Chapter 71: Dealing with All Parties
"Let Ser Simon testify? Are you jesting?" Upon hearing Ian's plan, Ser Wilder's immediate reaction was one of disbelief.
"If it weren't for your useless men failing to capture Daeron Grafton, would we even need to resort to this desperate measure?" Ian preemptively shifted the blame onto Ser Wilder.
"If Ser Aris hadn't committed suicide..."
"Even if Ser Aris hadn't committed suicide, he would never have accused his own house. Why else do you think he committed suicide immediately after accidentally revealing the truth?" Ian said. "Given the current situation, having Simon confess his father and brother's crimes is our only way to impress the Iron Throne."
"But that's dishonorable!" Ser Wilder remained hesitant.
"Dishonorable?" You, who watched helplessly as this region was plundered by the Whitewalls ghosts for over three months to prevent the greater powers from interfering with the Blackfyre treasure, have the nerve to mention honor? "There's something even more dishonorable to come. Dishonorable, but profitable."
"What?"
"My promise to Simon was false, intended to trick him into confessing their treason. But you must deny the part about him actively seeking your help after he finishes speaking.
You must reveal the truth: Ser Simon was forced to cooperate with you after you discovered and captured him, and then accuse Simon of the same treason as his father and brother." Simon is also the key figure who knows that 'Ian Rivers' doesn't exist. How could I possibly let him inherit Darry? Ian added silently.
"Seven Hells! This is truly—"
"Dishonorable," Ian said before Ser Wilder could. "It is dishonorable, but what honor can we discuss with a band of brigands and traitors? The gallows is their rightful end. Everything we do is executing the judgment of the Seven on earth.
Just imagine—after House Darry was destroyed due to rebellion, who in the realm could be more suitable to be the new lord of Darry than you, who was first to suppress the rebellion and wields the greatest influence in the crossroads region?"
Ser Wilder's breath caught. He then said, "Ser Raymund has a son, Lyman Darry. He's only a few years old. His Grace may not disinherit him..."
"So, isn't it reasonable for Ser Simon to kill his own father to inherit Darry?"
Demon! Wilder suddenly felt a deep chill.
But the next moment, he nodded, indicating he understood what he had to do.
"Ser Ian? Thank you for saving my life." Daeron looked at the knight, who was much younger than he'd expected, and politely and formally thanked him.
"Ser Daeron, I've often heard my brother speak of you." Ian gave Ser Daeron a warm embrace upon meeting him, much to Daeron's surprise.
"What did Aris say about me?" Daeron asked curiously.
"Are you certain you want to hear it?" Ian offered a half-smile.
"Oh! Seven hells! That bastard must have said terrible things about me!" Daeron's smile froze as he thought of Aris's death.
"Unfortunately, Brother Aris was murdered by that traitor Simon." Ian's face was also etched with sorrow.
"The dead are gone. We should hurry and discuss how to stop Simon and Wilder from reaching King's Landing. I'm completely out of men.
While we still have a few brothers left in Taman Village, I'm sure Simon has already dispatched men to deal with them. I wonder how many men you have? Are you confident you can stop Wilder and the others?" Daeron asked in rapid succession.
"Do you still harbor illusions about this, Ser Daeron?"
"What illusions?"
"If you were Simon, and you decided to betray your brother and house after hearing news of the 'rebellion', would you reveal this news only to a knight as influential as Wilder?"
"No, I'd send ravens to King's Landing and report directly to the Iron Throne. So King's Landing will send someone to apprehend them?" Daeron's face turned pale, and then he looked at Ian with fury. "So what your guardsman said about saving my house was a lie?"
"On the contrary, I have saved your house."
"What do you mean?"
"As long as you live, House Grafton endures, doesn't it? We'll sail to Pentos as planned to pledge ourselves to the last true king of House Targaryen. When His Grace leads the khal's army back to Westeros, House Grafton won't only reclaim Gulltown, but the Eyrie as well.
By that time, you need only wed the daughter of a great house, take ten or eight mistresses, and sire a hundred sons. Who would dare say House Grafton isn't one of the most powerful houses in Westeros?"
"But we've lost our wealth and army." Daeron hesitated.
"How many men did you originally plan to recruit?"
"Five hundred."
"How many warriors does the Dothraki khal command?"
"I don't know. There are many different accounts—some say forty thousand, others a hundred thousand."
One hundred thousand was the total population of Drogo's entire khalasar, including women, children, and slaves, Ian thought to himself.
"Whatever the number, our five hundred men are insignificant in comparison, aren't they? You're missing the point.
The truth is, our Westerosi nobility is what His Grace values. He needs vassals from Westeros."
Daeron was tempted. He had indeed hesitated after the ambush at the fishing village.
But Ian's words brought him a sense of clarity. He even wondered if his decision to increase his influence by raising an army had been misguided from the start.
As long as he joined the Beggar King early enough and successfully entered his council, how could he lack influence?
"What do you think, Daeron? What's your decision?"
"We'll sail to Pentos together!" Daeron nodded.
"So, where's your ship? We'd better leave Westeros before the Iron Throne takes action against Gulltown and Darry."
"Um, my ship won't arrive at the abandoned fishing village on the south bank until a month hence."
"What did you say?" This was something Ian hadn't anticipated.
"My ship, the White Whale, is on a trading voyage. It departs from Gulltown, stops at Pentos, Tyrosh, and Lys, and sails to Volantis.
It will then return to King's Landing, sell all its cargo, and continue north to retrieve us at the abandoned fishing village with our goods. By that time, we'll have nearly finished transporting all the goods stored in Taman Village to the abandoned fishing village."
Seven hells! What a master of logistics!
(End of Chapter)
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