iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 141 Hunter and Prey 2
Red Castle, Grand Bachelor's dormitory.

Green first patiently read the accusations written by Pycelle by candlelight, and then picked up several documents written by Pycelle in the past to compare the handwriting.

Green showed a satisfied smile and said: "Maester Pycelle, you should know the extent of your crime. This is not only a question of whether the Prime Minister can forgive you, I don't think the gods can forgive you either."

As he spoke, he put away the parchment.

Green added: "Because of this thing, I am willing to intercede with Duke Ned to help you get a chance to make atonement."

Pycelle suddenly raised his head, his tone a little unbelievable: "Really...really?"

After saying that, Pycelle looked at Duke Eddard with a serious face, his eyes full of pleading.

Duke Eddard frowned.

The Starks have the blood of their ancestors flowing in their bodies. They follow ancient traditions. The lord will listen to his last words and execute the condemned criminals himself.

In his mind, Pycelle was a criminal who should be executed immediately.

In order to suppress the anger in his heart, Duke Eddard closed his eyes. He once again warned himself that this was not the North, and he had an agreement with Green that if Pycelle was not the direct murderer, he would give him a chance to wear black clothes.

He nodded with difficulty, and Pycelle burst into tears of confession and thanks.

Green raised his eyebrows and said, "So...that man named Xiu Fu, when can I see him?"

Pycelle wiped his tears and said: "Earl Green, I will send him to you tomorrow...the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Green continued, "Will anyone else know about this?"

Pycelle shook his head quickly: "I promise to hide it from everyone. I can definitely do it. I swear to the gods."

Green shook his head and said, "No, Lord Varys will know."

…………

Duke Ed looked up to the sky. The bright full moon illuminated the silent night sky, full of mystery and beauty, making people intoxicated... At this moment, he missed Caitlin's arms so much, and missed the children practicing in the practice field. The sound of the sword reminds me of the cool days and cold nights of the north.

Green stood with Duke Ed for a while and said softly: "Duke Ned, you can treat this matter as a hunt. We cannot scare away the prey, and we must avoid adverse interference. Before we find the real prey, we must Being able to choose caution and patience.”

Duke Ed retracted his gaze and sighed: "Son, I understand this, but I just feel that I may not be suitable to stay in the south."

Green joked: "I think King Robert will be furious when he hears this and wants to tie you up."

Duke Ed smiled helplessly, patted Green's arm and said, "Let's go in."

"I guess Lord Varys is already waiting for us."

Duke Eddard's gray eyes moved to Green, paused, and nodded in agreement.

…………

Step, tap, tap... The sound of feet touching stone slabs filled the empty corridor.

Varys greeted him at the door of the room and nodded slightly: "Good night, Prime Minister Ed, Earl Green."

Green stroked his chest and said, "Good night, Lord Varys, please forgive me for disturbing you."

Duke Ed lowered his eyes and glanced at the smooth top of Wallis's head, and said: "Warys, you seem to have known that I would come to you."

Varys held his hands together and said respectfully: "Prime Minister Ed, this is not difficult to guess. I am the chief intelligence officer of the imperial court. You will find me sooner or later. As for now... my little bird just happened to see you. I am happy. I couldn't help but go out to greet him."

Is it such a coincidence?Duke Eddard glanced sharply at the smiling Varys.

"Go in and talk."

…………

After sitting down, Duke Eddard said directly: "Varys, tell me the cause of Prime Minister Jon's death."

Varys looked hesitant: "Actually, many important ministers in the Red Keep have noticed the problem, but we dare not speak out."

He sighed softly and continued: "Prime Minister Ed, only after you are here can I dare to reveal everything to you."

Duke Ed's tone was filled with anger: "Since you knew the problems inside, why didn't you say a word? Although I have only been here for a few days, if you are interested, there is no shortage of opportunities to tell me."

The smile on Varys's face immediately disappeared. He looked directly at Duke Ed and said, "You asked me why I didn't report it to you in advance. My answer is... because I don't trust you, Prime Minister."

