Chapter 31: Fireflies
When Larys Strong tasked Perkin with getting rid of his father and brother, he must admit that he was not expecting the result to be as messy as it ultimately became.
Although I suppose I did tell him to carry out the act regardless of how painful it could end up being. Larys thought to himself, feeling oddly giddy.
"How... how did this happen?" Viserys asked, drawing Larys' attention to the King's pale face and his shocked and saddened expression.
When news of Lyonel and Harwin's death had reached them on Dragonstone, the King immediately made plans to return to the city. He spent two days on the ship agonizing over what could have happened to the Hand and his eldest son to the point that he was beginning to make himself ill.
Now he sat in the small council chamber, surrounded by his councilors, his family, the captains of the City Watch, and the captain of the Keep's guards, waiting for an answer.
A man almost six feet tall, with a thick black beard and cropped hair, stepped forward, breaking away from the six other captains. Luthor Largent may have been a lowborn knight, but he had proven himself capable enough in his years of service to have been made Harwin's second-in-command.
Luthor cleared his throat, "Your Grace, from what I heard happened, when Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin were inside Lord Lyonel's chambers and when the two stepped onto the balcony, a portion of it broke off, leading Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin to fall to their deaths."
"What do you mean that a portion of a balcony just broke off? How can such a thing happen?" Corlys asked incredulously.
"We do not know, my lord, all we do know is that Lord Lyonel had needed a session of court early, as the citizens who had come had become rowdy and ill content. From what we know from the servants we spoke to, Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin were speaking to each other about the hearing when the balcony in Lord Lyonel's bedchamber suddenly gave way." Ser Nelsor Doggett, captain of House Targaryen's and the Red Keep's guardsmen, said. "The accident was a terrible sight for all who witnessed it, and it took some time for the bodies to be dug out and removed."
The result of this horrific accident was still evident for anyone who was brave enough to stand near the base of the Tower of the Hand, as the dried blood still clung to the cobblestone, refusing to leave, no matter how much water was poured on top of it.
"How do you know it was an accident?" Lilyanna asked, drawing the room's attention to her as she stared at the captain.
Nelsor slowly blinked, "Pardon?"
"How do you know it was an accident?" Lilyanna repeated, "Is it not suspicious to any of you that a balcony could just suddenly fell apart at the seams? And conveniently, when the Hand and his son were standing on it? Clearly, this tower must be structurally sound; otherwise, there would have been more instances of this happening before and after this incident. Did no one check to see if this was truly just happenstance and not a manmade tragedy?"
"Lilyanna, stop." Alicent said, her voice soft, but Lilyanna could see a hidden unease in her eyes.
Larys, ever the picture of quiet grief, bowed his head, "Princess Lilyanna only speaks out of sorrow, my Queen. It is natural to seek reason in the face of tragedy, and I cannot deny that the thought has crossed my own mind. But my brother and father, they... had been loved, deeply so, I cannot imagine that there would be anyone out there who would-who would do such a thing."
Alicent resisted the urge to pick at her fingers, refusing to look in Larys' direction. She did not want to even consider the possibility, but she could not stop herself from thinking about the last true conversation she had with Larys.
Could he have-no, that would not be possible, he wouldn't do something so vile and monstrous just because I have been rejecting his favors. Would he? Alicent thought, her heart beginning to race as she tried to convince herself that Larys had nothing to do with his father and brother's deaths.
Lilyanna narrowed her eyes at Larys, wanting nothing more than to punch him in his lying face and rip his jugular out of his throat with her teeth. She turned away from Larys and looked back at Nelsor, "Did you have a mason look over what is left of the balcony?"
Viserys raised a hand, "Enough. The Hand and his eldest son are gone, and I will not have more discord sown in their wake. If there is blame, it lies with ill-fortune and crumbling stone, not with whispers of murder."
"Why shouldn't a deeper such be made?" Rhaenyra asked, her face expressionless as she spoke for the first time since the meeting began.
Viserys looked at his eldest child, "Rhaenyra, you cannot truly believe that-"
"It cannot hurt to be thorough, father." Rhaenyra said.
She cared about Harwin deeply; it would be hard not to care for a man who, for years, served as her protector and dear friend. A man who had been there for her and her husband in their time of need, never judging them for the steps they took to ensure their children's paternity.
Now he was gone, his life snuffed out as easily as a candle flame, and Rhaenyra would never be able to forgive herself if she looked the other way and did not do everything in her power to make sure that his and his father's cause of death was what it was said to be.
"Do the late Lord Hand and Lord Commander not deserve that much?" Rhaenyra asked.
Viserys looked hesitant, but eventually acquiesced to his daughter's desire, "You are right, Rhaenyra."
Of course, when she says it, it's sound advice and not conspiratorial nonsense. Lilyanna thought with a roll of her eyes. This should be standard procedure; just because it doesn't sound likely, it doesn't mean that it isn't plausible. But why should I have expected any better from backwards fantasy medieval England and the inbred, decaying elf in charge of this kingdom?
