Chapter 85

I was marched to the Tower of the Hand and made to wait for an hour while the Maesters worked feverishly on the Mountain. Lord Stark left me in his office under guard while he conferred with the Maesters and King Robert, effectively leaving me to sweat it out. Eventually, however, Lord Stark returned, a look of weariness on his face as he slumped into the leather chair behind his desk.

"You're lucky. The Maesters have managed to save the Mountain's life, though he will never again sit a horse or fight a battle. The Queen is quite angry with you, she practically demanded your arrest. It has also been intimated to me that Lord Tywin Lannister may press for some manner of reparations for the loss of such an able field commander." Began Lord Stark.

"The Lannisters are only angry by the loss of the cudgel they normally use to compel obedience and rig trials by combat." I snorted.

"Have a care, Lord Seawynd. You may be a Lord Paramount, but Cersei Lannister is King Robert's Queen and Lord Tywin his Goodfather. Loose talk such as that is like to see you under arrest yet." Pointed out Lord Stark.

"And I take it I am not currently under arrest?" I questioned.

"For all the Queen's bile, no, remarkably you are not. Had Ser Gregor died to your shot, then the Queen might have persuaded enough of the Court to force my hand. As it is, however, you just managed to avoid that fate." Informed Lord Stark.

"Then it would behoove me to ensure that Ser Gregor's wounds don't suddenly turn foul. There are a number of bottles of Medicinal Paste in my pavilion along with specially-made bandages. My Physician, Vyncenzo of Braavos will be able to wrap the Mountain's wounds with them so that they avoid infection." I nodded.

"That may go some way towards leniency, but there is still the matter of the Mountain not being able to take the field. You should know that Lord Tywin's demands are likely to be technological in nature. I believe he is going to demand you hand over the secrets of your Snaplock Musket technology to him." Explained Lord Stark.

"Absolutely not. Besides, the Mountain ignored a lawful order from the King and attacked not only his own brother but the son of the Lord Paramount of the Reach. Had I not shot him, one or both of them might be dead now, and then it would be the Mountain being arrested for Murder and Lord Tyrell demanding compensation from Lord Lannister." I scoffed.

"You will likely need to give him something other than Gold." Sighed Lord Stark.

"Let him have my Baidak designs, then. If he wants military technology so badly, he can have those. If he refuses, then he can take the Gold I offer." I scowled.

After all, it wasn't as if Tywin could even build enough Baidaks to begin to challenge me. He'd need to drastically expand his dockyards for that, plus he was currently making bombards, two-pounder guns, and four-pounder guns. Any Baidaks he did make would be drastically undergunned. He was also on the completely opposite side of Westeros from me. Any attempt he makes to reinforce or seize Kings' Landing during any bout of civil strife would have to come by land.

I could afford to part with something he wouldn't be able to make use of in a meaningful timeframe. I couldn't afford to part with Snaplock Musket technology. Not when he would be able to equip the most likely force for intervention in the Crownlands with them. Odds were, I'd never wind up facing a Lannister Baidak until the Lannisters were already defeated, but Lannister Snaplocks could start appearing on the field opposite me fairly quickly.

"Lord Tywin may not agree to either of those terms. Your naval technology is not something that he is able to make much use of at the moment, after all. He would see such a thing as an insult rather than an investment in the future." Cautioned Lord Stark.

"Then let him try to compel me to give up my Snaplock technology. I assure you, My Lord Hand, it will not prove as simple a matter as he believes." I intoned.

"Lord Seawynd, what you seem to be saying is tantamount to inciting civil war and breaking the King's Peace. I hope dearly that you simply misspoke." Frowned Lord Stark.

"Lord Tywin asked for technology in recompense, I made a reasonable counter. If he is too prickly and stubborn to accept my counteroffer, then I am unsure what else I can do. I certainly will not be sailing ships around the whole of Westeros to bombard Lannisport or any such nonsense. If anyone is going to break the King's Peace in this scenario, it will be Lord Tywin." I shrugged.

"Some might say you would be pushing him into it." Mused Lord Stark.

