ARGENT
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Settling Tynker tower was a relatively minor affair. There was no question as to which repairs would need to be carried out, and without his vows to his lady in the way, Ser Orvus seemed more reasonable, and he could be left in charge until a suitable keeper for the Tower could be found. With all the wealth that had belonged to the Tynkers now in a chest with the rest of their travel things, Argent and Florie decided it was best to journey back home to deposit it before anything untoward might befall it. They went back the way they had come, through the celebrating town of Walker's Wayn, and went home. Lord Garon listened to his children and their knight with a mixture of bafflement and pride as they told their story. Argent made sure he knew who the champion of the excursion had been, putting Ser Toby at the center of attention, and making sure his father was suitably impressed that Toby had beaten the more experienced Ser Orvus.
Once their story was told, Garon advised that all three go see their mother. Jonys, he said, had been recovering admirably, but Lady Vallya had taken to bed again. Her room smelled like a butchery, more strongly than it ever had before. Dried blood clung to her hair and the folds in her skin, and she tossed and turned. Florie and Argent sat by their mother's side, and Toby stood near them, all three exchanging worried glances as they breathed in the too-familiar scent of blood. She called Jonys's name, and Argent had to explain to her that no, it was them, and they had returned early.
He said they had been at Tynker Tower, and Vallya asked, "Oh, how are the Tynkers?"
"They're dead," Argent responded bluntly, and continued to tell what had happened in equally blunt terms. He felt suddenly young, and it was easiest to cope this way, easiest to make his words harder when it seemed that nothing was simple or right any more. He softened a bit when he spoke of Ser Tobias and his valiant fight, and Vallya praised the knight for his victory. Tobias looked shyly pleased; as always, it was a personal triumph to be treated more like one of the family.
When they left their mother, they slipped out to meet Zel for a pint at the tavern, but although Argent would have been happy to drink the rest of the day away and drink all troubling thoughts to oblivion, they had promised to return and visit their mother again. They were greeted at the gates of Blackbane Hall by Jonys, who was upright and had some color in his cheeks, and who seemed to be looking forward to doing his duties again. Argent was relieved. This meant that Jonys would make the trip to Silver Hill, that Jonys would once again be fulfilling the tiresome duties of an heir. But then Argent saw something. Jonys furtively wiped his hands on a handkerchief he carried, a handkerchief that was beginning to stay red. Florie's eyes showed that she had seen it too, and the two siblings exchanged a despairing look. They could not send their brother off if he was not truly well. Yet dutifully, they attended on their mother until she went senseless and Holly asked them to tell Lord Garon. Florie and Argent hurried to him, and mentioned also that Jonys seemed to be hiding the severity of his condition. Garon, no doubt tired of bad news like this, would not hear of it. He insisted that Jonys was fine, and suggested they all go down to the tavern and put a few drinks in him.
Argent, heavy-hearted but not one to pass up an order to go to the tavern, led the way.
Once their story was told, Garon advised that all three go see their mother. Jonys, he said, had been recovering admirably, but Lady Vallya had taken to bed again. Her room smelled like a butchery, more strongly than it ever had before. Dried blood clung to her hair and the folds in her skin, and she tossed and turned. Florie and Argent sat by their mother's side, and Toby stood near them, all three exchanging worried glances as they breathed in the too-familiar scent of blood. She called Jonys's name, and Argent had to explain to her that no, it was them, and they had returned early.
He said they had been at Tynker Tower, and Vallya asked, "Oh, how are the Tynkers?"
"They're dead," Argent responded bluntly, and continued to tell what had happened in equally blunt terms. He felt suddenly young, and it was easiest to cope this way, easiest to make his words harder when it seemed that nothing was simple or right any more. He softened a bit when he spoke of Ser Tobias and his valiant fight, and Vallya praised the knight for his victory. Tobias looked shyly pleased; as always, it was a personal triumph to be treated more like one of the family.
