Chapter 153

Janos Slynt’s rise to the position of Commander of the City Watch was, in truth, a product of compromise and negotiation among various factions in King’s Landing.

The City Watch, as the management force of the Seven Kingdoms’ largest city, was a position rife with opportunity and profit. The noble houses of the Crownlands, especially those based in King’s Landing, had long vied for control, so how could a butcher-born commoner rise to such a prestigious office?

For three hundred years of Targaryen rule, the City Watch was traditionally composed of “half royal appointees, half Crownlands nobles’ placements,” with commanders usually hailing from noble families. The arrangement seemed like it might undermine the monarchy, but in reality, it bolstered the Iron Throne’s stability. The Crownlands’ houses were direct vassals of the king, and their interests were intertwined with the realm’s. The officers they placed within the Watch naturally remained loyal to the monarchy.

After Robert’s Rebellion, when Robert Baratheon took the throne, these Crownlands families became his vassals. Weakened by war and lacking the will to avenge House Targaryen, they abandoned any notions of rebellion. Robert, eager to consolidate his rule and avoid unnecessary reforms, allowed these “traditions” to continue unchecked.

Robert’s hands-off approach, however, made the nobles nervous. Fearing he might interpret their power struggles as disloyalty, they decided to present themselves as utterly devoted subjects. They approached Jon Arryn with a proposal: for the next commander of the City Watch, the Crownlands houses would abstain from interference and allow the position to be filled by a commoner from King’s Landing—someone directly answerable to the king.

Traditionally, the Commander was chosen from among the seven captains of the city gates. Of these, only two were common-born. One had died during the sack of the city, leaving Janos Slynt as the sole eligible candidate. With no competitors, Slynt became the “lucky” pick.

After taking office, he secured Robert’s favor by performing dirty jobs and cleaning up the monarchy’s messes. His loyalty to his new master earned him rapid promotion and wealth.

Slynt often boasted that he thrived because he had “friends at court.” But as Tyrion succinctly put it, Slynt was nothing more than “Robert’s dog.” Without Robert’s patronage, no noble would pay any attention to a butcher’s son.

Now, having unknowingly offended a new and rising power in King’s Landing, Slynt’s benefactors—the same people who had once elevated him—were about to turn against him. Under Tyrion’s persuasion and the promise of additional “dividends,” these powerful figures agreed to cooperate. The storm gathering within the city was poised to tear down the man who had dominated King’s Landing’s City Watch for over a decade.
----


While the operation to depose Janos Slynt heated up, another battle was quietly unfolding within the walls of the Red Keep. Nobles aligned with House Stark began shifting personnel: Stark-affiliated cooks, stewards, and soldiers took over the kitchens, storerooms, and gates. Meanwhile, the Kingsguard and a small number of Red Keep guards were ordered to form a protective ring around Robert.

Queen Cersei, powerless while Robert still lived, stayed close to her children, hoping to use them as shields. At her command, Lannister guards—the famed red cloaks—gathered around the royal children.

The tension in King’s Landing was palpable. The air seemed charged, the scent of change unmistakable to those with even the faintest intuition. And as fate would have it, the brewing conflicts above and below converged on one man—Robert’s “dog.”
----


“Robert, who exactly is this commander of your City Watch?” Eddard Stark sighed, tossing a pile of papers onto the king’s desk. “Look at what he’s done.”

“What now? Someone’s trying to take him down?” Robert, uncharacteristically sober, frowned. “Don’t bother showing me. It’s probably Cersei’s doing. That woman’s got over a hundred red cloaks around her and the children. If she weren’t feeling guilty, why would she need so many guards? If the Watch stirs up trouble now, we’re at a disadvantage. Her soldiers are well-trained, and we’ve got no cards left to play if things go wrong.”

“Oh, you think these accusations are her handiwork?” Ned countered. “I disagree. These are signed complaints, ranging from commoners and merchants to Crownlands nobles and even the Night’s Watch. If the Lannisters could control all these people, I’d pack up and return to Winterfell right now. And, I can assure you, after a preliminary investigation, these claims are well-documented. Arya even witnessed one of his crimes—a case of abducting a young woman. Do you think my daughter could be bought off to lie to me?”

“Abduction? Exaggerating again, aren’t you? At worst, Slynt might harass a girl in passing or take a bribe from a merchant. Fine, let’s see what you’ve got.” Robert grabbed the papers and began to read.

His initial dismissiveness gave way to unease, then anger. After going through five or six complaints, the King of the Seven Kingdoms slammed the papers onto the table. “Outrageous! Is this my city or his? Slynt’s days as commander are over!”

“Oh? But weren’t you the one who claimed, ‘I know exactly what kind of man he is’?” Ned crossed his arms, unimpressed. “It seems your understanding of your own men is lacking. A man can change, Robert, especially after years in a position of power like his.”

“Fine! I admit I misjudged him,” Robert growled, his anger simmering. “But isn’t it suspicious that all these accusations come to light now, just when I need the Watch most?”

“Is that my fault? Isn’t this supposed to be your Master of Laws’ responsibility? If Renly had done his job, people wouldn’t be bypassing him to come to me!” Ned shot back. “As for the timing, that’s no coincidence. Do you remember granting tax exemptions to the Night’s Watch’s new ventures?”

Robert frowned. “I remember. I’d had a bit to drink and agreed on a whim. But once I gave my word, I wasn’t about to go back on it. It’s just a bit of tax money.”

“You always take things so lightly,” Ned muttered. “But this time, I think you made the right call. The Wall is facing an unprecedented crisis, and it’s commendable that they’re trying to support themselves. Yet your commander of the Watch decided to extort the one enterprise you exempted. The Night’s Watch doesn’t answer to me, but their troubles always end up on my desk. Aegor West brought these complaints directly to me, and people who previously had nowhere to turn have followed suit.”

Robert muttered darkly, “That bastard Slynt. I’ll have to give him a proper dressing down.”

“A dressing down?” Ned raised an eyebrow. “After all he’s done, you’d still keep him in his position?”

Robert, cornered, shifted uncomfortably. “Fine, but we can’t remove him yet. Not until we’ve dealt with Cersei and her brother.”

“And what makes you think a man like Slynt is loyal to you?” Ned retorted. “A man without principles can’t be trusted. Replace him with someone competent and trustworthy, and we’ll have a solid foundation for what comes next.”

“By the gods, you’re insufferable!” Robert bellowed. “Do you want me to storm the Red Keep, arrest Cersei and Jaime, and end this nonsense now? Then you can name Arya commander of the City Watch for all I care!”

“And what reason would you give for arresting Cersei? Rumors of incest?” Ned’s tone grew sharp. “If you charge ahead recklessly, don’t expect me to stick around. Let me resign first, and you can pursue your brilliant plan without me.”

Robert slammed the table in frustration. “Fine! Investigate Slynt, but make sure his replacement is someone we can trust. And you’d better pray to your northern gods that I don’t die before you uncover the truth—because if I do, it’ll be your fault, and I’ll haunt you to the seven hells!”