Chapter 169: Someone to Protect (I)

Chapter 169: Someone to Protect (I)

*****I apologise for those who read the chapter with a missing part. I have tried to rectify this as soon as possible.

Happy Reading!****

--------

POV: Blade Two

At a table in the corner of the Singing Maiden.

Seconds after a drunkard called for a toast...

-----

That Haymitch was a genuine screw-up... Blade Two was still sceptical that this staggering man, with his guard mostly down and perpetually drunk, could give him a run for his money in a 1 vs 1 fight. But, if Instructor Sergeant Ramas said that, who was he to contradict him?

'It's not the Drunkard or the Scarred that's your target, you idiot...! Stay focused on your task.' The second-best sworn Frost Blade of Torrhen's Square admonished himself.

The individual he had to watch over was on the opposite side.

It was a task that required the utmost concentration. Perhaps that boy was a target of the perilous Faceless Men... Experienced, silent and invisible assassins of the House of Black and White. Individuals who could have danced at the point of a knife against the top ten Frost Blades...

Unbeknownst to the eyes of the World, the shadow war between Torrhen's Square, Oldtown and Braavos had already begun... The deaths of Blade Seven, Blade '42', Blade '88' and Blade '103' in the lands of the Boltons had ignited a spark of conflict and vengeance between their comrades that was impossible to extinguish.

All that remained were the burnt bones of their comrades, with no clues to claim the attack.

Torrhen's Square had tripled the funding of the secret unit, drawing resources from the 'War Fund' and unleashed every team in standby... His Lords demanded to know who was behind the barbaric attack.

After two moons of searching, 'Nothing' was all Blade Two and his comrades could come up with. No one knew where Roose Bolton's Bastard or Euron Greyjoy had ended up - no trail, no suspicious ship, no place they could hide. Not even the help of the Fourth Organisation led to anything...

But now, the search for the bastards guilty of Blade Seven's death was no longer Blade Two's first priority... Instead, the Frost Blade had another set of sleeves to think about.

Another waitress approached the table. She was the second in that same evening. This time it was a girl with auburn hair and freckles on her face.

"I... Can I get you something else, Ser...?" Asked the girl shyly with flushed cheeks and a heated face... Another sweet prey, functional to his cover, tenderly took the bait.

"If you ask me in that tone, my lady, then yes... Of course, I would like another half pint of red beer, but I would like your gentle hands to bring it to me. And I long with all my heart for a song from your suave voice and the chance to snatch a kiss from you at the end of the evening." The seventeen-year-old's face turned crimson.

Blade Two was best suited for the job... He, unlike the other top eight blades, was handsome. His hazel eyes, square, smooth, well-shaven and well-proportioned face, short, slightly wavy, oak-brown hair, warm voice, and slender, hardened physique were almost anathema to his job.

"Girl...! Hey, Waitress!!! We were here first of that handsome baggage!" A plump Knight with the coats of arms of House Donniger rose indignantly, seeking justice for that affront.

Indeed, the Maiden had snubbed the table with the ranting and not-very-attractive Knights of the Valley.

"Wait your turn, Ser 'Hugebelly'!!! Get your mockery back in that chair now if you don't want the guards to make you do it!!!" So roared the 'sweet' and 'placid' red-haired Maiden furiously. The girl must have been angry at the sudden bursting of the romantic bubble... New novel chapters are published on

There was an outburst of laughter among the witnessing patrons. Some began to throw butts at the Knight brought to heel by the Maiden, mocking him.

This was the tavern's second main attraction. The verbal skirmishes between the Forbidden Maidens and the Rude Knights who coveted the forbidden fruit... Some of the more fearless and rebellious had tested the word of House Tallhart, daring to use more than mere words. The last poor man was still locked up in some icy prison cell, shivering, his face swollen and bleeding and the fingers of his offended hand broken, waiting for his lord or some good Samaritan to pay the ransom of twenty-five gold dragons for the slap...

The Knight followed the advice with a pained face but a surrendered air.

"...Emm, you were saying, Ser? What song would you like me to sing?" So asked the voice again, tender, unsure and candid...

"What is your favourite romantic song?" Blade Two asked with an affectionate grin.

"T-the my...? Well, that is... it would be 'A Rose of Gold', milord," replied the tender blushing Maiden.

"Oh, but look at the coincidence... I have just the right little gift for you." The Hedge Knight named "Ser Elbert of the Kisses" (AKA Blade Two) pulled out a spun silver chain with a gold pendant in the shape of a rose and gently handed it into the Maiden's trembling, warm hand, caressing her smooth skin with his fingertips more than necessary.

"I-I cannot accept, Ser..." Said the shocked girl feebly with a melted heart and shortness of breath.

Blade Two knew every Singing Maiden employee's file by heart. The lives and secrets of Jenny's employees-an intelligence agent serving Torrhen's Square- were an open book to the man.

