Always the bringer of bad news. [4/29 - Late Morning - Benedict, Christopher, & Rosalie]

[Benedict Stewart]

Benedict had been given a mission, a very delicate one that broke even his heart. He rode out from Orqua the moment he was told the Mallory family had left to clean up some mystery mess in Ryka. That comment made him laugh a bit but he moved out at that very moment to deliver his news.

After what seemed like years passed, he made it to the Mallory's hold in Ryka. It didn't take them too long to undo the terror that was caused, but it threw them off and that was entertainment enough for Ben. He slowed his horse down as he noticed the guards were alert and aware of his approach. Announcing himself as he dismounted the men grabbed him and hauled him into the castle.

"I shouldn't be shocked by the treatment but do you think you could not dislocate my arms please?" He asked as two guards held him while the other took his weapons. When the men didn't answer and continued hauling him around, Ben just laughed. "And look at me, I was all willing to come quietly but you guys had to cause the ruckus. Fools."

[Rosalie Mallory]

The castle was quiet this morning, which was both pleasing and a bit disturbing. With everything that had been going on, a little bit of a reprieve was nice, but Rosalie knew it couldn't last. She was suspicious of calm moments now, as crazy as it was. And so, she'd busied herself with getting to know the castle at Ryka. They supposedly wouldn't be here long, but she figured it would be good to at least know a vague layout.

She'd woken early and dressed as simply as she thought she could get away with, and had spent the morning poking around. She'd checked out the kitchens, she'd been asking servants where libraries and parlors were, where the meeting hall was. They were surely getting annoyed with her at this point, but she was their province lady, so they would have to deal with it.

It was odd to her, then, when she found herself near the main entrance to the castle and heard a scuffling. She heard someone say to call for Lord Mallory, and that caught her attention even more. It may be his business, but she had every right to see who was intruding, right? Surely she must. Her feet froze, however, when she heard a voice, chastising someone. What on earth was Benedict doing here?

Turning the corner quickly, she was confronted with the sight of Ben, restrained by a few guards and surrounded by a few others, one of whom was holding all of Ben's weapons. Even the mere sight of Ben being 'restrained' was entertaining enough that it nearly made her laugh out loud, but reason set in too quickly. There must be a reason he'd broken Christopher's decree and come. And that reason likely wasn't good.

"Please, unhand him. Stay close, if you must, but you needn't pull his shoulder out. He will do nothing untoward while I'm here." She made sure her voice sounded sure and strong, but she wasn't entirely convinced he wasn't here to punish her for turning on the Urson. Still, this was Ben, and she'd always had a soft spot for him. She stepped closer to him, filling the space a guard had been occupying before he'd shuffled off a few feet, seemingly glad to be away from Ben. Putting her hand on his arm, she squeezed, that action filling in for the hug she wanted to give him but couldn't. "It's good to see you again, friend." Her words were quiet enough that others wouldn't be able to hear her well, and a moment later she let her hand drop and she stepped back to what was the proper distance.

"You have business with Lord Mallory, then?" she asked, in her province lady voice. "I'm sure he won't be long...if he's been told who's to visit him he's certainly likely to hurry."

[Christopher Mallory]

He was not certain he had heard it correctly at first. But after it’d been repeated, there was no mistaking the name. Half of him wanted to order their arrest and have them dragged to a dungeon to await execution without meeting with them himself. But then… he would be every bit the tyrant he refused to become, wouldn’t he. So calmly, he buttoned the collar on his tunic and straightened himself out, walking as calmly as he could as the guards directed him where to go.

It was not a surprise to see Rosalie before him, but a part of him still stung. Perhaps his pride. It didn’t matter, and it was not worth mentioning. Standing stiffly, he approached and gave him a long, thoughtful glance.

“So, you have come,” he said as if only willing to believe it now that he saw him. “You must be very brave… Or foolish, but from what I have heard of you, it couldn’t possibly be that. So, I wonder what reason has made you risk the dangers of coming before me now? That wonder is enough to allow me to hear you out. You have my attention. Use this time wisely.”

[Benedict Stewart]

Benedict stood up straight as he took sight of Rosalie, he bowed to the lady and forced the guards to do so with him that was until they let go. Smiling warmly, his heart inside was screaming as it knew what he had to do now. "It is wonderful to see you again as well, Lady Rosalie." He refused to use her last name, as he'd had some of the best conversations with her in his life, he couldn't call her anything but friend.

