Haven't thought of this story for a while, hope you enjoy
I own nothing
Game of Cons 4
Arya writes on the parchments, writing the base sums of plus and minus on the table, doing the writing she needs to get in the Decepticon Institute. She writes with a pencil given to her by Edward Snow as Sansa looks annoyed at her. Lady and Nymeria were sitting on the side, slowly getting used to King's landing.
"Eat your food" Septa Mordane said, seeing Arya writing instead of eating.
"I'm practicing," Arya said, turning the page to start the numbers as she thinks about what the x means.
"Practicing for what" Sansa asks, cutting her food, as Arya looks at her.
"For the Institute" Arya said, going back to writing as the Septa shook her head.
"A lady doesn't need to write" Septa said as Arya looks at her,
"A Decepticon does, A Decepticon needs to know the basics before joining them" Arya said, as she furiously writes.
"Then I start my training for the Prince" Arya said furiously,
"Arya stop" The Septa said as Arya looks angry at her.
"He's a liar and a coward, and he killed my friend" Arya said, remembering her friend dead on the hound's horse like a hunting trophy.
"The hound killed you friend" Sansa said, reminding Arya as she glares at her sister.
"The hound kills because the Prince is too weak to kill anyone himself" Arya said, Sansa gets angry.
"You an idiot" Sansa insulted, Arya doesn't take this standing down.
"You're a liar and if you told the truth Mychal would be alive" Arya argued, stabbing the pencil on the table.
"Enough" The Septa said getting up as Ned came in
"What's happen here?" Ned asks, having heard yelling.
"Arya, would rather act like a beast than a lady," the Septa said as Ned looked at Arya.
"Go to your room, will speak later" Ned said as Arya grabs all the parchments and pencils to go to her room, Nymeria following her. Ned sits down as Sansa keeps eating, before anything else the door opens. Ned looked to see Edward Snow followed by another man with a crow on his shoulder.
Edward looks around for Arya to take her to the Institute as with Glen, fellow Warg and translator for Edward when he talks to others.
"Greeting Lord Stark is Arya around" Edward sign language as Glen translated for Edward, as Sansa and Septa look at Edward in shock, Ned looks suspicious.
"Arya, Arya" The raven said, to the shock of everyone as Ned looked at Edward.
"Did the raven just?" Sansa asks, looking at the Crow as Glen chuckles.
"Talk, yes, Apple's here is a smart bird" Glen said, smiling at the raven chipping.
"Apples, Apples" Apples the raven said, to the humour of others, Ned turns to look at Edward.
"Why do you need Arya?" Ned asks Edward, suspicious about his intentions, thinking Edward was a suiter.
"Arya wished to join the Decepticon Institute; I give her work to get her started" Glen translated Edward as Ned looks curious about the Institute.
"I've only heard rumours about this 'Institute' what does in intel" Ned asks curious about this, haven't heard from the North, how some Northmen went there to learn and came back to bring wealth to themselves and family.
"The Institute is like the Citadel in Old Town, the difference is they only take men to teach future maester while the Institute takes everyone to teach them the basic, it funded by the Citadel and the Decepticons on behave of Garth Flowers, and many students learn many things, like writing and numbers. Most men go to the Citadel after learning the basics while others can learn special training like Healing" Glen explained to the Stark and Septa as Edward handed Ned a parchment. The Parchment gives a basic understanding of the Institute as Ned looks it over.
Ned looks at the paper with clear writing, the ink looks scratched instead of ink. He has heard of Garth Flowers, the youngest to get all the Maester chains. How he invented the printing press and the pencils, making paper and writing much easier for everyone.
"Wait out here while I talk to Arya" Ned said to Edward who nodded and waited for her as Glen started petting Lady, who loves pets.
"You're a pretty one, aren't you?" Glen said, scratching the direwolve's ear as Sansa smiles.
"Pretty, Pretty, Pretty" Apples chipped as the raven fly on the table scaring the Septa
"My father found her with her siblings outside of Winterfell" Sansa said going to Glen as they both played with Lady who loves the attention.
"What's her name?" Glen asks Sansa, playing with the Direwolf.
"Lady" Sansa called out as Lady turned to face her as Lady licked her hands making her smiles. Glen just laughs.
"hahaha Lady, you name a Direwolf Lady, hahaha" Glen laughed as Edward gained a smile as Sansa looked crossed at him.