"Yes, you can... 'You must', milady. 'A Rose of Gold' it is. But when you sing it, I would like your beautiful dewy green eyes to point at mine." And so, for that evening too, the Casanova cover of chasing beautiful maidens had been duly remarked upon.

Poor Charlotte walked away from the table looking bewitched with love and fanciful promises. Blade Two felt a little pity for the maiden... Playing with the heart and feelings of a poor girl- who was blameless- made him feel dirty. But... Blade Two had dipped his gloves and boots into much dirtier work, and so far, he had not lost a minute's sleep over any of it.

The Blades of Frost were not Knights of Honour or high virtues. They were 'Tools of Evil'...

Necessary' Instruments in constant battle among the shadows to eradicate even worse evils.

The Tool resumed its vigil over the room overflowing with potential threats... So far, no one suspicious had approached the table, or the dishes served to that scion heir to the North, but Blade Two's instincts kept suggesting that someone else was also waiting and watching.

Some well-concealed predator watching and studying his prey...

It was a game between the Cat and the Mouse... Somewhere in that room, someone with a fictitious face performed an act similar to his own. It was up to the Tool of Torrhen's Square to track and neutralise him before he could lift a finger towards his protg...

-----

End POV

"Tragic and alarming news... Even if this were not the work of the Free Folks, Ser Duncan, these abject actions would irreparably tarnish our efforts for a reconciliation between the people of the North and South of the Wall. The Clans of the Mountains and the Umbers are eager to take the field with weapons drawn, and even the Crown is pressing for the Protector of the North to intervene... We cannot wait any longer."

"And we will intervene as soon as possible, Your Majesty, I promise. But in the right way... I think these armed dragnets of savages are well versed in guerrilla strategies: [Bite and Run].

Large armed forces would not be helpful for a speedy resolution... If we want to settle this source of hatred and Chaos as soon as possible, the 'Wolves' will have to be flushed out with predators disguised as 'Sheep'. I retorted, beginning to illustrate a plan.

***

About five minutes later...

"We'll let Commander Syggha and her unit handle it... As for the Northern Lords? Which Houses, in your opinion, will need more protection?" The King asked, indirectly addressing me.

"Many are in danger, but the Houses certainly most at risk are Mormont, Ryswell, Bolton and Magnar. House Bolton is the most vulnerable at the moment, and Domeric is the last legitimate line of the Red Kings.

The Titan's maritime fleets will need the new portentous long-range scopes as soon as possible. However, with the Master's help and the success of the Mormont Glass, we are confident enough to wrest from the Iron Bank a non-aggression veto against the Mormonts, which, if possible, we will attempt to extend to Bolton and Ryswell... In any case, Lady Barbrey has arranged an elite guard of choice for her nephew, Domeric, and her sister, Bethany.

It is the Ryswells who will be the most exposed. Lord Rodrick has many sons, nieces, nephews and cousins to protect, and the stallions and mares bred in the Rills are among the most sought-after horses by the nobles of Westeros and Essos... Therefore, if Madame Zishua agrees, I propose concentrating at least one-fifth of all forces sent by the Fourth Organisation in the Rills." Ramas nodded. And I resumed the list, removing a danger marker from the Rills and pointing my finger at Skagos.

"Lord Magnar is currently leading a military expedition into the mountains of Skagos to subdue or eradicate all the lesser clan leaders not yet loyal to House Stark. It will still take time, only the men of Skagos can safely navigate the various goat paths scattered across the island, but Lord Magnar has already managed to successfully negotiate and annex the Crowls of Deepdown and the Stanes of Driftwood, the two largest clans after the Magnars.

That said, I would spend at least four of Madame Zishua's Elite granted to us in support of the Frost Blades stationed on Skagos. The disappearance of Lord Magnars' third-born son is somewhat suspicious... "Rarely" do trivial hunting accidents afflict experienced hunters like the Skagosi."

The number "of accidents" throughout the general North had drastically risen after lowering The Watcher's Iron Curtain... It wasn't just the Titan. All the sharks of the vast ocean had sniffed the inviting smell of fresh blood. The recent market supremacy of many products in the North was irritating several wealthy and dangerous individuals around the World.

Illyrio Mopatis, for example, was a greedy and stubborn pain in the ass... The perfumed fat man wouldn't let go of the Targaryens' heirs and was determined to find a way to counter his losses in the spice and dragon parts trade... The Eunuch Spider would soon be looking for me, and I had to ensure I found a proper 'Message of Peace' to return to his friend.

I also removed the red marker on Skagos.

"This brings us to the Titan's juiciest target, the real building block to trigger a domino effect of chaos and discontent... House Flint of Widow's Watch." Yet, surprisingly, the King of the North began to show signs of understanding about the complex chessboard of the Great Game.

"You believe that Robin Flint's death during the siege of Pyke was not at the hands of a common ironman?" Asked the Lord of Winterfell. Ramas intervened.

