The Courts of Iberia: Political Intrigue IC

[Sabretooth1]

Connor frowned slightly. The party was fun, but far from exciting. And fun was used loosely. He tapped put his finger to his bottom lip, then let his mind wander. He could make it fun. Oh yes, he could. With a smile, he snatched up a champagne glass, downing it in a few gulps. A woman nearby scowled at his lack of couth. Connor winked at her, causing her husband to bluster about like an angry walrus. He walked out of the backroom, to a hallway. Tying his boots on, making sure that they were tight, he looked out the window.

"Hmm.. A few stories up.. But ledges and cracks, nonetheless. Time to go..." Craning his head, he spied a window not far above him. "There. There is the target."

Stepping on the narrow ledge, he looked around. No one was out of the party yet. He grabbed onto a small ledge and began to slowly climb. At first, it was difficult for him to climb, for he had not ever climbed on this castle before. But after a few near-slip instances, he became accustomed to the ascent. In no time at all, he had made it to, and into, the room as silently as a spider. His eyes widened at what he saw. Jewelry. A wardrobe with countless other valuables. And countless other shiny, valuable things. He thought about pilfering, but a more mischievous thought came to his mind.

"Okay.. Move this here.. Hide these here.. This goes there.." Connor softly talked to himself while moving the furniture of the room around. When he was finished, it looked like a completely different room. Tidy and spotless, yet completely different. The bed was where the wardrobe used to be. The wardrobe where the dresser was. The mirror on the opposite wall. With a smile, he crawled back down to the where the party was being held again. As he entered the window, he startled woman and her daughter.

"Sorry, ladies. I needed a breath of fresh air. The height allows for clean, crisp air, so there's a bonus." He bowed, and entered the party again. He said his goodbye to Charon, then went upstairs to his room, stopping only to fetch his shortbow.

He opened his door, shutting it behind him with a soft thud. And then smiling in eagerness as he saw who was waiting for him. Ah, yes. The servant-girl from much earlier, awaiting her nobleman. He grinned as he began to unlace his vest.

Court was going to suit him just fine if things like this continued.

[Tyron]

Nathaniel leaned back against one of the tables, looking over the party guests. Overall, it seemed as though everyone was enjoying themselves, though the tension from the rather alarming performance was still radiating among the nobles. His eyes narrowed as he followed the thief, happy to see the man saying good bye to his friend before leaving the room. He'd have to find out more about that man, and his apparent 'friend'.

Making his way over to the drinks table, he picked up his glass as he watched the noble woman who portrayed lust making her way over to the woman who played virtue. That would ether be a cordial talk or someone would be storming off. Lady Lust looked like she was the type to stir the pot, but he wouldn't doubt that Lady Virtue would be able to keep a calm face. It would be interesting to observe if anything.

Taking a sip of wine, Nathaniel couldn't help but feel a smoldering anger running through his veins at the people around him. Invaders from another country were ransacking homes and towns, and here were the nobles that were supposed to be protecting the people, celebrating a perfect little play. Now he was starting to understand his brothers distaste for the nobility, and Nathaniel honestly couldn't blame him.

It was time to start taking action.

[LeCuppycake]

Aria was nothing but one large smile, glitter falling from her lace gown like scales of a molting lizard. Of course, it was a forced, fake smile, as each new greeting was followed by curtsies, bows, kisses on the hand or being taken by the arm. The young woman was careful to keep her blue eyes upon those she was talking too, but she was urgently trying to find Old Nan. She needed her nurse and confidant... the play, in her mind, was an utter disaster! And while no one was saying it, Aria was sure they were thinking it. They had to be!

Starting to feel claustrophobic, the red head made her way towards the balcony, nearly tramping Connor as he apologetically passed two women clasping their chests. Sidestepping him, Aria hurtled forward, her train neatly draped over her arm. Steps away from the ornate double doors to the balcony, a man and his wife stepped in her path.

