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Chapter 38: The Twins and Seagard
🕑 Added 2024-08-11 06:20:46 +0000 UTCI needed to avoid being recognized, but I was sure I wouldn't be able to cross the bridge to the Twins using the cowl I had to conceal my identity. To find out if someone could cross while concealing their identity, I paid a couple of merchants heading from the North to the Riverlands to use various methods to hide their faces. I observed from a distance with my insects where no one could see me.
I noticed that the guards asked the merchants to remove anything that concealed their identities simply because they could. Given this and the importance of keeping my identity secret, I would have to wait until nightfall to cross the bridge while putting the guards to sleep.
Finding a good spot to rest while I waited, I closed my eyes and practiced using only my bugs senses to survey the terrain and identify potential hiding spots for an army or at least an advance unit. I could eliminate everyone inside the Twins by myself, but that would leave a bad taste in my mouth. Many of my vassals would disapprove of such total annihilation.
The best course of action against the Freys would be to kill only those whom my bannermen hated, thereby avoiding backlash for my cruelty. I also didn't want to be like Tywin Lannister; I wanted to be loved and respected by my people, to have them follow me out of respect rather than fear.
While I waited for the sun to set, I found several clearings where I could hide my men before we assaulted the castle. It would have to be a small unit composed only of people I could trust completely. With such a small unit, we couldn't defeat every guard posted in the castle, so we would need to be stealthy while entering. This was the only way this could be possible.
Sighing in thought, I tried to rest before starting my journey. Beyond the bridge, I had a few stops planned before heading to King's Landing. First, I needed to speak with the Mallisters in Seagard. Known for their honor and respected in the Riverlands, the Mallisters had a strong antagonistic relationship with the Ironborn, and I was sure they also despised the Freys. This would make them more likely to ally with me. They were fiercely loyal to the Tullys, my mother's family, which could be advantageous.
I needed to arrange a private meeting with Lord Jason Mallister and explain the circumstances of the information I had obtained in Winterfell. I knew I could win him over, but I would need to stay for a while to root out the spies I was sure were in his house.
Although I knew little about his house, I knew that one of Lord Mallister's most essential values was honor, and his son could be helpful in the future.
As the hours passed and the sun set, I opened my eyes to find it was completely dark. Thankfully, I had over a hundred bugs capable of seeing in the darkness.
Standing up and letting my horse roam free into the wilderness, I walked towards the bridge. Noticing that there were only six guards, three on each side, I sent some mosquitoes carrying a special neurotoxin to make them unconscious. This neurotoxin was harmless to the body, and I had the antidote available in other mosquitoes. This way, they would wake up when I was far enough away to not raise their vigilance.
After waiting ten seconds for the neurotoxin to take effect, I crossed the bridge rapidly and moved closer to the castle to use my power for investigation.
Taking some parchment to record my findings, I found a completely dark spot with no guards nearby. I sent my bugs inside the castle to note the number of guards on the walls. There were over eight hundred guards during peacetime at the Twins. It was difficult to accept, but the Freys were a wealthy family with a strategic position in the Riverlands.
After sketching the castle and noting the number of guards in each room, I saw Walder Frey eating with his family. I refrained from injecting them with venom, despite my deep dislike for the Freys, mainly due to the Red Wedding. The thought of my mother facing such a fate in the future filled me with deep anger.
It was a shame I couldn't just steal a horse from the Freys, as it would alert them to something amiss. So, I started heading towards the Mallisters, hoping to find someone to sell me a horse along the way.
Six Days Later
Sighing in exhaustion, I dismounted my horse at the entrance of House Mallister's ancestral home. The journey had been plagued with bandit groups, and I was relieved I had managed to handle them in the North. Thankfully, I had taken a horse from one of the bandits to complete my journey. In addition to the horse, I had acquired gold and jewelry they had stolen over the months or years.
"Halt!" a guard bellowed from the entrance.
I stopped, knowing I had to act correctly to gain the trust of my grandfather's vassal.
"Reveal yourself," he ordered as he approached.
