Chapter 40: The Crossroads Inn and the Blackfish.
I didn't even keep track of how many bandit groups I'd killed; there were so many vile people here. Ultimately, I opted to follow a caravan just to have someone to talk to. Being alone was probably the most challenging part of my travels. I was going crazy with the silence that permeated the air when I wasn't fighting.
Thankfully, when I passed by the Palisade village, almost nearing the Crossroads Inn, I joined a small merchant caravan heading to King's Landing. I offered my sword just to have someone to talk to.
Over the days of travel, the three armed guards and I fought together against several bandits, and thanks to me (I served as a recon), no one was hurt. I didn't have all my equipment since I was traveling quickly, but I got a bow and arrows from the different bandits plaguing the Riverlands.
No one knew my name and just called me Rowan—a name I thought of on the spot when they asked me.
"Will you continue with us after we rest in the inn, Rowan?" asked Garlick, a surprisingly quick-footed sellsword guarding the caravan. During our travels, I found out he was going to King's Landing to participate in the tourney to the Hand that would start in a month.
"No, I won't," I said, shaking my head. "I have some things to do in the Vale," I added.
Garlick nodded in understanding and didn't ask anything more. He was perceptive like that. I talked a lot about innocuous things with my companions, but I didn't discuss personal matters for obvious reasons.
"We'll miss you, Rowan. You helped us a lot in these past days," intervened Raynald, the merchant who paid us for protection.
"It was no problem. I was paid and had nothing better to do in the meantime," I snorted.
"Ha, I still wonder why you don't show your face. Someone with your capabilities is usually famous in these lands," added Jon Stone, a bastard from the Vale who was also going to the tourney. Luckily, we ran into him since he had been busy in some brothels in the village.
"Then you must know why asking those questions is a bad idea," I said lightly. He was a good person, and it was a shame that his curiosity might get him killed sooner rather than later.
Jon gulped audibly and slowed his pace to fall to the back of the caravan.
"We're finally here," said Garlick. "We part ways here, Rowan. Take care, and may the Light of the Seven guide you in your travels."
Ugh, him and the Seven. I respected that everyone had the right to follow whatever religion they wanted, but he kept preaching about it non-stop. Hopefully, he would be careful in the tourney. Despite our differences, he was amicable enough that I would feel sad if something happened to him.
Going to the inn's owner, I paid her for a single night since I would need to move quickly to reach my uncle before going to King's Landing. As I started to get ready for some blissful sleep, I scattered my bugs to consume whatever biomass they found available and collapsed on the bed.
One week later
Finally arriving at the Bloody Gate, where my great uncle had been since his argument with Hoster Tully, I stretched my legs and dismounted my horse.
I was approaching the Bloody Gate, but I needed to be even more careful since the Vale was too compromised. My aunt Lysa was crazy, and Littlefinger and Varys had so many spies that I couldn't afford anyone noticing me. This could not work like in Seagard, where I could enter after a bit of trouble.
For now, I saw only two options. One would be to tie a message to a bug and wait for the Blackfish to enter my range and deliver it. But that would alert him to something "supernatural" happening, and I didn't think I could afford that.
I needed to see if I could do this without alerting anyone, so I tied up my horse in the woods and took my satchel to start my recon.
The Bloody Gate controlled the only way to enter the Vale through the Mountains of the Moon. It was a narrow path with guards on both sides. The sun was already setting so I could start my infiltration soon.
In this life, I was in excellent shape since I exercised daily, and I had a rope with a hook tied expertly just in case I needed it here. Angling my throw to reach some rocks away from the guards, I started climbing, using my insects to check if someone was walking toward me or looking in my direction.
I had a bunch of bees ready to attack in case someone got close to me. They were common enough in this region and wouldn't raise much suspicion.
Getting past the guards was easy enough, thanks to my powers, and after more than forty minutes, I could get past the main gate. Now, I just needed to find the Blackfish to talk to. I didn't know if he looked the same as in the series, so I would need to use my insects to hear someone talking to him and follow him to a place alone.
After an hour of searching fruitlessly, I heard through my insects a commotion of horse hooves galloping to one of the towers. The guards called respectfully to the dignified older man leading the party—Ser Brynden. Finally, knowing how he looked, I sent some insects to follow him to his bedroom, where he was changing his armor.
After giving him some privacy since I wasn't interested in seeing an old man naked, I sent my insects again towards his room, noticing that there were three guards situated outside it.
Using my insects to create a commotion that the guards heard, I approached rapidly to his room and knocked insistently. I also kept an eye on the guards, who tried to find the reason for the sudden noise coming from the end of the hallway.
"Who is it?" a weary voice was heard from inside.
I didn't answer and kept knocking. Now Brynden, fully awake, grabbed his sword and asked again before opening the door with his sword drawn.