While she was annoyed at the initial push back, she was glad that at a deeper investigation was going to be held, especially as Lilyanna was sure that whoever Larys had gotten for this scheme had to have left some clues behind.
Lilyanna soon found herself looking at the new Lord Strong, disgusted by the performance he was putting on. Her anger only grew when she glanced at her nephews, seeing how both were trying their hardest not to cry as they leaned against Laenor.
Lilyanna's efforts had made certain that Harwin was not the father of any of Rhaenyra's children, but that did not mean that there was no relationship between them. She had seen it with her own eyes over the years and knew that Harwin was an important male figure in Jacaerys and Lucerys' lives.
Neither boy had taken the news of Harwin's death well and had spent the last few days grieving him.
Larys' gaze shifted towards her again, and Lilyanna swore that she could see satisfaction and amusement brimming in his eyes as they stared at each other.
It's as if this is all a game to him. Lilyanna could not imagine being able to so easily and ruthlessly murder her family. And his reasoning for doing so only made his actions worse in her eyes.
He wants mother to need him again, and he thinks freeing up the position of Hand will be the best way to do so. How can he be so sure that Viserys will bring back Otto? I know that this will most likely be the case, but is Larys truly banking on the idea that Viserys will be so forgiving?
And as she thought of Otto possibly being reinstated as Hand of the King, Lilyanna now had the additional worry of her grandfather trying to ruin everything she had worked so hard to build until now.
The headaches never cease, do they?
A Few Hours Later
"Well? What have you found?" Viserys asked, looking at the group of masons he had summoned to inspect the remains of the balcony and Lyonel's bedchamber.
The oldest of the group, a man with a long grey beard and calloused hands, shifted uneasily as he met the King's gaze. "Your Grace, we checked over everything, and we can tell you that the stone did not give way from age alone. The supports were tampered with, the mortar had been pried out in several places, and the beams beneath were shallowly cut."
A ripple of unease spread through the chamber, and Jasper leaned forward sharply, his eyes narrowing. "So, it was no accident after all? Then a dire crime has indeed been committed, and we must find the culprit."
Viserys paled, gripping the arm of his chair, "Seven save us. Who would do such a thing?"
Lilyanna resisted the urge to point across the room at Larys, knowing that without any proof, it would look like she was wildly accusing a man who, in the eyes of everyone present, was a grieving son and brother that no one would ever suspect.
"You're telling me that security in this Keep has gotten so bad over the years that no one noticed anyone entering the Tower of the Hand and cutting away at a portion of it?" Daemon asked with a laugh.
"Daemon." Laena hissed, gripping the side of his arm tightly.
Nelsor spoke next, "The residents and servants of the Keep were questioned thoroughly, my prince-
"Clearly not thoroughly enough if this was allowed to happen. And why was this investigation so poorly executed? If a little girl could understand that all possibilities in a situation like this must be explored, then why did none of you think the same?" Daemon asked, looking at the City Watch captains and Nelsor with derision. "Your negligence has allowed the perpetrator to walk free for all this time, and for all we know, has allowed them to completely leave the city and vanish."
Do Daemon and I agree on something? Oh God, I think I just threw up in mouth a little. Lilyanna thought as Daemon said what she had been thinking earlier.
Nelsor stiffened under Daemon's scornful eye, "That is not-"
Daemon glared at the knight, "Not what? True? From what I have heard, this is not the first time that someone has been able to infiltrate this castle on your watch-"
"Daemon, that is enough." Viserys said, pressing a hand to his temple.
"Your Grace, Prince Daemon has mentioned something well worth considering, Princess Lilyanna's attack by the assassin who pretended to be a swineherd." Orwyle voiced, "It is possible that the servants had seen the culprit but did not know that they were suspicious as they assumed that they must have been one of them, and certainly not if the culprit had been in disguise for long enough."
Larys finally raised his head, his voice quiet but steady, "Or if they were someone who was already seen as trustworthy and in a position of authority over them."
"My Lord?" Orwyle asked, having not expected Larys to be the one to respond to what he said.
"I do not mean to throw out accusations." Larys said as everyone turned to him, still acting visibly upset. "But after this revelation that the deaths of my family were... were not accidental as once believed, and thinking more about who would wish harm upon them, I remembered witnessing a worrisome encounter my father and brother had before they were... they were killed."
"What encounter would this be?" Rhaenyra asked.
"For the last several council meetings, my father and Harwin often clashed with the civilian council about matters of state, Your Highness. And this is especially true in the meeting held just before my father held court on the day he and Harwin... Of course, I cannot be sure that the good men and women of the council would dare do such a vile act, but I simply can't help but wonder if... If emotions had run so high as that, perhaps someone sought to make their displeasure known in the most grievous of ways." Larys' voice cracked at the end, his head bowed as if the weight of grief was too much to bear.
