Chapter XIX: Affairs of State and Faith

Baelor

The Red Keep

"Did you have to needle that Hightower septon so?" asked my uncle, with his usual tone of begrudging fondness mixed with irritability, which he used when he did not approve of something I've done but was amused by it.

"If I cannot spit upon the Hightowers, I shall spite them." I responded him. "When I die, that will be my greatest deed and renown. They shall write upon my tomb: . Abelar still resents me for crushing his hopes and dreams – and plays at games and makes mockery of the will of the Seven-Who-Are-One. Lord Lyonel is still the same man who defied the High Septon for thirteen years by living in sin with his stepmother. And if Lord Hightower or his cousins irk me further, when he passes, I shall deny his children their legitimacy – being born as they were. And since the Stranger has seen fit to do away with Ser Martyn in Dorne, it would please me if Oldtown shall be inherited by the husband of my dear aunt and my dearest cousin after him. Or I might not, if I feel merciful – even so, a raven should fly to the Hightower to remind its lord that the marriages of my fair cousins shall be determined by my will alone – it would not do for them to marry their cousins."

"I had not considered the possibility", said Uncle Viserys, "though I confess I find some strange appeal to it. If we speak of kin, have you had news of your sister?"

"Daena has deigned to write me", I said to him. "She is with child, and having done his duty, Jonnel has turned himself to pleasure."

Having heard me, uncle rose from his chair, and before him stood not an uncle, but Prince Viserys, Hand of the King. He roared as if he was a dragon true: "The wretched boy dares to take a mistress? I will drag him out of his wolves' den and have him walk barefoot and whipped to King's Landing itself."

I had chosen my words unwisely, perhaps with intention. But his reaction made necessary to ease him of his confusion: "Be calm, Lord Hand. Lord Jonnel has not wandered away from his marital bed. He has taken a company of men and ventured beyond the Wall, to seek the Horn of Winter – having heard of the Seven Stones, he now seeks an ancient relic for himself. Though I would have been most joyous if you would have acted as such when Aegon broke his vows."

My uncle resented my last remark, but his mood was calmer and so was his speech: "You should have spoken clearer, Your Grace. I feel tired, if the King would allow me to retire to my chambers?"

The Small Council Chamber

"…and we can conclude that His Grace's expedition, taking account the coin the Braavosi had sent in restitution, and the indemnity that Pentos shall pay, and the plunder taken, has had no effect upon the treasury, but has indeed brought more gold into it." Lord Plumm ended thus his speech, after giving a full reckoning of the workings of the treasury from the day I became king to the present one.

Having heard of the ways I had earned coin; I now gave instruction on how to spend it: "Have your clerks put aside two-thirds of royal share of plunder. And count Pentos' payments with such. I wish to build for the Seven Stones a resting place greater than the Starry Sept, and the Seven should look kindly upon me if a seventh of all plunder, shall go to such deed. And the Pentoshi gold would serve to aid in the construction, without putting another strain on the coffers."

Though perhaps they wished to say otherwise, none of the Council did, knowing that I was resolute in the matter and neither wishing to appear the least pious. My uncle had a look in his eyes but said nothing – we would undoubtedly speak of it in private later.

"For the rest of the coin, put them in the hands of the almoners, so that they may build and keep alms-houses, and bring relief to our poor and weary."

To that, my counsellors were freer with their protests. Lord Hunter had harshly called it a waste, Lord Plumm had, in a manner most subdued, suggested that the coin would be more suited to fill the Golden Granary for the future winter. Lord Alyn and the Hand thought the coin could be used for war, not peace. The Chief Confessor, Maester Rowley, approved of it, on account that it pacified the populace, and Munkun was quick to agree with him, but agreeing was most of what he was doing in his second stint of office – eager to keep his post.

Once we put gold and silver to rest, I turned to Lord Hunter: "My lord, have the men of the City Watch stand on alert and keep the city peaceful."

Lord Hunter was bewildered: "There has been no unrest among the smallfolk, Your Grace. A closer eye is hardly needed, for it would make them wary."

"There has been no unrest, or greater ill deeds, but perhaps for lack of opportunity. But a new dawn brings new trouble. The arrival of the Stones will bring a myriad of pilgrims to King's Landing, eager to see the relics. And cutthroats and thieves, and other villains, with no such pious thought, would think themselves lucky."

Having seen reason, Lord Hunter had no further protests. My uncle however, sought clarification: "You have brought the relics to the Royal Sept. Surely, you do not mean to receive every pilgrim in the Red Keep? It is unwise beyond belief."

"Fear not, uncle, that would not do. We must allow them to see the wonders with their own eyes, so I request that you shall see that the ruins of the Dragonpit be cleansed, to allow for great crowds and the display of the statues."

A septon, who served as scribe for the meetings, shyly made himself heard: "Pardon me, Your Grace, for speaking. But the holy men of the Most Devout have suggested and asked me humbly to bring it before you in counsel, to petition Your Grace to allow the Faith to keep a single chapter of the Warrior's Sons, so that the Seven Stones may be kept in security."

A cacophony of protests arose, defeaning, strident, angry. The septon shrunk under so many wrathful eyes, chief amongst them mine own. I rose and answered him with a cold, steely voice: "I am the only Warrior's Son this realm shall need! Go and remind your master that Hugor of the Hill was no High Septon, but king, and truth was not revealed to a priest, but to a lord of war. And next I lay my eyes upon thee, speak with your own tongue, and not the cunning, slimy words of Septon Abelar, or I shall find another scribe."

The septon fled, and I spoke again: "If I were a man more wretched, I'd ask if none would rid me of the turbulent Most Devout, but I shall forgive his slights once more."

The room was silent. "But the septon's word have some truth beyond them. Ser Vallyn, have Ser Jonos Edgerton summoned to the chamber."

We awaited in silence his arrival. Ser Jonos came, bowed his head low, and asked of duty: "What does Your Grace desire of me?"

"Ser Jonos, summon the men that remain of the host, and who have laid their eyes upon the holiest of relics, and choose of them five score of the most pious and eager for such duty. This Holy Hundred shall guard the Seven Stones, day and night in the Dragonpit, each in their turn. And for seven moons, the Stones shall remain there, so that the pilgrims may gaze upon them and speak their prayers."