"Four of them?" Margaery asked in a whisper.

Lucinda nodded. Her cheeks were red from crying, but even then, her brothel-madam's dress still looked alluring. "Four… in one night." Her fingers curled into fists.

"Did they not… have protection?" Margaery asked.

Lucinda glared at her as though Margaery herself were the one who had murdered four of her whores. "Protection?" She spat. "We had protection until every lord with two coins to clink together started offering more money for the biggest brutes they could find. I doubt you'll find a brothel in the city that has any protection left."

"I'm sorry… please, just tell me what happened." Margaery sat next to Lucinda.

"Four men, it was a big name day for one of them, so they wanted four women. They paid, told me to send them to a tavern for the evening. Mary, Beth, Jenny and Holly, four of my nicest girls. The men promised they would pay them extra for sending them out of the brothel. But they never came back the next day. I went to the tavern to find them… they were in the alleyway out back. Beth had an earing that they… they ripped her ear off to take. And Holly… If she didn't have a birthmark on her hip, I wouldn't have recognised her." Lucinda sniffed. "I asked the tavern owner, he says he found them in one of the rooms. The men were gone."

"So he just… dumped them in the street."

"He said he needed the room."

Margaery tried to take Lucinda's hand, but she snatched it away. "And the goldcloaks refuse to investigate?"

"Yes," she spat. "They say until the King's killer is found, that is their priority. Four whores murdered openly in a tavern doesn't mean anything to them."

"I will send some of my own men to investigate. You have my word, if these killers can be found, they will be."

"I'll recognise them on sight, I'll never forget them."

Margaery nodded. "I am so sorry for what has happened to you, but my men will be here by the end of the day. I will also pay for some guards for you, if you can make sure that the money is not traced to us." Lucinda nodded, and she would use an intermediary. If it was revealed, then she would send him back to Highgarden for 'stealing from House Tyrell' and they would give him another post.

But as she turned to leave, Lucinda spoke again. "What am I supposed to do with them?"

"WIth them?"

Lucinda led her through the brothel to the basement. Margaery was careful to keep her hood raised so no one in the brothel could identify her. In the basement were four bodies, wrapped in stained bed sheets, the smell of rot already rising from them. "You kept their bodies?"

"What was I supposed to do, just leave them on the streets?!"

"I only mean, why have they not been buried?"

Lucinda scoffed. "Buried? Ever since the new High Septon was appointed, suddenly what is written about whores in some holy book matters. No sept in the city will accept them for burial. Apparently they were sinners. What does that make the septons who fucked them?"

"I'll find one." Margaery promised. "Someone will accept them. I swear it."

Only when she was in her carriage again several streets away did Margaery lower her hood. "How bad does it look?" Garlan asked.

Margaery shook her head. "I don't think we're winning this one back around." Lucinda had been reporting on her clients to the Tyrells since they'd arrived in the capital. We were supposed to protect her in return. "But we can try." She told Garlan about what she'd promised.

He nodded. "I'll send someone to investigate as soon as we're back in the keep. Can you think of a sept that will take the bodies?"

Margaery nodded. "One or two. It would be easier if our Most Devout allies were still here, but I should be able to get one of them to accept the bodies." If they did, she might be able to identify more allies against the High Septon when the Most Devout returned with their new High Septon. If so, then it would be much easier for the crown to side with them over the man currently occupying the seat.

But there was another matter of more importance. She told Garlan about the gold cloaks.

"We knew that commander Rennifer was ordered to track down the killer, but ignoring the murder of four whores in a brothel! Surely that cannot continue."

"Will the council call him off?"

"I don't think the council can call him off." He sat back in the carriage and ran his fingers through his hair. Garlan wasn't sleeping well, dark shadows were under his eyes and his usually groomed hair was getting more and more tangled. "He was named by Cersei, and without a Hand to say otherwise, only Cersei can remove him, and try getting Cersei to act against anyone who can say they are hunting down Joffrey's killer."

"There must be something that can be done?"

Garlan shook his head. "Not much in truth. We can hardly start deploying soldiers to the capital to patrol the streets, Cersei would never allow it, and we don't even know if the people would any longer." He sat back. "Until Cersei allows the goldcloaks to patrol again, this is like to continue."

Margaery sighed. "At least we can draw some comfort that it will hurt the Lannisters more than it will hurt us."

Garlan looked at her like he wanted to say something, but in the end kept his tongue.

()()()

Another evening, another confrontation with the Kingsguard. Margaery had begun to wonder what had made ser Jaime ensure that Loras Tyrell never guarded Tommen in the evening. Although, it may well have been Cersei's insistence. Ser Jaime was rarely seen in the keep to issue orders, and if Cersei gave them orders, then they were bound to obey. And by her orders, none were to see the king.

"You cannot pass," Sandor Clegane said, his huge form blocking the door.

"Please, master Clegane, I only wish to speak with the king, you may be with us if you wish, I need no privacy."

"You think I want to hear what you utter to the king?" Sandor scoffed. The man had been Joffrey's sworn sword, but he seemed to hold little affection for his new king.

"Master Clegane-" she began.

"You're not queen anymore. When they have lie beside the king and call it a wedding, then you can see him, until then, no."

"As you say… ser," Margaery replied, turning on her heel and leaving, knowing how much the Hound hated being called ser. Petty, perhaps, but it felt good.

()()()

"How do the Lannisters expect to heal the rift between us if they keep us at sword's length?" She demanded as the brush pulled through her hair.

"The Lannisters are a pride of lions, they do not speak with one voice." Leonette reminded her from beside the window. She was nursing a cup of water in her hand, staring out into the dark. "Lord Loren and you worked together on our plan to remove the High Septon, did he not?"

