(Molly) **he leaves them all holed up in the loft*
* @Morgan heads down to the stables
(Molly) **The fire is mostly out, the temporary guards congregated nearby
* @Morgan walks towards them
(@Morgan) gentlemen
(Molly) **one man seems to have seniority, and speaks** Good morning, my Lord
(@Morgan) Thank you for your efforts here
(Molly) **he nods** This shouldn't have happened. It's our fault
(@Morgan) How so?
(Molly) One of the newer men let the Farrier into the grounds. From all accounts, he then let the horses out into the training field, then accidentally knocked over a gas lamp in the stable.
(@Morgan) and the brandy smell?
(Molly) Still waiting to poke around once it's cooled down, but I suspect the stable was being used to store some of Hlhis Grace's brandy
* @Morgan looks skeptical 
(Molly) Smells like gunpowder too
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) Which is why I really doubt its your mens fault
(Molly) Couldn't be "accidentally" ignited by someone who wasn't allowed into the grounds. He should have been refused entry, but he claimed he was the Eisenfursts farrier and had been told to come today
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) is he still around?
(Molly) No, he ran off when the explosion happened
(@Morgan) I'll just bet he did
(@Morgan) I trust you'll be fine to handle this from here
(Molly) We can put the fire out, yes. What do you want us to do then?
(@Morgan) Send one of your men to the church to inform the Eisenfurst
(Molly) **he immediately does so*
* @Morgan takes off his coat and gets it covered in soot
(Molly) **The guards watch in confusion
(@Morgan) Don't ask, I'm not in the mood to explain
* @Morgan puts the coat back on, running his hands down it before heading in the direction of the lakeside guardhouse
(Molly) **The man he was talking to shouts "My Lord?"
* @Morgan turns
(@Morgan) what?
(Molly) If it's a disguise you're after, you'll want some on your hair and face, my Lord
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) good thinking that man... secure the house once the fire is out, see if anyone can locate the farrier
(Molly) Yes my Lord
* @Morgan starts walking again, patting soot onto his face and hair
(Molly) He doesn't see anyone til he gets to the lakeside guardhouse
* @Morgan has managed to make himself look like a fight waiting to happen
(Molly) **The man who was the dame is the first to spot him, and comes over looking concerned
* @Morgan slows slightly
** You're now known as Man
(Man) Trouble?
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) there's been an explosion. I would see my cousin
* Man walks round the house, unlocking the door, before giving him the keys and directions to the solitary cell underground
(@Morgan) I would appreciate it if you are out of sight but close enough to hear
* Man nods
(Man) As you wish
* Man leads the way before secreting himself in an alcove
* @Morgan opens the door of the cell, looking inside. He stands, slightly hunched, very much as he used to when facing monsters
** You're now known as Alarice
* Alarice is sat reading a book. It's clear that she has lost all other privileges, wearing only a thick shift,  hair unbound. She looks up at Morgan, and cogs can almost be heard whirring in her mind. She frowns, hostile
(Alarice) What do you want, Morgan?
* @Morgan speaks in a low, almost monotone voice
(@Morgan) what have you done?
(Alarice) Nothing. I have sat here awaiting my fate. You look like a mess.
* Alarice looks at ease
(@Morgan) You expect me to believe you know nothing about the explosion in the stables? Nothing about the... the fire
* Alarice frowns with surprise. To anyone else, it would look entirely genuine
(Alarice) What stables? What fire?!
* @Morgan lowers his head
(@Morgan) what more do you want? 
* Alarice folds down the page on her book, and sets it down calmly
(Alarice) I have no idea what you are talking about
* @Morgan sighs heavily
(@Morgan) You win, Alarice
(Alarice) Win what?
(@Morgan) everything... you vowed to destroy me... 
* Alarice continues to watch him calmly
(Alarice) I have done nothing
(Alarice) **for the fleetingest of moments, she looks unsure, before clearly deciding on a tactic*
* Alarice sounds worried now
(Alarice) Where is my son?
(@Morgan) Why continue this? You've won, alright? You've taken everything from me
* Alarice frowns deeper, but he can see it isn't genuine
(Alarice) What have you let happen to my child, Morgan?!
(@Morgan) The pony, for his birthday, sat in the stables
(Alarice) So he is upset because his pony was in a fire, and that has "destroyed" you?