"The Faceless Men act in many ways, Your Grace. They can use blades or poison darts directly, like simulating accidents. On the other hand, an agent of the Many Faced-Gods does not necessarily have to get his hands dirty... He, for example, could simply distract or slip - at decisive moments - a target into dangerous situations." So explained The Watcher's Shield.

"... I understand. If Braavos sought Chaos, he could find plenty of it on the thorny issue of Widow's Watch's legacy. Both the Flints of Flint's Finger and the Karstarks and Hornwoods would boast of possible blood heirs to the succession, should Lady Lynessa Flint's last heir, Lord Karstark's current squire, Eliot Flint, also perish due to mysterious circumstances..." So said the Protector of the North.

"Precisely... The Flints of Flint's Finger and Widow's Wacht have hated each other for at least eight generations but boast a name in common and a living family line through Lady Lynesse's great-uncle. On the other hand, the children of Lord Rickard's sadly departed wife, Lady Tasha Flint, the daughter of Lady Lyness' brother, have the most inheritance rights. But the Hornwoods may also enter the race, for Lord Halys Hornwood's grandmother, decades ago, could have legitimately ascended the seat of Widow's Watch, but Lady Wylla vacated the seat, abdicating for her younger sister, Jasmine Flint, the mother of Lady Lynesse..."

The question of 'Legitimate Succession' in Westeros was like a fierce battle between Crack junkies looking for the suitable cable for the X-Box console in a complex, tangled skein of electrical wires. With everyone pulling their own wire, hoping to play Videogames before everyone else...

Sooner or later, an alternative had to be found to that problem.

Ned proposed a solution.

'It would be better for a Flint to remain on the Widow's Watch seat should the worst happen. Lady Lynesse should be thirty-eight or thirty-nine. She is still of child-bearing age...

The bloodline of the first true Flint of Breakstone Hill is still alive in North Wolfwood.

I could oil that woman's rusty head somehow. Lady Flint has been pestering me for years with petitions about the river rights of Weeping Water. A possible marriage with a Flint of the Mountain Clan is the solution... Artos Flint, the second son of Lord Torghet, is still a widower and only a few years younger than Lynesse. And if I'm not mistaken, Artos is supposed to have just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old daughter from his previous marriage. A double union between Artos and Lynesse and young Eliot with Lyanna would ultimately settle any possible diatribe. Even if both Flints of Widow's Watch were to perish, if it were a Flint Progenitor to remain on the seat by marriage rights, no one would question its legitimacy."

"A very good solution indeed, Your Grace... However, Lord Karstark has already entered into a marriage agreement with Lady Lynesse for a future union between Eliot and his second cousin, Alys Karstark. Lord Karstark is a proud and dutiful goat.

We should find a way to terminate the contract without offending Karhold..."

"The eldest son of Lord Tytos, Brynden, is still unmarried. He could be an excellent fallback for Alys Karstark. If the Blackwoods accept our offer, I could convince Lord Karstark and Lord Umber to bind their sons and daughters with the heirs of their future neighbours. That way, breaking the contract will not be interpreted as an offence but as a 'Political Necessity'."

"Yes... Yes, it's a good plan. Of course, we'd have to rush things with the Night's Watch and the New Gift concessions, but it's doable..." I reflected on the last obstacle, exposing it to the small council.

"The marriages of the Flints cannot take place before the wedding of Lady Barbrey and Lord Jorah. So we must protect both Lady Lynesse and Eliot for this period. Torrhen's best Square agents will safeguard the duo, and we will warn Lady Lynesse in secret of the possible threat.

Blade One cannot move from Braavos yet, but we will send the second and third best alternative to protect the Flints." Ned nodded, placing a point on the Flint topic, so I shifted my attention to my Master, asking:

"What does the Guardian of Love say about these 'possible' attacks by the Titan against the First Men? Will the North be able to react without triggering legitimate grounds for war?" So I asked the individual who represented the impartial arbitral authority among the forces of the World, not my loving Master.

Zick looked at me for a few seconds, then decreed:

"There is no evidence that the Titan is behind these "alleged attacks"... However, the improper funding of the Iron Bank in directing an avowed direct attack by the Ironborns towards House Mormont and House Tallhart is in itself an action that can justify a fair "Reaction" to such an offence... And if such a reaction were "possibly" magnified with as many unprovable "alleged attacks", the Guardians could not accommodate any justification appropriate to either faction for a full-scale war. "

Concealed in the depths, The Watcher was a devious double agent-opportunist who feigned false ignorance and political inadequacy only when it suited him... Lucky for the First Men faction.

An evil grin and an equally evil thought leavened in me...

'Good... I have more than a few blades ready and eager for action, 496 comrades-in-arms still seeking justice for their four fallen brothers, and a Frosty Lady pissed off at the attack on her beloved husband's family.' I pondered, giving full rein to my imagination in drawing up a draft plan.

It is incumbent on the Iron Bank to always remember that for every 'Action', there is a 'Reaction'... And it will be Torrhen's Square and Barrowton to remind them.

****

End Part I

****