AN: New Chapter is ready to go.

In regards to any strange spellings-I do this in Google Drive, then turn it into a Word doc, then put it on here, and each one says some spelling from the last one is incorrect, so I am just going to stop changing those before posting.

I have also made definitive decks for the following characters: Tywin, Jon, Viserys, Sam, Edmure, Robert, Balon.

Now we shall leave Westeros for a bit in order to see what is happening in Essos.

But first a return to the capital.

CROWNLANDS-KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP

ROBERT

Robert walked into the Small Council room for the first time in what felt like ages. Thinking back, it was not since the Ironborn rebellion that he had stayed focused on a council meeting. Soon the other lords gathered and took their seats on the council table. Jon sat on Robert's right, with Renly and Varys filling out that half of the table. Stannis, Pycelle and Baelish filled the left half. Ser Barristan stood ready to protect the King, but was still able to add to their discussions.

"Alright, is there any urgent news that takes precedent?" He asked mainly looking at Jon.

"Not any that are truly urgent, but they all will have to be dealt with relatively soon Your Grace." Jon responded.

Robert nodded, "Alright then Renly, what have you to say regarding the Gold Cloaks?" He asked his youngest brother.

Renly sighed and seemed a bit tired. "Well the good news is they have all been outfitted with an official Gold Cloak deck, in addition to their own personal one. When one Gold Cloak retires at the end of his shift, he gives the official deck to his commander, who passes it along to whoever is replacing him. Their official decks are filled with cards that inflict damage or keep the criminals from acting, so as to minimize their risk of losing."

"It was not cheap let me tell you." Littlefinger chimed in. "A good amount of our immediate liquid funding went into it. I would say the whole thing cost roughly 500 Gold Dragons, though most of it was paid in Coppers and Silvers. Can't let any old guard have a deck that could defeat his lords."

"It can't be helped." Robert responded. "If I must choose between the city falling into chaos, or us having to tighten our belts a bit, then the choice is obvious." The irony of that statement was not lost on Robert, but he had recently started to head to the training grounds more often. Usually with Tommen, showing him the ropes. He hoped to one day get back to what he was.

Turning to Littlefinger he decided to attend to the money issue as soon as he could. "What ideas do you have to get this money back? Besides just taxing the merchants who sell the cards." He said feeling he knew what Baelish would suggest.

Baelish took a moment to think, "Well they are where most of the money is going, but if not them, then we may have to raise the tax on bread or fish. Raise it a few coppers and we will regain the money in a few months."

Stannis however had other thoughts. "We are not raising the tax on food. We are not going to starve our own people." Robert winced a bit at that statement. Stannis had gotten more stubborn on the subject of food availability since the Rebellion, which he spent most of starving in Storm's End.

"I agree with Stannis, besides such taxes will take too long." Robert felt a sense of familiarity regarding this issue, and after a moment he realized a solution.

"We shall do as Jaehaerys I did. A tax on luxury items nobles and wealthy merchants enjoy. Especially foreign goods. Either we get more money back quicker, or prices fall as the lords refuse to pay and we get the money when the lords pay the lesser prices."

Stannis turned to look at his brother. "What made you think of the Wise King?"

Robert got a grin on his face, "I was talking with Tommen about his lessons and he mentioned that was how Jaehaerys dealt with it. He said no lord was forced to pay a groat more than they had to for things they needed, but wanting was another story."

After that they spent some time deciding on what specific goods would be taxed and by how much, before tabling the issue for now and moving on to the next issue.

Stannis covered the state of the seas. "Some Stepstone pirates began to approach Dorne and the Stormlands. They have been driven off fairly quickly but it was still worth mentioning. I recommend informing Lord Redwyne to deploy his ships around the southern sea, while the royal fleet moves to join in. Hopefully it will dissuade them from trying anything."

Robert nodded in agreement. "See it done. Perhaps it will give lord Redwyne something else to think about." The actions of his younger son had apparently destroyed Paxter Redwyne. According to Varys he had aged ten years in a single moon and was on a downward path. Horas had returned home while Hobar remained in the dungeon. It had apparently caused a scandal to break out in the Reach.

