Blood Debt
"Ethan Glover," he whispered into the darkness of the cell after opening the heavy iron-studded door. There were no windows or any other openings down here, only chilly blackness to keep you company.
A shadowy form moved, no more than a twitch in the black, but the torch flickering at the very end of the hallway allowed the smallest bit of distinction to be made.
"Who?" a voice croaked before dry, wheezing coughs made any more words unintelligible.
"An ally," Naruto replied, stopping short from naming himself a friend, not after what he had inadvertently inflicted on them. He lit a small torch and light flooded the cell, lifting the dark curtain from his eyes.
Ethan huddled on the ground, squinting against the sudden brightness from where he was chained against the back wall with a thick iron chain. He was surrounded by dirty old straw, and the smell of days spent without the opportunity to wash or even relieve himself appropriately clung heavily to the air.
He fumbled with the filled water skin Naruto handed him, hands shaking as he hastily brought it to lips dry from a combination of the cold and what must have been days with little to no food.
Rivulets of water dribbled down Ethan's chin as he drank greedily and Naruto allowed him a few deep gulps before beckoning him to slow down, lest he simply vomit all the liquid up again.
"What-" Ethan coughed through a still-dry throat, once half the skin had been emptied. "What are you planning?" The beginnings of a beard covered his jaw, but he somehow looked both older and younger than Naruto remembered. Bruises covered his visible skin and one of his wrists was clearly still in the process of healing after being broken, the skin swollen and red.
"I'm getting you out of here."
In response, Ethan moved his leg, making the chain attached to the limb rattle loudly against the stone floor. "How do you imagine that will work?"
Naruto moved closer and pulled out the keyring he had used to open the cell. Unfortunately, the same key did not open the manacle, and there were many attached to the large iron hoop. Too many, for him to want to waste time on trying them all.
Discarding that idea, he chose a simpler approach.
Passing his torch off to Ethan, he stashed the keys again and moved for the chain. Fingers closing around the link closest to Ethan's leg he held the other side to the floor with a foot. A sharp twist, bringing all his strength aided by a touch of chakra to bear, and with a harsh shink the thick iron link snapped where it had been welded shut.
The now freed Ethan made to stand, wide-eyed in his surprise, but he did not get far, buckling knees almost made him collapse back to the floor before Naruto caught him.
He ignored the obvious question in the younger man's eyes, simply steering him towards the door while allowing him to lean on his body.
"Come on, let's get you out of here before anybody comes looking."
Normally, no guards patrolled the black cells. Down here, below the Red Keep and its ordinary dungeons there was little need for that, but there was no reason to tempt fate.
The hallway outside the cold cell was illuminated by only a single torch at the very end, where steps led down and up to the other levels of the dungeons, and they made their way over to it as quickly as possible after Naruto had locked the door to the cell behind them.
They passed through another gate, that he closed as well once they had left it behind. The sounds of snoring echoed from the stairs leading upwards, where the goalers on duty slept of their drunken stupor, helped along by a pinch of sweetsleep.
Ethan was near limping and strained to keep pace with him, but Naruto did not dare proceed too slowly. Senses on high alert for any sign of incoming trouble he led the way down the steps to the fourth level of the dungeon.
Another door marked the beginning of that section, opened from when he had come up that way. Placing the correct key in the lock on the side facing the stairs, Naruto pulled the door closed behind them. There was no more need for it and a misplaced keyring that was eventually found would attract less attention than a missing one.
Though the missing prisoner would do it without fail, once it was discovered, making that effort somewhat pointless.
They continued.
The small torch he carried did not manage to completely penetrate the darkness even further down, barely lighting their way for a few steps before its light was swallowed by darkness again. Fortuitous, in many ways, for Ethan did not need to see some of the sights left behind down here in forgotten torture chambers.
Still, that light was enough to find his way through the corridors, down the steps and following tight, sloping hallways until they reached another gate. Ethan was breathing heavily and had broken into sweat many steps ago, but they did not slow or stop.
"How much longer?" Ethan spat through gasping breaths, the effort plain on his face. Naruto lowered his shoulder slightly, so the other could more easily put his weight on him instead of carrying it himself.
"Not much," he answered quietly, as they passed through the gate. This gate, Naruto could not lock behind them. After all, he had never managed to find the key for it and instead forced it open directly. A lead for any pursuers, but the two of them would be long gone by the time anyone would manage to follow up on it.
"Down this passage a small bit further and then we will soon reach a hidden jetty. I'll bring us to shore on the northern side of Blackwater Bay. There is a small fishing village half the way to Rosby where we could rest. Not for very long, if we want to avoid being taken for what we are, but a day perhaps. I have horses waiting for us near Rosby so that we can make our way further north after that. What we do afterwards depends somewhat. Your Lord is nearly past the Neck by now."