* @Morgan raises his head, eyes flashing with what can only be described as hatred
* Alarice looks neutral,  but not before her micro expression reveals a smug satisfaction
(@Morgan) Stop it. Your plan worked. 
(Alarice) My plan for what, cousin? I can not fathom what has you in such a petty mood
(@Morgan) They're dead, Alarice. Is that what you want to hear?
* Alarice affects a frown again. She manages to make her voice wavery and distressed
(Alarice) My baby! You've let my baby die?!
* Alarice rises, a forced pacing in the little cell
(@Morgan) You killed them. 
(Alarice) I did no such thing! I should have known entrusting him to you was a bad idea!
* Alarice has the audacity to look at him with fury
(@Morgan) Why continue this? You think you just need to stay alive long enough to be rescued? I've spoked that wheel already. 
* Alarice hesitates a fraction of a second, once again reassesing
(Alarice) What do I care for that when you have failed to protect my child and let him die! I should have known not to trust you, given that you'd already failed to keep your own child alive and safe!
* @Morgan waves his hand
(@Morgan) enough, Alarice. 
* @Morgan looks at the ceiling, breathing in deeply
(Alarice) Enough nothing! This is all on you Morgan. The people you love die, because of you.
* Alarice watches him
(@Morgan) You're right. I think its time I was... gone.
* Alarice shrugs a little
(Alarice) Perhaps so. You can never be safe again. Everyone you were to go on to love, you would know that you will inevitably fail them, just as you did Dietlinde, Jana, Molly and Varick. Just as you have our family.
(@Morgan) But then... I don't think _our_ family is ever safe with you around. 
(Alarice) With you gone, Edward would be a much better Veisgraf,  and Graf in time.  Your father wouldn't be picking up after your messes. He would easily see the sense in drawing our remaining family back together to deal with our collective grief.  In time all these "tragic accidents" that befall you will be seen as having been lucky occurrences that led to the strengthening of the Koertig family.
(@Morgan) a pity you won't be here to see it
* Alarice looks pretty pleased with herself
(Alarice) I wouldn't bet on that.
(@Morgan) You misunderstand me, my dear cousin... the people I love die... you are my cousin and of course I love you... and since its time for me to come to an end... You're coming with me
* Alarice looks a little unsure now
(Alarice) You cannot do that
(@Morgan) Gunpowder and brandy should do the trick. I think its fitting that we experience what you forced upon them, don't you?
(Alarice) It would take hours to prepare for that
(@Morgan) No no, I know where the armoury is, and I know where the brandy is kept... should take, what, half an hour. You can wait that long, can't you?
* Alarice watches him, trying to ascertain his seriousness
(@Morgan) Maybe some lamp oil, too, to really get the flames going
* @Morgan looks at her briefly before nodding to himself, clearly making up his mind
(Alarice) And you would destroy the Koertig name like that? Destroy Sudlachenburg  like that? Although, that would hardly be anything new to you, would it?
* @Morgan shrugs, clearly looking hopeless
* Alarice reassesses again
(@Morgan) You can't be left do run amok any longer.
(@Morgan) and neither can I
(Alarice) You murder me and you'll go to hell. You'll never see either wife or child again.
(@Morgan) But so will you. You and I will spend an eternity together, just like you wanted.
* Alarice laughs a harsh, bitter laugh
(Alarice) You're fool enough to think I want to spend an eternity with you?!
* Alarice looks at him in a derisory way
(@Morgan) Thats what you wanted. Either way... *he shrugs* we'll be doing this dance forever
(Alarice) I would have spent my lifetime with the Veisgraf, then the Graf of Sudlachenburg. But you, a man with deluded ideas of love being more important than power? No. You and your father long lost sight of what is of value to the Eisen.
(@Morgan) Your lofty ideals are lovely, cousin, but they're really a waste of time. 
* @Morgan frowns
* Alarice seems to be losing some of her control if her mannerisms and actions
(Alarice) You could have made something of yourself. You had so much potential. Your father should have picked an Eisen woman, and you would have been unstoppable. Instead you're weak and brought to your knees over losing a woman. Again.
(@Morgan) and so you punish me by murdering your own son alongside my wife
(Alarice) You shouldn't have told Faulk about what happened to Karsten. Maybe I would have called it off if you had kept quiet. You ruined everything for me, yet again
(@Morgan) _maybe_ you would have called it off?
(Alarice) I had forgotten quite how much your wife irritates me. I might have called it off, I might not have.
