Chapter 50: Chapter 35: RestructuringNotes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"The first rule of management is delegation. Don't try and do everything yourself because you can't."
-Excerpt from the personal writings of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the Conciliator
110 AC, Small Council Chamber,
"We need more men." I bluntly told the Small Council. "We're overstretched and divided, and try as we might, we cannot rule a realm as vast and complex as Westeros by ourselves."
There was a murmur from the Small Council members, but tellingly, none of them disagreed with me. I looked over them once more. Lord Corlys, Lord Lyman, Lord Lyonel, Grand Master Gerardys and Mysaria. Ser Criston Cole was off guarding my father with five of the white knights, so in his stead sat Ser Steffon Darklyn.
"Indeed, your grace." Lord Corlys agreed. "I do not handle every single detail of the Royal Fleet by myself. I have many subordinates to whom I delegate duties and responsibilities."
"And you are suggesting that we all acquire such subordinates?" Lord Lyonel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exactly." I nodded. "We're stretched too thin these days. Lord Lyman has over a dozen jobs in his role as Master of Coin. As does Grand Maester Gerardys. We need to expand. We need trusted subordinates and managers to help us in our roles.
"Seven Hells, for that matter we need more Small Council members!" I exclaimed. "The institutions in the Realm has increased considerably. The Guilds are growing ever more prominent. The Legions need a proper liaison. As does the Royal Bank. And it hardly seems fair that all construction related endeavours are sent straight to the Grand Maester, never mind that he lacks a steel link in his chain."
I paused, turning to the middle-aged man in question.
"No offence intended." I apologetically said.
"None taken, your grace. I am well aware of my deficiencies as an engineer. I am a man of healing and law, not one of machines and buildings." The Grand Maester graciously said. "Though I do confess that I wish I had more of my peers beside me, to lend their expertise on a full-time basis."
I pointed emphatically at him.
"My point is proven." I stated.
There was a murmur of contemplation between the Small Councillors.
"The Grand Maester of King Aegon was said to have half a dozen subordinate maesters under him, such that the Conqueror would never lack knowledge about any subject." Lord Lyonel mused, drumming his fingers contemplatively on the table. "Yes, I can see the benefits of such a system."
"But we run into the issue of trust and competence." Lord Lyman protested. "How many men can we trust, and how many of them are capable of discharging their duties with skill?"
"Simple, we appoint overseers to enforce discipline and punish corruption within the ranks." Mysaria suggested. "The way Lord Corlys' subordinates ensure that none of his captains runs off in the middle of the night with a dozen dromonds."
"And who watches the overseers?" Lord Lyman asked, standing up. "Look at the Goldcloaks! Did Daemon oversee his men, no he did not. If anything, his officers were the ones that encouraged the corruption and the abuses!"
"Then we have two oversight divisions then!" Mysaria retorted, getting to her feet as well. "To watch each other and the rank and file."
"And if both conspire to hide the evidence of misdemeanour?" Lord Lyman retorted back, leaning forwards aggressively.
Bang!
The entire Small Council rocked back in shock at the noise, silence once more resuming. I nodded in thanks, Ser Steffon withdrawing his gauntleted fist from the table. My bodyguard had splintered the hard oak, I saw. No matter. It'd need replacing anyway, as it would be too small to seat my entire expanded council.
"Mysaria is correct." I declared, my voice cutting through the silence like Dark Sister, deadly and no-nonsense. "Two oversight divisions. Each with the power to report the other and the rank and file. One shall be led by a Blackwood. The other, a Bracken."
Silence reigned for a good minute as the implications of my plan sunk in.
"Oh you are evil." Mysaria admiringly sighed.
"That… I'd say it's rank madness, but you have a track record of turning madness into genius." Lord Lyonel gravelled, his fingers drumming thoughtfully. Tap. Tap. Tap. "But what prevents them from constantly implicating the other for corruption? Whom do we trust?"
"Neither." I frankly said. "We'll make it clear to both lords that misreporting is a punishable offence. As is falsifying evidence, bribery, coercion, blackmail or any other means of implicating the other for a crime they did not commit. This extends to making the other look untrustworthy or incompetent."