Ethan gave a tight nod in response, the flame of hope in his eyes clear against the gloom and darkness that surrounded them. He was weak and injured, but his spirit had not been broken entirely. They continued.
The Northerner stumbled just as they reached the ornate dragon brazier marking one side of the room where many different passages began, the water skin he was still desperately clutching nearly slipping from his grasp.
"Careful. Come on, lean on me." Pulling his weakened companion back to his feet, Naruto steered them towards one of the doors in the room and pulled the iron-banded wood open. A cool breeze blew over the stone floor, and Ethan shivered heavily, a gasp escaping from his cracked lips.
"Come on now. You have nearly done it."
Those words made Ethan rally what little strength seemed to remain in him, his pace quickening for a few steps before he once more had to lean near all his weight on Naruto to proceed any further. But by that time the whisper of small waves already greeted his ears, what little moonlight the small crescent of this night could provide still managing to light the bend in front of them noticeably.
Ethan immediately collapsed into the small boat after Naruto had lowered him to the deck, legs giving out beneath him and the sheer exertion making him tremble among the belongings and supplies placed where he sat.
After a moment's hesitation that made him look back into the passage they had exited, Naruto followed along. Hands grabbing muffled oars he began powering their way out of the small, hidden alcove, wood pushing against the dark water without complaint.
The night was quiet and cool, the silence only broken by Ethan's exhausted breathing and small, pained groans. Once they had made a bit of distance, Naruto reached for a small sack of supplies and produced a piece of dried trout.
"Eat," he said, holding out the morsel to the nearly-asleep Ethan. Only taking up the oars again once the younger man had accepted the food and began to chew greedily. He had more, but eating too much right now, as Ethan surely wanted after so long, would not be good for him.
Naruto threw a final glance back, up the cliffs to where the Red Keep and inside it Maegor's Holdfast slept. Two dozen survivors. He turned away, fully focused on bridging as much distance as possible and avoiding the galleys of the royal fleet marked from a distance by collections of small, floating lights while night held.
Soon, Ethan drifted off to sleep.
As he rowed, Naruto's thoughts turned to happier things. Mainly Ashara. He missed her already.
War had already reached the lands they travelled through. Maybe not the bloody, battlefield kind, but war all the same.
It was easy enough to see even as they avoided people as much as they could while they were still within the borders of the Crownlands.
They had passed over the King's Road near Hayford to avoid any contact with the troops heading north towards Darry and Whent lands or Maidenpool, and drew a path west instead, though it slowed down the journey considerably.
By day they cantered through the countryside, fields and forests and meadows and hills stretching behind and in front as the bridged as much distance as Ethan could handle, and by night they rested, mainly to give the Northerner the time necessary to recover more.
Naruto had set and splinted his wrist before they had headed out from Rosby, and the opportunity to wash and eat a full meal had helped tremendously, but the rest only time could accomplish.
When they reached the Gods Tear the river was calm, a blue-green ribbon shining in the noon sun as it snaked off into the distance with the reeds growing in the shallows swaying lazily in the breeze. They turned north then, using the simple track that followed the river towards the Gods Eye. Not as well made as the King's Road, but more than suitable for their purposes.
Many miles and days of travel later, when his estimations told him they would soon cross into the Riverlands, they crossed to the western bank by way of a simple wooden bridge, horseshoes clacking against the sturdy planks that dewy morning.
Naruto rode ahead, the bridge not quite wide enough to allow them both to cross side by side, his stubborn black mare tossing her head at an annoying dragonfly as he passed the midpoint. He chanced a small glance behind, where his companion followed on a brown gelding, an inscrutable look on his strong features.
Through all their days of travel, Ethan had never mentioned the debt between them even in passing. They talked, of paths and detours, of supplies and estimated arrivals, and of what Naruto knew about the current movements of the different kingdoms. But they did not talk of Brandon Stark, Jeffory Mallister, Kyle Royce, or Elbert Arryn.
There was something to be said about letting the dead rest in peace, but he could not wash away the consequences of his actions, unintended or not.
As his horse brought the first hoof onto the other bank of the Gods Tear Naruto wondered if there was any way to say, "I am sorry about getting your friends killed by accident." in a tactful manner. He did not think there was. Even if sincere, the words seemed entirely pointless. Better to let his actions bring truth to his intent.
Once they had both crossed, they turned north again and continued riding.
