Chapter 19 3 страница

" Hold Jon. The fight is over. And Meryn Trant has lost. " Glancing over his shoulder, Jon was more than a little surprised that it hadn't been his father who'd spoken, but rather his Master, Lord Nox.

" Your grace, " his Master pressed on, stepping up next to Jon. " I would ask that Trant be given over to me for questioning. This…desire of his to purchase a girl to use and abuse has…unsettled me. Particularly if slavery is involved, which is against the laws of Westeros. And I would like to see just how deep this rot goes and pull it out root and stem from this city and Westeros. "

Still keeping his hold on the knight's armor, Jon turned his attention back to the king. But the king didn't seem to be paying attention to Lord Nox at all as he just stared down from the throne at Jon. Or more specifically, the blade Jon was holding in his hand. " You never said that you could make swords like your own, sorcerer. "

" No one ever asked me to construct another. At least not directly, " Lord Nox replied to the king's comment with a shrug. " And before anyone gets any ideas, no amount of coin or promise of power will convince me to part with one. Only those that I deem worthy will be allowed to carry a lightsaber. Jon here is but the first, but he had to go through hell and back to earn the right to wield it. Now, can I take this sack of shit here for intensive questioning, or no? "

" Wh – Oh, yes, " the King stumbled, obviously having difficulty turning his sight away from Jon's lightsaber. " Trant, you got your ass beat by a boy less than half your age. You're no longer a member of the Kingsguard and will be questioned by the sorcerer about that buying a little girl thing. Sorcerer, you learn anything about this shit, and I want to be the first you tell. "

Withdrawing his lightsaber, Jon retracted the blade and clipped the hilt onto his sword belt. " Thank you, your grace, " Lord Nox said, taking Jon's place as he grabbed the former kingsguard by the collar of his armor. " I will keep you appraised of what I discover. And Pycelle…where do you think you are sneaking off to? "

With a start, Jon spun towards the kingsguard who'd had a hold of Pycelle, only to find said Kingsguard standing there alone with a dumbfounded expression on his face. As for the grand maester, somehow the old man had managed to get to the far corner of the throne room near to a small door that led somewhere further into the keep. Pycelle's chains rattled as he jerked, his hand pausing in the act of trying to open the door to his freedom.

" Pycelle! " the king's voice was near deafening as he shot up to his feet. " Stop him! "

Several swords cleared their scabbards as the remaining kingsguard made to follow the king's command, and Pycelle gave off a shout of alarm as he wrenched on the door trying to open it before they could reach him. Summoning his lightsaber back to his hand, Jon's thumb passed over the mark on the hilt, bringing the white blade to life as he made to go after the fleeing Maester. But none were fast enough as a loud whistle sounded, followed by a large blur of grey and white, followed by two smaller blurs, racing across the tiled floor.

With a snarl, Winter's powerful teeth dug into the flesh of the Maester's leg before the massive direwolf dug her claws into the tiles and shook her head violently. A wet tearing sound came from Pycelle as he screamed in agony before being tossed easily a good ten feet into the air and landing in a bloody lump on the floor. What was left of his leg still clenched tightly in Winter's jaw. Dropping the severed limb, Winter pounced onto Pycelle's back, pinning him to the floor. Now pinned, Pycelle could do nothing as Winter reached down and lightly bit down onto the back of the Maester's neck with just enough force to drag the old Maester across the floor and back towards the steps of the Iron Throne. The bleeding stump from where his leg had been leaving a trail of blood on the tiles as he was dragged. Not to be outdone by their mother, both Ghost and Grey Wind worked together as the two young pups each grabbed an opposite end of the severed leg and dragged it along behind their mother.

More than a few Lords took a step back, and more than one Lady fainted from the sight of the blood, as Winter passed them by, giving the direwolf plenty of space. Those at the base of the throne though all had differing reactions. The moment Winter had released the Maester, the kingsguard swarmed the old man with swords drawn, ready to cut him down should he try another escape. Which was unlikely given he was short a leg. Lord Renly looked more than slightly pale and refused to even look at where the Maester was laying or at the trail of blood he'd left behind. Lord Stannis remained completely impassive, but Jon could sense a not so small amount of satisfaction coming from the stoic man. The larger man and the small one with the thinly trimmed mustache were both avoiding looking at the scene. The old man that stood next to the throne seemed almost…disappointed for some reason Jon could not fathom while the king was almost radiating excitement. The queen though, she had the most complicated look on her face. A mix of anger and frustration and almost…envy.