Moving on to Varys' reports there was some new information. "Lord Tarly has strongarmed his eldest son and heir to take the black in favor of his brother. Lord Manderly was adding a tax on the fishermen as a compromise between getting a good haul and allowing the fish to repopulate for the year. Also, Prince Oberyn was preparing a trip to Essos, over rumors that another bastard of his was there." Varys informed them of the biggest news. The rest were trifling matters, such as talks of marriage, which lords were fighting over old borders, and how the Essosi were handling their affairs. Unfortunately even Varys' birds could only fly so fast, so the farthest east he had gotten was Norvos. With most of the matter settled or evaluated, the council meeting eventually came to an end. The lords left one by one to attend their other duties or relax depending on their character. Varys was the last one out only to be stopped by Ser Jaime, who had been guarding the outside. Ser Barristan and Robert approached him.

"Varys, you know this castle and its secrets better than anyone. Is that not so?" Robert asked.

Varys' looked surprised by this unexpected meeting. "Yes Your Grace, I do."

Robert looked at Ser Barristan, "Which Kingsguards are where?"

Barristan took a moment to think. "Ser Mandon is guarding the Queen, Ser Boros and Arys are with young Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella, Ser Greenfield is guarding the drawbridge of Maegor's Holdfast and Ser Meryn should be just finishing guarding Prince Joffrey while Sandor Clegane takes over." As much as Ser Barristan disliked a non kingsguard protecting the prince, none of them were exactly jumping to volunteer either.

Robert listened and looked relieved when he heard that. "Good, now then the three of us will follow Varys' as he leads us to a tunnel or room near the maids corridor." He commanded. Jaime and Ser Barristan shared a look but followed Varys as the King commanded. They were led behind a tapestry into a tunnel. Eventually they reached a room with a window but no door except through more of the tunnel, and a small hole into the halls of the maid's quarters.

The red keep employed some small-folk for the actual cleaning, and they largely lived in the city itself. The maid's quarters were reserved for ladies of minor nobility or daughters of knights who were essentially handmaids for the Queen and Princesses' handmaids. Those of some nobility but nor enough to justify being with royal ladies.

"Alright now, we wait here, if anyone tries to get in, we will see them. I already had Myrcella invite most of her ladies to spend time with her, so the halls should be mostly empty."

The others waited along with their king. Varys seemed to have an idea of what was going on but was not sharing with the Kingsguard. It seemed as if they had been in their for an hour, when they heard the unmistakable sound of someone walking down the hall.

"Is that…" Jaime muttered when the person came into view. He entered a room and Robert and the others rushed into the tunnel and into the hall and burst through the door. There they found Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard holding a girl, no older than 5-probably the sister of a maid-and pinning her to the wall.

He turned around in shock at the sight of the four men.

"Its over Trant. Drop the girl and surrender." Robert's voice boomed. Trant let go of the girl and she ran towards the four men, and Ser Barristan put himself between her and Trant.

"Varys! Grab the girl and get some guards in here. He can't leave with the three of us here." Varys did so and soon guards rushed into the room. Realizing that he could not defeat so many opponents alone, Meryn Trant surrendered. As he had given up, no duel began when Jaime went up to him after he was in chains and punched him in the face. "You were guarding my-my niece." Jaime said, voice hard with rage.

After he was sent to join Hobar in the dungeon for know Robert explained to the men what had led to this.

"Myrcella told me that the maids talked about him and his proclivities. They had tried to tell their families, but the fact that he was a kingsguard preying on those who barely qualify for nobility meant none thought they could accuse him. When Myrcella brought it up to her Septa, she told her it was likely the girls were lying to get her in trouble, but she still decided to take the risk while we were alone. We came up with that plan, I had thought the quarters were empty, but it seems two sisters had a fight and the younger one was forbidden from going with the Princess. I thought we would just corner him in a place he had no reason to be."

"Their families may have been right." Ser Barristan spoke. "I served with Trant for eight years, and I had no idea. Had someone accused him I probably would have defended my brother."

Varys spoke up. "I had heard rumors of course, but had assumed he was without victim as he would not risk the noble women, and he did frequent a brothel. I had thought he was making due with older women."

Robert nodded, "I don't think anyone of us saw it coming. Investigate the brothel. If they did satisfy his needs they will be stopped."

Jaime spoke up. "So what shall we do with him?" Anger still clear in his voice.

