(a/n: Sorry, sorry for being so very late. Here you go, a pretty long chapter. Enjoy!)
Part 9: In the Name of the King (3)
Tyrion was relieved when he spotted the Lannister colors flying in the distance. After being liberated from the Eyrie, the dwarf and Bronn made their way out of the Vale. Along the way, the two encountered a group of wild mountain clansmen who had intended to murder and rob the two.
Fortunately, thanks to Tyrion's quick wit and promises of gold, better weapons and the Vale itself, the mountain clansmen allowed them to live and decided to accompany the "boyman" to ensure that he fulfilled his lofty promises. Together, they made the journey out of the Mountains of the Moon and eventually reached Lord Tywin's camp.
Chella of the Black Ears was the one who located the camp and she estimated that there were about twenty thousand men in the camp. As the motley group approached the camp, Tyrion pondered what would his father think of him and his ragged army of three hundred fierce mountain men, all dressed in furs and armed with crusty old weapons. He told his entourage to stay back and wait as he goes on ahead to negotiate with his father.
Unfortunately, Ulf son of Umar and Shagga express their distrust of Tyrion and demand to accompany him or else they'll chop off his manhood and feed it to a goat.
The dwarf selected a man to represent each of their respective clans and with that they moved onward.
When they reached the first strongpoint, a captain recognized Tyrion and allowed him in and gave him an escort.
Beyond the strongpoint, Tyrion could see his father's handy work. Burnt buildings and numerous carrion birds, though there were no bodies to be seen. The dwarf was reminded of a green-eyed noble who helped facilitate his escape and his cold words. He was sure to make that a top priority when he sees his father.
A brief conversation with Ser Flement Brax informed Tyrion that his father had taken the inn at the crossroads as his headquarters. The dwarf couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. His father had taken up camp in the very inn where he been taken captive by Lady Stark, where all this mess originated.
It seemed like things had come full circle.
As they passed the many banners of House Lannister, the mountain clansmen stared at them in awe and suspicion, which put Tyrion at ease just a little and could use this to make them fear him. Outside of the inn, the rotting body of Masha Heddle, the innkeeper, was hanging in a gibbet. A cloud of flies buzzed about her chewed up rotting body. The guards allowed the newcomers into the inn.
Inside, Tyrion found his father in the common room. He was sitting at a table, studying a map with his brother Ser Kevan Lannister and sharing some ale. The dwarf inhaled deeply and quickly came up with a plan of approaching his lord father but he came to an abrupt halt and any ideas he had were immediately gone.
His gaze had shifted and was focused on the figure at the other end of the table. Tyrion mentally cursed. Sitting there was a handsome golden haired young man who was roughly Robb Stark's age. He wore crimson and gold and had boredom adorning his flawless features. Soft music filled the warm air of the common room as he gently plucking the strings of a lute he cradled in his arms.
Tyrion was genuinely surprised to see his cousin here, of all places. While he loved the boy as much as a cousin should naturally love a relative, Tyrion wished that he wasn't here right now.
The dwarf was well acquainted with Axel Lannister's proclivity for pranks and japes. While funny, the boy's sense of humor could easily offend the vicious clansmen who were accompanying Tyrion. The boy's father, Tygett Lannister, must have a reason in placing him in the care of Tywin and Kevan, though the dwarf wouldn't put it past the man to attempt to sabotaging his elder brothers.
Tyrion regained his composure and resumed his approach.
Axel was the first to notice his arrival. A grin appeared on his face. "The hero returns alive!" Axel declared dramatically.
"Axel, how wonderful it is to see you again" Tyrion greeted warmly "You've grown since we last spoke"
"Indeed I have. How was the Vale?"
"Cold and lonely. Though I'm surprised to see you here, shouldn't you be home in Lannisport, chasing girls and causing trouble?"
"Yes" Axel said with a wistful sigh "though father wishes me learn to be a proper warrior and a leader, which is why he sent me to Uncle Tywin and Uncle Kevan. Under their wise tutelage, perhaps I can turn myself into a knight worthy of House Lannister." Tyrion couldn't help but smile. Axel wasn't much of a warrior. The boy was more like their uncle, Gerion Lannister, in that he was quick to laugh and make others laugh.
Axel was better suited for feasts than wars. The dwarf recalled the boy's first attempt at swordplay when he was younger. He tried challenging Jaime, which ended in a spectacular failure. Tyrion remembered Jaime roaring with laughter and the boy's mother, Darlessa Marbrand, panicking. The poor woman rushed him to the maester and was certain that he was going to die. Tyrion couldn't blame her for being so nervous. The boy had received a few nasty bruises that day.
Despite this incident, Axel continued to do dangerous and foolish things and the more he misbehaved, the more his jittery mother worried. She had already lost one son to the pox and she was not going to risk losing another. Ever since then, the woman did her best at keeping the boy close by, trying to shield him from danger. The fact that Axel was even here, in a war camp preparing for a war, must have been a miracle on either Tygett's or Tywin's part.
The clansmen filed in after Tyrion and Bronn, causing Ser Kevan to regard them warily and Axel to sit up straight. A few moments of silence passed and Tywin finally looked up from the map. The lord of Casterly Rock regarded Tyrion with a cold look. The dwarf wondered what his father was thinking at that moment. His son dressed in heavy furs and accompanied by a pack of messy wild men, it must be making him sick.
"The rumors of your demise are unfounded" Tywin said plainly.
"Sorry to disappoint you" Tyrion replied coolly. His father's steely eyes flicked over to the shaggy clansmen. "And who are these…companions of yours?"
Tyrion introduced each of the clansmen representatives: Shagga son of Dolf and Chieftain of the Stone Crows, Timitt son of Timitt of the Burned Men, and Chella of the Black Ears. Tyrion then introduced his father to the shaggy mountain clansmen, using every title his father had in order to emphasize how powerful the man was. "Kind of you to go to war for me" Tyrion said, pouring himself some ale.
"You left us no choice" his father replied coolly "The honor of our house was at stake. Your brother wouldn't have submitted to capture so meekly." Tyrion shrugged "There are differences between us. He's braver, I'm better looking."
Axel snorted loudly, causing Tywin to shoot a cold look at the boy. The boy's amused snort changed into an embarrassed cough. He averted his eyes from the withering gaze of the lord of Casterly Rock. "He's been covering himself in glory" Tywin continued, returning his gaze to Tyrion.
"Jaime smashed the river lords at the Golden Tooth" Kevan Lannister added, "He now moves to take Riverrun."
Tyrion nodded slowly. Ser Kevan elaborated more on the state of the war. Lord Blackwood has fallen back to Riverrun to hold it against Jaime. While it appeared that Lord Blackwood might not reach Riverrun in time, Lord Luthor and Mosswood Hall still remained in their path and look to be a formidable challenge. The other river lords have dispersed in order to see to their own lands, leaving only the Freys, Mallisters and Luthor to oppose Jaime's advance. Tywin was not worried. He points out that the Freys would not act unless there is a clear winner and the Mallisters don't have the strength to stand against them alone.
Lord Luthor was a different matter altogether. Tyrion agreed. Kevan and Tywin both respected Lord Alexander Luthor's intelligence and prowess. They hoped that they could avoid battling the Eagle of the Riverlands, at least at this point in time. It was then that Tyrion remembered the hawkish lord and his offer and related it to them. His lord father and his uncle both considered Tyrion's words carefully. Meanwhile the clansmen were slowly growing impatient.
"This is good news, isn't it?" Axel said, hopeful. "I mean, if Lord Luthor is willing to negotiate, then maybe he can speak with Robb Stark and we can end this war with words. We can all go home happy with some gold in our pockets and wine and food in our bellies."