"Only the Lannisters would say that. Let me be frank with you, My Lord Hand, were this any other Lord Paramount, they would jump at the chance to gain Baidak Technology, even as a counteroffer. Lord Tywin is simply a man who wishes to have everything his own way. However, there is a saying in Braavos, Volere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca. One cannot have the barrel full of wine and one's wife drunk at the same time." I retorted.

"Meaning?" Queried Lord Stark.

"Meaning that to demand you have everything your own way is not realistic. If Lord Tywin refuses my counteroffer, then he shall just have to live with the disappointment." I answered.

Lord Stark regarded me curiously, folding his hands in front of him on his desk. For a few long moments, nothing was said as we sat there. Lord Stark seemed to just be taking my measure as if he was now reassessing his mental picture of who I was. The question was, was he revising his opinion of me upwards or downwards?

"I could advise the King to compel you to hand over the technology in the interests of avoiding Civil War, you realize." Pointed out Lord Stark.

"If we're getting to that stage of this interview, I suppose I should advise you that doing such would largely be for nothing." I responded, deciding to take the plunge. If Lord Stark wasn't adept enough politically to have noticed that Civil War was coming to Westeros no matter what by now, then I should at least inform him.

"How do you mean? Surely you aren't saying you would refuse a direct order from the King?" Asked Lord Stark.

"No, that is not what I'm saying. I am simply saying that Civil War is already inevitable. It has arguably been inevitable for some years now." I remarked.

"Explain." Comanded Lord Stark.

So I did so, giving him a detailed analysis of the various fracture points in King Robert's regime, including the poor state of the treasury, the factionalism in the Court, the breakdown of just how loose the Iron Throne's control really was over certain regions, the war of schemes and influence being played between Varys and Littlefinger, King Robert's extremely poor health, and then I dropped the bombshell. Jon Arryn's last investigation, his likely poisoning by the Tears of Lys, and what Lord Stannis had revealed to me that he had been looking into.

Lord Stark took all this in with a frown. For a few moments, silence reigned once again. Lord Stark gazed right through me as if attempting to reveal the truth of my words by looking at my very soul. He was no Sorcerer, not like I was, so I knew he would be unable to perform such divination, but he had no small amount of experience dealing with people. Mind you that didn't make him particularly talented at sniffing out deception, his trusting of Littlefinger to back him against Cersei in canon was ample proof of that.

Eventually, he asked, "How certain are you of all this?"

"Which parts?" I questioned.

"All of it. From Jon Arryn and the Tears of Lys all the way to the various potential embers that might spark a Civil War? How sure are you of any of it?" Demanded Lord Stark.

"The symptoms of Jon Arryn's death, the fever of the stomach followed by his heart giving out match the exact method with which the Tears of Lys kills its target. it is also colorless, odorless, and flavorless, which makes it completely undetectable by anyone who hasn't taken specific precautions. You may check with other sources if you like, but the resemblance of Jon Arryn's death to Murder by Tears of Lys is far too uncanny to be anything else." I offered.

"And you believe he was poisoned due to his last investigation?" Pressed Lord Stark.

"The timing is right for it, and given what he was investigating there are any number of people who might have wanted him to stop. He was killed because he was looking into something that had to do with King Robert's Bastards, you see. I know Lord Stannis has been looking into it in his spare time, attempting to pick up where Jon Arryn left off. You may wish to confer further with him on the issue, I am only involved tangentially due to the nature of various agreements between myself and Lord Stannis." I nodded.

"And the rest of it?" Frowned Lord Stark.

"Most of it is at least partially public knowledge, My Lord Hand. I am surprised you have not seen the factions at court bicker in your duties as Hand of the King. Currently, the Lannisters have an outsized influence compared to King Robert's Loyalists at court. While Jon Arryn was Hand of the King, he bolstered King Robert's Loyalist Stormlanders with Valemen, but ever since his death, several members of various offices put in place by Jon Arryn have mysteriously quit and been replaced by Lannisters. This is mostly in the Treasury overseen by the Master of Coin and the Gold Cloaks overseen by the Master of Laws. The Royal Fleet remains ardently loyal to the Baratheon Cause, while the Kingsguard and Red Keep Guards are largely split." I explained.

