I spoke with Lancel and Tyrek Lannister and began making inroads with them. I made appropriate sympathetic noises about their difficulties serving father.
"Do you want to leave his service? I'm sure we could come up with some excuse."
Lancel shook his head. "I should be knighted soon and being the King's squire is an honor, even this King."
Tyrek looked down. "I have longer to go and I hate it. I never know what he wants and he just yells at us all the time." He looked up, his green eyes slightly watery. "But I can't. Uncle Tywin sent me and with my father dead it would go bad for me to throw the honor back in his face. I could forget about finding a noble daughter to wed with a good dowry."
"I see the problem but have no immediate solution for you cousin. Would you like me to talk to my father and see if he can act more cordial?"
His face took on a look of consternation. "No! He would take it as a fresh excuse for mockery." Tyrek shook his head in denial.
Lancel nodded. "Tyrek has the right of it, anything you would try to do would just make it worse."
I pondered their plight for a moment and then inspiration struck me.
"My father is great friends with our new Hand. Ser Barristan has recently taken on young Bran Stark as his page. Why don't you offer to help Bran with his sword work and then have him also shadow you while you serve Robert. With Bran tailing you it would make it may give father some small pause from acting his usual manner."
"Shadow us?" Lancel asked confused by the phrasing.
I tried to avoid using terms or phrases from my prior lives accidently but on occasion they slip out. "What some Maester apprentices do in the Citadel. They observe a Maester silently and just watch what they do and learn by it. Bran would just be observing, not taking any of your duties."
Tyrek nodded. "If Stark is amenable to the arrangement, we can give it a try. I thought there was some bad blood thanks to the whole issue with Clegane and Joffrey."
I nodded. There was a great deal of ill feeling toward Joffrey and Cersei. That didn't mean there was ill feeling to all of Joffrey's kin. Bran seemed awkward around me since the incident but he would no doubt be agreeable to a chance to impress Ser Barristan by going the extra mile in learning how to be a squire ahead of time.
"I'll make the arrangements then. This may be short term for this journey but if in any small way helps ease your burdens, I am happy for it." I told them.
Tyrek smiled. "Thank you, Myrcella." Lancel also gave a small smile and a nod.
As I left them, I hummed a tune from my second life. The favor of two squires, even the King's squires may not seem all that important in the long run but there was a natural quid pro quo that existed in each of my three lives. You help me in one way and I'm more likely to help you in the future. I could even spin it with Bran to think it was a favor from me to him at the same time!
As I traversed the camp, I felt eyes on me. This wasn't unusual as I was the only royal princess. I was also nearing the age where betrothals would unfortunately be considered. Margery, Arianne, and myself were the most influential matches a family could make for their noble sons. Margery Tyrell, the only daughter of the Warden of the South and Arianne Martell, the only daughter of the Prince of Dorne were both older than me and came from powerful houses.
Now that Joffrey was taken, we would likely be matched with the sons of the great houses. Willas Tyrell of Highgarden, very young Robert Arryn of the Vale, Robb Stark of Winterfell and Edmure Tully of the Riverlands and Renly Baratheon of the Stormlands. In some catches a match would be made within their own region to secure their vassals but they were all prize catches. I obviously couldn't marry my uncle and with Joffrey marrying Sansa a match with Robb would be unusual. That left Edmure, Willas and Robert as my primary potential matches. There was also Quentyn Martell, though he was not heir to Dorne as they did not have a patriarchal bias in inheritance, he would not rule Dorne but was an option.
Other lesser matches were possible. Powerful vassal houses to one of the Lords Paramount existed. Houses Mallister, Hightower, Karstark, Bolton, Rowan, Frey and Yronwood were almost as powerful as the great houses they swore fealty to, a match was unlikely with one of them given my station but not outside of realm of possibility. I didn't like thinking of that part of her future but she needed to. Which would be the least vexing? Which would give her the most influence and power?
