S4

Chapter 4

Storm's End, 281 A.C., the next morning…

Well I'll be damned, Wyman managed to redeem himself. The details were sparse, but word from King's Landing was that Wyman led a patrol into the sewers and stumbled on a cache of wyldfire under the Sept of Baelor the day after Robert's coronation. There was no news on Jaime or Varys but considering they both knew of the plot, they were probably answering some very awkward questions.

Stannis led a march the next day to King's Landing with the Stormland Houses of Bolin, Fell, Cafferen, Grandison, and Estermont along with all the Northern houses. The Reach houses and Redwyne Fleet left for home after surrendering and bending the knee. I was riding with my two lordly uncles Lord Rogar Glover and Lord Osric Fisher with their sons, and my cousins, Galbert Glover and Owen Fisher.

The Glovers use to control Sea Dragon Point but when the land was gifted to my ancestor Benjen Seastark, the King of Winterfell raised the Glovers from a masterly house to a lordly house to smooth over ruffled feathers. This promotion, along with marriages like that between my father Torrhen Seastark and Rogar's sister Brienne, seemed to work as House Glover carries no grudge for the lost land and instead see us as a vital ally. House Fisher of the Stony Shore, not to be confused with a younger, unrelated House Fisher in the Riverlands, was one of two major lords of the Stony Shore with the other being House Slate of Blackpool. Both houses were once petty kings during the Age of Heroes until they were conquered and vassalized by House Stark. Much like the Glovers, it took a few centuries of marriages and the Sunfleet Fleet's protection from most Ironborn raids for them to warm up to House Seastark. Osric Fisher was married to my father's younger sister Ellena Seastark.

The topic of conversation was, what else, news of the wyldfire in the capital.

"Do you think the Kingslayer and the Master of Whispers, what's his name, Varyon, knew about the Mad King's plot?" Asked my cousin Owen Fisher.

"Varys." I absentmindedly correct him. "I have no doubt they at least knew something; the real question is what punishment are they going to get?" I continue.

"I bet you the King will execute them both!" Declared my other cousin Galbert Glover.

"No way Tywin's gonna let them execute his son. They'll kill the Essosi but send the Kingslayer to the Wall!" Owen countered.

"Wanna wager two silvers on it?" Galbert challenged. "You're on!" replied Owen before turning to me, "Hey Hugo, you wanna get in on this?"

"Sure, I'll put two silvers on the Kingslayer taking the black but Varys escaping to Essos." I reply.

Galbert laughed. "Ha! This will be the easiest bet ever!" Both my uncles merely shook their heads at the exchange.

"Lord Seastark!" I turn to find a young messenger in Baratheon colors. "Prince Stannis requests you're presence immediately!"

I nodded and followed the messenger on horseback until I reached the front of the army where I met Prince Stannis, Prince Renly, Davos Seaworth, and Ser Eldon Estermont. I greeted them, making sure to bow to Stannis and Renly, wondering what he wanted to discuss. Davos and Renly wore smiles, Ser Eldon gave me a calculating look, and Stannis looked like someone pissed in his soup… So basically how Stannis normally looks.

"Is it true that wayfinder always points North?" Renly asks excitedly before being quieted by Stannis.

"Lord Seastark, my brother has made me his new Master of Ships and tasked me with rebuilding the Royal Fleet. He also tasked me to work with you in implementing these so-called wayfindersinto the fleet." He said, putting noticeable skepticism into his tone when he mentioned my invention, while giving me a hard look. "Well. Where is this miracle device?"

"Apologies, my prince, I don't have it. I gave it to Lord Stark before he left for Dorne." I replied, trying to keep it short and concise since I know Stannis hates flowery words. Ser Ealon's face didn't change, Renly and Davos looked disappointed, and Stannis grinded his teeth. "How convenient… Does Robert take me for a fool?"

"With all due respect, my prince, I gave it to Lord Stark to aid him in finding his sister, your brother's betrothed." I say, emphasizing the last word. "But if you wish to see a wayfinder, I have enough materials to make one tonight and enough sticky-stone to make…" I pause to calculate based on size and weight of the bag Dagwell gave me while ignoring Stannis quieting Renly's excitement, "Ten more in King's Landing."

"Do so." Stannis curtly replies before continuing "This 'sticky-stone', where does one find it?"

"I don't know about the South but there is a large natural deposit with enough to supply the crown for decades if not generations in Sea Dragon Point…" I began to say .

Stannis narrowed his eyes and cut me off, "And you want to set up a contract with the crown to be the sole supplier?"

"Well, Lord Arryn did put me in charge of making wayfinders for the Crown, and that includes sourcing out the necessary materials, wherever they may be found." I counter.

Stannis considers this for a brief moment, "Make me a wayfinder tonight and I'll decide if they're worth the investment of my brother's coin." He gestures to Ser Ealon. "My uncle, Ser Ealon Estermont has been named the new Master of Whispers and wants to know how you knew about the wyldfire."

"Oh, they executed Varys?" I asked but Stannis grinds his teeth again.

"No, the eunuch disappeared and has been declared an outlaw for his part in the plot."

I nod and absorb the news. Interesting, he's probably headed for Pentos. That's half a bet won. No idea how good a spymaster Estermont is but at least he wont' be plotting against his nephews.

"Erm, I can take over from here nephew." Ser Ealon, a stocky, grey-haired man in his early fifties buts in before I can ask about the Kingslayer. "Come. Ride with me." He gestures away from the group and I follow him.

As we ride, he flashes a disarming grin, "So, you heard that the Alchemist Guild was buying ingredients in bulk from a merchant from the Westerlands, correct?" he asks, studying my face.

"Yes, that's correct. Any word on the Kingslayer's fate since we know what happened to Varys?" I say, noticing the subtle interrogation he's giving.

"No, that has yet to be announced. Do you remember the merchant's name?" He probs.

"No, my father knew him but he was slain at the Trident. How likely do you think the Kingslayer takes the black?" I deflect.

"Not as likely as you'd think. When did you or your father get word from this merchant?" the grin doesn't change.

"Not sure when it came, it was already there when I recovered from the battle." I noticed we were heading towards the Northern banners.

"Before I let you go, just answer me this:" his grin vanishes and he whispers, "Why do you think Lady Lyanna is pregnant?"

"W-what?" I whisper back caught off guard and he pounced.

"You told your uncle to find a midwife, you wouldn't do that unless you thought it a high probability."

I close my eyes and exhale through my nostrils, wondering how anyone heard us when we were alone, before looking Ser Ealon in the eyes. "Yes I do think it's possible she's pregnant and if that's the case, how will the king react?" I whisper.

He contemplates for a moment and whispers. "Knowing my eldest nephew, he'll rage, scream obscenities, and destroy furniture for a day before calming down enough to listen to reason. Whether or not he'd want to continue the betrothal is another question." He turns his horse around to leave as we reach the Northern banners. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Seastark." He says in his normal voice with a nod and rides off.

Later that night…

I smile as I watch Renly hold the second DIY compass I've made in this world, bouncing excitedly as he shows it to Ser Davos, who looks at it in astonishment.

I smile when Stannis begrudgingly admits that it isn't a mummer's farce and agrees to support my proposal to be the sole supplier of sticky-stone to the crown.

I smile when my eyes met Ser Ealon's and he flashed a knowing grin, and kept that smile when I wondered: Did I fuck over Jon Snow before he's even born?