This fucking bitch! Lilyanna thought as the small council chamber immediately began to buzz with low murmurs.
"Lord Larys, are you suggesting that the smallfolk had the means and reason to murder the Hand and Lord Commander?" Rhaenyra asked, her eyes narrowing.
"It pains me to think of it, but I cannot dismiss the possibility."
"Evidence should be found before we assume that the civilian council were the ones to commit this crime, Lord Larys." Lilyanna said, staring at the lord, "We would not want to send possibly innocent men and women to the headsman, wouldn't we?"
"Of course, my princess. I know that, given your relation to the members of the council, hearing such would be shocking and impossible to believe. But how can we know for certain that this is not the case? All possibilities should be explored, should they not?" Larys asked demurely, which only angered Lilyanna further.
Viserys groaned, slumping back in his chair, "I will not hear more today."
"But, Your Grace, we must-" Lyman tried to speak, only to be silenced as the King raised a trembling hand.
"I said enough." Viserys' voice cracked as he spoke, "This investigation shall continue tomorrow. For now, increase the patrols around the Keep and the city and have the men keep watch for anyone suspicious."
Silence followed the King's proclamation, one that was heavy and filled with dissatisfaction. It was clear that all wished for more to be done and for the discussion to continue, but Viserys' word was law, and when he spoke, they were all bound to listen and follow.
As everyone began to leave the small council chamber, Alicent lifted her head and saw Larys watching her. A small playful smile rested on the man's face, one that sent a shiver of disgust and unease down her spine.
Lilyanna noticed the way Larys was looking at her mother and made sure to stand next to her, staring him down as they passed him by.
Larys' expression did not change under the princess's scrutiny, and he continued to watch both mother and daughter until they left the chamber, full of anticipation for what he was sure the princess's next move would be.
With a cloak wrapped around her body, Lilyanna angrily walked through the streets of King's Landing, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
The second she had left her family's side and entered her bedchamber, Lilyanna immediately entered the Red Keep's tunnel system, needing to have a long overdue conversation with her spy master.
When she reached Mysaria's manse, Lilyanna started banging on the doors, continuing to do so until the doors were forceful wrenched open.
An annoyed Garrat was standing on the other side of the doors, his expression becoming placid once he saw that the person who had been furiously knocking had been Lilyanna. "Princess-"
"Where is she? I need to speak with Mysaria, now." Lilyanna said, pushing past Mysaria's attendant.
Garrat tried to step in front of Lilyanna, "My mistress asked not to be disturbed, princess. If you wish-"
Lilyanna clicked her teeth and walked around Garrat, speedily moving in the direction of Mysaria's personal chambers.
"Princess Lilyanna, I must ask that-"
"Garrat, I know you're just doing your job, but I don't care if Mysaria wishes to not be disturbed. I need to speak to her, and I am going to speak to her." Lilyanna said, giving the older boy a short glance.
Lilyanna made her way through the manse, with Garrat following her, and when she reached a familiar set of large oak doors, Lilyanna did not hesitate, throwing the doors open and storming inside.
Inside, Mysaria was sitting at her desk, leaning over it with her elbows resting on the desk and her hands buried in her hair. She had jumped when the doors were opened, and her eyes were bloodshot as she looked at Lilyanna.
Mysaria sighed, "You do not need to tell me anything, Lilyanna, I know why-"
"I thought I told you not to go around railing the smallfolk to your causes anymore?" Lilyanna spat, closing the doors behind her as she stepped further into the room.
Mysaria's brow furrowed, "What are you talking about? Are you not here to discuss the Lord Hand and his son's death? What do the smallfolk have to do with-"
"Everything!" Lilyanna yelled, slamming her hands on Mysaria's desk, "They have everything to do with this! I just came from an emergency council meeting where Larys fucking Strong used your little showing at court when Lyonel was listening to petitions, to accuse you and the others of killing his father and brother!"
Mysaria frowned, "What?"
Lilyanna explained everything that had happened during the meeting to the woman, watching as Mysaria's expression went through a series of changes as she processed the information.
Mysaria sighed, "Lilyanna-"
"If you had just listened to me, then Larys would not have had a strong enough motive that could be used against you. But no, you decided to once again ignore me and galvanize the people for short-term goals, and for your own fucking power." Lilyanna growled, glaring at the woman.
Mysaria scoffed, "Larys is threatened by me; he has been for years, even if I had done nothing at all while you were on Dragonstone, he would have found a way to blame me and the civilian council for his treachery."
"That doesn't mean you should give him anything that he can use!" Lilyanna snapped, "Do you think this is a fucking game? Do you not understand what kind of man we're dealing with?"
Mysaria slowly leaned back in her chair, returning Lilyanna's glare, "And you think I don't know that? You think I haven't watched him for years, the same as you? I've survived worse than him."
