Chapter 177: Entering the Throne Room
"The trial is set for the afternoon; what are you doing here so early?" Toward those in black, the Stark guards always had a natural +1 to their friendliness. One grey-cloaked guard spoke up kindly, "Don't just stand at the gates of the Red Keep, or we'll have to waste effort watching you. The sun is scorching and everyone is tired; go find a place nearby to eat and come back later!"
"We've already eaten," Nina replied, though her wits were sharp: "But Lord Egger certainly hasn't! Come, let's go find a place to eat."
The group accompanied the exonerated Egger to a tavern closest to the Red Keep, ordering several fine dishes to "wash away the dust" of his imprisonment.
With several people watching and only one person eating, the scene was somewhat bizarre. Fortunately, aside from Ser Alliser, everyone present was Egger's subordinate, so there was no need for formalities. Tearing into meat and washing it down with wine, Egger asked casually, "In the days I was away... did any problems arise with the industries' operations?"
"My lord, you had already briefed me, so the industries maintained normal operations. We only cooperated with Lord Eddard's investigation into Janos Slynt and Tyrion Lannister during that time." Nina sat at the side of the table, dutifully and eagerly pouring his wine, her admiration and the joy of seeing him again written all over her face. "Although you were away longer than previously suggested, we ultimately restrained ourselves and didn't hatch any reckless plans to rescue you."
"Well done." In a King's Landing purged of Lannister influence, Eddard's control was nearly absolute. In such a situation, trying to spring him would not only be futile but could have made a mess of things if it provoked Eddard's resentment. By squatting obediently in a cell for a few days, hadn't Eddard released him personally? Egger had initially viewed Nina only as a helper and secretary, but as he discovered this clever girl never bungled anything he assigned her, he began to trust her more and more. "Ser Alliser, they are here to testify, but what about you? As far as I know, you and Slynt are old acquaintances."
"Old acquaintances, which is why I want to see the... end of him for crossing you," Alliser replied irritably. "As a member of House Thorne and an anointed knight, I am entitled to enter the Red Keep to observe this trial. I don't need your permission."
"Yes, yes, you are indeed entitled. It is I, the logistics officer, who shouldn't meddle in the business of Castle Black's master-at-arms." Egger smiled. "But there is one point I must correct: Slynt didn't cross me, he crossed us—the interests of the Night's Watch industries and the Watch itself."
Alliser snorted and turned his head away, seemingly unimpressed by Egger's wordplay.
With little common ground to speak of, the two had never enjoyed a good relationship at Castle Black, and moving to a new location wasn't going to melt the ice. Consequently, there was no further communication for the rest of the meal. Having eaten prison rations for days, Egger's palate was indeed a bit dull; he wolfed down his lunch, rested for a few minutes, and decided not to go home. He followed Nina, Jeros, and the others to watch the fine show of their enemy being judged.
...
When they returned to the Red Keep two hours later, the gates were finally opening for those participating in the trial.
As the former Commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt was a name familiar to most residents of King's Landing, making him significant enough to be tried personally by the Master of Laws within the Red Keep. To demonstrate the dignity of the law and the fairness of the proceedings, such judicial activities traditionally allowed or even encouraged the participation of people of status, as well as invited commoner representatives.
Egger was not of noble birth, nor had he been knighted or received an invitation from the Master of Laws. Ordinarily, he wouldn't have been able to attend... but during the days he was locked away, public opinion in King's Landing had shifted quietly. He was still the famous Wight Slayer, but as the wight entered the city and rumors spread of the Night's Watch boss taking down the City Watch Commander, the nickname had transitioned from a term of mockery to one of growing respect.
Once, the book The Fantastic Adventures of a Night's Watchman had made him a famous braggart and tall-tale teller across the Seven Kingdoms. The only true part of the story—the Great Battle with the Other—was held up by countless people as proof of the book's falsehood. But as Eddard Stark gathered lords and celebrities from across the realm to witness the reality of the wight, the winds had shifted 180 degrees.
A man who had crossed the Sunset Sea to reach Westeros, slain an Other, and possessed both incredible martial skill and a sharp mind—during the days Egger sat honestly in his cell, he had, without even knowing it, become a legend in the eyes of countless residents of King's Landing and the Crownlands.
As a certain immeasurable quality called prestige quietly accumulated, he transformed in the eyes of the ordinary Stark guards and City Watchmen from a common brother of the Watch into an extraordinary figure. When he entered the Red Keep gates with his head held high alongside Alliser Thorne and the witnesses from the industries, the guards who recognized him didn't find it amiss at all, letting him through without any hindrance or questioning.
