Saesha, Maester Percival and Belric

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Again, Percival proved that he lacked imagination. "You think this is about getting vengeance for her? I assumed you were more clever than that. Think beyond the immediate issue and start seeing what is down the line. The murder of Toren Tully, committed by an independently motivated hand, would move the wheel in our favor."

[Maester Percival]

Percival kept his expression completely blank and asked, "Explain to me why you think that?" He snorted and before adding, "And did you tell me it was going to be for revenge the first time? Did you think that works impress me?"

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I don't give two shits what impresses you." Belric said it with an air of lightness, truly unburdened by the thoughts and feelings of Maester Percival. "Nor do I care to explain my reasoning further. You wanted to know what the poison was for. I've told you that, the answer to why was never part of the agreement." His voice remained casual, "Choose to help me or don't, there are other places to find poison. I had simply figured you were up to the task."

[Maester Percival]

"I could easily make the poison, but your plan seems stupid. And I do not want to hang alongside of you." Percival replied simply with a small shrug. "You could try the Apothecary. He is an incompetent hack, but probably the best you will do in this area."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric had already considered that the Maester would deny him. However there was always another door. "And what would my infallible Maester adivse?"

[Maester Percival]

Percival smirked, and barked a sharp laughed, "I have no idea how to advise you. I have no idea of your goals. I would think that your goal is to grow your house's influence and power, but you act against that quite regularly. Tell me what your goals are and i can advise your best course, but until then I am blind."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I plan to do just that." He said frankly. "If I have shown the contrary, it is from my ignorance of such things, not for lack of trying. I intend to build Harrenhal into the heart of the Riverlands, turning this miserable keep into what it was destined to be. Starting with alliances is the obvious move, though perhaps the most challenging. I am not an easy man to like." He gave Percival a knowing smirk, it was a trait they shared. "Medgar Tully has made it clear that he does not intent to see us prosper. In conjunction with building my own wealth and power, I must work to usurp his as indirectly as possible. And once I am ready, I plan to force him into breaking the King's peace. The murder of his brother seems the most likely motivation."

[Maester Percival]

Percival looked at Belric and thought, this man is but a child. "Do you have an element of a plan between your first step and last?" He studied his fingers, "You realize at the level you want to play Tully will not need proof. If he breaks the King's peace by dragging you and your wife from your beds and hanging you House Blackfort does not profit." He looked bored directly into Belric's eyes, "Do you even know if any other house wishes the man dead? Will there be any other suspects? If his brother dies right now will any be suspected beside you? I assume you plan on murdering him here at this tourney we will be hosting. Have you considered the stain on our family if a Tully dies here by violent murder even if you are not connected to it." When the Maester finished speaking he raised his hand slowly to study the back of it intently as he waited for Berlic to strike him across the face, and throw him from the room because he had asked hard questions. Lord Piggy's head must be ringing and almost in danger of actually thinking.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"Why do you take me for a fool?" He asked, more angry with himself than with the man before him. "We walked different paths, but we still ended up in the same place. I have my sword, your have your chain. Let us be done with this petty judgement about who's chosen the better way."

Belric had to stand up, his frustration forcing him to pace. His hatred for the Maester did not help, he had been thinking about beating Percival since the man walked through the door, but he wrangled his temper. "You honestly think I want to kill Toren here, in my own home?" He scoffed. Apparently they both had similar thoughts on the subject. "He must die far from me, so I can not be suspected as you so smugly pointed out. No, the Tully's will enjoy themselves in Harrenhal, as much as they are capable. The whole point of the tourney is to show that I want peace and prosperity for the Riverlands, allies will come with the latter. Lord Roote is already aware of my intentions and agrees. With time, we will win over the other houses... Maybe not all, but enough."

"If Medgar want's to come and take Harrenhal in the meantime, he is more than welcome to try. These walls are strong, and he does not have the resources for a proper campaign. The risk of forcing the King's hand to protect his sister will keep him at bay, otherwise he would have done it already." Belric finished his wine, the plate of food was nearly gone as well. "We are trapped in a stalemate right now, Medgar and I. I want to gain the advantage. That is the whole point of all of this."

