Sweat off the Brow

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

On that, he was in agreement, however, this time the investigation he was planning to join was personal, thus the dallying with courtiers was something he’d have to bear with. “Perhaps, perhaps not, though the drawn blade is something I manage avoiding unless absolutely necessary.” An eyebrow was raised as his expression became slightly amused. “Though interest depends on whether or not you’re into untangling the causes behind more or less recent events. I admit to personal investment into one of them, thus the dallying is unavoidable.” Considering it had to do with his family, he was uncertain whether drawing extra help in was wise, but for now he’d see if the suggestion was going to make the woman at least curious. Things tended to go faster if more people were involved, in his opinion, and on his end in particular.

“Indeed, days in the saddle tend to make for awkward days after, but whoever said we’re honest folk outside of being knights?” While they of course were, since a lot depended on exact words stated by a knight, words could be bent and molded to fit a noble’s desire to speak them, of that Chris was quite certain. Amused by the resulting banter, he was surprised to see he was enjoying it to a point. Perhaps, a familiar face to further conversation was found? He was uncertain, but would find out in time.


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

It seemed that the man had a mission in mind, and Tamara's attention was now officially captured. "Do you have something, Sir Christopher? Something that we knights of the order can attend to?" She hoped that was the case. She had been hoping to put the skills she acquired as a knight to good use. She had a feeling that she would always be a knight in addition to being a countess.

Again, she chuckled and shook her head in thought. "Oh, it's that blasted code, my fellow knight. We have to be honorable and honest and all that. It seems so terribly inconvenient at times, no?" The smile was, again, mirthful.

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

“The events I speak of are the deaths of my parents and the connection it may have to the recent decline of the King’s health,” Christopher said plainly in answer to the other knight’s question, though his voice lowered accordingly. “I believe they’re connected, and it may pose danger to my siblings and the Carlisles if the perpetrator isn’t found soon, if it doesn’t already. Unfortunately I have no proof whether the person or persons involved is doing so from within our own Court, despite all possibilities pointing toward such.” Spreading his hands, he continued. “My end of things is finding out what exactly happened and who is behind it all. It did not happen on its own, so someone must be working behind the scenes.” The question was who, and the mission self-assigned, mostly due to the fact that Chris couldn’t stand back and watch while his siblings were in any sort of danger.

In answer to the next words, Chris couldn’t help a small smile. “Yes, that blasted code. Sometimes it makes things quite difficult, considering that the rest of the nobles are usually anything but its followers,” he murmured with an amused expression. Which was what made his job difficult to do, though perhaps there were exceptions to the rule, though that was yet to remain discovered.


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

The mission was quite serious, causing her to form a rather grim cast on her face. His parents were murdered? Briefly, she thought back to her brother and father. Were they murdered, too? No, that was not likely. It was a horrible accident and nothing more. Though, in the back of her mind, she strongly suspected the Gagniers for having some role in it. Furrowing her brows, she focused completely on Christopher and the content of the task at hand. "How many people are aware of this?" The question was asked quietly, as though she were concerned about eavesdroppers.

"Someone has to hold people to a higher standard. We lucky few are put to the task."

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

Watching as the woman listened, he nodded to see she was interested in helping – or at least so it seemed. “It's only suspicions on my end so far, for it seems innocent enough. Father died of heart attack and Mother followed him shortly after of short illness. Yet, if you consider that my lady mother was Royal Physician before my sister, and Father’s position, now taken by my older brother, it makes me wonder, especially with recent decline of His Majesty’s health that followed.” The explanation was difficult for him to give, but he needed to get to the bottom of this, the faster, the better, and two heads usually worked faster and better than one.

“Of the second part, as far as I am aware, two of my siblings are involved with creating the antidote to whichever it is ailing the King, and third is keeping an ear open at Court should anyone slip anything useful. Perhaps, the Carlisles, but I believe them as occupied helping with healing matters and dealing with fallouts that may occur.” A waved hand indicated he was one of the few dealing with figuring who was behind the goings on at Court and amusement at the rest of the words. “Perhaps, and perhaps we’re not succeeding, considering the goings on at Court, wouldn’t you say so?”


