Maegor XIV
29AC
"The walls of our great city are the natural option! To face Khal Temmo in the field would be suicide!" one magister I did not know the name of shouted and I merely sighed at the infighting.
I had deliberately been avoiding these meetings for the last moon, more focused on the safety of my wife, and clearly it had not helped. The city was not unified in the slightest, the background needs of the campaign had long since been squared away, and now the gritty details needed to be ironed out.
Where to fight was the first question. Qohor had met the Dothraki at the walls of her city and she perished. Norvos meanwhile had met them on the field of battle and met the same fate. This was the question. Meet the Dothraki in the field or face them at the walls of Pentos.
"Fighting from the walls would only scupper our efforts. We have gone to great lengths to prepare an army. To hide behind our walls would merely waste it!" Magister Illyrio shouted this time and I merely nodded along. Dragons were worth little on the defending side of a siege. Terrax would be far more capable of fighting out in the flatlands.
"To fight a siege would only put our great city at risk. We have much territory to utilize. We should meet the Dothraki at the Rhoyne!"
"The Dragonroad crosses the Little Rhoyne at Ghoyan Drohe! Attempting to halt their crossing is folly!"
Debate continued and I merely wished to be elsewhere. This was the issue with politicians and merchants debating war policy, they knew nothing of war or how to wage it.
"Are you not going to interject?" Magister Gessio whispered to me from my right and I sincerely did not want to. I was certain many magisters would take it poorly.
"Perhaps you should, my dictating policy would only make me look worse," I said with some dissatisfaction coloring my tone. More and more magisters were quietly growing concerned about my presence in the city. Magister Illyrio and Gessio had informed me readily of the faction developing around Thorello Obizos. They were quiet for now, no doubt wishing to use my dragon in this fight, what remained in question was after we won the war.
"Hmm, what is your idea then?" Magister Gessio asked quietly, debate still exploding across the large hall the conclave had met in this morning.
"Ideally, fighting them in the Velvet Hills would be the best. The hills would favor our large infantry army, but I assume the Dothraki are too smart for that." I thanked my past memories for this. Dealing with nomadic horse archers was a complicated business. Thankfully, I had some prior knowledge to work on.
"Hmm, they faced Norvos outside their city," Magister Gessio continued.
"Did they face them in the hills or on the banks of the Noyne?" I queried. If the Dothraki were capable of dislodging a large force from the hills of Norvos… I might need to think of an entirely new strategy.
"If I recall correctly, I believe they faced them just outside the walls of Norvos. On the Dragonroad which crossed the Noyne," Magister Gessio answered and I resolved to go and purchase some books later. I needed to know more about this world. I was coasting off my prior knowledge but enough changed as to where I needed both a refresher and to see just how much was different.
"Then… if we can lure them to the Velvet Hills, that would be ideal. Even then, that would leave both Ghoyan Drohe and Pentos dangerously exposed. Not to mention the Flatlands." Thus was the issue with defending Pentos. Facing a nomadic army hardened by a century of conquest. On nearly entirely flat lands with little in terms of defensive positioning.
"We spent many hundreds of thousands of pounds of gold building up Ghoyan Drohe for battle. Battlements that could no doubt rival every castle in Westeros. Perhaps we should fight them there?" Magister Gessio offered and while I nearly scoffed at his ignorance, I was thankful I found such a man in Pentos.
Magister Gessio of House Brenyl was no warrior. He was not even a general. His wealth came from trading, much like Magister Illyrio Narratys. Both were proud but still wise enough to defer to others when it came to military planning in most instances. Truth be told, it only made me like them more, even if he had not the faintest idea about Westeros.
"Hmm, settling down for a siege in a city other than Pentos is risky. Because that is their ultimate goal no? We need to be placed in between Pentos and the Dothraki horde." Ghoyan Drohe could be a wonderful place to fight. Siege warfare was hellish and would deftly negate the mobility advantage of the Dothraki. Yet getting trapped behind walls would not only limit Terrax's usefulness, it would also dangerously expose Pentos proper.