"I doubt he will betray his lord" Tywin said blankly "Though, you are correct Axel, this is very good news. We should consider Luthor's offer. He is a smart man and, if Tyrion's words are true, than he can be reasonable." Tyrion smiled, feeling that he did at least something that his father approved of. The discussion carried on, some battle plans and current events being related. Tyrion was intrigued to discover Lord Wayne and his forces joining Robb Stark's army. While the young lord was sworn to serve the Starks, Tyrion half expected the man to ignore the Stark boy's call and return to drinking or whoring in his cold stony keep.
There was also the pale lunatic whom the smallfolk have taken to calling the Laughing Prince. Tyrion remembered the man very well. From the stories he heard, the man certainly made quite an impression on the people of King's Landing with his appearance at the tournament of the Hand. Apparently, this laughing outlaw has gathered quite a following and was fast becoming a large thorn in Tywin's side. Ambushing Lannister supply trains and harassing Tywin's troops in the dead of night and other small acts of defiance. While this was not devastating, it certainly put the Lord of Casterly Rock in a mood that Tyrion has rarely seen.
It was then Tyrion decided that now would be the appropriate place to bring up the matter of the clansmen.
"While we are on the subject of war" Tyrion said as tactfully as he could "I made some promises to my friends here" he gestured to the clansmen behind him. "And a Lannister always pays his debts."
Tywin's face was emotionless while his eyes went from his son to the shaggy collection standing before him, studying them like a lion would an enemy. "We shall require three thousand helms and shields," Tyrion continued "Plus swords, pikes, maces, gorgets-"
The door burst open and one of Tywin's messengers rushed in. Kneeling before his liege, the messenger reported on what appeared to be the latest development of the war. "If it please my lord" the man said, almost out of breath "Ser Addam bid me report that the Northmen have crossed the Neck and are marching south." A small smile appeared on Tywin's face. "The wolf rushes into the lion's jaws" Tywin mused, rising from his chair "So be it." He turned to Ser Kevan and ordered him to muster the men and to send word to Jaime that he was moving his force to confront Robb Stark.
Ser Kevan nodded and departed. Tywin turned his attention to each of the mountain men assembled before him. With attention elsewhere, Tyrion secretly poured himself another cup of ale. "It is said men of the mountain clans are great warriors" Tywin said, coolly "Ride with me and you shall have all that my son promised you and more."
Tyrion glanced back at the mountain men. They each shared a look then looked at Tywin, satisfied with the Lannister's offer.
"Only if the half-man fights with us" Shagga said finally "Until we hold the steel he pledged us, the little lion's life is ours." Tyrion swallowed hard. He thought that this would happen but had hoped to avoid it.
Unfortunately, Tywin nodded saying "Done." The lord of Casterly Rock turned to leave but he paused. His grey-green eyes turned to Axel. "Axel" Tywin said, calling the young man to attention.
Axel looked deep in thought, though he snapped to attention when he heard Tywin call his name. "Y-yes uncle?" the young man said, shaking off his daze.
"Your father wanted you to get a taste of what it means to be a man, to be a warrior for our House and shake off the foolishness of your youth. I believe this is the perfect opportunity."
"B-b-bu" the young man stammered, hopelessly trying to find an excuse but Tywin cut him off. "I shall entrust you to your cousin's care." A wry smile appeared on Tywin's face "Perhaps together the two of you can show these northerners the might of House Lannister." With that, Tywin exited. Tyrion mentally cursed.
Not only was he a hostage of the shaggy clansmen and expected to fight a battle, he was supposed to protect his cousin. The shocked expression on the boy's face made Tyrion pity the child, though the shock quickly gave way to resignation. The pity quickly transformed into chagrin when the dwarf noticed the boy's mischievous emerald eyes drifted over to a certain clanswoman, which made the dwarf suppress a groan. Just what he needed, a foolish boy attempting to play with the heart of an elder woman, a woman with a necklace of rotten ears dangling from her neck and a brood of full grown sons who've killed more people than Tyrion wished to count.
This was going to be a problem.
The mountain clansmen seemed pleased with the bargain and set off to prepare for the coming battle. Axel sighed deeply and got his to feet. Cradled his lute in his arm like a babe, the young Lannister sauntered off to be ready for the carnage, leaving Tyrion and Bronn behind in the emptied common room.
"Bad luck, eh?" Bronn said.
Tyrion gave him an exasperated sigh "An abundance."
"Now what?"
"Now we go and be ready to meet the Starks."
The sellsword nodded and before he could leave, Tyrion stopped him. "If it is not too much trouble, would you be so kind as to keep an eye on Axel for me" the dwarf asked, "Make sure he doesn't get into trouble. We have enough to worry about trying not to get ourselves killed, I don't need the boy trying to seduce Chella"
"Why?" Bronn asked with a grin "Afraid he might succeed?"
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of" Tyrion said with a grim look on his face "The boy always had a tendency to get in trouble with girls which would've cost him his manhood a long time ago if it weren't for his father. Just keep him away from any woman you see and away from any man wielding a sword and we may very well survive this."
"Oh come on, one boy can't be that much trouble"
"Trust me when I say this, he can. No matter whom they are, whether they're a young fair maid or a woman grown with a husband, the boy has forged a reputation for himself for toying with hearts and causing mayhem, even among friends. There's a reason why he's called the Trickster of Lannisport."
Catelyn regretted coming here.
Although Lord Walder Frey was a bannerman of her father, the slippery old man had always been known for being unscrupulous. The Late Walder Frey, as most called him behind his back. He always was slow to act, unless he knew that there was a clear winner. Had there been another way Catelyn would've suggested it to Robb long before they arrived at the Twins, but she couldn't.
Unfortunately, they needed to cross the Trident and soon. There were no other suitable crossings nearby and the Trident was swelling with all the recent rains, making it dangerous to attempt swimming across. The only available option was the Frey's bridge at the Green Fork. She pondered the last few days in silence as she and Lord Wayne were being led to see the Lord of the Crossing.
The march south from Moat Cailin had been difficult for Catelyn, who was consumed with worry for her husband, her brother, her sons and daughters. Ned was a prisoner of the Lannisters, as were her daughters, her brother was fighting to hold their home and her young sons were left alone in Winterfell. There was also the matter of her old and dying father. There was nothing she can do for them, which made her feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Catelyn stifled her worry and steeled her self for what lay ahead. She had to save her strength so that she can help Robb and deal with the problems they currently faced.
Along the journey south, there were things that brightened Catelyn's mood. Robb's ability to lead and his manners displayed how much he had grown in so short a time. He made decisions and acted according to what Ned taught him. He led the men and commanded them like a true lord of the North. However, despite his apparent progress, Catelyn worried that her son's inexperience may cost him dearly if he was not careful.
One cool evening, as they camped, Ser Brynden reported that Walder Frey had gathered a force of four thousand men at the Twins and that Lord Tywin's host was a matter of days to the south. Rob had expected Lord Walder to move his force south to join the host assembled at Riverrun but Catelyn reminded Robb to expect nothing of Lord Walder and he wouldn't be surprised. The old man had always been friendly with the Lannisters, despite being sworn to Riverrun. Not long after, they had reached the Twins. They were exactly as Catelyn remembered them.
The midday sun shone down on the two stout ugly castles, which sat on opposite sides of the Green Fork with a wide bridge between them. Complete mirror images of each other, they didn't look pretty but they served their purpose. Theon suggested taking the Twins by force. They certainly had the numbers, however Roose Bolton pointed out that they did not have the time. Ned was rotting in a dungeon in King's Landing and Tywin Lannister is marching further into the Riverlands.
In the hundreds of years of their existence, not one army has succeeded in taking the Twins. Their high curtain walls, deep moats and heavy gates of oak and iron were enough to deter any potential threat, even an army as large as Robb's. The Frey's have always exacted their toll from everyone who sought to use their bridge.