House Tyrell was the second wealthiest house behind Lannister. They also boasted a robust population and were the breadbasket of Westeros. They ranked first. Next was House Arryn was less wealthy but had a wonderfully defensible and secure bastion known as the Eyrie. I would feel quite safe there and heights were something that didn't bother me. Dorne was isolated from the rest of Westeros in a similar way that the North was. It had some interesting properties and would be an ideal place if we were hit with a strong winter, which historically did occur after a prolonged summer like we were in. The Riverlands were likely the least beneficial match given their fractious vassals and ground zero for nearly every major conflict in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.
That was only half of the equation. What was each prospective partner's potential merits? With that criteria likely Robert would be my first choice. He was younger than me so the potential distasteful parts of marriage could be delayed for longer. Him being sickly would likely give me a free hand to rule in his stead, at least theoretically. Next, would be Willas Tyrell. He was known to be studious and had a love of learning. Our interests would align nicely there. There were no negative rumors of him save for his crippling injury to his leg.
Third on the list would be Quentyn Martell. He had his father's favor and in Dorne they had laxer standards when it came to the bonds of matrimony. If I found coupling truly odious, I could see the possibility of having another woman take on those duties and have those bastards legitimatized. I didn't know enough of Dorne to know how likely that solution would be but that hope edged him over Edmure.
Edmure was not held in high esteem by many. By rumor he sounded like a man who enjoyed revelry and singing than anything else. Not studious or a gifted warrior, he simply was there as heir to Riverrun and yet unmarried.
Now if I were to assign both sets of considerations an equal weight and provide a numerical scale of 4 for the best and 1 for the least, I could combine those totals and see which was the best match. Tyrell ranked 1st and 2nd for a score of 7. Arryn ranked 2nd and 1st which also added to 7. Dorne ranked 3rd and 3rd for score of 4 and Tully ranked last in both categories with a score of 2. At the very, and I do mean very, earliest consideration of a potential match, my best choices appeared to be Willas Tyrell and Robert Arryn.
I wouldn't do anything to help influence that choice yet but it was good to understand the playing field.
***
"Where have you been?" Mother asked me.
I had been with Arya. She was feeling a bit lonesome with Bran following Lancel and Tyrek and Sansa often riding in the wheelhouse or one of the other wagons. She was still hurting from the incident with Mycah but I got her talking about her home and she even introduced me to Tomard, or "Fat Tom" as he was oft called, and Alyn. They were both some of the more senior guards in the Hand's retinue. He had brought 50 fighting men with him and 25 servants. I made it a point to try to remember the guards back home, I doubt I would learn more than a few of the Stark guardsmen but the prominent ones I would.
Getting her to talk about her home was easy. She also went on about her half-brother Jon and with the glowing way she spoke of him I made a mental note to share a story or two from history of baseborn individuals who earned greatness in their lives. I wouldn't be so tactless as to say "they are bastards like your brother…" but merely sharing the story without drawing the connection myself would be better.
I personally did not care about the source of one's birth. If they are capable, they deserved to be put into roles that would lead to maximum return on resources invested. The waste of good human capital is an unacceptable failing. It is nothing less than our duty to carefully develop and properly use precious human capital. If Jon was truly as capable as his sister stated he would be wasted on the Wall. Sadly, they take their oaths for life so that was that.
"I was riding Flyta mother."
"Where?"
I smiled at her. "Many places. I rode up front to see where we were headed. Then I rode to the back to see where we had gone. Don't worry, I made sure not to wander away from the wagons."
"I know you spent most of the day with some of the Stark children. I've told you before they are not your friends." Her tone was growing sharper.
"They are going to be family in a few short years when Joffrey and Sansa reach maturity. I'm not going against my family in anyway by simply spending time with them, mother."
"And what of your brother? He asked where you were. Do you now treat the Starks with more care than Tommen?"
That at least was fair critique. I had been neglecting him somewhat. He had been enjoying time with Bran but after the wolves had been banished to the back of the wagon train, they had not had much time together. And now with Bran serving as a page and shadowing the Lannister squires there just wasn't any time. We were nearing Kings Landing, that would make things easier and hopefully their friendship can be renewed.
