Feast

[aestrix]

It is a special day, in the city of Orzammar. For one man, especially. It is a day of celebration for the second son of King Endrin Aeducan. Despite his physical... issues, he's been made Orzammar's newest commander. Tomorrow, there will be quite a lot of bloodshed. But tonight is for Stalas Aeducan. Not only is there a feast in his honor, but Provings, as well. It's his day, one of honor, but also his formal presentation to the heads of houses.

The merchants have even been allowed into the Diamond Quarter, a rare treat they only see on special occasions. They're probably regretting it, by now, after trying to talk to some of the dwarven nobles and tackle their very particular brand of pride, but it's a chance to win over the highest class, instead of hoping they deign to notice the Merchant Caste.

Regardless, today is certainly a day to remember. Possibly for the wrong reasons.

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

Duty requires him to partake of some feasting, although he avoids the drinking part.

As soon as possible, though, he gets up and prepares to make his escape. The sooner he gets back to his rooms, the sooner he can get out of this tin turd.

[aestrix]

"Stalas!" calls his father, as he leaves. "Since you're departing - find your brother Trian and send him to me."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes, Father," he says obediently, concealing a sigh of regret. He certainly can't go talk to Trian wearing improper attire for the occasion.

And where is Trian, anyway? Not at the feast. Neither is Bhelen. Maybe they're in their rooms...? He checks there first.

[aestrix]

Bhelen's room is empty (even of Rica) but Trian's room is not; with Stalas's entry, it now contains all of the sons of King Endrin.

Trian looks at Stalas and says, "So you are a commander now. In name, at least. Shouldn't you be attending our king father?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"He sent me to find you, in fact. Wants to talk to you. Didn't say why."

[aestrix]

"Of course he does. We must discuss strategy before tomorrow's battle." He looks at Bhelen. "Bhelen, stay here and stroke the new commander's conceit, if you like, but after that, get to bed."

And then he turns and leaves without even a goodbye.

[thisvorlunatic]

Stalas vents a frustrated sigh once his older brother is out of earshot.

[aestrix]

"All day, I've been putting up with him," sighs Bhelen. "He can really grate on the nerves."

[thisvorlunatic]

"You have my deepest sympathies, brother." He shakes his head. "Have you ever thought about asking Father to make you his heir? Trian would throw a tantrum fit to shake the mountains, but you'd make a better king than he would." He pauses, then amends, "All right, a drunken nug would make a better king than he would, but you know what I mean."

[aestrix]

That genuinely catches Bhelen by surprise.

"I've thought about it," he admits. "But I'm not sure father would favor me."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I'd back you," he says cheerfully. "Sure beats trying to do it myself. I know Father likes me and all, but the deshyrs would shit themselves, and if he got it past them somehow I'd have to rule Orzammar someday, which sounds difficult and time-consuming and frequently dull. I'd rather be a prince than a king."

[aestrix]

Bhelen does not know how to handle this.

He's lying. He has to be lying. There is absolutely no one, ever, that would rather be a prince than a king. What do princes do? Nothing, they fight and kill each other and scheme and fail to have any real power. A king, though? A king changes things. Stalas must be lying to him, playing to his ego, pretending to be the good brother. Just like Bhelen's doing with him.

(But what if he's telling the truth? asks a voice in his head. Well, it's too late to call off the mercenaries, isn't it, and Trian's a walking dead man anyway, there isn't anyone else to pin it on...)

"I'm - surprised, at you, brother. But thank you. I'm honored by your faith in me."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I'll have it inscribed on a plaque. 'Bhelen Aeducan would make a better king than a drunken nug'," he jokes, with a sweeping gesture to indicate the prospective size of this plaque. "You could hang it up in your rooms as a reminder that at least one of your brothers appreciates you."

[aestrix]

Bhelen laughs, a little, in spite of himself.

"Trian might take offense, to that, I think."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Alas, you're probably right. And an offended Trian is the last thing anyone needs. All right, I'll hold off on the plaque."

[aestrix]

"Thanks. And - I - should tell you," he says. "I think Trian's moving against you."

He doesn't know what to do. He's not good at - thinking on his feet. So he sticks to the plan.

[thisvorlunatic]

"...What do you mean?" he asks, the smile dropping off his face.

Stalas is good at thinking on his feet. But unfortunately, it would be a bit tricky to consult him on how to safely back out at the last minute from a plan to cruelly betray him.

[aestrix]

Just a bit, yeah.

"He might be moving against both of us," says Bhelen consideringly. "But it's - you haven't heard some of the things he's called you behind your back. I think he thinks Aeducan would be ah - I'm sorry, his words, not mine - better off without you."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I've heard some of the things he's called me behind my back. He's reasonably blatant about his opinion that Orzammar would benefit greatly if I fell in the lava pit. I just didn't think he'd go so far as to push me, on however metaphorical a level. ...How metaphorical is it? What have you heard? Or is this just a hunch based on long exposure?"

[aestrix]

"Hunch based on long exposure. Things like - very disturbingly foreshadowing sentences. 'We won't have to worry about him any longer, little brother' or 'I've got it all taken care of.' It's actually pretty annoying, I don't think he knows any subtlety. All he needs to do to add to the effect is throw in an evil laugh."

[thisvorlunatic]

"This is disturbingly easy to picture," Stalas mutters. "Well... thanks, Bhelen. I'll be on my guard."

[aestrix]

"You're welcome. Be careful," he says, earnestly. He - isn't sure about betraying his brother, but he's pretty sure he doesn't want this one to die.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I will."

All right, off he goes to get the fuck out of this ceremonial armour and go to sleep. Hopefully he won't be too stiff tomorrow.

[aestrix]

Bhelen... goes back to his room and tries to figure out what the hell to do.

After a sleepless night, he's still not sure.

And then it's the day of the campaign.

"Trian and his men," explains Lord Harrowmont, "will clear the way to the mines for the king. Fall back once you've reached the entrance to the mines, the king and his men will back you up. Bhelen, you and your men will second the king, you will be holding the area that Trian and his men take and relieving them when they fall back."

Trian nods, and heads off to do that.

"Stalas," says the king, turning to Stalas and lowering his voice. "I have a special mission for you."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes?" he says alertly.