" Seven hells, Ned, " the king laughed as Winter retreated to his father's side with Ghost and Grey Wind quickly following. " Perhaps I should start putting a few wolves amongst my guard. Someone get this piece of filth out of here and close up that wound, he has a date with the king's justice. And it'd be a shame if he died of blood loss before he loses his head. You, boy, you hold a moment. Time to do something I should've done years ago. "

Jon wasn't sure just what the king was talking about until he found himself standing right before him after Pycelle had been dragged off by two men wearing golden cloaks and one of the Kingsguard. " Your grace? " Jon murmured as he started to go down to a knee.

" None of that shit now, boy, " the king demanded, making Jon freeze where he was. " Years ago, your father wrote me asking to legitimize you with the consent of Lady Stark. Well, I was talked out of it for some horse shit reason as you hadn't earned it yet. But I say now to hell with that. You went to Valyria and spat in the eye of the dead dragonlord sister fuckers and came out alive. And now you just beat a kingsguard in fair combat. I'd say you more than earned this, boy. Therefore, I, King Robert Baratheon, First of My Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, do hereby grant you the name Stark. So long as you do not seek your brother's place as future Warden of the North. "

Jon was caught completely unaware, his mouth hanging open as he tried, and failed, to form some type of reply. All his life there was only one thing he ever wanted. And now, now he had that one thing. To be recognized as a Stark. A true Stark. " I – I thank you, your grace, " Jon breathed, finally finding the words and dropping to a knee before the king. " And Robb, my brother, he is the future Warden of the North and my father's heir. And I will spend my life serving him. "

The king gave off an amused grunt. " Just like your father, boy. Now get on your feet and someone crack some fucking barrels of wine! We have a new son of House Stark to herald! That calls for a fucking drink! "

During his time amongst the Kingsguard, Jamie had seen more feasts than he had seen combat engagements, particularly under the rule of the fat oaf. Usually he stayed off to the side, ignoring all save for his beloved sister. But not this time. No. This time while the feast was raging, he was stuck wading through the ankle-deep layer of shit and grime that was a constant amongst the streets of Flea Bottom. Which certainly wasn't where he'd expected to be when the night began.

Almost as soon as Pycelle's blood had been cleaned up off the floor, the throne room had been redone into a banquet hall with tables set to seat hundreds. The head table of course held the royal family and the Small Council, but unlike usual feasts there was a place of honor set right next to the king for his ever so honorable Lord Stark and his sons. Honestly, if Jamie didn't know the king's preference for women, he would swear that the king wanted to bed Stark given how much he fawned over the damn man. There was another seat of honor that'd been set up for the sorcerer, but the man proved to be just as boring as Stannis was as he decided to forgo attending the feast in favor of questioning Jamie's former sworn-brother, Meryn Trant. Not that Jamie was especially upset with the loss. The man was little more than a thug with next to no skill with a blade. But still, to be defeated so easily by a boy, and a Stark no less, it was pathetic. And in his mind, the kingsguard was far better without the man.

The sorcerer's absence didn't last for long though. As before the first cup had even been drained, the man made his reappearance, apparently having gotten Trant to sing like a songbird. Of course, the fat ass didn't want to stop his revelry, but Stark, Stannis, and the Hand seemed all the willing to put the feast on hold while they went to a side room to discuss what the sorcerer had pulled out of Trant. And while normally the king would just ignore his brother and Hand and keep drinking, his devotion to Stark was enough to pull him away from the feast. As the kingsguard that'd been assigned to guard the fat oaf on this day, Jamie was of course forced to go along with them as an emergency Small Council meeting was called.

