Chapter 22 Chapter 21 Ed

Eddard Stark, aching, tired and hungry, rode grimly through the tall bronze gates of the Red Keep.The imperial steward came to notify him to send the Grand Master Schiller to hold an urgent imperial meeting, and hoped that the new prime minister would come here if it was convenient for him. He was still on horseback, and he only wanted to take a hot bath and have a roast chicken or duck in his heart. , and sleep on a feather bed. "Tomorrow, if it's convenient," Ned said gruffly as he dismounted. The steward bowed respectfully to the end. "Master Prime Minister, then I will tell the important ministers that you are unable to attend."

"Forget it, damn it," Ned said.How can it be possible to offend all the important officials of the court before taking office? "I'm going to meet them right away. But please give me a few minutes while I change into more formal attire." "Yes, my lord." The steward said, "We have already prepared Lord Ayrin's room in the Prime Minister's Tower for you. If you wish, I will send someone to deliver your things there." "Thank you," Ned said, pulling off his riding gloves and stuffing them into his belt.Behind him, his family members and subjects are entering the gate one after another.Ned called to Vayon Poole, the steward, and called to him. "I seem to be in a hurry at the palace. Make sure my daughters are settled, and tell Jory to keep them in their rooms. Arya must not run about." Poole bowed.Ned turned to the steward. "My carriage is still halfway through town. I need suitable clothes."

"It's a great honor to serve you." The general said. So Ned, who was exhausted, strode into the meeting hall wearing the borrowed clothes, and found four important ministers waiting for him. The furnishings of the meeting hall are extremely gorgeous.The floor was Myr rugs instead of rush matting.In one corner of the room stood a wooden screen from the Summer Isles, carved with a hundred species of rare birds and animals in vivid colors.The walls were hung with fine tapestry from Norvoth, Qohor, and Lys.A pair of Valyrian sphinxes flanked the door, round garnet eyes shining brightly in black marble faces.

As soon as Ned stepped into the room, the eunuch Varys, the eunuch he hated the most among the several important ministers, leaned over. "Lord Stark, I am sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad. We all went to the sept and lit candles for Prince Joffrey, praying for his speedy recovery." His Hands left traces of makeup on Ned's sleeve.There was a rotten, sweet smell about him, like flowers on a grave. "Your gods must have heard your prayers," Ned replied dryly and politely. "The prince's health is improving." He took his hand from the eunuch's palm and walked across the room to Lord Renly.Renly was standing by the screen, talking softly to a short man who must have been Littlefinger.Renly had been a boy of seven when Robert took the throne, and now he was a man who looked so much like his brother that Ned felt terribly uncomfortable.Every time he saw him, it was like turning back the clock and seeing Robert standing before him, fresh from his victory on the Trident.

"Lord Stark, it seems that you have arrived safely." Renly said. "Neither do you," Ned answered. "With all due respect, sometimes you and your brother Robert look alike." "I'm no match for him." Renly shrugged. "At least you dress better than him," Littlefinger said playfully. "Lord Renly spends more money on clothes than any other lady in the palace." This statement is true.Lord Renly wore a dark green velvet doublet with twelve golden stags embroidered on it.A gold-woven half cape hangs chicly over one shoulder, fastened with an emerald brooch. "It shouldn't be a heinous crime." Renly laughed. "Look at what you're wearing. It's rude."

Littlefinger ignored his sneer.He looked at Ned with a smile that was almost contemptuous. "Lord Stark, I've wanted to see you all these years. I suppose Lady Catelyn has mentioned me to you?" "She did," Ned replied coldly.The other party's arrogant and narrow-minded words annoyed him. "If I remember correctly, you also know my brother Brandon." Renly Baratheon laughed.Varys shuffled closer. "I know him very well," Littlefinger said. "I still have a memory of him on my body. Brandon mentioned me too?" "Talk about you, mostly when you're furious," said Ned, wishing that the subject would be over.He had never been interested in such word games.

