OOOOOOO
A few days after Ranma's force left Fairmarket, another commander was thinking about barges as well. Garlan cradled the message from his sister in one hand, thinking hard as he gazed at the map in his other hand. "We have another week's worth of marching before we reach Bitterbridge… I want two men to take four horses, ride ahead of the army, tell whoever Caswell left in charge to start constructing as many barges as he can. We'll use them to barge down the Mander back to Highgarden, further if we can safely though I know not how deep in the Mander the Ironborn will be willing to raid so quickly after taking the Shield Islands."
Around him some of the other lords and nights nodded grimly. The Florent boy, Alekyne looked scared but given his lack of experience even in tourneys Garlan wasn't surprised by that. Garlan himself wasn't very experienced, and he knew it, but, at least he'd squired under one of the best generals in the Reach, which made up for it. The others, especially the Redwyne twins, looked worried, angry and determined.
Not all of them seemed to understand the danger though. "My lord, we are due to join the assault on King's Landing!" Said Steffon Varner, a Noble House whose seat was east of Highgarden. Steffon was Mace's age, and was eager to join the battle with his friend.
"We took too much of our strength off the defenses." Gunthor Hightower replied, his dark eyes narrowed in thought. He was another young man of Garlan's age who was known more for being bookish than any martial air but, as Willas had been quick to point out to Garlan, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. "We need to reclaim the Arbor and the Shield Islands quickly, who knows how much damage the Ironborn can do to both the towns and the people there if we don't? And their ships can go deeper into the Mander than any war galley. Highgarden itself might be in danger if we don't turn back."
"Yes my lord, but we can't take the full army, your father's orders were explicit." Lord Martyn Mullendore said. Ostensibly sworn to House Hightower, they were a minor Noble House who had chaffed under that oath many a time. Here and now however Martyn, another man of Mace's age, and his son Mark were both eager to prove their House's worth on the field of battle. That was why their House had fielded a little over four thousand men, half of whom were heavy cavalry.
And of course, cavalry is useless on ship-to-ship actions. Garlan mused, a thought very few Reach knights would have been able to understand, let alone acknowledge. I find it interesting though that he and lord Cuy both put forth nearly their entire strength, while Lord Hightower sent a bare two-thousand, five hundred or so, mixed infantry and cavalry. On the other hand, his infantry are all trained well above the rest of the 'infantry' the other houses provided…
Out loud Garlan said, "You are right of course my lords, so we will split our army once we reach Bitterbridge." Over the next hour, while the army continued to march the lords began to hammer out how the army would split as well as who would command the force continuing to King's Landing.
Garlan decided to put Lord Arthur Ambrose in command of that force. Arthur had seniority and he was a thoughtful, intelligent man who had served with Lord Randyll Tarly in the vanguard of the Reach forces during the Robert's Rebellion in the only battle which the Reach really won in that war. The composition of the two forces went easily save for Cuy, Mullendore, and surprisingly Florent insistence that they and their forces keep going.
Florent was surprising because Garlan thought Lord Florent would have given his son orders to avoid any battle that might pit them against Stannis, given his niece's marriage to Stannis. Mullendore and Cuy too should have turned back with the Hightower contingent, as their Houses were sworn to Hightower. But since Gunthor didn't say anything, Garlan decided to not make an issue of it in Mullendore's case, unlike Lord Cuy whose keep, Sunhouse, could be in danger from an attack from the ocean. However he wasn't able to convince the man of that danger.
He had at least 'convinced' Mullendore and Cuy to send their infantry back with him. Actually both of them were happy to foist their infantry off on Garlan, since neither saw the levies that made up their infantry force worth anything at all. Garlan might have thought the same if not for Lord Tarly's teaching, and while he wasn't very good at using them, he knew they would be of use in any ship battle.
In the end, Hightower, Blackbar, Costayne, Bulwer, and the levies from Cuy and Mullendore would join his own House's men in turning back. This would give him over 13,000 men in order to protect the Reach from the Ironborn and take back the Arbor and Shield Islands, a tall order possibly, but doable. The rest of the army, made up of the vast majority of the second echelon's heavy cavalry with only a smattering of infantry and a somewhat decent archer contingent, amounted to a little over 19,000.
