Wright continued reading the rest of the letter.
Asha and Theon, along with members of the Golden Company, boarded a ship from Norvos and sailed down the Rhoyne River. Along the way, they stopped at the ruins of Ny Sar, where the Golden Company held a public meeting with the Khal Jommo.
Both sides jointly condemned Wright Baratheon. The Golden Company continued to spread rumors about Wright's massacre of the tortoises, and Khal jommo claimed that one of his blood-sworn guards had been killed by Wright. Afterward, Wright hid away like a coward and refused to face him.
That afternoon, Asha and Theon hunted with the Golden Company, and they finally enjoyed a feast of tortoise meat.
The group continued south and met up with the bulk of the Golden Company forces stationed at Daggers Lake. Asha noticed the Golden Company began to monitor them more closely. During a confrontation over game with another mercenary group, both sides clashed. Asha and Theon saved young Griff, and their relationship with the Golden Company deepened. However, Asha suspected this event was orchestrated by the Golden Company to test them.
The Golden Company then headed south to take on a contract from Volantis, clearing out bandits in the region of the Volaena River. It was a vast swamp, home to many runaway slaves. The Volantene nobles, unwilling to venture into such a damp and muddy place, had hired mercenary groups to handle it, paying them with ears as proof of the kills.
The two of them learned some important news from their leader. Daenerys Targaryen, in the Slaver's Bay, was already engaged to a prominent figure, although the exact identity was still unclear.
Andrew Estermont, with orange peel scattered at his feet, spat out a few seeds and said to Wright, "Yunkai, Meereen, Astapor, New Ghis and Old Ghis, Lorath and Qohor—too many to narrow down. Theon and Asha, after sending this letter, have already set off for Slaver's Bay to investigate."
Wright replied, "Not just those seven cities, but also Torros and Yallos. There are two more slave cities upstream on the Skahazadhan River."
Daenerys had deviated from her original plan, choosing to head to Slaver's Bay instead of marrying a Khal. Now Wright couldn't be sure where she had gone.
If they went to kill young Griff's green dragon first, Daenerys would surely hide away. Now, with thirteen dragon souls, Wright planned to wait for Theon and Asha to return with accurate information before closing in.
Wright tossed the letter into the fire at the lighthouse and instructed Andrew Estermont to depart immediately to secretly investigate the past of Rhaegar's two children in King's Landing.
"Andrew, when you go to King's Landing, avoid Varys's little birds, and make sure to investigate Varys himself! If there was a problem back then, I believe no one else could have had the means to tamper with things in the Red Keep except him."
Andrew Estermont, confused, replied, "But he was just a newly appointed Master of Whisperers, coming from Myr on the East Continent. Could he really have had the skill?"
Wright answered, "The secret passages of the Red Keep—Robert Baratheon, I, and Renly know about them, but he knew even before us. He had the means to enter the Red Keep and switch the children."
Andrew rubbed his hands together. "Could you tell me more about the secret passages? Or give me a map?"
Wright replied, "You'll need to work harder for that. When you become the Master of Whisperers at the Small Council, then I'll give you the map. Right now, knowing it would only bring trouble."
Andrew thought for a moment, understanding that while secrets were useful, it was best to be cautious when dealing with the King. He threw an arm around Wright's shoulder. "Then it's settled! I'll become the Master of Whisperers of the Seven Kingdoms! And when that happens, you'll hand over the map!"
Wright swatted his hand away. "Don't use my clothes to wipe your hands! You're far from ready! Be careful when you go to King's Landing. You'd better talk to Renly and Robert first."
---
The Riverlands and the Vale saw two new Lords take office. Edmure Tully, three months after his father's funeral, planned to host a jousting tournament in Riverrun to boost the prestige of the Riverlands nobles and to ease tensions with the Vale nobles.
Initially planned to take place a month after the funeral, the tournament was delayed several times. Edmure had even contacted Stannis, but Stannis's schedule was packed, and the event kept getting postponed.
