[Guile: Chapter 02]
"Guile: The Quality of a Deception"
Parteth Another
~o~
The first portion of the spider and the fly requires the spider to be the charming host that it pretends to be in order to ensure that the web is securely closed upon its victim. If the fly manages to escape, the spider will not enjoy the fruit of its labor. A more aware Lundgren leads the group to its doom, though he does it with rather more aplomb than his original storyline counterpart...
~o~
The first meeting between Hausen and Lyndis was rather more tearful than Lundgren could stand, so he excused himself from the room as hastily as could be still considered polite (though he doubted that either party even noticed his absence) and made his way to where the rest of the travelers waited. Before entering the room, he summoned one of the maids and bade her prepare chambers and garments for their guests. The maid bowed stiffly and retreated, leaving Lundgren alone again. He set his face carefully and stepped into the room.
All eyes fastened immediately upon his entrance. The two knights stood and he waved for them to relax; he needed them to be off their guard and to at least discount some of the more unsavory rumors that had spread amongst the servile portion of the keep's residents. Unexpected courtesy to his guests' would help in that regard; a few steps left him within reach of the bell pull and he tugged it down once, twice.
Near instantaneously there were two servants standing in the doorway. Lundgren motioned to the foreigners as he instructed the help, "Estelle has already gone to prepare rooms for our guests. See to it that they are made comfortable and provide whatever they have need of while they wait for our lord to grant them audience."
He was gratified to see the servants hesitate for only half a second before bowing and herding the riff-raff out of the room. Left with alone with the knights, Lundgren seated himself in one of the vacated chairs and fixed the young men with a steely gaze.
"So tell me, young Kent, how fared your travels? Was my niece well pleased with your escort? What troubles did you encounter upon the way?"
As the cavalier straightened up and began his account, Lundgren leaned forward as though it held great interest for him. He would clarify things with the other young lout in a moment, but for a straightforward telling, Kent was the better choice.
Anyway, there was still time to decide upon his next course of action. He could afford to be patient for a few days at the least.
Nodding his head, Lundgren gestures for Kent to continue with his narrative...
~o~
All the waiting was grating upon his nerves. Lundgren had originally thought that he possessed enough patience to weather the influx of visitors, enough charm to divert their attentions away from his schemes, and enough intelligence to recognize any threats that might arise from their visit. He was still certain that he possessed enough of these qualities to brave the storm, as it were. It was merely that he was growing tired of the whole passive existence.
He was a man of strength - action was the watchword that they swore by!
And despite Hausen's increase in health (the poison was dropped in dosage), the interlopers had shown very little inclination to pack their bags and move on. And all of Lundgren's plans now hinged upon Lyndis and her companions leaving the keep under their own power, because the success of the plot would lay in all of the disasters happening outside of his jurisdiction. His brother's own demise would follow in time, and the throne of Caelin would fall to the sole surviving heir.
It was a pity that there was no way to play this farce to a conclusion in any other manner. He would have loved to have seen his brother take a long soujourn out to the plains of Sacae to be with his daughter. Alas, that was no option, so practicality demanded that he retain his original plan to slay and replace.
He'd changed the plan entirely this past week, however. The new plan took into account the possible talent that he could recruit to help consolidate his holdings against whatever schemes the surrounding lords participated in. He knew of at least one; members of the Black Fang had moved through Caelin and the surrounding cantons. Hausen had spoken to him of a few meetings, though no specifics were mentioned. It seemed as though treason agains the ruling house of the league had been contemplated, but how far that plot had come was anyone's guess.
Hausen seemed uncertain of how far he wished his complicity in the plot to extend. Lundgren could see the problems that would lay ahead in either case - Caelin was a small canton and would need to either extend its own holdings or be absorbed by one of the larger houses.
In any case, withdrawing from the conspiracy, while it might result in trouble from the Fang or the other lords, would probably lead to betterment of relations with Ostia. And better relations there would ensure some recourse should the other lords vie for the land in the wake of the unsettlement yet to come...
When Lyndis finally comes to announce that she has decided to move on with her journey, Lundgren is inwardly elated. Still he plays the part of the older, wiser relation and bids her stay a few more days.
He is happy when she refuses.
~o~
The four travelers ride out, one upon a pegasus and the rest upon horses. It is an odd sight and Lundgren notes his brother's heavy sigh as they watch the young people ride out of sight.
"I wish that she would have remained here." The weak old man is speaking again, Hausen reverting to the sentiments that drag him off of his seat of authority.
But for today, Lundgren humors him. "Don't worry brother, she promised to visit you again. I'm certain that she'll come back later."
And to his own surprise, he finds that he's looking forward to that day.
~o~
AN: The bad cometh. After this part, there will be character death. This is the last of the happy days. Warning. Danger Will Robinson. Danger.
