5th Month of 299 A.C. King's Landing

Jon Snow

Jon had thought that by going back to the Red Keep he would be avoiding a possible catastrophe, for when he had seen the footprints near the Butcher's House he had grown worried, worried that Pate might well have done that to throw them off his trail, and that he would actually be in the Red Keep still. He had hurried back to the Red Keep, only to find that the King was safe, that Prince Tommen was safe and finally that Sansa was safe, he had been deeply relieved, but then had come the news from Alyn, Jory and his men had been attacked in one of the streets. He had rushed out to see whether they were okay or not, half his men were dead now, and the other half were nearing death, there were other bodies around as well, faceless and nameless men and women whom he did not know. It was frustrating, and worrying. Jory was going to survive, just about, and Jon cursed himself for leaving Jory in charge, he should've been there, he should've faced whatever threat it was that presented itself before his men.

The King had asked for a meeting and so Jon found himself in the King's rooms, Ser Barristan stood behind the King alongside Sandor Clegane, whilst outside stood Ser Balon Swann and Ser Theodore Wells- a Northman who had joined the Kingsguard for the first time in its history-. As Jon looks at the King he sees lines of tiredness across his face, given the lateness of the hour that does not surprise him, if he is right in his estimation it has been some time since the King last slept. Surprisingly though, the King does not sound tired when he speaks. "So tell me, how are your men doing?"

It takes Jon a moment to process the question, for he too is feeling quite tired, uncertain of just who and what to trust right now. His words are guarded when he says. "Those who survived are well, they are injured but they should live. Jory is coming through this as best as he can. I think he will live as well."

The King nods his acceptance at this. "That is good very good. I am sorry once more about what happened to your men Jon, it was most unfortunate."

"It was not of your doing Your Grace, there was a trap that was set, and we fell for it." Jon replies.

"Still, you were ordered to look for Pate on my order. Regardless, there is no point thinking about could have been could not have been. You are safe and your men who are alive will stay that way that is good. So tell me, what we have learned from this?" the King says.

A moment's silence and then Jon replies. "Well, the men and women we found lying in the streets were men and women who have been trained for fighting. They are not from here, it seems they are from Essos, the Far East as it were, where they fight and train women as well as men. What they were doing there I do not know, though ships had come in from as far as Volantis a couple of days ago, I have Ser Vrywel questioning the dock inspectors now as we speak."

The King seems to consider this for a moment before he speaks. "And who was the hooded figure that Ser Jory saw? Do we know?"

Jon shakes his head. "Unfortunately not Your Grace. It seems the man did not lower his hood at all, and I have spoken to all of my men who are well enough to talk and none of them saw anything from him. He merely moved as if he was a member of death, itself. I do not know what else to tell you about him."

The King looks worried then. "And whom do you think this man was?"

Jon thinks about it for a mere moment before replying. "It had to be Pate, there is none else who could move with such skill and precision and get away with it. But I do not know he remained unchecked or even how he has not been found. Something about this does not seem right to me Your Grace."

"I think so as well, there is far too much going on here beneath the surface for us to be clear about anything that is happening. Those men and women, why were they there, do you know? Did any of them survive?" The King asks.

"One did, for about an hour, she did not say much, but what she did say was troubling." Jon says.

"And what did she say?" the King asks.

"She said that they were working for a man who knew more about King's Landing than anyone but a Targaryen could know. That they were working for someone who had longed fooled many at court with his words and his praises." Jon says.

"Varys." The King says immediately.

"I had thought as much at first Your Grace, but then I had doubts." Jon responds.

The King looks slightly put out by that. "Yes that is true, this was not Varys' style, and he works with children not with men and women. No, whoever this is knows King's Landing well, very well in fact, but the question is who? Most of the people here came with my mother when she became Queen and have been here since my father was King. That is nowhere near long enough to know every part of King's Landing."

Jon thinks on this for a moment, and as he reaches a conclusion, he becomes slightly uncertain of whether or not the King will want to hear what he has to say. "I think I might have a suspect but I am not sure."

"Who?" the King asks looking at him intrigued.

"Pycelle." Jon says. "He has been here for nearly fifty years, and in that time as Grand Maester he would have had to travel King's Landing extensively, it is possible he knows these people." Jon says.

