Chapter 96

Stannis' assembled War Council was large enough that two tents had to be patched together piecemeal in order to fit all of the attending Lords. It seemed that as his victories racked up, many Lords previously undecided in loyalties declared for Stannis, and not just the ones forced to bend the knee by defeats, either. Lords from as far away as the Three Sisters and the Shield Isles were present, alongside the usual host of Stormlanders, Narrow Sea Houses, and my own contingent. Even old Lord Eldon Estermont, Stannis' Maternal Grandfather and a notoriously cautious man had sent his son, the confusingly named Ser Eldon Estermont, known as Eldon the Younger, to the Council.

As I entered the monstrosity of a patchwork tent, however, I noticed Bronn waving me over to a side table that had been set up with a carafe of wine and several pewter goblets. He already had a full goblet in one hand as he waved me over with a cheerful grin.

"Bronn. Surprised to see you here. I would have thought Vizimir would have re-tasked you and your men just as soon as he could." I nodded by way of greeting.

"He did at that, Milord. Of course, he wanted me to hand over this first." Smirked Bronn, as he reached into the hauberk he was wearing and produced a rolled-up leather scroll.

"Dare I ask what that is?" I questioned.

"That Milord is the most up-to-date map of the Sewers and Secret Passages of Kings Landing we have. Vizimir thought it might be of use given the situation here's been all bollocksed up by the Mootons." Answered Bronn.

I took the map and unrolled it, scanning it briefly and noting the sections marked out in colored inks. It was fairly detailed, though not nearly as much as it would have needed to be to map out the entire undercroft of King's Landing. Mostly, there were sections mapped out under Flea Bottom. Most of the mapped-out areas were in the eastern half of the City, from the Mud Gate east to Aegon's High Hill and the Red Keep, then north to the Dragon Gate and west to the Old Gate. In total, there was some fifty-four percent of the Undercroft of Kings Landing marked out on here or thereabouts.

The map was quite good too, with blue inks mapping out safe paths, red mapping out dangerous paths often patrolled by opposing forces, whether they be working for Baelish, Varys, or someone else, black inks mapped out no-go areas that were either completely caved in, had too many Wildfire Caches, or worse, while yellow inks mapped out areas of lesser danger, that weren't too patrolled or completely degraded but still posed a risk to traversal. Various symbols were also marked out on the maps, though I didn't recognize some of them.

"What are these symbols here? I recognize the shield symbols as the ones used by Vizimir to mark caches, and the daggers as enemy strongpoints, but what about the pouches here or the green x-marks?" I queried.

"The pouches are neutral groups that are willing to do a bit of trade of goods or information. Smugglers, info brokers, and the like. The Green X-Marks are Wildfire Caches whose protections are fucking shite. You'll note how many of the bloody things there are around the black routes. Those routes are black 'cause one errant spark could send the whole bloody tunnel up." Informed Bronn.

"I see. In your opinion, what would be the best route to bring an armed group into the City?" I asked.

"There's a few might do, Milord. If you just want in the Red Keep, I'd suggest taking a dozen or so likely lads up this route here. If it's getting Stannis' Army in, though, there's a few tunnels that lead out under the gates where you might be able to squeeze through fifty lads at a time. Here for the Iron Gate, Here for the Dragon Gate, Here for the Old Gate, and here for the Mud Gate, though the last one's got some fucking climbing to do. The path skirts Aegon's Bloody Hill at times." Explained Bronn, pointing out several routes marked on the map.

"Fifty men might just be enough to hit the gatehouses from an unexpected direction and open the Gates to the rest of the army." I mused.

"Could be, Milord. Of course, it could also be that Queen Bitch Lannister decides if she can't have the city, no one can. Some of our lads've run into a few Lannister Patrols charting the Wildfire Caches in the past few days. Apparently, there was a bloody fucking series of riots last week that's got Cersei Lannister all paranoid. Best guess is that she's been planning something utterly fucking mad in case it looks like she's about to lose the Bloody Capital." Responded Bronn.

