章節 37: Chapter 33
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Damian Blackheart.
John has been walking around scowling for a week now, doesn't socialise with anyone, doesn't talk to anyone much, eats lunch in his room for the most part.
Not to say he's apathetic or resentful of me or the world, but he's troubled and even heartbroken by Ned Stark's long silence and the injustice done to him by others. Now it's come out that he's the crown prince of the Seven Kingdoms and the rightful king of this country, but he's been serving some strange man. I'm not talking about him being my squire, that's normal for the Seven Kingdoms. I'm talking about his life at Winterfell.
Jon didn't run round Castle Black going "I'm the king!" No, he just walked around sometimes, sometimes in the company of Gendry or Ygritte and sometimes in the company of Thoros.
I haven't touched him yet, I've told him my thoughts and words, and now I have to wait for him to do something about it. When I told him about his origins in Bogoroszcz, I took his word that he would talk to me before he thought of anything.
So far he didn't think of anything, and I got carried away with paperwork.
After I heard that a Northern army was on its way here from Sigard and that the North was gathering a militia, I decided to go easy on him and sent a raven to Branna at Winterfell. I stripped Robb of his right to be called lord and his inheritance by the power vested in me, and instead "appointed" Brann as Guardian of the North, and told him to summon banners to aid Queen Shireen.
Soon enough I heard back from Winterfell, where I was gently sent away and told that they had no Guardian, but they had a king, and that king was Robb Stark. So I, without ceremony, stripped all the Starks of their lordships, privileges, and lands. I also sent ravens across the North with this notice and instructions to wait for "my further instructions." Of course, I realised that as soon as they read this, they'd fuck me off and wipe themselves with them. But to piss off and mock the valiant northerners on legal grounds, I couldn't pass up such a chance, hehe.
I did take one major step in that regard, though. I stripped the Tullys of their lands, titles, and power and appointed Varick as Acting High Lord of the Riverlands. Of course, he won't end up being the rightful owner of Riverrun and the title of High Lord, but it will be nice for Varick to just temporarily have the Riverlands to himself. I sent my father almost the same message as the other River Lords, only with a hint that he should hold his horses to help his suzerain and Robb Stark.
I also rewarded the ironborn "for their faithful service," though I realised that if I'd met them in person in the open field, it wasn't certain we'd have spoken as good friends. They're their own kind, and as long as Baelon's in charge, the Iron Islands won't be our allies. But I did give Baelon the title "High Lord of the Iron Islands and the West Coast" and recognised all Greyjoy conquests in the Westlands. Also, when one of my brothers arrived at Castle Black, a fleet of Ironborn attacked the Darklands, and possibly Bear Island, I decided to give them Cape Kraken, Flint Coast, Cape Sea Dragon, and the Springs as a true generous soul.
In addition, I sent a raven to Crakehall with the "appointment" of Lord Crakehall as High Lord of the Westlands and gave him the task of either executing or arresting all Lannisters. This shot I hope also finds its target. I'll take any option: a rebellion against the Lannisters by the Crakehalls, their strongest vassals, a cooling of relations between Lord Crakehall and Tywin, a rift among the West Lords. In general, there could be a lot of options. As long as one of them hits the target.
- Lord Hand! - One of the green cloaks, Dave, I think his name is. - Lord Hand, may I report?
- Report. - I nodded and turned to face him, not the field where the wildlings were practising their "turtle" formation.
- Five ironborn ships have arrived at the East Watch by the Sea, brought by Victarion Greyjoy. They didn't attack the Watch or our ships, but Victarion Greyjoy wanted a meeting with you. He invited you to his flagship, the Iron Victory, for a private conversation. I was sent here by Lord Balon Swann, who, along with Auron Waters, is in charge of loading the wildlings onto our ships.
Hmm. I wonder if this is a negotiation. That's fine if it's a negotiation, but why Victarion? Though in principle, Baelon has no one to send. The Starks have a son, a daughter not every lord will listen to, he can't come himself, and Euron is an unloved member of the family who is in exile and who knows where the hell he is.
- Well, that's good. Get some rest for now, come with me back to the East Watch. Gentry!
- Yes, My Lord. - the bastard came running towards me.
- Fetch Daren, Ser Mendon and six of Rex's men. They and you will come with me to the East Watch to negotiate with the Greyjoys.
- Yes, My Lord. Permission to proceed?
- Do it! - Then he left me, and I began to think of possible offers and bargaining chips. Victarion didn't come here for nothing. He's not smart enough to come here on his own initiative.
Twenty minutes later we were all assembled, I left Asgen and Dondarrion in command of my men, and then we rode east along the Wall to Victarion Greyjoy.
