The horrible truth is, I never thought things through. Before being named grand admiral, my plan was to wait for some regime change and then to slip back to Driftmark and later Essos, probably. When I got my position I dived into the task, the best way I could. Investing as much funds as possible as well as recruiting crew which would be loyal too me.
I pushed and found nothing pushing back. I got money for the new ships, even though me getting them was but a joke a night before when I got drunk with Praekar. When I started recruiting my crew, Pycelle's tyrades about recruiting green boys instead of seasoned seamen were quickly silenced by the queen.
In my new position, a new plan hatched in my head. A crazy plan. Almost impossible one. To accomplish this I would have to begin thinking ahead, and it was not my forte.
If I wanted to start thinking things through, perhaps I would have to wait another day because I was with my benefactor's biggest perceived enemy.
"You are awfully quiet today, grand admiral" stated queen Margaery, picking another autumn flower. Why does my title always sound like a jest.
Her entourage and I were at the brink of Kingswood, it was one of those rare really warm autumn days and the sun showered the slope of the forest with its light. Only a weak breeze from Blackwater Bay moved the grass blades. Queen and her maids were picking florets.
"I just fear where would sharp tongues of the capital carry message about this meeting" I reply finally, guarded
"What sharp tongues my lord? I trust my people as I try to take with me only those who I can trust. You understand why were those admirator knights assigned to me? Why didn't I take them with me today?" she asks, looking up. Not even kingsguard, they are all with Tommen, save for Kettleblack who is 'guarding' Cersei and Ser Jaime preparing to march on Riverlands
"They are not very good at picking flowers"
"Indeed, I care only for my husband's wellbeing yet some would deny my good intentions" she said picking yet another bloom. perhaps she is even sincere
"Vile calumnies your grace, whole capital wishes long life and health to King Tommen and his queen" I said pompously
"Isn't that exactly what herald said yesterday in the throne room?" She stood up we all moved alongside her into the forest.
"Something of the sort, have you meet the whole small council, my queen?"
"Only you, my lord. The rest of your fellow councillors are either merely puppets, on Other's doorstep like poor lord Rosby or would never accept my invitation. Yet you fought for another king not so long ago and your fleet is the only thing currently growing in this city"
"King's fleet, and the Sparrows are also growing lately"
"I just wish to know if you are truly King's man, no matter what" she contined No matter if Cersei is ousted, you mean
"I fould rather not stir the water, lest I fall from my post and it is taken by certain lord of the grape bunch, your grandmother's kin, my queen"
"That may be so" she replied "but the crown will always need able men and the vessels that are being built in the dockyard are clear sign of your abilities, my lord"
The statement was followed by silence during which Margaery and her maids finnished plucking the flowers. Queen's horse was led to her and she jumped gracefully.
"Think about it, my lord, you may find out that you are not yet lost when winds turn!"
At that they all left slowly moving down the hill. I, on the other hand, went looking for my damn horse
"Frou-Frou, where did I leave you, neigh or something!"
I rode back to the city, inhaling the smell of autumn wood, soon I was encompased by the capital's odors. I passed through the King's Gate which was still in sorry state after so many months since the assault.
When I finally reached the port, I saw the shells of the first ships being put together. Since the construction began a month ago the harbour once again turned into a lively place. Workers needed place to rest after work so inns and brothels sprung up around the port. As did new shops, new market stalls. Seeing this chain reaction I couldn't help but think that funding fleet instead of repaying debt really was a better option.
I led Frou-Frou towards my warehouse-headquarters at the starting point of the port's roadstead. I needed to talk with my captains and lay down my plan, now that I know what the Rose had to say. When I entered the main hall of the warehouse, Orys was leaning over the plan of next ship. I greeted him and immediately got to the point.
"We need to talk, all of us" I said.
"About our future?" he asked resolutely.
