Lying lions 1

-So what was it that you wanted to talk about, mister Lyon?
-I was wondering if you had given any thought to what I mentioned last time I was here. It's been close to a year now.
-Has it been that long already? I... I hadn't realised. I've...
-Let me stop you there, Richard. We've given you plenty of time to consider our proposal. You must know you're far from the only person we could turn to. We're doing you a favour here.
-No you're not. This is blackmail. Either I do this, or you go to someone else and I'm left out.
-If you want to put it like that, Richard.
-I'm not putting it any way. You're not giving me much of a choice here.
-Of course we are. You've had plenty of time to make some sort of play yourself, but you haven't.
-Maybe I have. You couldn't possibly...
-Ah, but we do. We know for a fact you've done nothing. If you thought you could get out of this by stalling, you're mistaken. You didn't really think we would simply go away, did you?
-I had hoped.
-Well, we didn't. Now either we do as we've asked of you, or we turn to someone else. How about the Harrows?
-Those blood sucking... You wouldn't!
-I'll be frank with you, Richard. We'd prefer to deal with you. You've been most accommodating in the past, and I consider you a friend, but this has to be done, and my superiors couldn't care less who ends up on the throne. I'm doing you a favour here.
-But to kill the king...
-And take his place! Don't you want that? Isn't that what you've always wanted? How many times have you sat here with me in our cups and talked about that crazed half-wit and how much better you could run this country?
-Yes, well, but...
-No buts. This time next week there will be a new king, and either you are that king, or I will probably have lost a friend to the inevitable purges.
-I guess you're right, Edward...
-These are the cold and bloody facts, Richard. This blade has been coated in a potent poison. Just a prick will suffice, you don't have to strike true, but I'm sure it'd help your image as a strong ruler if you can pull that off.
-Okay, I'll do it.
-There was never any question of that, Richard. I know you. I'm sorry I can't be there with you tomorrow to see you ascend the throne.
-I wish you could be there.
-So do I, but we have to keep our distance with this. Take care, my friend, and good luck!
-Thank you, Edward.

-So what'd he say?
-He'll do it of course. You didn't doubt me, did you?
-Never, Emile. You always come through.
-I do don't I? Now let's get going. This place is going to erupt like a fucking hornets' nest.
-You're sure the plan'll work?
-Of course! Richard Turren will kill the king, and the palace guard will hack him to pieces within minutes. I've made sure we have enough of our men on duty for that. And the poison on Turren's blade will be identified as Iarthanese. We'll have a full-scale border war within the month.
-Excellent! Where to next? Rennesville?
-We need to stop by Trevin Cove on the way. I need to have a word with a certain one-eyed sodmite who's not been doing as told.
-Red Robert? I thought everything was fine?
-Yeah, well it's not. He took a merchant out of Dravan last month. Slaughtered the lot of them.
-We can't have that.
-No. Let's get going. It's going to be a rough night, Thorn.