Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

After nightfall, the tavern became a hub of activity. Officials, nobles, and knights from King's Landing gathered there to pass the time, while others used its private rooms to conduct discreet business discussions.

During the day, Lynd and Raul had secured an excellent seat overlooking the tavern courtyard, where they could enjoy the performances while eating and drinking. However, at night, when the stage was moved to the tavern's center, their vantage point became less favorable. For Lynd, though, this spot was ideal—directly beneath the private boxes rented by influential patrons for their confidential conversations.

The tavern's owner had taken great care to make the boxes soundproof, using special materials and construction methods to prevent eavesdropping. Combined with the ambient noise of the tavern, these measures ensured that conversations inside remained private unless someone shouted. However, these precautions posed little challenge to Lynd. Thanks to his extraordinary hearing, he could discern conversations even when voices were intentionally lowered.

Moreover, the tavern's owner had secretly installed copper pipes within the walls of these private rooms, likely for his own eavesdropping. These pipes amplified sound, allowing Lynd to pick up conversations with ease without needing to focus. He spent the entire afternoon leaning against the wall nearest the pipes, listening in while Raul kept watch nearby to warn him if anyone approached.

That afternoon yielded little valuable information—mostly mundane chatter and minor secrets about bribery and backroom dealings. Still, Lynd mentally recorded the more notable details, such as which influential figures in the Red Keep might be susceptible to bribery and could potentially aid the Tyrells in establishing alliances. Without pen and paper, he could only remember select details, focusing on the most relevant bits.

The evening, however, brought more significant revelations. As prominent figures from the Red Keep flocked to Silk Street, the conversations grew more consequential.

Two pieces of information stood out as particularly important. First, rumors of a serious rift between Lord Eddard Stark and King Robert Baratheon were circulating. Allegedly, the conflict arose over their stark disagreement regarding the fate of the Targaryen heirs, with some speculating that it was also tied to Eddard Stark's disapproval of King Robert's marriage to Cersei Lannister.

This tension was highlighted by a rumor that, for a major celebration related to King Robert's heir, Eddard would not personally lead the delegation to King's Landing. Instead, he would send his brother, Benjen Stark, a sworn brother of the Night's Watch.

Many perceived this as an insult to King Robert, who reportedly flew into a rage upon hearing the news, smashing objects in his chambers and punishing his attendants.

Rumors spread that Robert might launch a northern expedition to confront the Lord of Winterfell. In response, merchants and nobles were already discussing stockpiling strategic supplies and weapons, anticipating profit from such a campaign.

Lynd, however, knew these rumors to be unfounded. Despite Robert's public outburst, his friendship with Eddard ran deep, far beyond the comprehension of those in the Red Keep. Even after years without contact, their bond remained unshaken. Robert would never consider a campaign against Eddard, let alone reprimand him. This widespread misunderstanding among the kingdom's elite could provide a unique opportunity for House Tyrell to exploit—if they played their cards wisely.

The second piece of intelligence concerned the growing rift between Robert and his younger brother, Stannis Baratheon. The tension stemmed from Robert's decision to grant Storm's End, the ancestral seat of House Baratheon, to their youngest brother, Renly, while Stannis was relegated to Dragonstone, a barren and less prestigious holding.

In Stannis's view, his defense of Storm's End during the War of the Usurper had been crucial. His resistance delayed the Tyrell army, giving Robert the freedom to face and defeat Prince Rhaegar at the Ruby Ford, ultimately securing victory against the Targaryens. Logically and emotionally, this effort should have made him the rightful heir to Storm's End. Instead, he was granted Dragonstone—a holding traditionally reserved for the Targaryen crown prince but now a token gesture under the Baratheon dynasty. To Stannis, this appointment felt like the ultimate insult.

This simmering resentment boiled over at a recent Small Council meeting. Stannis openly voiced his grievances to King Robert, who not only dismissed his concerns but rebuked him for failing to capture Viserys and Daenerys, the two surviving Targaryens. Their heated exchange quickly became the talk of King's Landing, with rumors spreading of a serious fallout between the brothers. However, a servant bribed by a cunning hand learned that after Stannis returned home, his anger was directed not at Robert but at Renly.

This reaction made sense. Publicly cursing the king would be dangerous, while venting frustration at Renly carried fewer consequences. Even if Robert learned of it, Stannis wouldn't face severe punishment.

When Lynd heard this, he quickly grasped its significance. To him, the supposed rift between Stannis and Robert was likely a smokescreen, a calculated performance to manipulate perceptions in King's Landing. Anyone who tried to exploit this "discord" between the brothers would likely fall into a carefully laid trap. However, Stannis's animosity toward Renly was genuine, and therein lay the real opportunity.

As history would later confirm during the War of the Five Kings, Stannis deeply resented Renly's inheritance of Storm's End. This resentment festered into outright hatred, which Lynd believed to be genuine even at this stage. Renly, on the other hand, was still in a precarious position. He lacked the power to stand independently against either Stannis or the Stormlands' nobility. Renly needed allies to solidify his claim, and House Tyrell was uniquely positioned to offer that support.

