Scene: Quarters of the Prince, Cairhien.

Cast:
Lyren: Lord of House Tiigril, Royal Family of Cairhien, Brother to the Queen, and Heir to the Sun Throne
Sydnia: Lady of House Tiigril, Royal Family of Cairhien, Sister-in-law to the Queen, Wife of the Prince
Pierce Rhinorth: Sydnia's younger brother.
Braemar: Pierce and Sydnia's Uncle

Lyren raises a surprised eyebrow.. then nods his head. "Of course... just let me fetch... Ah, here she is.." he says as Sydnia walks out of their chambers..

Pierce points at Sydnia. "That's my sister. That's my only sister. We may not always get along, but when I hear a rumor that her husband is cheating on her...with a commoner...I get a little upset. So what I need to hear from you, my prince, is that its not true."

Sydnia steps out of the chambers of she shares with Lyren, takes a look at the scene before her, and obviously considers retreating back the way she came. Withan almost pained look, she asks, "What is going on?" and there is a good deal of intolerance in her tone.

Pierce ignores Sydnia for the moment. He's completely focused on Lyren. He's shaking from the top of his outrageous hat to the toes of his tacky boots.

Lyren's raised eyebrow turns into twin widened eyes. "I would like to know where this rumour came from, my lord. What sane man would cheat on a wife like yous sister? I assure you... cheating on her is the last thing I ever expected to be accused of.." His face turns a little, to include Sydnia in his field of vision.

Pierce relaxes a trifle, and bows. "In that case, I apologize." His tone is still a trifle dark. To Sydnia, he says, acknowledging her presence at last, "If you ever need anything, I'm still your brother, you know." He comes up from his bow and folds his arms across his chest, managing to look very insolent, but not too dangerous at all.

Sydnia sighs with immense annoyance. It has always been a bad thing to mix her brothers with anyone else she associates with. She forces a smile to her lips, stepping into her husband's arms, tucking an arm behind her back. "Pierce, my darling brother," she says almost warmly. "How have you been?"

Pierce straightens his coat and mumbles, "Oh, you know, sister dear. Here and there." From the smell of wine on him, here and there probably means brothels and taverns.

Braemar steps in with a flourish, he grins at Pierce before turning to Lyren. "My Prince, I've heard the most viscous rumor that you've been cheating on my niece."

"What is this, a family re--" Pierce begins, but upon hearing Braemar's comment, he snarls. "You--he's heard it too! Its all over the city! You lying son of a Trolloc, you defame my sister's name and allow her shame to be put all over teh city?" With that, he ignores any guards that might be present, balls up his fist, and attempts to deck Lyren, right in the nose...

Lyren widens his eyes more.. this can't be happening. He opens his mouth to respond, but thinks better of it as he steps back and leans to avoid the decking...unfortunately having to release Sydnia as he does so.. "What... what is this? Where have you heard these blatantly false rumours?"

Pierce stumbles forward and falls flat on his face as he misses. "Obviously," he spits out, "everywhere."

"What in the Light are you talking about, you snot faced little brat?" demands Sydnia of her brother in the most snarling little sister manner possible, scowling angrily at him.

Braemar reaches out to grab Pierce's wrist, only he's to late. "Pierce, this is your prince, child, where do you get off acting like this?

Pierce stands up, and looks at Sydnia coldly. "Fine," he says. "If you want to be...cuckolded...by this...pompinjay...then its obviously none of my business.Forgive a...snotnosed little brat...is it? For trying to care about his family. Obviously, a loosing battle." He surruptuously brushes off his coat and stomps down the hall, towards the exit.

This time, Braemar does grab his nephew's wrist. "Pierce, boy, you can be arrested for this." he pulls the boy back in. "You should apologize to the prince, before he becomes angry."

Lyren rubs at his chin... that could have hurt. With great effort, he suppresses his anger.. Sydnia has more than enough for the both of them. "For the love of the light... " Then he begins to frown. "My lord Braemar... please stop your nephew.."

Pierce tries to jerk his wrist free of Braemar's grip, but of course, he's only a boy, and not all that strong. "Let...me...go..." he says through clenched teeth."You're all alike! I'm not going to apologize. It doesn't matter what I do, does it? I obviously can't do anything right, so why bother?"

