Chapter 16 - Lions, Roses, and Snakes oh my!
- In front of the 'Lannister Hideaway' -
As Jaime and Tywin entered the abandoned building; Jaime fanned out and checked the surroundings before returning to his father's side.
"Did we recently acquire this property? Why does it look like our men sacked this like the rest of King's Landing?" Tywin inquired.
Jaime grimaced into a frown as he thought back to that time where he raged at Hanko's news. He knew he couldn't keep the information from his father though, and was part of the reason they came out here. He took out a summary of the crimes of Maester Cressen and handed it folded up to his father.
"It was my doing that ruined the furnishings," before Tywin could chastise him he continued on. "I'm going to step outside and give you a moment to read this on your own. This was information provided to me that set me off to...do all this." Jaime said motioning to his surroundings. "Call me back in when you are ready to continue the discussion."
Jaime exited quickly and closed the door behind him, standing in front of it. He stood out amidst the dreary and bleak surroundings. His cloak, unable to hide his clean appearance that he didn't belong.
While he waited, Jaime pondered about how he would introduce the rest of his information to his father. After two minutes passed, he realized he didn't hear anything yet from inside and he turned to open the door. His hand was hovering over the handle when the anguished cry started. Not long afterwards, he could hear objects being thrown and broken. Rage incarnate a sound he thought he would never hear from his father broke through the walls. The rampage lasted for about the same amount of time as the silence did prior. Once done, the door opened and the familiar stoic face of one Tywin Lannister appeared motioning him to come back inside. Jamie could make out the bloodied knuckles on his father's hands as they closed the door and turned to face each other.
"How did you come upon this information?"
"The sorcerer."
Tywin's brows now raised. "The same one that gifted you the sword through Eddard Stark? You met the man?"
"One and the same," Jaime confirmed. "He told me of the plotting of a group of Maesters in the Citadel. This group has made it their goal to influence the realm to their desires. Doing as such, they have committed crimes against many houses. He decided to give me the list done by our own Maester as part of the thank you for saving the realm."
Tywin seemed to ponder this information. "So a sorcerer was able to break into the Citadel, uncover multitudes of information, and seemingly get out to propagate it without causing a stir in the realm."
"I was told it would be made public knowledge soon. He is allowing Lord Hightower to gather plausible deniability beforehand."
"Interesting," Tywin concluded. So he went through all the trouble to investigate and reveal this plot, but is not making any overly aggressive movements against anyone. It is almost like he was not affected by the Maesters, but is engineering events so that no one else loses badly or gets falsely implicated.
"I requested that the sorcerer apprehend Maester Creylen and bring him to either of us so we could punish him accordingly before he tried to escape."
Tywin stiffened before nodding. "Has he been apprehended?"
"Yes."
"Good, we can deal with Creylen once we get back to Casterly Rock then." Tywin looked to his son. "Did the sorcerer mention anything else to you?"
"He didn't explicitly state it, but it was implied he was the one to defeat Clegane and brought him to the Martells in Dorne."
Tywin now frowned. "I see." He seemed to note too no one in particular. "I had already sent missives to Dorne asking them to hand over Ser Gregor. I have a feeling those will all go unheard and we will never get him back."
"You would be right," Jaime answered grimly.
Tywin nodded lost in his own thoughts for some moments before coming back to the present. "I'll consider this information and the capture of Maester Creylen payment enough that I won't demand reparations. Anything else of note from the sorcerer?"
"He said that something is coming, something big. When I asked for more details I was told 'you wouldn't believe me without proof anyway' and didn't elaborate. What I was able to understand were hints about whatever will happen, it will happen in the North."
"You think the sorcerer plans on working with the North?"
"Yes, and with his help, I have a feeling that the North will start becoming prosperous soon."
- High Garden one week after The Citadel Raid -
The Tyrells were just finishing breaking their fast when a servant came running in. "My Lord and Ladies, Ser Gerold Hightower is here requesting an urgent audience with his companion in tow."
That silenced the group before the rose with thorns, Olena Tyrell answered, "Please, lead him in."
As the servant left quickly to bring Ser Gerold, Mace turned to his mother. "I do not understand mother. Isn't he a traitor to the crown, why are we not capturing him and handing him over to the crown to be in their good graces?"
"Mace, you blubbering idiot, think logically for once." His mother admonished him. "Knowing all of this as you say, why would Gerold be stopping here of all places. Not only that, but the recent news says he came after his family took part in the dismantling of the Citadel and those cheating rats." Olena seemed to muse. "I would have known more I'm sure if our own Maester hadn't disappeared."
"There is good reason he disappeared," came a voice from the doorway.
The roses all turned to the doorway to find Ser Gerold Hightower standing there. His large frame standing out amidst the guards trailing him into the room. From behind him, a man decked in all black and wearing a kabuki mask painted to look like a skull was following.