"Hmm… I am afraid I have nothing else," Magister Gessio said once more and I could not fault him. For a merchant, he had some decent ideas for this campaign. It would just not be sufficient to face a threat like the Dothraki.
"What about facing them outside of Ghoyan Drohe? Like with what Norvos did?" I asked this time. My logic led me here.
"Would that not waste our fortifications?" Magister Gessio answered and I shook my head.
"Ghoyan Drohe would merely be a mental aid to our soldiers. I intend to defeat the Dothraki in the field. But knowing that there are strong walls to fall back behind if need be would be a comforting feeling for the soldiers. Should, by some unfortunate circumstance, we lose the first bout, we can fall back behind the walls of the fortress city and prepare for a siege. Should the Dothraki be stupid enough to ignore us we will rebuild and regain strength in the city before deploying again," I laid out my quickly developing plan.
This plan would require more workshopping, namely because being so close to safety could have a negative impact on our soldiers too. It was a delicate game that needed to be played.
"That… I do not know how that would work," Magister Gessio confessed his lack of understanding and I could empathize with him. Being tasked to debate a subject you had little idea about for the safety of your home could not be easy.
"Ask the conclave, there are some military minds here, we merely need to float this idea. Get some people thinking about it while I work out some of the troubles with it," I reassured him. I was not part of the conclave. Merely a guest, so my suggestions would just be detrimental to the skeptics. Magister Gessio meanwhile could ask to his heart's content. Being from a wealthy and influential family like he was.
As Magister Gessio stood to speak. I noticed the door to the ornate chamber we were currently in open again out of the corner of my eye. It had opened a few times in the last few hours. Letting in servants with refreshments and messengers. Yet this time was troubling as one of the guards from Dragonstone entered.
'What?' I thought, tuning out Magister Gessio's speech. I had brought a few guards with me but as a sign of goodwill and safety. All guards were to remain outside of the conclave meeting.
Moving past Magister Gessio. I made my way toward the pathway that led to our row of seats. All the while spotting the soldiers scan the room looking for me.
Before long I caught his eye and he practically sprinted towards me. 'Fuck…' I thought. I knew something was wrong.
Before long we met in the center of the pathway and he whispered into my ear.
"My Prince, there has been an atta-" he began before I shoved him out of the way and bolted for the door.
'OF FUCKING COURSE!' I thought, rage coloring every inch of my being.
…
'TO ME!' I thought, energy coursing through my thoughts as I summoned Terrax to me. I did not have the time to waste on a carriage or a regular horse. Terrax could ferry me across the city in mere moments.
I felt him stir across our bond and respond to my frenzied state. Quickly rousing from his slumber outside of my manse and hoisting himself into the air to meet me. I was near the center of the city so landing spots were scarce but I did not care. My wife and child were in danger.
By the time I actually left the large, ornate temple the conclave met in today. Terrax was already in view. Having moved here with great haste in response to my rage.
Signaling him to land, he chose a convenient fountain situated just in front of the palace.
A sickening crunch and crack rang out as the stunning work of art was crushed beneath his great weight. The stone popped and broke apart under the strain of my dragon's weight and the clear water which once sprouted from the fountain now flowed freely in the streets.
Wading into the water, I practically hauled myself into Terrax's saddle, not even strapping myself in before snapping the reins and yelling out the word "Soves!"
Terrax listened to my command, like the good dragon he was, and departed for our new home. He had taken readily to the large clearing he now had for himself. I had been intending to craft a stable for him at some point but it was an issue for later.
Before long, we were right back where he started, a clearing around the manse he resided in for the time being.
With a haste, I had never witnessed before, I vaulted off my dragon and made my way to the doors of my manse. The guards readily let me in as they spotted my quick advance.
Sprinting down the halls of my manse. I realized I had no idea where the attack had taken place.
'The healer!' I thought after not even a moment. He had a small room for himself in this manse and it was obvious anyone who suffered from an attack would be there.
I practically kicked the door in as I finally made it there and what met me was a sickening sight.
Three women lying on makeshift beds and much to my relief, the distinctive form of my wife overlooking the three.
"Shiera!" I called out in an instant, finishing my running and pulling her into a deep hug, unwilling to break it off.