Robb's men intercepted each raven and messenger that the Frey's sent off, in case Lord Walder was in contact with the Lannisters. So far, there was no evidence to suggest an alliance between the two but Catelyn wouldn't put it past the Lord of the Crossing.
A dozen riders approached the host of northerners gathered a short distance from the Twins. It was then that Robb decided to go in and speak with Walder Frey. Theon and a number of Robb's bannermen advised against it, saying that the Freys would sell him off to the Lannisters or murder him.
Robb remained undeterred. "My father would do whatever it took to secure our crossing" The young man said with some confidence "Whatever it took. If I am to lead this army, I can't have other men do my bargaining for me."
"I agree," Catelyn said "I will go."
Robb and the others protested but Catelyn insisted. "I have known Lord Walder since I was a girl, he would never harm me."
"Not unless there's a profit" one of the northern lords said grimly.
Lord Wayne offered to accompany her for protection. At first Catelyn refused, saying that it would be better if she were to go alone but Robb and the others thought it a good idea. As the riders approached the northerners, Lord Wayne grinned at Catelyn and quipped about his charming personality should be enough to win the confidence of even a man like Lord Walder. Catelyn smiled slightly, though on the inside she frowned and silently prayed that she was right in her assessment of Lord Walder.
The riders arrived, armored and bearing the banner of House Frey. Leading them was a knight, Ser Stevron Frey, heir to Lord Walder. The man was like his father, in that he bore the resemblance of a weasel. His grey eyes roved about the northern lords standing before him. He greeted them and politely asked who is leading this host. Robb rode forward and declared that he did. Ser Stevron then conveyed Lord Walder's invitation to share meat and mead with the young lord and talk.
Catelyn accepted the invitation on Robb's behalf and set off with Ser Stevron, accompanied by Lord Wayne.
Catelyn heard someone whisper her name. She blinked and was brought back to the present. Lord Wayne walked next to her, asking if there was something the matter. His brows knitted together in concern. Catelyn shook her head and within moments, they entered the great hall.
Lord Walder Frey was a frail old man with a bald head that was spotted with age. He sat hunched over in his high backed chair of black wood. A cushion was placed behind and beneath him for comfort, while a heavy cloak of fur was laid over him to keep him warm.
Filling the great hall around them were almost all of Lord Walder's sons, grandsons and numerous other descendants. Lord Wayne studied his surroundings, carefully making note of all those in attendance. He kept a distance but was close enough to Catelyn so that if any deception were to occur, that he would shield her.
The old man stared at them dully with wet grey eyes, his hand caressing his newest wife. The thin, pale woman stood there, doing her best to remain placid.
"Well, what do you want" Lord Walder demanded brusquely.
"It is a great pleasure to see you after these many years my lord" Catelyn greeted amiably.
"Oh spare me" Lord Walder grunted, "Your boy is too proud to come before me. What am I supposed to do with you two?"
"Father, you forget yourself" one of his sons spoke up, "Lady Stark-"
"Who asked you!" Lord Walder snapped at the unfortunate man, "You're not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead to you?"
"Father please" another of Walder's sons spoke up.
The old man rounded on his other son "I need courtesy lessons from you bastard?" The man flinched, his mouth closed.
Lord Walder sneered "You're mother would still be a milkmaid if I hadn't squirted you into her belly." All in the great hall were silent. Catelyn swallowed and considered her words with care. Lord Walder was very petty and didn't take perceived slights very well. Glancing sideways, she saw Lord Wayne remaining still and quiet, watching everything unfold.
Once he had cooled down, Walder called Catelyn forward. He planted a dry, papery kiss on her hand and grumbled that since observed the proper courtesies, that maybe his sons would finally shut their mouths.
Wishing to discus things in privacy, Catelyn asked that maybe they could talk without such a large audience. Lord Walder dismissed his family and his new wife with an annoyed command. Catelyn did the same with Lord Wayne. The young lord was reluctant to leave. Catelyn assured him that she was safe and the dark haired man reluctantly departed.
Once they were alone, the two spoke. Catelyn explained the reason for their being at the Twins: Robb and his men wished to use Lord Walder's bridge so they can cross the Trident and carry on to Riverrun. She even mentioned her surprise that Lord Walder was still there, seeing how he should be in Riverrun with his men, aiding her brother Edmure.
Lord Walder shrugged, saying that he is still gathering his forces and that there were some problems he needed to settle among his children before he could send them off to battle. Although Catelyn did give a hint of a threat with the size of Robb's army, Lord Walder merely shrugged that off, saying that they'll all be corpses once Tywin Lannister shows up. Livid, Catelyn reminded Walder that he is sworn to House Tully.
"Oh yes I said some words" the old man said slowly "And I swore oaths to the crown too if I remember right. Joffrey is king now, which will make your son and his army of corpses-to-be rebels now it seems to me. If I had the sense the gods gave a fish, I'd hand you over to the Lannisters."
"Then why don't you?" Catelyn asked.
Lord Walder's wrinkled old face twisted with distaste "Starks…Baratheons…Lannisters, you're all the same. I care nothing for the Lannisters, not their gold, their lions or their bloody arrogance. But I am also not above helping them. They need only ask." He paused for a moment then shrugged "Though I could save myself a terrible headache by not getting involved in this pointless war."
The Lord of the Crossing narrowed his eyes at Catelyn "Give me one good reason why I should waste a single thought on any of you?"
"I am asking," Catelyn said, firmly "I speak on the behalf of my father, my brother, my son and my husband."
Lord Walder snorted and rolled his eyes. "Your father didn't bother coming to the wedding" the old man growled, wrapping himself tighter in his heavy furs "nor the one before that or the one before that." His expression darkened "Your family has always pissed on me."
"My lord-" Catelyn tried but Lord Walder cut her off "Don't deny it, you know its true." Catelyn's mouth closed and her lips tightened into a straight line. She said nothing. It was true, House Tully, as well as many other houses, never really looked at House Frey with anything more than contempt or derision but she didn't want to say it for fear she might would the old man's already sensitive and prickly pride.
Lord Walder pressed on "Not only your father but also Edmure for not marrying one of my girls. I suppose he's too good for them. My sons were also defeated in a tourney recently, making bloody fools of themselves and me. There is also Jon Arryn, turning his nose up at me, not wanting to foster my two grandsons nor sending his boy Robert to be fostered here. He'd rather have him fostered with Stannis, of all people. Bah!"
Catelyn frowned at that but decided to address that later. She could understand where the old man's bitterness was coming from. House Frey didn't command much respect. They were certainly known for their cunning but not much else. Lord Walder wanted his children to make their way upward and in turn raise House Frey up, up above those who mocked them and those who looked down on them. When Lord Walder again asked why he should allow Robb and his army cross his bridge, it was then that Catelyn understood what needed to be done.
Robb wasn't going to like it but it may prove to be beneficial for both House Frey and Robb
Not long after the midday sun lowered itself closer to the darkening horizon, Catelyn and Lord Wayne returned. They found Robb and his lords in his pavilion, discussing alternative plans of crossing the river and possible strategies if they needed to take the Twins.
Robb rose to his feet when they entered his pavilion. "Well, what did he say?" Robb asked, anxious.
Catelyn hesitated for a moment then answered. "Lord Walder has granted your crossing. His men are yours as well, save for the four hundred that will remain here to hold the crossing and stop any who may be pursuing you." A collective sigh of relief was had. "What does he want in return?" Robb asked.
"You will be taking one of his sons as your personal squire" Catelyn answered, elaborating further on the bargain that was struck "He's expecting a knighthood in good time."
"Fine, fine and?"
"And Arya will marry his son Waldron when they both come of age."
"She won't be happy about that," Robb murmured. Catelyn smiled a little though Robb noticed it was forced and without joy.
"And what else?" the young man asked, knowing that there was more.
"And" Catelyn said reluctantly "When the fighting is done…you will marry one of his daughters. Whichever you prefer, he has a number which he thinks will be suitable."
