Game of Thrones
The Moon's Child
Chapter 16
A New Role
303 AC- The Stormlands- Nightsong Territory
"Very good young man." Jon Connington grinned slightly as he was poured a glass of wine "My cousin did well to recruit you. Gentlemen, this is Lady Ariana Caron." Connington gestured towards the woman sitting opposite him at the table.
"Caron" Ky asked with a raised eyebrow "My Lord, I may not be an expert in the genealogy of the Highborn houses. But I was born here, I know House Caron is extinct, this woman is not a Caron."
"Of course she is." Connington dismissed him with a wave of the hand "And her young son is the rightful Lord of Nightsong… legally speaking anyway."
"Legally speaking." Ky grinned slightly "So you've managed to find some Long distance relative to put in Nightsong… The Fox King said you had a job for us."
"Indeed I do." Connington nodded "Daenerys Targaryen has landed on Dragonstone with an army of Dothraki, Unsullied and most importantly, three dragons. She is already Queen of Mereen and Khalisi of the Great Grass Sea. It is very important to The Nine that she continues her conquest and regains the Iron Throne."
"How does that affect us?" Albert asked suspiciously
"Cersei Lannister sits the Iron Throne." Connington spoke coldly "She controls the Crownlands, and what's left of the Freys hold the Riverlands for her. In terms of Kingdoms, the Westerlands are unsurprisingly supporting her and I have it on good authority she has reached out to the new King of the Iron Islands. Daenerys Targaryen has the loyalty of The Reach, Dorne and a considerable Ironborn rebellion. After the death of your King Stannis, the North has declared itself an independent Kingdom and crowned a King, Cersei Lannister's problems with House Stark are well documented. So what does that leave?"
"The Stormlands" Ky answered for him.
"The Stormlands" Connington nodded "Who sits in Storm's End at the moment Mr Wheelwright?"
"All the Baratheon's are dead." Ky shrugged "I've got no idea who's in the big house."
"Nor do I" Connington nodded as he took a sip of wine "Since Stannis went North we've had reports of King Robert's bastards, adventurous Knights, even someone claiming to be the last of House Durrandon. The point is it doesn't matter who sits Storm's End. The Nine are only interested in the Marches. The Marches connect the Stormlands, The Reach and Dorne. That could be very beneficial for Queen Daenerys."
"How so?" Albert asked with a raised eyebrow
"Mr Wheelwright?" Connington asked
"Her army and fleet are at Dragonstone. If she wants to land an army in Westeros she's got three choices at the moment. Land them directly in the Crownlands, and risk a repeat of The Blackwater, or sail them down to Dorne or the Reach, a much longer voyage with a long way to travel over land. If she were to land in The Stormlands… along the Marches she'd have a shorter journey from Dragonstone, and then be in a position to attack Kings Landing or reinforce her allies."
"Exactly." Connington slammed his fist onto the table "Now Stannis' self destructive war has decimated the High Born population. There are lots of castles without Lords. The Marches provide us with an opportunity, The Lord of Nightsong has always been Lord of The Marches."
"What does that mean?" Albert asked shaking his head
"Means nothing." Ky chipped in "Lord of the Marches was always an empty title, Nightsong never had any power over the Marcher Lords."
"The new Lord of The Marches will." Connington smiled "Griffin's Roost has no Lord at the moment."
"Why don't you take your old seat?" Ky asked suspiciously
"In time boy." Connington nodded "But for now, I have it on good authority that the Castelan of Griffin's Roost will follow whatever lead Nightsong sets."
"What about the other Marcher Lords" Ky shook his head "The Selmy's."
"Harvest Hall was put to the torch when Ser Barristan Selmy left King Joffrey's service. It's now a ruin."
"The Dondarians?" Ky asked
"Their Lord is missing presumed dead, and the Castealan is in a tremendous amount of debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos."
"The Swanns?"
"Stonehelm is not what it used to be." Connington replied coldly "They still hold the Slayne, but their importance decreases daily. Believe me when I say, the Lord of Nightsong will be The Lord of The Marches."
"Where do we fit into this then?" Ky asked
"You will be the Lord of Nightsongs strong right hand." Connington grinned "You will make sure his plans come to fruition. More importantly you will deal with the Fox King and the new Vulture King that has arisen in Dorne."
"And if the new Lord of Nightsong doesn't want my help?" Ky asked
"My Lady, lead the way." Connington said to the woman at the table
…
Ky and Albert were led up a flight of stairs by Ariana Caron, Lord Connington and the three men in black followed them closely. She walked along a corridor to the end room and opened the door. The room inside was simple, a single bed and chair, illuminated by the dull glow of a lantern. She walks to the bed and perches on the end, "Wake up." She says softly. A form sits up right, a little boy of around six sat up dressed in a white night shirt "This is Tristain Caron." She told them as she put her arm around him "My son".
