Game of Thrones

The Moon's Child

Chapter 15

Homecoming

303 AC- The Stormlands- Nightsong Territory

The Prince's Pass was behind them, travelling an old carting road south through the Stormlands, a cart laden with beasts follows a horse with a single rider. As dawn breaks over the Western Marches, they come off of the cart road, down a lesser worn path. The path stretches out for several miles, a small town can be seen in the distance, and beyond that, the squat towers of Nightsong. The man riding the horse pulls up alongside a series of buildings, two houses, what looked like a smithy, and a large building with a hand carved sign, The Stag and Storm. Ky dismounts his horse and tethers it to a hitching post, as Albert brought the cart to a stop. "Why have we stopped here?" Albert asked.

"The townships just down that road." Ky pointed off into the distance "About a half hours walk away. We'll get lodgings here, my sister might not have room for three of us, she certainly won't have enough room for the horses and beasts. Lilly still asleep?"

Albert looked over his shoulder into the back of the cart, the Wildling and the babe were curled up in the back along with the goat and two sheep "Yep dead to the World." He nodded.

Ky pulled the tarpaulin back and climbed into the cart "Morning" He spoke softly as he gently shook her shoulder.

"Morning" She replied wearilly as her eyelids fluttered open "Are we there?"

"Nearly" He smiled softly "Come on." She handed him the baby and stretched out as she stood up, Albert offered her a hand as she hopped down from the cart.

"We're staying here?" She asked, looking up at the inn as Ky handed the baby back to her.

"For now" He nodded "Come on." The three walked through the door of the inn, there were low ceilings, a room full of tables and chairs, two hearths burning away. One young girl washes down tables, as another sweeps the floor towards the back of the room. As the door shuts, a short squat man with a full beard wearing a woolen brown woolen shirt appears behind the bar.

"We're not serving for another hour." He said gruffly as he perched on the bar.

"We're not here for a drink." Ky told him as he walked to the bar and leant against it "I need lodgings and stabling."

The innkeep looked up, and tilted his head slightly "You're Arnold Wheelwright's boy."

"Ky" He nodded as he shook the innkeeps hand.

The innkeep took four cups and placed them on the bar. He brought up a bottle of wine from beneath the counter "This is good stuff." He smiled as he began to pour. "You've been gone a while."

"Four years." Ky nodded

The Innkeep pushed a cup across the bar towards each of them "Stannis Baratheon" He toasted

"Stannis Baratheon" Ky and Albert half heartedly returned the toast.

"So lodgings for all of you and the babe?" The innkeep asked

"And stabling for three horses." Ky nodded "We've got three beasts with us as well. You can have the two sheep for the kitchen, we'll need to put the goat with the horses."

"I don't take sheep as payment soldier." The innkeep told him

"Lucky I have coin then." Ky told him as he poured some out onto the bar. "Have the sheep anyways. We've had a long journey, I would appreciate some of your better accommodation. How's your guest house looking?"

"Guest house is full." The innkeep shrugged "We've got rooms above here though. Enough for all of you."

"We'll take them."

"I'll get your rooms ready." The innkeep nodded as he pocketed the gold "Did you tell anyone else you were coming here?"

"No" Ky shared a quick glance with Albert and Lilly "Why? Has someone been asking questions?"

"A man arrived in the shire a few days ago." The innkeep nodded "Started asking questions about a couple of Baratheon deserters travelling with a girl. Mentioned one of them was from here originally."

Ky looked to Albert "That is very efficient. Where are they now?"

The innkeep pointed to his door "Just across the yard in my guest house."

"Well…. That should save some time." Ky sighed as he sipped his wine "We'll take those rooms now."

"Is that wise?" Albert asked suspiciously

Ky shrugged "We need to meet them, here is a good enough place as any. You stay here for the day, unwind, get some rest, I'm going to head into town and find my sister."

"Should those gentlemen come looking for you during the day?" The inkeep asked

Ky hesitated for a moment "Tell them I'm staying here and I'll meet them here tonight. Hour of the eel. How many people are we talking about?"