Robb brooded in silence for a moment. Catelyn could tell that the young man was considering what he had heard. It is a rather heavy price but it could be worse. Eventually, Robb spoke. "I understand," he said, finally.
There was silence for a few moments then Robb inquired after Lord Frey's daughters. Catelyn made some mention of a few of Lord Walder's daughters and tried to soften the blow but it only caused Robb to pale and Theon to snicker.
Greatjon Umber jokingly asked Lord Wayne about what happened to his supposed winning charm, to which the young lord scratched his head in an abashed fashion, saying that even his charms were no use against a man as blunt and harsh as Lord Walder.
He quickly related how the old man recognized him and mentioned hearing about the northerner's lavish parties and his family's legendary trove of exotic wines. The old man asked for some of Wayne's best wine, for the eventual wedding between Robb and one of the Frey girls of course, and as a small token to mark the beginning of a successful new alliance between their houses. Lord Wayne had tried to dissuade Lord Walder but ultimately swore to send a raven to his keep to have his men deliver some casks of his finest wines that he had recently acquired from Lys.
Grinning, Catelyn added that the old man also tried to marry off some of his daughters to Wayne but Lord Wayne was fortunate enough that his wit and charm returned at that moment or else he would've been married to half of House Frey.
Greatjon Umber roared with laughter and clapped Bruce on the back.
After some pondering, Robb accepted the terms of Lord Walder's bargain.
That evening, the northerners began marching across the Green Fork. A long column of Frey pikemen and several of Lord Frey's sons joined them. Robb left Ser Helman Tallhart and a force of four hundred archers and swordsmen behind to assist Lord Frey in garrisoning the Twins and ensure that the Lord of the Crossing would keep faith.
Roose Bolton and his infantry remained on the east bank and marched south to confront Lord Tywin. Meanwhile Robb and the rest of the northerner army moved for Riverrun.
During the crossing, Catelyn noticed Lord Walder watching them as they crossed the Twins via an arrow slit. At first she thought he was watching them leave but Catelyn noticed that his gaze was trained on someone in particular. Following his gaze, Catelyn saw that he was watching Robb and his new squire.
She studied the young man with some interest. Even in the dark she could still see some of his features. He looked less like a Frey compared to his siblings, though there was something about the eyes that reminded Catelyn of Lord Walder.
The boy was roughly Robb's age. He was lanky and very pale. His hair, though slicked down, rose up like spikey quills. While Lord Frey and a majority of his sons bore the traits of weasels, this boy resembled a bird of some sort. Catelyn was familiar with the names of almost all of Lord Frey's children, but she didn't recognize the name of this one when Lord Walder introduced him.
Oswald Frey, Catelyn remembered. It was a peculiar name and was very different from the rest of the names found in Walder's House. She had only learned it only that afternoon. Although he didn't look like much, Lord Walder assured her that the boy had a sharp mind and could prove to be of some use.
Catelyn felt that there was something more going on. She should be wary but for the moment, she allowed herself to feel relief. One more obstacle had been surmounted. She spurred her horse onward and joined her son, feeling a sense of urgency that they would reach her brother and Riverrun soon.
Arya silently weighed her options.
It was well into the day. The sun marched across the clear sky, shedding its hot rays down upon the world beneath it. King's Landing was alive and active. The streets were packed with people, horses and wagons, all trying get to their respective destinations. In the distance, Arya could hear the ringing of hammers on metal echoing from the Street of Steel. The young Stark remained close to the shadows in the alley, doing her best not to be seen.
Fortunately, the people populating the busy streets of King's Landing were a more focused on other things than on some filthy child in an alley.
Peering out from her hiding place, Arya assessed the situation. The King's Gate was still closely guarded by a number of crimson Lannister men. While there were fewer guards, Arya was still uncertain if she would be able to slip past them. From her vantage point in the narrow alley a short distance from the gate, Arya watched as a small but steady stream of people flowed in through the gate.
While the flow of arrivals was steady, the number of people departing the city was minimal. From what she overheard, Arya discovered that if one wished to leave King's Landing, they required permission from the king himself. Of those who were able to obtain permission to leave, Arya saw the Lannister men thoroughly searched and questioned them.
The young Stark considered disguising herself and slip out unnoticed while the guards were distracted with searching the other would be travelers. However, the likelihood of escaping the guard's notice was miniscule. She could try one of the other gates but it was likely that they were just as difficult as this gate. The Dragon, Iron and Mud gates were barred shut and the only other open gate was the Lion gate, but it was likely to be well guarded.
Before Arya could give more thought to her escape plot, a familiar voice made itself known, "Leaving are we?"
Arya jumped and spun around, her hand fumbling for Needle. She stopped and muttered a curse. Billy, the boy she met the day before, was standing right behind her.
"That's too bad" the boy said, pretending to be look disappointed "Selina says she was going to get us some delicious tarts tonight."
"What are you doing here?" Arya asked, annoyed "Did you follow me?"
"Yes, of course. King's Landing is a dangerous place and I didn't want you to get hurt" Arya scowled at him.
Billy smiled "Well, after we discovered that you left, without so much as a proper 'thank you' or a 'goodbye', I thought I follow you to make sure that you're safe and to see you off on your journey. Now it that our paths are diverging," The boy grinned and gave a courteous and exaggerated bow "Fare thee well, my lady."
Arya's face warmed up "Shut up and stop bowing, someone might see you!" she pushed him, causing the boy to stumble a little until he steadied himself against a wall. Billy chuckled a little and straightened himself up.
"Why are you here?" Arya demanded.
Billy's face gained some color. "Like I said," the boy replied in all seriousness "I came to give you a proper farewell. You left without saying goodbye and well…so I-I just…Selina told me to give you this." He quickly produced a small, tattered sack and handed it to Arya. The young Stark opened it and was surprised to discover some bread, cheese and other items of food. She gave Billy a questioning look.
The boy smiled awkwardly "I said we could help but since you are so fixated on leaving, Selina thought that you could use some food for your journey."
Arya looked at the food and then at Billy in disbelief. A mixture of guilt and gratitude filled Arya at that moment. She felt guilty in getting Billy and his family involved in her troubles and potentially putting them in the path of Queen Cersei's wrath but she was grateful for their help. The journey home was long and while she was confidant of her abilities in foraging the orchards and fields she saw outside the city walls, she had a feeling that this bag of food will prove useful later.
After spending a few days living on the streets of King's Landing, Arya could now see why Slade hated the city so much, though with people like Billy and Selina, her opinion of the capital lightened by a small margin.
"Thank you" Arya said sincerely.
Billy grinned and accepted her thanks. His expression turned serious "So…how do you intend to escape?"
"I don't know" Arya sighed, "I don't have any money to be ferried up the river and I certainly can't swim it. The wharfs are all being watched, as are all the other gates" "Not to mention the Queen and her spider have their agents searching the streets," Billy added.
Arya looked at him in surprise "how do you know that?"
The boy shrugged "I heard stories about them. I have never actually met a spy working for the queen, but I know people who did. In King's Landing, you never know who is working for who."
Arya shivered. That sounded unpleasant. Arya pondered carefully as to what she can do but each plan she came up with only ended up in disaster.
"Now that I said my goodbyes," Billy said, interrupting her thoughts "I got important things to do." He turned to leave but Arya grabbed his arm "Wait!"
"Hmm?" Billy stopped.
"Do you know of any way of leaving King's Landing without being seen?" the young Stark pleaded, "I need to escape to the north…to my home."
The boy considered her question with all seriousness then shrugged "I don't know of any. I have heard stories about how the Targaryen kings of old had built secret passages to help them escape in times of trouble. I have searched for them in the past but found nothing, which could mean that those were just stories. I would say that the gates or the docks are your only options."
Arya's shoulder's slumped, a cold dread filling her chest.