I didn't mind Tommen but for now he was a bit of a dead end in garnering influence. Who knew when Being X would hatch his devilish machinations for me in this life? I needed to hold some sway over the pieces on the board sooner than later. Besides, Tommen was already firmly in my pocket. Still, I didn't want to neglect him.
"I see, I will have to make it up to Tommen, thank you for bringing it to my attention mother."
Cersei's eyes held mine for a moment. "See that you do sweetling. When we return to court, I think it would do you some good to have your own ladies in attendance. It was a mistake to let you go on without handmaidens of your own."
I hadn't wanted girls my age sitting with me and sewing and discussing meaningless prattle. Not when I had things to learn. Of course, I had now learned most of what was available to be taught so it was a bit of a moot point. I was adept, and frankly even more advanced, in mathematics, calculations and bookkeeping. I knew the Citadel believed histories as well as a few alternates from Essos. I had memorized every major house's words, sigils and important personage and most of the lesser ones as well. Outside of more esoteric texts I held most of the knowledge in the Seven Kingdoms, time way from my studies was not a great hardship. Beyond that I had even studied the major exports, imports during times of summer and winter.
It seemed mother wished me to be tied down with other children, either to spy on me, or to keep me busy or maybe just to get me to act more like other biddable children. It mattered naught, they would have to be highborn and that would give me another angle. Still, with her being cross with me it wouldn't do to give in too easily. Let her work for her perceived win.
"But mother, why? I'm more advanced than they are. They would just be a bother."
Her lips upturned slightly. "Child, you are my daughter, of course you are too advanced for them. That does not mean it isn't important for you to spend time with your peerage. They will be future ladies of the court. There is already talk of your queerness and that could damage our image."
"If it is your will, mother. May I at least have a say in who I spend my time with?"
Cersei's smiler grew larger. "No, child. I will make the arrangements. Now go console your brother."
"Yes mother."
That ought to do it. After spending a bit of time with Tommen I wanted to learn how my mother knew where I was. I didn't keep my goings a secret but the timeliness of her information meant either she had someone following me or someone was regularly watching the Stark portion of the camp. I decided it would be good see if I was being followed or not.
Taking Flyta back out in the late afternoon I planned to meander away from the slow caravan all together. Once out of direct line of sight I spurred Flyta forward at a quick trot. Coming to some trees I dismounted hastily, tied the reins to the tree and scampered off to another. That done, I waited to see who would reveal themselves.
***
Stannis Baratheon looked out the window of a fortress he had never wished to rule. Dragonstone was no longer a great seat of power; its lands were poor and were nothing compared to the wealth and power of Storm's End. By all rights Storm's End should have been his, not his fop of a younger sibling. His jaw clenched just thinking of it. He shook his head and cleared his mind of the bitter thought and returned his attention to what was needed.
He looked at Melisandre who was seated before the fireplace. Her red eyes reflected the fire and her unlined face looked up toward him as he turned. Many found her beautiful, but that was irrelevant to Stannis Baratheon. His wife, Lady Selyse Florent had converted to the religion of R'hllor a couple of years back. He cared little for what gods his people worshiped, as long as they did their duty.
His wife swore Melisandre had the powers of a seer and more. Stannis was skeptical but she did have some queer power that he had seen. She also insisted that he was a prophesied figure who would do battle with some ancient evil. It sounded like a children's story and yet she seemed to believe it true.
"You claim you can peer into the future, that your god grants you visions. Can you also see into the past? Can you determine a child's lineage?"
The red-haired woman spread her arms. "I see only what R'hllor wills. It can be difficult for our imperfect vessels to understand what is shown in the flames. If you will it, I can make the attempt, to see through stone and earth and find the truth."
"Then do so. Tell me is Myrcella Baratheon the trueborn child of my brother and Cersei Lannister?"
She turned her gaze to the flames. Stannis watched with interest as the red gem clasped around her neck began to give off its own light, not just what was reflected in the fire. Long minutes passed and the ever-poised Melisandre began to tremble. Without warning the flames roared and Stannis brought his arm up reflexively to shield his face.
When he looked again the flames had returned to normal and Melisandre was gasping and her chest rising and falling.
