Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

C25: Jon Arryn's Abduction

The three red-cloaks dismounted and would have rushed at Kai if it weren't for Jon Arryn stepping out of his palanquin.

"There is no need for it, your grace," the Hand said. "I assure you, the boy is no Targaryen. If you insist, I can bring you and him to your father, and decide it there and then."

A silence filled Kai's immediate surroundings. The entire city came to life behind him, and the shouts of people washed over the silence like cold water.

"OK," the prince finally said, reluctantly. "Take away your Page, then. Dog! Keep an eye on him. Cut him down if he's up to something funny."

"Gladly, your grace," Clegane said, a sharp laugh following his words.

The horses galloped away soon afterward, leaving behind a heavy frown on Jon Arryn's freckled face. Kai stood up and turned around to see the prince's entourage disappearing far into the serpentine streets when the old man put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about Sandor Clegane," Jon Arryn said. "It's the smaller, hidden ones I am worried about."

"Yes, my lord," Kai answered, mounting his horse again.

Jon Arryn went for his palanquin. But before vanishing into it, he gave Kai a deep look and sighed.

...

After a few hours,

It was nighttime. Kai had been given the quarters bordering Jon Arryn's bedroom. After a long, nice bath, he had his supper with a cup of sweet-sour red wine.

Later, Kai followed the guard to Jon Arryn's bedroom.

The wall was lined with torches; the flames licking the stones, blackening them in shame. Two more guards were posted outside the Hand's chambers.

He found Jon Arryn brooding over the heaviest, thickest book he had ever seen. The moment Kai stopped in front of the Hand's little table, the old man shut the book with a thud.

"Be a good lad and pour some wine for me," Jon Arryn said, pointing at the jar of wine. "I have sent one more parchment to your room. It mentions your duties. You must know them, in case someone were to ask you."

Kai approached the wine. It smelled of spices, and there was a richness to it. Kai dipped a finger into the jar, shocking the living breath out of the old man. "What are you doing?" he shouted, but Kai had already put the finger in his mouth.

"I had told your guards too, my lord," Kai said, looking at the Hand's wide eyes. "Let me taste everything before you eat or drink it. I have a high resistance to poisonous substances."

Just a touch of poison won't kill him and he couldn't afford the man dying on him by the lack of precautions.

"You think my food and wine are poisoned?" Jon Arryn asked, incredulously. "What nonsense?! The Maester would know of it soon enough then. No one can afford that kind of suspicion."

Here I thought the old man would have some sense to him, Kai thought, scowling inwardly. "There are poisons that are hard to detect, my lord," he said. "This Maester you speak of, how well can you trust him?"

"As well as I trust anyone," Jon Arryn answered, his brows furrowing, realizing Kai's meaning. "You aren't suggesting that it's the Maester who wants me dead, are you? Haha! No, no. You don't have to worry about him, either."

Kai looked at the Hand as if he was looking at a monkey. By now he knew what this Maester meant, and who he was. Maester Pycelle was like a royal physician, and Kai had put the old man at one of the top positions on his list...