Chapter 76: ' Never Enrage the Quiet Wolf ' Part I

Chapter 76: ' Never Enrage the Quiet Wolf ' Part I

POV: Ned Stark;

In an abandoned temple about two miles from Riverrunn.

Ten seconds after the word 'Lannister' was mentioned...

"Assuming I believe this story or not, this is the secret the world shouldn't know? The Lannisters' lineage?" Ned asked slightly annoyed every time the name was mentioned.

"Yes, in case you want to keep the peace. Oldtown and House Hightower would like to see the Podrick Lann dynasty destroyed as soon as possible.

Carcosa is the exact opposite.

The peace agreements stipulate that the true history of Magic and the Hero of the First Men will not be spread. In return, Oldtown will not act directly against House Lannister.

House Lannister is a sworn enemy of House Hightower... only Lord Tywin doesn't know it yet." The boy. Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

"... I don't trust the Lannisters.

They think they're above everyone.

Lord Tywin wouldn't hesitate to slaughter every Targaryens he could get his hands on." Ned.

"That is true, Lord Stark." Duncan.

"His son, Jaime Lannister..." Ned was interrupted.

"Ser Jaime is a hero." Duncan.

Ned was stunned by this inane statement.

"A hero?! Ser Jaime stabbed the king he was sworn to protect in the back!

He is a knight without honor. He only acted when he risked nothing." Ned replied fiercely.

"... Ser Jaime Lannister sacrificed his honor for the sake of over 500,000 citizens of King's Landing, Lord Stark.

His 'dishonorable act' also saved your life and the lives of all the Northmen inside the city gates." Said the boy in response.

"... What are you talking about?" Ned.

"Do you know what the Wildfire is, Ned?" Duncan.

"Of course I do.

King Aerys burned my father alive with a pyre of Wildfire..." Ned.

"If I told you that the city was overflowing with barrels of Wildfire scattered at every key point in the city and that Aerys the Madman wanted to set it on fire, sacrificing every inhabitant within the walls so as not to deliver it into enemy hands,

Would you believe me?" Ned did not know what to answer.

"If you, Lord Stark, had been in that knight's place, and had tried again and again to plead with him to surrender to the enemy at the gates to avoid a massacre, but your king, the one to whom you swore your oath, ordered you to hand over your father's head...

What would you have done?... ' More seconds of silence passed.

"What if I had been there when Aerys was ordering his Pyromaniac Hand to blow up everything, including the Red Keep?

Hearing a madman yell [Burn Them All!] repeatedly.

What would you have done, Lord Eddard Stark? Would you have kept that oath?

Would you have, My Lord?

Was your honor worth more than all those lives, Ned?

Would the words of that oath have been enough to silence the thousands of screams of pain from innocent men, women, and children?!

... Well?

The answer, Ned!" The boy asked, deliberately provoking his interlocutor.

Ned could only steel himself against the blows without any possibility of defending himself. His silence was accompanied by a look that expressed pure indecision and internal conflict.

The boy stepped back to give the poor man some breathing space and a few moments of reflection.

After almost a minute, Ned asked:

"Is what you say true? He... Did Ser Jaime kill Aerys for these reasons?" Ned.

"That is the truth, Ned.

Thousands of Knights would have boasted of such heroic deeds, yet he did not... He acted as a true Hero.

He is the Hero without honor.

To this day there remain hundreds of hidden barrels of Wildfire under the streets and buildings of the city. I dare not act without the help of the Alchemists' Guild.

It only takes one mistake to turn King's Landing into the greatest hearth the world has ever seen." The boy.

"... I had no idea.

I will apologize to Ser Jaime." Said Ned, thinking back on all the moments he had spent misjudging the poor knight.

He had even suggested to Robert that he send him to the Wall...

"There will be an opportunity, my lord." Duncan.

"In any case, Lord Tywin slaughtered thousands of innocents during the sacking of King's Landing...

He would have killed Targaryen children as well. The man cannot be our ally. He hates the Targaryens more than Robert.

The way I see it, I'd much rather ally myself with House Hightower, 'the potential enemies of the North,' than with House Lannister." Ned.

"... Ned, I would be more afraid of facing House Hightower than all the other Houses of Westeros combined.

Even if it holds first place, the Iron Bank doesn't have the military resources that House has...

To give you an example, my Lord.

If, at the Trident, you, Robert, and Jon Arryn had faced an army of 40,000 from House Hightower rather than Targaryen-Tyrell-Martell, you would have been decimated in less than an hour...

Even if we had the full support of House Lannister, we'd have no chance of winning in a war against Oldtown in its current state.

Even with all the power of House Tallhart and the North, I couldn't come up with a realistic plan to successfully attack that City.

If the Hightowers really wanted the Iron Throne, they would simply get it. Currently, there is no army in Westeros that can stand up to them." Duncan.

Ned considered those words carefully. The boy looked bloody serious. Showing equal seriousness, the Lord of Winterfell said:

"... Prove your previous assertions to me.

I find it hard to believe that such an enemy has been hiding so well for millennia without anyone in Westeros noticing." Ned.

"Certainly...

Prepare yourself, Eddard of House Stark. All that has caused you discomfort these past few days was nothing compared to what I will tell you in the next few minutes." Duncan.

"May the Old and New Gods protect me, Duncan of House Tallhart."

End POV.

-------------------------------------------------------

POV: Duncan;

In an abandoned temple about two miles from Riverrunn.