In addition to the Riverlands nobles, Edmure invited people from across the kingdom. The Stormlands nobles were busy repairing the King's Road, and the nobles of the Westerlands and Dorne were tied up with orders from the Stone Steps Islands. This time, the most attendees came from the Westerlands, the Vale, and the Crownlands.
The Vale
The Vale, led by the new Lord Denys Arryn, saw almost all of its nobles sending representatives to the event. The attendees had varied intentions—some had already sworn loyalty to Denys, while others paid lip service but were not truly loyal.
The North was too vast for many to make the journey, and only a few from the southern regions attended. Robb Stark represented Winterfell as a guest of honor. As a mage, Robb had been deprived of the opportunity to participate in the tournament and could only watch from the stands.
Robb had been trailing Ramsay Snow, but his magic wasn't of the traditional, ancient school; it had been modified by Wright due to his limited magical ability, combining destruction, alteration, and martial skills. Robb could only see the lingering traces of a person's scent and the footprints they left in the air after having contacted their blood or bodily fluids.
A few dung haulers had been killed outside of Greywater Watch, and Robb's investigation found traces of Ramsay's presence. Following the scent of Ramsay's clothing, Robb tracked him south. However, Ramsay was also an excellent hunter—sly and cunning—often escaping in unexpected ways and with no regard for morality.
Winterfell and the Dreadfort had already issued bounties nationwide, and Ramsay, knowing some people in the North, dared not return there. With the tournament taking place in Riverrun, Robb decided to pause his pursuit and, along with his sister and followers, went to visit his uncle's house in Riverrun, accompanied by Meera Reed.
Ramsay was indeed an excellent hunter, skilled in tracking, archery, and setting traps. He didn't just hunt animals but also people, knowing that large crowds often provided the best hiding places. Upon hearing about the tournament in Riverrun, he planned to go there, blending in with the crowds returning south.
He then pretended to be a crippled beggar, using his silver tongue to join a group of pork traders. He worked for them, shoveling pig dung and herding a large group of pigs until he limped his way to Riverrun, where they set up a pigsty outside the city.
---
The King's Absence
King Robert had sent word that he would not attend the tournament, citing his need to supervise the construction of the King's Road.
However, rumors had already begun to spread. In the Red Keep, the new maidservants were revealed to be the five daughters of House Bracken: Barba, Jayne, Catelyn, Bess, and Alysanne. This caused tensions between Rober and Queen Doris.
Tywin Lannister, recently recovered from a long illness, was eager to get some fresh air and had planned to attend the tournament with a large entourage of Westerlands nobles.
Leading the procession was Jaime Lannister, alongside his 13-year-old squire, Donnel Sarsfield. Jaime's new wife, Shierle Swyft, and his sister, Cersei, rode in the carriage behind.
Ser Melwyn Sarsfield had recently passed, leaving behind his wife, Shierle Sarsfield, and a son, Donnel Sarsfield. Jaime, having fallen in love with the widow, persuaded his father Tywin to approve of the marriage. Tywin, seeing his son in his thirties without a wife, agreed to the union, believing Shierle could still bear children.
This was the official story, but many whispered that Donnel was Jaime's bastard, and some even speculated that Donnel was Jaime's lover. However, most believed him to be a bastard; otherwise, Tywin, with his wisdom, would never have agreed to the marriage.
At 33, Jaime had no legitimate heirs, and thus, with Donnel now in place, everything would pass to him unless Jaime had children of his own. Tywin had planned for Donnel to inherit when Jaime was older, and by then, the Baratheon brothers would have long passed away, and no one would question Donnel's claim. Time would blur the truth.
In the Westerlands, people referred to him as "Lucky" Donnel, as he was now heir to both Sarsfield Castle and the Westerlands. However, Donnel hated this nickname, and anyone who dared bring it up to him would receive a harsh beating, administered by his loyal hound, Sandor Clegane.