The moment the last of the Small Council arrived, Renly of course, the sorcerer laid out everything that Trant had told him. Apparently, a group of slavers from Essos had somehow managed to find root here in King's Landing. According to what Trant knew at least, they were more focused on purchasing slaves and smuggling them to Essos than they were about selling slaves in the city. But evidently there was enough of a demand for those with…exotic tastes in pleasure that they had begun selling pleasure slaves of all ages to those who had the coin to pay for them. And apparently, the young girl that was supposed to have a similar look to Myrcella was indeed real and was soon to be auctioned off to the highest bidder for whatever purpose they deemed fit.

For most of the conversation, Jamie simply stared blankly ahead, letting the words from the Small Council just pass him by. Robert was, predictably, enraged. Not for the people being sold of course, but rather because it was happening right under his nose. Stannis was his normal stoic self, decrying the action and stating that the slavers needed to be hunted down. A thought that was mirrored by Stark and Jon Arryn. The eunuch, in one of the rare few times Jamie could get a read on the man, seemed mildly perturbed. Though again, for what reason he didn't know. Baelish didn't seem to care much. And Renly, well, he seemed to find the issue not worth his time as he simply stated that they could assign a few of the city watch to go to Flea Bottom and route out the slavers in the morning.

In the end though, all of their opinion's mattered not as the sorcerer calmly and firmly told them that he would be taking a group of Northmen and whoever else he could grab and head down to Flea Bottom to deal with the slavers personally that very night. The way he said it, the way he simply silenced and overruled the most powerful men in all of Westeros, it reminded Jamie a great deal of watching his own father in action. Not much was said after that. And, having laid out his plans, the sorcerer marched out of the Small Council chambers to go and collect those he would be taking with him to Flea Bottom while the fat oaf declared that they would leave this matter to the sorcerer, and that they had a feast to return too.

His sister was, predictably, waiting for him the moment he returned to the feast and pulled him aside the first moment she could. From the urgency with which she pulled him aside, he had hopes that his beloved sister wanted to share a night of passion with him while the fat oaf was distracted. But sadly, that was not her reasoning at all as she started asking him just what had been discussed with the sorcerer. So he told her exactly what was said to the word, or at least all that he had been paying attention to. And when he'd finished, she asked something of him that momentarily took him aback.

" Go with them, Jamie. "

" What? " he had asked. " Why? "

" Because the sorcerer is using this as a play for power, " his sister hissed, even in anger still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. " Pycelle was loyal to our family. And Trant had his uses to us. In one move, he's eroded some of our House's power and now he's seeking to supplant us. "

Jamie shook his head, politics being his brother's strong point and not his own. " I doubt that, Cersei. If so, then why has he stayed in the North all these years? "

" Because he was biding his time! " Cersei hissed, casting a glance around for any prying ears. " What better place to hide than under the watchful eye of the wolves? Robert won't do anything about the man and the threat he possesses because he takes Stark's word as law. But I know better. He's playing the game. And I won't let him wander around my city unwatched. Go with him and keep an eye on him at all times. "

Jamie wanted to deny the request, marching around Flea Bottom and hunting down foreign slavers wasn't his idea of a pleasant night. But it was hopeless. He could never deny his sister anything. " The things I do for love, " he said, taking her hand and pressing his lips to her porcelain skin.

" There's one more thing, " Cersei said, now smiling. " This girl. The one who is said to resemble Myrcella. If she truly exists, and if she's still alive amongst those slavers, kill her. I won't stand for a peasant girl, a slave whore child at that, being passed off as Myrcella. Her very existence is an insult to us and our family. And a Lannister always repays those who insult them. "

And now, here he was, following the sorcerer through the dimly lit streets of Flea Bottom with shit, piss and the gods only knew what else splashing against his boots. The consolation, it wasn't much of one, was that he wasn't the only one going through this. The frilled rose and Renly's 'squire' Loras Tyrell had come as well on Renly's recommendation, though by the look on his face he was enjoying this about as much as Jamie was, perhaps less so. Even the half dozen or so northerners who were accompanying them did not look pleased with what they were walking into and through. The two who seemed completely at ease were the sorcerer and Stannis's own lacky, Davos Seaworth. The latter was understandable, as the former smuggler was said to have been raised in this shit hole. The sorcerer though, well Jamie was never one to wish to go without eyes, but in this instance, he could see the advantages of not being able to see the shit one was walking through. Though it would be nice if the two weren't talking like a couple of fishwives out for an evening stroll.