"The rightful Lord of Nightsong." Jon spoke from behind them "Soon to be Lord of the Marches. And you will help him rule these lands."
Ky and Albert tilted their heads and looked at the child, he stared ahead vacantly, his head bobbing back and forth, a stream of dribble coming from his mouth. "He's retarded." Ky spoke coldly
"He is my son." Ariana snapped at him, her voice full of venom
"Forgive me My Lady, I was not trying to be cruel." Ky bowed slightly as he turned to face Connington "What is this?"
"This is the rightful Lord of Nightsong." Connington said with a grin "His mother can act as his protector and voice until he is of age…"
"He will never be of age" Ky near whispered "Look at him."
"He will be Lord of the Marcers, he will stay at Nightsong with his mother while his faithful servants carry out his word as law. The lands under Griffin's Roost and Blackhaven will follow his command, so those enforcing his word as law will be very influential people."
"By enforcing his word as law, do you mean enforcing The Nine's word as law?" Ky asked
"A minor difference." Connington smirked
"And what idiots are going to be enforcing this word on Lord Caron's behalf." Ky asked suspiciously
"You know Mr Wheelwright, in times gone by the Lord of the Marches would hire a Reeve, a man empowered to enforce the Lord's law and the King's Peace." Connington reached into his pocket and pulled out a large silver badge, shaped like a shield it was engraved with a stag and nightingale. Connington leant forward and pinned the badge to Ky's tunic. "There… suits you."
…
In the cold night of the Stormlands air, beneath a half moon, Ky and Albert stand before Jon Connington in the yard of the inn. "Let me be very clear." Connington spoke gravely "You will be working directly for me. The Caron boy and his mother are purely a front."
"You don't say." Albert replied with a role of his eyes
Connington shot him an unimpressed look "You will do two things, you will facilitate the will of The Nine, and you will prepare for the arrival of Daenerys Targaryen. Cersei Lannister will not sit the Iron Throne for long."
"Queen Cersei is a Baratheon by marriage, Lord Connington." Ky sighed "That will not be forgotten in The Stormlands, and Queen Daenerys is the Mad King's daughter."
"You wanted to be part of this order Mr Wheelwright...and you owe us."
"I don't owe you shit." Ky dismissed him
"No?" Connington asked menacingly "The Fox King… one of the Nine, recently banished Howland Reed from The Reach, saw to it that your Carcosan assassin died and negotiated a peace with the Faceless Men. Whatever that child you are protecting is, she is safe now… Thanks to The Nine."
"I wasn't aware of that." Ky said suspiciously "What's your interest in the child?"
"None." Connington spat "My interest is getting Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons into Westeros and restoring the Targaryen dynasty. You are not without your own talents, however what makes you the right man for this job is that you are Low born, with no loyalty to any of the Highborn houses, no history that can be exploited and most importantly, completely replaceable should it all go wrong."
"Well… nice to feel appreciated." Ky grimaced
Connington stayed silent as his men brought a chest and laid it at Ky and Albert's feet, the larger man opened it to reveal a bounty of gold coins. "What's that for?" Albert asked
"Your running costs, and a wage." Connington spoke coldly "Your first job is to get the Caron boy into Nightsong, Joffrey gave it to some Westerman Knight after the Blackwater. Get rid of him, get the boy in, and start preparing for The Targaryen arrival."
"About a fortnight." Connington told him "Then Salladhor Saan will be offloading some cargo along these shores. How many men do you have at your disposal?"
"At this very moment?" Ky asked
"Yes."
"None."
"You'll need more." Connington remarked dryly "Consider this your trial run boy, do not let The Order down. That goes for you as well." He told Albert "Now gentlemen, the world believes me dead, so I'm sure I do not need to remind you about the importance of discretion." One of Connington's men led a horse over to him, and the aging Lord planted himself in his saddle. "Come on gentlemen, this is a momentous night for you, why the long faces?"
"Someone once told us the night is dark and full of terror." Ky told him
"Own the night gentlemen." Connington told them as he rode off towards the road, followed by his three men in black.
Ky and Albert stood in the courtyard of the Stag and Storm, they looked at each other in bewilderment for a moment before, in total silence each man took one end of the chest of gold and walked it into the guesthouse. They dropped the chest to the ground in unison, and let out a deep breath. "Well?" A voice asked as Ariana Caron descended the stairs.