"Lady, Lady, Lady" Apples chipped as Lady turned to the raven and barked at him, scaring the Raven to fly on Edward's shoulder, to the amusement of others.
"What's wrong with her name, she is polite and proper, like a proper noble lady" Sansa smiles at the happy Lady as she rolls on her tummy.
"My lady, you haven't met a noble lady," Glen said to Sansa while scratching Lady as well.
"I tell you this, the proper noble ladies I know, aren't this trusting or gentle" Glen said kissing the direwolf as Sansa looked confused at what he said but continued to play with Lady.
LINE
Arya came out of the happy holding her parchment as Edward, Glen and Apples took her to the Institute. Arya was happy her father let her join the Institute, at first she hated the royal family and Sansa but her father told about being a Stark and family.
She was happy her father let her keep Needle and she learned how to use it at the Institute, her father gave her permission. When she handed her answers to one of the Maesters working there, they graded her answers. She didn't get all the answers right but she was smarter than their normal recruit. Arya was given an education by Maester Luwin and she studied more than sewing being with her Septa.
Arya was given a parchment with times of class she needed to take but she can do training now, as Edward escorts her to where she will train with the other new recruits. Arya walks into a room where a short man holds two wooden swords with 9 other young people around her age holding wooden swords as well.
"Youuuuu are late boy" The man said as he turns around to face Arya,
"Tomorrow you'd be here at midday" the man said, Arya gets closer and the other students chuckle.
"Who are you?" Arya asks, the man smiles showing her the wooden sword.
"Syrio Forel, the Dancing Master of the Decepticons" Syrio introduced, throwing one of the wood swords to Arya, Arya missed as Syrio frowned.
"Tomorrow you will catch it, now pick it up" Syrio said, as Arya went to pick it up as the other students laughed.
"Now up and join the others" Syrio said, Arya joined the others as Syrio held his sword as everyone tried to copy.
"That's not the way little boys; it is not a great sword that needs two hands to swing it,'' Syrio said as few of them started holding the sword with one hand.
"It's too heavy," Arya complains, as the girl next to her looks annoyed at her.
"It is as heavy as it needs to be," Syrio said, balancing the wood sword on its side.
"One hand is all that's it need" Syrio stated, the students start to follow
"Now you're all standing wrong" Syrio said, going to each student to fix their stance as Arya follows the instruction.
"Good, Good, very good, chin up, no slouching, straight back," Syrio said to each of them as he corrected each one of them.
"Now your grips show me your grips" Syrio asked, as everyone showed their sword holding grip.
"Good, tighter, not too tight, one hand only one, the grip must be delicate" Syrio said, as Arya dropped her hand.
"What if I drop it?" Arya asks as Syrio turns to look at her, putting the wooden sword in front of her face.
"The steel must be part of your arm, can you drop part of your arm?" Syrio asked them all, one of the boys raised their hand.
"My dad had to drop his arm before greyscale got him" one of the boys said, causing a few to chuckle even Arya, as Syrio smiled before hitting his arm.
"OOOOW" the boy yelled, dropped his wooden sword in pain,
"No dropping jokes or I drop you" Syrio warned, as the boy went to pick up his sword as everyone laughed at him.
"Nine years Syrio Forel was the First Sword to the Sealord of Bravo, Syrio trained Lord Mychal and the Darkstar themselves and many more Decepticons, he knows these things, everyone should listen to me. Little boys" Syrio said as another girl looked angry at him.
"I'm a girl, Nesse, does that sound like a fucken man's name to youuuu?" Nesse said angrily as Syrio looked at her.
"Boy, girl, man, woman, it matters not what you are, today you are all swords, '' Syrio said, holding out the wooden sword for everyone.
"That's the grip," Syrio explains as Arya tries to copy as Syrio looks at her.
"You are not holding a battle axe, you holding" "A needle" Arya said as Syrio smiles,
"Aaaaaa hih hih just so" Syrio grinned at her as he turned to the others, holding his wooden sword.
"This is a needle, made to pierce men and women, now we begin the dance" Syrio walks around as everyone follows him.
"Remember by swords, this is not the Westeros dance, the knight's dance," Syrio swings his sword around, scaring them, as they get back.
"Hacking and slashing, this is the Bravo's dance" Syrio stated, swinging the sword gracefully, everyone was moving with it.
"The water dance, it is swift…..and sudden" Syrio stated, jabbing the wooden sword at them, getting their attention.