" And young Shireen? Has she been keeping up on the exercises that I gave her before I left Dragonstone? "

" Aye, she has at that. Damn near made Lady Baratheon's heart give out when she went into the little Lady's room one morning and found her floatin in the air above her bed. She's here in King's Landing as well. No doubt hopin that ya'll be takin her back North with ya when ya work here is done. And I do believe Lord Stannis will give his consent now. "

The fact that Stannis's daughter had the same magic as the sorcerer had caused no shortage of tongue wagging ever since the news came to the court. Cersei had been, well, livid. The fact that Stannis's child had this gift when her – their – children apparently did not was a fact that had not sat well with his beautiful twin. She'd even begun musing about the idea of summoning the sorcerer to the court to train the royal children. In part because their children were certainly not inferior in any way in comparison to Stannis's child. But to also keep a better eye on the sorcerer.

" Her powers are progressing well then, " the sorcerer hummed. " I wasn't expecting her to actually have reached the level to be able to perform a floating meditation… But if she has progressed to this point then – Oh, well…here we are. "

Looking around, Jamie was certain the sorcerer was losing his mind as he'd pulled them to a stop just before they could enter a small square in Flea Bottom. Whatever it was the sorcerer saw, or thought he saw, Jamie couldn't see it. All he could see was a square filled with shit and piss and a few ragged smallfolk milling around despite the sun having set some time ago. In short, it was just like every other square they'd come across since descending from the Red Keep.

" How can you be certain…Lord Sorcerer? " Renly's greenboy squire asked, his hand gripping the hilt of his longsword tightly and his voice shaking. Gods…the things he did for love.

" There are two guards keeping watch from the windows on the second level of the… Let's call it a house on the far side of the square from us, " the sorcerer stated, making Jamie immediately look up to the windows in question to try and see whatever the hell it was the sorcerer was seeing. " Then there are also the two men guarding the streets. One by the entrance and the other stumbling around the square. "

Squinting in the light, Jamie finally spotted the two men in the windows and the two that were supposedly on guard on the street. Though how in the hells the sorcerer could tell that without eyesight was beyond him.

" How can you tell, Lord Sorcerer? " Loras again asked, getting far too close to Jamie for his liking. He swore he could still smell Renly on him. And it was not a pleasant smell. " They're not carrying weapons…and they could just be out for a walk. "

" Ya don't walk around Flea Bottom for fun after the sun sets, milord, " Davos responded before the sorcerer could. " And look at the one walkin around. He's followin the same path each pass. And he keeps his right hand near his waist. If I was a bettin man, he has a dagger tucked in his pants right under his hand. " Loras grumbled more than slightly at the telling off by Davos, but a sharp look from the sorcerer, even though it was nothing more than a turn of his head, was enough to shut the fool up finally.

" Davos is correct in his assessment, " the sorcerer stated. " You lot will stay here and wait for my signal. Then move in and take out the two guards on the ground before securing the entrance. Make sure no one gets out of there free. I don't give a damn if they're a lord or a lady. Anyone who tries to come out of there will be spending what little is left of their short lives in the black cells. "

" And what's your signal, sorcerer? " Jamie asked, surveying the yard and already writing the two 'guards' off as little more than flies to be swatted away.

" When people start dying, " the sorcerer answered before jumping straight upwards to the room of the building they were standing next to with no warning at all.

" By the Seven, " Loras gulped, staring at where the sorcerer had disappeared to. " How…How is such a thing possible? "

" That? That wasn't nothin, " one of the northern brutes laughed at the Tyrell's shocked expression. " The sorcerer won't be needin us for this ramble. We're only here to clean up the mess and make sure nobody gets away. So get ready southern boy. This ain't no tourney you about to be fightin in. "

It took all his willpower not to snap at the uncouth brutes from the North, but mercifully he was saved from their presence as the silence of the square was shattered with screams of death. Grasping his sword, Jamie could only watch with wide eyes as part of a wall burst outwards, a body flying through the rubble being what caused the destruction. The man, at least he assumed it was a man, landed in a heap on the ground with the rubble of the house. But before the fool could even so much as let out a groan, he was suddenly flying back into the house were a blood-red blade was waiting to cut the man's head clean from his shoulders.

