The Devil You Know

Silas had been using the last few weeks to skulk about the castle and learn the layout of the place. He used a mix of magic, both general skill and his adeptness with mind magic, and general tricks with clothing and light, to make himself appear to most as someone of no consequence, a mere servant sent to clean and lug heavy thing around. It had allowed him the time and the ability to move about the palace and privately ingratiate himself to some of the staff as Sly. An employer, no matter how well liked, was still an employer and not everyone was happy with him all the time. It also allowed Silas time to learn his dear twin’s habits and peculiarities, like how he took his tea and what time he regularly woke up.

Silas was still stitching his plan together like a well made quilt and as such needed time to prepare how the pattern would come together. There would be some impersonation, of course, that much was obvious, the level at which would need to be determined. Would he use his likeness to his brother to ruin the other man’s reputation among his nobility and the common folk while Silas himself ingratiated himself to them and then use that to set a treasure pot boiling, having people call for his abdication of the throne?  Would he lure his brother into a friendship and privately kill him elsewhere? Returning to masquerade as him for a time before revealing himself. 

That would all depend on the other people at play, specifically his dear brother’s advisors and loved, and how easy he thought they could be manipulated. 

Right now, however, he wasn’t thinking about that. Someone had stopped him in the hallway and told him that there was a dresser that had belonged to his late mother that needed moved into storage, and asked him to get it done. Curiosity had gotten the better of him so he’d made his way to the indicated room and found himself standing in front of the large piece of furniture. 

He popped it open and looked at the clothes inside. Silas didn’t know what he expected out of a wardrobe. His hand ran along the silks and satins, his head slightly tilted. There was unlikely to be anything within the furniture that would show him what he longed to know. Was there any regret? Any remorse? Any thought for the son they abandoned and erased from existence? 

One hand lingered on a dress in the green color he often favored when he heard someone enter the room and turned.

It had been an early rise for Aoife, an inspection of the various defences had been arranged by Inez, her first point of call. Peeling herself away from the warmth of his bed, the comfort of Seb next to her, Aoife rose. Washing, then dressing to go and suffer in the crisp, frigid air as Inez rambled on. Important things, defences, yes, though her mind occasionally tuned out to snippets of images of the night danced freely in her mind. And then of course, the heavens opened. A miserable early hour was compounded by an equally sudden and miserable monsoon had Leaf appearing more as a drowned blonde rat than the battle-hardened mage. While magic could keep her core at an even temperature, the ick of having her clothes so tight and sodden against her skin made every step towards her room that much longer.

Khali trailed ahead of her, warbling her own complaints, but Leaf would pay her no mind. The faster she got into her room, the quicker she could strip and bundle herself up in front of the fire with her duvet. The rest of the day was done. Cancelled, in her book.

While she’d been a resident of the Palace for some months, Bodil had still to clear the rest of the wardrobe and other items stored there before Leaf’s arrival. She hadn’t minded, the few possessions Leaf had could fit easily into a backpack, the rest was stored in Kirkwall… at least she thought so. Sebastian had tried to offer his mothers dressing gown on her first night, but she’d declined, out of respect and because he brought her one of his shirts instead.

Since she had spent the night elsewhere, her room appeared simply as another guest chamber, bed made and surfaces clear. Seb’s shirt had remained carefully out of sight, carefully folded under her pillows instead. She just had to get out of these sodden robes first.

Her door bounced open, gravity pulling it back closed behind the hound and mistress. [color=#0074d9]“Ugh, get me out of thiiiis. IhateitIhateitIhateIT!”[/color] Hands clenched and unclenched as she skulked towards her bed, fingers fumbling over the knots and ties of her outer robe. [color=#0074d9]“Go see the new defences, Hawke. Get an idea of the layout, Hawke. Well the layout is now a small sea, Seb… fuck me...” [/color]

The door bouncing open had him dropping his hand and quickly shutting the wardrobe, preparing a quick lie or to bolt. He caught the blonde haired woman out of the corner of her her eye, and the dog that accompanied her. The Champion of Kirkwall herself was in the room and she was…

Undressing.

Oh. Oh. She thought he was his brother. That was what was happening. He’d dropped the mild glamor while he was alone and she obviously wasn’t paying enough attention to realize his hair was darker and longer. He was quick to pick the glamor back up, working to match his brother’s appearance more solidly.

