Chapter 49: Hoare's Problem

Qoren cleared his mind and made himself focus on the task at hand. Garibald was dead as he thought would happen. But there was a lot left that needed to happen for things to go exactly as he had planned. He had asked the leaders of the Faith in the Riverlands to attend him in Harrenhal and thankfully had come. He looked at them all and nodded.

"Thank you all for coming Your Excellencies. I know that this is a late time to ask for your help, and that things are progressing in difficulty for you all. But this is something that I felt could not be left to chance." Qoren said. He took a breath then continued. "When Septon Garibald became the High Septon I had thought that we had averted a crisis, but now with his death, I am not sure what might come. The Most Devout are locked into their choice and deliberation process and have been for six moons now. So, I am not sure where they are going. But I do think that Septon Moon is the most likely choice. This would be disastrous for everyone. I think that we need to act now before something goes wrong. I would take your thoughts from this."

Septon Boremund, the oldest member of the Faith alive right now, and the Septon of Harrenhal spoke. "My lord, I think that we must continue to preach against Moon and his followers. The faithful know that he is dangerous and that the safety of Westeros depends on his removal. But any other means might leave things in ruins."

"How so?" Qoren asked. "With respect Your Excellency, it does seem as though the preaching is doing little. Indeed, more people seem to be looking toward Moon more than anyone else."

Septon Boremund smiled. "Indeed, but more people are turning away from him than joining him. Think of the Grand Remonstrance that occurred during the Month of the Stranger. More of that is happening than anything else."

Septa Elisa, the leading sister from the Sept House in Stoney Sept, spoke. "I agree with Septon Boremund, my lord. I think that preaching is the best way to go. Moon is violent, his followers are thugs. We cannot and should not stoop down to his level. Instead, we must use words to show him as nothing more than a thug."

"With the premise then being that if he continues to use violence it will show him as nothing more than a scared child?" Qoren asked.

"Exactly, my lord." Septa Elisa said. "Only those who are scared or have something to hide respond to calls for change with violence."

"And what if he suddenly changes tack?" Qoren asked. "The man has shown he is not a fool. He is perfectly capable of changing movement if it suits him." Indeed, Qoren was half convinced that Moon was only doing the whole violence routine to goad the King into action first.

"I do not think he can." Septon Boremund said. "Moon has never shown the ability to change tack at all. I have been following his career for many years now, and throughout that time he has repeatedly shown that he is someone who acts first and thinks later. His calls for violence and for war show that."

"And you do not think that that is going to change?" Qoren asked.

"I do not, my lord. I think Moon has his own vision and he will implement it." Boremund said.

"So, we must step up on the preaching then. We must send more Septons and Septas across not only the Riverlands but the other parts of the realm as well. And we must ensure that the Hightowers do not forget the threat Moon poses to them." Qoren said. Lord Hightower would be vital to influencing which way the Most Devout voted. That they had been locked into this process for six months now suggested something was going on inside.

Septon Oswald a man from Oldtown originally who worked in Maidenpool spoke then. "My brother serves as the Septon in the Hightower, I could ask him to speak with Lord Hightower, if you wish my lord."

"Will Hightower listen to him?" Qoren asked. He was not wanting to use all his cards at once.

"I believe so, my lord." Oswald replied.

"I need a definitive yes or no, we cannot gamble the future of the realm on half certainties." Qoren replied.

Septon Oswald said nothing for a moment and then eventually said. "I shall write to him and ensure that we have clarification before moving forward, my lord."

Qoren nodded. "Good." There was a pause as he thought through what else needed to be said and discussed. Eventually he reached his next topic. "We have mentioned before that the Most Devout are still locked into their deliberation process. It took them all of two hours to declare Septon Garibald the new High Septon, so why has it taken them this long to name a new one?"

"Because they are scared, my lord." Septon Boremund said. "They are scared that if they choose Moon, that the King will come and burn them down. They are scared that if they don't' choose Moon that he and his supporters will come and hound them. That fear is crippling them."

"Surely they realise that it is not doing anything for the people of the Kingdom either?" Qoren asked.

Septon Boremund sighed. "Indeed, I am sure they are aware, my lord. And that is why they continue to hesitate. The longer they keep going, I think, they feel, the longer they can delay the hostile reaction."

"Then perhaps we should get the King involved." Qoren said. Sure, that the sight of Balerion flying over Oldtown would scare anyone with a brain.

"Not if you want the war to come earlier." Boremund said.

Qoren raised an eyebrow and said. "I don't want a war at all. I want to avoid one at all costs." Boremund did nothing then, but Qoren wondered at his words, perhaps the man was not as trustworthy as he had thought.