"If we could, we should take the Mander as far as House Oldflowers, then march across to Brightwater Keep then take the Honeywine down to Oldtown. It will save us at least two months of marching." Gunthor Hightower murmured.
"Agreed, but I doubt we'll be able to get that far before we run into opposition on the Mander." Garlan replied grimly, then at last put his map back in his satchel before looking over to Ser Willam, who had kept up with the rest of the commanders as they rode along. "You have my thanks for delivering this so quickly Willam. Are you to ride back with us, or did my sister order you to ride on to inform father of what has occurred?"
"I have other tasks my lord yes," Willam said, mindful of lady Margaery's orders to not share his mission with Garlan. "But I will ride with you if I may to Bitterbridge."
Garlan nodded, turning away from Willam already as his mind grappled with the problems that would face him.
OOOOOOO
Frowning thoughtfully Tywin put the message from his brother down on the small field table. "Interesting." he murmured. At a wave of his hand his nephew Daven reached out and picked it up. Reading it quickly Daven stood back, not saying anything allowing his uncle to gather his thoughts first, one of the many little things that Tywin approved of in the young man.
The older Lannisterstared off into the distance, his fingers tapping on the hilt of gem and jewel encrusted sword at his side in a very slow staccato rhythm as he thought. If the Ironborn have attacked Lannisport, where else have they attacked? Where was Westeros weak before this war began? The Cape of Eagles, portions of the North, possibly Fair Isle, where else?
"My pack." He ordered without looking around. His servant hurried to obey, retrieving a large satchel pack. It was not like one a normal soldier would use, this one was made to hold scrolls and parchment and keep it watertight. "Find me the reports from our spies about the readiness of the Shield Islands, Greenstone, Tarth, and the Arbor."
A moment later he frowned thoughtfully several small pieces of parchment, each covered with small tight script spread out on the table in front of them. Greenstone and Tarth would be excellent targets, but it would take time to get to them and such an assault would not matter to me in the slightest save for it taking more of the Ironborn's strength away from their islands. The Arbor is a question, and the Shield Islands are prepared, the houses that hold them have always taken their duty seriously. Would Balon be willing to avoid them by goin further out to sea, could he overlook the challenge they represent?
After a moment Tywin decided that Balon hadn't become anymore intelligent or thoughtful, believing in his people's martial strength despite being taught otherwise. Especially since he'd decided an attack on Lannisport would be a good idea after the last war. He should've known that we would've been prepared for that. So he might well have attacked the Shield Islands rather than a softer target. Could he have taken them? Doubtful, but possible if he had enough strength on hand…
Now, if I was Balon, I would have concentrated my strength on the North, that would have suited me both because it is not nearly as defensible as elsewhere, and because it would fit Balon's personality. The Northmen were the spearhead when Robert took the castle of Pyke, as well as in charge of taking Harlaw.
He smiled thinly at that thought, amused that this latest disaster could be laid at the foot of Eddard's softness. During Balon's rebellion the lords present for the invasion of the Iron Islands had each been assigned an island to assault. Eddard had been assigned Harlaw, the Reach forces Blacktyde and Saltcliffe, the Stormlands Pyke and Orkmont, which slowed them down enough on Pyke for Eddard's forces to join the assault on the castle of the same name. Eddard had used a soft hand, letting his enemies surrender when he could, and trying to mitigate the damage to the island or it's populace while being very thorough in the destruction of their ships and ship building capacity.
Tywin had been assigned the attack on Great Wyk and had brutalized the families there, nearly wiping out several before the others had been ordered to surrender due to events on Pyke. And he would've continued it afterwards if not for the King's order to leave off. Fools, they should have known the Ironborn only respect power and brutality. If you don't have your boot on their neck, they will always lash out, the Ironborn are no better than beasts really.
Still they did cause a lot of damage in Lannisport, and that must be answered. Moreover, if they've gone to war then their main strength will be elsewhere. There is an opportunity here, or… perhaps more than one.
"My Lord?"
Tywin looked up at the interruption, his cold emerald eyes locked on the unfortunate messenger who gulped but went on gamely. "My Lord, Lord Moreland has asked me to inform you that Ser Addam Marbrand has arrived, alone. He begs leave to speak to you."
