Author's Note
Over 50,000 words, checking back, the average length of most chapter is around 2,600 to 2,700.
Mark POV
This was the fifth tavern that we had tried since we made it to the Capital. The merchant Braiden, who had helped us get here had said that there will be a tourney in 5 months, that King's Landing would be filled with people, even nobles. It would be better to arrive early than late.
For 10 days from Duskendale, we had played songs at night and helped with the back breaking work of pushing the cart at day. Even if Braiden had seemed helpful and good nature person, he was just like all the others, he didn't offer a penny. We were still happy for him allowing us to travel with them to King's Landing, they had even allowed us a meal each night, as small as it was.
That was why me and Alys had parted ways with them, even if he helped us, it wasn't for free and it wasn't out of the goodness of his heart. We would have to earn our keep and the coin would be small if any.
No, I made up my mind, I was twice the bard dad ever was and he had travelled 6 of the 7 until he met mum. Even if Alys wasn't as good with the songs, she was good with a reed pipe and I had dad's lute. It was only a matter of time until we hit the big times, we just had to keep trying and luck would come.
All we needed was enough coin to get a room and a meal for the both of us. After 10 days on the road, we were tire and out bodies hurt, all we wanted enough food to fill us and a warm bed. The patrons in this tavern like all the others had been stingy, we had only made 9 pennies for the day, it would either be enough to eat or to get a room and I wasn't about to spend a night in the cold.
I looked at Alys, her face was tired, she hadn't complained once, but I could see the tears wanted to come. I had dressed her in boy's clothes when we left Duskendale, so she wouldn't get the wrong attention. She was only 10 and 1, I didn't want her to have to deal with the likes she had back home.
"Come on Al, we will have to find an inn for the night, hopefully we can get a bowl of brown for the both of us to share." She looked dejected at the mention of the disgusting stew that Braiden had warned us about, but she still didn't complain, both of our bellies had been growling all day.
Just as we were about to leave the tavern a man approached us and tossed a copper star in our bowl. "Where might you 2 be from, never seen you around here, would remember a talented young bard such as yourself. You must be new in King's Landing."
"Yeah, what's it to yuh?" I answered bravely, I had seen this sort back in Duskendale, he was up to something. Any sign of weakness and they would take advantage of you. I quickly scooped the coin from off the counter shoved it in my pocket, he only watched and laughed.
"Not much, just thought that we could help each other. Me and my friends are having a little feast and I thought that you two would be good entertainment. We recently got a job from a noble, he's been paying us well. If you impress the rest of the boys, I was thinking to cut you in." He said with a smile that still made me suspicious.
"Consider that a down payment if you chose to come with me, and this will be the rest." He said as he rubbed what looked like 2 more copper stars between his fingers.
"What kind of job are you talking about?"
"Nuh uh, talk after you sing us a few songs."
"Give me a moment." I said to the short thin man, he wasn't much taller than me with a slight beard and probably no older than me by 10, I will be 14 this year. The worst thing about him was he reeked of sweat and ale. I pulled Alys to the side and whispered, "Hey, if we take this job, we will have enough to get a room and eat real food for two days".
I could see she was having mixed emotions, but right as we were discussing I heard her stomach growling. Our hunger was the one that made the decision. I returned to where the man had been standing, he was at the counter gulping another mug of ale.
"We'll go with yuh, but only 10 songs." I said as best I could, but he laughed.
"No, you'll only get paid when we're satisfied. For 3 copper stars, what you think?"
Even if we take the coin and leave now, we will be right back in the morning trying to make some more, we both needed better clothes, ours were worn and the cold was starting to affect Alys. We needed the coin and I knew he was good for it, but before I could reluctantly agree.
"Hey, don't look like I'm forcing you to come with me, I just want some entertainment for me and the boys, if you don't want the coin then don't bother, I was even going to treat both of you to something to eat when we got back to my place but suit yourself boy. What you think your too good?"
With that he turned his back on us, Alys had grabbed my hand as I thought I may have ruined our chances to make extra money.
"Hey, its not that we don't want to, we've just been on the road for days now and we still haven't eaten anything for a day now. We will go with you, and if you really do have a job, I will like to hear about it."
With that he turned and then looked between us. "You're lucky I'm such a nice fella, my friends call me Cut. Let's go, it's not far from here." With that he finished his drink and we left.
...…..
Robar POV
"CLANK" Rang steel as both our swords met. Training with Tywin was usually a battle of speed. Tywin knew that he couldn't afford clashes against me so instead, he focused on moving around, using feints and lunges from blind spots.
He had become good at avoiding blows and timing openings. It was the opposite against Ilyn Payne, he enjoyed the fight. He wasn't afraid of getting up close, even when it was smarter to make space, he stepped forward. Never had I trained with someone who wasn't afraid to trade so regular with me.
"Common now, I've met Ladies more aggressive than you, YUH SOFT CUNT!" He shouted to try to provoke me, I had learned the best way to deal with this, was to simply ware him down. We had been going at it for a long time now and he was getting pissed off.
