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***
After descending from the tower, Light went to Lord Eddard to express his sympathy for Bran's fall. Light asked for permission to visit the sick man, but was unexpectedly refused: Lady Catelyn, who was very distressed by what had happened, was always at her son's bedside and would not let anyone else see him. Theon helped Light: he wanted to say goodbye to Bran before he left, and Lady Catelyn could not refuse him. Light, as Theon's new best friend, went with him.
As Greyjoy leaned over Bran's bed to fix his hair, Light said:
- We should wipe his face. That's what they always do at the Cliff when they're tending to the sick.
Theon shrugged and pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket. Light took a step forward, shoving Theon so that the handkerchief flew to the long-washed floor.
- Oh, I'm sorry, I'm so embarrassed. I dropped your handkerchief. Here, take mine.
Under Lady Catelyn's gaze, Theon Greyjoy wiped Bran's face with Light's handkerchief.
The sick man looked refreshed. The slightly damp cloth left tiny droplets on his forehead and cheeks (well, it didn't matter) and on the boy's lips. One of them rolled down his upper lip and into Bran's mouth.
Light said goodbye to Lady Catelyn and wished her son a speedy recovery.
***
Bidding Tyrion farewell at the gates of Winterfell (the dwarf was riding to the Wall in the company of Benjen Stark, Lord Eddard's brother, and Jon Snow, his bastard), Light promised to write to him when he returned to the capital. Tyrion smirked and said he'd be sure to write about how far he'd managed to let the Wall jet. That was the end of it.
So much time wasted, Light thought with frustration. It would take a month to get to Winterfell, a month to get back, then Eddard Stark would have to reassemble all the evidence, and only then could Robert be killed. Joffrey would have been able to sit on the throne long ago, and the civil war would be well underway. Ser Barristan has shown his chivalry at the wrong time.
Or was it? If Robert and Jon Arryn had died at the same time, Joffrey would have become king, whose legitimacy is unquestionable. If Robert and Jon Arryn had both survived, Cersei and her children would have been executed. In both cases, the peace of the land would have been preserved. A dead Robert and a living Jon Arryn would mean war; a living Robert and a dead Jon Arryn - the current situation - means uncertainty. Not the best of options, but not the worst either.
Though delayed and hampered, events are still moving in the right direction. Eddard Stark travels to the capital to play the role assigned to him by Light as Cersei's whistleblower and the trigger of the war. Bran, who may have caused the trigger to go off prematurely and in vain, is not a survivor. The poison will do its work. In a week or two, Bran will be dead before he regains consciousness. No one will be suspicious of his death.
We must also make sure that Eddard Stark leaves for Dragonstone when the king dies. Joffrey's illegitimate origins should be announced from there, not from the capital, where Stark could easily be imprisoned. Without the support of the North and the Riverlands, Stannis will be quickly defeated, and Renly... a frivolous dandy can't be considered a serious opponent. You can't make a dizzying career out of defeating him. And what Lytus needs is a dizzying career. Westeros deserves a better ruler than Robert Baratheon.
The ridiculous 'trial' scene at Darry's castle had only strengthened Light's judgement. It was clear at a glance: Joffrey was lying and Arya was telling the truth. The prince should have been flogged for his lies and cowardice, and the Stark daughter should have been praised for her honesty and courage. But the King was in a quandary. In the end, he ordered the execution of Sansa's she-wolf, who had nothing to do with it. Cersei thought that wasn't enough: she thought Arya's hand should have been cut off. And Lytus had the misfortune to be related to her. He would have to support the fool and protect her from the consequences of her own stupidity.
The first person Light visited on his return to the capital was his agent, Grand Maester Pycelle.
- How was the council meeting? I hear Lord Eddard didn't even change his clothes from the road - he was in such a hurry to get there.
Pycelle stroked his beard leisurely. During Light's absence from the capital, the Maester's fear of him had passed, but respect remained. Respect and a habit of obeying men with the surname Lannister.
- We were discussing the upcoming Hand's tournament. Lord Eddard was unhappy with the excessive spending, and amazed when he learnt how much the treasury owed to the Lannisters and the Iron Bank.
- And did you discuss his predecessor, Lord Arryn?
On the way to the capital, Light spoke to Lord Eddard and said that he found Jon Arryn's sudden death a little strange, for the Hand was old but healthy. Lord Eddard gave Light a surprised look and said nothing. The new Hand seemed to know from somewhere that his predecessor had been killed, Light thought.
- No, my Lord Lannister. We have not discussed Lord Arryn.
- Perhaps Lord Eddard will ask you about him again,' Light said. - Tell him about the book Lord Arryn took from you the week before he died. And add that it was the same book I took from you before Lord Arryn.