Lynd reasoned that forging an alliance with Renly could serve as a stepping stone for House Tyrell to increase its influence in King's Landing. Renly's need for backing aligned perfectly with the Tyrells' ambitions, making this a mutually beneficial arrangement. The long-term ramifications of the War of the Five Kings were too distant to concern Lynd; the current opportunity was all that mattered. Adding this variable to the equation could reshape the future in unpredictable ways.

Satisfied with this critical piece of intelligence, along with the other fragments he had gathered, Lynd felt the mission was nearly complete. He relaxed, allowing himself to enjoy the food and wine. He even encouraged Raul, who had been tense throughout, to unwind by ordering a bottle of Arbor Island wine for him. Though it was the tavern's cheapest vintage from Arbor Island, it still cost two golden dragons—an extravagant sum for Raul.

Raul's drinking style shifted from the careless gulps of the afternoon to careful sips, treating the wine like a precious commodity. Lynd chuckled at his friend's restraint and teased, "Don't be so cautious. Take a bottle with you when we leave."

Raul quickly declined, shaking his head. "No, this kind of wine isn't for someone like me."

Seeing Raul's reluctance, Lynd didn't press the matter. Instead, he sat back, preparing to leave. He tucked Glory, his small companion, back into his pocket and stood, ready to bring their mission to an end.

But just as he was about to leave, something caught his attention. Voices drifted down from the aisle above, and among them was a distinctive one: Petyr Baelish, known to most as Littlefinger.

Lynd immediately paused, his expression shifting to surprise. Without hesitation, he sat back down, leaned against the brass pipe, and gestured to Raul to remain alert. Stroking Glory to keep it quiet, he focused all his attention on listening.

Littlefinger was a shadowy figure whose influence over the Seven Kingdoms loomed large, a man capable of manipulating events from behind the scenes. Lynd had studied him extensively through forum discussions, where Littlefinger was a popular subject of analysis. His charisma and cunning made him both fascinating and dangerous. Lynd's knowledge of Littlefinger was so thorough, he felt he understood the man better than Littlefinger knew himself.

Before coming to King's Landing, Lynd had anticipated crossing paths with Varys, another master manipulator, but not Littlefinger. According to Lynd's research, Petyr Baelish was still serving as a tax collector in Gulltown at this time. It was only after achieving remarkable success by increasing taxes tenfold that he was summoned to King's Landing by Jon Arryn.

When Lynd overheard someone mention "Lord Petyr" earlier, he initially thought it might be a case of mistaken identity. However, when the conversation revealed that this Lord Petyr had recently shipped cargo to Gulltown, significantly boosting tax revenues, Lynd was certain: the man above him was indeed Littlefinger.

Through careful eavesdropping via the brass pipe, Lynd discovered that Littlefinger was already deeply entangled in the workings of King's Landing. He had quietly acquired Todder's Pumpkin and owned several taverns and brothels on Silk Street, laying the groundwork for his future schemes in the capital.

Lynd reflected on his position. Since realizing he was in the world of Ice and Fire, he had methodically categorized the people around him—those he could trust, those he could not, and those who posed the greatest threat.

Littlefinger was firmly on the last list. Even with Lynd's prophetic knowledge of events, he wasn't confident he could outmaneuver a schemer of Littlefinger's caliber. Long ago, he had resolved that if circumstances ever made them enemies, the only viable option would be to eliminate Littlefinger decisively, regardless of the risks.

Now, fate had placed Littlefinger unexpectedly close, prompting Lynd to marvel at the twists of fortune. Listening further, he learned the purpose of Littlefinger's covert visit to King's Landing: a meeting with the commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt.

While Janos Slynt commanded the city's largest standing force, his social status remained low. To the nobles of the Red Keep, he was little more than a butcher's son—a watchful dog they kept on a short leash. But Littlefinger clearly saw beyond this, recognizing the immense potential in the power Slynt wielded over the City Watch.

Before Janos arrived, Littlefinger dismissed the tavern manager after giving him a few instructions. He then ordered the boxes on either side of his room cleared and stationed guards in the aisles to deter any eavesdropping. But these precautions were futile against Lynd's methodical use of the brass pipes.

When Janos Slynt finally arrived, Lynd initially assumed the meeting would involve some intricate political scheme. Instead, it turned out to be about smuggling. Littlefinger had a shipment from the Free Cities that he needed to unload in King's Landing. The cargo would incur steep taxes, and he sought Janos's help to avoid them.

While Slynt had no direct authority over dockside taxation, he controlled the garrison responsible for its security. His involvement would make it easy for Littlefinger to smuggle the goods unnoticed. Their conversation revealed that this wasn't their first such collaboration in the past year.

Janos's voice, sharp and grating like a rooster's squawk, was easily recognizable. "I'm curious what cargo has made you, Lord Petyr, come all this way yourself," he said.

"Some trinkets from across the channel," Littlefinger replied evasively, before adding with emphasis, "These things are for the bigwigs in the Red Keep. I think Lord Janos..."

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in this stuff," Janos interjected greedily. "As long as it doesn't cause me trouble and Lord Petyr can offer sufficient compensation. This time, I want double the usual rate—paid in cash."

There was a pause after the commander's demand. Then Littlefinger replied, "Fine. But the item will be stored in the warehouse at the docks before delivery, and you must be responsible for its safety."

"Fine," Janos Slynt agreed without hesitation.