"One older gent, Stormlander from his accent, High Born, travelling with a woman and three guards. They paid for the whole guesthouse, in gold, upfront."

Albert nodded "Do you want me to do a bit of scouting while you're gone Albert asked?"

"Nah" Ky shook his head, "We'll see them tonight." The door to the inn opened again as a dishevelled man, around forty smelling of drink dragged his feet across the floor and sat down at the bar. Ky turned and looked at the man in silence, shaking his head.

"We're not serving yet." The inkeep told him

"You're serving them." His voice was slurred slightly, his face unshaven, his clothes creased.

"We're not serv…"

"Put whatever he's having on my bill." Ky said reluctantly as the inkeep poured him a cup

"Thank you friend." The man raised his cup as he turned to face him "...Ky." He spoke in disbelief

"Look at the fucking state of you." Ky said coldly "It's not even midday."

"You've been gone a long time boy." The man replied sullenly "Things change."

"Expensive habit Steffon." Ky nodded to the cup in his hand "How are your wife and children?"

The man stayed silent for a moment before picking up his cup, "They'll be happy to see you Ky." He reached out and patted the younger man's shoulder "Glad you're alive boy." The man walked to a corner table and near enough collapsed into a chair.

"Friend of yours?" Lilly asked awkwardly

"My brother by law." Ky said with a roll of his eyes

"A family reunion then" She half grinned

"Yep" He nodded as he finished his wine "And I've got another one to go to. I'm going to clean up and head out. I'll meet you both back here later."

….

Ky stepped out of the Stag and Storm and made his way towards the path that led to the town that had been his home. There was a chill in the air, and a stiff breeze as befits the Stormlands, but the sun was high in the sky and shining bright, as he made his way to the gate he had come in, he saw a shock of red hair blowing in the wind,as Lilly, wrapped in dark blue shawl and holding the babe awaited him. "I said I'd do this by myself." He greeted her.

Lilly looked around "This is going to be home for a while?" The girl asked

"That's the plan" Ky nodded

"Then I'd best get to the know place, hadn't I?" She smiled

"Fair enough" Ky nodded "Come on, I'll hold her while we walk." Lilly handed the baby over as the two walked side by side along the dirt track towards the township, the girl having to hurry slightly to keep pace.

"She likes you." Lilly smiled as the babe gurgled

"I like her," Ky grinned as he tickled her cheek with his free hand "Even though she's the source of drama." The two walked the length of the road until they entered the small township. There were several thatched buildings on either side of the main street, there was a well and several small stalls dotted about, several people shot them a glance, as they walked towards a collection of buildings that Ky had once called home.

"Are you close to your sister?" Lilly asked

"I was" Ky replied "Mum and Dad were both gone when I was young. Lysa was the one who looked after us, my brother and I that is. She took us on when she was pretty much a kid herself. She married Steffon when she was young and was pretty much the only parent we had. Four years… seems like a long time now." Lilly turned her head slightly to look at her companion, he had the babe nestled in the crook of his right arm, his left arm swung free at his side. Lilly moved closer to him and entwined her own fingers in his. Ky looked down at their now joined hands and gave hers a reassuring squeeze "If I come home after four years with a pretty girl and a baby, my sister might have some questions."

"I certainly would." Lilly replied playfully "What will you tell her?"

"I don't know." Ky stopped to look at her "What am I going to tell her?"

"We'll think of something." She said softly "Come on."

The two walked hand in hand amongst a smattering of buildings, Ky finally stopped and took a breath as they came to one. A single story thatched wooden building and a small garden outside with a waist high fence around it. A girl of around six plays in the garden with a stray cat, she looks up as Lilly and Ky come to a stop. "Hello Allegra" Ky greeted her as he handed the baby to Lilly.

"How do you know my name?" The girl asked as the cat skulked away

"I remember when you were born." Ky told her "And your brother."

"Do you know my mama and papa?" She asked him as she looked around for the cat.

"I do" Ky told her "I don't suppose your mama's in is she?"