Shiera did not respond to me then, merely returning the hug and remaining quiet as a mouse. After a few moments, I heard some quiet sobs and released her to get a better look.
"Are you alright?" I asked with worry coloring my thoughts. I cupped her face in my hands and I spotted the steady stream of tears leaving her eyes.
She did not say anything but did lightly nod in my grasp. Pulling her into another hug, I dreaded what I was about to say but it needed to happen.
"Please go to our room Shiera," I whispered out.
"What!?" Shiera quietly exclaimed, shock and anger coloring her tone.
"You should not be here, I will handle this, you surely just went through a lot. I will deal with the aftermath of this attack and find the attacker," I said, sending a glance towards Tyanna, who was one of the ladies injured and receiving treatment.
"I should be here, these are my handmaidens, and they were attacked under my watch!" Shiera exclaimed again but I put my foot down.
"The families of these ladies will no doubt be here soon and I do not need you dealing with their wrath. I will figure this out. Go and rest," I said with a stern voice but Shiera finally relented.
She left the healer's quarters with two guards and thus I was alone with the healer and several ill women.
"What happened?" I asked unceremoniously once Shiera left the room. I would ask her myself later. But for now, I needed the healer's consensus.
"My Prince, the tea the three ladies were drinking was poisoned," the old man croaked out and my eyes drifted to Tyanna once more.
'This was your plot huh?' I asked myself more than her and I already knew the answer. Tyanna would die today, for the attempted assassination of my wife and child.
…
"This is an outrage!" Prince Nevio roared and I agreed wholeheartedly. Tyanna's transgression would not go unanswered.
"What happened?!" Magister Gessio cried out next and I sucked in a breath before beginning.
The three fathers of the women poisoned in the attack arrived and in the meantime, I had gotten the retelling from the servants, chefs, and guards.
"While my wife and her handmaidens were enjoying tea in the garden. They suddenly fell ill and collapsed. No doubt poisoned from the tea they were drinking. The healer is working hard to figure out exactly which one," I gave them the rundown.
"Such a blatant attack on our families cannot go unanswered!" Moredo Seltra exclaimed this time and again, I was in full agreement.
"Have you interrogated the guards and servers yet?" The Prince turned to me then. He was the one I was the most worried about. As the father of Tyanna, doing away with her would carry consequences for our budding friendship. It would also lend a powerful ally to the skeptical faction growing within this city.
"The server yielded nothing. He merely moved the tea from one spot to another. The cooks gave the same testimony. They are under further interrogation as we speak," I said with a cold voice. 'If only I did not need to prove what I know, I could just stick a knife into Tyanna's neck and be done with this,' I thought through gnashed teeth.
"You, healer. Will they survive?" Magister Gessio said this time, worry coloring his tone.
"I am uncertain of Lady Fereah and Narha, though Lady Tyanna is in a much better situation," the old man croaked out again and I fought to keep the look of rage off my face.
'This bitch,' I thought with another poisonous glare sent Tyanna's way. Surely this was all a ploy. Get Shiera poisoned and give herself an alibi. Every moment I was in her presence, I was fighting an overwhelming urge to draw Dark Sister and slam it into her head.
"The health of the ladies is best left for the healers. We must figure out just who did this," I brought the topic back on course.
"Indeed, who would have the motivation to attack our fair ladies?" Magister Gessio said this time and I mentally hit myself.
This would be a perfect opportunity to deal a blow to the faction actively working against me in the conclave. Framing them would not be the most difficult thing even if this was not a death blow. It would surely weaken them.
Yet Tyanna was a threat like no other. A threat which could be in my own home at damn near any time. 'The immediate problem, or the future one,' I thought, racking my head to figure out what to do.
Killing Tyanna here would effectively send the powerful and influential House Iranhor directly into the hands of the current faction forming against me. Yet I could not, and would not, let her live. Under no circumstances could Tyanna even be allowed to think up another attack.
"If only the other ladies were awake. Perhaps they saw something that the guards and Lady Shiera did not," Prince Nevio put out a thought and I dreaded losing him as a friend. I knew it was bound to happen. Tyanna was his daughter after all and I would settle for nothing less than her death.