Billy moved to leave but he paused for a moment. His brows furrowed "There is one…no…no that won't do"
"What? What is it?" Arya asked, hopeful.
Billy hesitated for a moment. A dark expression crossed his features. "There is one way you can escape without being seen: The sewers."
Arya blinked and she gave him a questioning look "Isn't that where the Rat King lives?" a memory of the horrible man popped into her head, sending a shudder of revulsion down her spine.
"Yes and no" Billy said. He explained, "The Rat King lives in the newer part of the sewers and keeps to the sewers under Flea Bottom. I'm talking about the older sewer tunnels, ones that have been around since Aegon the Conqueror. The Targaryen kings had built the first sewers, connecting these tunnels in order to help clean up the city and continuously added on to them. The old tunnels are deep, deep down under the city…I heard rumors that they lead out of the city somewhere."
"Are you sure?" Arya asked.
Billy shrugged "As I said, they're rumors. A fair number of people went down to the old sewers for a number of reasons: to find gold, food or a place to escape the gold cloaks. I've been down there a long time ago but I never really went too far."
Arya felt a ray of hope. This could be her way out of the city. Freedom was within reach. Billy, possibly knowing what she was thinking, held up a hand "I would not get my hopes up. The old sewers are dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Billy nodded grimly "Aye. Those tunnels reach deep into the earth, so deep that no one is sure of how deep they go. It's very easy to get lost down there. Some people tried to map the tunnels but failed. You could hide down there, if it weren't for the Beast."
Arya frowned "The Beast?"
Billy nodded again "Aye. The Beast of the Dragon Catacombs they call it, a thing from the days of the old Targaryen kings." Billy paused and looked about, as if afraid that someone was listening and continued in a softer voice. "Some say its a dragon, others say its something else. It dwells in the deep darkness of the sewers, sleeping and waiting for the blood of the Mad King to return and call him back to the surface to take bloody revenge on all who betrayed him."
Arya felt the hairs on her neck rise. The sound of the tunnels being a vast and endless labyrinth of darkness sounded frightful. However this story about a beast from the time of the Targaryens sounded a little too fantastical. It sounded like one of Old Nan's stories that she would tell them to scare them.
"You lie" Arya said with a huff.
An offended look appeared on the boy's face. "I-its true!" Billy sputtered "My friend Jervis was dared into going down into the sewers once and he saw it. They used the entrance over by Sowbelly Row. He went in and went down, down into the dark and older section of the sewers, deep into the heart of the catacombs. There, he found a whole mess of animal bones. I think he even said he found a human skull and the shattered remains of a sword. Then, in the faint candlelight, Jervis saw a massive, monstrous shape move and glowing eyes. It roared like a dragon and it chased he until he almost reached the surface. He barely escaped with his life. Deever told me that Jervis said he saw scales and that the creature had an eye like a lizard's, which can only mean that it's the Beast."
Arya rolled her eyes "Now I know you're lying. There isn't a monster living under King's Landing. It certainly isn't a dragon. My father and Maester Luwin said that they all died and that the last ones died shortly after the Dance of the Dragons."
"But the Targaryen's sought to make new dragons!" Billy countered, "They experimented with all sorts of twisted magic and some say they succeeded. Some say that the Beast was created in a dark ritual and they couldn't control him, so they trapped him in the sewers."
Arya scowled "That sounds stupid" "You're stupid!" Billy shot back.
Arya's face heated up and the two were ready to tear into each other but Billy's face abruptly went deathly pale. The boy went silent instantly and he reached for the wall next to him for support, his body began to shudder.
"Billy?" Arya said, startled "what's wrong?" Billy steadied himself. He clenched his hand into a fist and his body slowly stopped shuddering. He nodded slowly "Y-yes" he murmured "I'm fine…I just…got a strange feeling. It's just a chill, nothing more." He shook his head and straightened himself up, murmuring something under his breath.
After some quibbling, the two decided to wait and watch the gate and see if an opening presented itself, rather than take their chances in the labyrinthine sewers beneath King's Landing. Time passed them by like slugs. The sun was high in the sky and the sounds and traffic of the city streets only worsened. Feeling hungry, the two dipped into the sack Selina provided and ate a little. Billy was uncertain if that was the right idea but Arya assured him that she could forage for berries and other fruits and nuts in the fertile orchards and lands outside the city.
A cart full of pastries passed them by. Arya watched in amazement as Billy procured a tart. He moved with a cat like grace and, when a potential customer distracted the vendor, the boy plucked a pastry from the cart. It had occurred in a matter of seconds, with Billy moving and acting with confidence and speed. The young Stark girl was uncertain if she could even attempt that.
As they shared the tart, Arya listened as Billy rattled off stories he heard from various family members, friends and people he met in the markets and docks, people from the Stormlands, the Reach, people from places as far as Lys, Braavos, and the Summer Islands. He told jokes and riddles he heard from a man named Spits. While the young Stark was focused on escaping and returning home, she paid some attention to what he was saying.
Strangely enough, all the stress and worries of the last few days seemed to melt away as she listened to the dark haired boy. There was something about him that reminded Arya of her brother Bran; only this peasant boy seemed more cheerful, more outspoken and a lot friendlier. She oddly found herself smiling a bit more. Billy said something directed at her, which pulled Arya out of her reverie.
"I'm sorry?" Arya said.
"I asked you your name" Billy said "I know that you're from the north and that your father is the Hand of the King but I don't think I know your name. You already know mine, so it seems fair that I should know yours."
"Arya" she answered, after some hesitation "of House Stark"
Billy smiled "well met Arya of House Stark, officially and properly."
A moment of silence passed between them and then the boy asked "What was it like living in the Red Keep?"
"Nice" Arya said slowly "Although there were a lot of stupid rules and I had to listen to boring lessons. It got better later, at least until the Queen's men attacked my father and Syrio."
Billy grimaced "Selina never liked Queen Cersei"
"Why?"
The boy shrugged "Don't know, I just know that she never really liked her. Whenever someone mentions the Queen, Selina would spit and curse her name. A fair number of people in Flea Bottom and in our part of the city hardly care for her either. One of my uncle's really hates her. He was around during Robert's Rebellion. He never really forgave the Lannisters for what they did to the city during the war. He said he'd like to repay them for what they did to him and his friends. That could be the reason why Selina hates her. She was only a girl when the Lannister's sacked the city but she's old enough to remember a lot."
Arya felt sympathetic towards Selina. It seemed that she wasn't the only one who suffered under the Lannisters. A thought crossed Arya's mind.
"What's it like living in King's Landing?" the girl asked. The young Stark lived her whole life in Winterfell and rarely interacted with anyone close to her age, save for her siblings and the occasional visiting nobles during certain times. She was curious as to what it was like growing up in this rotten city and what life was like as a commoner. The only friend she had who was close to her age and who wasn't a noble was the butcher's boy, Mycah. She bitterly remembered the Hound killing the poor boy, making her hate him and the Lannisters even more.
A somber look appeared on the boy's face. "Difficult," Billy answered "even for those who do have a little coin. We're not rich, nor are we poor. We barely have enough to make it to tomorrow but we manage to pull through. We also help those less fortunate than us whenever we can. We hardly see the king, even though he lives in this city. Lots of filth and corruption, but like I said, we make do."
Arya nodded slowly then asked, "Why do you steal?"
Billy reluctantly answered, "E-even though we are better off than most, we're still poor. Selina works very hard to provide for us and I do what I can to help in any lawful way, but no matter how hard we work, it's still not enough. It's very easy to turn into a criminal, what with all these new taxes and laws. I only take as a last resort and when I do, I only take what I need. I don't hurt anyone or kill and I don't steal from the poor and the needy."
Arya nodded slowly. While Arya held true to her father's teachings of no stealing and how wrong it is, having tasted the life of a beggar in the gutters of the capital, she could not fault Billy for stealing, for she had attempted to steal to sate her own hunger before she met him.