For a moment Tywin continued to glare at the man, then nodded his head coolly. "Send for him."
A moment later Addam Marbrand was led into his tent, looking much the worse for wear those his injuries looked as if they were healing well. Tywin stared at him for a moment, while the younger man fidgeted under his gaze. Addam could all too easily remember the times when he was younger, and he and Jaime got into trouble and were stared at just like that.
"You look as if you had a bit of an adventure." Tywin said finally his voice cold yet somehow bitingly amused. "Did your assault on Fairmarket fail so miserably then?"
Addam licked suddenly dry lips but answered him. "Well my lord, it was going well but luck was against us. A force of Northerners arrived during the battle and turned the tide. I would assume that some of the stragglers are still trying to make their way back here though I don't know how many."
In fact that number was precisely zero. Roger and Hathan had been very thorough in their chase. Those few they hadn't found had gone to ground, and were no longer interested in fighting for anyone other than themselves.
"I see. Well, it was always a chance proposition at best given your force strength and the fact the Mallister force had arrived already. I had report from Lord Estren who was leading the infiltration of House Shawney's castle that he didn't even try seeing its defenses. But on the other hand, you can see Lolliston fell easily enough."
Considering the army was camped around the open and gutted keep of House Lolliston, that was rather a redundant statement. Normally Tywin would have punished the man, Lord Regenard Estren, severely for not following orders but he had given the man leeway in those orders to pull back if he felt the assault couldn't work.
"And you were released to us as a messenger." Tywin stated, his voice certain. From the fact his wounds had been seen to despite the younger man's general dishevelment that was the only conclusion he could reach. "What is Ranma Stark's message to me?"
"Your granddaughter the Princess Myrcella spoke to me personally. She is being well-treated, and seems to think that the Starks are her allies. They are treating her as a princess, and have stated that they do not believe Stannis's lies about…" Addam trailed off as his lord's eyes became noticeably colder. When those chips of emerald latched onto you like that, you could almost see your life flashing before your eyes, but it wasn't nearly as pleasant.
He went on hurriedly, relating the story that Myrcella had told him about events in King's Landing which had led to her willingly going with the Starks. The fact that Ranma had put Myrcella under his protection and the rather astonishing fact that she seemed to have continued her studies in healing, which Tywin hadn't even heard of because she personally saw to Addam's wounds. "Rather efficiently too my Lord, I've gone to better healers but more often far worse ones in the past."
"That is interesting, but it cannot be all you were left out to tell me. And no doubt you were personally forced to give your oath about something?"
"I have vowed not to raise my hand or blade against the Starks or their allies for the duration of this war. That is all my Lord, I am free to wield my blade against any other enemies of the Crown, just not them."
Tywin raised an eyebrow at that, rather amused though it didn't show on his face of course. Amusement never showed on Tywin's face, nor did he ever laugh, and he mistrusted those who did so in his presence. The Cape of Eagles has been attacked then, and Stark is wishful to leave me a weapon good enough to be used against the Ironborn. Addam may not be my most capable commander but he's decent enough and my army's best blade, which will matter rather more in a sea action than any skill in leading men on land. "I see, and what else?"
The younger man went on to describe Ranma's thoughts on Tommen's death, the reason behind it, and his oath that on his name that if Tommen had lived the Starks would not have rebelled against the crown as they had. And he reiterated that both Ranma and Myrcella stated unequivocally that the poisoner had hundreds of moments where she could've done something to Tommen before his death.
Unlike with the Shield Islands and the rest of the Ironborn's possible targets Tywin did not need to get out his notes from his spies in Kings Landing or the messages his daughter and grandmaster had sent him, he could remember them offhand. Of course they wouldn't have, they had influence over Tommen, if he lived he would have been easy for the Starks to influence, as I noted long before this. One part of his mind said. And whatever else, the poisoner must have suspected that Ranma at the very least would suspect her, so waited until he was out of the city. Nothing simpler.
