Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire.

Chapter 283 Eagle Time
The Red Keep had lost its backbone, and was stunned, just like the many maids and servants in it, and even the court nobles from all directions, all staring in a daze as the people of the Valley occupied every corner, every room, and every tower of the castle, like a coiled blue poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, and its sticky venom spread all over the palace.

The flag of Arryn was raised. People in King's Landing, including those in the Red Castle, had some impression of this flag. It seemed that it was raised briefly during the tenure of Prime Minister Jon Arryn, but was later basically replaced by more and more Lannister golden lion flags, and even later there was a royal flag with a stag and a golden lion each occupying half of the flag.

It is said that these people in the valley respect the holy scriptures, the gods of etiquette and law, and have a strong spirit of chivalry. The monks thought so after seeing this, but they only heard it from others, so they could only pray silently and wait for the situation to change.

The civilians did not react much. It was already dusk and time to rest. Moreover, the situation in King's Landing changed too frequently. Not long after King Robert's death, Stannis invaded. Then Lord Tywin, who was able to pull out gold, was killed in the street. His head bitten off by a direwolf was still being kicked around by beggars somewhere in Flea Bottom.

As for the Grand Duke of Arryn, people probably only remember that his title as the Eagle of the Vale made many people rich in the tourney, and nothing else. Only foreign merchants and proud Vale people would brag in taverns about the great achievements of the young duke, which were comparable to those of Daeron I Targaryen who conquered Dorne.

They proudly shouted in front of everyone:

The Bleeding Gate, the Conquest of the Three Rivers, the Extermination of the Winter Wolves in the North, the Quelling of the War, the Suppression of the Rebellious Deer in the South, and the Victory of Blackwater were all the achievements of Duke Artis Arryn!
The noble ladies hiding in the court of the Red Keep and some noble sons from the Crownlands, the Stormlands and the Reach were all worried. Most of them were young, and their ability to analyze the current situation was not even as good as the sailors who sold fish in King's Landing all year round. Those who were a little timid might not be able to escape insomnia even with pillows and quilts covered at night.

"Da da!"

"Da da!"

Attis walked in the long corridor leading from the Red Castle to the King's residence. Ten of the most elite blue-robed guards stood in two rows behind the Duke. Their faces were tightly covered in arc-topped helmets, leaving only their eyes that were particularly sharp and bright in the darkness of the corridor. The heavy plate armor that was standard equipment for the elite knights of the valley had steel spikes on the edges, which greatly deterred anyone who might be prying in the corridor.

Of course, most of the blue robe guards and valley soldiers drawn from the Anda military camp were more wearing chain mail and battle skirts, and those wearing plate armor were not the majority in the army.

"Duke Artis!"

Barristan's voice was behind him.

The blue-robed guards all lined up and turned around, leaving enough space.

"The queen asked me to give it to you," Barristan held out his hand, with the King's Hand brooch on it, a bronze hand vividly alive, "as a symbol of the Hand of the King."

Artis nodded, took the king's hand, and put the brooch on his chest. "Thank Queen Margaery for me. Thank you as well, sir."

"Also," Barristan stopped Artis when he saw him about to leave, with an embarrassed look on his face, "I'm afraid the king doesn't want to see anyone, he locked himself in the room and ordered the Kingsguard to guard the door. If the Hand wants to do anything, he can do it."

Artis responded, and he could see that Barristan had something else to say.

"Ahem!" Barristan put his hand over his mouth. "There are matters concerning the honor of the Iron Throne that require your judgment."

Artis smiled, and this smile seemed very real in Barristan's eyes. "Ser Barristan, you worry too much. I came to King's Landing this time just for justice." He nodded, turned his head to look at the narrow staircase leading to the king's bedroom, and said to Barristan:

"I have also heard about King Joffrey's recent unusual behavior. I want to find out what's going on. After all, the king is the foundation of Westeros. People like us are just floating duckweed, without roots."

