The Murder

[Horas]

"Thank you, Lord Varner," Horas says. His gaze next turns to Andry. "Does something displease you, Prince Andry?" Horas asks. "Please, bring it before the council so that it may be dealt with."

[The Smith]

"When the Regent was attacked it was your duty to return to King's Landing. You have failed miserably." Andry sneered.

[The Flint]

Francis couldn't help but smile. An immediate return was one of the steps Francis would have interpreted as pointing to Horas' involvement in the attack. It seemed Prince Andry was a difficult man to satisfy.

[Horas]

"There were matters which required my attention in the West," Horas says, his face as impassive as always, "I trusted that the Small Council would be able to keep order until I could return. Did I misplace my trust, Prince Andry?"

[The Smith]

"Yes, these incompetents spins web of fancy and light. There is nothing done. We should call for new investigators." Andry waves at Seth and Francis.

[The Flint]

"We have laid before his highness and the good Maester our evidence regarding the assassination, but it seems that Prince Andry prefers his own theory, namely, that Lord Piers murder was attempted by the King's Hand in an act of apparent senselessness, as there is no discernible motive, in a most bumbling and incompetent manner, since correspondence implicating his agents was acquired within days of the attack. Additionally the perpetrator, the Lord Hand, is so vicious and bloodthirsty as to murder his own wall crawling snoops, and than careless enough to see that they were left out in the stables exposing not only the murder, but an intelligence gathering operation which has borne considerable fruit, I have to imagine."

ooc: edit, because i keep writing murder instead of attempted murder.

[Horas]

"What a peculiar theory," Horas says, his voice cold. "Have no doubt, Prince Andry, that I will be searching most assidiously for the true engineer of this assassination attempt, and I will see them killed. I will never punish a man for speaking honest counsel, but I cannot have you believing I did this and working against me behind my back. If you cannot work alongside myself and this Council for the good of the realm, inform me now."

[The Smith]

Andry shoots to his feet. "I can not. It is clear to me that you and Varner and myabe even Seth are working together. Blocking the guilt from landing where it belongs. I can no longer sit here and be a part of this malfisence. I resign my position."

Andry storms from the room.

[sethgreyjoy]

"Well." Seth said, after several moments of awkward silence. "At least his Highness' vocabulary is polished."

[The Flint]

Francis "hmmed" again. "Well, I'd hoped that would go better than it did," He said. "Is this topic tabled for now, or are there other elements to discuss?"

[Percy Rivers]

Some huffing and puffing is heard coming from behind the door. When it finally opens an exaspperated Jerard Manderly is seeing leaning over. "My-my lords. Someone did not inform me of the meeting."

[The Flint]

Francis smiled at the Northman and nodded pleasantly, while internally he was irritated. The pages had clearly sought out every member of the small council, and if the old bastard couldn't get to the council on time that was his problem.

"Welcome Lord Manderly. You have missed my report on the investigation into the attempted Assassination of the Regent, as well as Prince Andry's resignation."

[Horas]

Horas watches Andry go, but says nothing more to him. Once he has left, he returns his gaze to the Small Council. He nods to Manderly when he enters. "We will need a new Master of Ships," Horas says, "But I believe the more pressing appointment right now is the Lord Regent of the North. The Boltons have proven themselves unsuitable for obvious reasons. Suggestions?"

[The Flint]

"It seems to me that the pickings are rather slim." Francis said, "Lord Manderly is of course indispensable in his present position. The Karstark Lord is a child, and the progeny of the twice-traitor Tallahar Tyrell. Perhaps if the position is available as we work to supress the Bolton's rebellion, more Northern lords will rally to the Crown in hopes of receiving the reward?"

[Horas]

"Perhaps," Horas says, "Though the fact remains that while Lyas is still missing, the Boltons have yet to declare for him. They of course must be removed from power, but for the time being there is no revolt to suppress, and we must still consider candidates for the regency. What do you know of Lord Umber? Or of Lord Flint, father of our good member of the Kingsguard?"