"Well? What did you see?" He demanded to know.
"My Lord, the vision was a powerful one. And… confusing, I will need to pray and look into the flames again to be certain."
Stannis ground his teeth. "You will tell me what you saw."
The women clad entirely in red nodded. "I sought a vision of Myrcella to divine her origin. But what I saw was a great river; one I have never seen before. Not in Essos or in the Seven Kingdoms." She took a breath and then continued. "From the water's depths rose… rose a demon. An enormous creature with leathery skin of black, red, and yellow. Wings of silver were on its back and when it opened its eyes they were as blue as the waters around Tarth."
Stannis frowned. "What could that possibly mean?"
Melisandre shook her head. "The Lord of Light is oft beyond our meager comprehension. What is seen in the flames is metaphorical. I must carefully contemplate and pray to R'hllor." Seeing his frown, she continued. "It could be many things. I could have been sent a vision that was more important than Myrcella." She looked down and gave her head a small shake. "The eyes are what separate Myrcella from her siblings and it seemed a focus of what I saw in the flames. It could mean the demon represents an abomination born of incest. Or it could represent that Myrcella is the true child of the Demon of the Trident."
"This was a fruitless endeavor. I have no more knowledge than when I started. You are dismissed."
Melisandre bowed her head. "Some visions take time for me to discern but the vision of you being Azor Ahai reborn is burned into me. There is no doubt in that one."
Stannis turned his back on priestess and she left him alone with his thoughts. Blond hair always yielded to Baratheon black in historical record. All of Robert's bastards were black of hair and often blue of eye. Everything fit that Cersei had cuckolded her husband and delivered three blond haired bastards of incest. Myrcella had blue eyes, Baratheon eyes. She was also noticeably different than her siblings, though that truly meant little.
Stannis would do his duty but he would not condemn a child if she truly was his niece. He had taken his concerns to Jon Arryn and they had investigated Robert's shameful bastards. All were black of hair. Between that and the book Lord Arryn had felt they were close to having enough to bring it to Robert. Stannis and Jon had both feared Robert would refuse to believe the children were not his. There was also the concern of how it was possible, given that the Queen had constant protection from the Kingsguard.
And then the pieces had fit together. Jaime Lannister was the father; he was the only one who had regular access to the Queen. The children were not just bastards they were borne of an incestuous union. Joffrey was a twisted mockery, all Lannister, and no Baratheon. Stannis had heard the story of the young prince giving his father unborn kittens. Tommen was dull of wit and weak. Myrcella was the only one with steel. The girl was a prodigy who was more comfortable around adults than children, he suspected she was as lonely as his own daughter but hid it under a mask that never cracked.
It had had been hard to rebuff the girl's suggestion to have Shireen around her. The princess did not display even a shred of discomfort at his daughter's affliction. The gods had always mocked Stannis's desires, the one noble child who could tolerate Shireen's scarring and he did know if her birth was true.
Stannis couldn't bring his concern to Robert now. It would do him no good and without Lord Arryn's backing he would not be believed. Despite doing his duty he was not loved. If he brought his concern to Lord Stark, he would likely immediately take it to Robert without gathering the proof they needed. And what was Stark to him? He was Robert's brother in all but blood and so Robert had honored him as if he was a brother in true. Stark should have stayed in the frozen north. Stannis should have been made Hand. It would have allowed him to act, to investigate the suspiciously timed death of Jon.
If Melisandre could be useful in uncovering evidence of Lannister treachery, he would use her. If she could prove Myrcella's blood was true or base, he would use her. If Myrcella was his trueborn niece, he had an obligation to ensure her safety. Too much was uncertain, but if the worst should happen in that pit of lions, the one true stag offspring of Robert needed to be away from there. He could think of no better man for the task than Ser Davos.
***
Lum's father was a hunter and had taught his son quite a bit. But the chance to serve as a soldier with the Lannisters and not out and about catching his supper on the regular was too good of an opportunity to miss. He had served for a decade now and had even spent time guarding the Queen. Tregar, the captain of guard for the Lannisters in Kings Landing knew of his tracking skill and he had been tasked to help the King on his hunts on the long journey to Winterfell.
