Chapter 29: Probing
"Why specifically... foreign knights?"
"I couldn't say, but Ser Wendel was quite specific. If you're willing to take the job, I can bring you to them tomorrow."
"Bring us to them?" Ian's heart skipped a beat. He gave Rolf a meaningful look, signaling him to close the door.
This was incredibly suspicious. A group of knights forming an alliance to eliminate an outlaw band never mentioned in the original novels, asking the innkeeper of the Crossroads Inn to watch for "foreign knights."
Given that players could appear out of nowhere, they'd all be considered "foreign knights" at this stage. This made Masha's entire story smell like a trap designed to ensnare other players.
While it seemed unlikely any player could build such a substantial force on day one, the so-called alliance of landed knights was merely Masha's claim—Ian hadn't seen proof.
Perhaps it was simply a fabrication by a player setting this trap to lower their targets' guard.
After receiving Ian's signal, Rolf immediately stood and closed the door.
"Ser Lucien?" This startled Masha. She gave Rolf an odd look. "My lords, if you have... other needs, we have several comely serving girls at the inn. I can wake them if you wish."
"Easy now, we've no interest in you or your serving girls," Ian shook his head mildly. "I'm interested in those knights you mentioned."
"Ser Wendel and the others?"
"Yes, Wendel, or whoever they are," Ian shrugged. "Where are they?"
"Ser Wendel and the others? They're all at Ser Willem Wode's manor presently."
"The Wode family manor?" Ian was surprised. He'd assumed they were also at the inn, ready to strike at the first opportunity.
But Masha said they weren't here, and she'd even named a specific location.
He'd heard of House Wode. They were a knightly family sworn to whichever lord held Harrenhal. Their lands were indeed nearby. Their sigil was three white hedgehogs on a yellow field, and their words were "Touch Me Not."
As for the Ser Willem Wode that Masha mentioned, in the books he would later help Catelyn Tully capture Tyrion Lannister at this very inn and escort the party to the Vale.
"Aye, Ser Willem's estate sits on the border between the Riverlands and the Crownlands, less than half a day's ride from here," Masha continued quickly.
"And when you said you'd 'bring us to them tomorrow,' you meant to their estate?"
"Just so, my lord. Ser Willem gave those instructions himself. He told me to gather as many foreign knights as I could within a week." Masha nodded, cooperating fully and sharing everything she knew. Though she didn't know why, she instinctively felt a sense of authority—almost menace—from the knight before her.
"I hope you're not playing games with me," Ian said, considering various possibilities.
"Games? Forgive me, ser, I don't quite take your meaning."
"Do you know Ser Wendel?"
"Know him? Ser Wendel Ryger is the local lord. How could I not know him?" Masha said quickly.
Local lord? I thought this was House Darry's land.
No, wait—while this had historically been Darry territory, after the fall of the Targaryen dynasty, most of their lands had been stripped away. It seemed this crossroads had been granted to House Ryger? The books did mention such a knightly house in the Riverlands.
But Ian's instincts told him that the more plausible something sounded, the more likely it was a player's fabrication.
"You're lying!" Ian slammed his hand on the table, instantly concocting a new story.
"My lord?" Masha's face filled with fear and confusion.
"We're here tracking a fugitive from King's Landing. He's an outlaw who uses this exact ploy—offering quests to lure and murder other knights!" Ian said, watching Masha's reaction carefully.
"What?" Masha blinked. "You just said you weren't busy. If you've a mission already, I'll not trouble you further."
"Not long ago, he murdered a knight of our household in a tavern in King's Landing—a young knight well-favored by the Queen." Ian didn't acknowledge her words, but continued. "Her Grace was furious. She's offered fifty gold dragons for his capture, and one hundred silver stags for any information leading to his whereabouts."
"Oh!" Masha gasped and quickly covered her mouth.
"We tracked him to this region. If he's anywhere nearby, he should've arrived today. Have you seen anyone matching his description? If you can provide truly valuable information, I'll give you half the reward." Ian began stacking twenty gold dragons on the table one by one.
"Today?" Masha stared at the coins with gleaming eyes and swallowed hard.
"So you did see someone?" Ian's eyes narrowed.
"Oh, no, no—I haven't seen anyone like that today," Masha reluctantly tore her gaze from the gold dragons, shaking her head with visible disappointment. Then she added, "But I can help you find out, Ser Lucien!
I know many people, and the best-informed folk in these parts are old friends of mine. Give me some time, and as long as they're nearby, I'll have answers by noon tomorrow. And not just here—all along the northern shore of the Gods Eye. If they've entered this region, I can find traces!"
"Oh, right," Masha said, as if remembering something important. "Does the fugitive you're pursuing have any distinguishing features? Perhaps you could provide more details. It would help considerably in tracking him down."
So I was being paranoid? Seeing Masha's reaction, Ian finally relaxed his suspicions and allowed himself a small smile.
If Masha had been part of the trap, she would've betrayed him immediately for the gold dragons on the table, rather than promising to help him investigate tomorrow.
Well, if Ser Wendel and the others aren't players, there must be some other reason they're recruiting foreign knights. I can probably accept their quest safely.
Wait—am I missing something?
What did Masha just say?
She said she could find information about anyone who'd entered the region. Not just at the inn, but all along the northern shore of the Gods Eye.
Ian's blood ran cold as the implications sank in.
If Masha had that kind of information network, and if she'd been told to watch for foreign knights... how many players had she already identified? And more importantly—had she already reported Ian to Ser Wendel?
"These old friends of yours," Ian said carefully, keeping his voice casual. "How exactly do they gather information?"
"Oh, the usual ways, my lord. Innkeepers, stable boys, ferrymen, toll collectors. Anyone who sees travelers pass through. We've got quite the network, we do." Masha seemed pleased to explain. "Nothing happens in these parts without someone noticing."
Shit.
Ian had walked right into a surveillance network without realizing it. If other players were using the same Lannister disguise, or if they'd been less careful than he thought...
"This fugitive we're tracking," Ian said slowly, mind racing. "He's clever. He'd likely travel with armed men, claim to be a knight of some house. Probably wouldn't stay anywhere long."
"Well, that describes half the knights who pass through here, my lord," Masha said apologetically. "But with the right details, we could narrow it down."
Ian nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He needed to be careful. Very careful.
If this information network was real—and Masha's confidence suggested it was—then the Crossroads Inn wasn't just a hunting ground.
It was a killbox. And he'd just walked into it.
"We'll think on Ser Wendel's offer overnight," Ian said finally. "Come find us at first light."
"As you say, my lord." Masha curtsied and departed, leaving Ian alone with his knights and his rapidly multiplying concerns.
After the door closed, Kevan spoke for the first time in hours. "Trap?"
"Maybe," Ian admitted. "Or maybe I'm seeing threats where there are none. Either way, we stay sharp."
He stared at the gold dragons still sitting on the table, glinting in the lamplight.
Tomorrow would tell which way the dice had fallen.
(End of Chapter)
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