RP:The morning after
This is part of the A Larket Assassination Attempt story arc.
Council Meeting Room
Tucked back behind the new commons area remains this subdued area of meeting and strategic planning. The boardroom itself has changed little in terms of objects and appearance, though there is a feeling of increased importance within the room as various soldiers mill in and out in a steady flow. Scout briefings take place virtually every hour of the day without fail, interrupted by the occasional update of crucial information. Once voluntarily yielded by Larket's sympathy to the old rebellion against the immortals, this room centers the actions of the entire Larket military outfit, and of greater campaigns when necessary. Notes made by the commander himself are scribbled all over the map draped atop the elongated table, obviously for positioning purposes. Chairs sit strewn about the room with little rhyme or reason, the fast-paced meetings usually leaving troops little time or room to be seated. Unless you're one of those who need to be here at present, perhaps you'd best wriggle your way back to the commons area.
Queen Jacklin is here.
King Parsithius is here.
Sapheul Fedallah is here.
Jacklin felt a little worse for wear sitting on the bench outside her office. The morning had been a hectic one and Parsithius had come and gone quickly in the night. Needless to say…the King of Larket was more furious than she’d seen in quite some time. Her shoulder had significantly swelled and Ikked slept on the office couch in order to check on the Queen every few hours. Movement caused the fresh wound to derail in healing each time the elder human moved in a way not suitable for her injury. Unfortunately…the Queen always moved in a way unsuitable for any injury that had befallen her over the years. Stitches had been ripped, splints broken, gauze torn, and breaks worsened by her inept understanding that rest was a major player in the healing process. Eyes kept watch on the larger entrance of the hall and the guards rushing by with papers, maps, and other instruments used in the hunt of an escaped convict. A few of Parsithius’s captains were stationed a few feet to her right with arms stretched out and maps held up to the light. Their voices caught at points and fingers curved around the different lines curling around. She was no cartographer…but she knew those maps were the ins and outs of Larket and the forest beyond. Another of the sheriff’s deputies came to sit at her side on the bench with a pad in his hand ready for writing. A thin piece of artists chalk was in his hand, poised and ready. Eyes left the men pouring over maps and flattened on the face of her newest examiner. “Could you tell me again all the details you remember?”
This had been going on for hours. Faces had come and gone and paper was filled with the specifics of the attack. Jacklin had indulged every one of them in the understanding that one of them would tell her the details they’d found. Nobody seemed to know anything and with a puff of air released the Queen started the tale again as the deputy wrote furiously to keep up. “I was in my office with Sapheul. Parsithius had been called away on military business and I stayed here. There wasn’t any reason for me to go out with him. Ault was let in because he’s a patron of Larket.” Some patron Ault had turned out to be. First he brought a harlot into the office of her husband, was caught drunk in public, and now he’d plotted to kill Parsithius and Jacklin. A glance at her bandaged and burning shoulder reminded her that Ault wasn’t Ault any longer. “From what I know…he was looking for my husband. That was his main target and I just happened to be there when it had a snag in it. He wanted the King and he got the Queen instead.” Taking a gulp of air the Queen looked into the eye of her deputy just as one fact burst in her brain and demanded to be spoken out loud, “He wanted to kill my husband…if I wasn’t here he would have waited for him.” It took a little more than half the air from her lungs to admit that fact. Resting her head back against the wall she waved away the man at her side, “No more,” was her weak offering.
Hours would pass from the time the deputy had stepped aside. Jacklin stayed on the bench in case she was needed for some reason or another…despite Sapheul urging her to go sit down. Ault was still running around out there with shackles on his hands and her blood spattered across his ragged outfit. There were plenty of questions left unanswered and nobody was giving her anything to go on. Her shoulder burned and arm felt useless at her side…it was worrisome. If she had to eventually give in to the magic of healing, she would. Until that time she would bear the pain and make sure nothing happened to the heir of Larket. Eyes were cast downward and hands fidgeted in her lap when one of Parsithius’s lead soldiers stopped in front of her. “Ma’m? I’ve come to inform you of our findings.” In his hand was a stack of papers and his face bore a grim expression. Jacklin nodded and braced herself for whatever it was the man had in his hand. “These are the documents we found scattered behind the stone wall leading up to Larket. He had a rock planted on them but it seems some animal moved it off. They are written in his hand when compared to his signature and they detail the steps he wanted to take last evening.” Jacklin lifted an open hand to take the papers, “Let me see.” It wasn’t so much a command as a voiced desire.
As the soldier sat quietly watching the woman, Jacklin ran over the papers again and again. Placing them in her lap with finality she checked the soldier still sitting at her side and waited for his next move. Without hesitation he continued the report with a slow hand retrieving the papers from his Queen’s hold, “As you can see…you weren’t his intended victim in the assault. You’re listed on page two of the document as a secondary or third target to look for. His Royal Highness King Parsithius was the intended and direct target of this assault upon the ruling house of Larket. It had been planned for more than a year from the dates noted, Ma’m. He had grown increasingly erratic after having been caught by the two of you one evening using the King’s private office. I need not revisit the details of that evening with you.” Pausing to allow Jacklin to jump in, he only continued once no words stirred from her side of the bench. “His journal here details each day of his plot planning. From the exact times he’d know the guards would be changing to how many of them would be in the hall. He failed to account that on any day in Larket there is no set number of guards in the main castle. As a military powerhouse there is no lack of skilled bodies. Each day Ault planned and edited the phrases he would prevent to the guards when he showed up that evening. Upon arrival he presented a usual exterior and a request to visit King Parsithius in his office. Once informed the King was not in the castle during the time, Ault attempted to pry open your husband’s door to conceal himself inside until Parsithius had returned. Unable to pry the door open and unwilling to draw attention to himself…Ault went for the next logical step in his plan. He came to your office with the intention of killing you and plans to return for Parsithius as soon as possible.”
For a length neither the Queen nor her soldier spoke. He was smart enough to keep his mouth shut and she was too tired and worn to berate him for letting Ault slip away in the first place. “How did he break free from the keep?” When the words finally came her eyes went to the face of the unnamed soldier awaiting his response, “He used the metal on his links to saw the bar from the window. Ault was able to climb down the side of the keep…it was no easy task and he’s liable to have some injuries from the fall. From this moment on we have been given instructions from the King to keep an eye on you at all times. Sapheul will accompany you any place you need to attend and all council meetings with you have been transferred to another patron to lead. Lord Parsithius is also being watched by guards whether he wishes so or not. As we speak the men of Larket have begun to comb the forest and beyond the borders of Larket. We’ve posted warnings to citizens and informed travelers if they see a man fitting his description to alert Larket immediately. His bounty is the highest in Larket’s history.” Before being allowed to continue another outline entered the mail hall looking nearly as worn as the Queen. Fury was in his eyes and jaw was locked tight as he moved from the door and toward Jacklin’s office where he entered without another word. The Queen nodded to the soldier, “We have the best military in this land. I have no doubts and no fears. If you’ll excuse me, I must attend to my husband.” Rising she pivoted and entered the room behind Parsithius with the door closing quietly behind them.