7th Month of 282 A.C. King's Landing

Knight Commander Brandon Stark

Pycelle had been taken prisoner, it had taken time but eventually Brandon had managed to find enough information to justify an arrest warrant being issued and used. Being the second in command within the order, the first in command with his father not in the city came with its benefits. Having the master of laws on his side also came with its benefits. They had found Pycelle coming back from the rookery, and though they had been too late to stop the ravens he had sent out, they had managed to prevent him from ordering the supposed coup Brandon had been hearing about. And now, well now was the time for them to begin questioning the little grey rat about what had been going on within King's Landing for the past six years.

Brandon looks at the man before him, Pycelle had been kept in a room near the order's quarters, away from anyone and anything, whilst members of the order had raided his rooms and had found all kinds of things. Brandon looks at the man and then says. "Your game is up Pycelle. The treason you have committed has been found and exposed. And soon enough you will die."

The man laughs then. "Treason? What treason?"

Brandon advances forward anger making him want to hit the man, to wipe the smug smile off of his face. Instead he pulls out the letters from his pocket, and shows them to the man. "These letters to Tywin Lannister and from the man. What would you call the words written in them if not treason?"

Pycelle laughs once more. "I'd call them common sense. The king is mad. So very mad."

"And we have you to thank for that Pycelle." Brandon says. "You have been poisoning him since Duskendale. Why?"

The man looks at him and says. "I do not know what you mean, and I resent your implications."

Brandon looks at the man. "Do you deny the fact that you have been corresponding with Tywin Lannister about something that would be tantamount to treason?"

"That depends on who you ask." Pycelle responds smugly. "Either I am a traitor or I am a man doing what needs to be done to save the world and the kingdoms from the machinations of a mad man."

Brandon feels anger grow within him. "And so, what do you think Pycelle? Are you a traitor or a hero?"

"I am a servant of the true heroes of the kingdoms. Men who are far better than you or your father." Pycelle responds.

"What do you mean by that Pycelle? I do not have time for your riddles, speak now, or I will cut your tongue out." Brandon threatens.

That only causes the man to laugh even more. "My, my, not patient at all. Your father would be disappointed. A Knight Major must have patience, is that not what your father is fond of saying?"

Brandon feels something within him tighten in anger at the man's words. "What do you know of my father?" he asks bitingly.

Pycelle smiles then. "More than would make you comfortable. I know the things your father did for King Aerys, things that go against what he taught you."

Brandon hand tightens into a fist. Through gritted teeth he says. "I am old enough to know that my father is a person just like me. And that sometimes he does things differently to what he means. It does not make him less of a person. But you… you, you are the ultimate rat."

A laugh from the maester. "Ah, so we are using that term now are we? Tell me, what do you think makes me a rat?"

Brandon stares at the man, not sure if he is being serious, but ultimately he says. "You swore a vow, a vow to obey the man you served. That is the king, not Tywin Lannister and not Rhaegar Targaryen that is King Aerys. You have broken that vow many times during your time as hand. Summerhall, King Jaehaerys death, Duskendale, all of them bear your mark. Tell me why you did it?"

Pycelle stares at him. "You think Summerhall was me? Gods boy, how much of a fool are you?"

Brandon looks at him surprised by this change in turn. "And what makes you exclaim such a thing Pycelle?"

"I was newly made Grand Maester when Summerhall happened, King Aegon was a man I respected. I had no reason to cause that tragedy. However, I do know who caused that. If you would like to know." the rat responds. The bait is there, dangling before him.

Brandon remembers what his father had said about Pycelle to him once. "The man dangles honeyed words on a poisoned tongue. Be careful of how you think of him." He keeps that thought in mind now when he looks at the man and then says. "And who is that?"

"The king you support so whole heartedly, and his father. They wanted the throne for themselves, and were not sure they would get it, Prince Duncan and his wife did not have children, but Prince Duncan's wife was dying, the prince could have remarried, and there was talk that he was going to. Your king and his father did not want that. So they had them killed." Pycelle says.

Brandon looks at the man, shock running through him. "You are lying." he accuses.

"What reason would I have to lie? If you look through my letters and writings you will find the proof you seek. And regardless there is always Lucerys Velaryon to question as well, he was involved in the plot." Pycelle says. He laughs then for Brandon feels something akin to anger run through him. "Unless the man has already gone and left."

"So you allowed this to happen? You did not go to your king as you were sworn to?" Brandon asks.

"It was not my place." Pycelle responds. "I am a rat, not a dragon."