"Right, so to succeed, it sounds like we'll have to time the attack on the gates and an assault on the Red Keep to go off concurrently. Is there anything else I might need to know?" I questioned.

"Depends on whether you think rumors without confirmation are a brilliant source of intelligence, Milord. Vizimir's heard a few whispers coming out of the Iron Isles if you want to hear them?" Queried Bronn.

"Let me hear them. Forewarned is forearmed, after all." I nodded.

"Well, there's been a rumor that Lord Greyjoy's taken ill and he isn't long for this world. If true, it couldn't have happened to a nicer fucking bloke, but that does present a problem." Shrugged Bronn.

"What sort of a problem?" I asked, having a dreading suspicion of the answer.

"Word is, the Reform Faction is on the Rise. It's being led by Rodrik Harlaw and the man is a proponent of trade over raiding. Problem is who his nearest trade partners are." Began Bronn.

"The Lannisters." I muttered.

"The bloody fucking Lannisters. Our contacts in the Isles aren't too fucking expansive. Mostly, it's a few Lords and Captains who mislike the Old Ways, but see the Reader as too old to lead the Reform Faction properly. They've got maybe two dozen ships to their name, compared to the Hundreds fielded by Balon's Traditionalists and the Reader's Reformists. They're also the only faction willing to countenance Theon Greyjoy returning to become Lord. The Reader's Lot wants Asha and the Reformists are championing Victarion Greyjoy, Balon's brother. Of the three factions, it's the Readers' who are most likely to win in a struggle for the Seastone Chair, though." Continued Bronn.

"Which means we could be looking at a major civil war in which the odds-on favorite is completely in the Lannister's coinpurse." I muttered.

"If you believe the rumors. They've not been confirmed yet." Added Bronn.

I looked over at the envoy from the Shield Isles, Ser Halleck Hewett of Oakenshield, the firstborn son of Lord Humfrey Hewett. He looked nervous and sort of withdrawn, as if he was only here for a specific reason. Looking back at Bronn, I nodded over at Ser Halleck before talking again.

"Something tells me we're likely to get confirmation before the night is out." I huffed.

"Well, that's for King Stannis to decide how to deal with. I'm off just as soon as I finish up here, Milord. Apparently, Vizimir wants me to take a look at what's going on with Lord Stark. Got a raven the other day from a source saying he made it to White Harbor, but we've heard nothing of him marching south with his banners like we'd expect." Admitted Bronn.

"I suppose your work is never done, eh?" I questioned.

"No, but it'll be fucking worth it in the end." Nodded Bronn.

"Oh? Did you have a goal in mind?" I queried.

"Bloody right I do. I'm saving up for a Manse somewhere in the Free Cities. Can't rightly court the lass I've been courting without one. Almost have enough bonus money for a smaller one, but I'm hoping for something a bit more expansive, with some olive groves or some other shite that'll make me money." Grinned Bronn.

"Well, good luck to you there. In the meantime, however, we all have our own duties." I offered.

"Unfortunately, mine have me headed to a place where I'll like as not freeze my fucking bollocks off. Doesn't Vizimir realize the Stark's words are that way for a reason?" Asked Bronn.

"Aye, Winter is Coming all right. I'd like to have this whole campaign finished before it arrives. Something tells me it's like to be a long and cold one." I intoned.

And with that, Bronn downed the last of the wine in his goblet, placed the pewter vessel down on the end table, and headed out. He and the Brute Squad were off to the frozen North, though I had a sneaking suspicion I knew what was keeping Ned from marching south. Mance Rayder would be trying to hit the wall about now if I had my timing right, and the Others weren't too far behind him. The Wall would need all the forces it could get to reinforce it, which meant keeping a large number of Northern Troops in the North.

I poured myself a goblet from the carafe and moved to join the assembled Lords properly. I desperately wished Brienne was still here, but she'd already left after briefly meeting with me the first night my forces had arrived. Quentyn needed to have at least one of his parents, after all, and it seemed that my Wife's need for bold deeds in wartime had been quenched by fighting alongside Barristan the Bold to seize control of Duskendale in a literal assault out of legend. Seriously, there were already bards composing songs about the Second Defiance of Duskendale out in the siege camp.