"All men are made of water, did you know this?" Syrio asks them, pointing his wooden sword at each of them.
"I thought men were made of blood and meat" A boy said as Syrio poked him in the stomach.
"Yesssss, and blood is like water, when you price them, the water leaks out" Syrio said to him, poking his stomach as the boy swallowed his saliva.
"And they dieeee" Syrio said to him, as he stood back, making the boy calm down.
"Now one by one, each of you would try to strike me" Syrio said as everyone gets ready,
"Line up, one by one" Syrio said, as everyone got in line to fight, Syrio turned his back on them, the first boy charged at him, trying to stab him but Syrio turned to avoid him. The boy turned as Syrio shook his head as the next girl got into a stance as Syrio bends his knees, pointing his sword to her.
The girl tries to swing at him but Syrio blocks each strike as he knocks the sword down. The next boy tried to fight but he knocked him down. Arya was next as she tried to swing at him but Syrio blocked her from behind and knocked her down. It went like that until all the beaten.
"Now that you tried to strike me, you must strike each other" Syrio said as he paired each of them, as they each fought with one another with Syrio going around fixing their stances and helping them. Arya was having fun, fighting each person and Syrio helping them out, Arya smiles as she learns to fight with them.
Ned Stark, having asked the Decepticons where Arya was when one of them saw him, comes to help him find his daughter. Ned goes through the door to watch Arya practicing with everyone, watching them fight with wood swords, seeing Arya happily put a smile on his face. He watches Arya hit a wooden sword with the others the sound of wood hitting wood.
As Ned continues to watch the sound start turning to clashing steel, Ned looks grim as the wooden sword keeps hitting and hitting, scaring him as he starts seeing the battles he fought. Until he felt a hand grab his shoulder getting out of his flashback.
Ned turns to see Mychal holding his shoulder, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You alright Lord Stark, you were looking worse to wear, Hand of the King already making you feel sick" Mychal asked looking at Ned Stark as he turned to see Syrio train Arya and other students.
"Syrio has been teaching Water dancing to Decepticons for years now, he even taught me and Darkstar a few tricks, he made Decepticons prove their worth after learning from him, your daughter in good hands" Mychal said as Ned nods before turning to see Mychal walking away.
"Uhm, prince Mychal, I would like to talk to you about some important matters." Ned asked him as Mychal turned to him, tilted his head in acknowledgement and watched, as Ned squirmed under his gaze. Did he discover something and needed Mychal help? Well, the red-eyed prince could entertain the poor Hand of the King,
"Fine, follow me" Mychal nods, walks away and Ned follows. Mychal leads Ned to an empty classroom no one is using.
"Prince Mychal, I like to apologise for my lack of action that night. I was told that you were a terrible person by many and so, Robert made your younger brother the crown prince. With Robert having said a few things to say about you when I asked him back in Winterfell. But, upon reaching King's Landing, I saw that everything I was told was wrong." Ned apologised for not saying anything about Robert's abuse that night, not that it matters. Mychal sighed and looked at Ned.
"The damage is already done, Lord Hand. Robert's hate of Targaryen is fixed on me thanks to my odd mix of Targaryen and Baratheon traits," Mychal explained, pointing at his red eyes as Ned's look solemn.
"The only reason he hasn't try to kill me yet is due to my influence over the people, killing me would cause a civil war Robert knows he would lose" Mychal explains, haven heard his father try to tell the Small Council to take down the Decepticons but cannot due to how big it got, and removing it would only cause problems the Small Council doesn't want to deal with. A civil war with the small folk will lead them very vulnerable.
And the Decepticons are aware of the King's hate for their leader Mychal and there would be hell to pay for anything that would happen to their leader.
"But that's for another time, you have questions?" Mychal asked Ned; after finishing his talk did Ned remember why he came in the first place.
"I was hoping that you might be able to explain a few things about your father's Small Council, My prince." Ned asked as Mychal shook his head.
"Enough with the Prince shit, we will be here all day" Mychal said as Ned nodded.
"Of course but you've known this city more than I do, can you tell me who I can trust and who I can't?" Ned asks the question, aware that the only thing he could trust is Mychal honesty in this justified hate for his father.
"Do you want an honest answer?" Mychal asked him, looking into his eyes as Ned unconformable nodded.
"No one," Mychal said gravely to Ned's shock.
"As far as I can see there is no one in this city you can trust, especially on the council." Mychal explained to him.