"Have you?" Lilyanna demanded, "Because you don't look like it, you look like a woman who's one wrong step away from handing him exactly what he wants. And if you go down, if he manages to turn the King against you and the council, then what happens to my work? To everything we've built? Do you think that you and the others won't be put to death if he succeeds in framing you for this?"
Mysaria's jaw clenched, and for a long moment, the room was silent except for their ragged breaths.
"You claim that everything you've been doing is for the people, and yet you're so willing to throw it all away for what? To get one over Lyonel and Harwin? To show the nobility that you're stronger and more powerful than they thought you were, just like when you orchestrated that riot?" Lilyanna asked, taking a step back, "Although, I suppose this is my fault for being stupid enough to trust you so far. Honestly, this partnership has felt one-sided for some time now, and I have allowed you to twist me for your own ends."
"Do not act as if we both did not come into this agreement to use the other for our own ends, princess." Mysaria sneered, "I never once lied to you about the kind of person I am, and what I wanted out of this, you were the one who decided that this was of no issue when you accepted this arrangement. If you had a problem with how-"
"Oh, fuck off, Mysaria." Lilyanna said with contempt, "Don't try to rewrite history and act as if I have been looking the other way whenever you act outside your bounds. I am tired of this, do not act without my leave again."
Mysaria tried to speak, but Lilyanna cut her off again, "I am serious, Mysaria. I don't care what kind of insecurities you have or what you wish to prove to Westeros, you are putting yourself, me, and everyone aligned with you in danger because of your recklessness, and this ends now."
The two stared at one another, the tension between them taut, but slowly, Mysaria lifted her hand and poured herself a glass of wine, her tone becoming almost casual as she spoke. "Very well."
Lilyanna exhaled through her nose, her fists still clenched, "Did your spies not notice anything before Lyonel and Harwin's deaths?"
"No, they haven't." Mysaria reluctantly admitted, "None of them noticed anyone that wasn't supposed to be in the Keep. And I doubt that someone could have snuck in, given how hard it can be to get someone into the Tower of the Hand."
"So, that would mean that someone who works in the Keep would have had to have done it." Lilyanna said, "But weakening a balcony wouldn't have been a quiet or quick job, someone would have had to have seen or heard something."
To anyone else, it would have been strange to see how quickly Lilyanna and Mysaria were able to put aside their anger, acting as if their previous conversation had never happened. But both knew they had something far more important to focus on and have always been able to push past each other's faults and failings more easily than they should.
"Then it would not have been one of my own who witnessed this. Unfortunately, I do not have eyes and ears in every portion of the Red Keep."
"Then can you compile a list of all the servants and workers who have access to the Keep, specifically on the days leading up to and of the balcony falling? And can you see if they have a connection to Larys or Perkin?"
Mysaria raised an eyebrow, "You believe that Larys may have sent his flea to do his dirty work?"
"He is the most likely suspect, and even if he is not, Larys is not foolish enough to do this himself, he would have gotten someone else to carry it out, so as to give himself plausible deniability." Lilyanna said, sitting down in the chair in front of the desk.
"And Perkin would have then doled this job out to another, to muddy things further. But you do know that this will make it even harder to prove Larys' guilt, yes?" Mysaria asked.
"I know." Lilyanna said, the words like ash on her tongue, "But if we catch even one of them, I'm sure the prospect of a less brutal fate will encourage them to talk."
Lilyanna had no doubt in her mind that time in the black cells would encourage anyone to talk and sell out the people who hired them, especially as she doubted any personal loyalty existed between Larys and those under him.
"Regardless, we need to act quickly; if what Larys did today is anything to go off of, it will only be a matter of time before he's able to convince the small council to have the Gold Cloaks drag you and the others to the Keep to be sharply questioned."
Mysaria's scowled when Lilyanna said this, "Of course they would, why wouldn't the dirty peasants be capable of such evil in their eyes."
Lilyanna ignored the comment, knowing that acknowledging it would just lead to a long tirade, and she had already sat through enough of those. She stood up and walked away from the desk, looking back at the woman when she was in front of the doors. "Just lay low and be careful, Mysaria. If you feel that you're being targeted, send for me immediately."
"Worried about me, princess?" Mysaria asked teasingly.
Lilyanna rolled her eyes, "You're useful, it would be a pain in the ass if I had to go out and find a new spy master who had your skills and large network of little birds. If not for that, I would have ended this farce a long time ago."
Lilyanna then opened the door and left, and when she was gone, Garrat immediately entered the room. "I'm sorry, mis-"
Mysaria put a hand up, stopping Garrat, "It's fine, Garrat, I know how Lilyanna can be, you have nothing to apologize for."
Garrat nodded his head, "I heard what was said between you, do you wish for me to send word to the Keep?"
"I do." Mysaria said, lifting her wine to her lips.
As Garrat left her alone, she let out a small chuckle before she threw her glass at the wall, watching as it shattered on impact and the wine dripped down onto the floor.