"I have been too busy to notice every minor position that members of the small council seek to fill. Perhaps that ought to change. I know you mentioned the schemes you believe Littlefinger to be pulling with the Treasury, though I have yet to truly track down any of his ledgers to confirm. What about the loose control you say the Iron Throne has over the different Kingdoms? Surely the way that Balon's Rebellion was crushed shows the lie in that?" Queried Lord Stark.

"You might think that, but it actually shows the opposite. The Iron Throne did not get involved in that until Lannisport was sacked and the Lannister Fleet burned at anchor by the Ironborn. Once the Westerlands proved that it was incapable of handling the Ironborn on its own, only then was the Iron Throne empowered to act. Even then, each Lord Paramount levied their own contingent of troops and ships to fight and was responsible for commanding those contingents, supplying them, equipping them, and training them." I tried.

"Yes, and? That is the way we have always done such things." Pointed out Lord Stark.

"It is more than just that, however. Each Region of Westeros has different customs and privileges afforded to them. Some maintain Princely titles and gain tax benefits, others retain the right to mint their own coinage. Some Kingdoms still use their native set of weights and measures instead of the Valyrian Standard imposed by the Targaryens after the Conquest, your own Kingdom among them. Westeros is in actuality less of a strong unified Kingdom and more of a loose confederation of multiple Kingdoms under the nominal Suzrainty of the Iron Throne." I informed.

"That is simply how the Feudal Contract works, Lord Seawynd. You know this." Intoned Lord Stark.

"That is also how it worked in Old Sarnor, a land that was doomed to constant civil strife and bickering regional princes right up until the last of them fell under the hooves of the Dothraki. Think on it, My Lord Hand. How many Blackfyre Rebellions have there been? What of the Dance of Dragons? What of the numerous, smaller, regional cases of civil strife such as the Kingswood Brotherhood or Balon's Rebellion? Civil Strife is always going to occur in a such a system, and with factionalism rife within the Court, even to the point of the Master of Whispers and the Master of Coin at each other's throats in the shadows, the conditions are ripe for yet another Civil War in the near future. Especially given the King's Poor health." I laid out.

"The King may have gotten a bit more rotund since we were boys, but surely if it was becoming an issue the Grand Maester would have said something?" Mused Lord Stark.

"Unless the Grand Maester is being induced not to say anything. Pycelle spends an awful lot of time visiting brothels for a man who supposedly lives off a fixed stipend, after all. This is regardless of the fact that his doing so is in contravention of the Maester's vows. That does also mean that it is unlikely his stipend money covers such dalliances. I am reliably informed that he may send an expense report to the Citadel to ask for an increase in his stipend, but he is unlikely to be granted one for whores. The alternative is that he's either hiding his true expenses from the Archmaesters of the Citadel, which is unlikely, or that he is receiving money from a different source for favors rendered at court which he then spends on brothels." I intoned.

"You think that he is being paid to cover the King's Worsening Health? Such is not exactly treason and does not require malicious intent. Perhaps his benefactor simply thought knowledge of any poor health on the King's Part was likely to cause a panic and so is paying him to withhold that knowledge?" Retorted Lord Stark.

"Perhaps. I admit I have no tangible proof that Grand Maester Pycelle is being paid to do such a thing, merely circumstantial evidence, but the fact remains that King Robert has feasted, drunk, and whored his way around Westeros for so long that I find it doubtful that his heart is in very good condition. With Prince Joffrey not yet a man grown, there will likely be a fight over the Regency. Such things are incredibly dangerous, as they contain the potential for new dynasties to rise. Ambitious men might take advantage of the Chaos to plant their own arses on that chair made of blades. Then there is the three-headed, scaled, fire-breathing, elephant in the room." I shrugged.

"The Targaryens? They're only children. Surely they wouldn't be able to do anything of substance?" Asked Lord Stark.