Robert sighed, "We may have outnumbered him in the moment of his arrest, but he could still declare a Trial by Combat. There he would only have to win once and be seen as innocent. Regardless, he is losing that White Cloak."

"I volunteer." Barristan and Jaime said simultaneously.

"Unfortunately, neither of you will not be facing him." Robert spoke with authority. "I was the one who chose him for the Kingsguard, I shall be his opponent if he claims innocence." He stared at his deck and the top card: Perfect Machine King, which he had bought from the blacksmith Varys had confirmed was his bastard.

ESSOS-PENTOS

VISERYS

Viserys Targaeryn was sitting and changing out his cards in his deck. He got rid of Battle Warrior and replaced it with the trap card Coffin Seller. While he was doing so Illyrio was moaning to him about how their plans were ruined.

Khal Drogo was dead, or if not then he would be soon. After the cards had appeared, the Lhazareen people whom the Dothraki preyed upon for slaves and supplies had realized they could finally fight back. It was not much at first; as Khalasars were larger than any one village. But over several moons and some help from the Free Cities who wished to be rid of the Dothraki, the tide had turned. Khal Drogo's Khalasar had been on their way to Pentos, only for a Braavosi sell-sword-now claiming to be sell-decks- company to cut them off. Their last news had the Khalasar broken into a dozen pieces, scattering to the wind. Vaes Dothrak laid abandoned after a surprise night strike from the Lhazareen and the foreign traders took out most of the drunken Khals their and the Dosh Khaleen who refused to abandon the Dothraki ways.

Illyrio had promised him forty thousand Dothraki Screamers, only for the Dothraki to all but cease to exist. And then there was Illyrio's own misfortune as well. One need only hear of the events in Slaver's Bay.

Slaver's Bay had quite the interesting population. For every Freeman, there were between five and ten Slaves depending on the city. Astapor, famous for its Unsullied slave soldiers, held out the longest, as the Unsullied were unable to challenge the Good Masters. Until a young slave managed to kill her Master in a duel, then claimed ownership of the Unsullied. She commanded them to sneak into the ranks of their fellow Unsullied and challenge the Masters to duels. Then she took ownership of their Unsullied. Now the former slaves had been freed, and the Unsullied chose to follow their new Savior Missandei.

'The girl is the same age I was when I lost everything, and now she is treated as a Queen.' Despite this Missandei was not herself a ruler; at least for now. Word was that she left most of the decision making to slaves who had served as scribes and assistants to the Masters. They had enough experience to not run the city into the ground, at least for now. But the slave trade and Unsullied training had come to an end, with those responsible put to death. Yunkai had been the first to fall, but without a single unifying force to rally behind, it had fallen into complete chaos. Now the only people left in the city were the dead, sick and vultures who lived off of the remains.

Finally Mereen had reached a sort of middle ground. Some of the more benevolent Masters had seen the writing on the wall and led their slaves to free the others. For now some man who was known as the Shavepate was the closest the city had to a single leader, though he was but one member of a council.

The destruction of Slaver's Bay, along with the fall of the Dothraki, would mean an end to the slave trade. Perhaps not immediately, but if Viserys lived to reach 80 he doubted anyone would still be in bondage at that point. The initial impact was already visible in the Free Cities, Braavos was the least affected, but it still took some loses just from the business loses former slavers presented. Though from all accounts it seemed that even the Iron Bank was more than happy to not have its due in this case.

The other free cities were another story. Each had had a slave revolt to some extent, but none had fallen as bad as Slaver's Bay; except for Volantis. Those who prided themselves as the last true remnant of Valyria had found themselves ripped apart by their slave's new monsters. Not that Viserys had minded that particular news. Hearing the Volantenes insult his bloodline for being infected by the First men from his parent's grandmother Betha Blackwood had hardened Viserys' heart against those who were his distant kin.

As for the remaining cities, the ruling people had maintained power, but at a cost. Concessions had to be made to many slaves, turning them into apprentices and giving them wages for their previous labor. Illyrio and many Magisters had taken huge loses, but Illyrio had been too tied to the slave trade. He was less likely to maintain power or regain his wealth.