"Indeed, the guards and cooks and servants are untrustworthy. But the ladies could give us clues," Moredo Seltra said this time, and a thought clicked in my mind.
"I… I might have an idea," I chanced. Though this would surely not be easy.
Shiera IX
29AC
Shiera fought back quiet sobs sitting on her bed. 'Why did this happen?' she kept thinking. Over and over and over again. The thoughts never left her mind.
She assumed she would be safe in her own manse, at least for now. Pentos still needed her husband for the safety of their city. What fool would try to kill their protector or alienate him while staring down death?
Yet here she was. Her handmaidens were poisoned right in front of her. Even she has nearly poisoned herself. Worst of all was her child…
If she had taken even a sip of that tea. She could have easily lost her child. The little prince or princess growing in her womb. Poisoned by some devious, evil cretin. Stolen from her before she even got to stare into their little purple eyes.
Shiera let out another involuntary shudder at the thought. She felt like throwing up just sitting in bed. Her friends were dying in the healer's room, assailed by an unknown attacker. A rage filled her heart, a rage mixed with fear. This attacker tried to not only kill her and her attacker. But even her child.
Suddenly the door to the room opened and Maegor entered alone. Quickly moving over to her before kneeling on the ground to meet her at eye level.
"Shiera, I need you to tell me everything that happened, now," Maegor said with a tone that left no room for questions.
"Of course," Shiera said after wiping away her tears and recounting the same story she told the healer.
After she finished describing the attack in all its terrible detail, Maegor looked terribly serious. 'Did he think of something I did not?' Shiera thought then. Maegor always managed to look at things differently than her. Shiera hoped beyond all hope that he found the culprit through what she could say.
"I think I may have found a way to smoke out this culprit," Maegor said, a deathly serious tone in his voice.
"Tell me," Shiera said in an instant. She needed to find this attacker. For her to feel safe in her own home again.
"We need more testimony. Another set of eyes on what happened. The guards were too far away and the chefs are yielding nothing of use," Maegor started and Shiera could feel a sense of foreboding build within her.
"My handmaidens all fell ill, they are in no state to give testimony," Shiera started but Maegor shook his head.
"I need you to use your glass candle to plunder Tyanna's mind," Maegor said with a tone of certainty like he had no regard for how dangerous it could be.
"Seriously Maegor?! Do you genuinely think Tyanna had something to do with this? Even still? She got poisoned too!" Shiera still fought hard for her friend. 'What motivations could she even have?' Shiera thought with a sense of disbelief.
"Shiera! Will you trust me just this once for god's sake? Have I led you astray? Has my gut feeling ever led us wrong? I know it is Tyanna, I just need proof," Maegor said, sincerity and a ferocity that reminded her of Queen Visenya filling his voice.
"Why? Why do you doubt her?" Shiera asked again, it all seemed so very hard to believe. Maegor's gut feeling certainly should be taken into consideration but Shiera had long been taught to think for herself. Queen Visenya hated being misinformed and all of Tyanna's actions seemed to point directly to the opposite reaction Maegor was having.
"It does not add up Shiera, the weird looks she gives me, the chilling feeling I get around her, even the events you told me do not add up. Something is off here. Why did she drink so little tea compared to the other two ladies? Why was she so insistent on you drinking it too?" Maegor continued and for the first time, Shiera was starting to see things from his perspective.
She even noted it then. 'She was acting odd,' Shiera thought with a frown. Had she really been so blinded by her friendship?
"You do realize the risks of this right? I am barely trained, any mess up could not only harm me but effectively render her a husk of a person," Shiera was rather fearful of this usage of a glass candle.
Queen Visenya had instructed her on this. She even peered into the mind of a child during her stay on Dragonstone for practice. But peering into the mind of an adult was a wholly different game.
Any number of complications could occur. She could be pushed out by a particularly strong mind, she could have her own mind rattled in the attempt if she was not careful, and her very being could change if she slipped up in the process. Using a glass candle to peer into the mind of another was a wildly dangerous art. One she needed far more practice in and unfortunately she had been separated from her teacher for the last few moons.