Not long into the afternoon they happened upon a wandering septon with three companions of his own, a roaming singer that announced the group from far away with his performance and a duo of young men looking to make a name for themselves that did not seem particularly enthused about having to listen but did so anyway.
There was little reason to avoid others by now, so they did not stray from the road. Even if Ethan's absence from his cell had been discovered the next day, it was unlikely that people would come looking here first. They would expect the flight to proceed directly north.
"Is your company headed for the Gods Eye as well?" Naruto asked the septon, lowering his hood once the two groups had greeted each other and taken up the road again. His weapons had attracted curious looks, but armed men were not so outlandish as to attract extraordinary attention.
"Yes, yes." The older man nodded his head and ran a hand through his short brown locks. "For the town near its banks, to be exact. I call the septon there a friend and with whispers of war and rebellion in the realm everyone may have need of one. As for my companions, well, adventure and excitement are seldom found where the Seven choose for you to be born."
"I suppose they aren't."
"And you? Do the two of you seek new employ as well? Under Lord Keath perhaps, or will your paths bring you to other places before your travels find an end?" The wandering septon threw a glance at Ethan before focusing on him again. The Northerner rode slightly further back and on the other side of him, so that Naruto was between him and the septon. He did not seem inclined to participate in the conversation.
"The latter. We will have to procure new supplies in town, but our goals lie further north, even if there would likely be opportunities aplenty before that."
"You two seem like strong fellows and I'd imagine you will find no trouble, but I would offer our company, nonetheless. Even the Warrior, after all, is only one among seven."
Turning his head, Naruto waited for any complaints from his companion, said out loud or not, but Ethan did not shake his head or even grimace, only giving a gruff, "I don't see why not." in answer.
"Then it's settled," he said with a nod, turning back towards the septon and the three others trailing behind him. "Until we reach the town, we are one company."
That worked out they continued further north, the two groups now one.
With their slower pace, on account of those members proceeding on foot, it took another two days to reach the town near the banks of the river, the Gods Eye visible in the distance. Naruto did not overly mind the slightly slower pace and Ethan did not complain either.
They entered the town's perimeter around noon, the sun high and warm in a sparsely clouded sky. Septon Taler, who had clearly been to this place multiple times in his life enthusiastically greeted a few of the people that met them in the street leading into the centre of the settlement.
White houses clustered around the walls of a simple walled holdfast, largely on its southern side, though a few houses were also gathered near the lake shore. Rough, unmortared stone reached ten feet high in the heart of the town, presenting a good defence against any aggression from the outside, and white grey banners fluttered on both sides of the sturdy wooden gate.
The sept was large enough to house near all the residents, the shingled roof reaching high and attracting the gaze immediately among the surrounding buildings.
Their group passed into the central square, where a curious crowd had gathered around a travelling merchant's cart whose owner was enthusiastically marketing his bolts of cloth while sharing news from further away.
A horn blew, the sound coming from a solitary towerhouse on a small hill to the west, and soon after hooves trampled audibly from that direction. The townspeople turned towards the road leading to the square and others gathered from nearby houses.
Ethan stood in his stirrups and shaded his eyes, to get a better view of what was happening. "Three riders in the colours House Keath."
"That is quite unusual," Septon Taler supplied from next to them, his brow wrinkling in a moment of thought. "Though considering… yes that would explain it."
"What makes it so unusual? Lord Keath rules here, doesn't he?" Naruto asked looking down from his saddle, one hand stroking his horse's neck while thinking of the banners at the gate not far away, white fish and golden hooks on grey and white respectively.
"These are Keath lands, yes, but this town has been under the care of a septon for many many years by now. Even my grandfather's grandfather did not remember a time when a Lord Keath still lived in the keep here."
"What does that matter? If Lord Keath rules these lands what is the problem?" Ethan asked, for once in the mood for conversation with the septon. The riders reached the first of the houses and slowed their horses slightly, proceeding towards the square at a relaxed trot.
"What do you think would bring the Lord's men to this town now?"
Before Ethan could answer that leading question, the riders entered the square proper, the crowd of townspeople now comprised of what must have been near two-thirds of all the local residents. Out of the sept came a tall, dark-haired man in a white and grey robe marked by the seven-sided star.
The lead rider, clad in a mail hauberk and grey surcoat motioned for his two companions to stop and looked around the square. All three of them had a sword sheathed at their waist. "Townspeople!" he called loudly, quieting the whispers of the crowd. "I am Ser Norbert of Hook and I come in the name of Lord Alard Keath, ruler of these lands. Your liege calls to war."
Loud cries and discussion broke out in response, men and woman turning towards their neighbours to complain or wonder at what had happened to change things.