That lame footed bastard! Mysaria thought, realizing just how far Larys was willing to take things in his pursuit.
It was maddening to be forced into a corner like this, and all she wanted to do was storm the Red Keep and shove her rival down the nearest set of stairs.
She was not only angry at Larys, but at herself because she knew that Lilyanna had been right; she had allowed her hatred to get the better of her, and this behavior had come back to bite her. Now she could only think of what else Larys would use to further cast doubt and suspicion upon her.
The Next Day
When Rhaenyra entered the small council chamber with Jacaerys the next day, she was not expecting to see her uncle sitting at the table, in the chair right next to her own, where Lyonel had once sat.
Daemon smirked as Rhaenyra walked past him and sat down, and Jacaerys stood in the corner, "Niece."
"Uncle, since when have you become a member of this council?" Rhaenyra asked passively, "Again."
Daemon's smirk grew, "Since this morning, my brother thought it would be best in light of… recent events."
Before Rhaenyra could say anything else, the rest of the small council arrived, each person taken aback by Daemon's presence, much to the prince's amusement.
"This is a meeting for members of the small council only, Prince Daemon." Alicent said, staring at the Targaryen with barely disguised contempt as she and Viserys sat down.
"Daemon has the right to sit on this council, he is my brother, Alicent. More importantly, I invited Daemon as I have reinstated him as Commander of the City Watch." Viserys said, looking away from his wife and towards the rest of the table.
"What?" Alicent asked, looking at her husband like he had lost his mind.
"Yesterday had shown me that this city, this Keep have grown lax in its security, and there have been far too many incidents of harm almost coming to the royal family, and now with Lyonel and his son, I have only been able to think that perhaps if there were a stronger, more preceptive person looking out for such threats than this foul act could have been prevented." Viserys said, "And I can think of no other time when this city was safer than when my brother was leading the City Watch."
"Your Grace, the last time he took control of the City Watch, Prince Daemon essentially turned them into a small private army. He then absconded with a majority of them to Dragonstone when he illegally occupied the island. How can we trust that he will not do such again if he feels slighted?" Jasper interjected, wanting the King to reconsider his decision.
"You hurt my feelings, Wylde, I have grown since that petty disagreement between my brother and I." Daemon said gleefully.
Alicent quickly turned to Viserys, whispering harshly under her breath, "Viserys, you cannot-"
Viserys ignored his wife as he continued to address the council, "And as Commander of the City Watch, I will be putting Daemon in charge of the investigation surrounding Lyonel and Harwin's murder."
Rhaenyra leaned back in her seat, looking at Daemon from the corner of her eye, watching as the silence that fell over the room and the expression on Alicent's face made Daemon's smug smile grow larger.
It's as if father's memory gets shorter with age. Rhaenyra thought, wondering just what had happened since yesterday for Viserys to come to this decision.
"Prince Daemon is a sound choice as Commander, Your Grace." Corlys said, glancing at the prince before looking back at Viserys. "But if you are filling in Ser Harwin's position, what of Lord Lyonel's? I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this council cannot go without a Hand of the King for very long."
Everyone looked at the King expectantly, waiting for him to announce who would be his new Hand.
"Lyonel was a good and honest Hand; he is not a man that is easily replaceable." Viserys said sadly.
"He is certainly not, Your Grace." Lyman said, "And to have died that way he did, so suddenly, so violently, is a wound to the realm itself."
Viserys closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging, rubbing his temple, "Yes… yes, I know, but before we speak of a replacement, there is another matter. I intend to ride for Harrenhal, along with my family. Lyonel and Ser Harwin were faithful servants; it is only right that I be present to honor them when House Strong receives their remains and puts them to rest."
"Your Grace," Jasper began carefully, "Such a journey would be long and arduous, far more than this recent journey to Dragonstone. Forgive my bluntness, but you have not traveled so far in many years, and the roads can be perilous."
"And with the Strongs' killer still at large, it would not only be dangerous to take the royal family from the Red Keep, for they may use this as an opportunity to target you all, but would give the impression that nothing is being done to bring these criminals to justice." Corlys added.
Viserys' gaze hardened, "I am not an invalid to be coddled. I will go, Lyonel gave me his loyalty, his wisdom, his friendship. He and his son deserve no less than my presence. I will not have it said that their King could not be troubled to go and pay his respects."
He turned toward Rhaenyra, his eyes softening as he looked at her, "You shall oversee the planning, Rhaenyra. You managed our progress to Dragonstone well enough, and you knew Harwin as few others did. I would have you see this progress done properly."
Rhaenyra inclined her head, though unease flickered across her face, "Father… we have only just returned from Dragonstone. And as the others have said, the roads are not safe, and the murderer has not yet been caught. Should we not wait until Daemon's investigation has borne fruit?"
She wondered what had gotten into Viserys and why he seemed so adamant about seeing this through, his actions coming across as sporadic and uncharacteristic to her.
