"That order was less than a century old. Plenty of time for a change."
There was something to be said for the increased centralization of power. Or in this case, the increased centralization of skilled labor. Calling on the guilds as I needed them, inviting them to the Red Keep en masse, was a nightmare of planning and scheduling that had a significant impact on the local economy. Even if it was a useful and casual way of projecting power, I was rather fond of keeping the economy of King's Landing the strongest in the realm.
Which was why I had engaged in this current scheme of mine in the first place.
"It is quite the location, Your Grace," the representative of the guild of millers mentioned, stroking his beard and giving our surroundings an appreciative look. Given that I had set up this place to be as impressive as possible without being excessive, that was exactly the reaction I had sought.
Inside the manse on the slope of the Hill of Aegon, one I had recently acquired and remodeled for precisely one purpose, were gathered representatives from all the legally recognized guilds of King's Landing.
"It is hardly optimal for the great work, but it is certainly impressive," the representative of alchemists commented, his watery eyes lingering on the statues flanking the entrance. Personally, I could have done without him, but it seemed I was a politician now. Best not to make too many enemies. "Though I must wonder why you called us here?"
"As your colleagues that attended court in the past weeks have no doubt informed you, and the criers in the street have done if your colleagues have not, the Iron Throne's dominion now reaches the Stepstones," I said, facing the assembled men in the center of the manse's central room. Thick carpets lined the floor and intricate tapestries the walls, significantly more opulent than I would have preferred, but it all contributed to one central message: this place was important enough to me to merit having invested a lot of coin. Thus, being invited here was important. If not, the messengers should have been able to convey that much. "Unfortunately, none of it is fit for the fine people of my royal father's realm, covered largely in wreckage and the odd hovel."
"Which is why you need us," the surprisingly youthful representative of the guild of carpenters commented. At my arched brow, he quickly finished his statement with the obligatory "Your Grace."
"Correct," I admitted. "The settlements need to be completely rebuilt. Or in some cases, established. Naturally, this task is beyond any one master mason or carpenter or architect or builder. I will have need of all of your guilds for this task."
Well, mayhaps not the alchemists, but it would have been rather unseemly to ignore them alone out of all the guilds in King's Landing. After all, who knew when I might have need of them? Best to keep that bridge intact instead of burning it preemptively.
"Which is why I need to be able to reach all of your guilds without waiting to arrange a meeting to plan out the rebuilding process," I said before making a grand sweeping gesture indicating the manse. "Thus, you are all welcome to reside and conduct business here."
"And Your Grace cannot send a messenger?" the youthful carpenter's representative asked.
"And wait for at least half a dozen guilds to stop their work as their leading masters join me just so we can draft a plan?" I asked in turn. "I think not. This shall be a collaborative effort. To do so, we will need to be able to meet easily, without paralyzing half of this city. Would you not agree?"
It was almost insulting how quickly they agreed.
Still, once I was done centralizing the skilled labor supply at a location close to but not at the center of politics, I had more important things to do. Namely, visiting family. My sister was at the top of that list. Alyssa, that is, not Maegelle. That delivery had finished some days ago, only slightly later than Grand Maester Elysar had predicted, while Alyssa had remained abed since giving birth an entire week ago. For a woman who had taken her firstborn flying less than half a week after giving birth, it was more than enough to make a man worry.
"I'm not intruding, am I?" I asked, poking my head through the door to what had been my sister's birthing room.
"Would that ever stop you?" she asked but offered no further protest. Alyssa looked about as disheveled as she had after Viserys' birth, but far more resigned. Once again, there was a mostly still bundle at her breast, but she paid little mind to it. Instead, her attention was on the clear skies just barely visible past the walls outside the window.
"Should you say so, it very well might," I said, stepping dully into the steaming hot room and making sure to close the door behind me. No doubt there had been a very good reason for the fire blazing in the hearth, and the heat it created. "But given how empty these chambers are, I dare say you might appreciate some company."
