Plans In Place

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 10th February 2016

Characters: Nohria, Goulan
Description: It's a cliche, but yes, the plot is thickening.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 4 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Corran, Zathris, various NPCs

Goulan was the usual point of contact for the agents their group had at the main Hold of Amber Hills. He was in a good place to gather information from the main Hold itself, since as an understeward he had peeks into the records and a good reason to talk to many other people. He was a mild-mannered man, well liked by everyone who knew him. The ladies liked him because he was a moderately attractive middle-aged man, even though he was developing a beer gut, though he'd never married.

Tonight Goulan was nursing his second ale in the Tavern at the Vintner Hall, waiting for more of his contacts to show up. Now that it was confirmed Zathris was gone for a longer time than planned, they had a moment to strike!

The woman who entered the tavern seemed to fit right in: Her hair tumbled to her waist in artful disarray, her skirt was slit nearly to her thigh, and her impressive bust almost spilled from her bodice when she took off her cloak and draped it over an arm. Whistles and catcalls followed her as she made her way toward Goulan, and a particularly drunk individual actually slapped her on the backside, making her jump, squeal, and laugh as she passed. Thankfully, she made it to her destination without further incident, and she was able to sit across from Goulan. "If he does that one more time, I'm going to cut his hands off," she said through clenched teeth, still smiling.

Goulan arched an eyebrow. "Not his prick?" he asked, half teasing.

"No. He needs that too much to think," Nohria said archly. "So what do you have for me?"

"Remember how our Lord left for negotiations and then got lost on the way back?" he asked lightly.

What he meant, of course, was 'Remember how the man in charge left the Hold to go have an adventure and left everything ripe for the picking?'

"Mm-hmmm," Nohria replied, leaning forward as if to say something flirtatious. "Such a shame he's been gone longer than expected." What she meant was **the timing is too perfect and we would be fools to not take advantage of it.**

"It's meant more work for myself and the new Steward,** Goulan agreed. "It's a pity really. I'd hoped to spend more time with you. Say, tomorrow eve?"

"Mmm. Maaaybe," Nohria purred. "What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking we could find somewhere private to spend some time." He leaned closer in and whispered. "There's new tithe in. Metal tools, fine ones, for the Weyr. Wouldn't it be nice to get those for our people?"

"It would," Nohria murmured. "I found a key to an adjacent door in the guards' barracks. I haven't found out what the second key is for, but I will soon. When do you want me to leave it open?"

"Tomorrow night if you can. Otherwise four days. That's when another trader caravan comes in."

"Tomorrow it is. I'll have it done at the third morning hour. Anything else, sir?"

"Have you heard any interesting rumors? I've heard some about the new Steward - " and here the man grimaced. "Yet another man from the outside."

"Depends on the kind of rumors you're looking for," Nohria said, beginning to run a fingernail over the grain of the table.

"Anything you've spotted in terms of folks."

"The healer apprentice Elmin is gutless; a few Marks and he won't bother us. The cooks are starting to get frustrated with the supplies disappearing; we need to leave them alone for a few days. There are some women as frustrated as I am that they can't craft or learn to defend themselves even though under-population is no longer a problem; I might be able to recruit them. The guards are a problem." Her nail dug deep into the wood. "They're always a problem. Especially those among the best. There was one I could have dosed and made sicker, but I was too close to the situation to do it. If I'm going to do something like that, I have to aim at several of them in a way that doesn't come back to me. But I'll do it, because if too many of them are ill, then I can move around more easily at night. The calls are getting closer and I don't like it at all."

"The guards are easy enough. Who's that witless kitchen boy, Beragin? Dose a batch of the guard's meals with herbs to make them sick, then get him to deliver them. They'll remember him as the one who distributed the meals and since he's a half-wit they might assume he made a legitimate mistake," Goulan said after some thought.

As for her other notions, he considered. "Leaving the cooks alone works especially if we go for some tools instead. A few frustrated women willing to turn a blind eye to us is a bonus. Maybe one of them might even want to assist us in petty misbehavior, feel like they're getting one back on the men."

"Then I will assuredly speak with them, and use Beragin," Nohria promised. She felt a little bad about setting up a half-wit to take the fall, but those in charge might be inclined to discipline him gently because of it. "I'll see if I can dose the guards' evening meal tomorrow to start. If that's all, I should sneak back to my quarters."

"That's all," he confirmed. "I'll be working on distracting the new Steward."

Nohria nodded and stood, draping herself in her cloak. She already knew which poison she would use: It would cause nausea, dizziness, stomach cramps, maybe a few urgent trips to the privy, but the effects would fade after two or three days, much akin to food poisoning. It would cause no real damage. "For a better day," she said, seemingly offhandedly. It was actually a common phrase traded among the more politically-minded of their lot, like a code.

"And to you," he said.

Last updated on the February 21st 2016

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