The King seems to consider this proposal for a time, not responding with the anger and the dismissal that Jon had been fearing. When the King replies his voice is even. "It is possible, Pycelle has been here a long time. Though why he would employ such mean is beyond me."

Jon thinks for a moment, and though he hates how it sounds he says it anyway. "Could it be that he used these people to get rid of me? After all, we know that your mother wants me gone Your Grace. Is it possible that Pycelle was working for her?"

"It is certainly possible, we know that Pycelle has been visiting my mother, but he has been doing that on my orders. Pycelle is a worm Jon, he works for whoever he thinks is the strongest at any given moment, and right now that is me. I do not think that this attack was planned by him. I would know if it was, but my grandfather is another matter. Lord Tywin does not react well to people usurping what he considers his rightful place." The King responds.

Jon feels fear course through him then, making an enemy out of a man he has never met before, with the reputation that Lord Tywin has is a scary and intimidating thought. "Do you think we are making too much of it Your Grace? Do you think the attack might simply have been done by the Sons of the Dragon?"

The King snorts. "You know, that was who I thought you were going to mention Jon. Truth be told, I would like a bit of clarity on them and what they want. It is all too much right now."

Jon nods in agreement, he knows just how the King feels, or at least he feels a lot of pain similar to how he thinks the King might feel. He takes a moment to think and then he asks. "Your Grace, when I spoke with Pate in the black cells, and before that, he said you were looking for something. And that it was something that could do all kinds of harm. Is that true?"

He sees the way the King's face tightens then, and the way his fingers clench into a fist, before unclenching. The King is rather calm when he responds despite this. "Yes, I am looking for something Jon, whether or not it can cause harm or not is another matter entirely. I am sure you want to know what it is that I am looking for, and as of right now, I am myself not completely sure, but I am looking for something that could make this war go a bit easier for us."

Intrigued Jon asks. "How might it do that Your Grace?"

The King fixes him with a stern gaze as he says. "There is much I do not quite understand about it yet Jon, I do not even know what it is called, but I do know that it exists, and that it is supposed to be quite powerful. Something that might make men bend where before they would only kill you."

"Is it magic then?" Jon asks.

"Something like that, I am not quite sure what it is." the King replies absently.

"Might I be of assistance then Your Grace? I can have people looking for it during times when we are otherwise occupied." Jon suggests.

He feels a twinge of disappointment when he sees the King shake his head. "No, it is quite alright Jon. I do not think we need to draw attention to the fact that we are looking for something. No, we must find Pate, and figure out who is responsible for the attack on you." the King pauses for a moment before he then asks. "Do you know who the people were then? The bodies who were made to look like you all?"

Jon feels a surge of loathing and horror fill him then at the images of those bodies. "I….I… I have not Your Grace. I, I do not know if they were merely peasants or if they were actual people. There is something about them, something deliberate about them though."

The King nods, in what Jon hopes is understanding. "Quite, well best to leave that for others then." the King pauses once more, and then he asks. "Now tell me Jon, you have spent more time with the Redwyne twins than I have as of late, have they said anything to you?"

Jon looks at the King questioningly. "Your Grace?"

"Have they said anything to you about their father?" the King asks.

Realising what the King means, Jon shakes his head. "No Your Grace, they have not. They barely speak to me anymore, it seems they have grown jealous of the things that are now coming to pass."

The King nods. "Very well then. I want them watched night and day, put the best men we have on this task. I want to know who they meet, where they meet them and how long they meet them for. I do not trust them, and if I need to I will kill them."

Jon nods fully agreeing with the King's statement. "It shall be done Your Grace."

Before he can ask a question that has been bothering him for some time, there is a knock on the door, and as the King calls for whoever it is to enter, they find themselves looking at Lord Tyrion. He seems to be out of breath, his face is red, and it is clear he has run here. "What is it?" the King asks.

"Banners have been sighted Your Grace." Tyrion pants.

"Whose banners?" the King asks.

"Cafferen, Grandison, Fell, Florent. Stannis Baratheon's banner." Tyrion responds.

Jon looks at the King and sees something akin to fear and anger in the King's eyes. "Do we know how many men?"

Tyrion shakes his head. "Couldn't get an accurate count."

"Very well, get the men ready Jon. We will defend the walls, I want archers on the walls, and men at every gate." The King says, sounding for all the world like how Jon imagines King Robert sounded during the Trident.