"Viserys is two and twenty and Danaerys is four and ten. Both are older than the Crown Prince and while my contacts in the Free Cities tell me that Viserys was scoffed at by the Golden Company, Danaerys has seemingly drawn the eye of a Dothraki Khal. I'd expect the Spider to bring it up in a Small Council Meeting soon. While the Dothraki do not board ships, as they are afraid of the Sea, there are other ways that a Dothraki Khalasar may be used to prepare for an invasion of Westeros. For example, conquering a territory and using the conquered as recruits for the invasion force." I remarked.

"And should King Robert's health fail him, you believe that the civil strife that will ensue over the regency will handicap any potential defense against a Targaryen reconquest." Stated Lord Stark.

"I can think of no better time to strike than when the defenders are divided and bleeding themselves dry." I nodded.

"Point taken." Muttered Lord Stark.

"So you see, My Lord Hand, even should the King compel me to hand over my Snaplock Technology to Lord Lannister to avoid Civil War, such a move will at best be a delaying tactic, and that is assuming fighting breaks out at all to begin with. We're further away from the Westerlands than Dorne is, and if Prince Doran has not attacked the Westerlands over what was done to Princess Elia, I sincerely doubt that Lord Tywin will attack me over the Mountain if he doesn't get his way. It isn't practicable." I insisted.

"You make a compelling enough argument, Lord Seawynd. It puts me in something of an awkward position, however. I was supposed to be the one interviewing you, but now I find myself in need of advice. What do you believe I should do about this inevitable Civil War you mentioned?" Questioned Lord Stark.

"For now, I would say work with Lord Stannis in retracing Lord Arryn's last investigation. It may be that by finding out who poisoned him, you may yet nip some of the flowers of civil strife in the bud, as it were. Beyond that, I cannot advise you to remove Littlefinger from the Small Council strongly enough. To extend my prior metaphor, he is one of the largest buds of civil strife, with roots growing into the treasury and factionalism. If he is allowed to bloom, the flower that comes out will be poison, I can assure you of that." I answered.

"I must pray on it. Once I reach the solace of the Godswood, I will know which course to take, I am sure of it. For now, Lord Seawynd, you are free to return to your Pavilion. The King has decreed that the Tourney will continue on the morrow and your place has been retained pending the outcome of this interview. You will be able to continue in the lists." Offered Lord Stark.

With that, the interview ended. I was given my pistol back by the guards and headed back toward my Pavilion, where Armino was already tied up and munching happily on a bag of oats. Apparently, Ser Maric had decided that he would extend his squirely duties just enough to care for my horse while I was in the Hand's Custody. He'd left a note saying that he'd brought Armino back to the pavilion, brushed him down, tied him up, and fed him before heading to see his father.

There was no sign of Ser Loras Lothston, nor Ser Roger Groves, but Saalhador Saan and Jalhabar Xho were waiting for me back at my pavilion, having opened a bottle of Madiera that I had brought with me for my own drinking. Both were about four cups deep at this point and Saalhador Saan was singing some bawdy Lyseni Ballad rather badly.

"So, is this how leal vassals act when their lord is away? Drinking all his wine?" I chided in jest. Saalhador stopped singing and turned toward me as I entered my pavilion.

"We did not know how the Hand's judgment would go. I thought to myself that it would be a shame to waste such fine wine, especially in the event that you did not return." Shrugged Saalhador Saan.

"And you went along with this?" I asked Jalhabar Xho in mock indignation.

"Saalha is very persuasive." Shrugged Jalhabar Xho.

"Well, there is only one response to that!" I growled out in fake anger.

Saalhador Saan and Jalhabar Xho looked at each other, then back at me, then back at each other. Both had grimaces on their faces. Dear Gods, did they actually think that I was mad about this? I must be a better actor than I'd thought. Or maybe it was the fact that I was still in armor from the Joust, not having been given time to change before being escorted into custody by Lord Stark's Guards. Time to dispel any doubts they might have about that.

"Well, what are you two waiting for? Pour me a cup!" I demanded.