"I am fine," my sister asserted. "Though I would suggest Maegelle might appreciate your company more than I."
"She is resting," I assured her. "She and our son both, giving me plenty of time to check on… well, not my favorite sister, but certainly in the top six."
"You only have five sisters," she pointed out. And by blood alone, she was correct. Alyssa, Maegelle, Daella, Saera, and Viserra. Five living sisters, three of whom I had all but raised. However, for the sake of humor, I was willing to stretch the truth a bit.
"Jocelyn makes six," I pointed out with a smirk on my face. Technically, she had been my aunt first, but that was a detail I did not need, or want, to think about.
"Only by marriage," she countered.
"Still counts," I said without missing a beat.
My sister glared at me for a moment before rolling her eyes.
"I thought you decided to be the dour and serious one after the twins were born," Alyssa commented, flopping back into bed. No, not flopping back, she was in far too much control for that. This was controlled and kept the babe asleep. "What happened to make you bring out the little Vaeg who used to raid the kitchens?"
"Conscious effort and the need to make my older sister smile again," I said, my grin not so much wavering. "Also, those raids were never conclusively proven to be my fault. And also your idea."
"That charming act of yours would work a lot better if you did not call me older," she said after a moment. "Simply calling me your sister would suffice."
"As you said, it is an act," I admitted, taking note of the slight quirk of the lip. "Though it does seem to be working."
"Out of pity," she shot back. "But you aren't here just to cheer me up, are you?"
"You are a cold one, Alyssa," I said in mock offense, clutching my heart. The bundle she was holding burbled slightly, and my sister began gently rocking it as I winced at the reminder to watch my volume. There was a sad smile on Alyssa's face, the pain in her heart plain to see. For all the joy this child brought my sister, the father was dead. Baelon was dead, and his child would never know him. A fact that would be impossible to forget.
"You would be too," she said softly, and the once-playful atmosphere of the room shifted.
"… I miss him too," I admitted, my tone wistful.
"He was praying for a daughter, you know," Alyssa said, her tone equally wistful as she rocked her little bundle. "A daughter he will never get to hold, thanks to the Dornish. Little Baela Targaryen."
Ah. Baela. Like Baelon but replacing the last two letters with an 'a'. Clever.
"You've already settled on a name?" I asked, seizing on the opportunity to try and lighten the mood at least a little. "Because if that is your final choice, I might have to convince Maegelle to rename our youngest."
"Another Bael?"
"Baelor," I revealed.
"How very original."
"We changed some letters," I defended the decision. "Which is more than can be said of either time you named a son."
That earned me another ghost of a smile.
"Fine," Alyssa admitted. "You earned that one. Congratulation."
"Hah! A point for the little brother!" I said, compensating for the lack of volume with unadulterated smugness. "Looks like I'm up one."
"In your dreams,"
"Feel free to contest that ruling," I said. "But it might be a bit difficult to do it from bed."
"I won't always be bedridden," she warned me. "And you are still well within reach."
"Then it is very fortunate that I have run off to fulfill my duties," I said, making ready to leave. But before I could do that, I left a small white package on the bed. "But there is one last thing I have for you."
"If this is another blanket, do know that I have plenty," my sister commented. "And furs. And a fire blazing in the hearth, besides. I think I shall be plenty warm for a while."
"It is nothing of the sort," I assured her, pausing just in front of the door. "But I might need an answer from you."
"An answer? It's a package, what need do you have for an answer…" she picked up the gift. Given how quickly it sagged in her hands, it was clear that it was entirely cloth, with nothing more contained within. "You said it wasn't a blanket!"
"Technically, it's a cloak," I corrected. "You can give me your answer when Elysar clears you to walk again."
Now, I just had to find the man. If only to inform him that his postnatal care duties would soon get just a bit more crowded, thanks to some assistants I had found for him. Politely. Very politely. Because there was no reason I was going deprive my nephews and niece of a mother on top of a father if I could help it.
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