(1865-10-29) Make Them Suffer Greatly
Make Them Suffer Greatly
Summary: Talia summons Eisen to help route out the traitors in their midst
Date: 10-29-1865
Related: http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1865-10-27-a-new-shadow-war & http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1865-10-27-bad-news
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Talia  Eisen  

Pottery Room, Talia's Mansion in Alasce
In Scene Set
10-29-1865

It's been a busy few days, for the Countess on multiple levels. Eisen would've likely gotten wind of Talia's summons to Alina, of a middle-of-the-night visit by a rather indimidated agent underling of the Syndicate, and of a visit by Lord Alaric al'Mordran as well. Not to mention everything that happened previously. Sophia would've left word with Eisen that Talia had urgent, pressing business to speak with him on, and left it at that for the man to speak to his cousin in a time of his choosing.

The door to Talia's 'Thinking Room' is open. A plain door. In a plain room. The only room not decorated opulently, or indulgently. There is a comfortable chair for guests. But only one. The room itself, small. And Talia, dressed in simple clothes with an apron on, is at the potter's wheel. An exercise she takes to 'clear her mind'. To think. The practice of it cleansing, for her more than anything of ambition to actually be good at it.

Presently, she seems be simply doing a large bowl, letting the wheel spin, soiled and grey hands wet, as they shape the clay.

Eisen had been in a foul mood as of late. His trip to the North was a waste of time after Myrana had asked for his assistance, only to be shut down by the paladin and the honor of the d'Arran. He had of course received the message of urgent business and he would of course respond, coming to the estate where Talia was present, simply silencing Sophia with a raise of his hand when he arrived, making his way to find his cousin himself.

When he arrived to the Thinking Room, a glance was cast to the surroundings and then to the clay that Talia was forming. "What?" The irritation comes through in his tone, oddly enough, an uncharacteristic showing from the man.

Talia barely notices it. Or, barely calls attention to it. Her features remain focused on the task at hand. That's why it was so effective for her; it required much concentration, dilberate, slow movements to be good at it. "I am going to need you home for awhile, Eisen," she says, quietly. Calmly. "We have business, to handle." She presses her lips together, lifting her hands away for a moment to exhale a breath. She dips her hands in water. Pauses, to regain a measure of composure, before applying her hands to the forming bowl again.

"A shipment of slaves was lost, the evening prior. I've men looking into the exact count, and further details. The present estimate is about eighty." A sizable number. And fortune. "Someone has been stealing coin from the County coffers, and from our Syndicate businesses. One of our men was found, throat slit, in Four Corners. We have rats, Eisen." There is clearly more, by the way she speaks. But she pauses, to let this information sink in.

"Very well. I will inform the al'Ramar girl that if she wishes to continue her lessons, she will need to come here." The irritation in his voice is lessened now, though still a hint remains. As she explains what is happening, the man nods, considering. "It would need to be someone with quite a level of skill in our arts to successfully infiltrate and plant underlings into the organization…though, I will admit I am unsurprised, especially given the information from the d'Armaz in regards to the plot to start another Syndicate in Aequor…one that does not answer to us." He begins to pace now, hands clasped behind his back. "I take it you want me to investigate…but a missive would have sufficed. What else is it?"

"We will act in this as covertly as possible. I had word out of Kentaire on my travel there that Robar, the one we hunted, was attempting to take over the Syndicate in several countries; Kentaire, Galenthia, and Four Corners. I gave Myrana the information, as well as Adelaide and Corvin at the time. My suspicion is now that Aequor is included," Talia reveals. She leans back to examine her work, frowning some. "At the present, I trust few with such information. And I want it to remain - quiet, that this is my suspicion for now. Let it be believed I think either there is sabotage from another party, or simple mutiny from within. I care not." A small pottery tool is taken. Again, she takes a cleansing breath. Exhales.

"I will be sending Philippe to attempt to infiltrate, and find some of these rats. But yes. I wish you to investigate as well. Do what you will, should you find such. Question them thoroughly." She moves the tool, to begin to shape the bowl better than her own hands could. "Make certain they suffer, Eisen. Regardless." Another pause. "Greatly."

Then, she inquires, "Did you learn anymore than that, from the D'Armaz?"

"Very well…I will see to it that your wishes are enforced and the perception of our ignorance is maintained." When Philippe is mentioned, Eisen nods, still pacing. "I am sure that he will attend to the task admirably…just make sure he is ready. I do not need to waste my time retrieving him from some mess that he got himself into…and little, unfortunately. I did not have a great deal of time with her when she imparted the information to me. I assume that we could probe her for more, if she knows anything, and in the interests of mutual survival, we could also squeeze Adriono for what he knows as well."

"Philippe's loyalty has been - tested." Talia's brief smile suggests that something of a darker nature was enforced on the man's mentality and he passed with flying colors. "He will be further trained, and sharpened. But for now, I'll let that silver tongue of his talk his way into the proper channels. Once we have a lead. And from there, you, I, and Peter and Angelo can clear out the rats. It will take some time to be certain our house, once again, is clean." Peter and Angelo, Eisen would be well aware of were among Talia's favored assassin's apart from herself, or Eisen. And fanatically loyal to the Countess. "He is my affair, though. Should he get in over his head, I'll see to it."

