Chapter 16: Jon

Gulltown was filled with activity. Much like White Harbour, there were all sorts of people here. Merchants, tradesmen, and nobles and peasants. All mixing together to look at the wares being sold, and to meet and inquire. Jon wasn't quite as wide-eyed as he'd been at White Harbour, but he was still very much in awe of what he was seeing.

Cities truly were something to behold. He did wonder how they could get more of them. Surely they needed more of them. Especially if they wanted to rival the Free Cities of Essos.

"Get your clams!" Someone shouted. "Get your clams!"

"Get paper! Paper half price!" someone else shouted.

"We've got news from Pentos, news from Pentos!" Someone else shouted.

That drew his attention, he had been told by Ser Oswell that his brother-it still felt incredibly strange to think of a Targaryen as his brother-resided in Pentos. He moved to the stall where the shouter stood.

"What news from Pentos?" He asked.

The man, tall, with dark brown hair, and piercing green eyes stared at him. "Why do you want to know, Northman?!"

Jon was taken aback by the hostility in the man's voice. He opened his mouth to reply, when another deeper voice spoke behind him.

"I have business in Pentos, that's why." Jon turned and saw Ser Oswell standing there, glowering at the shouter.

Jon turned back to the shouter and saw that he had swallowed and that he was trying to smooth his features over.

"Of course, Master." The man said, his voice all honey now. "The news is that Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the Mad King has married Khal Drogo, leader of the largest Khalasar in Essos."

Jon felt his eyes widen. His aunt-that was also an odd feeling having an aunt-was married to a horselord!

"Thank you." Ser Oswell said, he handed the man a golden coin and then walked off. Jon stared at the shouter a moment before hurrying after Ser Oswell.

As they walked through the streets, Ser Oswell spoke. "You must be careful, Your Highness. You cannot go asking after things that someone that looks as Your Highness does would have no interest in."

Jon could see the sense in that, so he didn't argue the point. Instead he asked. "Why would she marry a horselord?"

"Desperation no doubt, Your Highness." Ser Oswell replied. "I have heard of Khal Drogo, his Khalasar contains some one hundred and twenty thousand men. It's a large force."

"But the Dothraki are savages." Jon said, remembering what he'd learned of them from Maester Luwin.

"I know." Ser Oswell said, they moved down another street, this one was less crowded.

"So, why has this marriage gone through?" Jon asked again.

Ser Oswell stopped and took a breath. "Desperation. No doubt Prince Viserys feels that it is his only chance at gaining something."

Jon nodded then asked a question he had asked before. "Why has nobody ever tried to get Prince Viserys together with the King?" Surely that would be the most sensible option?

"To avoid drawing unnecessary attention to the King." Ser Oswell replied, in a voice that said he was getting tired of explaining this again.

Jon took a breath, he knew what answer Ser Oswell would give if he asked the question that was playing on his mind, so instead, he changed tack. "What do you know about the two noble families that dominate Gulltown?" He had done some cursory reading of them when he'd been a boy, but beyond that he knew nothing of them.

Ser Oswell slowed his pace, allowing Jon to walk slightly ahead of him, as was proper, then he answered. "House Grafton remained loyal to King Aerys during the rebellion, for which they lost their Lord, Marq, he was a good man. The new Lord of Gulltown, Gerold is a conniving schemer. His eldest son, Gyles, is a good man though."

Jon nodded. "And do they remain loyal?" He asked.

"Yes." Ser Oswell replied.

Jon nodded again, it still surprised him that his uncle and the man who'd been his sworn sword for his entire life had built up such a prominent network of support without anyone else knowing.

"And the branch of House Arryn that resides here?" Jon asked, his voice soft as they passed someone.

Ser Oswell snorted. "Grasping and full of themselves."

Jon nodded and they continued down the street, Jon turned and raised an eyebrow at Ser Oswell who said. "Turn right." Jon turned right, and found himself standing in front of a small shop. "Enter it." Ser Oswell said.

Jon turned the knob on the door and stepped into the shop. There was no smell, that was the first thing he got. No smell whatsoever. And there was very little in the shop. Baskets of goods that looked very much out of date. And a few bits of paper.

The sound of the door closing behind him told him that Oswell had entered.

A moment passed then another, and just as Jon was about to ask Ser Oswell why they were here, a small woman stepped out from somewhere. She had dark hair, flat eyes and a twisted mouth.

"Wylla." Ser Oswell said in greeting to the woman.

"Oswell." The woman, Wylla replied. She stopped when she saw Jon and she curtseyed.

"Your Highness." Wylla said.

Jon's eyes widened. He glanced at Oswell who merely said. "Wylla was your wetnurse many years ago, Your Highness."

Jon nodded and turned back to face the woman, he had a thousand questions he wanted to ask, but he didn't get a chance.

Wylla spoke quickly, her accent changing as she did so. "I have received word from my friends in King's Landing. Lady Arryn fled back to the Eyrie on the instruction of Petyr Baelish."

Jon frowned, why would Lady Stark's sister listen to a man who was only Master of Coin?

"Why?" Ser Oswell asked.

"At first nobody was sure, but then Alayne," Wylla looked at Jon then and added. "That's Lady Arryn's chief maid, she said that Lady Arryn has been going on about how the Lannisters poisoned her husband. That Baelish told her that they wanted to poison her and her son, and that she had best leave before that happened."

"And so she just left?" Jon asked. "Without proof?"

Wylla snorted. "You don't know the story do you, Your Highness?"

"What story?" Jon asked.

Wylla snorted again. "Ask Oswell to tell it to you after this. But for now, just know that if Baelish told Lady Arryn to slit her own throat, she would do it."

Jon's eyes widened, but apparently what Wylla had said didn't surprise Ser Oswell for he asked. "And what else?"

"Your man was right. Baelish has been meddling with the books." Wylla said.

Ser Oswell nodded, then said. "Thank you, Wylla, we'll leave you be." Ser Oswell turned and walked out. Jon made to do the same, but before he left, Wylla grabbed his arm and said.

"Be safe, Your Highness."

Jon looked at her and nodded. "I will, thank you." She smiled and let go, and he left the shop.

The moment they were out of the shop he looked at Ser Oswell and asked. "What did she mean?"

Ser Oswell sighed and didn't answer initially, instead, he started walking down the street, prompting Jon to follow. When they had turned a corner, he answered. "Petyr Baelish took Lady Lysa's virginity before the rebellion."

"What?!" Jon exclaimed.

"He was a ward of Lord Hoster Tully's, and got into a fight with Lord Brandon Stark one day over something or the other, Brandon injured him, and whilst he was recovering, Lady Lysa snuck into his rooms and slept with him." Ser Oswell said dispassionately.

"I…how do you know this?" Jon asked.

"Because Lord Hoster wrote to me asking what he should do." Ser Oswell said.

"And what did you say?" Jon asked.

"I told him he should kill Baelish." Ser Oswell said.

"Why?" Jon asked.

"Because a man like that is never to be trusted." Ser Oswell said.

It was clear from his tone that he had no desire to answer any more questions on the matter. Jon let the matter drop, but his mind raced with that thought. It didn't sit well with him.