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

"How long has His Majesty's health been in decline?" She asked slowly, not aware such a thing was happening to King Sedrick. Obviously, it was not widely publicized knowledge and for understandable reasons. "And when did your parents pass from this world?" She wanted to sensitive to the man, especially since it seemed that it hit him hard. The deaths in her family had done the same, but she refused to face them. She had not even properly mourned their loss yet. When would she do so? Not even she knew.

"Hm," she toned thoughtfully, "Your siblings? They are safe and out of danger, I hope? If this is a plot, then it would have been well planned and well executed. The smart traitor would leave nothing to chance." To commit regicide was the highest crime in the land, in her opinion and to be driven to it... even Tamara wondered at the motives behind such a heinous crime.

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

The questions asked were to the point and helped him think as well, making him wonder even more so than before. Truly it seemed suspicious in his mind now that he could look past the personal involvement he had into the events, and Chris was thankful for outside perspective on the matter. Perhaps it was a risk, but sometimes risks could be taken when the fellow knights were involved, and the woman had practically confirmed her identity by not denying the title he’d given her at the greeting. “He had collapsed at the spring festival’s dance,” he informed her, for he had seen and heard much as the next guard present at the event itself. “That could mean the decline had been happening from around the time of my mother’s death – a few months or so prior to the festival, in the period of time the Royal Physician was absent and getting used to new duties.” That, in part, explained the most recent absence of de Winter family from Court. Now they were back, Chris had to admit to new worries, though he tried not to let them show too much.

“I know not, and that is troubling. I can only trust that they are capable of taking care of themselves, though all are currently at Court or about to be present at such.” His siblings were not defenseless, but Chris couldn’t help but worry, and he imagined each of them were no different than him. They were close, and when they were together, it was the most telling, however subtle they were about it.


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

"Oh, that is very black timing, indeed," Tamara said with a wince and a frown. "The perfect time to slip something in unnoticed." That probably meant the poison would have been noticeable in the early stages had the Royal Physician been on hand, but since she was murdered... "I can see why you think there is a connection between that and your parents' deaths." A hand came up to rub at her chin idly, her finger passing over a small scar found there.

"If your siblings are working on an antidote, then we should be looking for the poisoner. Have any leads been made as to possible identities?" She was narrowing her eyes in thought. Christopher did suggest that keep an ear open, but she wanted be more proactive.

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

Those leads, or rather the lack of them, was the vexing part, though he managed to clear his siblings and himself, considering none of them had been at Court at the time of the events involving the royal family. “Aside from my suspicion that it’s an able-bodied noble present at Court at the time and now with a grudge against the Crown, none. This grudge would not be shown openly. My sister believes it could be anyone and their grandfather, I am not as convinced. While our noble friend could act through intermediaries to hide their tracks, they can hopefully still be caught, though the question remains how to go about it without them noticing until too late.”

Question was how to do so, though there was no doubt in Chris’s mind that it was a noble. It was somewhere for them to start, though whether lesser or higher nobles remained a question, as well. Too many questions and not enough answers, a puzzle to deal with, indeed.


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

"Alright," she let out a slow breath and took several minutes to think. "What we need is information. We need motive. What is there to gain at the death of the King? The heir is secure and I've not heard anything horrid of Prince Riordan aside from his, ah, proclivities." That particular facet of the Prince was known throughout the Kingdom, but she didn't know that he had turned a new leaf. "So, we're either looking at revenge or something else to gain. So, to begin, we'll have to start researching these nobles. Who has been snubbed by the Carlisle family? Who stands to gain at the death of King Sedrick? We should also consider alliances with other nations, such as Arton." Or worse.