"Your uncles are on the council. Can you not trust them?" Eddard remarked, as Mychal narrowed his eyes.
"Stannis is not here. He returned to Dragonstone almost as soon as Jon Arryn died, while Stannis is honest and would do his duties he still can't help you, Stannis doesn't have much influence here beside his master of ships, even then people don't listen to him much" Mychal explained to Ned, Stannis never like the court and he aware of it.
"Renly is only Master of Law thanks to Robert, However he spends more time on his appearance and parties than his duties" Mychal said, Ned frowned in thought. He was hoping that Renly would be more reliable.
"What of the other council members? Pycelle, Baelish, and Varys." Ned asked as Mychal shook his head.
"Pycelle may be old, but he only pretends to be crippled. He uses his 'frailty' to deceive and throw people off," Mychal answered, to Eddard's surprise.
I've learned from Garth Flowers that he reports to Cersei, however Pycelle is only loyal to the most powerful to keep him alive, why do you think Pycelle asks Garth to be his apprentice?" Mychal asked Ned, as he shook his head, not hearing of the Grand Maester Pycelle teaching someone.
"Pycelle is trying to get into the Decepticons, however Garth isn't the youngest Maester for nothing you know" Mychal said in confidence of Garth loyalty,
"I did not know that." Ned said, he was startled in surprise.
"Anything you tell him, he would tell Cersei or another Lannister" Mychal paused, to give Ned some thought to think over.
"Varys is good at his duties with his spy network, however be careful with the information he gives. Don't forget he only got in the Small council thanks to the Mad King before Robert, know that he is loyal to the Realm, but not to the ruler or the houses" Mychal warns Ned, only giving Ned the information he asked.
"And what of Baelish?" Eddard questioned, getting more worried with each member
"He's the worst of them all," Mychal immediately answered.
"He is only a Master of Coin due to Robin Arryn's wife recommending him, since then he has been doing what he can to advance in position, bribery and threats, he would try it all. Tell me how much debt is the crown now?" Mychal asks as Ned looks unconformable.
"Six million" Ned said as Mychal signs.
"He tries asking for money from us too, and trying to gain some kind of influence on the Decepticons" Mychal said to Ned's shock
"He completely unreliable, in fact all of them are, they all have spies too" Mychal said,
"They have spies?" Ned asks, shocked to learn Baelish, the Queen even Pycelle has spies. Varys already has them.
"One thing you should learn quickly, Lord Stark, is that there are eyes and ears everywhere in King's Landing," Mychal replied as Ned let out an exasperated sigh.
"This might be more stressful than I imagined" Ned said as Mychal pitied him.
"Here my advice, out of everyone in King's landing Robert trusts you the most, use that to your advantage, only few are honest with him" Mychal said as he starts to walk away, but Ned looks at him.
"'Only a few" who else is honest to him?" Ned asks, if anyone is honest to Robert then maybe they could help him.
"Well as far as I know I'm one of them" Mychal said leaving Ned to his thoughts as he thinks about it. He couldn't think long until the door opened revealing a woman holding books.
"Oh sorry milord, but class is starting soon, I need the room, if you would" the teacher asked as Ned looked to see young students walk in the class with books and pencils.
"Oh course, do you do your duties" Ned smiles before heading out as the Teacher gets ready for class.
LINE
At the Small Council chambers
"It's the Hand's tournament that's causing all this trouble, my lords," complained Janos Slynt, the Commander of the City Watch. The City Watch of King's Landing is the law-enforcement institution responsible for the safety and security of the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms. Consisting of more than 2,000 men, each Watchman is more colloquially known as "Gold Cloaks" because of the gold-coloured capes they wear.
While the Gold Cloaks did their duties, King's landing was still a big place to protect. That's why some areas of King's landing were under the protection of the Decepticons, getting pressure off the Gold Cloaks and keeping those areas safe, while Jano Slynt doesn't like the Decepticons taking the Gold Cloaks jobs. He finds the Decepticons make it a little easy running the city.
"The King's tournament," Eddard wincingly corrected. "I assure you the Hand wants no part of it."
"Call it what you will, Lord Stark, ser," Janos continued,
"The city is packed with people and flooding every day. Last night we had a tavern riot, a brothel fire, three stabbings and a drunken horse race down the Street of Sisters." Janos finishes to the members of the Council.