"FuckKK!!!" He finally screamed after a dozen more exchanges, as he threw his helmet and stomped off. Tywin began clapping as he watches Ilyn's temper tantrum. "Well played Robar, truly have there never been a man more deserving the name The Lion's Sheild." Said Tywin.
"Lion's Sheild my cock, more like Turtle Sheild." Ilyn japed as he calmed down while downing a mug of ale he had on a nearby table. Of most of the noble born knights, he never treated me any different, even after he knew I was base-born, he treated me with the same disrespect.
"Hey, I was the one who suggested that name when Ser Jason Lannister knighted him." Tywin added.
"Yeah, I know, my asshole puckers each time I hear it. No disrespect Young Lord Tywin, but that's what happens when a boy of 10 give you your epithet." He cackled, but Tywin didn't show any signs of anger, we had all grown accustomed to his sharp tongue.
"Thats enough from you, you laugh like an old woman, where did you buy that laugh from, a Flea Bottom shop keeper. If I were you, I would go demand my money back. Ser Ilyn Payne the cackling crone." Tywin quickly retorted and I had to stifle a laugh, so too did 2 guards who were standing at the entrance to the courtyard. This earned them a glare from Ilyn.
Tywin quickly broke the tension after Ilyn had stewed for a few moments well, as he dared not carry on too far, even if Tywin was on good terms with us, we had both seen what he did to people who pissed him off. "My good men, the hour grows late and we have some business to attend to."
Ilyn perked up at this, as we both knew what was our original plan for the night, we had decided to warm up some as the nights were especially cold in the Capital.
...…..
Tywin's POV
As our target came into view, we chose to approach from a dark narrow alley obliquely opposite. It was the middle of night on the west side of Flea Bottom near the Street of Sisters. There was barely anyone on the streets but we didn't wan to take the chance of anyone noticing us entering the den of thieves.
This particular group of assorted burglars and cut purses, had gotten my attention after one of them had tried to break into the manse. I had caught him in the act and I sounded alarm without him seeing me. After, I followed him to this house and with the help of Robar and Ilyn, "convinced" him and his friends to work for "The Basilisk" and spread the name around.
I had spared their lives and even paid them, all they would have to do is keep and ear out for any information, while getting drunk in Taverns and spreading the word about The Basilisk. Now that the word was out, I had no more use for them.
Robar remained at the entrance to the alley, and would act as our look-out and back up. Ilyn and me crossed the street after we saw no one approaching. Ilyn stopped just outside the door and I made my way to the corner of the building while listening for noise inside.
I could hear them laughing on the ground floor by using my 'observation' skill, as the house was no more than a 2-story shack. I nodded at Ilyn as he pushed the front door open after quickly putting on a wooden lacquered mask I had bought for us, both me and Robar had followed suit.
As Ilyn entered the front, I quickly climbed the corner of the building and entered by sliding the latch on a wooden shutter with a dagger to one of the two rooms on the 2nd floor, as I did the first time we were here. As I listened, I could hear that there was someone on the 2nd floor but not in the room I was going to enter.
As I listened, I could here a muffled grunting noise and realized that someone was fucking in the next room, but I quickly stopped as I heard the 'soft and silky' voice of Ilyn downstairs. "Oye you cunts, I've got a job for you, where are the other 2?"
We had discussed ahead of time; we would make sure everyone of the 6 were present before we took action. This was to eliminate the need to have to go looking for any if we missed. "There upstairs, having some fun. CUT, PUKE, get your arses down here, we got work." I heard one of them shouting from downstairs.
"FUCK YOU, ITS OUR TURN NOW, YOU DON'T NEED US TO FIND OUT WHAT THE JOB IS." came the response from the room next to me.
"WHAT, ARE YOU BOTH BUSY FUCKING EACH OTHER UP THERE? I heard Ilyn retort, but I didn't hear any further response after some mumbling, I heard the grunts and creaking next door continue. So, I made my way to the door just opposite the entrance to the other room and waited for Ilyn's signal, which didn't take long.
"WELL SINCE YOUR ALL HERE AND ACCONTED FOR." Next followed scuffling and then the sound of a crash, this got the attention of the room next door, it went quiet and then I heard the noise of scampering footsteps trying to get to the door.
As the first was about a foot out the door he, caught a dagger to the throat and stumbled forwards while trying to pull out the dagger. The one that came behind realizing that something had gone wrong, looked into the room where I was, wide eyed as a dagger struck him in his eye. As both took their last breath, I quickly cleared the room they came from and was greeted by something I still hadn't become accustomed to.
A short time after Ilyn, came up the stairs and looked at me standing by the entrance next to the 2 bodies. "What are you doing? I have 4 down here, that make 6 let's go."
I shook my head, "Get Robar." Was all I said as he approached me. He looked at the 2 bodies and as I nodded to inside the room, he saw what I had seen. Lying on the floor were 2 small bodies, both tied, their lower parts were bloodied. One was still squirming and the other lay still.
Ilyn sighed as he looked at me. "Are you sure?" he asked and I responded. "Consider it a good deed."