Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad that you liked the last chapter and I hope that you like this one as well, as always I own nothing. For those who were wondering the man who was murdered was a knight loyal to Stannis in the books who still followed the Seven.
Sansa, followed by her guards and servants, went to where Sir Gower's body had been found. He had been in his room, abed in fact. A cup of wine lay on the side of the bed and Sir Gower was curled into a ball, his hands clutching at his throat and blood pouring from his eyes and nose, the man had clearly been poisoned. Sansa signaled Maester Wolkan, who went to the body and gave it a brief examination. He turned back to Sansa, his expression grave.
"I fear my lady that Sir Gower has been poisoned using the poison known as the strangler." Sansa nodded and turned to face some of the servants.
"Clean his body and take his body to the old sept." Her father had made the sept for her mother shortly after their marriage. It had burned like all the rest of Winterfell and the Boltons had not bothered to have it repaired. Sansa had once prayed there regularly, now she had not bothered to have it repaired either. She supposed she would eventually, in memory of her mother if nothing else, but for now she had other priorities. She had not known Sir Gower well, but he had seemed decent and he had kept to the Faith of the Seven so she expected he would appreciate the gesture. Once they were gone Sansa turned back to Maester Wokan.
"You know this poison?" He nodded.
"I do my lady. It is a rare poison, very rare with few in Westeros outside of the Citadel knowing how it is created from plants that are only found on islands in the Jade Sea. The process is a long and complicated one and few have the skill to do it." As he spoke Sir Massey came up and began to speak.
"My money is on Prince Oberyn. He studied for a time at the Citadel and remember his name, the Red Viper. Besides poison is something a Dornish man would use."
"I do not know." Maester Wokan said. "While his reputation is known to me, this act makes no sense. Why would he poison Sir Gower? The man was brave, but of little consequence politically. Forgive me my lady, but it would make far more sense to use the poison on you rather than on him." Sansa tried but she could not think of why Sir Gower was dead and not her, as the maester had said her death would aid their enemies far more than the death of Sir Gower would. Then another thought occurred to her, one she was surprised that she had not thought of sooner. She turned to the two men and asked them the question which had formed in her mind.
"Who do you think put the poison in the wine? I rather much doubt Prince Oberyn flew in on one of the dragons, poisoned the wine and then flew away again with no one the wiser." The two men looked at one another, the Sir Massey spoke.
"Could it have been someone from the Boltons still here?" Maester Wokan shook his head.
"Doubtful, many of the servants were Winterfell people and all those who were not were seized or dismissed. That still does not answer the question of why her ladyship was not harmed. Any Bolton agent would have as much, if not more, cause to kill her as the Lannisters and the supporters of House Targaryen."
"I shall look into this." Sir Massey declared. "Fear not, I shall leave no stone unturned till the truth is uncovered." Sansa was about to reply when a servant came up and bowed.
"My lady there is someone here who wishes to speak with you. They say it is most urgent." Sansa nodded and turned to face Sir Massey.
"Very well, have Maester Wokan assist you in your efforts. Come to me when you have news." Before he could say anything, Sansa turned and was gone. As she walked down the hall to meet this mysterious guest Sansa paused and looked around.
She had thought that she saw something, a movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked about, but saw no one. She told herself that there was no one there, that she was imagining things. Yet as she continued on she could not lose the feeling that someone was watching her.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hoped that answered the question of who the victim was. Who do you think did it and why? Please let me know in the comments. Till next time, please pray for the families of the police slain today and the families of the wounded and the wounded themselves, an older woman with cancer I heard of and all who need it. Bye and may Jesus bless you.