It had become apparent to Viserys what Illyrio would gain from helping him kill the Usurper. Illyrio expected to be made a lord on the small council, and use his influence to bring Slavery to Westeros. Viserys had known that would never work, to try so would only lead to him being deposed right after he regains the throne. But he made sure to apply enough lip service that Illyrio still supported them. He had grown used to slaves after spending so much time on the run from city to city, but he knew the lords would look down on anything he did to help slavers.

It was after the Dothraki ceased to be a viable ally that Illyrio revealed a truly surprising piece of information: Viserys had been engaged for years. Arianne Martell would be his queen through the actions of Ser Willem Darry and Prince Oberyn Martell. When he first heard he had wanted to go to Dorne right away. But he knew it was not enough. Dorne could not defeat the other kingdoms by itself. The only advantage the Dornish had was their Desert. Viserys knew history well, especially that of his own family. Without the desert to sneak into, Dorne had never managed to make long term gains against the other kingdoms. Jaehaerys I had completely destroyed their invading force in a single battle, without losing a life on his end.

So, as it stood now, the strength of House Targaryean was the King, the Princess of Dragonstone, a man teetering on the brink of wealth and poverty, and the kingdom with the least offensive capabilities.

Viserys removed his Fake Trap and replaced it with Divine Dragon Ragnarok.

Illyrio had finished his complaining and had moved on to where other possible allies could be found. Specifically-through Daenerys. They needed all of the allies they could get in order to win. The only option that had not been exhausted was her hand. If they were to find any new allies, it would be through her.

If there was one bright spot it was her. Since the cards appearance they had of course practiced against each other. She had smiled like she had not since they were with Ser Willem. It had been nice to see that side of her return.

After spending an hour bringing up houses who may defect it given Dany's hand-and each suggestion being shot down for one reason or another. Viserys left to return to his quarters to reflect.

'House Greyjoy would just antagonize the rest of the Kingdoms, the Boltons would help us overthrow the Starks but could not hold the North as Oathbreakers, Tyrells were busy trying to marry into the Usurper's family, Dorne is already in our pocket, and houses Tully, Arryn, and Baratheon hold the Vale, Riverlands and Stormlands. The traitor Tywin is too feared for any support from the Westerlands. We could possibly turn his son Tyrion to us; but no one would obey a dwarf, and marrying Dany to him would send a bad message to the other houses.'

Viserys understood. If he wanted to reclaim his house's rightful place, he had to rely on outside aid. In itself it was a good thing. He would raise them to nobility to replace the traitors he would kill.

He stared at his deck. The appearance of the cards had thrown all of his plans off. But they also gave him hope. He would use them to end the Usurper and his bloodline. Baratheon, Starks, Arryn and Lannister. They would be reminded of his house's words. They would burn in the flames of his justice and choke on the blood of his family they had killed.

'Father, Rhaegar, Mother, Rhaenys, Aegon. You all will be avenged. I just need more time.' His thoughts then turned to his other family. The one he had never met. The one his brother had told him to expect in secret the last time they talked before his world had ended. When he had heard only Ned Stark and his Bannerman had survived, he knew what had happened.

'You too Jaehaerys/Visenya. I may have never met you, but your uncle will pay the price for killing you to appease the Usurper.'

AN: Originally this chapter was just going to be Viserys and some quick stuff tacked on to the end. But the ending lines popped in my head, and I wanted to end the chapter there, so I added the Robert part to lengthen it out. Was originally planning to have Viserys duel here, but realized Jorah was not yet there, and I could not have Viserys duel Illyrio's slaves because they were now mostly freed. And Dany is a bit of a scene stealer so she does not appear except in Viserys' thoughts. I do have at least one Viserys duel planned, but it will take awhile for his opponent to get there.

Next time we return to where it all began as we get our first Winterfell chapter since the prologue.

Jon's deck is basically an amalgamation of some of my favorite cards. He has a bunch of warriors, but none that have the title of "Knight" in the name, due to the fact that Jon is not of the faith of the seven and thus does not hold knighthood to be a big thing. He does have dragons in his deck, but with how common that became after the cards appeared, no one will think of him any different for it. Also gave him some "wolf" monsters but there were way less of those than I thought going in. He also has that mystery card he keeps contemplating, but don't expect to see it in action soon. Unfortunately any hints I give to it will give it away, so it will be awhile.

Feel Free to review and Favorite.

Jaehaerys Joestar