"Dreadful," Varys shuddered, looking down. Lord Renly Baratheon was less sympathetic.
"If you can't keep the King's peace, perhaps the City Watch should be commanded by someone who can. The Decepticons perhaps, they seem too being doing better" Renly remarks,
Janos Slynt puffed himself up like an angry frog, his bald pate reddening, as he tried to maintain his patience to the Small Council.
"I need more men," Janos requested. As Ned nodded,
"You'll get 50," Ned told him, leaning forward.
"Lord Baelish will see it paid for." Ned orders as Baelish looks at him in surprise.
"I will?" Littlefinger asks as Ned looks cross at him.
"You found money for a champion's purse, you can find money to keep the peace," Ned said before turning back to Janos.
"I'll also give you 20 of my household guards until the crows have left." Ned said to Janos,
"Thank you, my Lord Hand, ser, they will be put to good use." Janos said, bowing.
When the Commander had taken his leave, Ned Stark turned to the rest of the council. As if the expense and trouble were not irksome enough, all and sundry insisted on salting Eddard's wound by calling it "the Hand's tourney," as if he were the cause of it. And Robert honestly seemed to think he should feel honoured.
"The sooner this is over, the better," Ned exclaimed.
"The realm prospers from such events, my lord," Varys said. "They give the great a chance at glory, and the lowly a respite from their woes."
"And every inn in the city is full and the whores are walking bow-legged," Petyr added, knowing most of the whores worked for him.
"And the Decepticons will be making the most profit, don't you think Little Finger?" Renly asks as Petyr gives him the sick eye. Know that while he owns the whore houses the Decepticons own more Inns, restaurants and bars. While Little Finger focuses on brothels, the Decepticons capitalise on more useful services.
"I'm sure the tournament puts coins in many pockets" Ned remarks as he looks around.
"Now, if there's nothing else, my lords?" Ned asks hoping they finish, no one else says anything more.
"Then the meeting of the Small Council is hereby adjourned for the day." Ned said, standing up as everyone else started to leave. Varys nodding to Ned as Grand Maester Pycelle walks around.
"This heat," Grand Maester Pycelle complained as he stood up. "On days like this….I envy you northerners and your summer snows…. Until tomorrow, my lord."
As the council members are all leaving, Eddard stops the Grand Maester.
"Grand Maester," he called out, causing the Grand Maester to stop in his tracks.
"A moment, if you will?" Ned asks as the Grand Maester turns.
"I was hoping to talk to you about Jon Arryn," Ned asks Grand Maester.
LINE
Grand Maester Pycelle lead Ned Stark to his Lab to give him the last book Jon Arryn, The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, as both the Grand Maester and Hand make if in they find Maester Garth Flower writing something down.
Garth Flowers turn to see both the Grand Maester and Lord Hand enter, as he stands up to greet them.
"My Lord Hand, grand maester," Garth nods his head at them as Pycelle smiles and Ned looks at the Decepticons symbol on his maester chain.
"Ah….good day to you, young Maester, my Lord Hand, this is Maester Garth Flowers…. young Maester to every one of his chains at such a young age…..and inventor of many things" Pycelle introduces him as Ned looks him over.
"youngest maester, your family must be proud" Ned said looking at Garth, seeing a bastard have such an achievement makes him think of Jon, how he is doing in the night watch.
"Well my family are proud, now that is" Garth said gravely at the mention of his family. Pycelle went for the book Jon Arryn read before he died.
"The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms….with descriptions of many high lords and…..noble ladies" Pycelle said sitting down on the chair after putting the book on the table for Ned to read.
Ned opens the books and flips through the pages, seeing noble names and descriptions, as he reads a few of them.
"As I said my lord… a ponder read" Pycelle said, Garth looks over the book then to Ned.
"Did Jon Arryn tell you what he wanted with it?" Ned asks Pycelle.
"He did not, my lord….I did not presume to ask" Pycelle answered as Ned looked at him.
"Jon's death" Ned asked, Pycelle shook his head.
"Such a tragedy" Pycelle said, Garth looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Did he say anything during his final hours?" Ned asks Pycelle, he tries to recall.
"Nothing of importance my lord,…..there was one phrase he kept repeating…'the seed is strong' I think it was" Pycelle thinks about it. So does Ned.
"The seed is strong? What does that mean?" Ned asked, Garth thinks about it.
