CHAPTER 21. BLOOD BATH

SHADOW MOLD

Arnold Pryt sits in his solar thinking about the repercussions of slaughtering the Starks. It was the Stryders who were at fault and all attempts to infiltrate Guardstone had failed. Every spy had been indentified and never heard from again. Were the Faceless Men helping them, did the Stryders possess some type of secret for unmasking Pryt Assassins and spies.

"My Lord the Faceles Man is here…"

"Show him in…"

"Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with…" Arnold asks after bowing in respect. The bow is returned before they sit and talk.

"You may call a man Jaqen H'ghar…"

"So Jaqen…Can you tell me…Has the Faceless Men ever tried to infiltrate Guardstone or kill a Stryder man?"

"Every Lord of House Pryt asks the Faceless Men this question…The same answer is given…Long ago the last wolf King paid much gold to the Faceless Men to kill Jordan Stryder…Many men and women were sent to Mountain castle…None ever returned…The gold was returned to the first Warden of the North…This is known…only someone trained to see no one can do such things…"

Arnold contemplates what he just heard, "Are you saying the Stryders have faceless men training?"

"It would seem so…"

"Thank you Jaqen H'ghar…"

A month had passed since the Tourney and Arnold was receiving many reports from the east concerning Targaryens, House Pathos, and his men had lost Josselyn Lannister after she left Astapor. Her letters to her family were intercepted, read, resealed and sent on, nothing in them of treason. "My Lord…" a messenger says after knocking and entering the Solar.

"Yes what is it?"

"The King sent me to tell you that it is time…"

"Right…"

CASTERLY ROCK

On the way home Tywin Lannister fell into depression over the loss of his hand. His father Jaime Lannister watched him, "You bought this on yourself…"

"I lost my hand!" He replies in anger.

"You lost your hand playing a dangerous game…What the hell were you thinking?"

"Josselyn is my destiny!" He lowers his head, "Was my destiny…"

"You are young…You will find love again…"

"If only…"

Jaime comforts his son over the next two weeks and convinces him to keep training with his left hand. "How does that feel my Lord…" The Maester asks.

"It itches…"

"The stump?"

"No I feel like my hand is there itching…"

"Ah it is called ghost limb…People who lose legs, arms, and other body parts feel as if what they lost is still there…" he takes a vile from his box. "Here drink this…"

"What is it?"

"It is called mind stiller…It will calm your nerves and you will stop itching…"

"By the gods that is awful…"

"Most medicines and cures are…"

Tywin trains, but the only way he can win a match is to resort to dirty tricks. "If it is the difference between life and death and you wish to live use the dirty trick…" Jaime says to Tywin.

"We got a letter from Josselyn…" Tommen says.

"We will read it after dinner…Go get changed…"

Tywin walks through the castle to the steps that lead to his room. He doesn't notice the puddle of water at the top of the steps or the thin cord lying in it. When he steps into the cord it is pulled and sfalls backwards down the steps. When he stops a woman is at the top of the steps and rushes down to check him. Tywin is still alive, so she snaps his neck and removes the rope from his foot. She goes back up the steps and scream.

Many come running, "TYWIN!" Cersei screams. "No…no…no…not my son…Oh my son…"

Jaime drops to her side and holds her as she holds Tywin's lifeless body. "What happened?" Jaime asks looking at the servant.

"I was coming from the room helping Elda clean it…She sent me to fetch a fresh pillow case. I found the young Lord lying at the bottom of the steps…His neck broken…" The Maester confirms he fell cracked his head and broke his neck. A funeral is held for Tywin and he is buried next to his grandfather.

"I guess that makes me the new heir to Casterly Rock…" Joffrey says.

Jaime sneers and slaps his face, "Your brother is dead and you dare speak of line of inheritance…Go to the Sept and pray for your brother and do not leave until I call you…" Jaime decides to change his will naming Tommen Lord of Casterly Rock.

THE DREADFORT

Roose Bolton is off hunting with his son Ramsey Bolton. When they return Locke is waiting in the courtyard, "You got a visitor from the King My Lord…"

"And who are you supposed to be?"

"My name is Sir Colland Benar a Knight of Kings Landing…His Grace sent me with this…" He places the scroll in Roose's hand.

"Is this a joke or trick of some kind?"