Viserys faltered, his expression torn as he finally started to heed the warnings that had been given to him as they came from his daughter's lips.
Seeing this, Alicent seized the moment and quickly gripped her husband's arm, "Rhaenyra is right. Please, husband, think of your health and the danger this could bring. Such a journey at this time would only invite chaos."
The King let out a long, ragged sigh, his shoulders slumping once more, "Very well, we shall delay our departure until Daemon's inquiries are concluded. But we will go, Lyonel and Harwin deserve no less."
The meeting went on for a little while longer, and soon enough, the small council chamber slowly emptied out as the other councilors filed out, leaving the four royals behind.
Alicent turned sharply toward her husband, her voice tight as she spoke, "Viserys, what possessed you to reinstate him? Daemon cannot be trusted with such power again."
Rhaenyra looked at where her son and brother stood, wordlessly telling them to leave the room. Jacaerys nodded his head while Aegon looked disappointed that he would not be privy to the argument that was going to commence between his mother and their uncle. When the two boys left the chamber, Rhaenyra returned her focus to others.
Daemon leaned lazily back in his chair, smirking at his brother's wife, "Ah, the Queen's faith in me never wavers. And always so quick to throw out accusations and damnations."
Viserys lifted a weary hand. "Enough, Alicent, I made my decision after seeing how Daemon acted yesterday. He was sharp and perceptive, and we certainly need more of that in this city. He was not wrong when he stated that the castle guards and the Gold Cloaks should have done better. We may not even be in this position if they had."
And deep down, Viserys also thought that perhaps giving his younger brother the structure and responsibility that comes with being in a position of authority would be able to keep Daemon from flying off again.
He did not want to go another decade without seeing his brother because the two of them found themselves in another argument. Especially with how close Daemon came to almost leaving again after Viserys had made his declaration regarding Daemon's family claiming dragons and dragon eggs.
And if Daemon is busy with the City Watch, it will undoubtedly give him less time to spend in my children and wife's presence. Viserys thought, not wanting to experience another incident like the one on Dragonstone.
"You excuse him too easily." Alicent said hotly, "Have you forgotten he nearly killed your daughter? That he put Lilyanna in a coma? That she is still injured from that event?"
Daemon's eyes darkened, "If you're so concerned about Lilyanna, perhaps you should ask why your daughter dumped that concoction on me after I had already given my most sincere of apologizes. Should counsel be taken from a Queen who cannot control her own children?"
"Enough!" Viserys thundered, slamming his hand against the armrest of his chair, glaring at Alicent and Daemon. "You are both acting like squabbling children. Daemon and Lilyanna have apologized for that matter, they have both been punished, and I declared it ended. I will not reopen old wounds."
Daemon, unbothered by the rebuke, leaned forward, his smirk returning, "If you do not wish to discuss this, then fine, let us discuss something else, brother, who will you name as Hand of the King? You never gave an answer when Corlys asked."
Viserys frowned, "Why are you so eager to know?"
"Because the realm will ask it soon enough," Daemon replied smoothly. "And because I have a suggestion."
Viserys arched a brow, looking at his brother with trepidation, and a part of him wondered if Daemon would have the gall to suggest himself right after he had just been made Commander of the City Watch. "And who would that be?"
Daemon gestured toward Rhaenyra, "Your heir naturally."
Rhaenyra stared at him, stunned. "What?"
Daemon's tone was measured, almost serious, "Heirs are often given high office once they come of age to better prepare them for their future responsibilities. Our Uncle Aemon served as Master of Laws when he was heir, and our own father was named Hand when Jaehaerys made him his successor after Aemon's death. So why not do the same with Rhaenyra? She only spends half of her time on Dragonstone, and if she is to rule one day, she should have a say in its governance rather than simply do nothing but give counsel like some others."
Alicent knew the last thing Daemon had said was an insult directed at her and could hardly stop herself from scowling at him.
Viserys looked at his daughter, his expression torn. At last, he sighed. "I will… consider it. There is much to think on."
With that, he rose, Alicent following close behind, still bristling with anger as she attempted to speak to him again.
Daemon remained seated, watching Rhaenyra in silence as the doors closed behind the King and Queen.
"Why did you say that?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice sharp but uncertain.
Daemon tilted his head, lips quirking upwards, "What, you don't want to be your father's Hand?"
Rhaenyra faltered, unable to find the right words to say, "I-"
The length of the pause that followed was damning, showing what Rhaenyra's feelings were and making Daemon laugh softly.
"There it is. You do want it, you crave the recognition, the power. You should be honest in your desires, Rhaenyra."
Rhaenyra glared at him, "Answer me, uncle. Why?"
Daemon's smirk faded, his voice dropping low, "Because, despite what you think, I want you to succeed. If you are made Hand, the realm will truly see you as ruler-in-waiting rather than a mistake that Viserys is refusing to rectify. It will be harder for them to supplant you when you are formally made the second most powerful person in the Kingdom."