The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Jamie did something he hadn't done since he was but a boy. He froze. His body unwilling to move as his mind tried to come to grips with what he'd just seen. Davos and Loras were both equally as shocked by what they'd just seen. To his shame though, he wasn't the first to shake himself free of his stupor.

" For Highgarden! "

" Fookin idiot, " Davos growled as Loras, his sword clear of its scabbard, charged headlong towards the building the sorcerer had apparently gone into. " He's gonna get himself killed, young fool. "

Jamie had a much stronger word for the idiot, especially seeing as how he charged right past the two men who'd been standing guard outside the building. Both of whom drew their daggers as the young Tyrell passed them by, aiming to trim the roses as it were. But House Tyrell would not be losing a son this night as Davos, in a surprising burst of movement, caught up to the first man who was poised to strike Loras in the back and ran said man through with a short dagger. " I'm getting too fookin old for this, " he could hear Davos grumble as Loras, finally realizing what an idiot he was being, stopped and stared with wide eyes at the newly made corpse and the man who saved his life.

The second man that'd been standing outside the building quickly met his end at the end of Jamie's sword. " Hardly worth the effort, " Jamie said, lamenting the fact that the man posed no challenge. " So…now what? "

" Now you lot actually start doing something. "

Jamie gave a start, his sword coming around in a quick arc, only to stop midair as if he'd struck a tree. Standing just behind him, his hand raised in the path of Jamie's sword, was the sorcerer. 'Fuck…How the hell…? I didn't even hear him approach me! How did he get so close?! '

" That didn't take you long, milord, " one of the northerners said, his sword out but held with the point towards the ground.

" Wasn't much here, " the sorcerer shrugged, whatever had been holding onto Jamie's sword releasing as a body was dragged out from the house and coming to a stop beside the sorcerer. " Only this idiot slaver and a few perverted fucks getting their rocks off raping and brutalizing the children inside. This was nothing more than a sampling post. We'll need to question this one about where the slavers have set up their true operations. You, the dumb fuck who charged in like an idiot while screaming at the top of your lungs. "

Loras's face turned an interesting shade of red and purple as he sputtered at the sorcerer. " H-How dare you! I—Do you know who I am!? I am Loras Tyrell! Squire to Lord Renly Baratheon! Son of Lord Mace Tyrell, the Warden of the South, Lord of Highgarden, and–! "

" And from the tales, the Fat Flower, " the sorcerer said, cutting Loras off and making Jamie nearly lose it at the look on the young boy's face. " Make yourself useful and go and find some members of the City Watch who aren't corrupt and oversee the transporting of these fools to the black cells. "

Loras was nearly shaking with rage. " H–How dare…I am not an errand, boy! "

A chill settled upon Jamie's shoulders as the sorcerer turned and faced Loras. 'Gods, how can he do this? He doesn't even have eyes…yet with but a single turn of his head, you can feel eyes upon you. Eyes of the Stranger. ' " You are what I say you are until you prove that you actually have something resembling brains between your ears. Now shoo. The rest of you, get to work getting the sick fucks inside out here and ready to send up to the keep. And make sure not to kill them. I have more than a few questions for this lot that need answering. "

Finally showing some semblance that he had a mind, Loras kept his mouth shut and made a hasty retreat to go and do as the sorcerer commanded him. " Davos, " the sorcerer called out, already heading back towards the ruined building. " With me. Lannister… Do as you will. " Jamie wasn't quite sure just what to make of the sorcerer's dismissal of him, but he didn't dwell on it. It would be far easier to do what he came here to do without the man looking over his shoulder anyway.

The building was just as bad on the inside as it was on the outside. But, after having visited multiple establishments with the king so the fat oaf could satisfy his urges early in his reign, Jamie had come to recognize a brothel when he saw one. And this place was certainly that. Making his way through the place, he peeked behind the curtains that were hung up as walls, trying to find the one his sister had sent him to find.

