Tiberius rode in unhappy silence. Bel climbed a few of the same streets they had taken down – though the ascent was markedly shorter. Umbra was an older, altus House even if their standing had suffered in recent generations. Ergo, their destination was a somewhat less advantageous location in the quarter, near to the mouth of the great bridge.
Alas, he had never been forced to have a real opinion on House Verax before. A failed courtship of the eldest daughter, Proserpina, had featured in his life shortly before that unfortunate banishment to Orlais. By that familiarity, he knew Hegemone was much younger – the sisters likely shared only one parent, with lots of siblings in between. Under normal circumstances, a girl so low in the family succession wouldn’t be of much notice. Why would she kill – or why would someone kill for her? Why risk turning a friendly House into a bitter enemy?
Unless there was something particular about Adamo. But hiring his guardsmen out to less established Houses was not unusual. Few Low Houses could bear the expense of boarding and training a large number of soldiers of their own, but Grandfather had been scooping up all the best non-mage officers from the legions for two lifetimes. Tiberius mussed his hair and chewed on the problem of Hegemone Verax all the way there.
Tacitus’ repeated questions about orders and plans eventually drew Tiberius out of his own thoughts.
“You won’t like it if I say ‘Play it by ear,’ so I won't.” Tiberius dismounted and led Bel through the gates, handing her reins off to a groom. He strode up the drive without looking at Tacitus, letting his sworn armsman fall into place a half step behind his left shoulder.
“If the girl was forced, we can offer her shelter from her House. If she was not, I’ll see she rots in the Archon’s prison.” And if the truth revealed the guilt of another party, less high born – Well. It would be a shame to dirty these pretty white walls, but Tiberius wasn’t above it.
Alas, he had never been forced to have a real opinion on House Verax before. A failed courtship of the eldest daughter, Proserpina, had featured in his life shortly before that unfortunate banishment to Orlais. By that familiarity, he knew Hegemone was much younger – the sisters likely shared only one parent, with lots of siblings in between. Under normal circumstances, a girl so low in the family succession wouldn’t be of much notice. Why would she kill – or why would someone kill for her? Why risk turning a friendly House into a bitter enemy?
Unless there was something particular about Adamo. But hiring his guardsmen out to less established Houses was not unusual. Few Low Houses could bear the expense of boarding and training a large number of soldiers of their own, but Grandfather had been scooping up all the best non-mage officers from the legions for two lifetimes. Tiberius mussed his hair and chewed on the problem of Hegemone Verax all the way there.
Tacitus’ repeated questions about orders and plans eventually drew Tiberius out of his own thoughts.
“You won’t like it if I say ‘Play it by ear,’ so I won't.” Tiberius dismounted and led Bel through the gates, handing her reins off to a groom. He strode up the drive without looking at Tacitus, letting his sworn armsman fall into place a half step behind his left shoulder.
“If the girl was forced, we can offer her shelter from her House. If she was not, I’ll see she rots in the Archon’s prison.” And if the truth revealed the guilt of another party, less high born – Well. It would be a shame to dirty these pretty white walls, but Tiberius wasn’t above it.
02-01-2025, 01:26 PM