Seconds after a very brave man prepared for the worst....

These soldiers, they don't waste time just patrolling the streets and walls... No.

They practice constantly by holding a simulated battle training every year. They regularly rotate units by sending novices to Sothoryos for their first field experience. I assure you they would know their way around a real battle.

There are always 20,000 unenlisted recruits among the citizens of Oldtown. In times of war, House Hightower could add another army of superior training and equipment to its ranks in no time at all.

If necessary, they could add 20,000 more within six months.

And then there's the creed... One of the most powerful weapons in Oldtown.

If forced to do so, they could call the people of Westeros loyal to the Seven's creed to arms. commoners, soldiers and knights from all over the realm. They wouldn't need permission from the crown to do it...

They'd just sing the right song at the right time.

Many a fighter in Westeros would have no qualms about betraying their Lord and King in the name of the Gods.

On an honestly realistic estimate, the creed could field at least another 100,000 swords in less than a year...

These are just the forces on our continent.

There are currently 20,000 swords in Sothoryos that reside there permanently and are loyal only to Oldtown.

They call themselves 'Sons of Light'. They compete in a constant but regulated fight against the forces of Carcosa, the 'Sons of Night'.

Of course, Oldtown has the means and capabilities to engage many... many more swords in Essos, should another open war break out.

And then there is magic, which we have decided not to consider so far....

Tell me, Lord Stark... if what I've just told you were true, what would you say is the richest and most powerful house in Westeros?" I asked in a slightly ironic tone.

Ned did not answer.

He could only stare at me with wide eyes full of anxiety and concern.

"Do you believe me now when I say, I am more afraid of Oldtown than I am of Braavos?" I asked.

Ned nodded...

"How did they manage to hide from the eyes of the world?" Ned.

"... Mainly in three ways.

By bending the knee to any ''mighty'' king or lord who came with an army in front of their city.

By choosing in most cases, neutrality and prosperity in any major conflict in our lands.

And the Citadel... The order of Maesters is loyal to House Hightower, my lord...

Another power as dangerous as belief.

In every castle in Westeros, there's a Maester who sits by a lord's side and whispers wise suggestions in his ear.

They teach us history...

They write the texts that we keep in our libraries...

they tell us what is real and what is not...

they read all our messages ...

And they have access to all the information of our house..." I waited for an outsized reaction from the man.

Ned just stood there and stared at me with a very serious look.

Then he said:

"Are you serious, Lord Duncan?

... Are your accusations well-founded? Do you have proof of what you claim?" Ned.

"... I'm afraid I do, Lord Stark. As far as I know, there are only four Maesters in Westeros who aren't loyal to Oldtown--

One of them serves me.

In addition to my own and Lord Qyburn's testimony, I have hundreds of records of evidence-- detailed reports collected from all the great Houses in the North.

House Dustin, House Mormont, Manderly, Glover, Cerwyn, Hornwood, Umber, Karstark and many others, can testify in my favour if necessary... I have long since given warning to the great Lords, and they, making due verification, have found the evidence for themselves.

... Every three moons, Lord Stark, all the Maesters of Westeros send a report to the Citadel. In each report, there is key information. I discovered the treachery of my former maester, Golbarth, when I was less than three years old." I said.

Ned's real trauma was upon us...

He simply asked:

"Maester Luwin?... "He waited for an answer with his eyes closed.

"A complex matter...

I have a couple of agents in Winterfell who are diligently monitoring the maester. Every three months they cull a raven and replace it with a new one to discover the information sent... " I replied.

" We will discuss your ' two agents ' at another time....

And?... Is Maester Luwin betraying me? Speak, Lord Duncan." Ned.

"Yes and no, my lord... In the early days he was very detailed in his reports. For about two years now, he has been sending less clear and precise information....

I believe he is growing fond of your family.

He's more concerned with preventing you from coming into conflict with Oldtown than he is with being loyal to it...

In any case... yes, he also sends reports to the order of masters." I said in an even and balanced tone.

Ned massaged his fountain and temples, trying to keep calm and composed. He clenched his fist a couple of times to vent some of his anger and frustration.

After a couple of minutes of silence, I poured myself another cup of water asking my counterpart if he liked it.

"Yes, please." He filled Ned's cup as well.

After a few sips, Ned asked:

"Who are the 'Unfaithful' Maesters in Oldtown?"

"Maester Qyburn, in the service of my house, whom I hold in the highest trust and esteem.

Maester Aemon Targaryen, in the service of the Knight's Watch.

Achmaester Marwyn, the black sheep of the order, a lover of magic and a secret supporter of its return. He's currently lending us a huge hand down in Oldtown.

And Maester Endry, in direct service of Lord Rodrick Harlaw, also known as 'Rodrick the Reader'. The elder Maester had never agreed with Oldtown politics, and was sent to die in the Iron Islands because of it.

He did, however, properly educate young Rodrick, and ever since, the boy has been more interested in books than axes.

Lord Harlaw is secretly on our side in this rebellion.

There is also Maester Wolkan, in the service of House Bolton... But... there he is, a bit of a special case... Let's just say he was more afraid of Lord Roose Bolton than of Oldtown..." I explained.

"Shouldn't House Targaryen have known better? After all, they were from Valyria... They didn't know anything about Oldtown?!" Ned.

"... A complex matter.

I have medium and minor evidence on some Kings and theories on others.

This is the most delicate point of the evening, Lord Stark..." I said.

"I want to know everything." Ned.

"... So be it."