Of course, while they could enter the Red Keep, they had no right to even approach Maegor's Holdfast—the fortress within a fortress where the King resided and tended to his wounds. Under the watch of the numerous guards Eddard had stationed along the route, observers and witnesses had no chance to wander; they were led along a fixed path to the location of the trial: the Throne Room.
Limited by the terrain of Aegon's High Hill, the Red Keep was not large enough to have a dedicated space for judicial activities. Thus, the Throne Room usually served as a temporary court. This was also why trials were typically held in the afternoon—in the morning, Eddard used the hall to hold court, receiving officials and petitioners on the King's behalf. At noon, servants and squires hurried to move in tables, chairs, and benches for the plaintiffs and witnesses, only then allowing the trial to commence.
Stepping into the Throne Room-turned-courtroom, the resentment Egger felt toward Eddard for his week-long imprisonment vanished instantly. This was a real trial. Compared to this, the trial that had summoned him to the Hand's office that morning to be questioned and then released felt as gentle as a family squabble. No matter how grim a face Eddard wore, or how much he prided himself on being just and impartial, he was a soft-hearted man at his core. In truth, he was the Night's Watch's greatest patron, protecting the interests of the Watch and its industries—he had been so before this incident, and he would remain so after.
Egger soon realized this was his first time entering this legendary hall. Disappointingly, however, he did not see the fabled throne forged by dragonflame. Since the King and the Hand had both decided not to preside over this trial, and the Master of Laws was not entitled to sit upon the Iron Throne, those arranging the hall had covered it with a heavy shroud to avoid visual awkwardness. Instead, a large wooden chair placed in front of the shroud served as the judge's seat.
...
Janos Slynt had offended many, but unfortunately, few of them were powerful figures. Thousands of commoners hated him enough to want to see his head roll, but most lacked the status to enter the Red Keep. People from various walks of life continued to filter into the Throne Room, but ultimately they only filled a little more than half the gallery—nothing like the standing-room-only spectacle of Tyrion's regicide trial in the original timeline.
After a short while, a curious Arya bounded in through the door. Seeing Egger, she gave an indignant toss of her head and sat far away on the opposite side of the gallery.
"What's wrong with Lady Arya?" Nina witnessed this as well and found it strange—given Arya's personality, shouldn't she have come over grinning and sticking to Egger's side?
"It's nothing, just a young girl throwing a tantrum." Egger explained how Arya wanted to sneak out of the Red Keep for sword lessons. He then remembered that this little she-wolf was his only source of intelligence within the Red Keep; if they fell out and stopped speaking... he would be the one losing out. "Nina, go over there and coax her. Remember, if you get the chance, ask her how the King's wounds are faring and when the war will officially break out."
"Understood." Nina nodded, stood up, and walked over to Arya, soon sitting beside the girl and chatting with a smile.
As the judge of this trial, Master of Laws Renly Baratheon, appeared in everyone's view, Egger realized he had sent Nina to scout Robert's condition for nothing—if the King were dead or at death's door, Renly, who was second in the line of succession, would never be staying quietly in King's Landing. He would surely have headed back to Storm's End to prepare for a claim to the throne.
But if Robert was truly fine, on what grounds would the Lannisters go to war with the Iron Throne?
As he was pondering this, Renly loudly ordered the prisoner to be brought forth. The trial had finally begun.
...
Janos Slynt was led into the Throne Room by two Gold Cloaks.
Compared to their last encounter a week ago, the middle-aged man entering the hall looked as if he had aged twenty years in an instant. His once stout frame had shrunk significantly, and the remaining hair on his half-bald head was almost entirely gone; the few tufts that remained had turned grey. He was listless, supported by two soldiers as he was led to the defendant's dock amidst the whispers of the gallery. Grasping the railing, he looked as if he could barely remain standing.
"Janos Slynt, son of a butcher." Renly sat upon the high dais at the front of the hall, in the large wooden chair before the shrouded Iron Throne. His solemn, luxurious attire gave him a majestic air. "You are charged with hiring assassins, abuse of power, embezzlement and bribery, extortion, creating disturbances, and leaking critical military secrets. Do you plead guilty?"
Slynt leaned over the dock, struggling to straighten up and lift his head. He spoke through gritted teeth, "I deny it! This is all a frame-up by the Queen and her faction... and certain people with ulterior motives!"
This former Commander of the City Watch, much like Egger, offered a total denial of the charges. But could he, like the Chief Logistics Officer, find a way home for the New Year through such resistance?
Renly's expression did not change in the slightest as he looked toward the guards. "Call the first witness!"
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