She looks up from the bowl, then. Imparts, measured, "There is also a gift for you. There." She nods to the chair, upon which is a small, elongated box.

"Good…I was starting to think that he was useless other than for your amusements of the flesh and for playing bad music." Eisen is quite familiar with Peter and Angelo, that much is true. He likely tested their skills personally several times to ensure that they would be adequate bodyguards for his cousin when Eisen was away on business. "I'll hold you to that…and a gift? Intriguing." Moving over to the chair, Eisen casually removes the lid of the box with a flick of his finger, examining the contents.

"I've never slept with Philippe," Talia admits, casually, and dryly. And one thing Talia is not shy about admitting, is whom she - entertains. "I saw potential in him. It takes time to cultivate. As it did with Sophia." The servant she -does- entertain herself with. Her once-slave, who was broken and reforged into a cunning woman. "Besides, you know how difficult it is to find a decent forger."

Within the box are two expensive gifts. A pair of Lightsilver Cestus. Not quite Sidhe Steel. But. Impressive, regardless. "Keep them with you." There is a certain emphasis, there. "Use them wisely."

"Interesting." He picks up the cesti out of the box and he idly straps one on, feeling the balance and the weight of the weapon. They are indeedly finely made. "Lightsilver, hm?" The weapons are returned to the box before Eisen lifts it and rolls a shoulder slightly. "I will be sure to practice with them until they are an extension of myself."

He turns and begins to make his way towards the exit before he slows his pace and stops, turning back about to Talia. "Have you heard the rumors coming from Lyioness as of late?"

"Such is the rumor," conceeds Talia. She does not give explination to the gift other than, "You deserve the best, Eisen. You've more than proven yourself family." No barbs, or comments further about that, or suggestion that his blood is other than noble. There is a pause, at his latter statement. She does not stop the spinning of the wheel, instead turns to look at him sidelong, "No," she admits. "I've been - dealing with affairs. Burying corpses. What news?"

"Andre would not have agreed to take me in if he didn't feel like I would prove myself and neither would have Killian." She didn't need to remind him of the opportunity he was given…he may not have been born a d'Geroux, but he was one now, for better or for worse. "They were abuzz that I was seen with one of the princesses…Odette. I was instructing her in the art of defense as it appears that her temperment remains skewed to that of the healer…but it would seem that some think I am trying to make a move upwards in society." He let the implication hang in the air, with the implicit 'What do you think about that' not needing to be spoken as he awaits her answer.

Talia's expression is dry, voicing, "Rumor mongers enjoy the barest scraps of bread from the table. You are of the proper age to wed, and find wife. And it would not be implausible for I to, at least attempt, to wed you to one of the Royal House for status and influence. A bold move, yes. But, nothing will come of it."

Here, she pauses herself, commenting, "I will be wed, within the year, Eisen. I need look to those that will serve my House well. Lord Alaric has expressed interest. I'm also considering Lord Remy d'Korbina who trained under my father as well. And knows more about our ways than others might. And young Odo d'Acuto. It would put us closer to the al'Slyenthar's, marrying the Hawk's nephew. And Odo is someone - impressionable, yet. And has a keen mind. But within the year. I must leave an heir to the House." Not something she is looking forward to, clearly.

"I had thought something along those lines…though the thought that such a power play did not escape my notice as entirely impossible." A look to Talia as she mentions having to be wed within the year and the man tilts his head to the side slightly. "Has the Hawk mandated this of you, or is this a decision of a more…personal nature? And I know Remy well…Andre trained us alongside each other. He can be insufferable at times, but his skills are undeniably there…as for the d'Acuto…I find that I have little opinion." The pacing begins once again. "You will have to choose carefully…as much as I am sure I would be equal to the task, I am sure it would be…suspicious, to say the least, for you to wed and then have your husband suffer from a mysterious accident."

"Quite," agrees Talia. "The Hawk mandated it." She'll not lie, or obfuscate the truth with Eisen. She has too much respect for him, for that. "But, he's not wrong in his mind. I did become a bit too distracted; both with affairs of County and Syndicate as well as more personal avenues." She'll not deny that, either. "And we do need an heir. I'll not shame my father by having the line fade, despite my brother and sister remaining. Or you, or your father." She shrugs, "Though I abhore the thought of childbrith, it is a necessity. You should meet with Lord Alaric. I'd be interested in your opinion of him. When you've the time, of course."

"I see…I'll be sure to have a word with Alaric…and the Hawk is rarely of unsound mind about a subject. There's a reason he has survived. I do not look forward to his passing. I have my reservations about Alina…but that is another conversation." When she mentions the bit about childbirth, he pauses, turning to look at her. "I am sure it will be quite a sight to see you waddle about. It will be the talk of the house."

"Goodbye, Eisen." Talia gives Eisen a pointed look. Another time she might've bandied subtle cuts and barbs back at him, for such a comment. But today, she's not in the mood. Not with recent events. She does remark, however, "Keep me abreast of what you find."

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