- Tell him-- but why?
- None of your business. Just do what I tell you.
- Yes, My Lord Lannister.
If Lord Eddard suspects Jon Arryn was murdered, he will want to find those responsible. Light must take part in that investigation, and it would be best if Lord Eddard asked him to.
- One more thing, My Lord Lannister. A raven has flown in from Winterfell... sad news, oh, very sad news. Young Brandon Stark is dead.
***
Theon waited for Light in the courtyard of Castle Red, almost dancing with anticipation.
- At last! I was just about to leave without you.
- You couldn't wait, could you? - Light grinned.
- I've heard so much about the brothels of King's Landing, and now I'm going to see and try them for myself,' Theon laughed. - Prepare yourselves, whores of the capital! Theon Greyjoy is coming for you!
On the way to Silk Street, Light told Theon about the tournament, and named the prize amounts.
- Ten thousand dragons to the best marksman? - Theon wondered. - Maybe I should enter.
- If you win,' Light smiled, 'you'll be as rich as a Lannister.
- How did you know about the prizes?
- From the king,' Light lied. Theon didn't need to know Pycelle was working for Light. He'd rather think the king had no secrets from his squire. Light knew that after the incident at Darry, the king drank all the way to the capital, and he hardly remembers what he told anyone.
- So the king trusts you and shares everything with you?
Light smiled thinly. From a subtle smile the interlocutor could extract anything he wanted. Rewarding Light with an admiring and envious look, Theon pushed open the door with the red lantern and demanded that all the whores be brought in to choose the two best.
- Do you prefer blondes, brunettes, tall, short, thin, fat?
- Blondes.
Theon looked at all the candidates twice and chose a supple, swarthy Myrian, black-haired and black-eyed. Light took the fair-haired Lissenian with the outlandish purple eyes. Let's see if the legends of Lissenian whores are true.
***
Eddard Stark tore himself away from his papers and looked up tiredly at the man who had entered.
- Lancel? I wasn't expecting you. Did Robert send you?
- No,' Light sighed heavily. - Lord Eddard, I heard about Bran. My deepest condolences.
Eddard Stark smiled weakly.
- 'Thank you, Lancel. You are very kind. Alas, the same cannot be said of some of your relatives.
- You mean the queen? - Lord Eddard nodded. - 'It was unfair, I know. Sansa's she-wolf was not to blame for anything.
- Lancel,' the Hand was absent-mindedly rubbing his chain, 'I have a not-so-common question for you. The Grand Maester spoke to me about a book that Lord Arryn, my predecessor, had read shortly before he died. According to him, it was the same book, The Origins and History of the Great Houses, that you borrowed from him. For what purpose?
- Is it strange to be interested in your ancestors?
- No, but-' The Hand seemed to be struggling to find the words. - I meant, did you find anything unusual in that book?
Light shrugged his shoulders.
- 'Nothing, Lord Eddard. It's a very dull read. It lists all the Lannisters over the millennia. Their names, their titles, who they married, their appearance, that sort of thing.
- I see,' Lord Eddard's puzzled look said otherwise.
- I suppose there was something unusual about it,' Light said thoughtfully. - All Lannisters, always, in all times, have been fair-haired and green-eyed. The Targaryens have a distinctive appearance, too, but they're the result of intra-family marriages, but us? I don't even know.
Lord Eddard furrowed his brow, remembering something.
- Your Uncle Tywin... he married his cousin, didn't he?
- Yes, Lord Eddard. But at least we, unlike the Targaryens, don't marry brothers to sisters!
The Hand laughed briefly. Then he put his elbows on the table, clearly deciding on something.
- Lancel, remember our conversation on the road? When you said Lord Arryn's death seemed strange to you?
- I do.
- You were absolutely right. I have it on good authority that John Arryn was murdered. Probably poisoned.
- It can't be!
- Unfortunately, it can. What's more, I don't rule out your family's involvement.
- No,' Light whispered.
- Lancel, the Grand Maester spoke of you as a clever and intelligent young man, and I can see that you are. What's even more valuable is that you're honest and sincere. So I'd like to ask you... this may seem strange to you, and I'm not sure your squire duties won't interfere with that, so if you refuse, I won't be offended....
- Yes?
- I'm going to ask you to help me investigate Jon Arryn's death.
Yes! At last!
- Of course, My Lord Hand. I'd be happy to help you find those responsible.
- Even if the guilty parties turn out to be your relatives?
- It is my duty, Lord Eddard.
Eddard Stark extended his hand to Light.
- Thank you, Lancel. I will not forget this.