He handed Horas a report from the Citadel about the weather in the coming months, "We might not be able to risk an invasion of the Iron Isles with the storms thrashing the sea around them. And that leaves us to deal with the Dornishmen. They will not leave with the weather so bad, but we cannot afford to let the feed off them Riverlands."
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 16:08:04 GMT -5
"Surely the seas will calm when these mainland blizzards run their course. Regardless of your differences with Princess Emelia, it seems foolish to turn away ten thousand willing soldiers. Dorne is providing for most of her warriors' supplies anyways, and the riverlands would be glad to help them if it meant ridding us of the Greyjoys."
"As for the High Septon... I approve of your decision, but do not think you can placate the man with a few donations. As I said, he despises you."
"There are a few other reports of note. Allard Lannister is said to have gone mad with grief, and attempted to take his own life. And there is another war raging... a war of knives and shadows." Horas' voice maintains the same flat tone, but his eyes tighten slightly. "Someone is killing spies and spymasters across the Seven Kingdoms, and I do not know who."
Horas takes another sip from his silver flask and awaits Callen's response.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 16:13:02 GMT -5
"Who would be killing agents in Westeros? More importantly why?" Callen asked. He was not accustomed to the game men like Horas played. Though truth be told he had gotten a taste of if during his exile.
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 16:33:17 GMT -5
"I am working very hard to find out the answers to those questions, Callen. Though I can hazard a guess as to why -- someone wants us blind. Or more precisely, whoever is behind this wants everyone but himself blind, as our agents are hardly the only ones who have been disappearing."
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 16:45:01 GMT -5
"Very well, keep searching, we can do nothing more until we have answers." He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples again and then looked across the table into Horas's eyes. "I confess I know you little Horas Blackwood, but I do know of you. I traveled beyond the Free Cities during my exile, even as far as Asshai." His eyes flickered to the blue lips on Horas's face for a moment.
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 16:53:41 GMT -5
"It is good for a king to know of the world beyond his own kingdom," Horas says flatly, his eyes meeting Callen's. If Callen had a question to ask him, he would let him, but Horas would not be the one to start that conversation.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 16:55:59 GMT -5
Callen's next words came in a language strange to the ears of most Westerosi, even nobles learned in the languages of Valyria. "What did you do in the east? I heard the rumours, but then again, they are only that, rumours."
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 17:16:29 GMT -5
"I spent fifteen years in the east, Callen Baratheon," Horas replies in the same tongue, "I did many things. Not all of them were wise."
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 17:20:58 GMT -5
Callen looked on intently, "And what did you learn there Horas, what did you delve into?" Again Callen's eyes flicked to Horas's blue lips.
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Post by Horas on Aug 17, 2007 17:47:28 GMT -5
Horas does not miss Callen's gaze. He takes another sip from his flask, then speaks. "I studied at the Citadel, you know. I did not complete my chain, but I did forge a link of valyrian steel -- for what the maesters call the higher mysteries. That which we cannot explain. Magic. Sorcery. Mysteries have always fascinated me. I traveled east in pursuit of the answers."
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Post by Percy Rivers on Aug 17, 2007 17:50:04 GMT -5
"And what answers did you find?" Callen asked, now staring intently at Horas, the flame between them dancing in each other's eyes.
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Hope you all are well and happy.