It was then he caught sight of Christopher, he silently bowed and listened to all that the man had to say before speaking. "I am quite the brave one, you may not know. However, my business here is not with you Lord Mallory. Though you may want to hear it. I have come to speak with your wife." It was then, he made eye contact with Rosalie and he almost shed a tear.

"Please, may we occupy a parlor? I fear your guards think I'm going to stab and dash. They may start looking for weapons in more private places." He shuddered at the thought.

[Christopher Mallory]

Christopher looked over at Rosalie. He should have known better than to assume that renouncing the faith would have cut all ties. And he had not made it clear that’s what he wanted, so he was not about to be angry with her for it. Reaching his hand out to her he nodded at Benedict. “Come. There is one close by.” Or maybe it wasn’t one, but it could easily become one. There were enough chairs.

Leading her in front of their retinue of guards, he escorted her in, remarking to his guards that they wait outside. They did not like the idea of it, but they were not about to argue with the Province Lord either. Only after getting them to agree to not going into the room with them did they allow Benedict inside, Christopher walking in and closing the door behind them. He said nothing else… After all, Benedict’s business was not with him. In fact, he wondered why he’d even been called at all if Benedict had nothing to say to him. Perhaps to mollify any anger he might have felt…

[Rosalie Mallory]

Feeling Christopher's anger so close made Rosalie prickle, automatically making her anxious. It was so easy for her to forget the meaner side of Christopher...the part that had been made cold and hard. It was present here now, hiding under the surface, and she hated it. But she kept all that clear from her face, standing close to her husband now that he was here. As much as she wanted to speak with Ben, she would not let it seem to anyone that she was closer to him. She had been made to choose, and she'd chosen Chris.

The fact that Ben's business was with her made her a little nervous. Had he come to speak to her about renouncing? About betraying Mason? But there was a deep sadness behind his eyes that she didn't think either of those things would incite. So what was it, then? She walked to the room Chris was calling a parlor and took a seat, trying to avoid lapsing into the comfortable friendship she and Ben had. Sit up straight, cross your ankles, wait until everyone's situated before you say anything, and for goodness sake stop fidgeting. Rosa found it difficult to comply, but she did her best.

"What news, Ben?"

[Benedict Stewart]

Benedict was released from the grasp of the guards and he smiled silently, a small chuckle passed his lips. He didn't come here to fight but apparently everyone thought he did. Do I look like a bad guy?

He followed Lady Mallory into the room, Lord Mallory right behind him. It wasn't till Rosalie addressed him that he decided he wanted to sit back in his chair, as he'd sat on the edge for a moment.

"I wish I could be here to tell you good news, I do. Rosalie the reason I've come here ..." he held his words for a moment. What was she going to say? What was she going to think? "Rosalie. I'm sorry. Isadore ... she's dead." He finished his sentence and immediately regretted it.

This is normally where he'd touch Rosa's shoulder, maybe he'd hug her, but now Lord Christopher Mallory was in charge. Well, that and Rosa was his wife. He'd have to comfort her. He placed his hands on the back of head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I know she was your best friend ... I'm sorry." He said in a whisper now, almost in tears himself.

[Rosalie Mallory]

He was stalling. Ben was stalling. Benedict Stewart was stalling. This...well, he'd already admitted it wasn't good news, but Rosalie couldn't imagine what could be bad enough for him to not want to tell her this badly. But then...the moment Rosa heard Isadore's name, she knew. He didn't even have to say the last two words.

She froze, staring at his face, looking for some sign that this was a lie, another cruel trick that Mason was playing on her. But there was no such look...just something that looked like restraint, and a lot of personal sadness.

No words would form, but her hands were slowly curling into fists, taking handfuls of her skirt with them. Her head fell, tears falling as her face crumpled. Isadore had been more than a best friend. She had been a mentor for how Rosalie wanted to fashion her life. She'd been a bright spot, a sun in Forsilvra that so few seemed to get to see and know. And now, somehow, she was dead?

She was somewhat conscious that Christopher probably wouldn't care, not really; after all, the second in command in the Ursai order was dead. It would help his cause, most likely, in getting this war stopped. He couldn't know how the world had just lost one of the few truly good people, having probably never met Izzy.