Yes, but would I care which grandson was sitting on the throne so long as it was one of my blood? Another part of his mind said. Besides, by all the reports from the Pycelle and Cersei, before his death Tommen was showing a marked degree of intelligence and growth whereas Joffrey by all neutral accounts of the boy has only shown a certain base cunning. Which would have made the better king?And I already didn't believe that the Sand Snake was really behind it, if only because I know Doran would never be a party to it. The Dornish play the game of thrones subtly and with great ability, Tommen's death would have been far too blunt for them. That part of his mind went on.
"Who does Ranma believed to have truly been behind Tommen's murder then?" he asked aloud.
"He hinted at it either being the Master of Whisperers or Coin. The princess said that Baelish seemed to've been growing close to Joffrey before Tommen's death, though she didn't know how close he was."
Tywin slowly began to tap the hilt of his sword once more, not looking at Addam now rather staring off into the distance as he thought. Ranma's opinion matched his own when he heard of his grandson's murder, yet hearing it now brought that back to his mind and made him think about the long term ramifications of either of those men attempting to manipulate the crown through Joffrey.
He shook himself of those thoughts as well as numerous 'might have been 's' with difficulty. There is nothing I can do about anything in King's Landing from this far removed. He had to deal with the here and now. And here and now, Ranma Stark is my enemy and possibly the most dangerous one.
"Tell me… he said looking back at Addam. "How close are the young Stark and my granddaughter?"
"Very friendly, she seemed to trust him implicitly, and vice versa. The princess could've passed a message on to me at any point during that conversation when she was looking at my wounds, but she didn't."
"So if I sent a few men to try and sneak in and get her out of their camp you are afraid that would not work?"
"I believe that the princess would not willingly go, no. She is very frightened about King's Landing and returning there. She bluntly said that she would probably be killed if she returned."
The idea that Myrcella would think her mother and the crown couldn't protect her startled Tywin somewhat. But another part of his mind said it's already been proven that it can't, hasn't it?
"Very well," he said aloud, shaking those thoughts out of his head once more. Once this war was over he would have more than enough time to plumb the depths of the cesspool that was King's Landing, and burn all the shit in it away. "While interesting and informative, indeed it clears up several minor mysteries it does not help us right now. Do you intend to keep your word to Stark?"
Addam stiffened slightly. "Ser, I am a knight, and I gave my word of honor."
Tywin refrained from rolling his eyes with difficulty. Seven save me from honorable fools. Tywin thought that the given word was something that should only be given out sparingly, and even then if it had to be broken or manipulated to gain an advantage, that was simply part of the game. Addam unfortunately was one of those knights that took his vows seriously. Still, that doesn't mean he can't be of use. "Very well, leave me and see to yourself. I will be sending you orders in a few hours."
The man bowed and left and Tywin turned to look at his nephew. "What do you think of all that?"
This was a test, Daven realized. He wasn't an idiot, nor was he blind. He knew that his lord uncle had seemingly begun to favor him since this campaign began, and Daven had made certain to step up his game in return. But this was the first time Daven had been asked about his opinion on something even slightly political. So he took the time to think his answer through before speaking.
"I think it's another reason to watch Petyr and the eunuch closely, but that's nothing new. What is new is that one of them might have been willing to act in such a manner. Surely both of them must know that regardless of their scapegoat they will be viewed with suspicion irrespective of any proof. If they were really part of this, the gain must've been large enough for the danger to seem worth it."
"And you don't think open warfare between the Starks, the Baratheons, the Tyrell's and us is enough?" Tywin asked rhetorically.
If he didn't know how his uncle would react Daven would have replied that it would depend on whether or not the Queen could have been convinced to set aside her oldest in favor of her youngest as heir in return for evidence of her infidelity not coming out. If that had occurred, Stannis might well have faced the united front of the Starks and Lannisters, and so would, to use a smallfolk phrase Daven had heard recently 'be up shit creek without a paddle'.
That topic however would not be helpful at this time. Instead he said. "Neither of them are military men, or have any kind of power base where they could reasonably assume they'd get anything out of a war between us and the Starks regardless of which side wins. So they must be playing for something else. Some other goal that will allow them to wield more power from the small council."
Tywin nodded thoughtfully, having considered and discarded that idea already. The Master of Whisperers is not one to take chances, it's extremely doubtful that the man would've been involved with Tommen's death in any way. Petyr however is a possibility, especially if he could gain larger influence over the crown. I wish I had better communication with King's Landing, but with the army on the move I have too few ravens to waste on a message that would tell Pycelle and Serret nothing they don't already know, and it's doubtful any messenger I sent would ever arrive.