"How many men?" the tall, dark-haired septon called calmly. His voice had the same effect on the crowd that Ser Norbert's had.
"Lord Alard asks all his people that will answer the call to take up arms. Rebellion ignites the realm, and we cannot sit idly by."
"How many?" the septon insisted, not letting himself be quieted by distractions. Some quick townspeople had clearly realised what was not being said. Mothers clutched their children's hands and men crossed their arms, lips thinning into tight lines.
The knight stopped his horse's slow gait, a frown on his bearded face. He was younger than the septon, perhaps halfway into his third decade, but clearly proud and not particularly happy with the pushback. "And you are?"
"Darren. A servant of the gods primarily, but I am also the septon who cares for this town."
"You go too far, Darren. Lord Keath is the one that grants you this parish."
"I would rather that than not go far enough in trying to accomplish the duties I was given. If you would, now. How many men has Lord Keath called from our town?"
The two riders that Ser Norbert had arrived with laid hands on the pommels of their blades, but before steel could be drawn their leader waved them down. Narrowed eyes focused on Septon Darren, the knight answered. "Seventy-three men, to report to his castle in two weeks' time at the latest."
"Very well," Septon Darren accepted with a nod, a kindly smile on his face. "If you would now tell us where Lord Keath has decided his loyalties to lie?"
Anger curled Ser Norbert's lips for a moment, and Naruto almost reached for his own sword, to stop any confrontation from getting bloody, but there was no need. The knight controlled himself and squared his shoulders. "Lord Keath stands with Lord Goodbrook against any rebellion. He will keep the King's peace and laws in his lands."
The townspeople reacted again, audibly, murmurs of discontent and approval sounding out. There were clearly mixed views on the matter, some accepting the words resolutely while others gave Septon Darren furtive glances.
"Lord Alard was ever a just, godly man and liege, and I am confident that he considered the matter carefully. Yet some of the whispers that have reached me are cause for doubt and confusion. I believe you have heard them as well, Ser Norbert."
"Speak your doubts, septon. Not every whisper you hear is to be taken for truth."
"Only the Crone in her wisdom may know fact from fiction at a glance, that is true. However, I cannot imagine that all the tellings I have heard of a trial of the Gods being perverted with fire would be the fruit of wicked imagination, especially when they remain similar in content no matter who tells them. Nor do I believe I speak wrongly in saying that Lord Tully has allied with that same rebellion."
Ser Norbert frowned, clearly wording his answer carefully. "I heard tale of trial as well, aye, but perversion or not, that is for the Father to judge, it seems to me."
"What's it matter? That Lord Reckard or who didn't even pray to the Father. Those unwashed barbarians from the North pray to trees and earth and some such."
The addition from the middle of the crowd earned a sharp look from Septon Darren and glances of reproach from others, but Naruto focused instead on the horse right next to his own. Hand clamping down on Ethan's knee, he hissed, "Don't."
Scowling, the younger men met his gaze with anger, rightly upset about the remark, but they could not afford to stand out that way. Even though any sigils marking him as a Glover were hidden beneath his cloak, speaking up now might reveal them.
"Trees or septs, the Father judges all men justly, Cahl. Even so, the king has not stopped with Northerners. He burned his Hand and five others not even two weeks ago. Lord Merryweather was a man of the Reach and prayed the same as you or I."
Something ugly curdled in Naruto's gut at hearing that information, something he did not like to think about. The townspeople reacted with more murmurs and looks. Clearly, not all of them had known that nugget of information yet.
"Whether criminals and traitors burn or are beheaded is no concern of mine. Lord Keath has made his intentions clear and I have given you his orders. Seventy-three men in two weeks' time, Septon Darren." With that, Ser Norbert wheeled his horse around and left with his two men, hooves thundering over stones and earth on their path out of the town.
With a few additional words from Septon Darren, the crowd began to scatter back to their duties or homes. Septon Taler left to meet with his colleague, while the three others he had brought went in search of a meal and a place to sleep for the night.
Naruto and Ethan remained next to each other in the square.
Clicking his tongue, he dismounted and began leading his horse in search of the necessary supplies so that they could continue their journey. They were wasting daylight. Ethan followed behind.
That same day, they began trekking north and west, in the direction of Rushing Falls and into Goodbrook lands. They had to avoid outriders two times, hiding in thickets or among the trees when they rode past, which cost them more time, but on the sunset of the second day of riding the smell of smoke reached their noses.
Naruto's mare did not like that scent, and only continued to further dislike it as they drew closer to its origin. What his map named Rushing Falls was no more than a smoking ruin, only stone foundations and blackened remains still standing.