When they left their mother, they slipped out to meet Zel for a pint at the tavern, but although Argent would have been happy to drink the rest of the day away and drink all troubling thoughts to oblivion, they had promised to return and visit their mother again. They were greeted at the gates of Blackbane Hall by Jonys, who was upright and had some color in his cheeks, and who seemed to be looking forward to doing his duties again. Argent was relieved. This meant that Jonys would make the trip to Silver Hill, that Jonys would once again be fulfilling the tiresome duties of an heir. But then Argent saw something. Jonys furtively wiped his hands on a handkerchief he carried, a handkerchief that was beginning to stay red. Florie's eyes showed that she had seen it too, and the two siblings exchanged a despairing look. They could not send their brother off if he was not truly well. Yet dutifully, they attended on their mother until she went senseless and Holly asked them to tell Lord Garon. Florie and Argent hurried to him, and mentioned also that Jonys seemed to be hiding the severity of his condition. Garon, no doubt tired of bad news like this, would not hear of it. He insisted that Jonys was fine, and suggested they all go down to the tavern and put a few drinks in him.
Argent, heavy-hearted but not one to pass up an order to go to the tavern, led the way.
Cyril
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Maester Cyril had been on the road studying, a long ways from Oldtown and the Citadel, but nevertheless, he had been contacted by raven and given his orders to go and serve House Felsward, to tend to its ailing lady and first son. So he had ridden, and when at last the lights of Blackbane town were visible on the darkening horizon, he breathed a sigh of relief. He did not like to be in the countryside too long, and a real bed held a great deal of appeal. Still, he thought, best to get his bearings in case he had veered off course in such unfamiliar territory, so he stopped in at the tavern to ask if this was indeed Blackbane, and if the hall was in the direction he thought. The tavernkeeper answered in the affirmative, and pointed to a table of carousing youths. "There's the scions of House Felsward right there, and their knight."
It was a little surprising to see them in such a common place, especially the daughter of the house, and it did not escape Cyril's notice that amongst the nobility, a highwayman barely past boyhood was drinking as well. But it was not his place to start questioning the family he would serve before he even began his service, so Cyril stepped over to make his introductions. The knight seemed well in his cups already, and so did the highwayman, but the siblings mostly just seemed cheerful, and the girl blushed as she greeted him, appropriately embarrassed at being caught out like this. They all agreed to pay their tab and walk him to Blackbane Hall themselves, but as the oldest son stood, he toppled over, and tiny beads of blood began to seep from his pores. Cyril immediately took over, instructing how he should be moved. The report he had recieved had not been exaggerated; whatever illness plagued House Felsward, it was grave indeed.
Maester Cyril introduced himself to the lord of the house and immediately began tending to the two sick Felswards. Jonys was moved into the same room as Vallya, and the Maester worked to care for them properly. It was clear that the nurse had done what she could, but only a man from the Citadel would know what to do for the rare sicknesses that caused these alarming symptoms. For the first time ever, Lady Vallya was being treated properly, and it was a wonder to Cyril that she had ever survived this long. When, after a few days of careful observation he began to discern the precise nature of the ailment, it was nothing short of miraculous to him that she had even survived childbirth not one, but three times. This was a blood condition that, at its worst, would mean that either Vallya or Jonys could bleed out entirely from a tiny cut. It ran in some families, although this rare and extreme version hardly ever manifested.
It could never be cured, Cyril knew, but it could be controlled, and for the first time, this family could be offered a glimmer of hope. He knew of a mineral called arsenite that was normally a waste product of silver mining, that could be used in a solution to help quell the outbreaks of bleeding. It just so happened, he knew, that the Felswards owned a silver mine, and that already, a trip was being planned. Cyril spoke with Lord Garon and arranged to go. It seemed he would be travelling with Argent and Florie Felsward, their knight Tobias, and the highwayman from the tavern. Unusual company for such an excursion, but Cyril could already see that his time here would not be dull.
It was a little surprising to see them in such a common place, especially the daughter of the house, and it did not escape Cyril's notice that amongst the nobility, a highwayman barely past boyhood was drinking as well. But it was not his place to start questioning the family he would serve before he even began his service, so Cyril stepped over to make his introductions. The knight seemed well in his cups already, and so did the highwayman, but the siblings mostly just seemed cheerful, and the girl blushed as she greeted him, appropriately embarrassed at being caught out like this. They all agreed to pay their tab and walk him to Blackbane Hall themselves, but as the oldest son stood, he toppled over, and tiny beads of blood began to seep from his pores. Cyril immediately took over, instructing how he should be moved. The report he had recieved had not been exaggerated; whatever illness plagued House Felsward, it was grave indeed.
