章節 99: Chapter Ninety-Nine: The kingdom reacts.

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~~~Varys, Sixth Moon, 277 AC~~~

~~~Reed Keep, King's Landing~~~

"Shit... Is this true?" I asked the 'air', as I reread the letter floating in my hands again.

The King has kindly decided to attend my wedding here in Westeros, all Lords are invited, including you, Lord Varys.

Yours truly. Lady Janna Bletchen of Xandar.

The letter, sent by Lady Janna a few days ago, came to me with the help of one of Casterly Rock's ravens, odd as it seemed not to have used her parrot. Still, the contents of the letter were meant to create uproar, hasty moves, and new plans.

"Yes," a melodious voice came from within the room's shadows, peeling away from the darkness as if they were one, revealing a beautiful woman, black-eyed and black-haired, wearing smoky black armor, with gold accents.

"Just at this moment, the Royal Fleet is moving at a fleeting pace, the king is expected to arrive in two months," the Witch explained to me. To which I sighed, "Well then, meetings need to be held, and his arrival arranged."

Knowing that there was no time to waste, I got up, took the letter, and threw it into the fire in the fireplace, without leaving before I saw that the whole letter was burnt to ashes.

Before long I met one of the royal messengers from the castle, "boy, let the council know that I am calling an emergency meeting." I told him, without giving context or explanation, instead, I continued on my way to the antechamber of the throne room, the place where the meetings were organized, partly because the king did not like to climb the stairs of the keep for meetings, and since Lord Tywin was not in the capital either, then it would be less necessary to organize it in such a place.

The room was lonely, partly because the news of the meeting was just spreading, so with nothing else to do, I set out to take my seat, exactly the left chair next to the king, a place I had snatched from the king's son: Rhaegar, hahaha, the very musical boy thought he could beat me in terms of preference with the king.

Minutes later, the members of the small council began to arrive, Pycelle arrived first, something strange, considering his 'weak body', which was not weak at all, since he was well aware of the taciturn activities of the decrepit old man.

He was soon followed by Qarlton Chelsted, Symond Staunton, and Lucerys Velaryon, who held the posts of Master of Coin, Law, and Ships correspondingly.

Greeting them curtly, I watched as each of them sat down, instead, their return greetings were distant and almost insulting, something I had been experiencing several days ago, partly because of my closeness to the king, and because I enjoyed a higher position than them, second only to the hand, though the latter was perhaps no longer so true.

"Lord Varys, may I ask what is the reason for this hasty meeting? Many of us have duties," Qarlton Chelsted asked me, a bit confused, and he was right, the next meeting of the small council was scheduled for two days, so today's meeting was quite a surprise.

"Alarming and troubling news has come from Westerland, My lord, news that involves the realm, but it is best addressed when the king arrives," and as if on cue, the king entered the room, being closely followed by his guard Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Gwayne Gaunt. Not only that, but Prince Rhaegar was also coming with them, much to my dislike.

Immediately we all rose, as Aerys made his way to his seat and took his place, with Prince Rhaegar sitting in Lord Tywin's unoccupied chair. With Ser Gwayne standing behind the king and Ser Gerold taking his seat from the small council.

"What are we meeting for, Varys?" Aerys asked, a little curious, but with an angry gleam in his eye, apparently not liking the emergency meeting. "I have news from Westerland, Your Grace, Lord Tywin is to be married soon." As soon as I said that, it produced several looks and murmurs among the small council members.

With Aerys chuckling and Pycelle falling in contemplation, "Hahahaha, so the lion is remarrying, and here I thought that would never happen again, the whore must be very good in bed or big balls to attract Tywin's attention," the derogatory comment was not long in coming, causing me to grit my teeth, but continue with my neutral stare, pissed to no end at hearing an insult towards someone from Xandar.

Biting my tongue, I looked at the king and gave him a thoughtful, but stony look. "His wife shall be Lady Janna Bletchen, Your Grace," I said, leaving everyone confused.

