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Great Sept of Baelor - King's Landing

The High Septon steppled his fingers and regarded the pair evenly, "The Crown has sent numerous agents to speak with me already. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than I already told them. But if you really wish to ask questions, please do so. I am at your disposal." He smiled disarmingly, this man who was the youngest, indeed richest man to assume the position of High Septon in years. 

Lysara stood still for a second, getting her bearings on her situation. She probably didn't like any of this, but she had agreed to help the prince. The choice of companion... had been less than fortunate, and before him stood a man of Faith. Her wiles probably wouldn't be very helpful with the High Septon. And he was politely telling them that he did not want to answer more than was politely required.

A great start. She'd rather be thrown naked in a tent of horny mercenaries, but her job had to be done. She answered the Septon's back with her own beaming smile, and cleared her throat.

"Your Holiness, It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, even in these... strange circumstances." She said, employing her most polite tone, and being careful of being demure.

The High Septon smiled, "Indeed. I feel the same. I had prayed for you when word came of your near death and the gods were just. They did not wish for so beautiful a soul to be lost so soon. Indeed you remind me of Jonquil in many ways, I remember when she first came to us, a girl even younger than yourself. And far less confident." 

"Hm?" Lysara's attention was drawn upon the High Septon's comment about young Jonquil, her mind cogs eventually starting to function as she listened to the septon's commentary about the septa. Confidence... so that septa lacked confidence to begin with. Well, if anyone got sent to a house of septas probably that would make someone doubt about herself. However, the fact the High Septon was making this kind of remark might indicate something.

"Alas, such a pity." She added. "How was she back then? Surely she doubted a lot of things about herself." She answered back in kind. Perhaps if she could hint enough information of her past...

The High Septon smiled magnaminously, "Indeed. She had trouble acclimitating at first. We do not have many nobles join the septas, and it was something of a process for so refined a lady to be used to living so ruggedly. But she was pious, humble, polite, kind, all the things a septa should be. In time she grew to accept her position. Though she was not a volunteer. Her own father, a knight who was cousin to Lord Ardrian, had her sent here. This was before I became the High Septon myself, but I visited the Grand Sept often and as one of noble blood myself, I often ministered to the faithful who were. After she became a full-fledged septa, she was assigned to the motherhouse on Dragonstone. It was felt that one of Valyrian blood was best suited to oversee a sept where so many were as well." 

"I must admit, I am surprised you ask me such a thing however. I had thought you'd be much more curious about Jonquil's child." The High Septon stared into Lysara's eyes, as if searching for something there. 

Lysara offered her own version of the disarming smile to the High Septon, as she looked back into his eyes."The child is but a consequence of the desires of its parents. So if one wants to know about a child, one must ask for their parents." Lysara said. 

And one can know which strings pull one's heart and mind Lysara added mentally, not wishing to comment that out loud. "Several things have happened here for such a baby to be be born. For such a claim to be true, a septa must have broken her vows, and a prince must've put his carnal desires over his duty for the kingdom. This... kind of behaviour, often than not is seldom something that happens on pure whim, there are signs of it first."

The High Septon spread his hands, "Surely that is true, but it seems to me the explanation is self-evident, no? Jonquil may be a devout, pious, well-mannered young woman, but she is still a young woman. And prone to a maiden's fancies. The allure of the forbidden only makes such notions stronger to girls with romantic dreams in their head. And Aemon is a fine young man, he will be a fine king. But he still has a man's weaknesses, and needs. And after all they knew one another, were close to each other on Dragonstone." 

"Moon tea." Lysara's gaze narrowed somewhat. "If this was a whim or a fancy, that would have mitigated the problem. But that didn't come to happen." She eyed the High Septon. "But i suppose that even a bastard child of a prince could spin things in the favor of some people, and ruin the reputation of others." Lysara added. "And I thought you people, of all things, would appreciate discretion."

The High Septon frowned slightly, "I'm not sure what you could be implying. It's not at all unthinkable that such a thing would occur. No motherhouse or sept would allow a septa access to moon tea. And I may be familiar with noble politics, but as the voice of the Seven on this Earth, I am entirely above them. By the laws of the gods, such measures are against the will of the Mother." 

"But that would be besides the point. I did not know of the pregnancy until Jonquil had already informed her own house and the Most Devout. Once we all knew of it, even if we wanted to do such a thing, we could not have without knowing how the Crown would have reacted. As such, this is why Jonquil was instructed to confess to the King and the court. The Seven Pointed Star forbids us to prevent the birth and it should be up to the families, what should be done with the babe. Whatever benefit or loss some noble may accrue from this is entirely out of my concern." 