"I thought you Starks were not so angry," said Littlefinger. "In our south, they say you are made of ice, and will melt when you get past your neck." "Lord Baelish, you can rest assured that I don't intend to melt too quickly." Ned moved towards the conference table. "Master Pycelle, I see that you are still in good health." The Grand Maester looked up from the bench at the end of his long table, smiling. "My lord, I have a very good body at my age," he replied, "ah, but tires easily." He had a kind face, and a few strands of white hair hung down on either side of his already bald forehead.His maester's collar was not a simple piece of metal like Luwin's, but a heavy necklace of twenty-four pieces of metal, hanging from throat to chest.The chains were forged of every metal known to man: black iron and red gold, bright copper and heavy lead, steel and tin and dull silver, brass and bronze and platinum.Garnets, amethysts and black pearls adorn the metal chain, emeralds and rubies adorn it. "We might as well get started." The Grand Maester put his hands on his belly and rubbed it repeatedly, "If you wait any longer, I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep."

"As you wish," said the king, at the head of the council table, which was vacant, the back of which was embroidered with gold thread on the crowned stag of House Baratheon.Ned took the seat on the king's right, symbolizing the king's right hand, and sat down. "My lords," he said seriously, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long." "Lord Stark, you are the Prime Minister of the king," Varys said, "It is our duty to serve you." Seeing other people taking their own seats one after another, Ed Stark suddenly realized how out of place he was in this place.He remembered what Robert had told him in the crypts at Winterfell, "I'm surrounded by idiots and sycophants."Ned looked across the conference table, wondering who were idiots and who were sycophants.He already knew the answer. "There are only five of us," he pointed out.

"Lord Stannis returned to Dragonstone shortly after the king's journey north," said Varys, "and our valiant Ser Barristan is no doubt at the king's side at this moment, escorting him through the city. As Captain of the Kingsguard, that is his duty." "Perhaps we should wait until Ser Barristan and Your Grace join us," Ned suggested. Renly Baratheon laughed loudly: "I don't know how long it will be until my brother does me a favor." "Our dear King Robert has too many things to worry about," said Varys, "so leave the little things to us to lighten the burden."

"What Lord Varys means is that all matters involving finances, harvests and laws will give my brother a headache." Duke Renly said, "So the management of the country falls to us. He doesn't care Forget to explain something from time to time." He pulled a tightly wrapped piece of paper from his sleeve and put it on the table. "For example, this morning, he ordered me to enter the city at full speed ahead of time, and asked Grand Maester Pacelle to call this meeting immediately. He has an urgent errand for us to handle." Littlefinger smiled and handed Ned the letterhead with the royal seal stamped on it.Ned lifted the wax seal with his thumb and spread out the letter to see what the king's urgent orders were.The more he read, the more he couldn't believe it. How far was Robert going to go?Still in his name, this is simply worse. "Damn it," he could not help cursing.