* @Morgan speaks in a strained tone
(@Morgan) You murdered them for revenge, because I told the Eisenfurst that you had your husband killed
(Alarice) Partly, but also because you ruined my plans to be the next Grafin of Sudlachenburg, or the solo Eisenfurstin  of Fischler
* Alarice pauses in her pacing then
* Alarice scowls at Morgan
(Alarice) Fine, you want to kill me, go and get your gunpowder and a barrel of his Grace's brandy and a farrier's oil lamp.
(@Morgan) No... just in case your confession grants you entry into heaven... however... *he turns* did you get that?
(Alarice) **Man: yes, my Lord**
* Alarice scowls further
* @Morgan turns back to Alarice, nodding slowly
(Alarice) Who the hell is that?!
(@Morgan) I believe he'll be known as... the witness
(Alarice) You bastards.
(Alarice) When Uncle Addie gets here, he'll fix this
(@Morgan) Uncle Addie... will see _all_ of your letters... and hear how you confessed to plotting to murder Varick and the Veisgrafin Sudlachenburg... again.
* Alarice smirks
(Alarice) He won't believe it. I will simply tell him being locked up here affected my mind, and I was tortured into a false confession
(Alarice) Besides, if he thinks I am carrying your child, he will do anything to protect me.
(@Morgan) You've contradicted yourself too often.... besides... its already been decided that any child you actually give birth to will be raised by the Koertig family... if its not Isiahs, like your last letter claims...
(Alarice) Well, it will not live long if put in your care!
(@Morgan) oh I don't know... Varicks not doing too bad so far
* Alarice snorts
(Alarice) You kept him alive a whole five weeks. Even less than you managed with Jana!
* @Morgan smiles
(@Morgan) five weeks... so far
* Alarice frowns
(Alarice) What do you mean, Morgan?
* @Morgan shrugs, backing away from the doorway to close the door
* Alarice once more reassesses. She moves swiftly, spitting on him
(Alarice) I curse thee,  Morgan Adalbrecht Koertig, that you are doomed to always painfully lose those you love, and never feel at peace again.
* @Morgan grabs her
(@Morgan) I'm sorry, did you just admit to witchcraft?
* Alarice glares at him
(@Morgan) pregnant or not, I think that trumps it all...
(Alarice) Why, would you like to watch another woman you claimed to love burn to death? Perhaps this is somewhat of a fetish for you?
* @Morgan speaks quietly
(@Morgan) Give me ten minutes and we'll find out shall we?
* Alarice laughs in his face. She doesn't look at all afraid of him now
(@Morgan) It'd be a shame to die childless, though, but I imagine that won't stay on your mind for long
(Alarice) I am not childless. You may have stolen  him from me, but he'll always be my son, even when he's eventually calling your whore wife Mother
* @Morgan lets go and moves out of the cell, closing the door
(@Morgan) Think on it, Alarice... I'm not given to lying to hurt someone.
* @Morgan locks the door
(@Morgan) I'll see you soon, dear dear cousin
(Alarice) You are cursed now. You will never escape your fate.
(Alarice) Kill me all you like, but you'll never kill the fear inside you
* @Morgan calls out as he climbs the stairs
(@Morgan) I'm sure I'll sleep just fine with it
* Alarice chooses to ignore him. The man follows Morgan
** You're now known as Man
(Man) What do you want me to do now?
(@Morgan) I'd like you to find someone to replace you here, go and find Dreschler and put all of that down on paper... Try to remember what she said about the brandy and where to get the lamp
* Man nods. He looks a bit shocked
(Man) Right away. You want me to come back here after, or come and find you?
(@Morgan) I should ask... are you somewhat relieved that your plan didn't go ahead?
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) come find me, just in case anything else comes up. Don't forget what she said about my future, also
(Man) She is the sanest insane person I have ever seen
(@Morgan) Quite frightening really, isn't it
* Man nods, looking deadly serious
(Man) I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of her
(@Morgan) If she gets wind that you were one of the ones hired to aid her, you'll be on that wrong side very quickly
(Man) I get the feeling she is unlikely to survive long enough to be a problem
(@Morgan) never count her out
(Man) Witchcraft... she'll be burnt for that immediately a vaticine Konigsreich I would reckon
* @Morgan nods
(@Morgan) get off to Dreschler, I'll see you shortly
* Man leaves
* @Morgan heads back towards the Eisenfursts house
** You are now disconnected