2nd Month of 286 A.C. King's Landing
Lord Rickard Stark
Many interesting things had been happening in King's Landing in recent months. For one thing there had been the marriage of Ser Jaime Lannister, heir to the Rock and Lady Ashara Dayne, that marriage had caused something of a stir at court mainly due to the fact that Ser Jaime was already betrothed to Mariah Banefort, a woman no one had even met, and the fact that the Lady Ashara was no longer a maiden, her maidenhead taken by someone at Harrenhal. That was a very interesting scene to watch, and when Rickard had seen Tywin Lannister seemingly approve of the match he knew the man was beginning to fall into the trap he had woven for him. It was something else knowing than an arch rival was about come crumbling down to the ground. One other thing of interest at court was the emergence of someone known as Saera Volaris, a noble lady from Volantis who had fled the purge of the city and arrived at court, the woman was quite beautiful but there was something else to her, something that Rickard did not know nor trust.
Then there was the fact that his grandson the King was growing older each and every day. King Jonothor was now three name days old and often provided Rickard with a sense of relief from the tedious nature of the court and council. The lad was an inquisitive child always asking questions and talking about things, he also liked to go wandering through the Red Keep. This had led to many a journey through the keep looking for him, and more often than not the Kingsguard would walk back with the child in their arms. He was truly a sweet child and someone who would do well when the other children Rickard had planned to come, came.
It was the thought of his grandson that kept him going now as he sat through another council meeting. The game was what thrilled him but that did not mean it could not also get quite tedious sometimes. Lord Wyman was speaking about the costs of something or the other. "My lord regent, the cost of building the town on the Western coast of the north on the mouth of Sea Dragon River is slightly higher than expected. Due to the snows and the cold icy conditions some of the work had to stop but it has since restarted and we should be able to cover the cost of the delay soon enough. According to reports coming from the north, the town now has its walls built and the castle itself is coming along, whilst the port is rising quickly."
Rickard nodded and then asked. "And what of the building of the northern fleet? How goes that?"
Lord Wyman looks down at his notes and says. "Well my lord regent, it is going according to plan. Some thirty ships have been built already and should soon be ready for travel and trade. Another thirty are expected to be done by the end of the moon ready for travel as well."
Rickard nods and then asks. "And what of trade as a whole for the kingdoms how does that look?"
"Trade between the north and the Westerlands is at its highest since Dagon Greyjoy's raiding. The exchange of northern timber for gold and silver is levelling in value. As such both kingdoms are seeing their economy grow as a result. Inter kingdom trade is also prospering, and as such the coffers of all the kingdoms with the exception of the Iron Islands are growing and have seen a one percent growth since the end of the fighting. As for trade with the Free Cities, it has resumed positively with Braavos since the election of the Sealord, and timber, lumber and ore and other such materials are being traded with the Braavosi. Myr has brought in a considerable profit, due to our trading as well. Lys and Tyrosh continue to be a problem though, what with their tolls on the ships coming and going from King's Landing through the Stepstones passageway." Wyman responded.
Rickard sighed. "The Archon and his men assure me that this is merely the doing of the council of Lys. And yet the Lyseni claim that it is the working of the Archon and his men. They are pitting us against the other and waiting to see which one we bite for. It will not do, sooner or later they will overstep as they did during the reign of King Viserys the first, and when they do it might well be too late. No we must deal with this problem here and now for the good of the realm and for the good of trade."
"What would you suggest my lord regent?" Tywin Lannister asked.
Rickard considers for a moment and then says. "They will clearly not accept any sort of diplomatic overtures to end their senseless tolls and so we must do as the Targaryens did in the days of old. We must drive them out from the Stepstones by force and claim it as our own."
Silence greeted this statement and then Lord Tywin spoke up. "A sensible suggestion my lord regent. And yet we are not the Targaryens of old. We do not have dragons with which to rain hellfire down on the pirates and the Tyroshi and Lyseni from the sky. Our men are tired and weary of war, and winter is here now. Where shall we gain the forces that could reasonably do this job?"
Rickard ponders this, and then says. "There are men who did not take part in the fighting against the Ironborn and who had a chance to recuperate and restore their defences. The lords of the Reach and Dorne, the lords of the Vale. All have had time to prepare themselves for winter in advance, as well as the Lords of the Stormlands. It could be something of an exercise in getting them to show their loyalty as well."
Tywin seems stumped by this. "That is true my lord regent. Very true, though it might be wise to ask for second sons to go, so as to not give the lords a worry that their heirs might die in this winter. Furthermore who shall command the fleet?"
Paxter Redwyne as expected speaks up to volunteer. "I would be most honoured to command the fleet that takes the Stepstones and drives the foreigners away from what is rightfully ours."
Rickard looks at the hand and says. "There you have it, Lord Paxter Redwyne shall command the fleet that drives out the Tyrosh and the Lyseni. And I shall send ravens to the Dornish and the Reachmen as well as to Storm's End asking for men to fight alongside the men of the royal fleet." The hand merely nods at this, and Rickard feels like smiling, once the plans are made for the full assault, Rickard turns the conversation to another matter. "Prince Oberyn has there been any word on what is going on in Volantis?"
