Hi there everybody.
Chapter 4: The Lord Commander of the City Watch
The Red Keep
Renly Baratheon led the Small Council while his elder brother ran to the North, and because Stannis left his post not long before the King's departure.
Today's session was as boring as every other day that he's been in office as Master of Laws, his head leaned on his hand as Pycelle slowly reported on some meaningless raven sent from House Massey.
Varys listened intently, the Master of Whispers felt concerned if what his little birds have told him from Harrenhal.
"My Lords, I must say that- " Janos Slynt tried speaking, the rest of the Small Council assumed it was about the new list of crimes that have plagued the city but Barristan entered the chamber interrupting them.
"Sorry, Lords, Lord Commander Slynt. Lord Reyne is here to see the Small Council."
The members of the Small Council were surprised, none more so than Petyr Baelish who hasn't met the Butcher of Old Wyk but he had heard the grim tales of murdered families on that island.
Caspian Reyne walked in, dressed in his father's armor and a gold cloak hanging from his shoulder.
He departed Harrenhal the same day his grace left his home, gathering a hundred of his best and most loyal men along with Lorenzio to aid him in weeding out the corrupt guards and high-ranking members of the Goldcloaks.
Alastor nervously stood by his side as they entered the Red Keep, entering the throne room, and the boy seeing the seat of Kings left him in awe but his overall nervousness took over when they were brought to the Small Council.
"Lord Reyne, we were not expecting you... " Renly said and stood with the rest of the council members, Caspian scoffed and approached the long table and pulled from his person the scroll, and handed it to Pycelle who unfolded it.
Stuttering, as usual, the Maester read out its contents. "It is his Grace's wish to name Lord Caspian of the House Reyne and Lord of Harrenhal the new Lord Commander of the City Watch, replacing Lord Commander Slynt of his post." Janos got up abruptly from his seat and was furious.
"I have commanded the City Watch for nigh on ten years!" Janos said with haughty arrogance, "I shall not relinquish my position till I hear from the King himself!"
Renly scoffed, "This is my brother's writing, Janos."
Caspian sighed, "I arrived in this city a few hours ago and laid low and observed the City and the Watch. I walked down an alley and discovered a dead body of a woman, she had been raped and her throat cut. I reported this to a patrol and you know what I was told?... That she was probably a whore and deserved it."
Janos trembled as Caspian glared at the man, "You smell of corruption and self-servitude, Lord Commander. I wonder, if this city were to ever be besieged... Would you fight for your King and defend his people or leave the gates open to the enemy? Answer?" The butcher's son sputtered and tried to defend himself.
"I will never relinquish my duties, never! I am a leal servant of the King," Caspian wanted to laugh, then snapped his fingers and six men entered the chamber. "What is the meaning of this? You all answer to me, you lickspittles!"
"Enough... Lord Renly?" He called and the Master of Laws, "I have a man, Lorenzio who would be an efficient Lord Confessor, if you would appoint him?" He suggested and the young brother of Robert reluctantly nodded. "Janos Slynt, do so know that you are being unreasonable and insubordinate to your Lord Commander, no? Men, take this one to the dungeons."
Janos Slynt fought and tried reaching for his weapon but was disarmed and dragged away, cursing him and the King for that matter, Caspian noted to take the man's tongue as a consequence of being a cunt.
"Lord Commander, may you wish to join the session? I am sure there are things you wish to know... " The Master of Coin suggested and Caspian shook his head, causing the skinny man to furrow his brow.
"The watch is in needed repair, I have promised to bring respect and redemption to the Goldcloaks... That begins with renewal." Varys watched Caspian leave the chamber and bid them all a good day.
The Small Council sat down and Pycelle was the first to speak, "Was it truly the King's writing, Lord Renly?" Renly read the paper again and nodded before setting it back down on the table, "Oh my... " Varys watched Pycelle rise from his seat and slowly exit the chamber.
No doubt to tell Tywin of the newest change within the city but the Master of Whispers was slightly concerned, whether the Butcher of Old Wyk will make the city darker or brighter.
Getting back to the main barracks courtyard, Caspian ordered for all of the captains and lieutenants to attend a meeting.
There were two hundred among the two-thousand-strong host, he'd get to the bottom of corruption starting from the very top of the leadership.
Whilst Caspian was gathering his subordinates, Alastor was taking in the Red Keep for the first time after settling into Maegors Holdfast for the foreseeable future that his father remains as the Lord Commander of the Watch.
The young lad was a little frightened to be here, and every time he so much as sees a Redcloak his hand grabs his sword which his father gifted him on their departure, "King's Landing is a dangerous place, keep that close to you always." His father said.
The youngest son of Lord Reyne isn't as skilled as his brother, nor as capable but he promised his mother that he'd stay safe and Roger too.