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

Listening as the points were given, Chris considered each one, giving a quiet nod of agreement at the security of the throne for the time being. A brief expression of amusement followed her words before it morphed to a thoughtful one as he considered the possibilities. “Arton for certain stands to gain, especially while the throne regains its footing, but they are quiet for the time being. The other visitors have not given me any reason to suspect them yet,” he noted. Arton was too quiet, in fact, and he had to admit that Jasen wasn’t the only one getting worried about that.

“As for Demeria’s nobility, there are quite a few who would benefit from a shift in power, including lesser-ranked nobles.” A deliberate shrug was given, as he spread his arms to show himself at loss. “This is why we may need to delve into Court, however distasteful we may find doing so. Information we need may be readily found among those present.”


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

"We're going to have to be just a little... prejudicial, too." She paused for a moment, "Let's operate on the assumption that Arton is behind all of this. They are the most likely culprit. They have the most to gain from this entire ordeal." The other nations may stand to gain, but neither of them had the military strength Arton possessed. "Then, I believe we have to look at those who are situated closest to the border. There is your family and the Haltons, my neighbor to the north. I know there are a few more lands on the border, but I cannot recall at the present time."

She gave him a sympathetic smile, "I think those should be the people we investigate first. Find out if they are up to anything suspicious: meetings, unusual letters and the like. Is there anyone in your house that might be suspicious?" It was a harsh question, but it was a harsh situation.

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

Thankfully, Chris took his time in studying the borders, especially those lying next to Arton Empire, but first to answer to his family members. “Beginning with Fontaine, we have Halton, de Winter, Kendale, Peveril, and Rose. As for my siblings, I believe they’re clean,” he said, perhaps a bit too quickly, but he had his reasons, his tone going wry at the necessity of clearing his own family.

“Sebastian’s too deep into his projects, and I believe several nobles want his input into the various cities, so he’d have no time for nefarious plots. Katalin has a working knowledge of poisons, true, but she’s working too hard on finding the antidote to be the poisoner. Jasen is too new to power, and I see he struggles working out the ins and outs of being a Duke. I honestly can’t see him benefit from taking over the kingdom while he’s so uncertain on smaller scale - or wanting to do so in the first place.” Him being a knight already cleared him of suspicion, not to mention he had no motive to gain the throne for himself. What would he do with it, anyway?


Lady Tamara Fontaine

[Lady Tamara Fontaine]

"I was going to suggest that it may be someone in your house, not just family, but ... doing this requires a great deal of resources. I think it only makes sense that a noble is behind it." Unless it were some wealthy merchant, which would really make things difficult. However, they had to start somewhere. She smiled thinly at him and nodded. His arguments seemed reasonable and thus her mind shifted away from his family.

"I ... do not think it is anyone in Fontaine, considering that I am the last of the line." It was not something she was fond of saying, but it had to be. Thus, she quickly moved on to the rest of the families. "Halton is vassal to your house, is it not?" She raised her eyebrows in question, "And I think the other two belong to de Vere. And everyone knows of the de Veres' reputation. Perhaps we should start with them?"

Sir Christopher de Winter

[Sir Christopher de Winter]

Lightly shaking his head to indicate the House’s members were loyal enough to his brother not to stoop to the deed, Chris bowed it as she spoke of Fontaine. “Sister in arms, I grieve with thee,” he said quietly and formally, having caught the tone in which the words were said. It was similar one he adapted still when his parents’ deaths were brought up, and given her tone, she didn’t seem to have time to grieve properly yet.

Bringing his mind back to the task at hand, he hummed in thought. “Lord Halton is Jasen’s advisor and close friend, the first to swear fealty at the changes,” he noted, though he brought no mention about the lord’s family. While he thought they might be in the clear, he was uncertain whether it was so. “Marbury might be a good place to include, as the old Earl hadn’t been heard from for a time.” While not necessarily the border province, they could well come under their list of suspicions. “Yes, perhaps so. What think you of Rose?” Sharing in part the borders with Arton, in part with de Vere, and in part with Linten, the Duchy’s representatives seemed to be more notorious at their dislike of Court matters than even de Winters, which was saying something and bringing unknown into the fold.


Lady Tamara Fontaine