Rhaenyra swallowed, her heart twisting. She agreed with him that being Hand would allow her detractors to take her more seriously as her father's heir, but she found it hard to believe that this was the only reason Daemon was doing this. "That's not what you told me on Dragonstone. You said you would make a better ruler than I ever could, that I would need guidance, that I could not rule alone, lest I be another version of my father. So, what has changed in the days since? Are you saying that you no longer think those things?"
Daemon's violet eyes held hers for a long moment, his expression unreadable. His next words were spoken quietly. "You'll make a good Hand. And a good Queen."
He then stood, his cloak sweeping behind him as he strode to the door, the heavy doors shutting with a thud, leaving Rhaenyra alone in the chamber, his words echoing in her ears.
Rhaenyra sat back in her chair, a small groan escaping from her lips, "Fucking cunt."
If this were a decade ago, before Daemon's second banishment, those words would have lit a fire in her heart and turned her into a scatterbrained, lovesick mess. But now, it just stirred a bevy of emotions within her, the most prevalent ones being anger, wariness, and uncomfortably hopefulness.
Daemon simply wishes to prove to himself that I need him. He can't even offer an apology or refute his previous claims. Rhaenyra thought. Is this how father feels whenever he deals with Daemon, and just chooses to ignore his common sense?
Rhaenyra exhaled slowly, forcing her thoughts aside, she pushed back her chair, rose, and left the council chamber behind. But even as the doors shut, the echo of her uncle's voice followed her long after she stepped back into the light.
The Next Day
When Lilyanna had learned from Talya that her father had not only decided to make Daemon Commander of the City Watch again, but was thinking of traveling alongside the retinue charge with transporting Lyonel and Harwin's bodies back to Harrenhal for burial, she had thought that his leprosy had finally consumed what was left of his mind.
"Of course, he is trying to make everything even harder." Lilyanna muttered to herself, "But let's ignore that for now, how is the list going? Have you found anyone who fits what we are looking for?"
Talya shook her head, "Not yet, princess. We've narrowed the list of servants who were working in the Keep that week, but have found nothing obvious or meaningful that ties them to Larys or his flea."
Lilyanna clicked her tongue in annoyance, pacing across the woman's chambers, "Have you asked around to see if anyone spotted something or anything that can be useful?"
"The only thing that we have found to be out of the ordinary is that serval of the servants we spoke to mentioned seeing a dog running through the Keep. But no one could say who it belonged to." Talya said, having already written off this information.
"A dog?" Lilyanna questioned, thinking the same as Talya, "Why would a random dog be running through the Keep? And how is this the only thing people have taken note of, but if they noticed a suspicious person walking around destroying architecture?"
Before Talya could answer her, the door swung open, and the person who walked in was a girl around Lilyanna's age with blue eyes, long bright blonde hair that was tied back in a bun, and a small pointed nose. She was wearing the women's servant uniform, and she was carrying a basket filled with wine-stained linens.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Talya, but I spilled wine on these linens, and I've tried washing them, but I can't get the stains out of them." The girl said with a nervous quickness as she kept her gaze lowered, "But it wasn't my fault! There were these rats, really big rats, and they had appeared out of nowhere, and I thought since those ratcatchers had come the other night, that they wouldn't be a problem in the tower anymore, and I was really frightened because I wasn't expecting-"
"Dyana, stop." Talya said with exasperation and annoyance, "Just stop talking."
Dyana immediately closed her mouth, only for her body to jolt and for a shocked squeak to leave her when she lifted her and noticed that the lady in waiting was not alone and saw Lilyanna standing across from her.
"P-P-P-Pr-Prin-Princess!" Dyana exclaimed, immediately falling into a bow so low that she nearly fell over herself. "I-I-I am so sorry, Princess Lilyanna! I did not mean to ignore your presence and insult you, I-"
Lilyanna raised her hand, stopping the other girl from rambling again, hiding the surprise she felt when Talya said her name. "Your name is Dyana, yes?"
Dyana nodded her head stiffly, "Y-Yes, Your Grace."
"I don't recognize you." Lilyanna said as she stepped closer to her, "How long have you been working in the Red Keep?"
"For a few weeks now, just a-after the royal family left for Dragonstone. My cousin, Giya, works in the kitchens, and she recommended me."
Dyana had never expected that she would be this close to Lilyanna Targaryen, let alone speak to her. The princess was revered amongst the peasantry of King's Landing, a noble who actually cared for their well-being and who sought to ease their struggles.
And it was no different within the walls of the Red Keep, as Dyana for some time, had heard stories of how kind and personable Lilyanna was to those who worked in the castle. Giya even used to boast how Lilyanna made sure to learn the names of every servant she came across and spoke to them with such compassion that it would often come across as strange, especially in comparison to how other nobles treated them.
Now she's speaking to me. Dyana inwardly preened, still nervous as Lilyanna looked her up and down.
