Chapter 8: Benjen

Benjen took a deep breath, even within the New Castle, he could still smell the salt of the water. White Harbour, a place Benjen had always liked. A place where he'd become a man many years ago. A place that felt like a home away from home. The Manderlys were like family to him. That was partially why he'd come here, with Jon, to check with them that they'd gotten the information he needed before he told Jon the truth.

Of course, there were some pleasantries and small talk that had to be observed first.

"How was it having the King and the Royal Court in Winterfell, Lord Benjen?" Lord Wyman, a man who Benjen considered a second father asked.

Benjen snorted. "About as well as could be, Lord Wyman. The King has become obtuse, and circular. He drinks more every day and he boasts about things long past." Benjen knew that he should perhaps be singing the King's praises, but he was with friends. Lord Wyman had never respected Robert Baratheon.

"And the presence of so many lions?" Lord Wyman asked.

"Tolerable." Benjen said. "They do not like the cold, do the lions." He'd seen some of the Lannisters, including the Queen shaking and shivering at certain points during their visit.

Lord Wyman snorted. "It seems that you are not a supporter of the Lions then, Lord Benjen?"

Benjen shrugged and in as neutral a voice as he could, he said. "I think that the Lions praise themselves too much because they know they are lacking in other qualities." Qualities that would breed loyalty that lasted eight thousand years for instance.

"There was something about all of this that worried me, though, if I might be so bold, Lord Benjen." Lord Wyman said.

"Of course." Benjen replied.

"Lord Stark has gone southwards with his household to be the King's Hand, but he has not taken any other northmen with him. Why is that?" Lord Wyman asked.

Here, Benjen hesitated. He'd argued this point with Ned, his brother had not given him a coherent reason for why he was only going south with his own household. Leaving himself at the mercy of the Lannisters and their allies at court.

Of course, he didn't want to say that to Lord Wyman, whatever his disagreements with Ned, the man was still his brother, and his lord.

He took a breath and then answered. "He believes that he needs to assess the situation in King's Landing first before deciding on bringing more of us down south with him."

Lord Wyman nodded, but his eldest son and heir, Ser Wylis asked. "Is the situation in King's Landing that precarious?"

Benjen had expected the question, and had an answer prepared. "I believe that as with anything that has happened since the Targaryens were removed, things are precarious as there is nothing guiding how people should respond."

"And Robert Baratheon is not a man to address that." Ser Wylis surmised.

"Nor was Jon Arryn if the reports coming out of King's Landing are anything to go by." Lord Wyman said.

"What do you mean?" Benjen asked.

"The Iron Throne is in serious debt to the Iron Bank. There are fears in Braavos that the throne might default on its debt." Lord Wyman said.

Benjen resisted the urge to let his mouth drop open. He had not known that. How had he not known that? That was something he was going to need to check with his friends in the capital. The Iron Throne being so in debt that there were fears it might default? That was unthinkable.

Lord Wyman clearly understood his shock for he said. "I was fortunate enough to have a friend in the Master of Coin's household who looked at the books. The situation has been caused by the King's spending and other activities."

"Baelish?" Benjen asked. He didn't know much about Baelish other than the fact that he'd once challenged Brandon to a fight over Lady Catelyn.

"Yes." Lord Wyman said.

"I see." Benjen said. Baelish evidently wasn't good at his duty if he allowed anyone to look at the books.

"But enough about that, Lord Benjen, that is not why you are here." Lord Wyman said. "I have received news from our friends in Essos."

Benjen leaned forward. "And?"

"It seems that Viserys Targaryen has gotten a strange idea into his head. First he wanted to use the Golden Company, then when that failed he wanted to use the Brave Companions to go to war with the Company. And now he has married his sister to Khal Drogo, leader of the largest Khalasar in Essos." Lord Wyman said.

"What?!" Benjen exclaimed. That was, that was not good. That was not good at all. Indeed, it seemed like a sign of clear desperation.

"Indeed, that was my reaction when I heard the news. It seems that Viserys thinks that his best effort is to tie himself to a bunch of horse raiders who are scared of moving water." Lord Wyman said.

"Is the Khalasar moving on the Company?" Benjen asked. That would be very bad for what he had planned.

"No." Lord Wyman said. "Instead it seems that they are moving to Vaes Dothrak, the traditional heartland of the Dothraki."

Benjen exhaled. That meant they'd be there for months. Perhaps a year at most, until Princess Daenerys gave birth to a child for her husband.

"What was or is Viserys' mental state?" Benjen asked.

Lord Wyman sighed. "I fear that it is not good at all. Or rather it is very good for the Kingdom."

"He's mad." Ser Wylis said. "As mad as his father if not more."

Benjen exhaled. That was either very good news for the plan or very bad news. It depended entirely on what the King wanted. "I see."

"There was something more." Lord Wyman said.

Benjen raised an eyebrow.

"It seems that the Company has now been hired by Tyrosh to fight in a new war against Lys. And a new company has been hired by Myr to fight against Lys as well." Lord Wyman said.

The Company fighting for Tyrosh was not surprising, they had ties going back to Bittersteel. "What is this new company called?"

Lord Wyman had a wry grin on his face when he answered. "The Silver Dragon."

Benjen felt his eyebrow rise higher. "The Silver Dragon?"

"Yes, and nobody knows who is commanding it. Only that the Myrish hired it out of Pentos. Some six thousand men, many of which are cavalry." Lord Wyman said.

"I see." Benjen said.

He had a vague suspicion of who was leading the company, but he didn't say that out loud. This did put a dent in his plan for Jon, more so than the news that Prince Viserys was away travelling to the end of the world with a bunch of horse fuckers.

"Does this change anything, Lord Benjen?" Lord Wyman asked.

Benjen took a breath and then said. "Not right now no. The plan remains the same. We must build support and then we must act."

"And if the war between the Three Daughters drags on?" Lord Wyman asked.

"Then we will find a way to end it." Benjen answered. "We must, for the good of the realm." And for Jon's sake as well.

Lord Wyman nodded. "I shall see what I can do."

Benjen bowed his head in acknowledgement. "My thanks, Lord Wyman."

With that their conversation came to an end, and Benjen left the great hall of the Merman's Court and walked slowly back to his own rooms. His mind was racing. The Silver Dragon was fighting for Myr against Tyrosh. That meant the Company was fighting against the King. How would that end, he wondered? Would the Company remember what it had sworn all those years ago, or not?

Furthermore, was it safe for Jon to travel to the Free Cities with a war on? He nodded to the guards as they opened the doors to his rooms, and stepped inside. He knuckled his forehead. He'd need to think about how to tell Jon the truth before the boy departed. He'd also need to inform Oswell about the changed circumstances as well.

I will keep your boy safe, Lya, I promise you.

Benjen swore privately. Ned had failed, he would not fail.