This was not the first person he was looking to try his little ruse on. Hawke would know his brother quite intimately, wouldn’t she? Obviously so if she was comfortable stripping down to nothing. So he’d have to make this quick. If anyone would pick up on incorrect mannerisms and the like it would definitely be the woman in front of him.

And, knowing what he did of Hawke being a former resident of The Gallows, he wouldn’t put it past her to gut him if she had any suspicion he was a threat. His eyes flicked to the canine companion that was also in the room. Yes, this could change to disaster really quickly.

You look soaked to the bone. Why don’t I go see about having something sent up to warm you? he said, giving her a small smile and attempting to push into her mind and see if that was the right move in the moment so he could adjust what he did next.

His voice was a surprise to her. She had thought she was alone and was merely, mockingly, repeating what he had said to her the night before. Eyes widened, hands paused pulling the outer robe off before continuing. [color=#0074d9]“You are supposed to be in a meeting, why are you hiding in my chambers?”[/color] Not sparing him a glance her grin became coy, [color=#0074d9]“Well I know one reason why, but you have a full day I thought?” [/color]

Leaf turned her back towards who she wholly believed was Sebastian. The probe of her mind only skimmed across the intertwined thoughts, Korr chuckling at her annoyance and the constant vigil of Aoife’s hold on the demon's leash. Her sodden state had captured her full attention for the immediate moment, the outer robe finally discarded and tossed over a screen she then stepped behind.

Rummaging through her backpack, Leaf searched for a change of clothes. “Stew would be divine,” head peeking, but still wholly distracted by getting out of the soaking garments. [color=#0074d9]“Hot Cocoa too? Maybe a drop of brandy if you’re feeling generous? How long do you intend on hiding?” [/color]

Khali meanwhile, eyed the stranger with silent judgement. Her mistress may have missed the strangeness, but the mabari was too quickly aware that this person was not who he appeared to be. The scent was unfamiliar and even if the Prince tried to disguise himself, there would always be that minute trace to be found by the inquisitive nose. As the stranger made no moves of aggression though, the hound simply placed herself between the two, suspicion etched on her face.

It worked. At least it seemed like it was working. He glanced between the woman and the dog as the animal situated itself between them. Silas raised a brow at the animal and made a show of putting his hands deep in the pockets of the breeches he wore. See Fido? Not a threat. No need to warn your mistress I’m not who I say I am.

Mabari were smart, everyone in Thedas knew that. And he knew his magic could make him look like a carbon copy of his brother but he couldn’t trick the hound’s nose. He would just have to make an attempt to make friends with the massive beast and hope for the best. The woman was unsuspicious none the less and it looked as though her demon was giving her a bit of a hard go of it. Silas had time with his particular demon, even before the veil fell, so he’d had time to get a hold on her. Desire was easier to manage than rage anyway.

He focused on the Champion’s words, I needed a moment and begged a brief break, thought I would see if you were back from your adventure. Leave a note otherwise. You know, I can barely remember what’s been discussed so far. I can’t even recall what the meeting was for at this point.

He made a note, stew, cocoa, brandy. He’d pop into the kitchens and have it sent up. Probably a mistake coming here to be honest. Now I don’t want to leave. Never let it be said that Silas couldn’t flirt.

How about I have a nice bath drawn up for you too? Warm your bones and muscles.

Khali remained where she was, eyeing the stranger carefully. Ears turned as the man spoke to her mistress and while he made no moves to approach Aoife, Khali continued to silently stare. Two bounds and the mabari’s jaw would connect with flesh and cement a grip so tight only on word of his mistress would she unclasp it should the man’s intentions prove nefarious. You are not the Princeling. Why are you pretending to be?

[color=#0074d9]“Begged?”[/color] Leaf laughed, continuing to change behind the screen. [color=#0074d9]“You’re the Prince of Starkhaven and the Free Marches, the only person you should be begging anything from is… well no-one, but I like to think I can?”[/color] Wet clothes appeared, her hands tossing them over the top of the screen. [color=#0074d9]“As you can see my adventure was a dismal affair. I’m not going to come out from under my duvet for the rest of the day.” [/color]

Behind the screen, Leaf grinned, chuckling as he expressed his desire to stay. [color=#0074d9]“I know, especially with how I’ve come back.”[/color] Hands played with a piece of her attire, briefly considering tossing it over, though with his full day, thought better on it. His offer, however, caused her to switch tactics.

[color=#0074d9]“I just want to be dry right now honestly, but I can draw you one up later? Give you an incentive to get through things today, yes?”[/color]