chapter 153 part 1
Chapter 153: Dark News
Seated high upon the Iron Throne, Eddard Stark declared in a somber tone, "Lord Tyrell, I will send men to investigate this matter thoroughly, and I will give you a satisfactory answer. Before that, I hope you will act with caution."
Mace Tyrell did not speak. He made a hand gesture, and soon after, another group of men, women, and children in tattered clothes, led by a young knight, walked in.
They too were covered in blood, their expressions filled with terror and unease.
"Lord Stark, they arrived in King's Landing last night. These villagers come from two neighboring villages. In total, only this many survived."
Lord Mace spoke in his usual slow and deliberate manner, but everyone present could feel the suppressed fury in his voice.
Inside the throne room, gasps of varying intensity rose and fell.
Varys exclaimed, "Oh my, how terrible! How cruel!"
Lord Mace spoke again, "Lord Stark, more people from The Reach will suffer misfortune. Is this something common bandits would do? The people of The Reach are bleeding every day."
"Blood for blood!"
"To the death!"
…
As Lord Mace's voice fell, the nobles of The Reach who were present stood up one after another, seconding him loudly.
After a moment of silence, Lord Eddard looked toward the group of villagers who had just been brought in.
He raised his hand to signal for silence and said, "Tell me, were the bandits you encountered the same group of people?"
The middle-aged knight first nodded, then turned to confer with the villagers.
After a moment, he replied loudly, "Lord Hand, they were also masked, well-equipped, and riding warhorses."
The young knight said angrily, "It must be the Lannisters! I tracked them with a few men and found that group ran into Lannister hills. They must be Lord Tywin's dogs!"
Pycelle said stiffly, "I would like to remind this young Ser Knight that Lord Tywin Lannister is the father of Her Grace, the Queen."
The young knight's face flushed with anger. At that moment, Lord Mace's voice cut in.
"Pycelle, even without your reminder, we know that Tywin is the Queen's father."
…
*Glyn: Lord Mace, the gods can feel the sorrow in your heart, but I must remind you that you are the liege lord of The Reach. The disturbances on the border are a very rare opportunity. The Wolf Lord's noble character is known throughout the Seven Kingdoms. If you can act with just cause, Casterly Rock will be isolated and helpless.*
*Glyn: If things go smoothly, the Golden Rose will become the foremost noble house in the Seven Kingdoms under your leadership.*
…
Lord Mace stroked his beard. After speaking, he stared at Grand Maester Pycelle… The Golden Rose of The Reach does not fear the Golden Lion of the Westerlands.
Pycelle glanced at Lord Mace. His lips moved, but he said nothing more.
From the high throne, Lord Eddard saw someone "quietly" slip out from the end of the hall. *The rabbit has run off just like that...* he thought. *No, it should be called a rat that scrounges for Queen Cersei's cheese.*
Lord Eddard had already identified Jon Arryn's murderer. He had already begun to plan how to deal with the little rats inside the Red Keep.
From Lord Eddard's position, he could see the movements below clearly. The crowd was in a heated discussion... but the matter at hand had to be dealt with properly.
…
"Lord Mace, please give the order! I am willing to muster the soldiers of my territory. We will take an eye for an eye and let the Westermen have a taste of the might of The Reach!"
"Yes! Let the wretches of the Westerlands have a taste of the might of The Reach!"
"Yes! One man of The Reach can fight five Westerland wretches!"
"Please, my lord..."
"Lord Mace,..."
"Silence!" Lord Mace glanced at the vassals of The Reach, and the nobles quickly ceased their shouting.
After a pause, Lord Mace's gaze turned to Lord Eddard on the throne. "Lord Hand Stark, until we receive King Robert's permission, the men of The Reach will only capture those bandits within the borders of The Reach. I will restrain them."
Lord Eddard's grey eyes narrowed slightly. He nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your wisdom, Lord Tyrell."
Today, the Wolf was truly seeing this unremarkable head of House Tyrell in a new light.
Lord Eddard felt that Tywin Lannister was less of a lion and more of a fox. If he had truly sent the Mountain's former men to kill and burn, he would have specifically ordered them to dress as common bandits, display no banners, and act with extreme caution.
If The Reach were to retaliate in the same manner, killing and burning in the Westerlands, Cersei and her father could insist that it was House Tyrell that had broken the peace, not House Lannister... Who Robert would believe then, only the gods knew.
He thought that the wise Lord Mace had considered this very point, which was why he had the victims come to the Iron Throne to seek justice.
…
Maester Pycelle stood up again. He placed a hand on his chest and bowed to Lord Eddard. "Lord Hand, if these villagers insist that the masked bandits were the Mountain's former men, then let them go see the liege lord of the Westerlands and complain to him. The crimes they speak of have nothing to do with the King. They should request that Lord Tywin uphold justice."
Lord Eddard said coldly, "Pycelle, this certainly has to do with the King. Be it east, west, south, or north, we all act in the name of Robert, the First of His Name."
Pycelle's cloudy eyes shifted. "It has to do with the King... a fair point. Then we should wait for the King's return before acting..."
Lord Eddard interrupted, "The King is hunting at this moment. Waiting will only make matters worse. Robert asked me to manage the affairs of the realm in his name as Hand of the King, to listen with his ears, to speak with his voice, and I shall fulfill my duty."
After a pause, he added, "But I agree to report today's events to him. Ser Robar."
Ser Robar Royce stepped forward and bowed with a hand on his chest. "Lord Hand, what are your orders?"
Lord Eddard said, "Your father, Bronze Yohn Royce, is hunting with King Robert. Could I ask you to go there and inform them of today's events?"
Ser Robar accepted the command with pleasure. "As you command, Lord Hand. I will set out today."
After Ser Robar left, the young knight from The Reach stepped forward and bowed. "Just Lord Hand, does that mean we can go directly to the Mountain's former men and settle the score?"
"Revenge?"
After asking the question, Lord Eddard shook his head. He continued, "I thought we were talking about justice. Burning and killing in the Westerlands will not restore peace to the realm; it will only soothe your wounded pride for a moment."
Before the enraged young knight could retort, Lord Eddard shifted his gaze to the group of villagers.
"Villagers of The Reach, I cannot return your homes or your crops, much less bring back the dead, but... perhaps I can give you belated justice, in the name of our King."
"Since they were masked, even hiding their identities to commit these atrocities, there must be a filthy purpose behind it."