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***
The seventh month of the year 298 A.D.
Castle Osgiliath, Valley of the Sunflame, Dorne
«Did he really appoint Eddard Stark Hand? - I was surprised to read the last message from the North, brought to me by my wife. - These are troubled times.
«What makes you think that, dear? - Eilis asked me, sitting down on the armrest of my desk chair and began gently massaging my head with her delicate fingers.
«Because the current Guardian of the North is the true embodiment of the perfect Stark. Noble, honest, loyal, and not very smart. - I replied, leaning back and enjoying such a nice massage. - And King's Landing... it has no noble deer or regal lions. There are only snakes, spiders and other creatures ready to at each other's throats at any opportunity.
«You remind me of that ritual we were talking about the other day. - My wife remarked, not stopping what she was doing. - Remember, that's what they do in I-T when they create some poisons. Different poisonous creepers are put in the same jar and at the end the most poisonous and dangerous one survives, having absorbed the poison of the others.
«Gu Ritual. - I remembered, smiling involuntarily. It was a good comparison. - But Eddard Stark is not a poisonous creature. He doesn't know the rules and principles by which the palace serpentarium lives. He'll destroy it. He'll stir up a hornet's nest. The precarious balance of the Seven Kingdoms will fall like a poor man's hovel in a storm.
«Lannisters and Baratheons? - Eilis asked.
«No... It's much worse than that. - I said, sighing heavily. - When the conflict starts, everyone will be involved. The Baratheons will drag the Starks down with them, and the Starks will take the Tullys with them. I'm not sure about the Arryns - Lysa Arryn is too fickle and hysterical, and her fleeing to the Eagle's Nest seems odd enough. That's four houses already. And they're bound to be joined by the Tyrells who are tied to Renly, the Martells who hate the Lannisters, the Greyjoys who want revenge for their defeat in the last war, and the minor Targaryens.
«Targaryens? - My other half was very surprised, even stopping to massage me. - What can they do? They're outcasts, without a dime in their pockets. The only reason they haven't been killed yet is because of Spider's carelessness.
«Until recently. - The involuntary sigh that escaped me showed perfectly how displeased I was with Amira for missing the purpose of the visit of the largest Khalasar in Essos to Pentos. And I wasn't worried about the news itself - I was well aware of why a Dothraki who had grown up since our last meeting had rushed to the other side of Essos. But to have my hard-won network of spies and informants so easily blundered... that was unpleasant. - Daenerys Targaryen had become the wife of Drogo, the strongest Khal in all the Steppes. Now they have nearly forty thousand horsemen.
«So what? You know they can't stand up to your knightly cavalry.
«That's 40,000 knight's cavalry for the Seven Kingdoms. And no one will unite for the sake of distant "horsefuckers," as the lords call them. - I said. - The only chance the Seven Kingdoms won't plunge into the abyss of strife is if Stark can outsmart everyone in King's Landing and Baratheon finally stops drinking and dragging prostitutes.
«I mean, never. - Eilis finished the sentence for me, also a little saddened. She'd always been a more peaceful and non-confrontational person, though her home had taught her to hide it well. But she was not happy about the end of peaceful times and the beginning of a new conflict. - What do you plan to do?
«I don't know yet. - I answered honestly. - Despite all our informants, I have too little knowledge of the situation in Red Castle. Still, most of its inhabitants constantly keep masks on their faces, and it is almost impossible to find out their true nature without a personal conversation.
«You're going to King's Landing?! - Eilis raised her eyebrows in surprise, looking at me with a look of shock and disbelief in her eyes before she heard the instant rejection. - You refused to go there for so many years, even swore that you wouldn't set foot in this vile place, and now you decided to go there out of the blue. What happened, Felix?
«This happened. - I said, pulling out two letters with broken seals in the form of a mockingbird and a sun pierced by a spear. - Read it yourself.
If someone asked me who I trusted most in this world, I wouldn't hesitate to say my wife, Eilis. With this woman, in twenty years of marriage, I have developed the warmest and most trusting relationship. No, the very "love" that blazed in young hearts, inspiring men to exploits, and their chosen women to sit for hours at the window and wait for them, looking at the horizon, between us has never been. I was too old and experienced for such feelings, and Eilis, herself, was too pragmatic and calm for emotions to take over her so easily. But full mutual respect, trust, not cooled passion in bed, children and a simple desire to make her partner happy more than replaced it.
Because of this, I had almost no secrets from her - she knew or could easily find out about all my secret endeavors and projects, sometimes helping me with them or even completely taking over. A miracle, not a wife.
There were still some things I didn't tell her, though. No one in this world knew about my rebirth, and no one will ever know. No matter how hard I tried to surround myself with educated and wise people, they remained people of their time, with their inherent flaws. And I didn't want to become in their eyes a messenger of the Seven, a Demon of Hell, Azor Akhai, a messenger of the Lion of Night on Earth (emphasis mine).
«Doran has lost his conscience! - Eilis shouted angrily, quickly reading the letters. - He's almost ordering you to go to King's Landing and be a scout for him!