Inside the carriage, Cersei Lannister placed her feet on the lap of Jaime's wife, Shierle, as she massaged her legs.
Both women were dressed in finery and were members of the same family. Shierle was performing a task that, by custom, should have been done by a servant. Her expression remained neutral, but her hand's movements slowed slightly as she glanced at the distant Golden Tooth castle.
With a swift kick, Cersei sent her feet crashing into her chest. "Thud!" Shierle's head slammed into the door, and the door flew open, leaving half of her body hanging out of the carriage. Cersei, with a smile on her face, watched her, showing no sign of helping.
Cersei, too afraid to cry out, struggled to pull herself back into the carriage, shutting the door and placing Cersei's foot back onto her lap. Tears streamed down her face.
Slap! Another slap landed across her face.
"You whore, still daring to cry!" Cersei screamed in fury.
She hated the woman before her, hated her for becoming Joffrey's stepmother! Hated her for marrying Jaime! Hated her for being able to sit with the Lannisters at banquets! Meanwhile, she had gone from a glorious queen to a woman who could only move about under the name of a fallen knight's family.
Shierle wiped her tears with her sleeve, lowering her head to continue massaging Cersei's shoulders.
She was two years older than Cersei and Jaime. Her sister, Donna, had married Tywin's brother Kevan, and had four children with him. Shierle had an average appearance but golden hair, and after marrying the Lord of Sarsfield, though she had no children, she was very happy until her father, Harys Swyft, arrived years ago.
Since that day, the family had suddenly gained an eight-year-old golden-haired son!
A few years ago, when thieves had been running rampant in the Westerlands, many nobles discovered their homes had been robbed, their study rooms burned, some even found their books missing, and the Sarsfield family tree seemed to have been altered.
And now, this eight-year-old son had complete and corresponding records of his birth and life! Since she hadn't had a child of her own, she had accepted this son's existence.
The backstory was that he had been a servant to the Famans on Fair Isle, only being returned after the Greyjoy Rebellion.
When he first arrived, the golden-haired son had been polite to the Lord of Sarsfield, but frequently acted unruly towards her until Jaime took him to serve as a knight's squire.
Rumors started circulating in the Westerlands, claiming that the son was an illegitimate child of hers and Jaime. Her husband dared not speak out, and that period of time had been incredibly painful.
The Lord of Sarsfield passed away recently, and Tywin quickly arranged for her to marry Jaime. It was then she realized all of this had been a plot by the Lannisters to seize their family's wealth!
But what could she do? Tywin's power was overwhelming, and he could end the lives of all the Swyft at any moment. With her elderly father pleading with her, she could only silently endure the humiliation, tears falling into her heart.
Behind the carriage was a group of slightly older nobles who preferred not to be at the front of the procession like the younger ones. Their favorite place was the center, where they could control the situation.
Tywin rode a white steed, with his brother Kevan, his and Jaime's father-in-law, Harys Swyft, and Sebastian Farman. The four men, all of similar age, had almost fought together in their youth.
Years ago, Sebastian Farman had resisted Tywin, so Tywin sent a harpist to play a song, The Rain of Castemere, in the hall of the city of Fair Isle, which frightened Farman into immediately submitting. Now, the four elderly men gathered, chatting happily and joking about that event.
Behind them were the carriages of Sebastian Farman's children, two of them were the ones Sebastian had brought back after the victory of the Greyjoy Rebellion.
Sebastian had no children of his own, and he claimed that these two children were his brother's children from Casterly Rock, whom he brought back to Fair isle to raise as his niece and nephew.
This was the first time the children had come to the Riverlands, sticking their heads out of the windows of the carriage, their golden hair blowing in the wind, smiling as they gazed at the plains scenery, which was very different from the mountains of the Westerlands.