Maester Cyril introduced himself to the lord of the house and immediately began tending to the two sick Felswards. Jonys was moved into the same room as Vallya, and the Maester worked to care for them properly. It was clear that the nurse had done what she could, but only a man from the Citadel would know what to do for the rare sicknesses that caused these alarming symptoms. For the first time ever, Lady Vallya was being treated properly, and it was a wonder to Cyril that she had ever survived this long. When, after a few days of careful observation he began to discern the precise nature of the ailment, it was nothing short of miraculous to him that she had even survived childbirth not one, but three times. This was a blood condition that, at its worst, would mean that either Vallya or Jonys could bleed out entirely from a tiny cut. It ran in some families, although this rare and extreme version hardly ever manifested.
It could never be cured, Cyril knew, but it could be controlled, and for the first time, this family could be offered a glimmer of hope. He knew of a mineral called arsenite that was normally a waste product of silver mining, that could be used in a solution to help quell the outbreaks of bleeding. It just so happened, he knew, that the Felswards owned a silver mine, and that already, a trip was being planned. Cyril spoke with Lord Garon and arranged to go. It seemed he would be travelling with Argent and Florie Felsward, their knight Tobias, and the highwayman from the tavern. Unusual company for such an excursion, but Cyril could already see that his time here would not be dull.
Drezielle
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Zel Flowers was anxious to be on the Kingsroad again, anxious to be actually fulfilling the duties of her post. Admittedly, she had grown fond of sleeping in an actual bed, and perhaps tarried too long at Blackbane Hall. They made camp early the first day, and the nobles did their hunting and hawking. Corwin made himself useful, apparently determined to prove himself to Ser Tobias still. It was more leisurely in pace than she would have liked, but she wasn't ready to break off and ride alone just yet, so she accepted their lack of speed. The next day was a little better, but partway through the day, they found an overturned travelling wagon, and two injured people trapped beneath it. Zel and the men hurried to help, and it was evident that the wagon had been attacked by thieves. Both the man and the woman they pulled from under the wagon were senseless at first, but then the woman asked for Gabrielle.
Tobias and Zel exchanged glances, and both jumped on their horses and took off up the hill. They found the trail the thieves had taken and followed it the best they could. It took some time, but eventually they found the thieves deep in the woods. The sight that confronted them was one all too familiar to Zel. The whorehouses she had seen in her youth had shown her well enough the brutality men could sink to when a woman did not want them. Two men had ripped most of the girl's clothes off, and had her on hands and knees between them, laughing as she sobbed. Their distraction allowed Zel and Toby to get quite close before they even noticed. They closed in and knocked the men back. Ser Tobias was in a rage, and he was off his horse in a moment, sword out. Zel moved quickly towards one of the men, and ran her sword clean through him, in time to watch Toby swing his sword with a shout and half-decapitate the other man. Zel wasn't used to seeing such power behind a single blow, and it made her plenty thankful Ser Toby was on their side.
She drew an extra cloak from her saddle bags and put it gently over Gabrielle's shoulders, and they rode back. The girl was badly injured, and her face had been cut, but she would survive, and her parents were grateful for that. Before they all moved on, Gabrielle's mother insisted that she give them all good luck charms made out of twisted copper wire with colorful glass beads and shiny metal caught up in the designs.
The rest of the trip passed quietly, and though the nobles from Blackbane Hall had been quiet before, they were dead silent as they rode into Silver Hill. Zel realized they must never have travelled anywhere like this before, and the dirtiness of it was coming as a shock. Silver Hill was an industrial town, and the mining process was not pretty. Smoke blackened the sky, the stream was dark and filled with slag, and the streets were filthy. There was lead everywhere too. It was on the roofs, stacked in piles behind fences, and clearly in overabundance. Argent, Florie, and Tobias were in clear shock. This was a far cry from the pleasant orchards they were used to. To Zel, it was just like being in certain sections of King's Landing-- not exactly a nice place, but familiar at least. The surprise for her came when they met Coll Greyfell, the lord of House Greyfell. His skin was blue-grey all over, a condition that Cyril murmured was called Argeria, and caused by long exposure to the process of working with mined silver.
