Birthright: Tuornen, Chapter Ten

[ewancummins]

INTERVIEW


Roald smirks. "Such an obvious lie is unbecoming of you, Your Grace. Your invasion happened the day of the assassination. There's no way you could've mobilized an army that fast if you were just taking advantage." He leans forward. "Unless, of course, your army was already waiting to attack, because you were in fact quite aware of the plot."

"That's one explanation. Coincidence and luck provide another."

Carilon pulls at his short gray beard.


"But if you want a more convenient truth, all you have to do is to ask my brother, no?"

A wicked little smile creeps back onto the old man's gaunt face.

"Now, let me deal."


He begins laying out cards to make a hand for Roald and one for him.

[RocEter]

"I'll keep that in mind."


Hotspur hangs his shield over his back and walks on towards a nearby green tent. He pauses a moment and casts a wistful glance at the high, soot-smeared watchtower of Castle Sorentier, where the stonework rises above the hills a half mile to the north.

"Judhael Sorrelon. I don't suppose you ever met him in your younger days, when you were travelling under some other name. A good man, he was, and a friend of mine."

Reaching the tent flap, Braedonnal flips it open. Within, Foerde spies the glint of silver and blue crystal tableware set on a small folding platform that stands in the midst of the little tent.

"To see how his house has fallen in honor and fortune. Sad."

"Not likely, I spent much of those days like I do now. Wandering the country side, lending a helping hand where one was needed." Foerde says looking up at the watch tower. "Back then though trouble seem to find more often than I liked it too."

Foerde walks into the tent, assuming that was Braedonnel's intent by holding the flap. "Those were different times back then. Now you have one old Duke hell bent on revenge and the want to reclaim his familial lands. The Alam line has degenerated over the last century, at least I can take heart knowing that Dalton's kin have at least done him proud." He says.

He pauses for a moment realizing that Braedonnel knows who is, which means he received his letter and has talked to Fhylie. "I take it you received my message or that Fhylie has spoken with you about me?"

[VAN]

FILBERT

IN THE TAVERN
"Aye, to the rightful duke."
Atli drops a pinch of golden dust in his cup before drinking.

He gulps down his metallic-tinged ale.

"Yum."
Looking sideways at Filbert, the swart dwarf mumbles,
"I heard that you can ride a pony, just like a human boy. Maybe you'll find a little something worth buying at the horse fair being held just south of the city. Starts tomorrow. There will even be some fine Alamien steeds there, fit for for a lord to ride out of town."

Filbert tries to mask his grin by drinking some more ale. So Alamiens are already came, that wasn't good.

"I will definitely be there, I was looking for a good horse for some time now. As some friends of mine as well, we just came back and our horses are tired so I see no better occasion to get few new. Thank you very much. I was away for some time so I'm not sure but I think I saw few new men in Car Haes, are they in Militia or they work in palace by chance? For sure some more men will be useful these days with so many criminals around. Just is hard to know who to trust."

[Adam]

CORMAC

The Rjurik man answers what questions he can happily before leaving with the messenger, setting up a time later in the evening when he would come back and be available for more questions.

[Varrus the Ethical]

INTERVIEW

Roald picks up his hand and begins arranging the cards.

"Now how about that story."

[ewancummins]

THE INTERVIEW



"Your mother was positively radiant when she was young."

Carilon picks up his hand of ivory cards and scans them with hooded eyes. He murmurs to himself for a moment before continuing his story.

"Too low born for your father, of course, being only a serving girl. But he loved her anyway, after his own fashion. Good old Cousin Gilgaed; he was always rather sentimental, even before senility set in."

Carilon lays on the table a card engraved and painted with a pair of burning candles, as his opening move.

"It wasn't really his choice to send you away, I think. Sir Rory the Castellan and His Holiness our Archprelate forced his hand. I have proof. They knew what had happened, they knew that you were on the way into this world. You posed an unacceptable political risk, as the marriage to the elf princess hadn't even been performed. Given the history of Tuornen, a recognized natural son born before any other issue and even before a marriage of any sort..."



The old duke shakes his head.

"I tried to arrange for you and your mother to be secretly brought into my duchy, so that I could use you for my own plans. A bastard of House Alam sundered the realm; what irony if a bastard of House Flaertes helped to unify it! Alas, my agents lost track of you and your mother.

[Varrus the Ethical]

INTERVIEW

Roald listens to Carlion's story, forgetting the cards in his hands. His eyes are hard.

"An interesting tale, Your Grace." I'm going to have to have a little chat with Sir Rory, later, he thinks. "Though I think as far as people on this side of the Tuor are concerned, it was the jealously of your trueborn ancestor for his bastard brother that split the realm."

[ewancummins]

INTERVIEW

Roald listens to Carlion's story, forgetting the cards in his hands. His eyes are hard.

"An interesting tale, Your Grace." I'm going to have to have a little chat with Sir Rory, later, he thinks. "Though I think as far as people on this side of the Tuor are concerned, it was the jealously of your trueborn ancestor for his bastard brother that split the realm."

"Oh, they are right about that, at least to some extent. He ought to have handled things differently, but that opportunity has passed. Now it remains for living men to redeem old errors and divisions. I have been trying to do just that."

He leans forward.

''Now, your play, coz."