"The Stryders have offended his grace twice…He will not let this go…So if you agree you will be made Warden of North…The King will place twenty thousand of his men under your command…Take possession of Winterfell and when the North rises up in defiance they will attack you…The rest of the King's army will attack White Harbor…and decimate House Stryder…The King will even lift the ban on flaying men…"

"I think you should take it father…"

"It doesn't matter what you think now does it?" He says looking at Ramsey, "You are not a true Bolton…" Roose returns his attention to Sir Benar, "What happens if I refuse?"

"The King doesn't really need you to make this happen…He just wants to give the North a target to attack…while he gains a foothold at White Harbor…From White Harbor he will launch an attack and destroy the Northern Forces…"

"The King sent his brother with a large army before and they failed…why will this plan succeed?"

"Because we underestimated the Stryders before…Not this time. Sansa Stark is going to marry Nathan Stryder…when this happens she will beg the Stryders to declare war…They will have to come out of their fortress to fight…Either the other Northern Lords will support you or fight with the Stryders…" he sits forward in his chair, "Tell me Lord Bolton…aren't you tired of bending the knee to the Starks…Your ancestors ruled their own Kingdom…You can have your own Kingdom again…"

THE RED KEEP - CORREN

"He says yes my Lord…" Maester Hillard says to Corren.

"Good…Send the Fleet immediately…"

Twenty thousand men board the Levor ships to set sail for the Dreadfort. They sail out to sea as not to be spotted by anyone. Any merchant ships they come across are captured and sent to King's Landing. Meanwhile Corren receives the refusal from the Targaryens and reports on Josselyn and House Pathos.

WINTERFELL - BRAN

A month had passed and by now Jon would be at the wall. Sansa and Arya are at Guardstone, Sansa to learn to become the Lady of Guardstone and Arya to learn how use the sword. Bran wants to tell his parents about the voices and visions but Jojen tells him that he should not. "Son you have been distracted ever since we left King's Landing…Is something wrong…You know you can tell me anything…"

He sighs lowering his head, "I…I am still trying to figure it out…"

"Well don't figure it out alone."

"I miss Arya and Sansa…" He says finally figuring out what to say.

"You will see them again…In a year or so…We go to Guardstone for the wedding…" At dinner Bran picks at his food. Later he goes to his room and not long after his parents come to wish him goodnight.

"It is time."

Bran is awakened by a voice and when his eyes adjust he sees Jojen Reed standing over him. "It is time to leave…" Bran argues for not leaving, but eventually Jojen convinces him. When Bran and Jojen arrive at the gate to the god's wood Meera and Hordor are waiting with all the Direwolves.

"Why is he here?" Bran asks.

"We need him trust me…" Jojen replies. They escape through the god's wood.

BROKEN TOWER

While the castle sleeps five Pryt assassins prepare in the broken tower. "Eddard Stark is mine…" Spy Master Kanon says.

"Right let's get this over with…"

They leave the tower and head for the main castle. A man slips into Robb Stark's room and slits his throat. A woman smoothers Rickon in his bed with a pillow. Lady Catelyn had already been poisoned. When Eddard awakens the next morning to start his day he shakes Cat, but she does not move. "Cat!"

"She is dead Lord Stark…"

"Where the world did you come from?"

"I am Master Spy Kanon…of House Pryt…Your wife has been poisoned…I would have given you poison and allowed you to die in your sleep, but I wanted to face the legend…Eddard Stark who killed the Sword of the Morning Sir Author Dayne. If you kill me I have ordered my men to allow you to live…You must go to the wall…"

"Fuck you I am not fighting you…"

"I poisoned your wife…If you don't fight me I will have you tied up and make you watch as I desecrate your dead wife's body." Eddard Stark rushes to the window and jumps out."Shit!"

"We have searched the entire castle he is not here…"

"The Direwolves are gone as well…"

"Tyla and Jack come with me we will hunt them down…The rest of you vanish the House will be waking up soon…"

The servants and guards of Winterfell moan and wale over the deaths of their Lords. Some leave while others bury them, Maester Luwin sends Ravens to the Lords of the North. A week later Roose Bolton shows up with twenty-seven thousand men. He has twenty thousand Basteel men, Five thousand of his own men and two thousand men of House Whitehill, his banner.

"A decree from King Corren Maester…Winterfell is mine and I am Warden of the North…Any servants who wish to leave may do so now…" Maester Luwin reads the letter aloud to the remaining servants and all decide to leave.

THE RED KEEP

"It is done Your Grace…" Master Satton says. "There is one problem…Bran Stark escaped the castle before he could be killed…"

"Find that Stark brat…"

"Master Kanon is tracking them…as we speak…"

"Are my troops ready?"

"They have been for quit some time my King…"

"Now we wait…"