"Good evening, Lady Romass." The man purred, bowing in an almost mocking low bow. "Quite the play, don't you think?"

Flashing a smile to prevent herself from grinding her teeth, Aria nodded. "Most exhilarating... I can honestly say her majesty has outdone any masque I have ever seen." Even if it was an utter disgusting display, the girl thought bitterly.

"Indeed." The woman on his arm chirped, her amber eyes looking hard down her nose. "And the roles most fitting for each house, save one...."

Aria wasn't sure where the lady was going, but just by the heat she seemed to feel from their gaze, she had a feeling this was not going to turn out well. "If you are speaking of the house of Carista, I believe she was just playing a role." She lied, but defending Lust seemed socially what was required. Her mother had always said to be careful about burning any bridges.

The man scoffed, patting his woman's hand as she snickered softly. "No, we are talking about you, my dear. How unfitting that a tratior's daughter be adorn in the flawless white gown of purity.... or that of a scarlett hearted mother who can't seem to be loyal to her husband. Although, who could blame her for wanting to distance herself from a man who is seeking to destroy the country he lives in."

Aria's blood was boiling. Dropping her train and closing her fists, she started to leap towards the man.... but was stopped before she could even take off. Blinking, she turned to look at the calm faced nurse that had her shoulders. "Aria, love... I think it is time you return to the better side of society and leave Duke and Duchess of Corberly to their petty meddling."

Without a further word, old Nan forced the petite girl back towards the hall... it was going to be a long night....

[Callthecops]

Shortly after Connor came over to say his goodbye, a servant came searching the room for Charon. “Here, man!” the warrior called out, holding up his hand impatiently, displaying his family’s signet ring. The man hurried over and extended a folded up message bearing the same seal as the ring on Charon’s finger. The letter was clearly from home, but he doubted that it contained a silly account of all that had happened since he was gone. That would not have been at all like his father.

“Here you go, my lord. Raven arrived for you, hardly a minute past.” Charon nodded and thanked the man, handing him a few coppers and sending him on his way. Reaching for his lower calf, Charon grabbed his knife and broke the seal on the paper, before sheathing it again. The letter read:

We were contacted by a man named Daniel Andros. He has a brother in the Courts. Nathaniel Andros. I’d like you to meet with him. Find out why his brother needs 50 soldiers. More importantly, try to be as discreet as possible. I’m leaving it up to you to decide whether or not to accept the job, and under what conditions.

-Geralt Rathbourne

As he read the message, Charon began searching around the room, trying to identify the man that his father had mentioned. Nathaniel Andros. It was a name that he had heard of, but never paid much attention to. Not that he particularly paid much attention to any of the nobility, aside from his employers. Figuring that he’d never be able to pick the man out of a crowd on his own, Charon finished off his brandy, before catching the eye of the waiter who he had given the silvers to earlier. Indicating that his glass was empty, Charon waited a moment as the other man hurried back into the kitchen for the bottle. When he came back out, the man walked over to Charon and refilled his glass, “Before you go,” Charon began, “Would you kindly find one, Nathaniel Andros for me? Tell him that Charon Rathbourne is looking for him. If he’d like to talk, tell him that I’m the one in the armor. That should narrow it down quite a bit.” He said, watching the nobles move about in their finery.

The man said that he would and went around, asking some of the other staff if they knew where Nathaniel Andros was. Soon enough, the waiter would approach him and deliver Charon’s message, “My lord? Pardon me, but Charon Rathbourne asked me to find you. He said that he was looking for you, and that if you wished to speak with him, he would be the one in the armor.” The waiter said, before waiting to be dismissed, or given further directions.

[Chyoko]

“I am Adelina Emory.” she took the other woman’s hand in her own, and placed her pink lips upon a finger before letting go. “And unfortunately, the truth is often denied for a lie that will make their name shine.” Letting out a slight chuckle, black eyes fell on the woman who had “kidnapped” her.