Billy decided to change topics. "Is it true that they have the bones of Balerion the Black Dread in the castle?"
Arya nodded "In the cellars. The skulls of the old dragons of House Targaryen use to hang in the throne room but they were removed long ago. I saw the skeleton of Balerion the Black Dread when I was exploring the cellars." She omitted overhearing those two men speaking of her father and a whole host of things she didn't yet fully understand.
"What was it like?" Billy asked, wide eyed.
"Big"
"Like in the stories?"
"Aye."
The conversation carried on as such until suddenly Billy jumped to his feet. "Oh! Oh!" Billy exclaimed.
Arya looked at him as if he were mad "What?"
"I have an idea," the boy said, an excited look formed on his face. The two quickly left alley behind and set off down a crowded and busy street.
Carefully avoiding horses, wagons and various people, Arya followed Billy as they ducked into a side street. A short time later, once they were in a less crowded street, Billy related to her his idea. "I know a man who could help you escape"
Arya's eyebrows rose "Really?"
"Aye. He's a merchant who comes into King's Landing often to buy onions and other goods. He used to tell me stories of his adventures as a smuggler before he worked for the king. He might be able to help."
Arya liked the sound of the plan but she was uncertain of it working. If he was a smuggler, then he could easily betray her, kill her or worse. If he worked for the king, then he could very well turn her over to Queen Cersei. There was also the trap laid by Cersei, involving men bearing the sigil of House Stark and rumors of a ship waiting to take her to White Harbor. She voiced her concern and Billy assured her that his friend could help.
"He's a knight!" Billy said confidently "And one of the truly good ones too, he'll help us for sure. He can get you to Dragonstone or wherever it is you wish to go. If he's not here, then his son should be."
Arya was still uncertain, but it did sound like a better idea than attempting to sneak through the gate. There was also something about Billy that she could trust, almost like whatever he says or promises is the truth, no matter how dubious or outlandish. The young Stark silently nodded.
Weaving their way through the clogged streets of King's Landing, the two worked their way towards the wharfs.
As they did so, Arya noticed that Billy was unusually quiet. His face was stony and grim. She carefully observed their surroundings. All around them was the typical bustle of the city's streets.
However, as she cleared her mind and focused her attention, all the while keeping Syrio's teachings in her mind, Arya noticed something unsettling. A short distance away, an imposing figure followed them. At first it seemed that he was merely just another inhabitant of the capital, merely walking in the same direction as they were. That idea was proved false when she noticed that same shape looming behind them as they turned on to two different streets.
Arya gave Billy a look and the boy seemed to know what she was trying to say. The two picked up the pace and ducked into a side street. The street was less crowded so the two children almost broke into a run. Stealing a quick glance, Arya saw that their pursuer hastened after them.
Taking another left, the children found themselves on a busier street. Billy grabbed Arya's hand and nodded at her. She knew what he was thinking of doing.
The two broke into a run.
Voices shouted at them as they narrowly dodged horses and various people in the packed street. Arya held on to Billy's hand for dear life, trying to not get separated. A mixture of fear and regret boiled within her. The Queen must have found her somehow and now she's going to kill Billy and throw her in the dungeons. Memories of Syrio and Mycha flashed before her eyes. Billy was only trying to help and now he was going to die and it will be all her fault!
The two ducked right and followed an alley and took a left onto a narrow lane, only to discover the way ahead blocked by a large, intimidating man.
The narrow lane ahead was empty, save for their lone obstacle.
Arya didn't recognize the man but she knew that the man was trouble by just looking at him. He was tall, solidly built with arms like tree trunks. The man was dressed in a black tunic, trousers and thick boots. Dark brows were knitted together in a deep scowl, which was made more intimidating by the man's night black eyes.
Arya and Billy attempted to double back but stopped in their tracks when they saw another man standing at the mouth of the lane. This man wasn't nearly as tall or as large as the man behind them and looked less intimidating. Strangely though, Arya felt her skin crawl at this man's presence.
This man looked like he belonged in a foreign king's court, with his flowing purple cloak, smooth black hair tied up in a knot, flawless bronze skin and forked beard and goatee. Beneath the billowing cloak, the man wore a white shirt, black trousers and boots. Arya guessed that he was Meereenese, based on her memory of some eastern merchants who populated the busy wharfs.
However, this man's dress was way different from the tokar the other easterners she saw. His attire was more befitting a noble of the Seven Kingdoms.
Not only were his clothes fit for a noble, the man's bearing oozed nobility. However, despite his noble and clean appearance, something seemed…wrong about him. Arya couldn't put it into words but something within her was screaming at her to run. Her hand slid towards Needle.
The handsomely dressed man stepped forward, his cloak shifted in the breeze. Billy put himself between Arya and the man.
The girl scowled at her friend. "Get out of the way" Arya hissed "They're here for me, not you. Save yourself."
"No" Billy said.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" she said "They're here for me. If you go now, you can escape and-"
"Shut up" Billy grunted, "I'm not going to run."
"You stupid-" before Ayra could continue, the noble looking Meereenese man neared them.
"Little girl" said the man in an oily voice that was lightly flavored with an accent. "I have not come for you, I am here for the boy. Run along now, lest you incur my wrath."
Arya froze. What did he say? He wasn't there for her and he knew that she was a girl?
Noticing her confusion, the bronze skinned man sniffed "I told you to run along. Do you understand me? Do all Westerosi have heads filled with mud?"
"Why?" Arya asked, her confusion clear on her voice "Y-you're not going to take me back to the Queen?"
The noble gave her a look "What queen?"
"Queen Cersei" The Meereenese man's nose wrinkled in disgust "Please do not insult me. Me, the Magnificent Abhararakadhararbarakh, associate myself with a wretched and lowly whore like her? Unthinkable!"
The young northerner was taken aback. Never before had she heard anyone speak so brazenly or coldly of Cersei. She had heard grumbling about her but never something so openly hostile and insulting. At first, Arya thought this was some sort of trick but nothing about this was making sense. What would a Meereenese nobleman want with Billy? Why would he bother pretending to hate Cersei and just let her go?
The Meereenese, Abhararakadhararbarakh, took another step forward and Arya drew Needle from its hiding place and flashed the blade at the man. The man stopped in his tracks. He looked at the blade then to Arya and smirked "What is this? You think you can stop me with a toy?"
"What are you doing?" Billy hissed at Arya.
"I'm trying to help you," she hissed back.
"I will be fine, just go. Leave me"
"No." Arya noticed movement in the corner of her eye and she turned her blade on the black clad man, who had inched a little closer towards them. "Don't move!" Arya snarled.
"Enough of this foolishness, child" the Meereenese man drawled while fiddling with the ruby studded gold ring on his finger "You cannot stop us with that toy. Sheathe your blade and walk away. This is your final warning."
"Why should I?" Arya demanded "And what do you want with Billy?"
An arrogant, knowing look crept into the man's features. "I am afraid that you are not worthy of that knowledge. But, what I can say is that this boy is very important to us."
Arya scowled "Important?"
"Yes…" the man's dark eyes roved to Billy.
Arya looked and was surprised to see his face completely drained of color, looking like he had seen a ghost. His hand was clenched and trembling. The young Stark girl didn't know what was going on or why this man was after Billy, but she was not going to run away. He helped her and she felt that she should repay his kindness by doing the same. The man stepped forward but halted when the sound of a bell broke the tension.
Arya, Billy and the two foreign men paused and listened to the clanging of the distant bell. The ambient sounds of King's Landing faded to the clanging of the bells. Soon the sounds of shouting and movement began to arise from the more populated streets around them.
A rather foolish idea popped into Arya's head, an idea that could get her killed but considering the circumstances, it was better than nothing. The young Stark whispered an apology into Billy's ear and pulled him close, leveling Needle to his throat.
