Oh no, the Governor's coming! Quick, kill the Thane! (private)

[Aradin Lastra]

Timestamp: 11th of Melora, Spring of Era XIV PF

Aradin had been in an absolute dither ever since he had received his reply from Liselle, the Governor of Prime Province. She had said she was concerned and would be coming to Abestat some time in the middle of the month to investigate Aradin's claims. That simply wouldn't do, it wouldn't do at all. Enamere was a bit strange in nature lately and he was sure that the Thane had taken his son's death hard, but he seemed relatively fine now. She would discover the falsity and he would be discredited and then his chances of becoming Thane of Abestat once again were shot.

Once before he'd dealt with a similar situation where he couldn't get rid of a Thane of Abestat through words. He had had Rein Lastra, his own cousin and Enamere's, son assassinated and took his place temporarily as Thane. This time, however, there was no GU structure available to send an assassin after Enamere and the man wouldn't be seen in public without a heavy guard anymore anyways.

Plain and simple, Aradin was going to have to assassinate Enamere himself. It was far from his style to do things with his own hand directly involved, he liked to sit at a distance and send others to do his dirty work. There just wasn't anyone to do it anymore though. His plans for greater things and to become Thane of Abestat once again obviously couldn't be fulfilled if he didn't get his feet a little wet first.

Wearing something of a fancy white shirt, fine black cotton trousers, a brown soft leather vest, and a long creme white coat, and a belt so supple it would make a baby jealous Aradin set out for Stoneleigh Castle, the traditional residence of the Thane of Abestat. In the inside pocket of is coat was a letter forged to look as though it were in Enamere's hand, as well as signed by the Thane, and most importantly sealed with red wax and stamped with the symbol of House Lastra. The forged letter was, in fact, a fake will leaving all of Enamere's personal effects to Aradin in the event of his death, but noting that he wished the fabulously wealthy and successful company Tradewinds would go to the city to be run and profited off of as his dear nephew Aradin had suggested.

For many months now Aradin had been paying visits to Enamere, buttering up the situation, making it seem to all outsiders as though the nephew and uncle enjoyed a close personal relationship with each other, almost as though they were father and son. Aradin was no fool, and planned these things very carefully. On this occasion he had thought up a particularly ingenious ploy. He had some diced onion hidden in a folded up handkerchief in his breast pocket so that when his uncle died and Aradin called for the guards he could fake the effect of crying. Up his right sleeve was hidden his dagger that was coated in sleeping poison. It would only take a nick to put Enamere to sleep.

As he finally approached the gates to the great castle, Stoneleigh, Aradin held his arms wide in greetings to the gate guards and he called out, "Joel, Billy, how are you on this fine brightening!" When he got closer he offered his left hand for a friendly hand shake, "How's Martha Joel? Any better since last we talked...nasty flu that went around wasn't it? And what about little William, hey Billy? Still doing well in schola I bet, bright lad he is." For a moment Aradin focused on the guard named Billy and took one of the man's hands in both of is and said in a very heartfelt manner, "I'm so sorry about Crystal, she was a good woman. Her heart wasn't weak, she just loved too much and burst from it, that tiny muscle in her chest unable to contain it all. If there's anything I can do, really anything just you let me know, okay?" He made it a point to get to know the guards a bit better, it made getting in the castle all the quicker and hassle free.

Aradin drew his scimitar from it's sheath at his side, "Now, I suppose you boys will be needing this, won't you? Here you are then." He handed them his sword. His eyebrows drew together a little bit and he faked concern, "Now if you don't mind boys I really need to be going to see my dear uncle and our Lord Thane Enamere. I've discovered some rather disturbing information that he ought to know immediately. If you two wouldn't mind escorting me up to his office and making sure that no-one is lurking around the door afterward? It's rather sensitive information." The look on his face was one of respectful pleading, the look one would give their friend when asking for a very important personal favour.