Margaery knew Leonette was right, and sighed. "Perhaps, but if we are only friends by convenience, then our alliance will only last on eternal war. The High Septon will not last, neither will Shireen Baratheon and what is left of her claim. When they are done, what preserves us?"

Leonette turned to her, the shadows of the light and the dark under her eyes dancing on her face. She looked at Margaery, her eyes still bright. "That may depend on you, my queen."

Margaery sighed. "Perhaps, but Cersei still bars our path."

Leonette sat next to her. "Megga, leave us."

Megga stopped pulling the brush through Margaery's hair and set it down. "My queen." She bowed and left.

When the door clicked behind Megga, Leonette sat forward. "Cersei will not be able to bar the path forever. She is a sceptic, suspicious of all and hungry to keep power. But she is not queen, nor can she be. When Tommen comes of age, he will come into power, and you will be his wife."

"But Cersei will still have her claws in him."

Leonette spoke calmly. "You would rip a boy from his own mother? I have never known you to be cruel. Speak it from time to time when your anger is roused, but never be it." She held out her cup of water for Margaery to drink.

"Perhaps the time for kindness is over. What has kindness won me here?"

"Much. The people have not forgotten what House Tyrell did for them. Loren Lannister saved them in battle, and afterwards you saved them from starvation. Together, you can restore the order that came before."

"You believe that?"

"I do."

Margaery drank the water and took Leonette's hand. "Thank you, Leonette."

"It's my charge." Leonette replied. "You focus your energies on rebuilding the relationship with lord Loren, he is the key. In the meantime, I will handle your ladies and manage their affairs."

Margaery nodded. "Very well. I'll speak with Loren again at next opportunity." She squeezed Leonette's hand. "You have earned your reward."

"I need no reward, my lady."

"But you'll get one. Your House has gone over to the Baratheons against us, yet you have remained loyal. When the war is won, you will become the lady of Cider Hall alongside my brother."

Leonette's eyes widened. "I… don't know what to say." She swallowed.

"You don't need to say anything. But you're right. We must reward those who serve us, truly and honestly. And you have served, my dear good-sister."

"I see." Leonette got to her feet. "Thank you, my queen. May I beg your leave tonight?"

"Of course." Margaery shared a smile with Leonette before her good-sister left.

As she was breaking her fast, there was a hammering on the door. Alla went to investigate and Garlan stormed in. "Leave us." He demanded of Alla and Megga.

The two ladies turned to Margaery, who dismissed them with a wave. "Is there a problem brother?" Margaery asked. What new curse was ailing House Tyrell's fortunes now?

Garlan rested his fists on the table before her. "Did you tell Leonette of our plans to name her Lady of Cider Hall?"

"Yes." Why was he so angry? It had been agreed long ago, but kept to themselves, so that the Lannisters would not hear of it. If the Lannisters heard, they might try to appoint their own lord to the seat. Cider Hall was one of the great lordships of the Reach, and Garlan would become it's lord, a new line of House Tyrell, vastly increasing their power withing the Reach, eliminating a rival power.

"We agreed we wouldn't do that!"

"It was going to happen, and Leonette deserves to know that we will reward her for her loyalty."

"Loyalty indeed. But what happens to her uncle, her cousins? She fears that you have just condemned her family to death, or made them all think her a traitor." Garlan's golden eyes showed his anger and disappointment. "You know how much she loves her family, Margaery."

"I never suggested that the Fossoways would be killed. It is the stroke of a quill that will make her the noble lady of Cider Hall, not the stroke of a sword." She made to get up. "I will speak with her."

"I don't think that will help." Garlan said. "I have already explained, but give her a day at least." Garlan stood tall. "She says that you should speak with lord Loren today, if you can."

Margaery nodded. She never intended to cause Leonette any worry. She had been of great help to her when the nightmares came or the struggle of queendom and household became too much. And yet it was still too much, she hadn't considered her words, thought them through with how well she knew Leonette. What was happening to her?

"Perhaps you need to rest, instead."

"I need to do what I can."

"No member of House Tyrell stands alone. If you need help, we are here to do so. And you cannot help us if you wear yourself to the bone."

"I am needed, we cannot afford to rest while the situation is so imperilled."

"Not as imperilled as it was." Garlan said.

Margaery frowned. It was far too soon to hear from Oldtown. "What's happened?"

"We have received word from the front lines. Lord Florent has taken Blackhaven. This has opened the dornish passes for supplies, and has opened the defences of the southern stormlands to our attacks. Lord Loren has given him leave to move on the River Slayne, formerly the limit of our rangings."

That was good news. The seat of House Dondarion was a formidable castle and a key fortress in the stormlands. "Did we take captives?"

"Sadly no. Lord Beric was not present in the siege, and he has no family to speak of, only a garrison remained."

"Is there any other news."

Garlan nodded. Not long ago, the front line had faced stiffer resistance and counter-raids by Shireen Baratheon's army. But with the additional forces sent from the capital, both Lannister and Tyrell forces were now taking advantage. While they had yet to resume their full advance, raiding parties were reaching castle walls, and the forces within them were no longer ranging out against them, but were stockpiling supplies and fortifying. "It bodes well for when we can at last finish the advance and bring the war to an end."

"Thank the gods. Will news be spread?"

"Criers are spreading it now, by evening the entire city will know."

Margaery settled back into her chair, relieved. If the war was going well, the citizens of King's Landing might be more amenable to their rule. A quiet people would be far easier to win back to their side, and less keen to try and kidnap her and sell her to their enemies. But if they tried again, they did so at their peril.