"Yes, but not here, too many ears, me shall meet in Old Bruska's den"
Orys sent messengers out to look for Praekar, Petyr and Wendyl while we went up the Muddy Way to the meeting place accompanied by two guardmen employed in the harbour,
"Word around city is that a man called Splitter promised to... well... split you" warned Orys "Apparently you destroyed his influence by employing the poor near the harbour. I hear he hates this High Sparrow just as much. He is half-crazed and dangerous."
"Didn't he lose his band recently?" I inquired "eh, he is meaningless, what is he going to do? Something stupid and a man with such a name must have a pair of really strong hands
We passed the almost empty market stalls futher away from the port, merchants grasping at anything to earn even a brown star.
"A root, root from Summer Isles that will make even old geezer a knight!" screamed a man in patched coat
"A poison! A poison I got from Dorne that will make your enemies shit themselves!" yelled old crone from her stall, surprisingly loud for someone so old.
We passed the pushy vendor. The houses in this part of capital were a bit richer but many Sparrows could be seen, going somewhere. Visenya's Hill most probably.
"Did you interview the crew of the rotten tub that arrived this night?" I asked.
"Yes, they sailed from beyond the Stepstones. Of 40 men crew that left King's Landing half a year ago only a handful is left, barely able to work the ship"
"Did... did they see them?" He knew what I was refering to instantly.
"One of them swears he saw a black shadow in the sky. When they were in Volantis they heard talk of prepared invasion to liberate – get it- liberate Slaver's Bay from dragon's tyranny."
"That confirms what we already knew then. Daenerys Targaryen freed the slaves in the east, no wonder all the slavers hate her now"
We reached an inconspicous shanty that served as our meeting place, being greeted upon entry by the owner, Bruska.
He motioned, beckoning us to enter, he was a mute. I didn't have to wait long before my captains entered the dark room: Brynden who always looked as if he hadn't slept for two nights straight, Petyr toying with his knife and Praekar, of course, with a flower in his clothing.
We all sat at the small round table.
I prepared to speak but Petyr started first:
"What exactly is our plan Aurane? We are not stupid, we know that what we have now is too good to last long" How much do I tell them now?
"There can be no plan, without the ships. They are everything we've got. We need to hasten the construction even more. Hire more people, train more of them to work at the don't have sixth months, I fear" I replied "When we have the dromonds seaworthy, maybe new options will reveal themselves. "
"Do you mean to just sail away and declare for the dragon queen in the east? You always ask about tidings from there" asked Brynden.
"Or Stannis up north! I remember you kneeled quite eagerly before his red god" added Praekar
"And exchange one monarch for another? All of these are pipe dreams as long as there is Redwyne's fleet besieging Dragonstone. That's what needs to change. And when it does, we need to be ready. To slip away."
We moved on to lighter topics, like teasing Praekar about his love. Or teasing me about my ichy clean-shaven chin. Soon the meeting was over and we all spread out accross the city.
I went home to collect my new rigging projects form Ser Harlyn's house and passed by the Baelor's Sept, swarms of Sparrows were squating outside. It was today that the new High Septon was to be chosen. They were... waiting for something? I stood back in the back alley leaning on a stone building, watching them from a distance. Bloody fanatics, who knows against whom will they turn next. Perhaps they will brand me a valyrian snake who leads Faithful astray. And that's just the looks, I was sure if they knew more about me I would be even worse godless monster in their eyes.
Their leader came among them and cheers errupted. Sparrows carried sticks and axes in their hands and looked ready to attack Baelor's Sept. From the corner of my eye I saw a huge man Splitter aiming a small crossbow at the High Sparrow. I hated the zealot but in such moment thinking was the last thing going on in my head.
"Splitter!" I called out and he turned. His face flared in anger, he dropped the crossbow and in three long jumps reached and tackled me.
Suddenly I felt a knife on my throat. I can't die like that! My body began convulsing and I lost myself in sudden visions of some things foreign and alien to me. With my eyes I saw a short man in grey garb extending hands towards the Splitter. In the last moment of consiousness I heard a whistle of an arrow.