Instead, I gathered my lords around me as we prepared for the War Council Proper to kick off. Lord Crabb, My Goodfather, and Ser Roger Groves had been keeping an eye on the political situation amongst Stannis' supporters for me while I'd taken my time getting ready. They let me know how things stood politically now as I joined them.

"The Velyrons and Celtigars have been sounding out the new arrivals. It seems all of the Shield Isles stand behind Lord Hewett in declaring for Stannis. They fear trouble in the Iron Isles means trouble for them too." Advised my Goodfather.

"Meanwhile, the Sistermen are all of the same mind that we knew them to be, along with the Paps and Witch Isle, though with the added caveat that they've been keeping an eye on Baelish's comings and goings in the Vale. They're worried he's managed to suborn a majority of the Vale Houses and fear he plans to move against the Lady Lysa soon. She already declared him regent for young Robin Arryn, but defeats in the Crownlands seem to have spurred Baelish to accelerate his plans in the Vale." Continued Lord Rupert Crabb.

"Is that so? What of House Royce? Last I heard Bronze Yohn had put together a coalition to stop Baelish's schemes?" I questioned.

"The Sistermen don't believe the Royces of Runestone have the required support to stop him if he tries any longer. They believe Baelish has managed to flip the loyalties of several key people including Ser Roland Waynwood, Lady Anya Waynwood's designated heir now that his father can no longer rule due to illness, which Lord Sunderland believes to have been poison rather than a natural sickness." Refuted Ser Roger Groves.

"Which means that putting out fires in the Crownlands and Stormlands just means those fires will be replaced by ones in the Iron Isles and Vale soon enough." I grumbled.

"Do we have a way to quench this fire, as you say?" Queried Lord Crabb.

"We do, thanks to Vizimir and his network. I have a plan that I'll be proposing as soon as the actual War Council begins that should see us victorious before Lord Tywin can arrive if it works." I nodded.

"I see. Well, then it sounds as if we may want to start sounding out the other Lords. What is this plan you speak of?" Asked my Goodfather.

I began to lay out the plan as I'd figured it, using the map that Bronn had provided to illustrate entry points. My Lords listened intently, and as I explained, Ser Denys Irons, Salhador Saan, Prince Perros, and Jalhabar Xho entered. The rest of my lords were still in the camp, keeping things organized and orderly. They trusted me enough to represent our wishes at the War Council to stay behind with the men.

"It sounds like you're laying out a way to take Kings Landing by Coup de Main." Frowned Salhador Saan.

"That's exactly what this is. Do you think we can do it?" I questioned.

"Undoubtedly. The bigger question is how messy it all gets before the end." Scoffed Ser Denys Irons.

"How do you mean?" Queried Prince Perros.

"Well, to succeed it sounds like we need to attack four different gates, and the Red Keep by surprise simultaneously. That takes timing and anything that takes that sort of timing is going to get messy. There's no way around it with so many moving parts to the plan." Scoffed Ser Denys.

"Ser Denys has the right of it. We may need to face the fact that it's possible that as few as half the gates might fall once the enemy realizes they're under attack." Nodded Ser Roger Groves.

"We could try drawing their attention to the outside first? An attempted diversionary assault on the walls perhaps?" Asked my Goodfather.

"It could work, though it would need to be a strong enough attack to convince the enemy that it's real." Mused Jalhabar Xho.

"The real issue is going to be ensuring the Red Keep falls. I have it on good authority that Cersei Lannister may be planning to use the Wildfire Caches buried under the Capital to attempt to deny us the Capital if it looks as if the City might fall." I intoned.

"Grim news." Frowned Lord Rupert Crabb.

"That's why I'll be leading that assault personally should my plan get the approval of the King." I insisted.

"I would try to talk you out of such a thing, but I know you would simply ignore me. Just make sure you succeed. My daughter needs no more tragedies in her life and my grandson doesn't deserve to grow up without a father." Cautioned my Goodfather.

"I echo Lord Selwyn's sentiments, but I can add that we all have the utmost confidence in you managing to successfully do this, My Lord." Offered Ser Roger Groves.