Braemar grabs the boy and spins him around to face the prince. "I would not like to see you in jail, Nephew."

"You immature, poorly dressed, egotistical, lying, slandering, ugly, stupid, stubborn, idotic, ridiculous, foppish, pathetic brat," spews Sydnia at Pierce in a most charming sisterly manner, her temper gone."You apologise immediately. Immediately." Her eyes flash at her older brother, anger burning.

"Oh sure," Pierce mumbles sullenly. "Side with them. That's typical. You don't even care what they're saying about Syd. Of course, Syd doesn't care what they're saying about Syd, so I'm not even sure why I do. I'm not apologizing. I wish I'd have hit him. Twice, even. "He sneers at Sydnia, and responds in kind, "You are a pampered, spoiled, egotistical, stupid, fluffbrained, self-centered chit."

Braemar cracks a smile, but holds the boy firm. "That's no way to speak of your sister, Pierce. And Sydnia, that's no way to be talking to your brother. I'll have both of you in your mother's chambers as soon as this child apolagizes to the prince."

Pierce struggles to get free from his uncle. "You can't order me around, you muck grubbing pretender to power." He snarls this next: "You want an apology? Fine. I apologize for thinking that I should care about my sister. Its probably the stupidest thought I ever had. She certainly doesn't care about me. To Shayol with all of you."With a mighty jerk, he does get his wrist free now, and once again tries to stomp towards the exit.

Sydnia smiles dangerously at Braemar. "I think I will stay with my husband, dear uncle," she says over sweetly, regaining her temper. "Have someone retain my brother."

Braemar grabs his nephew's shoulder, grinding the bones slightly, and pulling the boy to him. "You will want to stay for this next, Pierce." he growls.

Lyren rubs at his forehead. Is there a way to say he's glad Sydnia married into his family, and not the other way around? "I do not need an apology... though Sydnia most certainly deserves one,my lords, for anyone ever doubting her ability to keep her arms wrapped tightly about her husband. I swear to you the rumours are false."

Pierce 's eyes glint dangerously at Braemar. "He shakes himself free, again, and growls, "Fine. I apologize to everyone. Now all of you can rot. You, uncle, can sod off."

Braemar looks Lyren in the eye, suddenly seeming very dangerous. "That had better be true, my Prince, for I /will/ stand beside my family long before I standby you. I will investigate these rumors personally, and you'ld better hope I come to the same conclusion. Sydnia, I will see you in your mother's chambers, or have her send for you myself." He says, cooly as he, again, grabs at Pierce.

Pierce is onto his Uncle by now though, and simply darts out of the way. He is several steps towards the exit after that, his entire thin frame radiating indignation, and wounded 17 year old pride.

Braemar bows to the prince and follows his nephew from the room.

Sydnia sniffs at her uncle. "Do have my mother come to visit me sometime here in my home," she says with extreme annoyance. "I'm sure she will love to see the little changes I have made."

Pierce snorts, "The only change I see is that you've gotten more insuffrable," he mutters, as he clears the exit.

Scene Change:
Courtyard: Sun Palace, Cairhien

Pierce stomps by, his entire frame radiating igdination.

Braemar yells out. "Pierce, wait."

"Why should I?" Pierce demands, but he stops anyway.

Braemar growls. "Because, for one, you've done something right."

Pierce scratches his head, dislodging his hat. It floats in a majesty of pink feathers to the ground. "Come again?" His anger is somewhat diffused by his bewilderment.

Braemar shakes his head. "Family comes first, Pierce,always." He steps over. "It was stupid to attack the prince, but it was good to stand up for your sister. Next time, though, hit the prince."

"He moved," Pierce muttered, though he seems to be looking at his uncle in a new light.

Braemar clasps a hand on Pierce's shoulder. "Yeah, that he did. Your lucky you got out of that one. Good job, kid."

Pierce gives Braemar a weak grin. "Well. Well. I guess it was, wasn't it?" And he goes striding towards the gate, as cocky as a peacock, and twice as pleased.