Soon enough I was drinking with my two present vassals and listening to Saalhador tell a story that had apparently happened earlier between himself, Lady Johanna Byrch, and an angry Ser Petyr Rollingford, who had been courting Lady Johanna until then. The story was too amusing to not be very heavily embellished. If Saalhador had left Ser Petyr unconscious in a pile of dung, though, we were going to have problems. Very few of the Houses of the Crownlands had a neutral opinion of me by this point and House Rollingford had been one of them. I suppose we'd find out in the morning.

"So, not that I don't enjoy hearing stories about what future headaches you've made for me, but I have to ask. Where are Ser Roger and Ser Loras?" I questioned.

"They went to go talk down the brute Squad Vizimir sent to the City. Anguy and Likely Luke were ready to come break you out of custody when the first hour went by and nothing happened. Bronn sent for help talking those two down." Shrugged Jalhabar Xho.

"Indeed. They will likely return just before it's time to turn in for the night. There was something about being pressed into helping deal with a group of the Drakespawn Gang that control a pair of small blacksmithies and a winesink in Horn Alley. Apparently, the Drakespawn are using the smithies to arm their men and the winesink to fund doing so. It's a fairly simple, if effective setup which is likely why Bronn wants it taken from them." Answered Saalhador Saan.

"Is that your professional opinion?" I grinned.

"You can take the man out of piracy, but taking the pirate out of the man is another matter entirely." Smirked Saalhador Saan.

"Especially in your case." Snorted Jalhabar Xho.

As it happened, Ser Roger and Ser Loras returned from their excursion into Flea Bottom just before it was time to turn in for the night. Both had been dressed in lighter armor that wasn't the plate they wore at the lists for their excursion. Both had their mail and leather armor battered and torn up. Ser Roger had a flesh wound on the meat of his left calf where something had sliced through the solid steel greave and the leather underneath to take a chunk out of him. He'd been stitched up and had a bandage slathered in medicinal paste wrapped around the wound.

Curiously, he was grinning from ear to ear even wounded as he was. I was about to ask him what was going on when I spotted it. Instead of his normal, arsenal steel, blade, the pommel and crossguard of the sword he was wearing were bronze and inscribed with First Men Runes that still held power in them. As he nodded at me, he drew the blade just enough to show the rippling, black, metal of Valyrian Steel.

"Lamentation. How did you come across that?" I queried.

What followed was a long story involving the assault on the Drakespawn business turning into an impromptu attack on the Dragonpit, a duel with Black Daeron Waters, and the claiming of Lamentation from his corpse once victory was achieved. I listened to the whole thing with rapt attention as it was every bit as thrilling a story as the one that Saalhador Saan had told about Lady Johanna Byrch and her suitor of Rollingford. By the end of the story, the situation in Flea Bottom had become clearer. We now had uncontested control over the gangs there.

Bronn had already commandeered the Dragonpit ruins for his new base of operations. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, a few things came out of this chapter. First and most important is the advancement of Ricasso's intrigue interests in King's Landing. Not only has he nudged Lord Stark in the right direction for uncovering various plots, but Bronn and Company have also solidified their control over the Gangs of Fleabottom completely, ensuring that Lord Stark is more likely to survive uncovering those plots thanks to Ricasso's intervention.

Next is the situation with the Westerlands and Tywin in any wartime scenario. The Mountain is alive, but crippled and unable to be used to harry the Riverlands as he was in canon. This is actually a fairly substantial change to the timeline. Without the Mountain burning down a third of the Riverlands, the situation there isn't going to be nearly so dire come winter. Tywin also isn't going to have the Riverlords softened up by the Mountain's Raids to help out any invasion of the Riverlands.

Finally, Lamentation. Lamentation being recovered is big and not just because it's possibly the most potent anti-other weapon around currently, either. It's big because it furthers the idea that Ricasso is the lord you want to swear to if you want to rise in station. After all, Ser Roger went from an Exiled, Landless, Sellsword, to a proper Lord with an entire island under him and now a legendary blade.

Speaking of Lamentation, the next chapter will be an interlude detailing Bronn's attack on the Drakespawn and how Ser Roger got Lamentation. Then we'll be back for the next part of the Joust, as it's been proclaimed to still be going forward by the King.

Stay tuned. . .