"Yes, the Blackwood would rapaciously watch the Bracken for even the smallest slip-up, and vice versa." Lord Corlys mused, cupping his chin comtemplatively. "Both will have a vested interest in making themselves spotless and effective."
"Preventing any nefariousness in themselves and the flock." Ser Steffon admiringly said, leaning back in thought. "Your grace, remind me never to play Cyvasse against you."
I grinned behind my folding fan, before turning to the Master of Coin.
"Lord Lyman, does this address your concerns?" I asked, the old man frowning before speaking.
"Yes, I see no issue with the oversight, but what about competence? We cannot allow fools and buffoons into the ranks of our government." Lord Beesbury determinedly stated.
"Exams. The way the Citadel does it." I suggested, my fan snapping shut. "Those that pass get the job. Those that fail get sent home."
There was a ripple of approval through the room.
"Yes, that is acceptable." Lord Lyman agreed, reclining in his seat.
"I can draft them up, my lords." Grand Maester Gerardys volunteered, producing another sheaf of parchment. "Any requests for what I should put into them?"
"Literacy, no doubt." Lord Lyonel said, leaning forwards. "A general knowledge of laws and other societal norms and customs also seems appropriate."
"Sums as well." Lord Lyman empathetically said. "And make them difficult enough that you require a gold link or two to perform them."
"There should be a character interview as well." Mysaria mused. "To gauge their behaviour and personality. We do not need corrupt or overly ambitious candidates."
"Don't forget basic common sense and decency." Lord Corlys added, the entire room turning to look at him quizzically.
"What?" The Master of Ships demanded. "You'd be surprised at just how uncommon it is these days!"
I nodded in agreement, which settled the matter. In the end, I was the only person whose approval actually mattered for what was on the test.
"And remember, do not make it too difficult." I warned. "We need quantity over quality. To a certain degree anyway."
"As you wish, your grace." The Grand Maester said, dutifully writing everything down. "But what about your expansions to the Small Council? May we know your thoughts?"
I nodded, studying the seven of us present. Law, finance, navy, spies, internal security, general knowledge and second-in-command. We needed reinforcements.
"I was thinking of adding five more seats to this Council." I finally said. "Not including the two oversight departments, whom will report to me personally."
"Very well then." Lord Corlys agreed, leaning forwards. "And what of the nature of these seats?"
All eyes turned to me, awaiting my decisions.
"The Legions will be getting a seat at the table, as our standing army." I decided, steeping my hands and resting my chin on them. "And I was thinking of appointing someone to oversee the production of raw materials. Food, lumber, stone… We'll need a dedicated overseer given how much I've got planned for the future."
"Most wise." Lord Lyonel gravelled, nodding in approval. "The rest?"
"I intend on trimming the Grand Maester's duties significantly, splitting it into three smaller roles." I revealed, turning to face Gerardys. "The Grand Maester shall remain, but his focus would be more towards advising the Small Council on history, law, foreign customs… The sort of duties that Runciter and Mellos were good for."
There was a moment of silence as everyone contemplated the two maesters I sent to the Wall. While they were both mediocre physicians, one could not deny that their exhaustive knowledge of law, history and finance made them highly useful. Heck, if the Night's Watch really wound up getting disbanded, I just might offer the job back to either one of those stubborn mules. Now that I was twice as old and twenty times as powerful, I could push them around without fear.
"I can see that." Lord Lyman muttered, shaking his head ruefully. "Despite everything, I do miss Runciter's insights."
"Aye." Lord Lyonel begrudgingly grunted. "Man was a stubborn old mule, but he was useful."
"Yes, I am aware of my predecessors' qualifications." The current Grand Maester noted, turning to face me. "But what about me, your grace? I hardly seem like the right person for the job now."
"Yes, I was getting to that." I said, nodding at the chained man. "I was thinking of naming you Royal Physician. In addition to your duties in the sickbay, you'll advise the Small Council on matters of healthcare, as well as oversee the training of more midwives and other healers for the smallfolk. I intend to see if we can improve the health of the Realm as much as possible."