"Lord Tyrell, Lady Olena, my ladies," Ser Gerold acknowledged all of those in the room currently.
"Ser Gerold, may we offer you guest rights?" Olena offered, motioning for a servant to come over to him with the bread and salt.
Ser Gerold nodded his thanks and took some bread, dipped in salt, and ate a bite. The other man with him also did the same, but only slightly lifted his mask to take a bite as well, and then put his mask securely back on. Through this, no one could get a glimpse of his face.
"Excuse us Ser Gerold," Mace bemused. "We would be appreciative if your companion removed his mask so we may better know who we are speaking to."
"Apologies My Lord, however he had an accident that horribly scarred his face and body and prefers to keep his face covered so as to not offend anyone's view."
Mace could only frown in confusion, but nonetheless waved his hand in acquiescence. "So what business brings you to Highgarden Ser Gerold?"
"I'm sure you have heard of a group in the Citadel that has committed heinous crimes over the years to the different Houses?" Gerold inquired.
"Yes," Lady Olena Tyrell confirmed. "We heard about that, and then shortly after our Maester disappeared."
"I know," Ser Gerold concluded. "It is because we had help in apprehending the Maesters of this group that committed these crimes before they could escape." He let that thought linger for everyone. Olena caught on right away.
"So you are saying our own Maester was a part of this group?" Olena asked. Most people at the table paled. They had harbored an unknown criminal in their own Keep. It did not bode well.
"Yes," Gerold confirmed. "As we had compiled a list of his crimes and crimes of past Maesters against your house which I wanted to hand over to you personally before then offering to hand over the rat to you."
Ser Gerold motioned to the masked man who reached into his bag and handed the packet of papers to Gerold. Gerold then made his way to the table where the High Lord and Ladies sat before carefully placing them in front of Mace Tyrell; and then walking back to his former spot.
"As you can see by the size of the pile of papers, many crimes have been done to your house over the long time the Citadel has been sending Maesters to Keeps."
Mace went to grab for the papers, but Ser Gerold interrupted him with a hand.
"My Lord Tyrell, if I would just impart some advice to you, I would recommend you read that alone."
"You would presume to tell your Lord what to do?" Lady Olena Tyrell bemused without much seriousness.
"No, I would only ask his Lordship to consider his own image could be irrevocably besmirched in front of his vassals when his reaction to the contents could be...troubling."
Olena's brow now rose. "That bad you say?"
"Indeed My Lady," Ser Gerold confirmed with a grim visage.
That seemed to silence any discontent as a pause filled the room.
"Apologies My Lord and Ladies, however that is all the business I have for you at the moment." Ser Gerold confirmed.
"Ser Gerold, what about the traitorous rat?" Lady Olena inquired. "Where is he so we may dole out justice?"
"You will find him in your cells tonight," Ser Gerold explained. "By your leave." Both Ser Gerold and his companion bowed to the high table before turning and making their way to leave the hall.
"Ser Gerold, where are you to go after here?" Lady Olena asked. "I ask as you are a Kingsguard currently not beside the King of Westeros."
"My Lady, I plan on heading to the Wall."
"The Wall?!" Mace exclaimed. "You would go to that group of bandits and rapists."
"My Lord," Ser Gerold reasoned. "I cannot go back to the Kingsguard, and I cannot go back home due to my oaths, so instead I would rather take a different oath." Ser Gerold awaited for further questions before remarking with "by your leave" and then left with the masked man in tow.
- Later in the Evening -
The Tyrells didn't receive any information on when the maester would appear in the night and didn't have to worry as the guards patrolling the cells came to them directly after supper to let them know of the Maester's miraculous appearance inside of a cell, gagged, and with a note attached. No one else was found to have escorted the Maester there, and they took the note attached to the Maester and gave it to their Lord and his mother to read.
Dear Lord and Lady Tyrell,
If you are reading this note, you should have found the Maester attached to it as promised by Ser Gerold Hightower. You may be wondering for starters, 'How did the Maester arrive in our cells without alerting anyone.' Let us just chalk it up to 'I have a very particular set of skills; skills that I have accumulated over a very long time in my profession'. I do not have anything more to say on that matter and you can do with the Maester what you will.
- that evening -
Lord Mace Tyrell finished reading the note. He looked to his mother as she had her eyes wide at the paper.
"Mother, are you okay? The paper wasn't laced with any-?"
"Mace dear, have you noticed the quality of the paper?"
Mace looked down at the paper in his hand to scrutinize it more. He easily realized what his mother was referring to. The paper was blindingly white. No blemishes or marks besides the letters on the message itself and the fold marks where the letter was folded up. The letters on the paper itself both seemed too perfect to be handwritten. He couldn't think of anyone that could write letters so uniformly and with such precision.
"Yes mother, the paper and words are too high of quality."
