Inside the Red Keep, even a fool could sense that something was wrong as they watched a large group of fully armed gold-cloaked men march past. The Night's Watchmen stationed as part of the security detail gathered in small groups, whispering to one another with varying expressions.
"What's going on? Is Westeros about to change dynasties again?"
"Let it change. If the Starks take the Iron Throne and become rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, that doesn't sound so bad."
"Lord Eddard will surely send us thousands of soldiers to help guard the Wall."
"Hah, who knows? Once he becomes king, why would he still bother with guarding the Wall? Better to abandon the North entirely and move everyone south to enjoy the warmth. Then we can build a new Wall in the Neck Marshes and leave that frozen wasteland to the wights and the wildlings!"
...
Most of the Night's Watch had a broken-pot mindset—resigned to their fate and cynical about the future. They said whatever they pleased. After all, the worst that could happen was being sent back to the Wall. Naturally, Aegor did not join in such meaningless chatter. Watching the large contingent of gold cloaks following Eddard Stark disappear from sight, unease rose in his heart. As a transmigrator and head of the Night's Watch industry, who knew more secrets than most visitors to the Wall, he clearly understood what Eddard was about to do. The number of men Jory brought into the Red Keep this time was enough to seal victory. Cersei and Jaime had no chance of turning the tide.
It was good that the Hand of the King, who had been friendly to the Night's Watch, took the lead in seizing control amid the chaos. But instead of thinking about how to benefit from this major upheaval, Aegor's first thought was of his partner and friend—Tyrion.
Now that Cersei and Jaime's scandal had been exposed due to the spreading rumors, House Lannister was in serious trouble. As a core member of the family, how could Tyrion not be implicated? The dwarf, sharp as ever, had sensed something wrong the moment the note surfaced. If he had acted cautiously, he would have returned to Casterly Rock a week ago when Aegor returned to King's Landing. But to ensure Aegor could smoothly take over the expanded Night's Watch industry, he had decided to take the risk and stay a few days longer. When Robert returned to the capital, the sword hung above his neck... and the conflict with Janos Slynt over the Night's Watch industry delayed his final departure.
One delay after another, and the result was that Tyrion still hadn't left. He had said at Rivergate that he would go to the Night's Watch industrial park outside the city to pack up before heading to Casterly Rock. Was he preparing to leave now? Eddard had already captured Cersei and Jaime. Based on the logic that there could never be too many noble hostages, he would definitely not let Tyrion go just because he was "a good man." Even if Tyrion had already left, how far could he get? Could he really evade capture and reach Casterly Rock safely?
...
...
The more Aegor thought about it, the more anxious he became. Tyrion had sensed something was wrong in the Red Keep based on Slynt's behavior and Jaime's reaction at Rivergate, but he didn't know what form the upheaval would take, when it would start, or how far it would go. There's a world of difference between "leaving to avoid trouble" and "fleeing for your life." In the former mindset, Tyrion might take his time, travel at a leisurely pace, and end up caught by Robert and Eddard's men with no suspense at all.
Though the Night's Watch industry was starting to show its strength, it was only enough to deal with people like Janos Slynt. Fighting a small fry was already risky. Rescuing a hostage from the King and the Hand in the Game of Thrones? That wasn't even an option. If Tyrion was caught, Aegor would have no way to save him. The dwarf had saved him from the Wall and worked hard for the Night's Watch industry, sacrificing his chance to escape. If he was captured, thrown in a cell, tortured, or even killed, Aegor would carry that guilt for the rest of his life.
(The only way now is to prevent him from being caught... I need to tell Tyrion what's happening in the Red Keep immediately and urge him to drop everything and flee to Casterly Rock at full speed!)
...
Jaqen had seemed particularly interested in the wights and the situation beyond the Wall. He usually remained silent in the shadows, but now he was actively engaging in conversation with Alliser, Dommi, and the others. Aegor didn't want to get involved. He was sweating as he thought, I might be well-known in King's Landing, but inside the Red Keep, I'm just a minor figure. Now that the Hand has clearly ordered the gates sealed, what excuse can I use to get out and warn Tyrion?
