Hey, Mistress! She doesn't respond, probably because Varel's reeling off a list. Thief, deserter, land dispute. Same old stuff, for a day in court. Murder? Ah – this just got interesting!
"Do we have a record of proceedings, from the post-Blight Landsmeet?" Mistress asks.
"I believe I have that, in my office" Varel answers.
"Good" she smirks. "Have someone fetch it for you, please. I'll want that when we begin."
Varel has a quick look of confusion, before leaving. What are you planning, Mistress?
Once he's gone, she lets the smirk fade. Mistress? "Hey, Max... you're looking sharp."
Yeah, I had Scruffy wash me so I don't embarrass you today. Can't have a dirty escort, out there. But you're looking glum? I nudge her hand.
"... I'm okay, Max. Just hoping my guess is wrong."
That's an odd thing to want, but don't worry – after all, you've been wrong about plenty of stuff!
Varel returns, giving Mistress a nod. "She'll bring it shortly."
"Fine" Mistress answers, her mask-face sliding back on. "Don't call on Lady Packton until you have it. We'll handle the lesser crimes first."
"As you say, Arlessa" Varel concurs. "I'll head out, to announce you."
Mistress exhales, through her fingers as she steeples them underneath her nose. "Alright. I can, I shall..." You will. And you'll be great.
"All rise" we hear Varel declare. "The Warden-Commander and liege lord of all Amaranthine enters." Is it liege lord, or liege lady? Eh. Better question: this is strictly politics, is calling Mistress the Commander necessary here?
We stop next to him, and Mistress faces the crowd. "Good day, everyone. Let us begin."
"Be seated" Varel announces. Heh! Our old seneschal also used to make everyone stand, just to sit back down right after, for his own amusement. Some things never change, no matter where you go. "The Arlessa will first hear the matter of the Crown against the sheepherder, Alec."
A guard brings a dirty-looking guy to the front of the crowd, as Captain Garry takes over. "On behalf of the Crown, I submit that Alec stole two bushels of grain which were bound for the garrison in Amaranthine. When confronted, he confessed. The punishment for theft against the crown is death by hanging."
"What say you, Alec?" Varel asks.
"My herd were slaughtered by the Darkspawn, we were starving... I ask for mercy, Commander" Alec begs.
Mistress gives him a inspective stare. "Our soldiers need those supplies, but they also need people. This man is to be conscripted to the Crown's forces. Accept this, Alec, and I shall absolve your family of further responsibility for your actions."
"Thank you, Commander!" he stammers, as Garry motions for the guard to remove him.
Varel gives Mistress a glance, as someone hands him a scroll. "I believe our next concern is another military matter?" Mistress asks, noticing his signal.
"Correct, Arlessa" Garry answers. "Danella, a soldier of the Vigil, deserted her post and was found three leagues away." You're the captain of the troops, idiot. This is your problem to sort out! In the barracks. Dragging it out into public just makes Mistress look bad. "Even if it were not a time of war, the penalty would be death." Wait, we're at war again?! Fucking hell, I guess Qunie wasn't kidding when he said they'd attack some day! Those bastards move quick, don't they?
"I asked the old captain several times to release me from my oath. The Darkspawn were getting too near my family's farm" the woman declares. Oh, I hope this lady's not related to the Turn Nobles.
Her and Garry keep shouting at each other, while Varel turns to Mistress. "The men are afire over this. She's an accomplished scout, but desertion could destroy the army."
"Enough" Mistress coldly calls out, making Garry and the woman go silent. "Danella is to be imprisoned for one year. Take her away."
"... Yes, Commander." Garry motions to some guards.
Varel clears his throat. "Next, Lady Liza Packton. The-"
A well-dressed woman paces forward, interrupting. "I prefer to speak for myself." Nice one, lady. The sheepherder had better decorum than you. Mistress probably hates you already. "The former Arl, Rendon Howe, made certain promises to me." I hate you already! Mentioning that fucker's name... She holds up a letter. "In writing, no less. I was given income rights over the southern bridge."
Another well-dressed noble marches up. "And what part did you take in his conspiracies, Liza? To get such a prize?" Guy raises a great point, lady. "Apologies, Arlessa" he says to Mistress. "I am Ser Derren, the owner of the land she seeks. Taken from me, because I was one of the few nobles to stand against Howe and Teyrn Loghain."
Mistress looks at both of them, before turning to Varel. "Seneschal Varel?"
"Yes, Arlessa?"
"Remind me; what was Queen Anora's decree regarding Rendon Howe at the last Landsmeet?" she asks.
He unrolls the scroll, and skims down a bit. "Any actions, orders and arrangements made or proposed by Rendon Howe after the Winter Landsmeet of 9:29 are to be considered suspect due to his wanton treachery, and may be declared void by official discretion."
Mistress nods. "The Queen has spoken. Ser Derren, your lands remain yours." HA! So that's why you wanted that thing. Well played.
"Bann Esmerelle will hear of this!" Lady Whatever snarls. Good for her – she'll know not to come around, expecting Toadface's treason bullshit be upheld. Fuck that guy.
Varel ignores her outburst, as he rolls the scroll back up. "Captain Gareval, is the accused ready?"
Garry motions to a guard, by the side-door. "Bring in Ser Temmerly the Ox." Ugly bastard, if that's him coming now. No wonder they named him after cattle. "Ser Temmerly stands accused of a murder most foul." He turns to the guy. "You and your men cravenly ambushed Ser Tamra, in the middle of the night."