"Lord Ned means," Lord Renly announced, "that His Majesty has ordered us to hold a great tourney to celebrate the new Hand." "How much will it cost?" Littlefinger asked dully. Ned read the answer from the letter: "Forty thousand gold dragons will be awarded to the winner, and twenty thousand gold dragons will be awarded to the second place. Twenty thousand gold dragons will be awarded to the team's melee winner, and ten thousand gold dragons will be awarded to the archery winner." "Ninety thousand ducats," sighed Littlefinger, "and other expenses. You know Robert will have a feast. That means we'll need cooks, carpenters, maids, singers, mummers, and jugglers. ..." "We'll have no trouble finding a fool," said Lord Renly. Master Pacelle looked at Littlefinger and asked, "Can the treasury pay this amount?" "Where's the treasury?" Littlefinger curled his lips, "Don't pretend to be grandma, you and I both know that the treasury has been empty for many years. If you don't have to borrow money, the Lannister family will be happy to support it. Anyway, we already owe Lord Tywin more than three million golden dragons, so what's the point of borrowing another few hundred thousand?" Ned was shocked. "You said the royal family owed 'three million' gold coins?" "Lord Stark, the total debt of the royal family exceeds six million at this moment. The Lannister family is the largest creditor, but we have also borrowed money from Lord Tyrell, the Iron Bank of Braavos, and many Tyrosh firms. Recently, I had to find another source of income, and moved my idea to the church. The archbishop’s bargaining skills are so high that even the fishmongers in Dorne can’t compare.” Ned couldn't be more taken aback. "Aerys Targaryen left a mountain of gold and silver. How could you let it fall to this level?" Littlefinger shrugged. "The Chancellor is only looking for change. It's the King and the Prime Minister who spend it." "Jon Arryn would never allow Robert to spend so much," Ned said bitterly. Master Pacelle shook his bald head, and the necklace squeaked softly. "Lord Ayrin is certainly careful and careful, but I'm afraid His Majesty the King may not always listen to wise advice." "My brother loves tournaments and delicacies," said Renly Baratheon. "What he hates is 'counting pennies.'" "I will speak to His Majesty," Ned said. "The country cannot afford such an extravagant game." "It would be good to talk to him," said Lord Renly, "but let's make a plan first." "We'll talk about it another day," Ned said.Judging from their eyes, his tone seemed a little too sharp.If he wanted to govern, he had to keep in mind that he was no longer a lord over ten thousand people in Winterfell City. Here he was just the head of important ministers with equal status. "My lords, please forgive me." He changed to a more gentle tone, "I'm really tired. We'll stop here today, and we'll continue when I feel better." After he finished speaking, he didn't ask for the consent of the others. He stood up suddenly, nodded to all the important officials present, and left. Going out the door, I saw carriages and knights still pouring in from the gate of the castle. The courtyard was in chaos, filled with mud, horse smell, and shouting human voices.He was told the king was still on his way.Since the accident at the Trident River, the Starks and their subordinates have been at the forefront of the convoy, away from the Lannisters and the rising tension between the two factions.Robert had hardly been seen, for he was said to be in the wheelhouse, and drank too much.If so, he should be hours away, much earlier than Ned had hoped.Now he had only to look at Sansa's face to feel his anger rising again.The last two weeks of the trip were miserable.Sansa blames Arya, saying Nymeria should have been killed.Arya is distraught after learning of the death of the Butcher's apprentice.Sansa cried herself to sleep every night, Arya grieved alone without saying a word, and Eddard Stark himself dreamed of a frozen hell for the Starks in Winterfell. He walked through the outer court, walked through the gate, and entered the inner court. When he was walking towards what he remembered as the Prime Minister's Tower, Little Finger suddenly appeared in front of him. "Stark, you are going the wrong way, follow me." Ned followed him hesitantly, and Littlefinger led him into a tower, down a winding staircase, across a small sunken courtyard, and along deserted corridors.On the walls on both sides, a pair of unused armor looks like standing guards.They were the relics of House Targaryen, black steel and helms with dragon scales, but now dusty and forgotten. "This is not the way to my chambers," Ned said. "Did I say so? I'm planning to lead you into the dungeon, cut your throat, and seal your