"A most worthy task, your grace." The Maester bowed. "I'll gladly take the role."
"Thank you. I have every confidence you'll live up to the task." I sincerely said, turning to face the rest of the room once again. "And, as previously stated, Gerardys here is not an engineer, but I'll require one, given the many Great Works I intend to build.
"Which is why I shall appoint one." I decided. "Another maester or engineer whom will help design and plan the Great Works, as well as advance the boundaries of technology."
Research and Development, basically. A big problem with Westeros was that it was static. There was minimal advancements in technology in its history, with nearly all such developments being brought in from overseas. It just wasn't the Seven Kingdom's culture to change the status quo with new inventions. The entire continent was basically plunged into the Dark Ages, however unintentionally.
"Is such a plan wise, your grace?" Lord Lyman cautiously said. "We're already on thin ice with the Faith. They may have accepted that the Glass Candles are not witchcraft but old technology beyond our understanding from Valyria, but the act of outright creating new inventions may spook them."
"The Printing Press has assuaged most fears, but I do agree." Mysaria added. "There are some septons in the south whom preach that your Printing Press is a gift intended to seduce and corrupt the Faithful, by disguising sorcery as machinery. They will not like us inventing more machines."
"Which is why I intend for the Faith to have a seat at this council, such that they may represent the Gods and see firsthand that what we practise is not magic, but simply technology." I piously said.
I'd have to curtail my sorcery, and we'd have to tiptoe around the man when plotting less… morally upright decisions, but it'd give the Faith the impression that they actually had a say in the way the Realm was run, and overall reduce tensions between us and Oldtown. Besides, Grandpapa made it clear that Septon Barth was both a pious man, and one unashamed of getting his hands dirty for the sake of the greater good. I was hoping to find another man like that.
The entire Small Council seemed to suck in a breath, everyone looking dubiously at me, but too polite to voice objections. I sighed before speaking once more.
"If he makes trouble, I'll saddle the Septon with duties in the food banks, orphanages and other charities." I said, resisting the urge to rub my forehead. "That'll keep him too busy to cause trouble for us."
There was a murmur of reluctant approval from the rest of the room.
"It will be wise to appease the Hightowers and Starry Sept." Ser Steffon spoke up, startling quite a few people. He was a man of few words, and hadn't spoken much in this meeting. "Allowing the Faith a seat at the table is a good compromise.
"Might I suggest Septon Eustace?" He asked, looking around the room. "The Queen likes him, as do the Dragonseeds."
Yes, and that man crowned my brother and was one of his strongest supporters. I groused internally. But Ser Steffon wasn't wrong. Septon Eustace had the connections to get the seat, and he was remarkably tolerant towards bastards, but I was hoping for someone a bit more… flexible, like Barth. Or maybe a kindly old man like Meribald. So long as he stayed out of my way. Eustace was rather traditionalist, and would likely oppose me at every turn.
"A topic for a different time." I finally said, discreetly gesturing to Mysaria to talk with me later. "In the meantime, do I have your approval for the expanded council?"
Decreeing such great changes to the way the Seven Kingdoms were run would require the King's personal approval, though I could get provisional approval stamped on the document if the entire Small Council agreed with me. And even if the King disagreed, all I had to do was send Bell over with a barrel of Arbor Red, and then ask him again when he was roaring drunk. Then scrupulously never bring up the topic around him for the rest of his holiday.
In the end, I never had to resort to the wine trick. Batting my eyes a few times was enough to persuade my father into letting me do as I pleased. The wonders of being a beautiful teenaged girl.
Notes:
I'm thinking of this for the expanded Small Council:
Hand of the King—Rhae
Master of Ships—Corlys
Master of Coin—Lyman
Master of Laws—Lyonel
Mistress of Whispers: Mysaria
Lord Commander: Criston Cole
Grand Maester: Runciter
Royal Physician: Gerardys
Royal Engineer: Mellos
Marshal of Westeros: A Tarly
Master of Production: A Tyrell
Archsepton: A Meribald expy
What do you guys think? I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts