[Walking off a strike like that... Blanche truly is a powerful woman. Not that that's new to Alaric, of course, but he seems pleased anyway.]

You know how nobles are. Once they decide they need to do something, nothing's going to stop them. This sort of twisted attack is exactly the sort of thing I'd expect from a noble house.

[Though he inclines his head a bit as he considers it.]

I didn't think any of them had any strong ties with mages, though. This attack was much more devastating than simply sending an assassin in. It's a show of power.

[A sign that they shouldn't resist or they'll die. Funny, isn't that what killing the previous king and queen was supposed to be...?]