Brandon considers this, it is a troubling development, and something that he will need to check out himself once he is done questioning this piece of filth. He takes a breath and then looks at the man once more. "So then, you are not responsible for the deaths at Summerhall. What of King Jaehaerys and Duskendale? What is your argument in defence of yourself there? All we have, suggests you were in league with Lord Tywin for those two things."

The maester looks at him. "I suppose it makes no difference now, you will kill me either way. Yes, King Jaehaerys died at my hand. He was always sick the king, and as such, it did not take much for him to be pushed over that line. It was a relief, he was a burden on the realm and on the health of my helpers."

"And Duskendale? What happened there?" Brandon prompts.

The maester laughs. "So impatient you are. Duskendale, well to explain Duskendale, one must needs first explain the years leading to Duskendale." The man wets his lips and then continues. "Lord Tywin is a great man, a great lord and leader. Far better than Aerys, Aerys was always looking for some reason to not do his work. Some reason to put his duty off. Therefore, it increasingly fell to Lord Tywin to do the work, and instead of thanking him, Aerys began to begrudge him that. Prince Rhaegar was someone who appreciated Lord Tywin's work and approached him about something to do with the king. Lord Darklyn was a friend of the Prince's having squired together when they were young. It was on the Prince's order that Darklyn rebelled, Aerys was talked into leading the host and was captured. He was supposed to die there, but Selmy got in the way. He always got in the way."

Brandon feels something within his gut clench then. "So you set the king up to fall? You wanted him to die at Duskendale? Why? King Aerys was not mad, and I do not think he became mad either. Why did you want him gone?"

Pycelle looks at him then and laughs. "Why does anyone ever want the king dead? He was a fool, and someone who was in the way. He needed to be removed for things to progress beyond what they were at, at that time."

"And when he did not die at Duskendale, you decided to take matters into your own hands? Is that what happened?" Brandon asks feeling disgusted.

"Yes. Neither my lord, nor my prince were willing to commit the act themselves, therefore I had to take it into my own hands. King Aerys was still somewhat redeemable after Duskendale, I had to make sure he was not. And so I began." Pycelle says.

Brandon feels the disgust within him rise. "And Prince Rhaegar was happy for you to do this to his own father?"

Pycelle snorts then. "Prince Rhaegar had never cared for his father, his father was a block in his way who needed to be removed. And so I was doing him a favour."

Feeling the moment approaching, Brandon moves forward to Pycelle and says softly. "And what have you been using to keep the king mad Pycelle?"

"Now, now. I cannot tell you that. That would make me a traitor to my chosen king." Pycelle responds laughingly.

"Do I need to force the information out of you old man?" Brandon asks menacingly.

"You can try, but I learned a long time ago, that hiding my words was best." Pycelle says mockingly.

Brandon feels his anger grow, white hot within him. He picks the old man up by the scruff of the neck and growls. "You are going to tell me old man."

"Or what? What will you do? Kill me, and the knowledge is lost." Pycelle retorts.

Brandon tightens his grip on the old man, anger coursing through him. "There are other maesters in the capital old man, I would not be so certain of your survival."

"And do you think those maesters would tell you the truth?" Pycelle asks mockingly. "Who do you think they learned their craft from? Who do you think their loyalty is to?"

As he thinks on this, Brandon feels anger grow within him. "They will do their duty to their king, or they shall be removed from their positions within the red keep. Your lord and prince are not here to protect you."

Pycelle laughs then. Spittle falling from his mouth. "Ah but there is the thing. The council is against you, you have not attended one meeting, and now you are falling through your sword. How will you get them to side with you?"

Brandon hesitates a moment then. He looks at the old man, and then says. "You are coming with me." he puts the man down on the ground and then walks from the room, the old man tottering after him. Brandon looks at Elbert and Ethan who look confused to see him with Pycelle. "We are going to the council chamber, bring the men." Brandon barks, his mind whirring into action.

As they walk to the council chamber, some sixty men come into line behind him, all bearing the arms of the order, his heart is hammering in his chest. Brandon knows what happens now will be important for the rest of time. There are no members of the Kingsguard outside the chamber, and he is thankful for that, he does not want a fight now. He barges into the room, looks at the members and says. "You are all to come with me. Any who resist will be killed."

To show how serious he is, Brandon drags Pycelle in front of him, presses a dagger against the man's throat and then slits it. As the man falls to the ground he says aloud. "I am a member of the order, and we have our own maesters Pycelle."