The girl nodded "Who are you?" The little girl asked

"I'm her baby brother." He told her as the little girl ran inside the house, Ky opened a small gate in the fence and stepped through. He heard a commotion coming from the house as a woman emerged from the door the little girl had run through. "Hello Lysa" He said with his bottom lip trembling

"Ky" She whispered as the two ran to each other falling into an embrace. "You're alive. It's been years."

"I take it none of my letters got through to you." Ky half sobbed

"Four years." She sobbed "When I heard about the Blackwater, I thought you could be one of the dead, when I didn't hear from you… and then when Stannis went North."

"I'm home now big sister."

She pulled away and dried her eyes "Eric?" She swallowed hard, Ky hesitated for a moment before shaking his head "You came back… after all this time… maybe…"

"He's dead Lysa." Ky sighed "I saw it myself, at the Blackwater."

"I said goodbye to you both in here…" she pointed to her heart "... a long time ago. But the Gods have been good enough to send you back."

"Is it still just Allegra and Owen?" Ky asked as he put his arm around her.

"No" She smiled, wiping a tear "We've got Mychelle as well now." She looked past Ky to see Lilly standing with the baby. "Looks like I'm not the only one."

"Oh she's not his." Lilly told her

"I see…" Lysa replied

"She's not mine either." Lilly grinned "Things have just worked out this way."

"Lysa I saw Steffon on the way here, he looked in a bit of a state, everything okay between you?"

"You better come in, both of you."

Albert finished off the last of his lunch and set his plate to one side, he rested a hand on his belly and sank back into his chair. He nodded politely at the serving girl who cleared his table and replenished his ale. He cast a glance to the corner of the room to see Ky's brother by law staring into his glass. His attention was drawn to a man sitting down at his table with him. "I am a craftsman from the East, I seek…"

"You can cut that shit out." Albert told him "I'm not part of this order of yours."

"Forgive me" The man nodded as he stood to leave, "There must have been some mistake."

"I'm travelling with the man you are looking for." Albert told him "He is my… business partner."

"We were told he is here." The man near whispered

"He's attending to a personal matter in town." Albert replied "We know you're staying in the guest house, we'll meet you here around the hour of the eel."

"My master desires a more private setting." The man told him "Please come to the guest house when you are ready, we will await you there Brother Albert." The man bowed and discreetly took his leave.

"I'm not part of your Order." Albert called after him, the man laughed to himself slightly "Something funny?"

"Only that you think you have a choice."

Albert took a gulp of ale in frustration and banged the mug back on the table, he felt a pair of eyes on him, he turned to see Steffon looking at him from over the rim of his glass. "Can I help you, you old drunk?" Albert asked

"What exactly have you and my idiot brother by law got yourselves caught up in?"

303 AC- The Shadow Lands- Asshai by the Shadow

In a palace made of oily black stone that drinks in what little light comes here, three powerful me sit in a chamber. One upon a great black throne, his features veiled, a horned crown atop his head. The self proclaimed Patriarch of Asshai. His guests, a mysterious, nameless sorceror in a green lacquer mask and hood, and finally dressed in yellow cloth of gold robes with ornate rings on each finger, the ruler of Carcosa and self proclaimed sixty ninth Yellow Emperor of Yi Ti.

"This conclave has become smaller." The Emperor noted as he reclined in his seat "Where are the others Patriarch?"

"Quaithe has returned to Qarth." The ancient sorcerer croaked

"And the crone.?" The emperor asked with a raised eyebrow

"Shiera has left Asshai of her own choosing, her motives are unclear."

"The child?" The masked sorcerer asked with menace

"It would appear that my priest was unsuccessful."

"What?" The sorcerer snapped "You said you saw the child in a vision."

"I did." The Emperor nodded "One I had to sacrifice a daughter to achieve. The last word we received from the priest was from Braavos. It appears he had some interference, from the Faceless Men, and a Westerosi Lord who keeps the Children's Gods."

"You said your priest would succeed." The masked sorcerer snapped "You fool!"

"May I remind you, you are addressing the Emperor of Yi Ti."