"Enough," he said aloud shaking his head. "We have enough to concentrate on here and now with the Northerners. "We'll keep all this in mind for later when we move down to King's Landing to battle the Baratheon brothers, but we can't let ourselves become distracted."
"Yes my Lord," Daven said though he said it in such a way that Tywin cocked an eyebrow at him. The younger man shrugged. "I'm just worried about King's Landing my Lord, it's a decent defensible position especially if Lord Serret reached it. But even so with the numbers the Reach can bring to bear, and it's lack of internal supplies…" He shrugged uncomfortably. "It just seems as if we would be better served to head down there ourselves even if the Starks come after us later."
"If the Starks hadn't split their forces as they have I would be inclined to agree with you." Tywin replied honestly, something he would not have done in front of any non-family member in hearing range. "But they did, judging from the reports of the few spies we have on the eastern side of the Green Fork that have been able to send messages to us. Judging from the notes of one spy from House Wayn, the talks there aren't going well which means that more than a half of the Stark's army will have to backtrack all the way up to the Twins in order to get across the green fork in any substantial number."
For most of its course the Green Fork was too wild for any kind of barge to get across, only stabilizing somewhat near the Ruby Ford judging from the note from his spy in old Wayn's house it was doubtful that the defenders there would allow any army across even well away from their own lines, fearing that it would break the treaty they had clandestinely agreed to with Tywin.
"That defense is one I don't want to take on, but if the young pup is with another portion of his army coming out of Fairmarket as Ser Addam just confirmed, that might allow us to defeat them in detail. Why else did you think I let our own defenses behind?No, Stark made a strategic blunder there thinking he could reform his army later on while devoting time to first destroy the Freys and then meet with Lord Mallister. Send out our scouts, good trustworthy men. We need to know where his army is, I have no doubt he's already moved on from Fairmarket but where is the question. We need to bring him to battle and crush him then we can leave a holding force at Harrenhal and the position back at the ford and move down into the Crownlands."
Daven nodded as Tywin continued, outlining further orders.
Two hours later the Army was once more on the move, leaving behind the current forward position that they had established in the ruins of House Lolliston. It had been taken by subterfuge, bands of men dressed as smallfolk ostensibly fleeing from the path of the Lannister army infiltrating the keep and then attacking the defenders from the inside while the swiftest moving portions of the Lannister army arrived to attack the outside.
Not all of the army was going in the same direction. Half of House Marbrand's forces, along with a thousand more pulled from other houses marched back down to the defensive position on the other side of the Red Fork then onwards, heading back to the Westerlands, picking up a further thousand from the holding force left at the defense across the Kneeling Man's ford, which had initially been composed of the forces stationed in Stone Hedge before the main Westerlands army set off.
In total this gave Ser Addam around four thousand and five hundred men. They would march back to Lannisport, there to be placed under the command of Kevan Lannister for whatever task he wanted to put them to. Tywin had already sent a raven back with some suggestions, but as man on the spot Kevan would have final say, something Tywin would never have allowed to anyone but his brother.
This left nineteen thousand men directly under Tywin, who had recalled his portion of the forces besieging Raventree Hall weeks back, replacing them with further Riverlands forces. He knew that was a side show, if the Starks lost the Blackwoods would surrender and it kept Jonos Bracken and the other Riverlands lords busy. He didn't want anyone with his army who might feel they had divided loyalties or could gain their House something by switching sides as Lord Vypren had done in the crown's favor.
Lord Vypren and his men stayed with Tywin however. While Tywin had sent a thousand men up to reinforce castle Vypren, he had retained the lord because he and his scouts were excellent local guides. That force was under Ser Lymond Vikary, the head of a knightly house sworn to House Lannister.
The massive army moved northeast, heading for what Tywin felt was the most logical place for Ranma to head to, Castle Shawney.