corpse in the wall." Littlefinger spoke sarcastically. "Stark, we don't have time for nonsense, the honorable lady is waiting for you." "Littlefinger, what trick are you playing? Catelyn is in Winterfell, hundreds of miles away." "Oh?" Littlefinger's gray-green eyes sparkled with interest. "Then this person's disguise is really extraordinary. I said the last time, either come with me, or I will take her as my own." He walked quickly down the stairs. Ned followed cautiously, wondering when the day would end.He had no interest in such subterfuge, but he had gradually begun to understand that, for a man like Littlefinger, scheming and intrigue were commonplace. At the bottom of the stairs was a heavy door of oak and iron bars.Petyr raised the latch and waved Ned in.He found them on the sheer cliff above the river, bathed in the blush of evening. "We're outside the castle," Ned said. "You are really easy to deceive, Stark." Littlefinger smirked, "Is it the sun or the sky that leaked the secret? Come with me, there is a hole for climbing on the rock wall. Be careful not to fall to your death. Otherwise Catelyn will never forgive me." With that he rolled over and scrambled down, with the agility of a monkey. Ned examined the rock face carefully for a moment, then followed slowly down.As Littlefinger said, there are shallow hollows carved on the cliff. Unless you know it from the beginning, you will never find it from the bottom of the cliff.The river was a dizzying distance from them.Ned pressed his face against the rock, trying not to look down unless necessary. At last he managed to reach the bottom, next to a narrow muddy waterfront path, where Littlefinger was lounging on a rock, nibbling an apple.He has almost finished eating. "Stark, you are old and useless," he said, throwing the core of the apple into the rapids. "It doesn't matter, we'll ride next." Two horses were waiting there, and Ned mounted them, urging them to trot behind him, and headed down the path towards the city. Finally Baelish stopped in front of a three-story wooden building that looked crumbling.There was light from the windows, especially bright in the fading twilight.Music and harsh laughter overflowed from within, floating on the river.By the door hung by a heavy chain an ornate oil lamp with a shade of leaded red glass. Ned Stark jumped off his horse angrily. "This is a whorehouse." He grabbed Littlefinger by the shoulder and pushed him around. "After traveling a long way, you actually took me to a brothel?" "Your wife is inside," said Littlefinger He couldn't stand it any longer. "Brandon has been too kind to you," Ned said, slamming the little man against the wall, drawing his dagger and pointing it at his bearded, pointed chin. "My lord, stop quickly." An anxious voice called out. "He's telling the truth." Footsteps came from behind. Ned turned around with his knife in hand.I saw a white-haired old man in brown coarse cloth, the soft flesh of his jaw trembling with running, hurried towards them. "It's none of your business." Ned had just opened his mouth when he suddenly recognized the man.He lowered the dagger, surprised. "Ser Rodrik?" Ser Rodrik nodded. "Madam is waiting for you upstairs." Ned was confused. "Catelyn is really here? Wasn't it Littlefinger's prank?" He put away his weapon. "It's good that I have that ability, Stark." Littlefinger said, "Follow me. Also, don't look like a prime minister sitting in danger. If you are recognized, it will be terrible." .If you don't mind, touch a couple of tits when you pass by." They entered the house and walked through the crowded hall. There was a fat woman singing a song with obscene lyrics, and a beautiful girl in a light shirt sat on the lap of the benefactor and acted like a baby.Ned was ignored.Ser Rodrik was waiting downstairs, and Littlefinger led him up the third story, through the corridor, and through the door. Catelyn was inside, and she cried out when she saw him, and ran towards him, hugging him tightly. "Ma'am," Ned whispered, surprised. "Yo, that's great," said Littlefinger, closing the door. "You know her." "My lord, I'm afraid you won't come." She whispered against his chest. "Petyr keeps hearing from you. He told me about Arya and the young prince. How are my lovely daughters?" "They're both sad and angry," he said to her. "Kate, I don't understand. What are you doing in King's Landing? What happened?" Ned asked his wife. "Bran's business? Could it be that he..." The word death almost blurted out, but he couldn't. "It's Bran's business, but it's not what you think." Caitlin said. Ned was even more puzzled. "What's the matter? Honey, why are you here? What kind of place is this?" "What do you think it looks like here?" Littlefinger said, taking a seat by the