"May I remind you, you are the ruler of a shit stain of a city on the hidden sea… most people have never even heard of. Emperor of Yi Ti… The Azure Emperor laughs at your claim while you hide behind your walls with your hareem of daughters and bastardized magic."

The Emperor lunged forward gripping the sorcerer by the throat and lifting him high into the air, his eyes turned a bright red as he began muttering an incantation, the sorcerer in the green lacquer mask began choking out a spell of his own as an eerie green light began to gather at his hands.

"ENOUGH!" The Patriarch bellowed. With a gesture of his hand he sent a near invisible wave across the room that sent both men crashing into a wall. "We have to maintain unity." His voice returned to an eerie calm "We knew that others might be looking for this child. The Faceless Men, servants of the Children, if the child was in Braavos then it is likely the Moonsingers and the Red Priests know as well. Chai, what was the last word you heard from your priest."

"The Child is a girl." The Emperor spoke reluctantly "With unnatural blue eyes. Traveling with three Westrosi and a goat."

"A black goat?" The other sorcerer asked nervously

"Yes" The Emperor nodded

"The Black Goat has risen to defend the Moon Child." The Green Masked Sorcerer spat "Dragons fly in the sky, The bleeding comet has announced the Prince that was promised, and I feel we have a new Three Eyed Raven."

"One thing at a time." The Patriarch soothed him with a gentle wave of the hand "If we concentrate on the child the rest will not matter. Tell us of the Westerosi guarding the child."

"One girl… common stock red hair. Two men, soldiers, but neither are particularly dangerous fighters, one of them is said to be fat."

"So we can assume they are not responsible for killing your priest?" The Patriarch asked

"No, he dispatched them easily." The Emperor spoke defiantly "He also killed the Faceless Man, bested the Westerosi Lord and killed several Braavosi that got involved."

"So who killed him?" The Green Masked Sorcerer asked

"I don't know." The Emperor admitted. "But his last message said he was boarding a ship to Westeros, a port called Old Town."

The Patriarch leant forward on his throne and bridged his fingers "The child is in Westeros." The patriarch nodded "It makes sense. The Three Eyed Raven is in Westeros, The Dead are in Westeros, The Dragons are now in Westeros and if some Red Priests are to be believed so is the Prince that was Promised. We should slow down our approach, these lowborn the child is with are obviously protecting her, they will keep her hidden, we should allow Quaithe and Shiera Seastar to try things their way… Besides, it will be years before the child grows to her full potential."

303 AC- The Stormlands- Nightsong Territory

Albert and Ky waited awkwardly at the door to the guest house "If they murder us both I will not happy with you." Albert spoke coldly

"Fair enough" Ky nodded in agreement.

The door opened and a man dressed in black stood in the doorway "Hello again" Albert nodded politely as the two walked through the door. They were led through the guest house to a what looked like a dining room. A single large round table sat in the middle of the room with four chairs around it. If the table were a compass, a woman of around thirty sat where South should be, she wore a dress of yellow silk and lace with a nightingale pattern sewn into it in black lace. "Who's she?" Albert asked under his breath.

"Fuck knows" Ky whispered back "My Lady." He bowed politely. Two more men dressed in black came through the door of the dining room to join the first. One moved Ky to the table, again, were it a compass he guided to where East should be, and another guided Albert to where West should be. The two deserters sat with the woman, leaving only the chair in the North position free. The three sat in silence as the three men in black lined up along the North wall of the room.

The door opened again, a series of loud deliberate footsteps echoed through the room. A man took his place at the North seat of the table. A sturdy man, nearing fifty, his hair was grey shaven down low, his beard mostly grey as well, a few specs of red still visible. He wore a black leather doublet, and riding breeches. He took a his seat and looked at the two young men with a steely, unwavering gaze.

"Master." Ky bowed reluctantly

"You know who I am boy?" The man asked him, his voice like gravel

"I can hazard a guess." Ky cringed slightly

"Care to enlighten me?" Albert asked

"Albert this is one of The Nine, Lord Jon Connington… former Hand of the King."