Greyfell suggested a tour, and everyone set off through the streets towards the mines. They left Toby guarding Florie at the entrance, and descended into the mines. Three hundred feet underground, Greyfell showed them a team of men working at a thin seam of silver. "The earth itself fights us," he said bitterly, and explained how much harder it had been to get at the silver, how difficult the drilling had become. It seemed that the supply of silver in the mine was dwindling, and this was why the payment to the Felswards had gone down. Argent asked a few quiet questions, but it was clear that this was the bad news he would have to bear home to his father. Zel stood to the side, a little claustrophobic, eager to leave the oppression of the mines. As they took the shaky pulley lift up the shaft, she watched Maester Cyril's eyes go wide, and at the same time, he and Argent moved to put the lantern out. A burst of fire flared into life as the invisible gas they had just barely smelled in time ignited, but they were already rising, and the lantern was safely out.
Zel Flowers was anxious to be on the Kingsroad again, anxious to be actually fulfilling the duties of her post. Admittedly, she had grown fond of sleeping in an actual bed, and perhaps tarried too long at Blackbane Hall. They made camp early the first day, and the nobles did their hunting and hawking. Corwin made himself useful, apparently determined to prove himself to Ser Tobias still. It was more leisurely in pace than she would have liked, but she wasn't ready to break off and ride alone just yet, so she accepted their lack of speed. The next day was a little better, but partway through the day, they found an overturned travelling wagon, and two injured people trapped beneath it. Zel and the men hurried to help, and it was evident that the wagon had been attacked by thieves. Both the man and the woman they pulled from under the wagon were senseless at first, but then the woman asked for Gabrielle.
Tobias and Zel exchanged glances, and both jumped on their horses and took off up the hill. They found the trail the thieves had taken and followed it the best they could. It took some time, but eventually they found the thieves deep in the woods. The sight that confronted them was one all too familiar to Zel. The whorehouses she had seen in her youth had shown her well enough the brutality men could sink to when a woman did not want them. Two men had ripped most of the girl's clothes off, and had her on hands and knees between them, laughing as she sobbed. Their distraction allowed Zel and Toby to get quite close before they even noticed. They closed in and knocked the men back. Ser Tobias was in a rage, and he was off his horse in a moment, sword out. Zel moved quickly towards one of the men, and ran her sword clean through him, in time to watch Toby swing his sword with a shout and half-decapitate the other man. Zel wasn't used to seeing such power behind a single blow, and it made her plenty thankful Ser Toby was on their side.
She drew an extra cloak from her saddle bags and put it gently over Gabrielle's shoulders, and they rode back. The girl was badly injured, and her face had been cut, but she would survive, and her parents were grateful for that. Before they all moved on, Gabrielle's mother insisted that she give them all good luck charms made out of twisted copper wire with colorful glass beads and shiny metal caught up in the designs.
The rest of the trip passed quietly, and though the nobles from Blackbane Hall had been quiet before, they were dead silent as they rode into Silver Hill. Zel realized they must never have travelled anywhere like this before, and the dirtiness of it was coming as a shock. Silver Hill was an industrial town, and the mining process was not pretty. Smoke blackened the sky, the stream was dark and filled with slag, and the streets were filthy. There was lead everywhere too. It was on the roofs, stacked in piles behind fences, and clearly in overabundance. Argent, Florie, and Tobias were in clear shock. This was a far cry from the pleasant orchards they were used to. To Zel, it was just like being in certain sections of King's Landing-- not exactly a nice place, but familiar at least. The surprise for her came when they met Coll Greyfell, the lord of House Greyfell. His skin was blue-grey all over, a condition that Cyril murmured was called Argeria, and caused by long exposure to the process of working with mined silver.