Lum may not have preferred to hunt but he had a knack for it. When the Queen herself had asked him to watch and see what her daughter did each day, he didn't ask no questions. Lum had seen her at feasts and occasionally wandering around. She moved about in the Royal Apartments all graceful like, but swifter than most noble ladies.
Following her from a distance was easy enough. The palfrey had a distinctive gait, which allowed Lum to stay out of sight but easily able to follow and see where she went. There was nothing much to report. She spent time with the Starks quite a bit but also made a point of greeting her Uncle Renly as well as her Lannister cousins serving the King. He dutifully reported it all to the Queen.
Today was different. The tracks had veered off away from the procession of wagons and horses. At a quick pace too. He was on foot so it took him a bit to catch up. Oddly enough he also found another pair of recent tracks, not a horse but a man's.
Off the main road trees and wild vegetation grew, though it couldn't be called a forest. Lum moved forward and felt uneasy for the first time in following the princess. As he crept forward, he came upon sight of the palfrey and of a man. He was still a good distance away and moved without making excess noise. He saw the man but where was the princess?
The man in question was gaunt with limp blond hair. He was dressed in brown and Lum couldn't be sure if he had ever seen the man before. There were near 500 plus men when you combined the King's retinue and the Stark's men.
Lum wasn't sure what to do. Lannisters expected obedience, you don't deviate from what you are told to do. If there's any question you certainly don't ask nobility, you talked to Tregar. Only he wasn't there. Was he supposed to confront the man and try to find the princess? Was the princess making water? Girls did this differently and with the extra clothing they wore it may take some time. Lum watched the man pace around the horse. If he was a horse thief he would have already acted.
The Lannister guard watched, low to the ground as to not be seen. After a good ten minutes he spied Myrcella returning to her horse. She greeted the man. Did she know him? This was not the sort he would think that a royal would meet with. He thought to move closer but the Queen had asked him to avoid letting the princess know she was being followed. That meant not being able to move much because there wasn't enough cover, he lay down on his stomach and slowly crawled forward.
The man moved closer to the princess, from the distance Lum thought he looked nervous. And then the light caught the steel in the man's hand. It was a dagger and it was lunging straight for Myrcella! Stunned and too shocked to even shout he watched in horror. His first thought was pity for the girl and his second thought was terror, would the Queen blame him? His thoughts raced to a scenario that would never happen.
It was not the child's blood that spilled. Almost too fast for him to see the princess had somehow avoided the attempt on her life and had struck out with her own weapon. The man cried out in pain from a slash and then that cry turned into a gurgle. Myrcella moved clear of the now dying body and wiped her own tiny knife onto the grass. Lum gasped and even from the distance he could see those blue eyes lock onto his form.
She moved forward directly toward him. Lum stumbled to his feet, his confusion and fear robbing him of his more typical hunter's grace. The princess's short legs ate the distance between them in a brisk stride, her face utterly serene despite having just killed someone.
"Lum? Were you with him?" Her advance never slowed and Lum shook his head. "N-no your Grace. I… what happened? Are you… are you all right?"
Myrcella was within fifteen feet of him. Where had her knife gone? "I am uninjured. I am puzzled by the situation. That one tried to gut me and you watched from afar. What is a girl supposed to think?"
"No! You must believe me. I would never betray the Lannisters!"
"Must I?" She arched an eyebrow. Cold sweat ran down Lum's back. What if she didn't believe him? What if she told her father that he was part of some planned assault on her. For a fleeting second, he looked down at his sheathed blade at his side and grasped the handle. No… he couldn't possibly be thinking of harming the princess. He shook his head and looked up as a smile began forming on Myrcella's face.
"Go on then, draw your steel. Only before you do, who sent you?" Her face morphed from serene into gleeful. Her grin covered her face and her eyes shimmered with barely restrained… joy.
He backed up. "Princess, I… I don't mean you no harm. I had no idea what was happening."