The town was supposed to serve them as a stopping point for a quick rest, but that idea was clearly impossible now.
As they made their way through the blackened streets Naruto took all of it in with a detached calm he did not like. Among the wreckage and ash, there were corpses as well. Where fire had been close enough nothing was recognizable about the charred lumps but in the middle of one street were two dead men, one in blue and mud red and the other in yellow with a blue stripe going diagonally down his chest.
It looked almost like they were embracing, had there not been shattered spear shafts clutched in both of their hands and piercing the other's torso. Naruto looked and saw, and he made his choice. There was a grim satisfaction in being sure.
He would have rather returned to Ashara back on Dragonstone, but that only he could do.
Leaving the remains of the town behind them they continued further north, doing a bit more riding every day now that Ethan felt a bit better. They avoided the roads again, as they had done in the Crownlands, mostly riding over forest paths or near small streams.
Eventually, they reached the Red Fork, its waters, coloured red by the mud House Tully had used for their sigil, rushing east towards the Trident. Riverrun was a to their west, where the Tumblestone met the Red Fork, barely a dot on the horizon.
They followed the River Road until the red sandstone walls of the castle were in clear view, the banners of House Tully flying proudly.
Around the three-sided castle other banners were gathered, most notably the grey direwolf on white of House Stark.
Naruto stopped his horse just as Ethan did the same, the relief palpable on the younger man's face.
"You'll be capable of the rest on your own, I trust," he said, already moving to turn his horse back east.
"Where are you headed now?" Ethan asked carefully, scratching at the hairs on his neck.
"Back south. I have unfinished business in King's Landing."
"Don't die. And thank you, for freeing me."
"It was only right. It was a debt I owed you," he said, and spurred his horse forward.
Naruto ignored the young lion cloaked in white guarding the entrance in the dark and entered the royal bedchamber through a window that was inaccessible for any other man.
In his sleep the king did not look particularly mad. There was no fire here, much less a headsman to carry out an order for execution. Aerys II slept alone on this night, the closest guard too far away to interfere even had there been a call for help, likely sent away from the door in a fit of paranoia.
He hardened his heart and drew his dagger, taking the last steps that separated him from the bed.
A quick, smooth cut opened the king's throat, and as had not happened in Westeros since the Dance, Valyrian steel tasted the blood of the dragon.
Pale, purple eyes flew open shock, and quiet, choked hacks and coughs sounded in the chamber. Hands rose to the bloody cut, long fingernails grasping at the skin in a fruitless effort to quell the bleeding. But it was already too late.
Naruto turned away and left the same way he had come, first the room and then the castle and city, on his way to now find the man he had just made king.
I hope you enjoyed chapter 37. Barely got this one done in time.
In the books, we haven't learned what is hidden in the fourth level of the Red Keep's dungeons, but torture devices and remains of their victims seems most probable. Likely from Maegor, and he earned his nickname.
The Riverlands are pretty much split in the Rebellion. Houses like Darry, Mooton, and Goodbrook stay loyal to the crown while others like the Tullys and Mallisters join the rebels. Likely, House Whent was on the side of the royalists too, but I don't think we ever get confirmation in the books, though I might be wrong about that. Hoster Tully burns down a town in Goodbrook lands for the disloyalty to him. It's Rushing Falls here, which is at the headwaters of one of sources of the Blackwater Rush.
The lake town is the one that Arya and Yoren and company seek refuge in and are then attacked by Ser Armory Lorch, who is the man that kills Rhaenys in the Sack. The town is completely abandoned and has no name in the books. I made it a church parish here, because there should be quite a few of those in Westeros.
Loyalty in feudal society is normally just the next step up from yourself, as I understand it. A peasant in Goodbrook lands is loyal to his local lord/landed knight, maybe to Lord Goodbrook and not necessarily to House Tully. Lord Goodbrook is, or at least should be, loyal to House Tully and not necessarily the King. Lord Tully is loyal to the King in turn. Of course, there is backstabbing and disloyalty galore, but the basic idea is not that everyone is loyal to the King first.
I think the last time a Targaryen was killed with Valyrian steel was Daemon and Aemon killing each other above the Gods Eye. Daemon stabs Aemon through the eye. I may have overlooked someone since then, but I'm pretty sure that is the case.
The additional men Aerys burns are the turnkeys and gaolers, if anyone was wondering. In the books he only banishes Lord Merryweather. He burns Lord Chelsted after he protests the Wildfire plot, but Chelsted is only made Hand after Connington fails to kill Robert in Stoney Sept.
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing. Until next time.