"A dyeing mind is a demented mind Lord Stark….with all the weight there given….last words are usually as significant as first words" Pycelle chuckles,
"Perhaps the 'seed' is something and holds great power" Garth ponders on the last words too.
"And you're quite certain he died of a natural illness?" Ned ask Pycelle,
"Well what else could it be?" Pycelle asked, Garth looked at Pycelle annoyed.
"Poison" Ned stating the obvious, Pycelle shakes as he holds his hands.
"Disturbing thought…no no I don't think it likely….the hand was love my all…what sort of man would dare?" Pycelle denies, as Garth looks at him confused at what he is trying to do.
"Heard it said that poison a woman's weapon" Ned said, a Garth looks at him confused.
"Yes…woman, craven,…an eunuchs" Pycelle agrees as Garth shook his head.
"Did you know Lord Vary is a eunuch?" Pycelle said, Garth rolls his eyes.
"Everyone in the seven kingdoms is aware of that fact, Grand Maester, and anyone can use poison," Garth said, getting their attention.
"Poison can be made by assassins, maester, alchemists, and herbiest. Even forest witches can make something of the sort" Garth explained as Ned looks at him.
"You have a theory on Jon's death" Ned asks Garth who nods.
"If Lord Jon Arryn was poisoned, the poison itself would have to be untraceable, that only poison that is known to be untraceable is the tears of Lys, a rare but costly poison. The poison is clear, tasteless and odourless; it dissolves in both wine and water. The poison targets the human's intestines, or stomachs, making them die in pain, which wouldn't appear unusual to a victim of old age or sickly appearance. An ideal poison to kill off old lords for heirs wanting their inheritance sooner" Garth explains the poison could be used to Jon, to the shock of Ned who has never heard of such poison as Pycelle looks proud at Garth.
"An excellent response…. and theory…I tell you Lord Stark, he will make an excellent Grand Maester one day" Pycelle praises Garth as Ned nods as well, seeing Garth did more to earn the maester chains as he takes the book.
"I can see that as well, but I believe I took enough of your time" Ned said, closing that book.
"No trouble at all, my lord…..a great honor" Pycelle said as he tried to get up but Ned stopped him.
"Thank you, I'll find my own way out" Ned says as Garth opens the door, Ned nods to him before leaving. Pycelle sits back down.
"I must say… Garth….. You surprise me with your knowledge….with poisons….I must" Pycelle said but Garth stops him.
"Enough with the act Pycelle, it doesn't fool me" Garth said, looking at the Grand Maester, who just nodded and started sitting up straight.
"Shouldn't be surprised at this point" Pycelle said in a normal tone compared to his old man tone.
"Old habits?" Garth ask, as Pycelle nods,
"I've been the Grand Maester for two kings now, you have to learn a few tricks to survive" Pycelle said as Garth nodded.
"By appearing weak you make everyone underestimate you" Garth said, Pycelle looks at him.
"It works; sometimes I can't believe it myself" Pycelle chuckles, as Garth nods.
"And you pointing suspicion at Lord Vary is another trick?" Garth asked, as Pycelle nodded.
"Casting suspicion to others normally throws them in the wrong direction" Pycelle explains, Garth looks curious.
"Do you know who poisoned the previous hand?" Garth asked, Pycelle shook his head.
"Not that I am aware of no, whoever poisoned Jon used the Tear of Lys but I don't know who" Pycelle explained as Garth nodded.
"Do you have a theory?" Pycelle asked Garth, as Garth thought about it for a second.
"Yes but no proof" Garth said, as Pycelle nodded before looking over some things. Both Garth and Pycelle are men of logic, the Archmaester of the Conclave have all agreed to have Garth apprenticed under Grand Maester to not only help him out but for Garth to eventually replace Pycelle when the time comes.
Pycelle knows it and approves of it, Pycelle is an old man and is getting harder to do his job, he is thankful for the help and likes having conversation with Garth. They have debates and chats about their studies and other pointless information, nothing to do with politics. Pycelle likes Garth and considers him a friend, probably the only friend Pycelle has in King's landing. Garth himself finds Pycelle interesting and likes to exchange knowledge, he finds their talks are both informative and surprising to say enjoyable.
Both of them won't betray each other and will try to help out one another as long as it doesn't put their own lives at risk. Both understand it and accept it.
Garth has an idea who poisoned Jon Arryn, and if the theory is correct he will have to tell Lord Mychal immediately, for civil war may come sooner than they originally thought.