Sweat dripped from his temples as Aegor desperately searched for a plan. Before he could come up with one, movement came from the direction of Maegor's Holdfast. A small squad of gold cloaks came running back in a panic, led by none other than Jacelyn Bywater, captain of the Riverside Gate garrison.
"What's happened?"
"The Kingslayer attacked the King. One Kingsguard is dead, two others wounded. The Lannister siblings escaped Maegor's Holdfast under cover from the red cloaks and fled northeast in the Red Keep. The garrison is fighting the Lannister guards." Bywater's face was tense, filled with shock and fury. "The Hand has ordered the main and side entrances of the Red Keep to be sealed completely. Not even a fly is to escape. Also, notify the garrison to arrest all Lannisters in King's Landing and seize their assets!"
As a garrison officer, Bywater had no obligation to explain the situation or relay the Hand's orders to a Night's Watchman who had nothing to do with it. Aegor quickly realized that Ser Ironhand had revealed this information despite its military sensitivity, likely as a subtle reminder, to go inform their mutual friend quickly.
Jaime attacked the king... Was it fatal? There was no time to consider. Aegor only had enough time to tell Jaqen to take Alliser and the others back to the Night's Watch office for the night. He left his bodyguards and colleagues behind and followed Bywater to the Red Keep's gate. As for how to get out, he'd have to improvise.
They quickly reached the gate. A dozen Stark guards stationed there, seeing their urgency, raised their weapons warily. "What's going on?"
"The Kingslayer attacked King Robert. The Hand ordered us to assist in guarding the gates and to send someone to notify the garrison!"
"Do you have a warrant or command token?"
"No, but I can vouch for the order!" How could they have managed formalities at such a critical moment? But the person who issued the order had thought of this and sent a Stark guard along to verify. Eddard had brought only a few dozen men from Winterfell to King's Landing, and they all knew each other—no impersonation possible. "Open the gate first and notify the city garrison. Then drop the iron portcullis and hold the gate tight. Don't let anyone out!"
The bronze gate rumbled open. If they missed this chance, no one knew when they'd be able to get out again. Several garrison soldiers responsible for delivering orders rushed out first. Aegor tried to slip through with them but was stopped. "Night's Watchman, where do you think you're going?"
"I... I'm Lady Arya's sword instructor. She goes to the Night's Watch Industrial Park outside the city for sword practice every day. Now that trouble's broken out in the city, I have to bring her back!" At the last second, Aegor remembered an excuse. He'd had other motives for sending Arya out of the city for security training, but now it came in handy. "She's with a Lannister right now. I must get her to safety immediately!"
"Lady Arya?" One guard glanced at his comrade. "Did she leave the Red Keep today?"
"I don't think so?" The other guard replied hesitantly. "Anyway, she didn't go through our gate."
Damn, I forgot! Eddard Stark was the one orchestrating today's chaos in the Red Keep. How could he have allowed his daughter to leave for sword lessons on such a critical day? Arya had definitely not gone out. She was probably confined in the Hand's Tower under Septa Mordane's watch!
Aegor blurted, "Maybe she left through another gate. There's no time to check. If I'm wrong, it's just a wasted trip. Let me go!"
"Let him through. He's the chief logistics officer of the Wall and a sworn brother of the Night's Watch," Ser Bywater added. "He's not about to warn the Lannisters."
"Well, let him go. I saw him in Winterfell," another Stark guard said. "He warned me that young Bran was climbing the tower again. If I'd listened to him that day... sigh."
With more than one voice vouching for Aegor, the rest of the guards didn't raise further objections. If Lady Arya were harmed because they stopped this man, none of them could bear that guilt. "Alright, go ahead. Run!"
(To be continued.)
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