Measured Responses

Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 2nd May 2024

Characters: Corofel, Reven
Description: Corofel seeks the best response to someone murdering his watchrider.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 20 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik
Takes place before Corofel talks to N'vanik

Corofel

Reven

Corofel tried to put his focus on what this meant for the Hold and how he was going to explain this to his people or to N'vanik, how he was going to keep it from happening again.

But his thoughts kept wandering back to whether this was what happened to his father, and they had simply failed to find his body.

"This is... bad," he said. Understatement of the whole flaming Turn. "I have to do something... to make everyone believe that they're safe, and this isn't going to happen again."

Reven, who was sitting in a chair in front beside the Lord Holder's desk, watched Corofel as the young man paced. "Let's start problem solving this backwards then. Our end goal is what to say to the Weyrleader and to the people of Emerald Falls. Before we can determine that, however, we have to decide what actual measures can be put into place to provide better security. What are your thoughts?" He had his own, but he was only there to advise Corofel and support the decisions the Acting Lord made.

"My first thought is that no one should go anywhere alone... but I have to balance feeling safe with being free to go about one's business, don't I? For the time being, everyone will probably feel that it's not them that's being targeted, unless... unless they start worrying that this is what happened to my father," said Corofel.

"To start with, I want to place at least one guard to stand watch with whoever comes to replace... the one we lost. I should be able to tell N'vanik _something_ to assure him that this won't happen again. And I'm sure Captain Karhal will have a recommendation, too... Especially when it comes to interrogating the perpetrator. Whatever that is, I need to find a permanent captain for my guard as soon as possible."

"What do you think?"

"I think that's a great start. I would also assure the Weyrleader that the guard you choose to be there with the new watchrider is someone that has been personally vetted. Although, the Weyrleader may decide to send an extra dragonrider with the watchrider, considering what happened. Regardless, we need to be able to assure him that our guard isn't mixed up in this anti-Weyr business." Reven paused after that, because it could very well be a member of the guard who was the culprit, or an accessory to the crime, since they had access to all areas of the Hold. "We should perhaps look for guards who have family members that are dragonriders, they might be less inclined to have an anti-Weyr attitude."

"Perhaps..." Corofel tapped his chin. Something about that seemed off, but he was not quite sure what. It all depended on what, exactly, their beef with the Weyr was.

"Why are they doing this in the first place? What problem could they have with the Weyr that's so big they're... cutting off people's bleeding heads over it?"

"Exactly," Reven agreed. "Why risk being staked out in Threadfall for some grudge against the Weyr. And, why target someone like a watchrider? It's not as if they make big decisions for the Weyr. If you're really anti-Weyr, why wouldn't you be targeting the leaders?" He shook his head. "It had to be premeditated to account for the dragon." Watchwhers were used for their abilities to detect things, and since dragons were far superior to watchwhers, Reven imagined it must be difficult to get past a dragon's intuition and kill a dragonrider.

"I'm inclined to let N'vanik have him," said Corofel. "But maybe... we could convince him to talk if we promise to try and sentence him here. If he even knows anything... They had to know he wouldn't be able to get away."

"I think letting N'vanik have him would be a mistake. The people need to see _you_ handling justice and punishment at the Hold. If the Weyrleader does it then you just look like the Weyrleader's puppet," Reven advised.

"Hm. I suppose if someone were to have murdered one of my people in his Weyr, he wouldn't, uh... oblige me by surrendering the culprit to my judgment..." Corofel trailed off.

"Blood and scorching flames, I sound like an idiot trying to use all these... Lordy words. But I'm right, still, I think, and so are you. We'll hold the trial and execute my judgment here, but he doesn't have to know that yet. He can think we might give him to N'vanik, and I would wager death by Thread staking is much less swift than by headsman's axe."

"The crime happened here. It's your jurisdiction. We're the Weyr's equal, not its subordinate," Reven said. "And it's not as if we need dragonriders to carry out an execution by Threadfall. Unfortunately, dragonmen don't have the corner on Thread, we all do. Besides, if this was meant as a _message_ to the Weyr, the last thing we'd want to do is give this slimeball what he wants - an audience with the Weyr."

"Then he would call my bluff?" asked Corofel. "Because he wants the Weyr to be the one to try him?" He sighed. "I should leave the interrogating to someone who knows what they're doing."

"Don't include the part about the Weyr. And, don't make it a bluff, he'll read right through that most likely. He deserves execution if he committed the crime. Tell him the facts. If he doesn't cooperate then you're going to stake him out for the next Threadfall as an example to others. He doesn't comply? Then be a man of your word and follow through." Reven's blue eyes were rarely as serious as they were in this moment. "I know that's difficult, but the type of enemy that has appeared here at Emerald Falls is not one that you can recognize with your naked eye. These anti-Weyr sentiments can be felt and harbored by _anyone_. What you do with this death will send a message to others. If you give him to the Weyr? The message is that you can't handle the job. If you let him sit in a cell without consequence? The message is that the death of a dragonman wasn't enough, and so whoever else is out there will just go with a bigger stunt next time. Stake him out for Thread? You've sent the message that this behavior will not be tolerated and anyone who aids in it will know that there are real risks to these actions."

Reven held up his hands, softening the tone some. "Now, that's what I think as your advisor. You should, of course, do what ultimately sits the best with your conscience."

"I have no intention of keeping him alive. Nobody gets to do anything like this at Emerald Falls without facing justice. He stays here, but I am prepared to offer him a swift death if he cooperates. If. And I'm not just going to take his word for it, either. I'll ask someone to make sure, and if he was lying, or it takes too long to verify, he gets the stake," said Corofel. "Does that sound like a strong enough message?"

"I think that sounds strong. You'll do great," Reven encouraged. Meeting and standing up to a Weyrleader could be difficult, they liked to throw their authority and dragon in your face, but it was something Corofel would have to learn how to handle as a Lord Holder.

Corofel relaxed a bit and nodded.

"I'll do my best," he said. "Thanks."

Last updated on the May 9th 2024

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