Barristan nodded and said, "Indeed, it seems that the Prime Minister has made up his mind."

Attis stopped smiling and turned to face the stairs. "Since the king doesn't want to see me, I don't have to force him. Otherwise, he will be criticized no matter what."

"I just don't know," Barristan couldn't escape his curiosity after all. He asked in a low voice, "What kind of justice is the Hand seeking?"

Artis's voice was low, but it could still be heard far away in this long corridor. "It's just some old cases."

His eyes were so bright that they seemed to penetrate the palace of the Red Keep across the corridor.

Barristan shut his mouth wisely and frowned. He felt that the young head of House Arryn, who had already stirred up the turmoil in Westeros, was also going to stir up a bloody storm in King's Landing, in this Red Castle.

Pycelle hid behind the wall, and when he looked out he saw the carriage coming from afar. He quickly patted his sleeves and stood up. If an acquaintance saw him, they would certainly not have thought that the old state teacher Pycelle, who was often dozing off and drooling, had such a strong body.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

He climbed onto the carriage using his hands and feet and patted the driver's shoulder heavily.

"Go from the Royal Forest to Bitter Bridge, quickly!"

Pycelle collapsed in the carriage, panting. He used to hang out with Robert Royce and thought that his possible relationship with Duke Artis had been resolved. However, as the Vale army entered the city, his inner uneasiness intensified. He was sure that he could not stay in King's Landing any longer and had to return to the Citadel as soon as possible. The carriage started quickly, and his heart gradually calmed down as he heard the clatter of horse hooves.

But the last stone in my heart was lifted up again by the equally hurried footsteps around me.

"Grand Maester Pycelle." It was Robert Royce's voice.

Pycelle forced a smile that might have looked like a mixture of laughter and tears to others, and poked his head out.

"I don't know, Attorney General, ahem, what does Sir Robert want to see me about?"

A smile appeared on Robert's face.

"Please help me with the case."

"What case?" Pycelle blurted out.

"The Assassination of King Robert."

Fortunately, Pycelle was relieved. He knew who was related to the case, and when the time came, he could just twist the information he knew into reasonable suspicion to clear himself of suspicion.

"And the poisoning of Lord Jon Arryn!"

Seven Layers of Hell Pycelle felt a black screen before his eyes, and he suddenly raised his head and passed out.

King's Landing, tavern and brothel.

Amory Lodge sat at the table, looking depressed, drinking strong liquor.

"We haven't received the money yet, but the Queen Mother has disappeared. Also, where is Lord Mountain?"

The Warriors' former deputy and current leader, Uswick, asked.

Obviously asking himself, Amory Lorch shook his head. "I heard that Lord Artis Arryn wanted to reward him with thousands of gold dragons. Haha, it's ridiculous. He has been recovering from his injuries, and we have been guarding King's Landing and the royal family, but he is the one who gets the reward."

"Damn it!" The mercenary's shouting and cursing sounded like the squeaking of a raven.

"Just right!" a mercenary shouted, standing on the wooden table and drinking wine, "Lord Mountain invited us here to drink, maybe he wants to share some money with us."

Haha, Amory Lodge laughed secretly in his heart, who would share money with a group of greedy mercenaries?

He lay back in his chair and looked around, and found that the bartender had gone upstairs and the door had been closed at some point.

The Mountain hasn't come yet.
Amory Lodge reached to his waist; he had no weapon.

A feeling of uneasiness came over me.

"By order of Lord Artis Arryn, Hand of the King, arrest Amory Lorch and the mercenaries of the Brave Order!"

The sound came from upstairs, and the sound of countless crossbows being loaded could be heard.

"Don't move!"

One by one, blue-robed figures appeared on the wooden railings upstairs, with crossbows pointed at them.

The gate was open, and a group of soldiers armed with spears and short bows blocked the entrance.

It was over. Amory Lodge put down his wine glass, tears streaming down his cheeks.

(End of this chapter)