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Varys only briefly explained to Robb why he knew of his movements, but he did not answer the last question Robb had asked.
Standing where he was, Varys kept glancing sideways at Edd, who was beside Robb.
"Edd, you may leave. Unless I call for you, no one is to come in."
Robb naturally understood what Varys meant and turned his head to speak to Edd.
"But, Lord Robb..."
"Eddard Karstark! That is an order!"
Edd kept his eyes fixed on Varys, clearly worried for Robb's safety. He was about to open his mouth and insist, but Robb cut him off immediately.
"What? Do you really think a eunuch like me, who starts panting after walking a little too fast, could do anything against the Young Wolf, who killed dozens of men in a single battle?"
Seeing the distrust in Edd's eyes, Varys smiled lightly and mocked himself.
The instant Robb called him by name and made it clear that this was an order, Edd turned and left.
Before closing the kitchen door, he still shot Varys one last deep look, saying nothing.
"Last night, Lord Eddard went to the throne room with Littlefinger, Janos Slynt, commander of the Gold Cloaks, and myself, in order to read King Robert's will."
The door had barely shut when Varys dropped his relaxed manner entirely and began speaking in earnest.
"But aside from me, the other two betrayed Lord Eddard. He is now imprisoned in the black cells on charges of treason, and that much you already know.
I can help you deliver a letter in your own hand. You need to persuade Lord Eddard to confess to treason and acknowledge the new king.
If that happens, Her Grace the queen will spare his life and send him to the Wall to serve in the Night's Watch.
And your sister, Sansa Stark, will still become the queen of the new king, while House Stark will continue to rule the North."
Hearing Varys lay out the purpose of his visit so plainly, Robb shook his head and answered,
"Lord Varys, you are being far too optimistic. Even setting aside whether Cersei would truly allow my father to take the black...
The very idea that my father would confess to treason simply because he saw a letter from me is already too unlikely."
"I know that, for the sake of his honor, Lord Eddard is capable of putting even his own life at risk. But would he be capable of ignoring the lives of his two daughters?"
"If my father learns that I came to King's Landing, he will immediately understand that I am doing everything I can to find and rescue my sisters."
"Then do not let him know that you are in King's Landing."
"And if he does not know that I am in King's Landing, do you truly think he will believe that Cersei and the others will keep their word after he confesses to this treason?
After all, he has just been betrayed by Littlefinger and by Janos Slynt."
"That..."
As the conversation reached an impasse, Robb finally said what he truly wanted:
"Lord Varys, take me to the black cells. I want to see my father in person and persuade him myself."
"Impossible! Lord Robb, the black cells lie on the third level of the dungeons beneath the Red Keep.
Leaving aside how you would get past the guards of the Red Keep, each level of the prison is also guarded and inspected. Bringing someone inside would be impossible."
The instant he heard the request, Varys shook his head and refused at once.
"I know you have a way. And believe me, I know how to keep secrets.
If you take me there, I will never tell anyone how you managed it. I swear it in the name of House Stark."
Robb was absolutely certain that Varys could enter and leave the black cells with someone, and so he spoke with complete sincerity, even swearing an oath.
Unable to understand why Robb seemed so certain of it, Varys hesitated before replying:
"Lord Robb, allow me some time to think on it.
Very well, I have already stayed here too long. Next time, I will give you my answer."
"All right. Go with the shadows, Lord Varys."
Seeing that Varys had not refused him outright, Robb nodded and made a courteous gesture.
When Varys had almost reached the corner of the kitchen, he suddenly turned back and said:
"Lord Robb, to the best of my knowledge, the Lannisters have in Winterfell an extremely useful informant. This man has already helped them obtain a great deal of your secret information."
At that, Robb answered with a smile:
"Weren't you the very one who said your little birds cannot sing in Winterfell? Then how did you learn that?"
"Hahaha, Casterly Rock is not as cold as the North, so..."
Click, clack.
Varys did not finish the sentence. He merely pulled his hood back up, opened the secret passage, and began dragging the wooden cabinet back into its original position.
Robb stepped forward to help him, and while the two of them pushed the cabinet together, he suddenly said:
"Lord Varys, you could very well sell the Lannisters news of my presence and have them come seize me."
"And if they did, would the North forget all this? Would the Seven Kingdoms simply stop sliding into war?"
Varys's soft voice came from behind the cabinet as he eased it back into place.
"Of course not. The North does not forget."
Hearing that, Robb answered immediately, shaking his head.
"Mm. Lord Eddard is a rare man, a good lord. And from what I have seen so far, you also seem to be a merciful one."
"Heh, merciful, me?"
"At the very least... little Aeg's mother would think so."
The cabinet in the corner of the kitchen returned to its place exactly as before.
And from that moment on, not another sound came from behind it.
Even if much of what he said could not be taken at face value...
What a strangely charismatic man.
Carefully recalling their conversation, Robb could not help praising Varys silently in his heart.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in!"
"Lord Robb, has the Spider already gone? You cannot believe what he says!
I've long heard he's the greatest liar in all of King's Landing."
The moment he entered and saw that only Robb remained there, Edd hurried to speak, clearly worried that Varys had deceived him.
Seeing the worried look on Edd's face, Robb considered telling him part of the conversation. But suddenly, he remembered what Varys had said about the Lannister informant in Winterfell.
Keeping his expression natural, he replied:
"It was nothing. He only came to give me some information about my father before he was thrown into prison.
All right, help me heat all this up again. Let's get supper ready.
Hm, I'm starving."
"Right. The men outside should be hungry too by now. Lord Robb, which one should I heat first?"
Seeing that Robb clearly did not trust Varys, Edd finally relaxed. He nodded with a smile and answered.
"Heat up that venison leg first."
Robb pointed at the food on the table, then casually asked:
"By the way, did you get in touch with Torrhen and the others today? How are they doing?"
"They're still at the inn outside the city. It's just that Bloodwind is growing more and more impatient. Torrhen is afraid he might simply smash the wagon apart and come out.
You know as well as I do that wagon can't really hold him."
"Mm, I understand. Ah, and pass me that olive oil over there as well."
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