«Even though you're a bit overreacting, I agree with you. - I said, tapping my fingers on the table thoughtfully. - Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to show my temper and send him away for such demands, I can't say anything against it. Like us, he hasn't been sitting in the Water Gardens doing nothing all these years. Doran has been building up his forces and uniting the Lords of Dorne under his hand. The destruction of the Ironwoods, the recent poisoning of Vorian, Miria and Quentin's engagement, Arron Quargil's friendship with Oberyn... I don't think Dorne has been this united and strong since the Targaryen Wars. And if I turn against the Martells now, our house will never survive.
«What will you do? - Lady Temper asked thoughtfully, sitting down on my desk and arching her back seductively, displaying her impressive assets, which had hardly deteriorated over the years.
«I'll follow "orders." Bye..." I said in my usual tone, stealthily rising from my chair and grabbing my squeaky wife by the waist and sitting her on my lap, so that the top of her head was under my chin, allowing me to enjoy the smell of her hair. - Like I said, big changes were coming soon and Doran and Oberyn were sure to be a part of them. We'll have plenty of chances to loosen, if not throw off, the leash.
«And Littlefinger's letter..." His wife asked, her shoulder bare as if by accident.
«Just a perfect excuse to fulfill Martell's "request". - I answered, realizing at the same time that I was not going to get any work done today. - Baelish's letter is the best proof of the Iron Throne's sorry state.
«He's just asking you to give money to the crown in exchange for a few years' exemption from customs privileges in the capital and Chayacham City. - The phrase was accompanied by a look of incomprehension, which made it clear that, despite her long life in Westeros, the former Belra had never fully understood the local lords.
«My dear Eilis. - I whispered softly into the sweetly glowing ear of the Volantian beauty. - Tell me, please, who are the patrons of the largest and longest-running binge of drunkenness, debauchery, and revelry in all the Seven Kingdoms?
«The Lannisters, the Tyrells, the Church, the Old City and Iron Bank, the Tyrosh cartels, and us.
«That's right. - I praised my wife, biting her white lobe - one of her weak spots. - Now let's break it down. Tywin Lannister gave the crown the largest sum of money - more than three million gold dragons. That's an unbelievable amount of money. So why did he do it? The answer is simple - for the same thing we and the Tyrells did. Status. Being a beneficiary of the Iron Throne gives your position greatness and majesty. The Tyrells needed it to shut up the Florents, Ockharts, Fossoways, and other, older families who considered them upstarts unworthy of Highgarden. Why we needed status I don't need to explain. - The memory that it was only after "donating" a quarter of a million gold to the crown that I was no longer looked upon as a talking piece of feces in other kingdoms gave me a pleasant warmth inside. - The Lannisters, on the other hand, have more reasons for such generosity. The first is the collar. A very strong and almost indestructible collar that can only be broken from by breaking the Iron Throne. No matter how things turn out at court in the future, no matter how Crown Prince Joffrey behaves, no matter how strong the Baratheons are, until they pay off that debt, Tywin will keep his grip on the Seven Kingdoms in an iron fist. The second is the same reputation. Right now, the lion house is at its zenith, and even the Baratheons, the royal house that owns two of the nine provinces, are forced to skulk in their shadow. Well, and the third, the most trivial, is pride. Whatever they say about Tywin Lannister, he's still a man. Yes, he's a good manager, politician, commander, lord, and more, but he has a weakness. And it's a weakness everyone knows all too well-- a name. The Lannister name. For the sake of that very name, he'll break his neck, sacrifice everything he can, break the future of his children and grandchildren on his knee, but it will elevate him even more. That's why all the gold lent to the crown is also a show-off to the other houses. And the final reason is the queen. Whatever they say about the cost of Robert's parties, Cersei can blow more money at one time than her husband can in a month. And Tywin doesn't need rumors that the treasury was ruined by a maiden from House Lannister.
«It's all very interesting, of course. - Eilis said thoughtfully, twisting around to face me. - But you still haven't told me why Baelish turned to you.
«It's simple, my dear. - I answered, putting my arm around my wife's waist. - No one but me wants to give the crown money.
At the lopsided questioning eyebrow, I only grinned and continued the story.
«As rich as the Lannisters are, they also have their limit. Three million gold dragons is a gigantic sum, even for the Iron Bank, the richest organization in Essos. Tywin can only give more than that to the detriment of the House, and the Old Lion will not go for that. With the Tyrells, too, the situation is simple-they have no reason to give any more money to the crown, knowing it's up to its eyeballs in debt. The Queen of Spikes has already gotten her leverage and won't just give money. But the situation with the Church of the Seven, the cartels, and the banks is ridiculous. Supreme Septon, when he gave the gold, thought that the crown would pay it all back quickly, adding a few hundred pounds of fat to his belly. And now the Throne can't give anything back, he's demanding more. It's the same with the Iron Bank - the Arincers, the Bromies, and the Darkoths are already cursing the day they decided to lend their share of the capital to the Baratheons. So the only ones who can lend money and who the crown has anything to offer are us. And if I say no, it's going to get very sad at Castle Red before long.