"Indeed. Whoever this person is, they have the capability of not only making such high-quality paper, but are able to easily write out such a message. This had to have been recently written as well since they referenced Ser Gerold. They couldn't reference him if they either didn't know of the meeting, or met with Ser Gerold afterwards to confirm the meeting took place." Olena reviewed and concluded.
"Do you think this person will make a play in the Game?" Mace asked, starting to get nervous.
"It is a possibility. An unknown player with such capabilities...is most unwelcome," Olena confirmed with a frown.
- At the edge of a campgrounds -
*Shing*
In a dark flash, Hanko and Ser Gerold appeared just off the Searoad some leagues before Lannisport.
"So that is it. The rest of the houses affected by the bad Maesters will have to arrest their own Maesters. I've already had clones running around Westeros just to catch rats this whole time." Hanko sighed.
"Thank you for getting me close to Lannisport. You said the boats would stop here, correct?"
"Yes, the boats from Oldtown holding the Maesters we wanted should already be at Lannisport to pick up supplies and yourself. From there, they will continue on to the shores close to Deepwood Motte. That way it will not be far for them to be herded to Winterfell."
Ser Gerold nodded after confirming the plan. He knew Hanko wanted to grab the learned men he could to have them stay in Wintertown by Winterfell. It wasn't said why, but Gerold could guess he wanted to start a version of the Citadel with the poached Maesters; in the North.
"You sure you want to go to the Wall immediately afterwards?"
"You plan on saving Lady Rhaella right?"
"Yes, I will help her with delivering her child, and then bring her North. I have utmost faith in Eddard helping us hide the rest of the royal family in Wintertown. With maybe some hair-dye of course."
Ser Gerold nodded in understanding. "Then I have nothing else to worry about. I'm guessing that is where you are off too now?"
"Indeed. I leave you to it then."
*Shing*
In another dark flash, Hanko disappeared. Ser Gerold looked to the exit of the forest towards the road. "Well then, guess I should get to walking."
- At the Red Keep -
"Most disturbing news" mumbled Varys as he read through the small scrolls placed before him.
Though they might have been written in code, they were easy for the Master of Whisperers to decipher his own code. Most of the information coming in was fairly normal or expected which he mused over with a chuckle at the time. However as he went through the messages he started to notice a concerning pattern with some of the more troubling news.
Each message made mention of a figure coming through his little birds' respective areas. He was described as the same; dressed in all black and a white mask painted to look like a skull. Each time he appeared, it seemed to be due to the handing over of a captured, corrupted Maester to the respective keep the Maester was assigned to. Normally the man would not stay long enough for being rewarded as the local garrison would spot him setting up the captured Maester before he ran away at high speeds. When he did stay long enough and was asked if he wanted a reward from the local lord, the man would say something along the lines of "Decendants of the First Men, look to the North for beyond the Wall, the night will be dark and full of terrors." and nothing else before escaping the room using a small ball type object that produces black smoke upon impact.
Varys had to think on that. It might look like this person was part of the followers of Rhollor, however the saying the man stated wasn't exactly the same as 'the night is dark and full of terrors'. With that, he could conclude that either this is a new acolyte of their religion, the messenger got it wrong, or the person wanted to redirect outsiders' attention in the wrong direction.
What irked Varys the most though was how this man or group was all over Westeros in a short period of time. It wasn't until recently that the maester's insidious group was outed and within a time before ravens could travel to the different Lords, all the dubious maesters were captured. That meant either they were in wait, prepared to carry out the raids on the maesters, or they had some other form of fast traveling.
"Most peculiar indeed."
There was a knock at the door.
"Enter."
The door opened to one of the regular keep guards. The guard stepped in to address him quickly. "Lord Varys, Lord Hand has requested your presence in his solar at your earliest convenience."
"Very well, let us make our way there," Varys had already locked up the most important information in a booby-trapped chest by his desk. He got up and followed the guard out the door before closing it.
As they moved, he pondered on the possible topic for the upcoming discussion with Lord Arryn. He knew the court was talking about the newly outed information on the Maesterly order. The fact that he had confirmation Lord Hightower already cleaned up house intrigued him. That spoke of forewarning by someone. Grand Maester Pycelle still being alive would have impressed Varys if he didn't know the extent of the Maester's crimes. He bemused that the Grand Maester is on borrowed time with the hole he had to dig himself out of. Varys also thought of the group who captured the bad Maesters around Westeros. He also heard of the group of Maesters who had also taken up and left the Citadel. It seemed they were moving North. The whispers spoke of a former Kingsguard Ser Arthur Dayne accompanying them. Most interestingly, were the questions Lord Arryn and King Baratheon had been asking about Dorne, The Tower of Joy, and more specifically Lord Stark and his bannermen. The questions were innocuous of course, but if one could critically think about why, they would realize that both the current highest Lords of the realm were investigating Lord Stark.
Varys smirked though as they came up to Lord Arryns' solar. He let out a bemused murmur. "Let the games continue."