Through her tears, her sobs, there was one thing Rosalie needed to know more than anything. "How?"

[Christopher Mallory]

Christopher was not as unfazed as they might have believed, though for reasons that had nothing to do with sorrow. He would think on the implications later. Now did not seem like the time. Nor was it the time to comment on the obvious tension that coursed between them even before the bad news was delivered. And then there would be the awkward matter of… well, again… that could come later, and with any luck, he could perhaps convince Rosalie to leave the room before then.

He might not know the pain of losing Isadore… but Christopher did know the pain of losing somebody you cared deeply for. A pain he was all too well versed in. And despite his anger towards Mason and his blind followers, he was not incapable of empathy.

Still, words seemed meaningless in the face of such heart ache. He hated when his own family had gathered around him and tried to give him words of comfort… And death was not something Christopher was altogether known for handling well. Unless he’d known the person well, had cared for them, it tended to just be a passing thought. He had to be careful now in how he handled this.

He moved closer to his wife, his hand gently going to her shoulder as he looked at the man sitting across from her. Rosalie had asked the question he was about to… and before he could make any decisions on how to proceed, he needed to know the answer.

[Benedict Stewart]

Benedict's jaw flexed, that was the last question in the world he wanted to answer. It wasn't till Christopher's eyes were on him that he knew he should really answer the question, but he refused to give any details.

"She was murdered on her way to assist a new temple." His jaw shook. "They detained and crippled Bruce, killing the other guards. They forced him to ride back to Solbra to deliver the news."

He knew Rosalie would ask after Bruce, he guarded Rosalie from time to time too when she was with Isadore. "We all figured you'd want to know from someone who knew the two of you well. I'm truly sorry Rosalie, if I could change anything I'd change it all."

Ben meant it, he had no idea what was going on with Mason these days but sending Rosalie off was what made him start to suspect something deep. He knew the jobs he was sent on were just ... well ... they were business.

[Rosalie Mallory]

Rosalie clenched her jaw, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to keep control. Not only was Isadore dead, but she had been murdered. Ben didn't specify whether it was Kaedorian or just the violent types that came out when a war was going on...and frankly Rosalie didn't want to know. If it was the work of Kaedorians...she knew she'd not be able to look at them the same again.

But she couldn't concentrate only on the life lost. "Bruce...you say he's crippled? Is it bad? Can he still work?" And if he was the only one left alive...that meant he'd probably seen everyone else die. Bruce was a tough man, but this had to have been a crushing blow for him. "Gods, he must be...is he okay? I mean, I know he's not, but...you know what I mean."

She raised her hand and wrapped it around Chris's, thankful that he was there. Concentrating on his presence brought her out of her own mind. It didn't seem real yet, but she could feel the reality pushing down on her; she would be swept away soon enough.

"Thank you, Ben," she said, and she meant every word. "It...it would have seemed an injustice to her to hear of it from anyone else." She wanted to say more...to say that she knew it was dangerous for him to be here, that she knew he was away from Mason at a critical time, that Bruce probably needed him. It meant the world to her that he'd inconvenienced himself for her.

[Benedict Stewart]

Ben smiled, weak and meaningless, but the gesture was there. "Bruce will be fine. He has to be, war is his job, death is a stone on the path." It was very hard for him to speak so nonchalant about Isadore and the guards, but he had to speak the truth no matter who the subject included. "As for his physical condition, it will take time for his leg to heal. His mind is still sharp as a tack, albeit he's a bit more on edge as of late."

He simply nodded in the direction of Rosalie as she thanked him, then decided he better verbally answer her as to not offend the others in the room. "You're most welcome, m'lady."

[Christopher Mallory]

Christopher was surprised he spoke so freely of their part in the war, a war that by all rights should not have begun and, yes, he still blamed Mason Lennox for it on all accounts. But he did not blame the unfortunate woman who’d no doubt been forced to go along with it. He knew what he had to do, what needed to be done to address the feelings of losing one so high and honored within the faith of the Ursai. A day of mourning… He would declare it after they were through here.

“My love, go seek my sister. Amelie should be with Arion right now.” For what came next was not something a lady needed to be present for. Talks of bargains and politics now. But she needed her time to mourn, and Amelie would be her shoulder to cry on. “I must have a few words with him, but I will come find you straight away.”