Greyfell suggested a tour, and everyone set off through the streets towards the mines. They left Toby guarding Florie at the entrance, and descended into the mines. Three hundred feet underground, Greyfell showed them a team of men working at a thin seam of silver. "The earth itself fights us," he said bitterly, and explained how much harder it had been to get at the silver, how difficult the drilling had become. It seemed that the supply of silver in the mine was dwindling, and this was why the payment to the Felswards had gone down. Argent asked a few quiet questions, but it was clear that this was the bad news he would have to bear home to his father. Zel stood to the side, a little claustrophobic, eager to leave the oppression of the mines. As they took the shaky pulley lift up the shaft, she watched Maester Cyril's eyes go wide, and at the same time, he and Argent moved to put the lantern out. A burst of fire flared into life as the invisible gas they had just barely smelled in time ignited, but they were already rising, and the lantern was safely out.
Florie
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Florie and Argent were disheartened by the news, and their task seemed even more distasteful than ever. Florie thought about how it should be Jonys here instead of them, how little either of them really wanted to try to run things this way. It was wearying, but as they prepared for dinner in the strange, grimy House Greyfell, Florie did her best to appear every bit the lady she should be. She did her hair, put on her scented oils, and went to dinner. She felt like she and Argent sparkled. This, at least, they were good at. The two of them played a crowd like entertainers might, playing off of each other-- Argent had always been good at garnering attention, and Florie helped to hold it. The dinner party went as well as could be expected, and that night, Ser Tobias slept outside of Florie's door, insisting he wanted to keep her safe.
In the morning, Cyril set off early to search for the mineral they needed, and Zel went off into town. Argent set about trying to find a way to look at Coll Greyfell's books, and so Florie was left mostly to her own devices. She walked and talked with Tobias all morning. He had told her she was pretty the evening before, and she was starting to notice that his moments of being tongue-tied corresponded with her examining him too closely. It was beginning to dawn on her that somewhere along the way, Toby had started seeing her as more than a childhood friend, more than his best friend's sister. And Florie, for her part, was starting to see in Tobias what she had not before. He wasn't just a former playmate, he was a man, a man who cared for her and protected her. Even knowing that it probably wasn't what she ought to be doing, she let herself flirt.
Florie didn't really notice time passing. She was laughing with Tobias when Argent flung himself into the room and shut the door behind him. "You have to help me," he said.
"With... er... what?" Florie wasn't quite as quick to guess as normal, she supposed she was distracted.
"He won't let me get at the books. He keeps avoiding it and pulling me off to do other things. I need you."
With a sigh, Florie agreed to help, and with an apologetic look to Tobias, swept out after Argent to go see Greyfell. Seeming pleased that Florie had decided to emerge, Greyfell suggested a tour of the foundry, and she she said she and Toby would be delighted to go while Argent rested. Florie gave her brother the look that said he had better find something good to pay for the boredom she was about to endure, and she took Toby's arm and let Greyfell lead them off.
They walked from Hightown, where the house was, to Lowtown, the way they'd gone towards the mines. The foundry was more interesting than Florie had imagined, though that wasn't saying much. Still, in the stifling heat, Coll explained that this mine had been in operation since before Aegon's conquest. He said that the coins of the kingdom House Gardener had ruled had been minted here. Florie was interested, curious to see if any Gardner coins still existed, but she could see that in his armor, Ser Toby was getting too hot and uncomfortable. So she allowed the tour to be cut short, and they walked back as slowly as she dared. Argent was nowhere to be seen, which meant he needed more time. So Florie promised to speak to Coll more while Toby went and changed into cooler clothes.
Greyfell led her into a parlor, and sent servants for refreshments. Florie sat and let him talk about mining for a while. She didn't drink everything he gave her, since he was a little overenthusiastic with the wine, but she was as pleasant as she could manage to be, even when his fingers brushed hers a little too much as he handed over her cup. Florie started to notice, though, that his attention was starting to be a little too forward, and she had given him plenty of chances to back off. She started to protest, when she realized that no servants were in the room any more, and Coll Greyfell was by the door. He locked it, and Florie stood in alarm. "You can make this easy for yourself, or hard," he said, softly and menacingly.