The two men looked at each other again "Inform Lord Caron, he'll be sat in Nightsong within the fortnight My Lady."
"See to it he is." She replied coldly as she ascended the stairs.
Albert waited until he heard a door close behind her before speaking "Have you got any idea we're going to achieve that?"
"Nope." He sighed "I was hoping you would."
"What should we do now?" Albert asked him
"Let's get this gold stashed away somewhere, and head back to the inn, might as well drink while we're thinking."
…
The inn was busy, full of drinkers, regulars and those just travelling through. Ky and Albert sat amongst the crowd, sinking ale after ale. Neither said anything of importance, both trying to come up with a plan. "Here they are." Lilly smiled as she planted herself next to Albert, the baby she cradled in her arms was awake and alert, her hanting blue eyes scanning the room, a beaming smile on her face.
"Should she be down here?" Albert asked
"Of course, look how happy she is." Lilly smiled as she reached across the table and took Ky's ale, she took a long swig and placed it back down. "So, how did it go?"
"Well…" Albert began "...the good news is money's not going to be a problem. Ky here has got himself a job."
"Well done kneeler." She grinned "What sort of job."
"He's going to be the new Reeve of this place." Albert grinned back "Well, as soon as we get a retarded child from that guesthouse, into Nightsong."
"You've got a shiny new broach as well." Lilly teased him, as she leant across the table and rubbed the badge that Connington had handed to him.
"It's not a broach" He corrected her as he swatted her hand away "It's a badge of office."
"Don't pout kneeler, I'm only teasing." She gave his hand a reassuring tap "What's a Reeve anyway?"
"It's someone who upholds the law and keeps the King's peace." Albert told her
"You two?" She giggled slightly
"Well, me really." Ky told her "Albert's just my little helper."
"I prefer silent partner" Albert shot back
"Well whatever you prefer, you, me and this shiny badge aren't going to be doing anything until we get Nightsong. And we don't know anything about the people we are trying to get rid of."
"Your brother might." Lilly nodded to the drunk man in the corner
"Brother by law" Ky corrected her
"He's been here while you were gone." Albert nodded in agreement.
"We better get another round in." Ky sighed before looking over to his brother by law "Steffon!" He called out "Come and join us." The older man slowly rose from his seat and walked over to their table "Your baby?" He asked ky, slurring his words slightly
"Not as such" Ky told him
"The girl with you?"
"Undecided" Lilly answered for herself
"Who's the fat lad?"
"My… business partner."
"Well" Steffon sighed as he sat down "Now we're all acquainted, what can I do for you little brother?"
"You took me and Eric in when you married my sister, put food on the table. I won't forget that. I know you're in debt Steffon. I know you've been gambling, and I know you've been drinking. What if I told you I could make all that go away."
Steffon put his mug down and looked at Ky for a moment "How?" Ky explained their current situation, well as much as he was willing to disclose, and their need to remove the current occupants of Nightsong. After and hour or so of talking Steffon let out a sigh "So if you don't get this mentally deficient boy into Nightsong, the people with all this money…"
"Will back someone else who can." Ky answered him "Who's in Nightsong at the moment"
"Some Westerland Knight… names Foote." Steffon sighed "Keeps the castle open for trading, gave up on collecting taxes a year ago. Joffrey gave him Nightsong as a fuck you to Stannis after The Blackwater. Not very popular with the locals."
"How many men does he have with him?" Albert asked
"Less than a dozen that I've seen." Steffon shrugged "They're fighters though."
"You fought in the Greyjoy rebellion Steffon… you still got your armor?"
"Some of it" Steffon shrugged "How many people have you got on this?"
"You'd be number four."
"You'll need more." Steffon told him honestly
"Any ideas where I can get them from?" Ky asked. There was silence at the table again.
"Here" Lilly said as she passed the baby to Ky, and stood up on her chair
"What are you doing." He snapped under his breath.
"GENTLEMEN!" Lilly called out to the rest of the inn, and then let out a high pitched whistle "GENTLEMEN" There were a series of wolf whistles and catcalls as she raised her mug. "I would like to propose a toast. To the Foote's of Nightsong!"
The inn fell silent for a moment, you could hear a pin drop, and the floorboards creaking, and then the room erupted in fury, cries of anger and insults were thrown as mugs and the remains of peoples dinner were thrown towards where Lilly was standing, Lilly and the group sheltered under the table. "What the fuck was that?" Ky barked at her as the barrage seemed to come to a stop.
"I think we know where to start recruiting." She smiled mischievously