"The slave revolts have begun growing in number. We all know from Lady Volaris the horrors of the Red Demon that occurred some three moons ago. But what even she did not know is that the tiger cloaks have begun revolting as well. Soon enough the triarchy shall be done for, the old blood have begun fleeing in even greater droves, fleeing to Lys, Tyrosh, Myr, anywhere they can get to that will protect them from the flames of Moqorro. The man has crowned himself King of Volantis and has the red priests and the slaves behind him." Prince Oberyn responds.
Troubling news indeed Rickard asks. "What is this King Moqorro like and what does he want?"
The master of whispers is silent a moment considering his response before eventually replying. "He is a dangerous man by all accounts. A man with fierce devotion to the Red God, and someone who knows how to get what he wants. He has won the slaves over through sheer force of personality and being able to use a sword and get his hands dirty when he wishes to. As to what he wants, it seems he wants Volantis, though some of my spies say he wishes to bring back Valyria."
The Hand snorts then. "A mad man then. No one will bring back Valyria for the dragons are all dead."
Rickard nods. "Still it should not hurt to keep an eye on the man. If he begins looking towards Westeros, I want him removed." The master of whispers nods. "Now is there aught else for us to discuss?" when none reply Rickard calls an end to the meeting, and stands accompanied by Ser Gerold and walks out of the council chamber back to his own rooms and solar where he asks for Lord Hoster Tully to be brought, the man had come to court at Rickard's invitation.
Rickard has just about prepared himself for their conversation when there is a knock on the door followed by the entrance of Lord Hoster Tully. The man looks invigorated as if court has proven to be a blessing for him. Rickard stands and shakes the man's hand and then once they have both sat down says. "My old friend, I know you have enjoyed court and the games that are played here. But I am sure you must be wondering why I have asked to meet with you." The man nods and Rickard continues. "I have been hearing rumours that Tywin Lannister means to ask for a betrothal between his niece Cerenna Lannister to your son Edmure, as well as between his cousin Lanna to your brother Ser Brynden. I wished to know whether or not you would accept such offers?"
The man is silent for a moment and then says. "Whilst I too have heard the rumours of these offers how true they are I do not know. I do know the man has expressed an interest in seeing his niece wed to Edmure, and I am tempted to allow that to happen, mainly due to the fact that it would give us a foot in the Westerlands. And a tool to use against Lannister should he begin to grow too bold. As for my brother, well Brynden has always been stubborn and determined to carve his own path in life, and so has already married someone." Rickard looks at the man in shock before nodding for his friend to continue. "It seems my brother became smitten with one Jayne Bracken whilst visiting Stone Hedge and has since married her. I was there for the wedding but I admit even I was surprised it was happening. The two do seem to be fond of one another."
Silence follows the end of his friend's response and Rickard considers what he has just been told. "Will Ser Brynden continue to remain at Riverrun then? Or will he move to Stone Hedge?"
Lord Hoster sighs then and says. "Neither, it seems Jonos Bracken is determined to see his nephew as his heir and so I have ordered Oldstones to be rebuilt. My brother and goodsister shall live there when it is done. Until then they shall live in Riverrun."
Rickard nods. "A good plan, and something that will be good for when your son and Lady Asha grow into adulthood. I must ask how the Lady Asha is doing though. Has she become accustomed to the Greenlands?"
"She is getting along well I believe my lord regent. I suppose it helps that she has had boys her own age with which to spar and get to know. Aside from my son, many other Riverlords have been quite keen to get to know her. Patrek Mallister heir to Seagard, Marq Piper heir to Pinkmaiden, Jon Mooton the heir to Maidenpool, as well as Perwyn Frey and Brynden Blackwood. All have come under one reason or another to foster in Riverrun or to squire alongside my son. All with the intention of trying to woo Lady Asha." Hoster says.
"And whom are you tempted to allow to go for the hand of the lady? They are all quite young after all are they not? There will be plenty of time for us to assess which one is suitable." Rickard reasons.
Lord Hoster is silent a moment and then says. "Ideally I would like for Edmure and Asha to marry, to solidify the alliance between the Greyjoys and my family. And yet if Patrek and Asha were to marry I would not voice too many complaints."
Rickard nods and then says. "There is one more matter that we must discuss as well my lord. The issue of Tywin Lannister."
Rickard sees his friend straighten at the mention of the man and his voice is inquisitive when he asks. "What more movement has been made on that issue my lord regent?"
"We know that the man has his bastard within King's Landing to what end though I am not sure. It must be something to do with the attempt that was made on the king at Highgarden as such the bastard is being watched night and day. As for his children, well with both his son and daughter gone from King's Landing the pawns that could have been used to bring about his downfall have gone, but the tools that fool Tybolt Lannister left are still here. It would be very easy to bring them into light and expose the Lannisters as a whole." Rickard responds.
Rickard knows his friend wishes to know what these tools are, but he knows better than to ask. Instead he says. "Will you use them?"
Rickard nods. "Aye I shall, but only once Paxter Redwyne has dealt with the Stepstones. For the time being though I need to know if your friends in the Westerlands are still willing to hold up their end of the deal."
His friend nods and says. "They are, more than willing. The broken betrothal has hurt them hard and now they are looking to bring things back full circle."
Rickard smiles then and says. "Tell them that when the moon is next full, that is when they should move from their fortress."