pontificus | ( contact )

Treun is safe. And you? I have heard of your castle.

Well and good. I am much relieved to hear that is so. As for me, I am as well as might be expected.

( A short pause. ) It was not at all a proper siege. They did not take the castle, nor hoist their banner over the ruins. As though the goal was out-right to slay as many as possible.

I thank you, my lady.

I had heard. I do not know what is the purpose of this war if there is not to be a winner. Who shall conquer who or shall it be mass bloodshed?

[She is not all that pleased with how it turned out, regardless if she's Seelie herself.]

I am glad to hear you safe though.

You might ask the same question of my family, as well. Our civil wars at home eradicated the barons, and cost the lives of too many.

( Bitterly: ) I feel as though we have each gone from the proverbial skillet and been deposited most rudely within the flames of Greek fire.

( Nor is Elizabeth, who is used to proper medieval warfare: in which there is always a clear winner and loser. )

As am I to hear the same of you, my lady. Would that there were no sides in this conflict. The amount of lives lost have only been a waste.

And yet, they take from our homes more shardbearers to fuel their war with no clear winners. [She thinks there is more to gain for each court that way, to fuel the economy and land.]

It seems there is more to this war if one delves deeper.

Indeed, such has been my thought from the first. Following my arrival, I learned that the two High Queens are in fact sisters.

( There is a long, poignant pause. )

I better than most know how a family might be torn apart by greed and a lust for power. Yet it is possible that their Graces have a common purpose which is obscured by this conflict.

Perhaps it can be uncovered then. [She raises a brow, intrigue laced in her voice.]

If able minds and resources are pooled together? Oh, yes. ( Her tone has a distinct lilt of 'are you thinking what I'm thinking?' to it. )

Not a task I would easily entrust to a man.

I am sure we can search it out, for what would they know of queenly things? [Not that Lucrezia would entirely know, but she knows of being a woman with power.]

Absolutely naught. ( Her voice becomes laced with a thread of good-humour. ) Though I have seen one Queen who knew nothing of what it was to be Queenly, so perhaps it is not an affliction merely limited to the more boorish sex.

( Her aunt is a shrew. And she is being rash to even breathe a word in allusion to her feelings on the matter. But ah, well. )

So, then: how shall we proceed?

Reconnaissance, I would think. [She looks on steadily.]

To learn all we can.

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