"You dare too much, Captain – I am noble born, and will not submit to these accusations." I hate your voice, too. Just so you know. And you can't be a very important noble, since I've never heard of you. He has a point about Garry, though; he should really present evidence before declaring this idiot guilty like that.
"You are accused of murder" Garry repeats for some reason. "My soldiers found you fleeing while Ser Tamra's blood was still hot." Wait, you only run the Keep. Why were your soldiers in the city?
"There's a great deal of traffic on the roads. Not all of it human." Well, yeah. Plenty of us Mabari live in Amaranthine, too... wait. Is Ugly trying to pin this on a hound?! "And it's so dangerous at night." Oh, he means the Sky Ants! I warned you all about these damned things. "We were merely in a hurry to reach somewhere safe and warn." Hmm. I don't trust you or Garry.
"You mock this court with your denials!" What, you thought he'd confess if you asked nicely? Because that's dumb, and also you asked quite rudely.
"You have nothing, Captain. Release me, Commander – it's this common lout's word against mine." You're asking rudely too, fat-face! Mistress, can't we throw both of them in a cell?
"What evidence do you wish to present, Captain?" Mistress enquires.
"They were found with some blood on them" Garry answers, sounding frustrated.
"As I said, the roads are dangerous" Ugly offers. "Neither the guards, or your Wardens, have removed the recent criminal activity in the city."
"Very well, then" Mistress utters, straightening up. "You are free to go, at this stage. Please make yourself available, if we have further need of you."
Ugly gives a half-hearted bow, and walks out. "This session is concluded" Varel announces.
Mistress waits for Garry to walk over. "Have your best tracker keep an eye on him, from a distance."
"Yes, Commander."
She glances over, when he doesn't leave. "Captain?"
"I want my displeasure noted, over Danella's sentence" Garry coolly answers. Yeah, great. If you don't like it, then maybe be the Captain instead of palming your disciplinary matters off to Mistress in the first place!
"Understood" Mistress sighs, with an apologetic look. "But I will not apply wartime punishments during peace."
"Between the Darkspawn and Esmerelle's scheming, do you really think this is peace? You should have executed Temmerly as well, Commander." Oh, that's what he meant by wartime? Hmm, I can see his point.
"Maybe – that's also what she was counting on. I have the matter in hand, Captain. Trust me."
Garry gives a wary salute. "It's everyone else I don't trust."
That makes Mistress wearily chuckle. "True enough." She looks between Garry and Varel. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on the latest recruit before her Joining?"
We're almost to the door, when Lady Goat appears from her office. "Ah, Commander. I met with the traders you brought in... from wherever you found them. That Qunari seems especially dubious." No kidding, considered where we did find him... "Still, trade has been revitalised beyond what I'd hoped; now that the Pilgrim's Path is secured" What, already? "Considering the treasury surplus, I set this aside for you. Well done, Commander." She effortlessly hands over a large sack to Mistress, who has trouble with the weight. "Sixty gold, to the coin."
Mistress slides her other hand under the bag, to hold it up. "And now I know how much sixty gold weighs. Thank you, Mistress Woolsey." Don't humour her, you're The Mistress around here!
"Keep up the good work, Commander, and perhaps I'll be able to teach you the weight of one hundred coin. That's a real struggle to hold... for beginners" Goat almost smirks, before returning to her office.
"..." Mistress groans to her self, before pacing to the nearest table and putting the coin sack down. Shaking her wrist, she looks about. The room's empty at the moment, if that's what you're looking for? She slides the shield off her back, and dumps the sack in the middle. "There. It'll be easier to carry... hopefully nobody sees me carry it this way."
I'd offer to let it sit on my back, but you made it look pretty heavy – since your dignity died years ago anyway, suck it up and shield-bear your money. She stops, and flips it back off her shield. Or don't? What are you- I feel the Warden tingling thing, just before the main doors open. Of course.
"Ah, good" Mistress waves, as everyone walks in. "Gather around, everyone!" She grabs the shield, and puts it down by her leg. "Mistress Woolsey and I were just going over the Keep's finances. I've decided to give you all a share of our excess, for everyone's fine work under the current mess." Oh, bullcrap. She just doesn't want to carry it back to her room!
Braids cheers, as she motions to the chair. "Nate, Loghain? Could you please count out and split this bag into lots of two gold? I'd like to also include our sentries in this." Damn, now I can't really make fun of you. You're no fun when it's no fun making fun of you. "The rest of us will conduct Sigrun's Joining, now that Court is over." She waves Scruffy over. "Can you check my wrist? It's still a bit sore from the fighting in the mines." You're just trying to make me feel bad for my jokes, now!
"Just in time, too" Tadpole says, moving to the table. "The Wintersend festival will be starting in Amaranthine this week."
"In three days, yes" Mistress adds. "I didn't think of that... who wants to go as my official attendants, and who wants to stay?"
"A city full of drunken Shems? I think I'll pass" Bramble murmurs.
"A city full of drunken anyone? You better not leave me here!" Braids cheers.
"I'm fine, either way" Nail shrugs, sitting down by the coin-sack.
"I've never seen a proper festival, not in Ferelden at least" Scruffy notes. "I'd like to go?"
"Ask me again later, if this Joining business doesn't kill me" Gorgeous jokes. I hope she was joking. Regardless, the mood sucked out of the room and everyone's just awkwardly staring at her.
Sigrun, the moment-killer!
As always, thanks to everyone reading/following/reviewing. You guys make my inane ramblings worth it.