window. "This is a brothel. Where is Catelyn Tully less likely to be found than here?" He smiled. "It just so happens that I run this shop, so it's easy to arrange. I'm Try to keep the Lannisters from knowing that Kate is in King's Landing." "Why?" Ned asked, and it was only then that he saw the strange position of her hand, the red scar that hadn't healed, the stiffness of the pinky and ring fingers of her left hand. "You're hurt." He took her hand and examined it repeatedly. "God, the wound is so deep... Is it a sword wound or... madam, how did this happen?" Catelyn drew a dagger from under her cloak and handed it to him. "Someone with this knife is going to take Bran's life." Ned looked up sharply. "But... who... who would be so..." She put her finger on his lips. "My dear, let me speak quickly. Just listen to me." So he listened, and she told the whole story, from the fire at the library, and Varys, and the City Watch who had come to meet her, right down to Littlefinger.When she finished speaking, Eddard Stark sat at the table dumbfounded, dagger in hand.Bran's wolf had saved the boy's life, he thought dully.What did Jon say when he found the pack of wolf pups in the snow?Your children are destined to have these little wolves, my lord.In the end, he killed Sansa's wolf with his own hands. In the end, what was this for?Does he feel guilty now?or fear?If these wolves were really a gift from heaven, what heinous crime had he committed? Ned forced himself painfully to return to the dagger in front of him, to consider the implications. "Imp's knife," he repeated.This is so unreasonable.He gripped the smooth keel handle and drove it hard into the table, feeling it bite deep into the wood.The dagger just stood there, as if mocking him. "Why did Tyrion Lannister kill Bran? The boy never messed with him." "You Starks have no brains?" Littlefinger asked. "Of course the imp doesn't act alone." Ned got up and paced around the room. "Could it be that the queen was involved? Or, gods behold, even the king... no, absolutely not." As he spoke, he thought of that cold morning in the Borrowland when Robert mentioned Pai The assassins go to deal with Princess Targaryen.He remembered Rhaegar's infant son, the bloody head, and the king's way of ignoring him, just as he had done not so long ago in Darry's drawing room.Sansa's plea is still in my ears, just like Lyanna's plea before she died. "The king probably doesn't know about it," said Littlefinger. "It's not the first time. Our good Robert is always blind to things he doesn't want to know." Ned made no answer.The face of the butcher's brother, almost split in half, came to him, but the king did not say a word.His head started buzzing. Littlefinger swung to the table and pulled the dagger out of the wood. "No matter what you do, it is treason. If you accuse the king, you may be killed by Ilyn Payne before you can say it. If you are the queen... unless you can find evidence and make Robert listen, Only then is it possible..." "We have evidence," said Ned, "we have this dagger." "This?" Littlefinger casually played with the dagger. "My lord, this is a good knife. A good knife cuts both sides. The imp will certainly argue that the dagger was lost or stolen while he was at Winterfell. Now that the killer he hired is dead, who can prove Is what he said true or false?" He tossed the knife lightly at Ned. "I suggest you throw this thing in the river and pretend it doesn't exist." Ned looked at him coldly. "Lord Baelish, I am a Stark of Winterfell. My son is crippled and may not live. If not for the little wolf we found in the snow, he would be dead at this moment Well, Caitlin will probably die with him too. If you really think I'm going to pretend it's okay, then you'd be as foolish as you were when you challenged my brother." "Stark, I'm stupid, I'm stupid . Statement, please don't get me involved, thank you very much." "Very well, Lord Baelish, no matter what I do, the last person I want to be with is you." "I'm so sad to hear that." Littlefinger stretched out his hand to hold his heart. "Myself, I've always found you Starks to be pretty dull, but Kate somehow couldn't do without you. So, for her sake, I'll try not to kill you. Only fools. That’s why I’m doing this, but I just can’t refuse any of your wife’s requests.” "I told Petyr about our suspicions about the cause of Jon Arryn's death." Catelyn said, "He promised to assist you in investigating the truth." It's not good news for Eddard Stark, but they do need help, and Littlefinger and Kate used to be siblings.Besides, this wasn't the first time Ned had been forced to compromise with someone he despised. "Okay," he tucked the dagger into his belt, "you were talking about Varys, and he knows the whole story?" "If I knew, it