"I do realize the risks, and I trust you to keep yourself safe, and frankly Shiera. Regardless of whether you peer into her mind or not. I will kill her," Maegor promised then, and Shiera knew beyond all shadow of a doubt that he was not lying.
Pushing away any thoughts about his tone, Shiera analyzed herself then, just like Queen Visenya had taught her to.
'When did I stop trusting him?' Shiera thought with a sudden realization. When had she started taking his genuine concern as nothing but foolish fear-mongering? She would be cautious, but Maegor was right. She needed to find this assassin whether it was Tyanna or not. She was entering the mind of an unconscious person anyway. The risks should be minimized.
…
"Are you certain this is safe? Will this do any harm to my daughter?" Prince Nevio nervously asked Shiera as she took a seat behind the bed Tyanna was currently resting on.
"I will be extra careful, Prince Nevio. Tyanna is my friend. We just need answers before this assassin potentially slips away," Shiera said with a half-lie. Neither she nor Maegor let him know that Maegor suspected Tyanna was at fault.
Opening the ornate box carrying the priceless artifact. The coal-black glass candle was gingerly placed in front of her and Shiera braced herself. The last time she had done this was with the active support of Queen Visenya. It was also on a child just five days old. Thus her mind was significantly stronger.
This would be different. Tyanna was strong-willed and deeply intelligent. Even peering into her unconscious mind would be difficult. Not to mention her own less-than-perfect mental state. Yet she had to do this all the same. If Maegor was right, she would not get a chance again.
'Open…' Shiera thought, with her eyes closed and she could feel the glass candle respond. A subtle warmth spread throughout the room as the light appeared to shine through her eyelids.
"If I do not come out in a reasonable time, pull me out," she told her husband. He had done astral projection with her before. He knew the process and how long she could use the candle without risking temporary blindness.
As she heard her husband respond with affirmation, Shiera opened her eyes and stared deeply into the pitch-black flames of the candle.
In an instant, she felt the familiar chilling sensation fill her person. She remembered Queen Visenya's lesson then, the pain resurfacing the memories she would need to properly carry out such a task.
Entering another person's mind was like jumping into a pool of absolutely frigid water. The unconscious mind offered little resistance but was in turn sluggish and slow to respond. Any demands or actions Shiera may prompt took twice as long and gave much less clear answers.
Shiera trudged through her friend's mind then, as if neck deep in the muck of the Neck. Moving precariously and cautiously, both to avoid damage to her own mind and onto Tyanna's. Each step felt like it took hours as Shiera passed the pain and suffering Tyanna was currently feeling. Trying her damndest to get back just a few hours. To see exactly what her friend saw before they drank that tea.
As Shiera made it past the initial subconscious, her mobility opened up more. Peering through Tyanna's very eyes in the memory she wished to reach. She hoped beyond hope that Tyanna was not screaming in agony right now.
Blinking her eyes to orient herself, Shiera was back in the garden, this time staring at her own form through the eyes of her black-haired friend. Emotions that were not her own and thoughts she struggled to hear rang out in her head and Shiera focused on her very being. She was where she needed to be, she just had to focus.
"That sounds good, might you send for some tea?" Shiera heard the words slip into the ears she was currently occupying. It was hard not to get disoriented in another's mind. In her practice with Queen Visenya, she had the benefit of doing it with another person and doing it on an infant, whom she held the mental advantage over. Here she was not so lucky, Tyanna was intelligent and a firebrand when roused. Shiera would need to keep a constant focus.
"Have you thought of a name for the child yet, my lady?" Shiera heard the words pass Tyanna's lips and it was only then that Shiera realized she could not hear her thoughts.
'Damn,' Shiera thought with a wince. She would have to pry further, just getting her eyes and ears would not be sufficient.
Like sinking one's hands into the mud, Shiera delved deeper. Forcing her own conscious mind against Tyanna's pushing hard to hear what was needed. Before words finally began appearing to her, accompanied by a dull pain.
Just as Tyanna said the words, "Visenya, like your goodmother?" Shiera felt a wave crash over her. An overwhelming feeling of jealousy and repressed rage.