[ewancummins]

FOERDE AND HOTSPUR


"Yes, I have spoken with her."

The elf sits down, deftly uncorking a wine bottle and pouring a pair of goblets to the brim.


"I think I'd like to help. I can tell you about Rhoubhe's realm, and maybe even show you a way to get inside..."

[ewancummins]

CORMAC

CORMAC

The Rjurik man answers what questions he can happily before leaving with the messenger, setting up a time later in the evening when he would come back and be available for more questions.

Soldiers lead Cormac to the Duke's command tent...

When he arrives, the druid finds the young duke waiting, along with Fhylie the Sword and Count Robin.

[ewancummins]

FILBERT

IN TAVERNA

FILBERT

IN THE TAVERN
"Aye, to the rightful duke."
Atli drops a pinch of golden dust in his cup before drinking.

He gulps down his metallic-tinged ale.

"Yum."
Looking sideways at Filbert, the swart dwarf mumbles,
"I heard that you can ride a pony, just like a human boy. Maybe you'll find a little something worth buying at the horse fair being held just south of the city. Starts tomorrow. There will even be some fine Alamien steeds there, fit for for a lord to ride out of town."

Filbert tries to mask his grin by drinking some more ale. So Alamiens are already came, that wasn't good.

"I will definitely be there, I was looking for a good horse for some time now. As some friends of mine as well, we just came back and our horses are tired so I see no better occasion to get few new. Thank you very much. I was away for some time so I'm not sure but I think I saw few new men in Car Haes, are they in Militia or they work in palace by chance? For sure some more men will be useful these days with so many criminals around. Just is hard to know who to trust."

"I don't know about any new men at Caer Haes."

Atli shrugs.

''I haven't been to the palace since you saw me last. I've been much too busy fixing this place up. Torthur isn't useful for work. He's drunk all the time now, and his leg is ruined."

[JMaytr]

Fhylie the Sword and Count Robin come almost immediately, as they were close by when the messenger went looking for them.

Count Robin dips his head in a respectful gesture and then moves to the right side of the pavillion. He yanks off his gauntlets and stuffs them in the pockets of his leather coat.
Wiping sweat from his weathered brow, he tells Devlin
"Good day, Your Grace. Any news from the south?"

Fhylie nods at Devlin, and then extends her open right hand in blessing.
"Strength and honor be yours."

Devlin stands.

"My hated cousin is in the dungeon at Caer Haes. This war may soon be at an end. I ask of you my councilors, what should we do with old Carilon?"

[RocEter]

FOERDE AND HOTSPUR


"Yes, I have spoken with her."

The elf sits down, deftly uncorking a wine bottle and pouring a pair of goblets to the brim.


"I think I'd like to help. I can tell you about Rhoubhe's realm, and maybe even show you a way to get inside..."

Foerde nods. "I'll will take what help you decide to offer, so long as it isn't a stern warning to stay out of Rhoubhe's realm." He says. "I know of at least two others who will journey with me, one of which is here today."

Taking the offered goblet, he holds it while he continues to talk. "The other is Roald Flaertes."

[ewancummins]

DEVLIN

Fhylie the Sword and Count Robin come almost immediately, as they were close by when the messenger went looking for them.

Count Robin dips his head in a respectful gesture and then moves to the right side of the pavillion. He yanks off his gauntlets and stuffs them in the pockets of his leather coat.
Wiping sweat from his weathered brow, he tells Devlin
"Good day, Your Grace. Any news from the south?"

Fhylie nods at Devlin, and then extends her open right hand in blessing.
"Strength and honor be yours."

Devlin stands.

"My hated cousin is in the dungeon at Caer Haes. This war may soon be at an end. I ask of you my councilors, what should we do with old Carilon?"

Count Robin speaks first.

"Carilon captured! Great news!"
He strikes his bare hands together.
"As for what to do with the old devil--He hired goblins to ravage Ghonallison and murder its people. He also hanged women and children in Haes, didn't he? He ought to be punished for all that. I say we try him with the evidence my men seized from Baron Lynwerd and whatever other proofs we have, and execute him by beheading if he's found guilty."



Fhylie replies,
" Carilon must be punished for his crimes, but maybe we should also consider how his punishment will affect others. If killing him actually worsens and prolongs the suffering of the small folk, and weakens both duchies in the face of bigger threats from outside..."

The druid, Cormac, enters the far end of the pavilion, with an escort of two soldiers.

[ewancummins]

FOERDE AND HOTSPUR


"Yes, I have spoken with her."

The elf sits down, deftly uncorking a wine bottle and pouring a pair of goblets to the brim.


"I think I'd like to help. I can tell you about Rhoubhe's realm, and maybe even show you a way to get inside..."

Foerde nods. "I'll will take what help you decide to offer, so long as it isn't a stern warning to stay out of Rhoubhe's realm." He says. "I know of at least two others who will journey with me, one of which is here today."

Taking the offered goblet, he holds it while he continues to talk. "The other is Roald Flaertes."

"Despite all his mercenary swagger, he reminds me of a young Gilgaed, and in more than looks."

The elf sips.
"Devlin, on the other hand, reminds me more of Telaena. He's got the same steel in him."

Braedonnal turns his long face towards the tent opening.
"Come in."

A green-liveried messenger enters.

"His Grace summons you both to his pavilion, noble sirs."