After explaining, Eilis looked up thoughtfully and stared at the ceiling.
"Still, it's an interesting habit of hers to show that she's in thought," I thought, watching her frown and raise her eyebrows in a mute gesture of surprise. But at the end, a very satisfied and wide smile appeared on her face, like a cat that had found a year's supply of sour cream.
Abruptly jerking forward, she abruptly sank her lips into mine in a deep kiss, making me forget for a moment how to breathe and almost immediately respond by engaging in a very pleasurable battle.
We broke away from each other only when we began to run out of air, and, seeing that wild, eager look of intimacy, the Volantian was not going to limit herself to a single kiss. At such moments I remembered again my youth here, when I could stay in bed for hours, knowing very well how fleeting this life is.
«You don't know how much I adore you at times like this. - Her cheeks, red as the best Dornish wine on her always pale face, made her even more desirable, and in my mind I was already plotting the shortest route to our bedroom. - How you see what others don't. How you understand someone else's plans at a glance. This trait of yours excites me incredibly!
Without waiting for my words, she kissed me again, and I took her in my arms and walked toward our quarters. Yes, I'm about to turn forty - a very respectable age for the Middle Ages - but I have as much passion as the young.
***
It wasn't until later that evening, as we lay contentedly under a light blanket in our bedroom, that the conversation resumed.
«So, when are you going to King's Landing? - Eilis asked thoughtfully, running her finger along my chest.
«Definitely not soon. Two or three months. I need to make Littlefinger a little nervous so that later he will demand less money under the same conditions. - I answered, feeling my eyelids slowly drooping. I really wanted to sleep. - I think I'll take Alaric with me. Baelish asked me to keep the reason for my arrival a secret, and knowing Robert and his love of a good show, he's sure to throw a big tournament in his friend's honor, where most of the money will go. Al was long overdue for a break from work, and a royal tournament would be the perfect occasion.
«That's a good idea. - Eilis said, moving closer to me and resting her head on my arm. - It's about time he got some air. I'll tell him tomorrow. Still, our children are just like you-just as hard-working. Especially Fiora.
«By the way, how is she now? - I asked, remembering that a young girl of Giskar blood had recently appeared next to my adopted daughter. - I heard that you found her an assistant to help her with her business.
«Klisa's a good girl. Modest, educated, ambitious, and above all, loyal. - Eilis replied with a lift of her lips. - Dundo recommended her to me.
«Our youngest castellan? - I asked, surprised, remembering that bald dolt. - What's he got to do with it?
«He knows her father. - The wife answered with an infectious yawn. Still, at our age, bedlam is exhausting. - I did a little research into her family's past, and they were no ordinary shepherds. Remember the feud in Astapor twelve years ago?
«That was when the impoverished ancient clans decided to take everything from the younger and richer ones? - Seeing an affirmative nod, I continued the thought. - They seemed to have secretly hired mercenaries and assassins and sent their foes into the pyramids. But the gentlemen from the younger clans found out about it and set the Unsullied against them, slaughtering 6 or 7 of the older families.
«Klisa's family came from one of the side branches of the Granaz family, one of the exterminated clans. Her parents fled here and lay low, becoming simple shepherds, afraid of the assassins.
«And what did you do with them?
«Not me, but Fiora. - My wife corrected me, raising a finger in the air. - She, like you, doesn't like to throw talent away. Now Klisa's family lives in the city, and her father and mother work in customs, doing much more than being simple farmers.
«My school. - I smiled contentedly, but when I saw the frown on my wife's face, I realized something was bothering her. - Is something wrong?
«I'm worried about Fiora's behavior lately. - Eilis replied, clutching the edge of the sheet with her fingers. - Not only has she been working even harder, leaving her office only to sleep, eat, and train, but she spends all her free time sitting in a chair in the Great Wormhole, staring at the fire in the fireplace. But what worries me more is that according to the servants, yesterday she took one of the dragon eggs they found on the outskirts of Oros and now she sleeps in the same bed with him.
«I said thoughtfully, once again convinced that bloodlines were very strong in this world. Many ancient dynasties, such as the Starks, the Baratheons, the Arryns, and the Targaryens, inherited certain traits or habits from generation to generation, regardless of their upbringing, even if they were mere bastards who knew nothing of their "ancestors". And what Eilis described was one of the quirks suffered by many Targaryen women I've read about in the historical chronicles. The last time it was mentioned was nearly two hundred years ago, before the Dragon Dance. It's a serious problem. I'll have Amira put some Shadows on her, just in case, and have Marvin keep an eye on her. I'll also ask you to have servants from the Fey clan keep an eye on Fiora. Okay?
The Fei Clan were the finest servants in the known oikumene, renowned for their unwavering loyalty and performance. Almost ten years ago, I had purchased them from I-Ti for a good sum of gold, and since then they had been working in areas of the castle that others were not supposed to know about.
Seeing the affirmative nod, I relaxed and almost immediately fell into the realm of Morpheus. There were things in this world that I had no control over, so the only thing I could do was to stay out of Rhaenys' affairs and hope for the best.
I did not wish Targaryen madness on my daughter.
***
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