Florie shook her head, eyes wide, and before she could move, he strode across the room and grabbed her wrist, twisting it up behind her back. She started to scream, and his other hand came up to clamp over her mouth. She struggled, but the man was surprisingly strong, and every time she moved, pain shot up her arm. Terrified, she did her best to struggle against him, but he was already bending her over the arm of a couch, and hiking her skirt up. As Florie sobbed, he pressed her face into a pillow so she couldn't breathe. Unconsciousness, she thought, might actually be preferable.
In the morning, Cyril set off early to search for the mineral they needed, and Zel went off into town. Argent set about trying to find a way to look at Coll Greyfell's books, and so Florie was left mostly to her own devices. She walked and talked with Tobias all morning. He had told her she was pretty the evening before, and she was starting to notice that his moments of being tongue-tied corresponded with her examining him too closely. It was beginning to dawn on her that somewhere along the way, Toby had started seeing her as more than a childhood friend, more than his best friend's sister. And Florie, for her part, was starting to see in Tobias what she had not before. He wasn't just a former playmate, he was a man, a man who cared for her and protected her. Even knowing that it probably wasn't what she ought to be doing, she let herself flirt.
Florie didn't really notice time passing. She was laughing with Tobias when Argent flung himself into the room and shut the door behind him. "You have to help me," he said.
"With... er... what?" Florie wasn't quite as quick to guess as normal, she supposed she was distracted.
"He won't let me get at the books. He keeps avoiding it and pulling me off to do other things. I need you."
With a sigh, Florie agreed to help, and with an apologetic look to Tobias, swept out after Argent to go see Greyfell. Seeming pleased that Florie had decided to emerge, Greyfell suggested a tour of the foundry, and she she said she and Toby would be delighted to go while Argent rested. Florie gave her brother the look that said he had better find something good to pay for the boredom she was about to endure, and she took Toby's arm and let Greyfell lead them off.
They walked from Hightown, where the house was, to Lowtown, the way they'd gone towards the mines. The foundry was more interesting than Florie had imagined, though that wasn't saying much. Still, in the stifling heat, Coll explained that this mine had been in operation since before Aegon's conquest. He said that the coins of the kingdom House Gardener had ruled had been minted here. Florie was interested, curious to see if any Gardner coins still existed, but she could see that in his armor, Ser Toby was getting too hot and uncomfortable. So she allowed the tour to be cut short, and they walked back as slowly as she dared. Argent was nowhere to be seen, which meant he needed more time. So Florie promised to speak to Coll more while Toby went and changed into cooler clothes.
Greyfell led her into a parlor, and sent servants for refreshments. Florie sat and let him talk about mining for a while. She didn't drink everything he gave her, since he was a little overenthusiastic with the wine, but she was as pleasant as she could manage to be, even when his fingers brushed hers a little too much as he handed over her cup. Florie started to notice, though, that his attention was starting to be a little too forward, and she had given him plenty of chances to back off. She started to protest, when she realized that no servants were in the room any more, and Coll Greyfell was by the door. He locked it, and Florie stood in alarm. "You can make this easy for yourself, or hard," he said, softly and menacingly.
Florie shook her head, eyes wide, and before she could move, he strode across the room and grabbed her wrist, twisting it up behind her back. She started to scream, and his other hand came up to clamp over her mouth. She struggled, but the man was surprisingly strong, and every time she moved, pain shot up her arm. Terrified, she did her best to struggle against him, but he was already bending her over the arm of a couch, and hiking her skirt up. As Florie sobbed, he pressed her face into a pillow so she couldn't breathe. Unconsciousness, she thought, might actually be preferable.
Tobias
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Ser Tobias was thankful to be out of his armor, and took some time dressing so that he would be presentable. He wanted Florie to keep looking at him the way she had been all morning. It wasn't until he reached the room she and Greyfell should be in and found the door shut that he realized something was wrong. He worried even more when he tried to open it and found it barred, so he called Florie's name and heard only muffled noises in response. Panic rising, Toby threw himself against the door until it gave. He saw Coll Greyfell behind Florie, with her skirts hiked up, and Coll was undoing his pants.