OOOOOOO
There was fire, fire taking the Red Keep. Stannis, grim, cold, haughty Stannis was standing there with a blade of flame in his hand and contempt in his eyes. Her son Joffrey, her darling boy, his body falling into a shadow that was so deep nothing inside could be seen. Myrcella's body, used and abused, being tossed onto the flames. Then the fires came for her…
Cersei shuddered awake as someone knocked on her door, gasping in relief as the images faded from her mind. "Who is it?" she barked out, using anger to cover her quaking voice.
One of the keep's maids on the other side of the door replied, her voice stuttering in fear. "Y-your highness, the sm-small council is due to meet in half an hour. Y-you asked to be told?"
"Yes, well done. Send for my handmaidens to help me dress."
A moment later two young women entered, both Westerlander ladies who had served her for years. They moved to help her out of bed then quickly dressed her, working efficiently and expertly while Cersei simply stared off into the distance, her mind slowly coming out of her post-sleep stupor. Cersei had not been sleeping well lately to say the least.
Almost every night she had dreams like that, of fire and shadow, of rising floods, of simple elemental forces coming to claim her and her family, or of Stannis and Renly and the dragons killing them. Sometimes the dreams were intermixed with more positive images, of Myrcella standing with a wolf made of gold and blue flame and silver dragon against the shadow, or of her and Joffrey standing over the two Baratheon brother's bodies. But most of the time they were far nastier than that.
She knew what was behind these of course. Varys had confirmed that Stannis burned his enemies at the stake at times, and that he had given himself over to the worship of the R'hllor. His victories down in the Stormlands had even reached the news of the smallfolk, as was the news his army was marching out from Duskendale. He was moving slowly but he was coming with fire and shadow.
Even her brother was taking those rumors seriously now. In consultation with Varys who had travelled in Essos, and the grand maester, he had scoured the city for any Valyrian steel he could find, coming up with four knives and a single sword, which had been stored in the High Septon's own treasure vault. Jaime bought it off the Fat Man for a king's ransom, but it was worth it if they worked on the Shadow creatures as they were supposed to. Yet even Jaime knew that was scant comfort.
So it was no wonder that Cersei wasn't sleeping well. She had even attempted to cozen Joffrey, keeping him close. Her brave lion however didn't have any of her fears about the future, and complained about it being confining, but put up with it for her sake.
Despite that Cersei refused to relinquish all control to Lord Serret, and wanted to always be present when decisions were made even if these days she didn't really have much input into them. The time for politicking and the game of influence had subsided. Now it was the organization of the city and preparation for war that dominated the small council, areas where Cersei's knowledge was sorely lacking.
OOOOOOO
Cersei was not the only one who was being summoned to the small counsel. Petyr too was being summoned, and he wearily got out of bed. Normally the small counsel would have met in the afternoons, but Rupert was one of those deplorable people who enjoyed getting up in the mornings and demanded that everyone around them get up as well.
Yet that was not the biggest change that had occurred since Lord Serret had arrived in the city. Lord Serret was now firmly in control of the small council and the city, his men and the backing of Cersei and Jaime as the King's Hand allowed him to run roughshod over every other faction in the court and the various smaller powers throughout the city. Petyr was pleased with some of that, since it had cut the knees out from under quite a few of the merchants and thus allowed him to expand his holdings in turn. However, his power on the small council had slipped badly.
Rupert was very blunt in stating that he did not trust Petyr or Varys and had stated their positions were not secure, indeed he seemed to nearly be waiting for an excuse to remove either of them. He also had them watched all the time. Of course Petyr could slip such watchers easily enough and he had no doubt that Varys could do the same but even so it had curtailed his activities.
And of course I still can't get out of the city! He thought to himself as he grabbed up a cup of mulled wine that one of his servants had prepared for him then splashed his face with warm water from the washing basin to further wake himself up. I need to get out of the city and head to the Vale!
The last message from Petyr's agents there had said that the Vale was slowly slipping into anarchy. With only Lysa at its head House Aryn wasn't strong enough to command the other noble houses of the Vale any longer, and word of the fall of the Three Sisters had reached both his ears here and the Vale proper, causing much consternation and anger. Despite only being nominally under the command of the Vale at the best of times it was still technically part of the Vale lands, and the Houses there resented the Northerners annexation of them, and their own inability to field a navy that could do something about it.