“I must say my dear, I do not Envy Lust. Unfortunately your splendid performance will single you out, but that’s good. Court is not to impress the married, but the eligible after all.”

****

Olivia stood with Benedict observing the mass of people that mingled. It was particularly made up of young, un-married, nobles with the occasional couple. Her eyes darted over Iberia’s subject with a curled smile.

“Did you do as I ask Sir Benedict?”

“Yes your majesty, they, or their parents, picked out their roles.” Nodding slowly Olivia smiled. She had hopes for these youths, but first she had tear down the walls their chaperones built up. If they were the right people for what she had planned, then they needed to be able to jump. Without a push over the ledge.

****

Abbot Smith was on the dance floor with a woman that he did not know the name of. He had not been able to get close to his father, or more importantly the queen. If he was to ever claim his rightful place on the throne, than he needed to make better connections.

And he knew just exactly what was needed to be done.

[Tyron]

Nathaniel glanced at the servant, a curious expression on his face as his eyes scanned the room before finding the one in armor, the thief's friend. He wondered why the man would be interested in speaking, if it perhaps concerned the mans rather devious friend. It wasn't much of a long shot to think so...but why else would he wish to talk?

Thinking no harm could come of it, Nathaniel made his way across the room, one hand on the hilt of his rapier. It wasn't that he was expecting trouble, it was merely a habit of Nathaniel's to drum his fingers on the hilt of his sword, the same way a bearded man would stroke his beard in thought. Besides, they were in the same room as some of the most important nobles in the country. It'd be stupid to start a fight here.

Approaching the armored man, Nathaniel cleared his throat "Charon Rathbourne. I hear you wish to speak to me about something"

[Callthecops]

Charon watched a man approach him, drumming his fingers on the handle of a rapier. This was problematic, seeing as the leather armor Charon wore was designed to handle primarily slashing attacks, not piercing ones. Of course, if he was lucky, the blade had a chance of being deflected off one a bit of his metal plating, but if the noble had any skill at all, he would likely aim for a weak spot in the armor. In addition, while the noble, assumedly Nathaniel Andros, could place his hand on his sword without openly declaring a fight; if Charon reached for the sword slung over his shoulder, there was no turning back. This wasn’t the battlefield though, Charon reassured himself, this was a party, hosted by the King and Queen. Nathaniel Andros was a noble, and so he would do what he did best, talk.

As Nathaniel cleared his throat and opened conversation, Charon noted that he did not bother to introduce himself. It was only a formality, after all, Charon had already asked for the man by name; but nonetheless, a nobleman disregarding formality wasn’t exactly common. Either Nathaniel found his present company distasteful, or he wasn’t exactly a common nobleman. Or both.

“Right to the point.” Charon began, taking a sip of his brandy, “I like that… There are far to many in this room that would prefer not to address the issues at hand. They seem to always be plotting something. You see Mr. Andros, that is actually what I wanted to talk about. Plotting… More specifically, what your brother is plotting.”

[Tyron]

Nathaniel regarded the man in front of him for a moment, eyebrow arched curiously "I haven't spoken to my brother in quiet some time. Do you mind if I ask why you wish to speak about him?" He still had the letter from Daniel he had to open, but otherwise Nathaniel truly hadn't spoken to his brother in awhile. It made him rather suspicious now, why this man would be questioning him about his brothers plotting. He'd heard enough about the Rathbourne family to understand what business Charon was involved in.

"After all, seeing as we are in a room where the walls are made of ears, I'd hate to think you were plying me for family information, Sir Rathbourne. My family has managed to remain steady, in terms of its overall wealth, unlike many of the families here who have attempted to scale the walls of greatness, only to be plagued by gossip and scandal" He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes, which remained cold and steadfast "You yourself are not generally known to be one to dabble in the matters of politics or treachery, despite the company you keep, so I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt here, and allow you the chance to explain to me why you wish to know about my dear younger brother"