What can I say about my first impression of this Greyjoy? He's not stupid, but he's not a genius, he's not handsome, but he's not ugly. As for his appearance, he looked to be about forty years old, his hair was beginning to grey in places, his eyes were cold grey or blue, his skin was dry and sun-baked like Stanis's, his nose was slightly hooked, his features were sharp, even a little rough in places. He gives the impression of a rugged man. And he really reminds me of Stanis in some ways, only he's not so moralistic and law-abiding, but it's for the best.
- Lord Hand. - He nodded to me in greeting. - Would you care for some wine?
- Only symbolically, Lord Victarion. I prefer not to fill my brains with drink during important conversations, but to discuss things soberly.
He nodded and poured a glass of wine for himself and me, but when I tasted it, I realised that it seemed to be from Pentos. I wasn't much of a gourmand, though.
Victarion must have been waiting for me to speak first. He didn't want to appear a fool, for he was no great negotiator or schemer. So he didn't want to look like a fool in front of the Lord of the Green Lands.
I decided not to disappoint him and started the conversation first.
- Lord Victarion, let's discuss everything without unnecessary pathos and verbiage, and talk about the essence?
- I agree. - He exhaled a sigh of relief.
- Good. Then I would like to know the reason for your arrival here? And the subject of the bargaining? I doubt your brother sent you here for no reason, to check on our health and to see the local beauty.
- He did. Baelon wants an alliance with you against the Lannisters, the Starks and the Tullys, as well as the Westlands, the Seagard, the Arbor Islands, the Shield Islands, Bear Island, Cape Sea Dragon, the Flint Coast and Cape Kraken. As well as independence from the Seven Kingdoms.
"They're fucking mad!" - I thought at the time, "Fuck independence, they can be reconquered, but this much land..."
- I understand your concerns about independence and I'm even willing to concede it to you, moreover, on behalf of Her Grace Queen Shireen, I can recognise for you the lands you've already taken from the River Lords and the West Lords, and I sent a message to your brother some time ago appointing him High Lord of the Iron Islands and the West Coast, while recognising all conquests in the Westlands to the Greyjoys. I've also decided to give them Cape Kraken, the Flint Coast, Cape Sea Dragon and the Springs. That's quite a generous gesture, I assure you. But all of the Western Lands... you simply won't pull it off, you won't hold on to it, and the economy of the Western Lands will collapse. And as for the Outlands, as long as the Tyrells are on our side, I can't let you take their lands. We need the Tyrells. That's why the Spaceland is off limits to the Ironborn. The Iron Islands can only consider ceding some of the lands of Spaceland to the Tyrells if you become our vassals. Otherwise, it will not even be considered.
- We want those lands! - Victarion insisted.
- Listen to me. Huh, the fact that you will not swear an oath to Shiren, I have already understood and accepted, further conversation is possible and agreements are possible between us. But I will not give up the lands of our queen's vassals. Those who oppose us and are your enemies are another matter. You pay an iron price for everything, and I and my men pay a bloody price. That's what we're like. But let's not take this conversation into the wilderness. The fact is, you and I both need allies. You are no fool, nor are those in your king's entourage who advised you to negotiate with me, so we see the picture that has emerged in the Seven Kingdoms clearly. We are strong, but individually, none of us will get what we want quickly. So I suggest another alternative...
- Neutrality?
- You've discussed such a thing? - He nodded. - Then I'll make it even simpler. We make a non-aggression pact, and whatever lands you can get when we retake the Seven Kingdoms are yours. As is your independence. You don't help us, we help you, and we don't interfere with each other. If tomorrow the North were to bend the knee to Shiren, and at that time some lands would be under your control, then let them remain, we will recognise these achievements for you. The same goes for the other lands. And you are the same way. If we conquer some lands or they join us on their own, even if they were in your plans, then you retreat. We do not shed each other's blood. We don't need unnecessary battles right now.
- I agree.
- That's good, then let's call the maester here and the three of us will draw up a more detailed and proper treaty, so that everything is according to all forms and canons, so that no unnecessary questions and conflicts arise.
- I agree. - Greyjoy answered me without changing his tone.
And so we agreed. He and I both knew we would meet as opponents in the future, but at this point we needed peace and non-interference. It's true that Selisa and some of the lords will turn their noses up when they hear about this. But Rex will pacify them for the time being, and if they arise again when I arrive, then I will "speak to them with special passion"....
The next day Victarion and his boys sailed from the East Watch, and we returned to Castle Black. In a couple of days, the penultimate batch of 'civilian' wildlings will sail with a small portion of mammoths and giants. The rest of them would be the last to leave with me. In the meantime, I walked to my chambers, past the courtyard where Mellisandra was preaching to the small handful of knights and wildlings who had accepted faith in her god and speaking of Azor Ahai.