"Aye, if anyone can, you can." Nodded Ser Denys Irons.

"Well, I might have been able to in my Prime. Alas, age and the idle life of a Lord have stolen the best of my abilities." Smirked Salhador Saan.

"Right. If you're an infirm old man, then I'm the Lord of the Smoking Mirror." Snorted Jalhabar Xho.

"Ignore those two, in the meantime, we'll have the Gates ready and in our hands." Informed Lord Crabb.

"Indeed, you can count on us." Agreed Prince Perros.

And with that, my group broke up to go convince the other Lords that this was the best way to seize the Capital speedily before Tywin Lannister could arrive from the Riverlands with Fifty-Thousand Men. The Sistermen hardly needed convincing, they were already on my side. Meanwhile, the Narrow Sea Houses already knew of my reputation and only had to be shown the map to get on board.

It was the Stormlords who presented the most opposition to my plan. This was largely thanks to another plan being floated by Ser Justin Massey of Stonedance involving simply concentrating cannon fire on the gates and blowing them open for a more conventional assault. His plan had the backing of several younger lords who preferred a more direct approach than my own, more tactical, plan.

Never mind that plan would still involve assault forces being funneled through narrow choke points that were rife with murder holes and arrow slits. No, this was more in keeping with how many of the younger generation thought of war. It seemed that several of the younger Stormlords had taken my innovations of black powder weaponry and pike and shot tactics, and simply adapted their mindsets to accommodate them into the more honorable form of warfare that they were used to.

Thankfully, I had a few supporters amongst the Stormlords, notably Ser Eldon the Younger of Estermont, Lord Caspar Wylde of the Rain House, and all of House Seaworth. The question was, would it be enough to sway any vote that Stannis opened up on the topic? I wasn't sure, but we would find out soon enough as Stannis entered the monstrosity of a pavilion shortly after securing the vote of Lord Wylde, Ser Davos in tow, along with a tall, thin, and gaunt Man in a purple cloak with a long, thin, beard. Tycho Nestoris, Factotum of the Iron Bank of Braavos had arrived.

There was no time to ponder the implications of that Arrival, however, because Stannis immediately called the War Council to order and demanded all the Lords take their seats. I did so, as did everyone else, and Stannis began to call for any new Lords wishing to swear themselves to his cause to step forward. Predictably, it was Ser Halleck Hewett, the representative of the Shield Isles who stepped forward first.

"My King, I am Ser Halleck Hewett, heir to Oakenshield and the Overlordship of the Shield Isles in the Reach. On behalf of my father, Lord Humfrey, and the subordinate Lords of Houses Grimm of Greyshield, Chester of Greenshield, and Serry of Southshield, I offer the fealty of the Shield Islands, their peoples, and their Lords to King Stannis Baratheon." Spoke up Ser Halleck Hewett, kneeling in front of Stannis.

"I accept the fealty of your Father and his Lords but am puzzled as to why he is not here in person. Perhaps you can answer me that?" Commanded Stannis.

"It is simple, Your Grace. Grim tidings out of the Iron Isles compel the sitting Lords to stay home and ready their fleets. It seems Balon Greyjoy has fallen deathly ill, and the most likely outcome of his passing is a civil conflict, the likely winner of which has all but openly declared for the Lannisters. We fear that as soon as the Ironborn have their house in order, they will come to our houses and begin raiding once again, this time at the behest of Tywin Lannister." Answered Ser Halleck.

"Grim tidings indeed. I am unfamiliar with the political situation in the Iron Isles as it stands, but surely Balon Greyjoy dying can only mean good things?" Pressed Stannis.

"I might be able to shed some light on the situation, Your Grace." I offered.

"Lord Seawynd, why am I not surprised that you keep up to date with political developments in far-flung lands?" Intoned Stannis, a slight quirk of his lips indicating a smile that you could scarcely see if you didn't know the man.