If I was there I could use that,Petyr thought angrily, pounding one hand on the porcelain washing basin as he stared at his reflection, absently noting the new wrinkles under his eyes. There's only so much I can do from here, even if my factors there are among my most loyal and capable. Lysa herself should've been a perfect pawn, but without him personally being there to give her orders, that wasn't possible. Instead she had descended into a paranoid sort of madness that saw enemies around every corner.
But Serret refused to even consider sending him, and the news that had reached them yesterday was an example of the reason why. It was also probably why the small counsel was being summoned, though what Petyr could offer to such a discussion he didn't know.
Enough, Petyr thought looking at himself still in the frame of the mirror. "Enough," he said aloud. "That plan is no longer viable, and I have to let it go at least for now. I need to regain some power in the city, and I need to make certain that I keep it."
I also need to begin to think of moving against Serret. It's obvious that he is merely waiting for an opportune moment to remove me, and he won't use the law or anything else, he'll simply order me killed. He's pragmatic like that. That thought was almost grudgingly respectful. Rupert Serret was not a politician, and refused to play that game or to care about who had what information or knew who had skeletons in their closet or anything of that nature. If he had to clean out the corruption of the city, he would start by mounting Varys and Petyr's heads over the Golden Gate.
But the only way I can offset his influence is by influencing Joffrey further. Petyr shuddered a little. Like most people who have no morals of their own, there were some things that still repulsed him. There should be pleasure in an enemy dying, but there should not be pleasure in the torture of random people. But that might be the only card I can play now! My power as master of the coin isn't enough now and my paid-for Houses aren't powerful enough to give me security from Serret, not if he can call on the crown...With a sigh, he pushed himself away from the wash basin.
The small counsel gathered in the queen's meeting hall, finding Lord Serret already sitting at the head of the table. He rose as Cersei entered with them, bowing his head to her. "Your Highness," he murmured. She nodded her head slightly to him, then sat down in the seat alongside his.
When they all sat Rupert began without preamble. "Jaime and I sent out scouts on two days journey for a man over the Blackwater, and a few of them reported back late last night. There is an army marching slowly towards the city. It's flying the Baratheon and Tyrell banners, so we can assume that we will be facing a siege within a week and a half. How are we set for food?"
Jaime smiled thinly from where he sat next to his sister wishing, not for the first time that they dared take some time just for themselves. But with his position in the city defense and commander of the Kingsguard and her own duties, plus her desire to have Joffrey near her as much as she could, they simply didn't have the time, not even for a quick one. "We're better than we were thanks to you sending out men to the nearest castles and demanding food from them the moment you arrived."
That wasn't the only addition to the defense that had occurred since Serret's arrival. More Crownlands forces had arrived to reinforce the city, all of them carrying their own supplies. Byrch, Buckwell, Cressey, Edgerton and Harte had all sent men, amounting to a little over three thousand, five hundred. This had given Lord Serret enough men to send them out into the countryside in search of foodstuffs and scouts to watch for the approach of Renly's army.
"We're still not in a very good position though, the city is simply a massive sieve for food. The pirate fleet's blockading of the port has only made worse a problem that began months ago when food stopped coming in from the Reach. The nearby Crownlands are barely able to feed a quarter of the city's population, and until we put one in place there was no centralized system of distribution. We lost control of at least half the foodstuffs coming into the city while we were still organizing the food depots." Petyr spoke up.
"The ration system is not making us many friends, true." said Varys nodding his head in agreement. "The smallfolk resent us both coming and going as it were. They resent the need for the ration system that they blame on the nobles, and they resent us for the ration system itself."
That had been one of Lord Serret's major changes since he had taken command of the small counsel. The Goldcloaks had moved through the city, taking command of the grain stores and the rest of the foodstuffs that had been built up in the city here and there. All of the foodstuffs thus found had been gathered in a few nodal points, those points under control of a few of the Noble Houses that had rallied to the crown's defense. The smallfolk were then forced to come to them for food, or fend for themselves. Needless to say, the lowest echelon, and indeed much of the middle class, did choose to fend for themselves, making the ubiquitous 'bowls of brown' the primary food for parts of the city and not just Fleabottom.