At that moment, a determined-looking Jon came round the bend and headed straight for me.
- Can we talk? - he asked, looking round. - Alone.
- Yes, we can. Let's go to Bogoroscha, there's hardly anyone there anyway, and it's easy to see the spies if there are any.
Fifteen minutes or so later, we were back by the familiar firewood, I think it was before it that the canon John swore his oath to the Old Gods when he joined the Night's Watch, but that's a different situation now.
- I've been doing a lot of thinking. - Jon clenched his fists, crunching his knuckles and staring into the snow-covered ground. He spoke quietly but confidently. - I've had time to think back over my life before I met you and after. The changes, as you like to say, have been drastic. And I realise now that our meeting was no accident, that you already knew who I was, if I am indeed the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.
- You are. Believe me. - I assured him. - I've never lied to you. I may not have said certain things, but I certainly haven't lied to you.
- I know you wouldn't. That's why I'm having this conversation. - He nodded and already looked at me. - Tell me honestly, what do you want to do with this information? What is the reason for our meeting and my service to you?
- So that you won't go to the Night's Watch and one day become a king who will unite the world to deal with the threat that comes from there. - and pointed towards the Outlands. - The Great Other, the White Walkers and the Long Night, these are not fairy tales, just truths forgotten in the course of time. But the threat is so real and so close to us that it's made even a bastard like me spin like an eel on a griddle to find Azor Ahai and give humanity a chance. If I had a chance to avoid this mess, I would have done it, but now I have to torture myself with this crap.
- How did you know the truth of my origins?
- Visions. You have Warg powers, like many Starks, all your cousins are Wargs, but you have a particularly strong gift, only Bran does, but more on him later. You already know how to inhabit your Ghost, don't you? - He jerked at my words. - Then you do. Good. Maybe you've had other dreams, like the one at Storm's End. It's your power, and it's awakening, and it's getting bigger and bigger every day. I have a similar power to what the Lion of Night gave me. I also have these dreams sometimes. And in one of them I saw the truth about your birth, as well as elements about people's pasts and possible futures. Even if I didn't want to take you in, you would still be resurrected after your death in the Watch and become the King of the North, and then lead the resistance against the Others. - I gave him some information on the serial canon.
- King of the North? - He looked at me dumbfounded.
- Yeah. Robb would have died then, Rickon, too. Only Sansa and Arya and Brandon and you would have survived. And that would be it. It would have been bad times before you took the throne. Now I've changed a few things about the way we do things for a better future.
- Including your own?
- Of course," I grinned. - I have never hidden my nature in front of you. I don't talk about it, just as I don't talk about the truth of life. I didn't show you life from the pink snot you hear from a knight's mouth or the books about love and knights that Sansa read. You saw life for what it is. Without all the embellishments, the truth. You saw what idiots like the Lannisters, the Tullys, the Arryns, the Baratheons and the likes of them had brought the country your ancestors had built with Flame and Blood over three centuries to. When Ned Stark found you, at that point he had already sworn Robert in as his king. And the promise he made to your mother to take care of you, it seems he could only fulfil by passing you off as his son. If Robert hadn't been his suzerain, he would have raised the North to put you on the throne, even if you were a baby king. Unfortunately, Ned Stark is dead and now it is Howland Reed who can confirm all this to you personally and to the world.
Jon looked at me expectantly, and I continued, understanding his concern.
- You wanted to know what I wanted from you? I want you to take the throne in due time, after Shireen's natural death, and lead Westeros to victory. And I want power, riches, glory and lands if possible. Fair enough, as they say, I'm an honest bastard. - I smiled at him, and he gave me a grin in return.
We sat quietly under the boughs of the hardwood for a while, and then John broke the silence at one point.
- You know, Lord Blackheart, when I become King of the Seven Kingdoms, I will need a Hand, one who will be the worst demon and enemy to my enemies and the truest friend and companion to me. Do you agree to that?
- Ha! Of course! I hope when you find out your origins, you'll stop calling me my lord in private. Can you just call me by my first name?
- I can Damian. - Now he's changed his face, and he's more cheerful or something. - Things will be different now.
- Lord Hand! - shouted out to me as Loras rode towards us on his horse. - A large army of northerners appeared from the south. They've arrived sooner than we expected. What do we do?
- Fuck! - I swore. - Let our guys set off fireworks - yellow fireworks. First five in succession of big yellow ones. And then pause for a minute and three at a time towards the North, up above Black Castle and one towards Zastenya. Commanders from other fortresses will come to our aid according to the established plan. The main thing now is to take a little time, and then we'll fight if we need to. Ride in formation with Berrik's men.
- Yes, my lord. - and off he rode.
It's getting worse by the hour. Now we've got trouble with the Northmen.
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