Green's brown eyes moved slightly, Varys was trying to gain Duke Ed's favor.He looked at Varys's behavior at this time, and felt a particularly familiar feeling... Well, power players are good at playing various types of people, and he is the same.

Duke Ed said lukewarmly: "Varys, you don't trust me?"

"Before tonight."

Varys nodded and said in a sincere tone: "Prime Minister Ed, there are only two kinds of people in the Red Castle, those who are loyal to the kingdom and those who are loyal to themselves. I am a timid person and I dare not easily judge which type you belong to... Now... …”

Wallis showed a happy smile and continued: "Now I know clearly. I feel ashamed for doubting your honor. I am blinded by cowardice. I am really ashamed."

Duke Eddard frowned and said, "Varys, who poisoned you?"

Varys shook his head and said: "Obviously he is someone who is very close to Prime Minister Jon and often dines with him at the same table. There are too many suspicious objects!"

He showed a bitter look and said: "I have tried to persuade him several times. I begged Prime Minister Jon to ask others to taste the food first before eating it himself, but he refused to listen and told me... Only things that are not worthy of being human are You would think of something like this.”

Green glanced at Duke Ed, who was silent, and said: "Lord Varys, although there are many suspicious people, you are the intelligence chief and you must have a lot of clues. Do you have any suspects? Duke Ed needs you. intelligence and candor.”

Varys nodded slightly.

"After Prime Minister Jon passed away, Lady Lysa took everyone close to her husband with her when she left King's Landing, including Prime Minister Jon's maester, steward, captain of the guard, as well as his knights and servants."

After a pause, he continued: "Lady Lysa took most of the people away, but not all of them. A few people stayed. There was a kitchen girl who had an enlarged belly and hurriedly married Duke Renly's groom. They got married, a stableboy became a man in gold robes, a young waiter was kicked out for stealing, and the one who stayed was Prime Minister Jon's squire."

Duke Ed's eyes trembled slightly and he said, "Are you following the monk?"

Wallis was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems you have gained something tonight."

Duke Eddard looked at Green.

Green shrugged and said in a relaxed tone: "Duke Ned, Lord Varys' skills are well known to everyone. Sooner or later, he will know the source of our intelligence."

Green said to Varys: "Lord Varys, Maester Pycelle also expressed doubts about the former Prime Minister's attendant Xiu Fu."

Varys slightly nodded his chin: "Everything Xiufu had was given by Prime Minister Jon, but when Lady Lysa returned to the Eyrie with her family, he chose to stay in King's Landing. My little bird told me, He has recently become a regular visitor to the Sataya Girls' Wing, and he has shiny new armor ready for the tourney."

Green: "..." Combining the original plot that Green knew, he has determined that Hugh was the bait introduced by Earl Petyr, and Varys intentionally facilitated Petyr's plan. They were both trying to cause a dispute between lions and wolves. .

Petyr has directly or indirectly purchased the squire Friar, and what he reveals when he meets Duke Eddard will definitely be false information designed to point the finger at Lannister.

Varys had already seen through Petyr's plot and was happy to help. They all wanted chaos.

There are also traces left by Prime Minister Jon when he investigated the royal bloodline issue.

Green withdrew his thoughts and planned to split this matter into two things.

…………

Duke Ed has already sensed the inexplicable danger, and he feels that it won't be too long before the real murderer is found.

If Lannister is the murderer of Jon...Tywin Lannister will not sit still and wait for death, and he treats the defeated without mercy. The fate of Targaryen is the best lesson.

He must send a message to Winterfell as soon as possible and ask his wife to mobilize the vassals in his name to prepare the defense of the north in advance. Unless the Lannister is backed by all the military power in the south, it will never dare to invade the prepared Neck. And they never dream of such a day.

If war is unavoidable, he and Robert wouldn't mind hosting a grand banquet at Casterly Rock.

…………

The running wolf showed its fangs, and Varys glanced at Duke Eddard's expression, and his smile gradually deepened.

The eyes of Varys and Green collided, and Green had a smile on his face.

"Varys, thank you."