'Perhaps the child isn't here, ' he thought as he came upon the last of the curtain partitions in the far back corner of the house and pushing it aside.

Inside was a small bundle curled into a ball with messy yellow-gold hair. Frowning, he looked down at the bundle as a pit started forming in his gut. It was a child, a girl, perhaps only ten or so. Though, he was a terrible judge of age with children. What few clothes she was wearing did little to hide her bruised and battered state as the girl laid curled in on herself, the small sniffles coming from under the blankets the only clue that she was even still alive. 'It's a mercy, ' he thought, casting a look back down the length of the hall to make sure that he was alone while gripping his dagger. 'Freedom from the shit life she'd been given. '

But the moment he went to draw his dagger, the child moved. Her head lifted and turned towards him. Immediately, the grip he had on the dagger loosened as his hand fell away. The girl was…despite her disheveled and battered state…she was almost a mirror image of Myrcella. Save for one detail, her eyes. One was the bright Lannister green. And the other… The other was a dark almost black color. It was a set of eyes he'd only seen on one other in his entire life. " Are…Are the bad men…gone? "

Even the voice… Gods, it was the same voice as one that plagued his mind whenever he thought about what had happened. " Yes, " Jamie nodded, to which the girl broke down and lunged forward at him, her small little arms trying their best to wrap around him as she cried.

Feeling more than slightly uncomfortable, Jamie awkwardly patted the girl on her head while his sister's voice rang in his ears. 'Her very existence is an insult to us and our family. And a Lannister always repays those who insult them. ' Again, his love to his sister made his hand twitch towards the dagger at his waist, but the love he had for another stilled his hand. He…He couldn't. Not yet. Not until he knew for certain. " What's your name girl? "

" Anna, " came the muffled reply, making Jamie wince once more as another memory came to him.

" Anna. "

" What? "

" My daughter? Should any woman ever be able to look past…well what I am…and bare my child. I want her to be named Anna. Father would never allow my child to be named Joanna… But Anna…? That is close enough to honor our mother. "

Pulling back from the girl, Jamie felt his heart sink even lower as his suspicions were fully confirmed by the cheap bronze pendant he could see hanging from around her neck. An ill-made and obviously poorly repaired piece in the shape of a lion.

" I can't believe you actually paid for that piece of junk, brother. "

" What? I have a soft spot for broken things, Jamie. And it can't be too hard to repair it. Besides…I'm sure that my wife will love it! "

" Where did you get that? " he asked, doing everything in his power to try and remain calm as what he was just about to do raced through his mind.

" My mother, " the girl answered quietly, her tiny fist closing around the pendant protectively. " She – She gave this to me just before she died of fever a few moons ago. Said…Said it reminded her of the happiest time in her life. Even if it did not end well. "

Heart thundering in his chest, Jamie cursed himself to the hells and back. " So, your mother is dead… What of your father? "

Tears still running down her bruised cheeks, the little girl shook her head sadly. " Mommy never spoke of him. Said he was some lord in the west but…but he betrayed Mommy and hurt her. Said we were better off without him. "

There was no doubt in Jamie's mind now. He knew exactly who this young girl was. She was Tyrion's daughter by way of the crofter's daughter, Tysha, his brother's first wife. The same wife their father had gang-raped and paid off like a common whore before forcing Tyrion to rape her as well one last time and then tossing the girl out of the Westerlands. The only question now was: what to do with her? He couldn't just leave her on the streets to fend on her own. Not given who she was. But he couldn't keep her in the city. If he did…then Cersei would find out. And as much as he loved his sister, he knew that her hatred of their brother knew no bounds. If she discovered that their brother's daughter was in the city, and that she looked so much like Myrcella…? But he couldn't exactly send her to be with Tyrion either. Considering what their father did to the girl's mother…he doubted their father would ever accept the girl as Tyrion's and a Lannister by blood. Even if she was a Hill. Giving her coin and sending her on her way was an option…but she was still just a girl and would end up dead in a week should he do that. He needed to send her somewhere she would be safe. Somewhere she could grow up without having to fend for her life day in and day out. And, most importantly, he needed to send her somewhere his brother could meet her. After he had a long—and painful—conversation with him that is.

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