'What?' Shiera thought then, trying to reorient herself. She had been stunned by the sudden appearance of the thoughts and needed to focus, lest she lose herself in the veritable storm that was Tyanna's mind.
"Daenerys sounds pretty, if you do not use it then I will," Shiera heard then and she could finally make out Tyanna's thoughts.
'I won't,' were the first words of Tyanna's mind revealed to Shiera and they carried a crushing weight, pain rocking Shiera's own mind as Tyanna's unconscious one twisted and turned with every emotion.
The thought trailed on after that, much to Shiera's pain and disgust. 'I will think of a better name for my little Targaryen,' Shiera felt the sinister words pass through her and suddenly, Shiera felt very ill. Like she had all those years ago when Alyssa Velaryon dropped her like an unwanted doll.
"Oh, your wedding is soon, yes?" Shiera heard her own words again but they were muddled and muffled to her. Her mind was rattled by the revelation that Maegor was right to properly pay attention. The next stream of thoughts passing her by woke her back up though.
'With any luck, mine will be too,' Shiera felt the sickening glee and disgusting, obsessive love in the thought and it made Shiera ill. All of Tyanna's suspicious words roared back into Shiera's mind, unwanted but so very important.
What was even worse was the ease at which Tyanna ignored these thoughts. "Please, do not leave us in the dark with the boys, my lady," Tyanna said without a beat and Shiera had never felt more betrayed. Not even Alyssa Velaryon's betrayal had hurt her so.
'In my own home…' Shiera thought with an unbridled rage. She dashed the momentary, tiny thought of crying then and there. She was not the same little girl who retreated into her shell when the wicked seahorse spat on her. She was a woman grown now, married to a dragon, with another dragon in her womb. She did not feel defeated, she felt enraged.
Tyanna was plotting to replace her, to take Maegor and all that she had from her, within her own damn home.
By the time Shiera regained control of her own mind once more, the tea had arrived and her body had removed herself from the table, along with the nearest guard and her other handmaidens. Tyanna's thoughts and subtle movements were all Shiera needed.
'Yes…' the sickening thought rolled through Tyanna's mind like she had been preparing for it. As Tyanna slipped a small bottle from her sleeves and poured it into the teapot. The clear liquid disappeared into the golden liquid before Tyanna got up with practiced ease and joined her on the balcony.
Shiera stopped caring about Tyanna's thoughts then. Her own rage absorbed nearly all of her attention. It took all of the mental willpower Shiera had to not just break Tyanna's mind right there and leave her a husk of a person. Raging in Tyanna's mind now would certainly break her, yet Shiera stopped.
Doing so would be foolish, however, and she had been foolish far too much recently. Queen Visenya and Maegor had placed their trust in her. She would not let them down any longer.
Shiera resolved herself and returned to gathering evidence. She watched as Tyanna walked up to the balcony and acted as if nothing was amiss. Before dropping the small clear bottle over the side of the balcony, unheard as it plummeted to the sandy ground.
Noting its location, Shiera watched with a fury. Repressing the tantalizing thought of exacting her vengeance forthwith. Yet doing so would merely dash any chance at bringing this detestable bastard to death without significant backlash upon herself and her family.
Shiera continued to watch and listen after that. Moving to previous memories to try and find more evidence. Maegor was right, about everything. From Tyanna's guilt to their need for evidence.
All the while, the only other emotion she felt besides rage was regret. She had failed in her duties. She had doubted her husband, which was not in and of itself wrong but she had done so irrationally, without taking into consideration his point of view or gut feeling. She offered him no aid here. She had merely been a liability.
Her eyes were opened now, however. She had been a fool. Still clinging to the girlish idea of acting on her own, dictating her life by herself for herself. That was not her situation anymore, however. She was married, and her life was shared now. She had acted selfishly and foolishly.
All the while her husband had done his best to defend her, to provide for her safety and comfort. Meanwhile, all she did was snub him at every opportunity. The realization made her violently angry at herself.
Shiera would make Tyanna pay. Maegor had been correct. They were in grave danger in this city. Not just from the rapidly growing faction within the conclave but also from madmen and madwomen alike.