"Your Majesty Prime Minister, Varys is always at your disposal."

…………

…………

Prime Minister Tower.

Just after breakfast, the butler Vayan Poole took Arya Stark to the empty small hall.

"Boy, you're late."

A strange voice came to Arya's ears, and she saw a bald man with a slim figure and a big aquiline nose walking out of the shadows. The strange man held a pair of thin wooden swords in his hands.

Arya was not frightened by the sudden sight of a stranger, but asked happily: "Who are you?"

"I'm your dance teacher."

The bald man spoke with an accent, like the accent of the Free Cities, maybe Braavos or Myr.

The bald man threw a wooden sword to Arya. She reached out to catch it, but she couldn't reach it. There was a click and the wooden sword fell to the ground.

"Boy, from tomorrow onwards you have to catch it when I throw it away. Now pick it up."

Arya protested, "I'm a girl!"

She discovered that the wooden sword was like a real sword. It had a hilt, a guard, and a ball that decorated the hilt.

The bald man grinned and said, "Male or female, you are a sword, that's enough."

Arya picked up the sword, wiping her palms on her pants and holding the sword in her left hand.

The bald man showed a satisfied look: "The left hand is best. If the left and right are reversed, your enemies will be very uncomfortable with it! But your stance is wrong. Don't face me directly. Move your body to the side... Yes, that's it! You're thin It has to be like a spear, you know? Which is good, because the target is smaller."

"Now let me see how you hold it..."

He leaned over, stared at her hand, spread her fingers, and readjusted: "Yes...that's it. Don't use too much force...Yes, but be flexible and graceful."

Arya asked: "If you hold it like this, what will happen if the sword falls?"

The bald man glanced at Arya sideways and said: "The sword must be integrated with your hand. Will your hand fall off? Of course not! Syrio Forel has worked under the Sea King of Braavos for nine years. 's chief swordsman, he knows these things. Listen to him, boy."

Arya showed a "ferocious" expression.

Syrio Forel grinned again: "Now we begin to dance. Remember, child, we are not learning the dance of iron in Westeros, the dance of knights, slashing and slashing, no. This is the dance of the killer. , the dance of water, moves quickly and unexpectedly. People are made of water, you know? When you stab the human body and the water leaks out, the person will die."

After saying that, he took a step back lightly, raised his wooden sword, and pointed it at Arya.

"Now try hitting me, kid."

…………

…………

Throne Room, Royal Council.

Duke Eddard glanced at Maester Pycelle, who looked exactly the same as usual. He even suspected that the person he saw last night was someone else pretending to be Pycelle.

The Red Castle is indeed full of lies, cunning and hypocrisy.

The political matter they discussed today was still Lord Eddard's impatient tourney.

"The kingdom prospered because of the tournament. For the nobles, this is a great opportunity to seek glory. As for the people, it can also temporarily forget their worries."

Petyr spread his hands and said: "Many people can make a lot of money from this. The hotels in King's Landing are all full, and the girls who receive guests can't close their feet when they receive guests. The coins in their pockets jingle when they walk. "

Lord Renly laughed loudly and said: "Fortunately, Stannis is not here. Do you remember that time at the royal council that he proposed to ban all the female wards in King's Landing? King Robert asked him if he wanted to eat and poop at the same time. , breathing is also prohibited.

To be honest, sometimes I really wonder where Stannis's ugly daughter came from.I can't imagine Stannis in bed. Maybe he went to bed as if he were on the battlefield, his eyes solemn and solemn, determined to fulfill his duty. "

Everyone laughed.

Duke Eddard did not laugh, he looked at Renly who was smiling and said, "I am also thinking about your brother Stannis. I wonder when he will leave Dragonstone and return to the Royal Council. "

Petyr raised the corners of his lips and said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, as long as we drive all the women into Blackwater Bay, I believe Stannis will appear here immediately."

After Petyr finished speaking, everyone laughed even louder.

Duke Ed's eyes became sharp: "Dear ministers, I have heard enough about the daughter-in-law today."

He stood up from the chair and said, "That's it."

(End of this chapter)