Tehr nodded his head, "I think it's more than enough.  After all you are the Queen and your word is law.  You have enough evidence now to hang the entirety of house Dale.  Actually you had that right before hand, but of course might have started a riot.  But with the proof you have now you can even conduct a trial, in the view of the other nobility, and you'd only receive support from all but Dale's most staunch backers."<br/><br/>He moved to sit on the couch next to her, turning his body to face her, "Further, you should know that even as we speak there's an asp in your home."  He told her what he'd seen of Janne d'Dale and the apprentice, but assured her that he'd told the master Archmage and that he said he would deal with it.  Since the archmage had not asked him to keep quiet on this front, he felt no betrayal to the master mage for telling the queen.<br/><br/>"I don't think they know the plot failed, in fact, your ruse may have had the exact effect you were hoping for.  Maybe that is why d'Dale is here today, she thinks you weak.  But I would suggest having the three heads of the Dale household arrested and thrown in the dungeon to await a trial.  While the eldermost Dale," he said referring to Lord Lefferin ir'Dale, Janne and Johr's father, "might have nothing to do with it, having him brought in as part of the plot would force him to either share his children's fate, or denounce them as traitors.  In either case it would be a crippling blow towards the rats nest.  Because if he does not denounce them, it says that he was either aware of Johr's assassination attempt and approved, or he is so clueless about the machinations of his house that he could let that happen.  In which case you'd have historical precedent to strip the house of lands and wealth as traitors to the crown."<br/><br/>Tehr chuckled, "Of course, he'd never let that happen, so he'd denounce his son, and forevermore be a lame and emasculated house.  One that will lose most of it's allies and have to rely on it's wealth primarily to survive.  Trust me I know that a house can survive for a generation or more on it's wealth alone if it withdraws from public.  But it's not an easy task to rebuild.  Plus, if Johr is put to death, that leaves the lord with only one heir, Janne d'Dale.  Jane d'Dale might be a highly saught after prospect for marriage now.  But after it comes out that she's nothing more than a wanton slut who uses sex to manipulate others?  She tried it with me, the mage apprentice, who knows how many others.  Quite a far cry from their claims of being devout to the church of the one god.  So she'd have to marry either far below her station to keep her house title, in which case House Dale is crippled financially, though she remains a potential threat in the future.  Or she'd marry passably well, living out her life of comfort and nobility, but sealing an end to the name Dale."<br/><br/>He took the queen's hands in his own and looked her in the eyes, "I know you've tried to base your crown on a rejection of your half sister's bloody legacy.  I know you've wanted to show leniency, fairness, and forgiveness to people.  But you must be strong now, be a powerful and commanding queen, the queen that I know you can be.  These vipers must be struck from Briton before their poison spreads any further."<br/><br/>He sighed, "That is my counsel my queen, take it as you will."