Rapidly taking the cowl from my head, I raised my hands and said, "Great-uncle, I'm Robb Stark. Please let me in. No one can know I am here," I said urgently, noticing that the guards had given up finding the reason for the sound and were returning to their posts.
"Hurry, the guards are coming back," I said while entering quickly but cautiously.
Brynden's eyes widened comically when he saw my face. Thankfully, I inherited my looks from my mother, and he was able to recognize me enough to not attack me.
Closing the door lightly to avoid making much sound, I shushed him before checking if any more people were on this side of the tower. I noticed only my great-uncle and the three guards were there, so I relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry for the cloak and dagger, great-uncle, but with what I know, we could never be safe enough," I said with a weary laugh. The travels had been rough on me, and I hadn't eaten a good meal for a while—at least nothing compared to a meal made in a keep.
"What are you doing here, Robb? What about your mother?" asked Brynden with a murmur.
"Mother is taking care of Winterfell with Little Sansa. Jon is doing some work for me near the Wall, and the spitfire Arya is protecting my sister and mother," I laughed heartily, remembering that Arya slept hugging her dagger.
"As for why I am here? I bring bad news all around, and I need your help," I added with utmost seriousness.
Brynden smiled when he heard about my family but grew serious when he realized I needed him. He was an honorable man, and family was the most important thing for him. This would greatly help but also complicate things due to what my aunt had done.
"What happened, Robb?" he asked.
"Before we begin, could I ask you to send the guards away? I cannot stress this enough. I bring terrible news and am risking a lot seeking you. No one else can know," I answered.
He thought for a moment but complied with my request. While he opened the doors, I hid, and he called for the guards inside, ordering them to leave the premises.
The guards nodded and exited the room, walking to the tower entrance, where they split up. Two of them left for a tavern, but the last one returned, trying to be stealthy.
I sighed. I truly hated that this happened so often. I was curious to know how I would act without my power to keep my people in check, always wondering whom I could trust.
Brynden was getting impatient with my silence, but I raised my hand and opened the door while pointing to where the guard was hiding. Brynden understood what I meant and went to investigate.
Grabbing his sword, he attacked the guard without question, slashing his back while the guard was oblivious.
"We will learn who you work for, lad. I hope you like the heights," he said while dragging the guard to the tower's entrance.
Looking through my insects, I noticed that Brynden dropped the guard at the entrance, explained that he was a spy, had him sent to the maester for treatment, and then walked back to his room.
"How did you know?" he asked seriously.
"I had a hunch. I've been rooting out spies for more than five years. You have no idea how many of those vermin were in the North," I shook my head.
Brynden sighed. "I hate politics," and he sat in a chair. "Now you can start explaining."
Little by little, I explained my findings about the queen's infidelity, including the signed message from Tyrion sealing the deal.
Brynden furrowed his brow. "Gods be good… This will bring chaos when people find out. I need to talk to Lysa to strengthen our borders."
I shook my head. "This is not all. The Vale is compromised like you wouldn't believe."
"What do you mean, nephew?" he asked with his face set in a grim line.
"Lysa, my aunt, killed her husband, Jon Arryn," I said firmly.
His face changed instantly. "What do you mean? Lysa may not be the most intelligent, but she cannot do something so heinous."
"What if her obsession manipulated her to further his own ends?" I asked back.
"Her obsession?" Ser Brynden asked.
"Petyr Baelish," I said simply.
"Explain from the beginning. This is way too confusing," he implored.
As I explained Lysa's attempt to frame the Lannisters with us by order of Baelish and his endgame while also recounting the blanks he had during our conversations, hours passed. But in the end, I found him needing clarification and out of his depth.
"If everything followed his plans, Baelish would win big with this," he said somberly. "I didn't like him, but I find it hard to believe that he is capable of all this."
"He has been obsessed with my mother ever since the fight with Uncle Brandon," I said. "From what I've been able to uncover, while he was recuperating from those injuries, Lysa jumped into his bed and gave him her maidenhood."
Ser Brynden shook his head in despair. "What are your plans, Robb? And what do I need to do?"
"Prepare your most trusted people. But don't say why; just act as if you have a bad feeling or something," I said. "After that, the North will invade the Riverlands when the war starts between the Baratheons and the Lannisters."
"Why would you do that?" he asked perplexedly.
"The Twins. I need them to be under the North so we can close the borders completely. I'm sure Grandfather will understand in the future," I said firmly.
"He has been sick for a while. You'll probably have to talk with Edmure," he said with deep sadness. Even after all their disagreements, he loved his brother.
"From what I've heard, he will be easy to handle," I chuckled. "And if not? It's a future me problem."
"And after that?" Brynden tilted his head.
I sighed dramatically. "After that? The fight for the throne begins, great-uncle."