[Maester Percival]

Percival placed a hand to his head and winced. All of a sudden his skull was pounding. This man was making every mistake possible. "You told Roote you planned to murder Tully's brother? Why would you do that?" Percival let his guard down for a moment and let the scorn he was feeling cover his face. "You say Tully is your enemy and you plot murder but you do not plot to kill your enemy. Your plot would anger Tully. And make him wary. Your plan is shit." Then Percival took a deep breath and returned to his practiced neutral expression.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"Sometimes Maester," he spoke slowly, so Percival could keep up, "Anger and paranoia lead men to make irrational decisions. The goal is to manipulate him into making the first slight. Removing Toren would not only push Medgar over the edge, but also work to eliminate one of his best commanders. If I simply assassinate Medgar, then I leave Toren at the helm of Riverrun."

[Maester Percival]

Percival snorted loudly, "You can not be so stupid. Simply because you act irrationally when angered and destroy chairs or jaws does not mean Tully is made of the same weak metal you are. Many men become cautious when provoked. And if he or an advisor is a true master of the game they will see your move easily and counter act it."

Percival began to examine his nails intently, his mouth did not slow as he continued to speak. "You are assuming your opponent is a fool. You should never underestimate your opponent. You want to kill this Toren, so you are trying desperately to find a way to justify it. You need to step back and see it objectively." He stopped and looked at Belric and baked a single laugh. "Of course for you being objective is probably as difficult a challenge as keeping a sweet tongue is to me." He suddenly smirked at Belric. "Well I hope you can prove yourself a better man then I and rise above your limitations."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"It's amazing you keep a tongue at all." Belric snarled, provoked by Percival's blatant disregard.

"What makes you think I am trying desperately to kill Toren? His death is not nearly as relevant to my plan as strengthening my alliances. It is simply an opportunity that has presented itself. He has shown a weakness, and likes to rape girls. One of the girls he has shown a malicious interest in happens to want to replay the favor. Toren thinks himself untouchable in his armor, so if he chooses to force himself upon her again he will do it alone. If Yesult can find a way to poison him either before the act or during, he won't know what hit him. Following Toren's death it matters little wether Medgar grows bold and angry, or fearful and reclusive. Either way I will use it to win the loyalty of his vassals and turn it upon him."

"As I said before, we are in a stalemate. One of us is going to get the upper hand, and I would rather it be me."

[Maester Percival]

Percival stared at him for a long moment. "That is your plan? You are not even going to send an assassin to kill him but simply give a maid poison. And you still have no plan to follow up on house Tully's new weakness." He rubbed at his eyes. "I can think of a hundred ways to weaken house Tully and strengthen your house that risk nothing. Yet you want to send a maid to murder a skilled knight. And wager not just your life but your entire family's lives on this one angry woman."

"Have you even considered that perhaps Tully implemented your own plan against you? You are angry at his harsh words and about to break the King's peace. This is exactly the situation you were hoping to tempt Tully into." Percival filed away the fact that he was going to use the maid. That was a simple matter to deal with.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric had indeed considered that Tully intended all of this, though he doubted Medgar could foresee the full brunt of Belric's retribution. The Maester was mistaking Toren's assassination as the cornerstone of Belric's plan, when in reality it was just a nice bonus.

"Despite that wild tongue of yours, you are not stupid. I assume Medgar's exact intentions were to get a rise out of me. Which is why I will play the part of passive vassal until the strength is on my side." Belric sat back in his chair. "Do not discount the strength and will of a wronged woman however. A life amongst men has left you oblivious to feminine spite it would seem. The Stranger's rage is nothing to that of a scorned woman. They are underestimated, as you have so graciously proven, and therefore have a strong advantage. Toren thinks himself superior to our innocent little maid. That will be his downfall."

"Now, I am interested in hearing your hundred ways to weaken house Tully."