The niece, Seran Farman, was only nine years old but was already very beautiful. She had bright green eyes, milk-white skin, and golden curls, wearing pink gauze dresses and behaving politely. Everyone who had seen her called her the Fairy of the Westerlands.
The nephew, Eugene Farman, was eight years old and the legal heir to Fair isle. He resembled his sister, with green eyes, though he was a bit chubby. People said he had good health, and he loved reading, but his shy nature held him back. Farman planned to start teaching him on how to fight when he turned ten.
Tywin's arrangements were meticulous. His granddaughter Myrcella and grandson Tommen were easier to handle. They had been only three or four years old when they left Robert, and their appearances hadn't fully developed yet. Most Westerlanders had golden hair and blue eyes, so by the time they grew up, even if they stood before Robert, he wouldn't recognize them.
Tywin found a reason to adopt them into House Farman, which also solved Faman's lack of heirs. He was very fond of the two children.
Joffrey, now known as Donnel, was a product of Jaime and Cersei's hidden affair. Tywin, being old, could no longer have another child and decided to arrange inheritance for Joffrey this way.
First, Tywin used threats and promises to arrange for him to be adopted by Ser Melwyn, who had no children. A few years later, he arranged for Melwyn's death by poison and had Jaime marry his widow, giving Joffrey the status of Jaime's son. But if Jaime had a legitimate child after marriage, Tywin would exile Joffrey to the East.
---
Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, was having an increasingly difficult time. The death of his son had already devastated him, but not because of familial love—he was heartbroken because he had lost two of his most important pawns, two pieces that could have helped him seize the title of Lord of the Vale.
When he left King's Landing, he sold all his properties for gold dragons, but upon realizing something was amiss along the way, he buried the chest of gold in a desolate countryside and later escaped from King's Landing hidden under a woman's skirt.
He spent the next days hiding in a tavern in the town of Lord Harroway. Most of the women working in the tavern had been brought by him. Originally, they would hand over half of their earnings to him every day. Littlefinger's life, apart from hiding in the house and being unable to be seen in public, was fine—he had food and drink, and things were going well.
However, as time passed, the women learned from their customers that Littlefinger was no longer a man of power but a wanted criminal throughout the Seven Kingdoms! One day, a group of women stormed into his room and beat him mercilessly. Littlefinger, unable to defend himself, was soon left bruised and battered. The women ransacked his room, took all his possessions, and left the tavern, going their separate ways to find new livelihoods.
What Littlefinger was thankful for was that he had never beaten those women. This was the only thing he had done right—when they left, they didn't immediately report him.
In the days that followed, Littlefinger fled west to the Inn of the Kneeling Man and began working as a laborer, his face smeared with mud. Though he was a small noble, he had never done such work before, and he was constantly berated by customers. The money he earned was barely enough for food, and he had to save for a week to afford a bath! He had never endured such suffering, and his anger had nowhere to go.
With things getting tight, Littlefinger dared not dig up the buried gold, but it could be a valuable lifeline for later. So, he drew a map of its location on a piece of parchment, keeping it close to his person as a treasure map.
His bounty was high, and the women who had left didn't remembered him fondly. Over time, they would likely be tempted and sell information about him.
Littlefinger finally made up his mind:
"Go to King's Landing! Steal Lysa Tully from the Sept and take her to the Vale. There are many nobles in the Vale with ulterior motives. As long as Lysa Tully can bear children, she still has value."
The next morning, Littlefinger stole a few stale loaves of black bread from the tavern's kitchen, took all his belongings—fifteen copper stars—and, chewing on the dry, hard bread, walked toward King's Landing, joining a merchant caravan along the way.
His cloth shoes had a hole worn in the toe, exposing his big toe. By the time he arrived at King's Landing, Ramsay Snow from the North had already set up a pigpen and was speaking sweetly to the pig merchant while vigorously shoveling pig dung. Meanwhile, Donnel Sarsfield was inside a castle, enjoying a lavish lunch hosted by house Tully.