must not have been said by me." Catelyn said, "Ed Stark, the man you married is not stupid. But Varys has a way of knowing things that others can't. Ned, I believe that." Guy knows black art." "His lackeys are all over the world, that's what we all know," Ned said contemptuously. "Not only that," Catelyn insisted, "Ser Rodrik's meeting with Ser Alan Santagar was kept secret from beginning to end, but this spider somehow knew what was being said. I'm terrified of this man." Littlefinger smiled. "My dear lady, Lord Varys will be left to me. Allow me to swear - what better place than here? - with his balls in the palm of my hand. He put his fingers together and smiled. "Of course, here's assuming he's a man with balls. You might as well think of it this way, if magpies could talk and little birds would sing, then Varys wouldn't like it. All right." , if I were you, I'd be more wary of the Lannisters than the eunuch." Ned needed no reminder from Littlefinger.He remembered the scene of the day he found Arya, and the queen's expression at that time.Who says we don't have wolves?So softly.He thought of the boy Mycah, of Jon Arryn's sudden death, and of Bran's fall, and old Aerys Targaryen dying on the throne room floor, his blood slowing down on his gilded sword. Slow drying scenes. "Ma'am," he turned to Caitlin, "it won't help if you stay here, I hope you return to Winterfell immediately. If there is one, there must be the other, and there is no guarantee that other assassins will not come to make trouble. No matter who the mastermind is , he must soon learn that Bran survived." "I wanted to see my daughter..." Caitlin said. "That would be too unwise." Littlefinger interjected. "There are ears everywhere in the Red Castle, let alone children who are not tight-lipped." "He has a point, my dear," Ned told her, hugging her. "Take Ser Rodrik and set off for Winterfell. I will take good care of my daughters. Return to our sons and protect them." "That's it, my lord." Catelyn lifted her face, and Ned kissed her.Her wounded hand hugged his back with an almost desperate force, as if she wanted to keep him in her safe embrace forever. "Master, madam, don't you want to use the bedroom?" Littlefinger asked, "But let me remind you first, Stark, there is a fee for opening a room here." "Let's just be alone for a while," Caitlin said. "Forget it." Littlefinger walked towards the door. "Don't delay for too long. The Prime Minister and I should have returned to the city long ago, lest others become suspicious after being missing for too long." Caitlin came to him and took his hand. "Petyr, I will never forget your help. When your men came for me, I didn't know if I was going to fall into the hands of a friend or an enemy. It turned out that you were not only a friend, but also my long-lost brother. " Petyr Baelish smiled and said: "My lady, I am just sentimental, please don't tell others about it. Over the years, I have worked hard in the court to let others think that I am an evil and Cruel people really don’t want to let their achievements fall short.” Ned didn't believe a word of this, but he still said politely, "Lord Baelish, I thank you too." "Yo, this is an oriental baby." Littlefinger said and left the room. After the door closed, Ned turned to face his wife. "As soon as you get home, send a letter in my name to Herman Tallhart and Galbert Glover, ordering them to send a hundred archers each to help defend Moat Cailin. Two hundred archers are enough to stop any army going north. Neck. Instruct the Earl of Manderly to speed up the maintenance of the fortifications of White Harbor and ensure that the garrison is sufficient. Also, from now on, I hope you will pay special attention to Theon Greyjoy. If war breaks out, we very much His father's fleet is needed." "War broke out?" Fear was clearly written on Caitlin's face. "Things won't get that far," Ned assured her, praying that they did.He hugged her again. "The Lannisters have no mercy for the weak. Aerys Targaryen is the best lesson. But they will never dare to invade the North unless they have the strength of the whole country behind them, and they can't even dream of doing so." One day. I've got to play this fool's masquerade and keep pretending nothing happened. Remember why I'm here, dear? To find evidence that the Lannisters murdered Jon Arryn..." He felt Catelyn trembling in his arms, her crippled arms clung to him. "If you do find it," she said, "what next, dear?" Then came the most dangerous part, Ned understood. "The king is the supreme arbiter of law," he told her, "and when I find out the truth, I shall see Robert." Then I can only hope that he will still be as wise as I thought he would be, not as stupid as I feared he would be. Finished silently in my heart.