Checking to see if anyone was watching us, I noticed some people stopping and staring in my direction. I couldn't be sure if they were working for the Mallisters or were spies from elsewhere, so I couldn't reveal myself publicly.
Seeing that I hadn't moved, the guard grew impatient and tried to remove my cowl.
Sidestepping him, I murmured, "Esteemed guard, I can't show who I am now."
The guard looked at me oddly but paused for a moment. I presumed such circumstances were somewhat familiar since many lords needed to meet secretly.
"Identify yourself," the guard asked after a moment of silence.
"I am Lord Robb Stark, Warden of the North," I murmured.
The guard's eyes widened, and he stepped back in astonishment.
"You know the punishment if you are lying?" he asked.
"No, but I assure you I am who I say I am," I said seriously. "Take me to someone trusted by Lord Mallister who can verify my identity."
After a moment's thought, the guard nodded and led me inside the castle, accompanied by three armed guards. Using my bugs, I began to check the surrounding area to see what the people who had seen me near the entrance were doing and to determine if they were spies or merely curious onlookers.
Thanks to my insects, I observed that the guards were taking me toward the maester of the castle, one of the few people who might recognize me.
Walking calmly, I followed them to a door at the end of a hallway.
"Enter," an old voice called after one of the guards knocked.
"Maester Aldric, we need you to identify this person," said the lead guard.
"Another one of those?" the maester asked wearily. He was old, older than Luwin, but his eyes showed intelligence. I left a couple of insects to spy on him in case he tried to send a message without Lord Mallister's approval. The only maester I trusted was Luwin, and I was cautious with the rest of the order.
"Remove your cowl, stranger," he said lightly, showing his experience in such meetings.
I checked once more with my power for anyone listening and found no one nearby. The only ones present were the maester and the four guards.
Removing my cowl, I announced myself.
"I am Robb Stark, Warden of the North," I said with authority. I knew people only saw me as a child in the South, but I hoped my reputation would precede me since we were somewhat close to the North.
"Oh my, you have your mother's hair," the maester said happily.
"You know my mother, maester?" I asked, surprised.
"Indeed I do, Lord Stark. She visited when she was young with her sister and some ward of Hoster Tully, your grandfather," he said with a small smile, reminiscing about that time.
The guards relaxed slightly upon hearing my identity, sheathing their weapons and taking a few steps back.
"That makes this easier," I said seriously. "I need to speak with Lord Mallister immediately. No one can know I am here. Can we make this work?"
"Indeed we can. Young lad, Could you call Lord Mallister here?" the maester asked one of the three extra guards.
Looking at him, I noticed he was young, only a few years older than me.
Staring him directly in the eyes, I said, "Do not tell anyone that I am here. Go directly to your lord and return."
The young guard tensed but nodded firmly before leaving to complete his task.
The maester looked at me with a raised eyebrow but remained silent.
Waiting with the others in the maester's office, I followed the guard with my insects, never letting him out of sight. I had to ensure no one found out about this visit, as it would complicate matters significantly.
After ten minutes, Lord Mallister approached the door with the young guard in tow.
I had kept track of them, so I was sure no one besides the seven people in the room knew about this. The young guard was insightful enough to inform Jason Mallister of my insistence on secrecy.
Finally, entering the room, Lord Mallister's eyes widened when he saw me. "Lord Stark, I didn't expect to see you in my lands," he greeted me with concern, wondering why I had come all the way here.
"Lord Mallister, you have a lovely home. My mother talks about you fondly," I nodded.
"Ah, yes. Lady Catelyn, it's been years since I've seen her. The last time was during a meeting in the rebellion," he nodded back.
"Why are you here, Lord Stark? Seagard is a long way from home," he asked seriously.
I sighed deeply, looking him in the eyes. "Before I begin with my reasons, I must ask: Do you trust the people inside this room?"
The lord nodded without hesitation. "With my life, Lord Stark. Whatever we speak about here will be kept secret."
I shook my head. "Since you trust them so much, I will comply, but please ask the guards to leave. We can't take risks about this."