"Quite the young lad, a cub without his pride?" He turned around sharply, seeing that bald man from the council chamber staring at him. "Apologies, Lord Alastor, I didn't mean to frighten you."
"How do you know my name?" Alastor demanded to know from the bald man.
A smile formed on Varys as he introduced himself, "My name is Varys, the King's Master of Whispers." Varys folded his hands inside of his robes, "I came wishing to congratulate your father, so inspiring to see a House back to it's strength despite the great losses suffered upon Lord Reyne."
Back with Caspian, the new Lord Commander scanned the 200 high-ranking officers and captains of the City Watch and he honestly saw how the leadership leading the defense of King's Landing fell apart when Tywin entered the capital.
None of these men have a single disciplined bone in their bodies, slouched and paying attention to anything but the front of them and he was just about done looking at them until he came across a man at the end of the formation.
The man was tall, lantern-jawed, with deep-set eyes, a prominent brow, and salt-and-pepper hair.
"What's your name?" He demanded to know.
The guard captain stood firm, "Ser Jacelyn Bywater, my Lord." his rigid tone gave Caspian a bit of hope.
He found no others who held his standards, "Come with me." He ordered, walked back to the front, and stood straight, his hands around his back. "You might have noticed Janos Slynt's absence, that is because he is no longer your commander."
There were murmurs between the officers, "I am Caspian Reyne, Lord of Harrenhal and head of House Reyne. I am your new Lord Commander." There were more murmurs and he snarled, "I look upon you all and out of two hundred tenured leaders, only Ser Jacelyn Bywater seems to have any standards and that is shameful."
One of the men, "And what would a Rivermen know of standards when Harrenhal passes from one House to the next like a whore."
Caspian glared at the man, "What is your name?"
The cunt had the gall, standing proudly pointing to the kettle on his breast, "Osfryd Kettleblack."
"Osfryd Kettleblack, I hereby dismiss you from the guard, remove your gold cloak but stay where you are," Osfryd was slack-jawed and surprised, "I won't tolerate such talk to your betters, nor will I tolerate the corrupt ways the City Watch has picked up over the last several years. You swore to uphold the peace and that did not mean taking bribes, covering up murder, or doing the murdering or robbing the innocent... It ends today."
Just then, the two hundred men he brought from Harrenhal entered the yard and armed, Osney Kettleblack and brother to Osfryd stepped up with a pleading face. "What is the meaning of this?!"
"That man there is the new Lord Confessor, Lorenzio Greycloak. He will be questioning you all on your crimes and meeting out judgment with Lord Renly Baratheon where you will all get a choice... The Wall, Exile, or rotting in the Black Cells till Ser Illyn Payne returns to take your heads or limbs as a great many of you are thieves and rapers." He stepped towards Jacelyn who seemed glad to see what is happening. "You approve?" He asked and the knight nodded yes.
"Of course, you being here is good change, my Lord Commander." Caspian smiled and leaned in to speak closely.
"The Watch is 2,000 strong. Find me 200 new Captains and Lieutenants on their character and merit." He said, giving his command to his new right-hand man.
"Any particular trait you are looking for, my Lord?" Jacelyn asked and he nodded, breathing in and smirking.
"Loyalty, and obedience to the law. The King's Law, I need men who won't take bribes or spy for the players in this city. The Nobles can keep their games to the Red Keep... Not in my city, you understand, Captain?" Jacelyn nodded, "Once you've found the men, begin drilling the entire host until they are proficient in their arms and armor."
The King's first army and defense should be the most well-trained, not some rabble peasants plucked from the fields.
When the hour neared nightfall, Caspian returned to Maegor's Holdfast and he heard the sounds of his son training and walking into the small room and saw him and when Alastor noticed, the lad bowed his head in respect.
"It's alright, my son. Continue," He encouraged and removed his gloves, taking a seat, "How was it, without me today? There will be many if you don't wish to tag along... "
Alastor sighed, "It was fun enough, I met a friend, today."
"There are no friends here, Alastor, remember that." He said sternly and his second eldest son disagreed, "Fine, what friend did you meet?"
"The Master of Whispers, Lord Varys." And like that, his heart dropped but honestly, he knew the Spider would contact him to find out what he was doing here in King's Landing and taking over the City Watch at that.
"... That's a good friend to have, son. Next time find someone more your age, alright?" His son nodded then asked him to train and though he was sore already, he nodded and entertained his young son for a few hours before bed.
At dawn, he was at Varys chamber and knocking on it twice, the Master of Whispers opened the door and met his eyes.
"We need to talk, I take it? Is that why you bothered my boy?"
AN: Cliffhanger end to chapter four, again I apologize for how long it's been to get this out. The next chapter will also be a bit longer, we will see PoV's from Roger and Elianna but starting with Caspian making a house call to Varys and the end in a Alastor PoV.