Discussions

"Is the news true?" Garlan wondered, turning to his grandmother who nodded her head sharply.

"Stannis Baratheon has bent the knee." The announcement sounded unbelievable but yet it was the truth. "He is to be Hand of the King and has already departed from the Wall along with the remainder of the army. They are now all moving south with the armies slowly dispersing."

"The war is at an end." Tyrion spoke.

A silence befell the room following his words with the weight of it resting upon them all. Some looked around the room gauging the reactions of others while some stared out into space lost in thought. For four years the War of Five Kings had raged and now at long last, upon the corpses of thousands, one King stood unchallenged.

King Robb Stark, First of his Name.

"Then I suppose now the hard task of rebuilding the realm, restoring stability and maintaining peace is the next obstacle we must face." Willas said many around the room agreed with some outwardly frowning at the monumental responsibility of such an undertaking dawned upon them with even greater force. "Food continues to be a problem. Our debt another."

"We have received news that another shipment of food from Slaver's Bay should arrive within a week." Daenerys announced. "It is heading toward the Riverlands first. The war has most heavily impacted them and shall be distributed accordingly to reward them for their loyal service to the King."

"And what of the rest of the realm?" Eddard wondered.

Doran Martell, newly appointed to the temporary Small Council spoke up. "I have spoken with the nobles of Dorne and they have agreed to open our limited storehouses and aid in the distribution of food across Westeros. It is our belief that the areas most heavily impacted by the war should be those that receive our aid first. Those kingdoms like the Crownlands, Stormlands and even the Westerlands."

Outwardly, Garlan and Willas frowned knowing precisely why such areas were being treated first. Though they had garnered much support in the north of the Westerlands, the south continued to rebuff their gifts. The support they had gained in the Riverlands had been weakened due to their suggestion for the Iron Islands though they still had some houses on their side. As for the Stormlands and the Crownlands, well neither Daenerys nor themselves had managed to make much headway there.

Many of the nobility in Westeros were either too focused on switching sides to whichever offered them the chance to regain their power and then some. Or were cautious and smart enough to not commit so soon when the King had recently announced his appointing of Stannis Baratheon as Hand of the King.

It was clear what was intended by that move and it was intelligent for the King to create a third faction to balance the power of Westeros. If he had left it with just the Targaryens and Tyrells, there was a high possibility of the two factions allying together to overthrow him. But with a third faction that would be prevented as it would be near impossible for the three to come together without fearing the other two might ally together separately. It was that fear and uncertainty that would keep the three factions divided without ever being able to come together.

"Then with the food of Slaver's Bay and Dorne helping to supply Westeros, it will provide the Reach much needed time to restock our food supplies as a new harvest approaches." Not that the food newly harvested would go anywhere but the Reach, that Olenna had assured the houses of the Reach following the handing of the food crisis to Daenerys. They had done enough in this aspect that not even Robb Stark would dare question or criticise them.

"What of the delegation from the Iron Bank?" Eddard wondered, turning the focus of their meeting away from the current topic, which had been a constant in their meetings. "Any news of when they should arrive?"

"Last we heard, they were two weeks away." Olenna answered. "They should be arriving soon."

"Should we review the terms we have agreed upon?" Tyrion questioned, indicating to Doran. "Lord Martell has not heard of these yet and perhaps he might find a new avenue for us to take advantage of."

Olenna doubted that, but she knew Tyrion also believed that as well.

No, as the Targaryens had taken charge of the food crisis, negotiating with the Iron Bank had been handed over to the Tyrells. Much like how the Tyrells critiqued and questioned everything related to the food crisis, finding holes to exploit and use to deface the Targaryens, so too were the Targaryens doing the same with the negotiations.

It was just part of their little game.

"Illyrio Mospatis shall be released but only on the condition that he sign a notice under the watch of the Iron Bank to take the entirety of the Iron Thrones debt." Willas began, his voice reflecting his boredom over reviewing such matters. "The Iron Bank have expressed interest also in the release of the Golden Company and we have agreed to release those we have identified as Blackfyre loyalists to the Iron Bank, numbering around two thousand men in return for half of the Golden Company's assets and a tax-free loan of one million gold dragons from the Iron Bank. The remaining three thousand surviving Golden Company shall remain in the service of the Iron Throne for three years, the first year of which shall be done without payment as the terms of their release. The remaining two under a reduced cost half paid for by the Iron Bank such that upon the completion of the three years service to be released immediately to the Iron Bank."

Three years.

That was how long was expected to be able to begin stabilising Westeros again and having three thousand men of the Golden Company on standby would no longer be necessary.

"The release of Illyrio seems reasonable." Doran began, his frown evident and his bemusement more so. "But the terms of the Golden Company, specifically the latter seem unlikely to be agreed upon. No doubt the Iron Bank will heavily refute and resist such terms."

"They will." Garlan agreed. "However, thanks to the Unsullied under Lady Daenerys command, we already have a standing force which will work for minimal pay. The Golden Company would simply be additional forces to add to that. The weight of their prestige is not to be underestimated but we are willing to negotiate more reasonable terms upon the three thousand men."

"I see. So, you don't intend or believe that the Iron Bank will agree to such terms. Instead, you simply are creating the environment in which more favourable terms for both parties can be agreed upon." Garlan bowed his head at Doran's assessment. "Even so, we are risking a great deal by releasing the two thousand Blackfyre loyalists to the Iron Bank immediately, same with Illyrio. The man was enraged upon hearing news of Aegon's death and releasing him gives the man a chance to seek revenge. The Blackfyre loyalists also pose a threat and we risk the two parties allying together once again. Not to mention the two thousand are simply only those you have identified, there's no guarantee that they're not more hidden amongst the remaining three."

"That is true for the risk of more being hidden, yet that is something we will have to take precautions against. Yet when it comes to the release of Illyrio, we have weighed the options and though it does carry risk, it is one we will have to take." Willas replied. "The realm cannot survive the fallout of this war with the vast debt amassed by Robert Baratheon. Illyrio is a rich man, he will be able to handle the debt but will be stuck in a position for many years in which he will be unable to do anything toward us."

Doran nodded his head in understanding.

"As for the Blackfyre loyalists released to the Iron Bank, they will be too busy put to use fighting in wars and rebuilding their mercenary company to pose a threat to us either. We estimate that the assets they possess equate to around two million gold dragons. Taking half of which will leave them with one million. They will be drastically reduced in number, stuck in a contract with the Iron Bank and possessing fewer resources at their disposal."

"Though neither threat is neutralised. They are weakened." Garlan finished.

"But threats nonetheless." Tyrion pointed out bluntly. "No matter. I suppose our most immediate threat will be Stannis Baratheon and the rumblings from Essos about the supposed rebirth of the Triarchy. We have had disputes with them in the past they have always held ambitions for the Disputed Lands and the Stepstones. When holding them they always imposed heavy tolls upon the ships that pass through such that it could prove dangerous for us in our weakened state."

Once more the council erupted into discussion while Eddard watched on silently.