#fenixtj

Jessica accepts this and goes with him.

"Otherwise, she might run for..whatever you suspect her of"

Staff look up, and bow, a statue twists its head, powerful looking thing.

"My lord" The statue turns, sculpted like a greek god.

"Aton, this is the Countess Jessica King. Show respect," he says. When the Glome bows, the Varich says "Dame Branca, have you seen her recently?"

"Yes," The glome replies "She was trying to get out through a window..."

A brow "Well, a safe guess, she's reluctant to talk to you, Countess."

The varich then asks "WHich window?"

"The Eastern wall" Aton says

"Guard the front door... should you see her try to escape that way, call warning and detain"

And the Varich changes direction again "This is a morning of many frustrations" he says

"And those who came with us, Baron? They will join us?"

"Once we have her cornered, I will drop the ward and allow it. " he says "You do not feel the two of us can handle her?" He pats the hilt at his side.

Jessica's lips thin and she shifts her grip on her maul. "If needed."

"My lord" says the Balor who's hands were on the window, "Your excellency?" Her eyes flicker "To what do I own this honor?"

"I know." Jessica says coldly, indicating she has some insight or intel.

"I have haven here," She says lifting her chin

"Do you, Dame Branca? " Tidemarch says, and his voice cracks "KNEEL, and make no attempt to escape."

Glamour flows and shoves the balor or at least wills her to put herself, into a kneeling position "But safe haven."

"You are safe" He says "Just kneeling. And it is 'but safe haven, Baron' and 'I have haven here, your Excellency'" Tidemarch looks angry "Now, tell me what you did, or I will compell you worse than this. You balor are an INTERESTING House... and talented, but you are so often weak willed"

Branca looks stunned, then says "My lord, I sent a spy to the Troubadour event last night"

The Baron looks at Jessica to gauge her response to this.

She nods once, slowly.

"Your excellency, this now involves my hold, and she may have had plots and plans here in addition to your own hold. I remove Safe Haven from her. But I ask that I be kept in the loop the results of any questioning of her and where it may lead, particularly if it involves Sunkissed waves. I Must protect my people" The Varich says

The Balor strains but cannot yet 'unkneel'

"Tell him the rest." Jessica orders.

The Varich leans forward "If you lie to me, I will still turn you over to the countess, but it may not be in one piece" He whispers into the Balor's ear.

"You risk losing Balor support, my lord," She hisses

He laughs then "Oh you're serious. My dear whelp, the other Balor will cheer whatever your punishment is rather than find themselves closed out of this, the LAST Hold they're welcome to at all. NOw... what other plans did you have in mind?"

And a dictum goes with it "Stay kneeling, stay here until I order it, and answer"

"honestly" He adds

She snarls as layers of layers of dictum flow, like layers of chain and talks. She confesses to a hope to poisoning the Beaumayn child. She confesses she was thinking of finding a way to get rid of the Aesin as well. She admits two trods that only Balor knows and their attempts to use them to frame the Baron or at least time him to ravaging trade to turn the Countess further against him

The Pitt they hoped to corrupt Sayd, to make her think more like a Balor. ANd then declare the house. They feel that hold is most vulnerable to their tendencies.

and she names her liege who sent her

(Who I will make up later)

Jessica looks carved from granite.

"Did you want me to have her answer anything else, your excellency?" He says

"Not at the moment. What think you, My Lord?"

"For her? At the very least imprisonment" he states "THere are areas Varichs will go that I suspect you would not, however, as she has commited crimes against both your household and mine, the choice is yours where she is to be tried and what punishments be bestowed. I am very sorry to hear your heir was threatened. I see now why you treated this so severely from the very early moment. Any lord must have a touch of wolf or bear in them, ready to destroy those who would hurt cub."

Jessica is quiet a long moment. "As you say, My Lord. And your heir was considered fair game in this, as well."

SOunds "Countess? " It's sir Jack.The wards are down now

"Here, Sir!"

"My liege?" Thorog booms

"Also here, Thorog." The Varich says "Do not intefere in the doings of the Countess. I suspect she will want a prisoner seized and taken to her hold. Rather you are to assist in this if she asks"

Branca curses still kneeling "I will not forget this."

"-Good.-"

"My Lord, I feel that I should ask you to handle this, since the deeds were undertaken under your offer of Hospitality."

"However, I also feel strongly that I wish to deal with her myself."

"Then, countess, if I may offer a proposal, I make a gift of her to you, to show my trust of your justice, and recognition of your authority, and lastly to smooth over our ..sometimes tense misunderstandings. If you like, I could have one of my knights be my eyes and ears over the dealings while your people and yourself handle her .. or, the reverse, one of your choosing to witness to my own dealings, and I will, of course send meticulouos transcripts to your scribe. "

She nods. "I accept your offer in the spirit it is offered, My Lord. I will take custody of her from here."