Snow Ghost [Jaime Lannister]

Chapter III. Sword Fighting

A small discreet box arrived at my chamber inside lay a jeweled silver hairpin and a note written in Petyr Baelish's familiar, elegant script, inviting me to a private meeting under the guise of discussing 'Northern trade routes'.

I give the note to Gwen "Decline politely. Tell him the North is currently too busy fighting winter to discuss trade, but that Lady Lannister is keenly interested in the prices he sets in the capital."

"Yes, Lyanna" Gwen said.

As Gwen walks away, Laela lingers "My Lady..."

I correct her "Lyanna"

Laela nods "Laela, there is a new servant watching your quarter. He is not one of the Lannisters, and his movements are too quick to be a laborer. The Spider has already felt the thread move."

I nod placing the silver hairpin into a wooden box beside the key to Aegon's Chamber "We shall weave our own web, Laela."

I instruct them to be Gwen is to monitor the royal family's personal movements and gossip who drinks too much, who sleeps with whom. Laela is to focus on the city's debt who is lending the Crown money, and the exact location of the Lannister gold shipments and the treasury.

》》》》《《《《

Jaime is gone by his duty to the Kings guard and the silence of our quarter is only broken by the muffled, rhythmic sounds of the renovation. It's under this acoustic cover that my real work began.

I spend a late night hour in Aegon's sealed war chamber, Snow curls at my feet guarding the entrance I had so crudely sealed. Laela get two mute girls to clean the chamber and to be my servants and with is that make sure no one will talk about anything happen here.

I focus on the ancient financial documents comparing them with the information Gwen had clean from the castle's records, I confirmed the staggering truth: the Crown was not only six million gold in debt to the Lannisters but King Robert was desperately attempting to secure new loans from the Iron Bank of Braavos hoping to avoid Tywin's grasp.

Laela told me a spectacular humiliation of Cersei by King Robert during a Small Council meeting providing the perfect opportunity.

Instead of meeting Littlefinger, I sent Gwen to the crowded outer ward with a verbal message claiming she was discussing 'Northern grain shipment logistics'.

The message returns accompanied by a small black velvet drawstring purse. Littlefinger demanded a piece of private Stark information as a sign of trust proving he knew I was playing him "He wants proof I am as wicked as he is" I murmur instructing Laela and Gwen to ignore the demand for now.

I then used the gossip to craft my gift to Cersei. I sent a rare, deep red Dornish wine and a soft expensive piece of Northern snow fox fur "From one who understands the burden of duty and the foolishness of men."

I watch from the window as a servant carried the package to the Queen's chambers. Confusion not combat but is the goal. Let Cersei spend her energy trying to decide if I'm her enemy or her only possible ally.

》》》》《《《《

At the forum of Kings landing, I walk with Gwen and Laela when a man approaches me "Lady Lyanna" He said.

I stand turning to him "And you must be Ben, Ramsey's man in here"

"Yes, my lady, I am your faithful helper to see you again after so many years is a blessing."

"Noble tongue, do I know you?"

"I am Ben son Flement Brax"

"Ben Brax of the west, What are you doing with Ramsey"