"I do try, Your Grace. As to Balon's death, ordinarily, you would be correct, especially as it is Rodrik the Reader whose reformist faction is likely to come out on top of the heap of any Ironborn Civil War. They prefer to trade than to raid and have long been seeking to reform the somewhat backward legal and social codes the Isles are governed under. However, because of their nearest trade partner being Lannisport, the Reader's Faction is highly dependent on Lannister Goods to maintain their edge over their rivals in Balon's Traditionalist Faction." I explained.

"Meaning that we will likely have to send fleets before all is said and done to ensure a third candidate takes power, which is reform-minded but not beholden to Lannister Gold. Is there even such a faction available?" Questioned Stannis.

"There is, Your Grace. It is small in comparison, no more than a few dozen Small Lords and Captains with perhaps two dozen ships and two and a half thousand men compared to the hundreds of ships and over five thousand men of both the Reader's and Balon's Factions. I have agents in contact with them that can advise them on strategy and make promises of aid, but we will have to actually follow through, and I believe the Capital is more pressing at the moment." I informed.

"I see. Hold that thought for a moment, Lord Seawynd. I understand we have other Lords here who wish to pledge their fealty?" Queried Stannis.

At that, I sat back down and a procession of Lords stepped forth, from Lord Sunderland offering the Fealty of the Three Sisters, Paps, and Witch Isle, to Lords Darke, Dargood, and Darkwood offering the fealty of their minor holdings West of Duskendale. As soon as the procession of Lords pledging fealty dried up, however, Stannis got down to the business at hand. How to take King's Landing before Tywin showed up.

"Latest reports claim Tywin Lannister is on his way here with fifty-thousand men and could arrive in as little as three days' time. I require a solution that sees us in possession of the Capital before that time comes and we find ourselves sandwiched between the garrison of the Capital and Tywin's Army." Commanded Stannis.

"Why not simply concentrate our cannon fire on the gates, Your Grace? Surely mere iron banded wood and iron portcullis cannot withstand more than an hour's bombardment or so? Then we will be free to assault through the gates in force." Offered Ser Justin Massey.

That received some level of assent, largely from Ser Justin's cadre of younger Lords and Knights of the Stormlands. It received just as many jeers from the older and wiser crowd too, however. It was time to make my pitch.

"Perhaps, My Lords, Your Grace, instead of charging troops through fortified openings under fire from murder holes and arrow slits of the gatehouse and doubtlessly taking a hefty casualty toll, we can try something else? I happen to have here, a map of a little over half of the Sewers, Secret Tunnels, Hidden Passageways, Cellars, and General Undercroft of the Capital. There may yet be a way to take the city by Coup de Main without unnecessary loss of life ahead of a battle with Tywin Lannister." I offered, showing the Map to the assembled Lords.

"Go on." Intoned Stannis.

So I did. I laid out my plan in as much detail as I had. The locations of the tunnels, the way they could be used to seize control of four of the Capital's Seven Gates by surprise assault, the way a party of a dozen or so good men could infiltrate the Red Keep at the same time to prevent a catastrophe, the whole plan. By the end, Stannis called for a vote, my plan versus Ser Justin Massey's. The deliberation went on for only a single hour, as I had properly laid the groundwork in advance to win. In the end, the victor of the vote wound up being my own plan.

I had one day to prepare my forces and flesh out the plan further, then I would be putting it into action. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we see the War Council. It turns out that Cersei has gone even more bonkers and paranoid since the Riots occurred. While Joffrey just got more sadistic, Cersei is now literally planning to blow up the Capital as a final fuck you if it looks like the City is about to fall. Meanwhile, the Ironborn and Vale are likely going to be entering the War on the side of the Lannisters as soon as the Succession Struggle and Baelish's Coup D'etat can go off respectively.

In putting out fires in the Crownlands and Stormlands, it seems that other fires in the Iron Isles and Vale have started. Meanwhile, the Wall is under attack by Mance Rayder, with the Others not far behind him. That is forcing Ned to keep his forces at home for the time being. It seems that things aren't going to be wrapped up in a neat little bow just yet, unfortunately.

At any rate, the next chapter will involve the plan to seize the Capital by Coup de Main going off.

Stay tuned. . .