"I see. Pardon my ignorance, your holiness." Lysara said, as she offered a curtsy as an apology, and looked at her companion, before proceeding. "Just one last question. Whenever a noble is sent to serve the Seven, the Faith does get a hefty donation, right?".

The High Septon nodded, "Indeed, it is not a requirement, but when a new novice arrives from a noble family, the family will often generously donate to the Faith whether it be in goods or coin. The patronage of our wealthier faithful is what help keeps the Faith in operation. And sending a spare heir to our doors along with a donation helps ensure the care of all novices. The case was true with me, with Jonquil, and hundreds of others." 

Lysara bowed in gratitude, and she excused herself. "Do you have anything more to say, lady Tarth?" She eyed her companion, as she herself was growing tired of trying to make a stone bleed. There were faster, less tiresome ways of obtaining information.

Alys Tarth stood and said, "The only other relevant question is if you truly believe the babe to be the son of Aemon Targaryen, your holiness." The High Septon nodded, "I have not had a chance to speak to Prince Aemon, but I know him well and I believe he may have had a moment of passion. And for Jonquil, I have never known her to lie. I place my trust in her truthfulness." 

Alys nodded, "Thank you High Septon, I believe that will be all." She nodded to the man and they left, Alys waiting until the two were well away out of earshot before saying, "Well that was hardly helpful. We didn't learn anything. I don't know what you hoped to achieve with your line of questioning." 

"She notified her house...before anyone else, Alys." Lysara added. "The septon never tried to question me when I appeared to believe the babe was Aemon's. So he does not think highly of the Prince. He also admitted there might be coin involved." Lysara added. "It's not the things someone tells. It's how they tell them, and what they don't want to tell us." The Lyseni frowned. "There's also the matter that her family literally threw her into the faith. She could've concocted this while feigning piety." 

"The waters are murky enough for conspiracy. That's what I wanted to test here." Lysara added, as she folded her arm. "But for good or bad, that man isn't going to say anything, because I suspect that at the very least he is trying to hide something." 

Alys shook her head, "Perhaps, or perhaps you are grasping at straws. Every family donates to the Faith. On the other hand, he may have been lying about certain things, a High Septon he may be, but he was first a Hightower. And that doesn't change." 

"What do you think he's hiding?" 

"The Celtigars paid him to be his shield against prying eyes. But it's too much of a strong assumption, so I won't make it in public until I have something substantial. That, or he resents Aemon because he, as a noble, could only become High Septon." Lysara added. "By the way Alys, what do we know about the past of his Holyness?".

Lysara thought. Hightower were Reachmen... maybe they had some weakness in overindulgence. "Do you think he's above the worldly vices?".

The two exited the Grand Sept and rejoined the noisy throng, the closest to privacy that they could access, Alys frowned in thought, "Perhaps. But he's a Hightower. They're even richer than the Tyrells. And as High Septon... he's not exactly a pauper. The Celtigars would have had to offer much more than simple coin to get him in their pocket, if he even is." 

She answered, "I do not know how well Aemon and he knew each other, but they would have. He's been High Septon since Aemon was a youth. He rose quite high, being the younger son of Leyton's youngest. The High Septon is one of the most powerful people in the realm. But could he resent the Crown Prince, perhaps. But I do not know of any rivalry." 

"As for his past... well, not much is known about the man. He grew up privileged, even richer than most of us. But he was not a noteworthy tourney knight or singer or anything else. Until he joined the Faith. Then he became a rising star. He keeps himself very private. There are no sightings of him at any brothels or winesinks so either he is devout or he hides it very well. Is he capable of vice? Well, he is a man, and young for High Septon. I would not be surprised to learn he has a mistress or two." 

"mmm. We'll have to pass him on the moment." Lysara thought as she nursed her forehead. "I still think he's not as pure as he claims to be. And we weren't bound to get much information anyway. He's deflected a lot of people, and he isn't shy in telling." Lysara thought as she pondered. "We either need to poke in the Celtigar's or Jonquil's septa acquaintances circle to garner some insight." She added, not entirely relishing the idea. "And chances are, I don't think they'll believe I had a sudden revelation of Faith." Lysara muttered, grumbling.

Alys smiled for a bit, "We have people crawling all over the Celtigars already. But I don't reckon many have managed to find out much from the Faith. We can disguise you. Send you in there with dyed hair as a novice. The Faith has many secrets. Perhaps you can illuminate the ones surrounding Jonquil." 

"I feel like the Maiden smiles upon me." Lysara added convincingly. "It should be good to try and be a Septa." Lysara added as she got ready. "We have to inform the royal house of this."

Alys nodded and the two departed into the crowd. From the steps of the Grand Sept, one of the Warrior's Sons watched them disappear into the crowd.
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