The Mistress of Whispers' Office

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Where the Lady plots.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles debated visiting his brother's sister in law for quite some time, but after her unfortunate encounter with Herb he decided if anyone could help him further his little private investigation it would be her. He knocked on her door with a firmness he did not remotely feel.

[The Gambler]

He was allowed entry by a Blackfyre guard after some time. Shiera was seated at a small table by a window, which judging by the collection of books stacked upon it in various languages, was her reading nook. She had a book in her hand in Qartheen, with the spines of the other tomes all seeming to be in a different language, with one runic script that was likely Asshaii. She wore and ivory dress which clung to her perfect figure, a heavy silver necklace around her neck set with alternating star sapphires and emeralds to compliment her unusual eyes. These eyes rose from the text to rest on the youngest Blackfort, a small smile curling to the woman's lips, merely looking at him expectantly.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles may not have seen Shiera before, but having never had sex and having his emotions mostly cauterize do by war he viewed most women as some extension of his sisters. He bowed politely. "My lady," he said, "it's an honor to meet you." He knew owing a favor to someone like her was an awful idea but he had revenge on his mind and nothing is stronger than revenge. "I had hoped you could help me solve a rather vexing problem."

[The Gambler]

"Well, I have become quite talented at solving vexing problems," she replied, motioning for the young squire to take a seat. "The question is, what reason I would have to solve one of your own."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

"Because it is doing the Crown a favor," he said in a faux naive voice. "And because I assume you like having people owe you favors. I'll owe you a large one."

[The Gambler]

"Doing you a favor in order to do the Crown a favor seems an indirect and inefficient route," she remarked, raising an eyebrow. "And you misjudge me. The trading of favors makes friendship so cold and businesslike," she said, taking a seat. "When someone does me a favor, it is because they want to."

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Nyles had no intelligent answer to that. Perhaps she was almost telling the truth, but he doubted it. He could sense the same predator kal instincts in the beautiful woman as in any of her siblings; it was hardly far from the surface. He bowed. "Of course," he said, "but trusting too much in friendship seems...uncertain," he said. "I thought a favor for a favor to be more...reliable." This woman was helping the brother who had driven another brother into exile after killing her other brothers.

He was at a loss as to what to say behind that. "You'd be doing me a favor, though. The fact is be trying to do the crown a favor is because I want to," he said, knowing the logic was flawed but not old enough to better articulate the idea. "I know you have no lack of those who wish to do you favors," he said. "But none are as loyal as me about keeping them."

[The Gambler]

"I think you underestimate the amount of loyalty I inspire in my friends, young Blackfort," she replied, in a sultry tone, leaning forward. "And what sort of favor do you think you can do for me?"

[Ethan Flatrivers]

He shrugged. "Like I said, I'm loyal. I do favors when I owe them, I don't worry too much about what the favor might be." He looked at her leaning in with a bit of unease, but he'd heard this was always what she was like. Myrcella doing it felt playful. Her doing it reminded him of a big cat smiling at a mouse.

[The Gambler]

"Are you a virgin, Nyles Blackfort?" she inquired, as if it were a natural segue.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Except for life fucking everyone..."I am," he said. "I'm...I saw a lot of women get hurt in the war. It took some of the desire out of me," he confessed. "How ma y rapes have you seen?"

[The Gambler]

"None," the woman replied, leaning back, clearly bemused by the odd question. She let the awkward silence hang there.

[Ethan Flatrivers]

Her question had been plenty odd, in context, so the squire let it hang a moment. "Good," he finally said. "It's a bad thing." He shrugged. "I'm sorry to have bothered you," he said. "I'm still getting used to the way things work here. A lot different than during the war." Nyles smiled. "Im glad to have met you, my lady." He bowed very respectfully. "I'll solve this problem another way."

[The Gambler]

"Is that all then?" Shiera inquired, teasing slightly. "You have no even asked your boon yet."