…
Before she could pull every scrap of information from Tyanna's mind. She was suddenly pulled out by a strong hand gently clasping over her eyes. Suddenly being back in the real world. Shiera did her usual routine, deep breaths and a clear mind.
There were mumblings and questions filling her ears but she did not listen. She would not put her own mind at risk. She had taken in a lot of information and she did not particularly want any adverse effects.
It was not that long before she was coherent in her thoughts once more. She committed the merchant Tyanna purchased the supplies from and the location of the bottle to her memory before gently moving her husband's hand from her eyes.
Giving him a knowing look, Maegor sent one of relief back to her. Her own thoughts were filled with an intense desire to take Dark Sister from her husband's waist and stick it into the wretched bastard's face.
"What did you find, Lady Shiera?" Prince Nevio asked and Shiera dreaded what came next. He would surely fight them on this.
"Tyanna was the one who tried to poison me and poisoned Fereah and Narha," Shiera said unceremoniously, though she spotted the look of validation appear on Maegor's face.
"What?!" the prince and two magisters called out. A look of rage and indignation appeared on their faces.
"What are these baseless claims, Lady Shiera!" Prince Nevio roared and every guard in the room, including Maegor, placed a hand on their sheathed swords.
"They are not baseless, there is a bottle on the ground outside of the manse. Just beneath the balcony, it was filled with poison and carried inside the sleeve of Tyanna's dress," Shiera began her explanation. She had gathered as much evidence as she could.
"That is all you have to go on? Witch?" Prince Nevio continued his enraged rant before Maegor placed himself in between her and the prince.
"My wife will not lie to me, she is telling the truth," Maegor came to her defense and Shiera nodded along. She would not lie to her husband, even if it would be a kind lie.
"This will not stand! I do not believe you!" the prince roared again before Magister's Brenyl and Seltra intervened.
"What if we took this to the conclave, they can decide on the truth with all the evidence mustered," Magister Gessio Brenyl offered, he was clearly skeptical but much less so than the Prince. Which was understandable.
"Very well, you will watch these baseless claims disappear in court! Guards let us go, take my daughter with us!" the prince said in a huff before storming out of the room.
After he was gone, with his guards and unconscious daughter in tow, it was Magister Moredo Seltra's turn to speak. "My lady, are you being completely truthful?" he asked, trepidation still in his tone.
"I am, I swear it on all the gods and my very life. I have further evidence to back it up as well. I know the merchant she purchased the materials from and the room she made the poison in," Shiera continued. She was prepared to back up her claims with the best evidence available, though Tyanna had covered her tracks rather well by not buying the concoction and poisoning herself as an alibi.
"Then we will support you," Magister Gessio said then, still cautious but it seemed he was at least humoring that her words were the truth.
"Thank you magisters, Tyanna will pay for her transgressions," Maegor promised but both still looked apprehensive.
"We will have to see how the conclave takes this news," Magister Gessio Brenyl said once more before Maegor got up to leave the room and took her along.
"We will leave you with your daughters if you wish to bring your own healers here, I welcome you to do so," he said with a friendliness that was entirely absent from his tone with the prince.
"Very well, thank you, Prince Maegor," the two magisters said as she and her husband left the room.
As they walked the halls, Shiera felt a nagging feeling appear at the back of her mind.
"I am sorry Maegor, sorry for doubting you," Shiera suddenly blurted out. She had put not only herself but also their child in grievous danger. It would take time for her to truly come to terms with that, the last four moons of her life had just been put under a new light for her.
He brought her into a hug then. "It is alright Shiera, I should have been more forceful, more convincing, and less irrational too," Maegor gave his own confession but Shiera still blamed herself more.
"Yet this will have consequences right? Prince Nevio was your close ally," Shiera stated the obvious. They had alienated an influential and trusted ally with this move. Surely that would have consequences.
"To hell with the consequences, your safety matters more to me than alliances with old men. Besides, those we can truly trust and rely on will see reason," Maegor said with a certainty that brought a sense of calm to Shiera. She needed to think like him and put their family first.