Parteth Another
~o~
The first portion of the spider and the fly requires the spider to be the charming host that it pretends to be in order to ensure that the web is securely closed upon its victim. If the fly manages to escape, the spider will not enjoy the fruit of its labor. A more aware Lundgren leads the group to its doom, though he does it with rather more aplomb than his original storyline counterpart...
~o~
The first meeting between Hausen and Lyndis was rather more tearful than Lundgren could stand, so he excused himself from the room as hastily as could be still considered polite (though he doubted that either party even noticed his absence) and made his way to where the rest of the travelers waited. Before entering the room, he summoned one of the maids and bade her prepare chambers and garments for their guests. The maid bowed stiffly and retreated, leaving Lundgren alone again. He set his face carefully and stepped into the room.
All eyes fastened immediately upon his entrance. The two knights stood and he waved for them to relax; he needed them to be off their guard and to at least discount some of the more unsavory rumors that had spread amongst the servile portion of the keep's residents. Unexpected courtesy to his guests' would help in that regard; a few steps left him within reach of the bell pull and he tugged it down once, twice.
Near instantaneously there were two servants standing in the doorway. Lundgren motioned to the foreigners as he instructed the help, "Estelle has already gone to prepare rooms for our guests. See to it that they are made comfortable and provide whatever they have need of while they wait for our lord to grant them audience."
He was gratified to see the servants hesitate for only half a second before bowing and herding the riff-raff out of the room. Left with alone with the knights, Lundgren seated himself in one of the vacated chairs and fixed the young men with a steely gaze.
"So tell me, young Kent, how fared your travels? Was my niece well pleased with your escort? What troubles did you encounter upon the way?"
As the cavalier straightened up and began his account, Lundgren leaned forward as though it held great interest for him. He would clarify things with the other young lout in a moment, but for a straightforward telling, Kent was the better choice.
Anyway, there was still time to decide upon his next course of action. He could afford to be patient for a few days at the least.
Nodding his head, Lundgren gestures for Kent to continue with his narrative...
~o~
All the waiting was grating upon his nerves. Lundgren had originally thought that he possessed enough patience to weather the influx of visitors, enough charm to divert their attentions away from his schemes, and enough intelligence to recognize any threats that might arise from their visit. He was still certain that he possessed enough of these qualities to brave the storm, as it were. It was merely that he was growing tired of the whole passive existence.
He was a man of strength - action was the watchword that they swore by!
And despite Hausen's increase in health (the poison was dropped in dosage), the interlopers had shown very little inclination to pack their bags and move on. And all of Lundgren's plans now hinged upon Lyndis and her companions leaving the keep under their own power, because the success of the plot would lay in all of the disasters happening outside of his jurisdiction. His brother's own demise would follow in time, and the throne of Caelin would fall to the sole surviving heir.
It was a pity that there was no way to play this farce to a conclusion in any other manner. He would have loved to have seen his brother take a long soujourn out to the plains of Sacae to be with his daughter. Alas, that was no option, so practicality demanded that he retain his original plan to slay and replace.
He'd changed the plan entirely this past week, however. The new plan took into account the possible talent that he could recruit to help consolidate his holdings against whatever schemes the surrounding lords participated in. He knew of at least one; members of the Black Fang had moved through Caelin and the surrounding cantons. Hausen had spoken to him of a few meetings, though no specifics were mentioned. It seemed as though treason agains the ruling house of the league had been contemplated, but how far that plot had come was anyone's guess.
Hausen seemed uncertain of how far he wished his complicity in the plot to extend. Lundgren could see the problems that would lay ahead in either case - Caelin was a small canton and would need to either extend its own holdings or be absorbed by one of the larger houses.
In any case, withdrawing from the conspiracy, while it might result in trouble from the Fang or the other lords, would probably lead to betterment of relations with Ostia. And better relations there would ensure some recourse should the other lords vie for the land in the wake of the unsettlement yet to come...
When Lyndis finally comes to announce that she has decided to move on with her journey, Lundgren is inwardly elated. Still he plays the part of the older, wiser relation and bids her stay a few more days.
He is happy when she refuses.
~o~
The four travelers ride out, one upon a pegasus and the rest upon horses. It is an odd sight and Lundgren notes his brother's heavy sigh as they watch the young people ride out of sight.
"I wish that she would have remained here." The weak old man is speaking again, Hausen reverting to the sentiments that drag him off of his seat of authority.
But for today, Lundgren humors him. "Don't worry brother, she promised to visit you again. I'm certain that she'll come back later."
And to his own surprise, he finds that he's looking forward to that day.
~o~
AN: The bad cometh. After this part, there will be character death. This is the last of the happy days. Warning. Danger Will Robinson. Danger.