"Then why are you here?" She asked, beginning now to slowly circle. Lum knew the ways of the forest. This was how predators acted. He looked over at the dead body and knew despite the fact he was twice the size of this little girl; he would be dead if he tried to fight her. It made no sense but he knew it in his bones.
"Your mother! She wanted to know what you were doing." He was panicky as he explained. "She wanted to know where you went each day! I've been following you for the last few days. I would never harm a Lannister, no one sworn to Casterly Rock would dare!"
The 11-year-old girl tilted her head. "I believe you. And it wouldn't make sense for mother to want to harm me either. Hmm." The girl gazed off for a moment before looking back at Lum. "This is someone else's work then." She pointed at the body. "See if you recognize him."
The tension that had thrummed in the air receded and Lum shakily walked toward the body. The dirty man had pale eyes staring up sightlessly. The right hand had a nasty gash as did his leg and finally the death blow being a torn hole in his throat. Seven Hells, he had looked from a decent ways away but the exchange had occurred in less seconds than wounds on his body. The young man did look familiar, one of the small folk who had travelled with the wagons, if he had to guess.
"I don't know who he is but he's been in the camp before Your Grace."
"If you were following on behalf of the Queen, why not intervene when you saw this one approached me."
"I…" Lum looked down. "I was told not to be seen and thought him a thief at worst."
"The dagger he had is Valyrian steel. He's no trained assassin, he nearly dropped it when trying to attack me."
The young princess avoided the blood but smoothly searched the dead body.
"Two purses, one with a few copper pennies and the other solely of silver moons." Myrcella mused. She looked at Lum. Weighing and measuring.
To say that Lum was unnerved was to speak the obvious. The Lannister guardsman was completely flummoxed. The Princess continued to look him over and then finished deciding on a course.
"How much is mother paying you to spy on me?"
"Pay? Err, well she told me follow you. I just get paid normally by the quartermaster."
"Unpaid overtime? Barbarous. No, that won't do at all. I can do you one better, Lum. From now on you work for me. You will report back to the Queen that you saw me go for a long ride. You'll continue to report on my movements unless specifically told otherwise. You will also keep me informed of what the soldiers and guards talk of. I'll arrange to meet with you at least a couple of times a fortnight."
"Princess?" Lum was confused and still uneased. Lying to the Queen? That was dangerous.
"It is a generous offer. You see, I don't want it to be known I can defend myself. If someone wishes to do away with me, physical force when I am alone makes sense. A knife in the dark or an arrow is also simple and clean. Poisons can be hard to acquire, their dosage difficult to get right and hard to place. I'll have to be on guard for that now too I suppose. Absent the knowledge that I can fight back they will likely choose that path of least resistance. By letting it be known I'm good with a knife, the next attempt will be more likely to succeed as they change their approach. Tell me Lum, would a loyal Lannister guard seek to make it easier for harm to befall on me?"
"No, of course not princess."
"Excellent than by speaking of this to anyone… anyone, eve my mother will constitute treason. A crime that I will personally ensure you suffer the appropriate penalty for. Are we clear?"
Her face wasn't stern or angry. It was utterly placid. What type of girls threatens death without batting an eye? Lum's stomach churned. As he tried to think, she just stared. Her glacial eyes made him twitch and he finally nodded jerkily.
"Y-yes."
"I do mean it Lum. Not a word. I will know if you speak of it." She smiled. "But fret not, I don't intend to govern with just the stick." She threw the purse of silver moons at him and he caught it. "I reward those who are loyal to me. A Lannister always pays their debts, well I intend to reward you for your silence and continued service. But always be mindful of my fury from my Baratheon side if you cross me."
Lum looked into the bag and saw the amount of silver there, it was more than a year's wages.
"Don't be seen with that, wait until you get to Kings Landing before spending it. Hopefully whoever sent this wretch will think he fled with the coin and blade. Speaking of which, I'll need you to take the body further off the road. A shallow grave is fine, by this time tomorrow the whole convoy will be gone from the area."
The soil was soft it wouldn't be difficult for him.
"I'll be riding back now. Don't dawdle, my mother will expect your report."
With that Princess Myrcella Baratheon left a very shaken Lannister guardsman to bury a body.