He looked me in the eyes with fierce intensity but nodded in agreement. "Don't talk to anyone about what you saw here today," he ordered the guards.
The guards nodded, but before they could leave, I placed some insects on them as a precaution. Thanks to my multitasking, I could spy on them to ensure they didn't talk and inject them if they tried.
"Now we can begin," Jason Mallister said lightly, taking a seat.
The lord leaned forward, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "Lord Stark, you've taken great pains to ensure this meeting remains private. What is so urgent that it couldn't be discussed through more conventional means?"
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully, knowing I needed this conversation for many of my plans. "Lord Mallister, I've come to you not only as an ally but as a lord who knows things no one else does. I have information that could be crucial to both our houses."
Lord Mallister's eyes narrowed. "Go on."
I reached into my satchel and produced a small bundle of papers. "These are copies of information I procured during the royal visit to Winterfell. I confirmed Queen Cersei's infidelity and the true parentage of her children."
Jason's gaze was fixed on the papers, his fingers brushing over them with skepticism. "That is dangerous talk, Lord Stark. Why should I believe it?"
"I understand your doubt," I said calmly. "But I assure you, this information is credible. I even have a signed letter from Tyrion Lannister confirming this. But that is not the most important part. When this comes to light—and I assure you, it will be soon—the Lannisters will face severe consequences. When that happens, it will shake the very foundations of the realm."
Jason's eyes lifted from the papers, having been focused on Tyrion's signed message. "Why would Tyrion Lannister accept this, even if it's true?"
"Spite is a hell of a motivator," I snorted. "Also, I promised I would protect him when this comes to light."
"This is a dire situation," the Maester intervened. "The Lannisters would not go down without a fight, and the Seven help us, if the King were to die before this is known, they would just crown the prince before anyone can say a thing. It will be war."
"Indeed, Maester. My father doesn't know, but he is already investigating them in the capital for the assassination of the late Lord Arryn," I said grimly. "After visiting Riverrun to clue in my grandfather, I'll go to the capital to care for my father."
Jason nodded, his face set in stone. "What do you want from me, Lord Stark?"
"I want your support when this blows up. I've already prepared the North to close our borders, and we will attack the Freys when the war begins. We both know about their history filled with treachery; we've already begun making arrangements to ensure their downfall."
Jason's expression shifted from suspicion to contemplation when he heard we would attack the Freys. "This war will be chaotic. If there is no clear heir to the Iron Throne, some kingdoms may try to stay independent, while others might try their luck after their lost rebellion."
"The Ironborn," I nodded. "You want our support against those vermin when they start attacking, seeing that we're busy with another war."
Jason nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Seagard is in danger from the Ironborn, and we aren't prepared enough if they try something. If I can have your assurance that you will support us against the Squids, you will have an ally in House Mallister."
I met his gaze steadily. "I offer you my word and the support of the North. If you aid me now, I will ensure your house benefits when the dust settles. We both know that the Freys and the Ironborn threaten us all. Aligning now could provide us with a strategic advantage."
Jason leaned back in his chair. "What do you plan to do now, Lord Stark?"
"I want to offer you a chance. You may not have heard about this, but I could clue you in since you will be our ally. Did you know that there is not a single spy in the North, to the point that the Master of Whispers had to come personally and left with nothing?" I told him conspiratorially.
Jason's eyes widened. "Are you implying that…"
I nodded firmly. "I could stay for a week and root out every spy you have here in Seagard. In fact, I beseech you to accept this offer. This information cannot be made public right now. We need the time."
Jason's face was set in stone while he contemplated the ramifications of this move. "Are you sure you can do this?" he asked with utmost seriousness.
"I give you my word as a Stark," I nodded.
Jason let out a sigh. "Then you have my permission," he said, accepting my offer. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are some things I need to do. I hope you bring evidence of the spies; I will not act against them only by your word," he said seriously.
I nodded grimly, already spacing out my insects to complete my assigned mission. Directing them toward the garrison, the port, and the castle staff to search for any inconsistencies I could find. I was against the clock, but I was sure I could weed out everyone by the end of the week and prove myself to my new ally.
