"Yes... but perhaps Lady Kosta should be bid farewell, first," Einar says. "Such discussions may only distress her."
"I should think that I am hardy enough to stand mere conversations, my Lord," she says, curtsying slightly to Einar and yourself. "But it is just as well. Solstheim awaits my return eagerly. I trust I will be seen off by you both."
"Of course," Einar says. He bows slightly and kisses her hand. She blushes.
Not at all. Any chance to show up Einar! Anaztazia accepts a kiss on the cheek gladly and even returns one. She returns the wink, then wanders off through the gardens.
"Your assassin was an intelligent man, that is certain," Einar says, as soon as she is out of earshot. "The sensors were able to track his movements, but the defenses were not triggered. He introduced a short-lived virus into the automated weapons programming, and did so quietly. Still more impressive, he scaled the mountain..."
"So it was someone with significant skills and technological capabilities..." -Wonders Melkor, trying to focus, as his eyes drift between leaving Anastazia and Einar, two people with regard to whom he has strong, but quite different feelings.... Anastazia wanted him to forgive Einar, but he would never forgive him for that crime.... unless.... he didn`t actually have proof, perhaps there was a third party trying to put wedge between them? Unlikely though, Einar was always a bastard.
"Perhaps a droid, or skilled assasin hired by one of our nobility? Do we have particular enemy on this world you would think of?"
(You could of course roll Melkor`s savoir-faire or another relevant knowledge, Rex).
"Someone hired the assassin," Einar says. "I can hardly be expected to know from whom he receives his pay."
Oddly enough, Melkor, it is difficult for anyone within the nobility to hate you as you are always away studying! In fact, you are well-liked by a small fraction. The rest care little about you; you are not expected to become Castellan and you have made little impact on Erengad. It is not impossible that a nobleman wants you dead, but unlikely.
"But it is certainly suspicious, isn`t it Einar? I mean, if someone wanted to harm our House, the best target would be YOU. I am not a heir, I haven`t spent much time here for years."
I quess Melkor isn`t aware of any mortal enemies he has made on Coruscant? And does he think Einar really hates him that much that he would kill him without very good reason?
"I have no answers, brother," Einar says. "But trust me, this assassin will not have the opportunity to strike at you again. I will see to it."
You can't help but wondering if maybe he is just going to cancel the assassin's contract when he says he will 'see to it.'
As for mortal enemies, I'm sure you've made some academic rivals over the years, but they are intelligent men who settle their conflicts like every other intelligent man: outshine whoever is outshining you. Hiring an assassin doesn't qualify as outshining.
Well, Melkor could try to reconcile with his brother, but he could not stop his hatred, not when he thought he Einar killed his own mother, their mother....
"Do you think.... there may be connection between mother`s death, and this?" -He asks abruptly, focusing on finding the break in Einar`s composed mask. He needs to get confirmation.
"Yes."
-
Over the next hour, Einar discusses with you the finer points of what the Imperial representative, Commissar Perry, demanded of Erengard. Also during this hour, the Esgabath brothers are descending the mountainside and moving into the golden fields of Erengard as Einar seeks out ideal hunting grounds. You have both been supplied with military rifles that are much better for hunting than your pistols, and a cooler for a late lunch.
"The Empire is asking that our forces be nationalized for the use of the Imperial war machine. I understand you are not one for tradition, Melkor, but our militaristic prowess is one tradition that I do not think Erengard could stand to lose. It is part of our people's history! Not to mention they make their demands with thinly-veiled threats. If Erengard does not comply, they offer us bombardment instead. We can endure such assaults to our world, but their numbers are already great. It is then a matter of whether or not they wish to expend great resources against our world... ah, here we are."
Einar brings the landspeeder to a stop at a point in the golden plains. The sun is angled so that the shadows of the mountains behind you cannot reach this place. There is a large, black, smooth boulder sitting amongst the golden plantlife.
You remember coming here with your mother, when you were very young. She used to read poetry and essays to you while you were both seated upon the top of it.
"An appropriate reference point to use as camp," Einar tells you.