Planning His Demise

Writers: Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th March 2019

Characters: Bryvin, Taril, Yriadha, Olov, Arnolt
Description: Plots are initiated for a certain Holder's demise
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 23 of Turn 9

Bryvin

Yriadha

Bryvin had sent his trusted messenger Arnolt for the two men he wanted
to see and told him to bring them through the secret way so they
weren't seen by anyone. He'd gotten word that Stenlis was on his way
to Sunstone to make good on his promise but Bryvin wasn't going to let
him achieve his desired end.

Arnolt led the two men down the hall, his feet light on the stone and
scarcely heard. "Told me to bring you both, he did." His voice was
quiet as he glanced over his shoulder at Taril and Polson. "And quick
like." He glanced at Taril for a minute longer. "Heard you and Humari
was doing good. I'm glad." He glanced at Polson, but didn't attempt
conversation. He knew full well what the man was and what he was
capable of. "This way."

He led them both down a corridor, then turned sharply down another
until they reached a door. He stopped, pressed his ear to the door to
check for sounds, then knocked lightly.

Taril slid a look at Polson while Arnolt waited. Bryvin was up to
something, but why was the guardsman here? Polson was a good pugilist
in the ring and Taril wouldn't put it past the man to enjoy the more
physical aspects of his knots a bit too much. Bryvin obviously knew
something about the man that he didn't. Taril didn't like that.

"Gentlemen," Bryvin nodded at the chairs near his desk. "Arnolt,
Please fetch Yriadha."

Arnolt's expression left little to the imagination about his feelings
about _that_ particular task. But he didn't balk; Lord Bryvin had been
good to him and Yriadha hadn't bothered him since, but he hated
dealing with the woman. Muttering under his breath, he slipped out of
the door to summon the Headwoman.

"Before he returns with the Headwoman, I'm going to tell you a quick
story. It is her story but she is a private person and as any woman
would be, distressed." He sat behind his desk. "So let me tell you
what I mean to do. A former suitor from her youth is now a
well-regarded Holder in Amber Hill's territory. After lulling her with
what she believed were words of love he took that which she didn't
willingly give." He waited a moment for that to sink in. "Now, his
wife has mysteriously and conveniently died and he's announced his
intention to marry her. She does not wish this to happen. To deal with
him and prevent it, I'm going to need your help."

Taril frowned. "I am happy to assist you in all ways, Lord Bryvin, but
this sounds like a diplomatic problem more than one for... us." He
cast a sideways glance at Polson, who was picking at a scab on his
knuckle. "You could arrest this holder as soon as he sets foot on the
dock and send him to the mines to rot."

"That's one solution," Bryvin nodded. "But then I'd have to explain to
Lord Zathris why he can't have his Holder back. The crime occurred
there, not here. So it's not under my authority to punish him in a
public way. He's a very big man like Polson here." He thrust his chin
at Olov. "So I have another plan. Taril," he looked back at the
merchant. "Do you have a ship we can temporarily rename?"

A soft tap on the door interrupted them and Arnolt led Yriadha in. She
stepped in and moved on quiet feet to stand near Bryvin's desk. She
knew what they were discussing and her face was pale at the knowledge
that the men knew. But she stood straight, her hands folded together
at her waist.

Taril glanced at Yriadha, then refocused his attention on Bryvin with
a slight frown. "Perhaps I do, depending on when." His ships - his
trusted ships - weren't always close at hand.

Bryvin nodded. Taril was always careful and he considered that to be
an excellent quality in the man. "My plan is to allow Stenlis to
arrive as he will and we will welcome him as though we know nothing of
his plans. But... he won't be leaving us. Instead at the time he would
make sail it will be Polson posing as Stenlis who will board your ship
of another name. Then once it is out of sight of Sunstone, you can let
him leave again as Polson and your ship can change itself back and be
seen in its next port as usual."

Just the mention of Stenlis' name made Yriadha's throat tighten in
response, and her knuckles whitened as she gripped her own hands. But
the woman kept her back straight and her chin up. Her eyes flicked to
each man as Bryvin mentioned them, then back to Bryvin.

"And what will you do with Stenlis?" Taril asked.

It was then that Yriadha finally spoke. Her voice was soft, but the
core of steel wasn't hidden. "Not as much as he deserves."

Bryvin tilted his head at Taril. "What you don't know, you can't
tell." He shrugged. "But if you really want to know I'll tell you."
He'd noticed that Olov hadn't as much as twitched at any of what had
been said.

Taril shrugged. "Makes no difference to me." None of it did, except
that doing another favour for the Lord Holder would be a benefit in
the long run, and he now knew something about his mother-in-law that
he hadn't known before. Both could be useful in the future. "I'll need
marks for the ship. To pay the crew."

"Done," Bryvin agreed. "Any other thoughts?"

Taril glanced again at Polson, who hadn't said a thing. The man was
cleaning his nails with the tip of his knife as if planning a murder
was something the guard did regularly. Maybe he did. The merchant
again wondered what his relationship with Bryvin was. "Send me
Stenlis' departure date and I'll see if I can find you a ship."

Yriadha murmured to Bryvin. "I'd have to send a consent to him for him
to arrive at an exact date."

Bryvin looked up at her while his mind clicked and he nodded. "Is that
something you wish to do? We know he's coming soon and if we entertain
him lavishly for a few days here it might be enough time for Taril to
get his ship here to take him home. Can you do that?" Knowing how
shaken she'd been he wasn't sure she'd want to pretend she was happy
to see the man who'd raped her.

The thought made her ill but as she glanced at Taril then back down at
Bryvin, she stiffened her spine. "I can do it." It would be worth the
few days of forcing pleasantries just to see the man suffer.

He looked at her for a long moment and then nodded turning back to the
two men. "Then I think we have the beginnings of a plan in place.
We'll work out the details as we move forward."

Last updated on the April 4th 2019

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Planning His Demise