The depots were all commanded by Lord Edgerton, who had become one of the crown's staunchest supporters, bringing nearly a thousand men to defend the city. He had even become a friend of Joffrey's since his arrival because of shared interests, though only Petyr had an idea of what those were. Serret was aware that Joffrey seemed to be building his own faction among the men in King's Landing, but felt that, since those willing to follow him outnumbered them four to one, that it was simply good practice for him.
Edgerton and his house were doing a decent enough job keeping the smallfolk somewhat fed for now while also making certain the armsmen and Goldcloaks got enough to keep their strength up. That would change once the city was truly under siege, but it was good to have the template in place already.
So the defenders would have enough food for a time, which was all Rupert cared about. "Take care of the defense of the city, then when the war is over throw enough gold at the city-folk and they'll love you again." He had said when he created the food depot plan.
Rupert and Jaime took command of the meeting then, passing between them suggestions and orders for the army and the disposition of the defenders, including Varys and Cersei only when they began to talk about the numbers the enemy might be fielding, if any of the merchants in the city had ties to the Tyrells or the other families from the Reach or Stormlands, and if any of them had connections to the much reduced court.
Serret ordered every gate but the Gate of the Gods shut, with stones and rubble piled in front of them. That still left the houses on the outside of the walls as defensive cover, but Cersei spoke up then, telling Rupert about how the Pyromancers had been hard at work well before the 'Stark's attempted treason', making a certain substance. Some of it had been sent North to the Wall, but more of it was still stored inside the city, available for use.
All the while Petyr watched, worried and at last… decided.
OOOOOOO
With Cersei busy that afternoon helping Lord Serret write up the proclamations for the city to further organize it for the coming siege, Joffrey was for once able to have a midday meal without his mother there.
Petyr heard of this, and his decision having been made, acted on it with alacrity. "I note your highness that the queen is not with you this afternoon?" Petyr said, sitting across from Joffrey and pulling a plate of dried meat towards him.
"Now she isn't thankfully. I realize that she is worried about me, and she should be of course with coming troubles but I am a man grown." Joffrey said slightly pouting though there was something dark rather than childish about it. "And of course I'm not allowed to head out of the Red Keep at all, let alone out of the city. There's only so much I can do to occupy my time here in the Red Keep."
Not that Joffrey hadn't found some ways of enjoying himself even so. There were now several prisoners who would not leave the dungeons with all the body parts they went into them with, and he had butchered several dogs as well, imagining them to be those damned direwolves of the Starks. He had actually enjoyed that though surprisingly not as much as watching the heart tree in the godswood cut down on his orders, knowing how Ranma and the other northern heathens viewed the monstrous trees. It had actually one him some small praise from the High Septon and a few of the devout, though certain other acts had worked against that.
"I can understand that, especially with Lord Serret handling the duties of the small counsel so ably giving you even more time to your own devices. No doubt you are becoming bored?" Petyr asked blandly, looking around.
"Quite yes, I have taken to exercising as much as I can, yet that too is rather dull." Joffrey asked, now with his eyes locked on Petyr's face, sudden supposition flickering in them. "Do you know of any amusement that can be had?"
Petyr leaned forward slightly, smiling as he noticed that the only servants in sight were those answering to him, and that Joffrey's Kingsguard were the only ones within hearing. "Well it would depend on your ability to keep silent. I would not wish to get in trouble with the Queen Regent for putting you in danger."
"That will not be an issue." Joffrey replied, nodding his head slightly over to where his chosen guards were standing by the doorway. "So long as the entertainment is worth my time of course."
"I'm certain we can find something that will peak your interest." Petyr said, while the inside of his stomach began to crawl as Joffrey's eyes lit up with eagerness.
That very evening Joffrey slipped out of his chambers with his two Kingsguards behind him, making their way quickly to Petyr's rooms where they were met by Petyr himself and a few of his own man. "Come this way your highness, and I will show you a bit of a secret."
Petyr lead Joffrey and the others to the nearest passageway murmuring how he had found all the passages of the red keep, and how a few of them could even take one outside the red keep. "Of course, most of them can only be opened on the inside, or else they would be a deadly weakness in it a siege of the keep but they can be used to get you out into the city where any kind of pleasure you wish can be found, if you know where to look and how to hide…"
OOOOOOO