"Lady Janna? Forgive me Lord Varys, but there is no lady of the great houses by that name, let alone a House Bletchen." Symond Staunton's comment was not long in coming, he, as a master of laws, had to be aware of the members of the small and great houses alike, as well as being knowledgeable of the state of the realms to give concrete and direct answers if necessary, therefore, he more than anyone else knew that there was no one by the name of Janna Bletchen in Westeros.

"That, My lord, is because Lady Janna is not from Westeros, she is a lady of Xandar, a member of House Bletchen, a noble House in the service of the Xandarian Crown," I wished I had their faces captured in portraits, to see how everyone tensed to know that, and anxious to know how it had happened.

"Their wedding is scheduled for two moons from now, at which time the wedding will become a reality, also the ravens have just arrived at the great houses from Tywin inviting everyone to their wedding, not only that, but... King Azrael, has decided to attend in equal measure."

If they were surprised before, now they were elated, mad, "Lord Tywin does not have the power to invite a foreign king within the borders of the realm without first asking permission from the king", Qarlton Chelsted was the first to impose his voice, full of bitterness and undisguised anger, it was well known the enmity between him and Tywin, for reasons that the latter did not care to understand or wind him up, but Qarlton did not see that.

"Don't be short-sighted, Lord Qarlton, Lord Tywin doesn't have to ask permission, it's his lands, it's his wedding, he is flat out right to invite whomever he wishes," Symond Staunton did not wait, and with his knowledge of the laws of the realm, dismissed the coin master's words.

"Lord Symond is right, while the king is the protector of the realm, Lord Tywin is well within his rights to open the gates of his land to whomever he sees fit." Pycelle, Tywin's dog, spoke quickly on his behalf, earning a snort from Qarlton and a nod from Symond.

"Silence!" Aerys' angry voice was not long in coming, silencing the hall and bringing silence again. "If Azrael will attend, then why not me? Get everything ready, we're going to Casterly Rock, I can't wait to see another dragon."

~~~Third Person, Seventh Moon, 277 AC~~~

~~~Ischyros, Xandar~~~

"My king, the Parrot of the Royal Fleet arrived this morning," Gallio, the Prime Minister of Xandar, also known to outsiders as the king's hand, remarked to Azrael, who was in one of the giant gardens of Ischyros accompanied by Valka, while the two were having a tea session.

"The ten airships needed to carry the food the Imperial Khalasar will need. Just taken flight, they are expected to meet the Royal Fleet near the Summer Isles in four days," Azrael nodded, pleased with the good news, "come, sit with us, I know the stress load you have been under, and from me, I thank you from the Crown, if you need anything, just ask."

For Azrael, there was no problem in rewarding his subjects, whether with gold, spices, or land, especially if the said subject was as hardworking and dedicated to the Crown as was Gallio, who, even with the duties of his household, managed to run the affairs of the kingdom and the court daily. And although he had advisors and assistants to provide him with respite, that did not mean that he did not do most of the more delicate work.

Gallio did not resist, as much as royal protocol indicated that he, as a person in the service of the crown, and as a natural person, was not to sit at the same table as the king, he, as a good Xandarian, did not resist his king's command, and taking a seat, was 'level' with Azrael and Valka.

"Would you like pistachios Minister?" Valka offered a glass bowl to Gallio, with a modest, dry smile, "They are delicious, especially if you pair them with corozo wine, can you imagine? A new fruit brought from Naath, very refreshing, especially with ice."

"Thank you, my lady," Gallio reciprocated Valka's gesture. Taking some pistachios from the bowl and placing some on a plate for him.

Although Azrael had already proposed to Valka, they had not yet made it public, so the treatment towards Valka was still the same, mind you, because she was always seen with Azrael, and due to court rumors, many claimed that the two had something, so she was treated as if she was a queen, even without being one yet.

"The whole matter of the visit to Westeros is progressing normally, the preparations are expected to continue to work, so that there will be no problem," Gallio commented, happy that his effort was worth it.

"That's the important thing. Gallio, soon, Valka and I will be married, and while I know you have been busy lately, I find it necessary to ask that preparations for our wedding begin, I plan to make it after I return from Westeros." Gallio looked surprised, but then a beaming smile covered his face, "What happiness, Your Majesty! I am very happy for you. For both of us, don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

"I expected nothing less from you, my friend."