The Meereenese man and the man in black turned their attention back to the two children and froze. "Arya, what are you doing?" Billy asked in a whisper.
"Just shut up," she hissed.
"What is this?" Abhararakadhararbarakh demanded, sounding amused and perplexed. He took a step forward and Arya brought Needle's blade closer to Billy's throat. The man froze. She turned her head quickly, making sure that both men were in sight and that neither one was sneaking up on her.
Arya pulled Billy along, keeping her sword to his throat. The pale boy said nothing, though Arya could feel him shivering.
"Hold on" Arya whispered, "I have an idea."
"Little girl" the Meereenese man said, carefully "Let us not be hasty. Withdraw your sword and give him to me. You shall go free and look…" he withdrew a small, bulging leather pouch from within his cloak. He shook it, soft metallic jingling sounded in response. "Coins" the man said, his dark eyes fixated on Arya's "Gold Dragons, enough to buy you anything in this gods forsaken city. Food, wine, passage to wherever you want to go, the Summer Islands perhaps or maybe to the Free Cities? For the right price and the right man, these coins can bring you joy and pleasure."
Arya scowled at the man. She thought his offer was ridiculous and scoffed at the idea of letting him have Billy. However, there was something about those eyes. The man's dark, dull eyes seemed to draw her in. Like two pools of mud, her focus became trapped like a wagon in deep mud after a hard rain and slowly sank deeper and deeper into them.
Abhararakadhararbarakh's voice was soft like silk and his words slowly began to make sense. "I know that you're starving" his voice echoed around in her head like a lullaby, "I know that you are desperate for escape. Here is your freedom. Take it and give me what I want." The world around her seemed to slip away. The loud ringing of the bells melted away. Arya's grip on Needle loosened, until a voice brought her back to the present.
"Oi!" a familiar voice sounded.
Abhararakadhararbarakh, his companion, Arya and Billy looked and saw a familiar rat faced man approaching them. The young Stark girl blinked in surprise and Billy groaned "Oh no."
"I finally found you!" the Rat King snarled, stomping his way toward them from the other end of the lane behind the large man in black. "Oh Billy boy!" a nasty smile appeared on the rat man's face "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Why's that?" Billy asked innocently, some color returning to his face.
"So I can repay you, for hitting me over the head and taking that girl!"
The dark haired boy feigned a look of shock "Me? Hit you? But Otto, I would never do such a thing! Who told you such nonsense?"
"My boys!" the Rat King spat "And don't you try blaming them. They're good boys, loyal boys. Besides, this isn't the first time that you took something from me, you little bastard!"
At the word 'bastard', Arya felt Billy grow tense and saw a dark look surfaced on his face.
The lanky man drew a slender, dirty knife from his belt and began turning it about in his hand. "First, I'm gonna gut you" the man explained, his high, reedy voice dripping with venom "Then I'm gonna send your little friend down to my nest to play with the others, and then I'll pay a visit to that whore Selina, show her what happens when someone crosses me and humiliates me."
Arya scowled hatefully at the man but Billy's face adopted a look that surpassed her own in terms of anger and coldness.
Before Billy could retort, Abhararakadhararbarakh stepped into the conversation.
"Forgive the intrusion into this…illuminating discussion" the Meereenese man said, exasperated and annoyed "But I found the boy first. He is coming with me and you can go home to whatever shitty little hole you crawled out from and forget what you have just seen."
The rat-faced man turned to the handsomely dressed foreigner and sneered, "Who in the seven hells are you?"
"None of your concern" the Meereenese man replied icily "leave now, or be punished."
"Oh, forgive me your greatness," the Rat King cooed, mockingly bowing low "Sorry if I don't lick your boots, you pompous shit. How about you shut your mouth and crawl back to whatever little hole you came from. Otherwise the gold cloaks are going to find a nameless, naked corpse that nobody will recognize."
The corner of the Meereenese man's mouth twitched and a cold look spread across his face. "Such audacity" he said "I was feeling exceedingly merciful but I now see that there is no reasoning with filth like you. It would appear a lesson in manners is in order and by the end, you will know how to properly address your betters." He nodded to his burly companion, who stepped toward the lanky man, cracking his knuckles.
The Rat King didn't look afraid. He whistled loudly and a dozen other men of various sizes and ages, all equally dirty and dangerous looking, came running, from the entrance to the lane behind the rat man. They joined the tall lanky man, brandishing rusty old knives, hunks of wood, rocks and other makeshift weapons. Several more joined in, appearing at the opposite end of the lane behind the Meereenese noble man.
The man in black paused and Abhararakadhararbarakh frowned.
The Rat King giggled, "The gods have truly blessed me, for this day is rich with bounty! Billy, the girl and a stupid noble who thinks that he's better than everyone."
The Meereenese man scowled, swept his purple cloak aside and drew a pair of curved, gleaming daggers. A savage grin appeared on the nobleman's face "You think us easy prey little rodent? Come then, taste my steel and meet your gods!"
The Rat King and his men hesitated for a moment but the thought of gold and their superior numbers was enough to drive them forward. The Rat King and his men attacked. The Rat King and those closest to him swarmed the burly man in black, while the remainder converged on Abhararakadhararbarakh.
The Meereenese nobleman side stepped a clumsy swing and slashed the attacker's throat. He swatted aside the attack of another and buried his daggers into the attacker's belly. Arya was stunned by the man's speed and how coldly and calmly he carried out his attacks. The Rat King and his men landed a few hits on the man in black but the man knocked out two of his attacker's with a single punch each and hurled away another like a ragdoll when one jumped onto his back.
As the brawl continued, Arya snapped out of her daze and she and Billy slipped away. They moved slowly and silently, ducking past Abhararakadhararbarakh as he felled another man by planting a dagger in the unfortunate thug's left eye.
Once they were out of the lane, Arya and Billy ran.
The two raced through the streets of the capital, making sudden turns and ducking down into new alleys and streets, hoping to throw off any pursuers. Arya glanced over her shoulder and saw nobody, however that didn't give her much comfort. They turned right and raced down another street and came to a split. Arya went right while Billy moved left.
The young Stark paused. "Where are you going?" Arya demanded, "Come on, this way!"
He shook his head "I can't."
"Why not?"
"They're both after me and if either of them catch us, gods know what they'll do to you. You'll be safer without me." Arya wanted to argue but she knew that he was right. After a moment, Arya asked, "What will you do?"
"I'll go this way and lead them on a merry old chase. In the meantime, you make your way to the wharfs and wait for me there."
Arya nodded slowly but didn't like this plan. The young Stark's worry must've been plain to Billy, for the boy gave her a confident smile and said, "Just stay out of sight and wait for me. I'll find you and by nightfall, you'll be on a ship heading north. Besides, I know this city like the back of my own hand. They'll never catch me." With that, Billy turned and took off running.
Arya watched him as rounded the corner and was gone. She turned to leave and was surprised to see the large, burly man in black stomping toward her with Abhararakadhararbarakh hot on his heels.
Quickly, Arya flattened herself against a doorway, hoping not to be seen. Whether or not the two men saw her, Arya didn't know. She heard their footsteps coming to a stop at the fork in the road and carefully took a peak from her hiding place. The man in black was covered in cuts and bruises but didn't look very badly injured. His clothes were spattered with dark, barely noticeable bloodstains.
Abhararakadhararbarakh on the other hand looked untouched, though his slick hair was a little disheveled.
"Damn that wretched little man!" the Meereenese man snarled, "The boy was in our grasp and he slipped away, thanks to that impudent fool." The man in black gave his companion a look, which Abhararakadhararbarakh understood. The Meereenese man waved a dismissive hand saying "Yes, yes, I know that we can find the boy at our own leisure. There's nowhere he can run to in this city but we missed the opportune moment, where no would would've noticed or made a fuss. Now…we'll have to resort to more direct methods."
