Plans and Performances
Twenty Fourth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC
Part of you wants nothing more than to fly back to Sorcerer's Deep at once. The implication of the Court of Stars being able to reach so many minds at once, to shape the Reach to their will even in the absence of their hoped for marriage, are chilling. You do not even know how many lords might have taken the offer.
Lya for her skill at magic, Vee and Softstrider for their knowledge of the fey, Glyra, Moonsong, the Orphne Lord and the Queen Rahella for actually being fey, each with their own perspective.... you already begin to formulate a list of the council you would need to gather.
No, you cut yourself off. This has been happening for months, it can wait a few more hours while you play at the feast.
Troubling as the present realization is, it does not mean you can forget your purpose at the tourney. If anything it has just become more urgent to ensure as many of the Lords of the Reach fall on your side and not that of the Court of Stars. Moreover, you could probably do with an opportunity to speak to Lady Adara and perhaps obtain another perspective on this fey pact.
"Thank you for indulging my curiosity, my lord," you smile as you as you don the mask of Buttercup again. "I hope I am still invited to play at the feast this evening. I must confess I have never attended as a bard before, but..."
"Then how...?" Lord Ashford's interruption trails off, as though he is not quite sure how you would take confusion over your musical skills.
"He cheats with magic...
a lot," Dany proclaims in a dramatic mock whisper.
And with that good cheer is restored to your company, or at least to Owen Ashford, who does not understand the full import of the news he had just shared.
***
Later that evening, just as you finish a raucous rendition of the Fisherman's Daughter, Rina approaches you alone, though she does not speak aloud, perhaps for fear of sharp fey ears. Once more there are three lords and ladies of the Court in attendance, including Ser Dregaire.
"Why didn't you warn Lord Ashford about what the Court of Stars mean to do? They're using him..."
"That truth will not do us or Lord Ashford much good this evening," you counter.
"If we were to tell him, he either refuses to believe that those he sees as benefactors could be seeking to usurp the fates of his fief and we would lose a great deal of good will, or he believes us, in which case we have shown our hands to the Court of Stars with Ser Owen tangled in the middle of all this with a fey pact hanging over his head."
Rina's expression is not pleased, but she obviously sees your point.
"He would be rather poor at trying to keep the knowledge off his face even with the ring to guard his mind, wouldn't he?" Her gaze drifts over the candlelit feast hall. "Perhaps his mother might shed some more light on this pact..." a sort of wry humor enters her thoughts.
Assuming she will even deign to speak to Buttercup the Bard and the false lady her son crowned today.
How do you question Lady Adara Ashford?
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OOC: The reason I need exact questions here is because it would kind of defeat the purpose of the mind blank ring for Lord Ashford if you guys just turned around and asked his un-warded mother questions about the fey as Viserys, so surreptitious questioning it is. Not yet edited.