It took bare moments for Tobias to draw his sword and fling himself at Florie's attacker with a shout of rage. He hit the man below his ribs, and as if he were made of something far more yeilding than skin and muscle and bone, the sword slid right through him. Coll Greyfell hit the floor in two pieces. Sobbing and now covered in her attacker's blood, Florie pulled her clothing into place and huddled back, staring at Toby. There was something in her eyes he had never seen her direct at him before. Fear.
There were running feet in the hallway, and Argent appeared in the doorway, features going pale with shock. "Tobias? Florie? What happened?"
"He was attacking Florie!" Tobias said, still tense and straining to keep his anger in check. As Argent gazed at him, though, he began to realize what his friends already must. Even given the situation, given their testimony, this would be murder. There was precious little time to do anything about it, and Argent pursed his lips, eyes still on Toby.
Guards were coming, but Argent gazed at the body, then at his sister and Toby, and said he would take the blame. "No!" Toby and Florie shouted at once. "No, you can't!" But they had no time to argue, for the first guards came, and could plainly see what had happened. Toby fought them off, and then Argent told them to wait a moment, and left the room. Agonizing minutes passed, and he came back, pressing the books he had been looking over into his stunned sister's hands. He said they had been lied to; that plenty of silver was coming out of the mines, it just wasn't making it to the right place. He told her he would go to the Free Cities, and now more than ever, their bloodline would be protected.
Then Argent hugged his sister and turned to Toby. "Protect Florie," he said, and took his long hair in hand. "Cut it. Show that you tried to fight me, but that I slipped away." Hands shaking, Tobias did as Argent asked, and then Argent hugged them both and ran.
Tobias could not protect Florie from the questions, though, questions that took the rest of the day. But Florie sold the story of her brother flying into a rage and committing the murder as if it were truth. And then at last, she was let alone, and bathed, and changed. Toby led her to her rooms, where she requested that nobody be let in, and he stood guard outside, his heart heavy. On the other side of the door, he heard crying, but he could do nothing about it.
It took bare moments for Tobias to draw his sword and fling himself at Florie's attacker with a shout of rage. He hit the man below his ribs, and as if he were made of something far more yeilding than skin and muscle and bone, the sword slid right through him. Coll Greyfell hit the floor in two pieces. Sobbing and now covered in her attacker's blood, Florie pulled her clothing into place and huddled back, staring at Toby. There was something in her eyes he had never seen her direct at him before. Fear.
There were running feet in the hallway, and Argent appeared in the doorway, features going pale with shock. "Tobias? Florie? What happened?"
"He was attacking Florie!" Tobias said, still tense and straining to keep his anger in check. As Argent gazed at him, though, he began to realize what his friends already must. Even given the situation, given their testimony, this would be murder. There was precious little time to do anything about it, and Argent pursed his lips, eyes still on Toby.
Guards were coming, but Argent gazed at the body, then at his sister and Toby, and said he would take the blame. "No!" Toby and Florie shouted at once. "No, you can't!" But they had no time to argue, for the first guards came, and could plainly see what had happened. Toby fought them off, and then Argent told them to wait a moment, and left the room. Agonizing minutes passed, and he came back, pressing the books he had been looking over into his stunned sister's hands. He said they had been lied to; that plenty of silver was coming out of the mines, it just wasn't making it to the right place. He told her he would go to the Free Cities, and now more than ever, their bloodline would be protected.
Then Argent hugged his sister and turned to Toby. "Protect Florie," he said, and took his long hair in hand. "Cut it. Show that you tried to fight me, but that I slipped away." Hands shaking, Tobias did as Argent asked, and then Argent hugged them both and ran.
Tobias could not protect Florie from the questions, though, questions that took the rest of the day. But Florie sold the story of her brother flying into a rage and committing the murder as if it were truth. And then at last, she was let alone, and bathed, and changed. Toby led her to her rooms, where she requested that nobody be let in, and he stood guard outside, his heart heavy. On the other side of the door, he heard crying, but he could do nothing about it.
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