Arya felt her mouth go dry. What did he mean by 'direct methods'? The young Stark waited in the doorway silently, holding her breath and hoping they don't move in her direction. After a few agonizing moments, Arya heard Abhararakadhararbarakh grunt in Ghiscari then footsteps and finally, nothing. Slowly, Arya looked and saw that the two foreign men were gone. She peeled herself away from the doorway and hurried in the opposite direction, toward the wharfs.
Arya turned into a larger, busier street and wound up being swept along by the relentless flow of traffic. The press of bodies forced Arya off her intended path. As she struggled to free herself from the crowd, fragments of chatter reached her ears. Some spoke of the ringing of the bells, which continued to toll, while some mentioned the Hand of the King being carried to Baelor's Sept. That caught Arya's attention.
Before long, Arya found herself in the crowded plaza outside of the Great Sept of Baelor. She tried to push forward in order to catch a glimpse of what was going on but was unable to get through. Instead, the young Stark found herself at the foot of the statue of Baelor the Blessed. The air around her was filled with chatter and whispers, discussing what was going on and the possible reason for it. Arya climbed up the base of the statue in order to get a better look of what was going on.
As she did so, the event that they were gathered for began, as the newly crowned King Joffrey emerged from the Great Sept accompanied by a pair of guards shoving ragged figure forward, a figure that Arya recognized as her father.
Elsewhere, Billy weaved his way through the streets of King's Landing, glancing backward as the cold and evil presence he felt earlier grew close.
The boy made sure that he was seen and left obvious clues to where he was going, all the while plotting out a route of escape. As of yet, Billy was as far away from the wharfs as possible. The ringing of the bells of the Great Sept had now stopped and an odd silence consumed the city.
The silence made Billy feel nervous. He knew what the Rat King wanted and was certain that he can lose him easily. The Meereenese man and his servant on the other hand, he didn't know who they were or why they were after him but Billy had to find a way to lose them permanently.
An idea came to his mind. The sewers. The boy didn't necessarily need to go into the sewers but he had to make them think that he took refuge there.
With his plan clear in his mind, Billy set off for Sow Belly Row and the sewers. However, when he rounded a corner, the boy froze.
Up the skinny cobblestone road a hooded figure was heading his way.
Normally, something like this wouldn't appear to be dangerous, but there were some factors that stood out as strange. The first thing was the hood. People don't normally wear hoods, unless they don't want people to know who's under it. The figure's manner of dress was too fine for this part of King's Landing; a fine cloak of dark blue and a golden chain hung around the throat, which jingled with each step. The figure also appeared to be alone. With clothing like that in this part of King's Landing without escort, one was asking for trouble.
There was also the strange, eerie sensation that slithered up Billy's spine. It wasn't nearly as foreboding as the sensation he felt around that Abhararakadhararbarakh person but the sensation still made Billy a little wary of the figure.
He turned to leave but found his path blocked by the figure in blue. The boy jumped in surprise and glanced back. The street behind him was empty. He looked back to the figure and laughed awkwardly. "H-how did you do that?" he asked nervously.
"William" the figure intoned, his voice emerged from the shadow of his hood, deep as the rumbling of thunder. Billy stared at the cloaked figure in surprise. How did he know his name, let alone his real name? The boy's eyes looked about, frantically looking for a weapon, looking for any hidden enemies.
"Who are you?" Billy asked, trying to sound calm but fear crept into his voice. The hooded figure turned his head and stared off into the distance. Billy followed his gaze and saw a column of smoke rising above the roofs of King's Landing, slowly growing thicker and darker.
He frowned. It looked like a fire was going somewhere. Judging from the shade and the size of the column of smoke, it wasn't an ordinary cooking fire or smoke from a forge. Smoke like that usually indicated that something caught fire, like buildings.
Billy looked at the hooded figure with confusion. The figure turned his head. Although he couldn't see the man's face, Billy could feel his eyes on him. The stranger stared at him for a rather long moment.
Feeling uncomfortable, Billy carefully shifted his body so that he could run at a moments notice. "What do you want?" He demanded.
The hooded stranger spoke and the boy felt a chill run through him. "You cannot go back now," the stranger said dispassionately, "A long and dangerous road waits you. You must find the old one and bear his torch, for the watchful nights are closing in. They need your light and your strength. You will not journey this road alone. You will have allies and companions. Both your fates are entwined, yours and hers. Perhaps one day you'll find your way back. Perhaps…"
Before Billy could process the stranger's words, let alone question the meaning of them, the folds of the stranger's swirling blue cloak flew open and everything went black for Billy.
Elsewhere in King's Landing, Abhararakadhararbarakh paused outside the cabin door. He smoothed his disheveled hair then knocked.
"Enter" a voice called out.
Beyond the door was a lavishly furnished and spacious cabin that belonged to the ship's captain but was currently occupied by Abhararakadhararbarakh's associate. His associate sat behind an ancient wooden desk, cluttered with all manner of books, papers and a bottle of Tyroshi pear brandy. An old tome, older than the table by far, lay open in front of the nobleman as he ran a gentle finger across a page.
The merchant was a handsome man with auburn hair, hazel eyes and a beard. While Abhararakadhararbarakh prided himself on his appearance in order to denote his rank, his associate was the opposite. He was dressed only in a white shirt and dark trousers, which gave him the appearance of a middling merchant. The man wore no gold or silver, save for a simple ring of gold with a simple chunk of obsidian inlaid in the band, the only remnant of his old life and the only indicator of who he was.
Despite appearances, the man was a powerful merchant and an even more dangerous man than Abhararakadhararbarakh.
The Meereenese man's associate closed the ancient tome gently and looked up at him expectantly. "The boy?" he asked.
"Escaped" the Meereenese man sighed. He walked over to the table poured himself a cup of Tyroshi pear brandy.
"How?" the merchant asked, not mad but curious.
"A thief or some other sort of trash interfered. Apparently he was hunting for the boy as well."
The baron's auburn brows knitted together "Was he one of them?"
Abhararakadhararbarakh snorted "No. If he were, then they are in a much sorrier state than we originally thought. He certainly doesn't seem like a puppet for one of our order. I highly doubt that he is anybody's man. Merely a rogue element, a stray piece that by sheer chance blocked our advance."
After a sip of wine, a thought occurred to the eastern nobleman "However, I wouldn't entirely rule out the possibility of him being one of the Kingmaker's men, perhaps even a pawn of our feathered brained rivals."
Mordru nodded slowly and considered his associate's report. Their group was secretive and powerful, though they both were of groups more secretive and far more dangerous than their own. One had to tread carefully or else one could stumble into the machinations of a potentially hostile group. Mordru and his associates also had to tread carefully so their plans wouldn't be uncovered, by the authorities and by their rivals. Although their methods and ideas may differ, at they all wanted the same thing. Power.
Right now, Mordru and Abhararakadhararbarakh had let a dangerous piece slip through their fingers. However, not all was lost.
The game was far from over.
Mordru listened as his Meereenese friend delivered further information he had acquired in King's Landing. The interloper escaped and has evaded their eyes. Some old pieces were swept aside and more were on the move, one of which started that fire, which scattered the boy's family and prevented them from using them to their advantage. There were also some new pieces in play.
A faint smile appeared in the merchant's face. This was going to be interesting.
(a.n: so, what do you think? A little late, I know, but I had a bit of writers block and got really busy. Next chapter will further things and detail what other things that happened in King's Landing.)
New DC Characters appearing in this chapter: Mordru, Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin), Axel Walker (the Trickster), The Phantom Stranger, and Abra Kadabra. (Abhararakadhararbarakh was listed as an alias of Abra Kadabra and it sort of reminded me of the names of various Meereenese nobles and Ghiscari characters that show up in A Storm of Swords and A Dance with Dragons).