Now I really know the Gods are fucking with me, why does this keep happening? Lilyanna thought as she stared at Dyana.
She suddenly felt pity bubbling within her as she started to remember the fate that Dyana had back when this world was nothing more than a television show.
No, that isn't going to happen, she isn't going to be raped by-if Aegon even tries that with her or any girl, I'll kick his fucking ass, I raised him better than that!
Lilyanna cleared her throat, forcing her mind back onto the task at hand, "Dyana, you mentioned seeing ratcatchers. Was this the night before Lyonel and Harwin Strong were murdered?"
Dyana flinched, taken aback by the change in topic and by the older girl's bluntness, "I, y-yes, yes it was."
"And these ratcatchers, could you describe their appearances to me?"
Dyana's brow furrowed as she tried to recall the men, "There were two of them, one was tall, very tall and big, with shoulders like an ox. His hair was cut low, and his nose looked like it had been broken more than once. He was mean-looking and didn't say a word, just carried this big, heavy burlap sack slung over his shoulder."
Lilyanna felt a prickle of unease crawl down her spine as she started picturing the man in her mind.
"The other was shorter, scrawnier than the first man and with a thick beard and a weaselly sort of face." Dyana continued quickly. "He kept grumbling under his breath, and he had traps hanging from his belt. He had a mangy little dog with him too, that kept tugging at his feet. I even saw him kick it when it got in his way. I thought it cruel, but… that was the only strange thing about them, that, and they were in the Tower of the Hand that night."
"The dog." Talya said sharply, her eyes snapping towards Lilyanna, "That's what the other servants mentioned, the stray they kept seeing, it wasn't a stray at all."
Lilyanna's blood ran cold, and she turned back to Dyana, "You said one carried traps, and the other a sack? Did you see what was inside the sack?"
"N-No, princess. It just… sagged and shifted like it was heavier than it should have been. I thought it odd, but I didn't linger; I was too frightened of the larger man."
Dyana shuddered as she remembered the way the large man looked at her when she scurried past them, as if he would have ripped her head off if she even dared to speak to him.
"Blood and Cheese." Lilyanna whispered to herself.
She could see them in her mind, clear as day, Daemon's monsters-to-be, only this time, they had done Larys' bidding, and instead of killing an innocent little princeling in front of his family, they had murdered a lord and his heir and staged it to look like an accident.
"Who are-"
Lilyanna leaned in close to Dyana, placing her hands on her shoulders, her tone soft as a small smile appeared on her face. "You've done well, and I wouldn't have been able to figure this out without you, Dyana, thank you."
Dyana blushed; she did not entirely understand what was going on, but she was happy to be of help to the princess. "Y-Your welcome, Your Grace."
Lilyanna squeezed her shoulder, "I must ask that you do not speak of this to anyone, not of this conversation and not of seeing me here in Talya's bedchamber. It is of the utmost importance that this remains secret, do you understand?"
Dyana nodded vigorously, "Y-Yes, Your Grace. I swear, I won't tell anyone."
Lilyanna turned to Talya, "I'm going to go see our friend; she will need to know now if Daemon wishes to start looking for suspects."
"How can we be sure that they haven't disappeared into the gutters?" Talya asked.
"These two men are as desperate as they are arrogant and stupid. I am sure they haven't left the city, especially as we are the only ones who know the truth." Lilyanna said confidently, she was not going to let Larys get away with killing two innocent men and manipulating events from behind the scenes.
While she was not close to either man, she was the one who knew what Larys was capable of, she was the one who had took on the mission, not allowing Westeros' most brutal civil war to happen, and yet to failed to keep Lyonel and Harwin alive.
I have to make things right, and it starts with getting rid of the worthless, slimy kinslayer.
Luthor squared his shoulders back as he moved towards the newly reinstated Commander, knowing that the man would not like the news he was about to deliver. "My prince, my men and I searched the homes of Clarton and the Ostoris brothers, and we found not a hair of them."
"The same as Daven Hill and Connas then." Daemon said, his voice calm, "It seems they have been warned."
"Most likely." Luthor replied, "This only leaves us with the two madams and the whore."
For the past two days, the Gold Cloaks had been scouring the city, looking for any member of the civilian council that they could find, but to no avail.
When Daemon had learned that his least favorite niece had somehow convinced his brother and the small council to create an entirely new council that was made up of peasants, including his former lover, he laughed, finding the story too unbelievable to be true.
But the laughter had died quickly once he realized it was no jest, that his brother had truly agreed to such folly and that Lilyanna had been the one to orchestrate it.
To him, this was dangerous, and it only furthered his belief that the girl and her ilk were against his family and were trying to gain power for themselves.
I wonder, does she know about Mysaria's profession? She must; otherwise she would be a strange pick for her council. Daemon thought, and it made him wonder just how the two came to know each other.
He knew that Mysaria would not orchestrate the murder of two men for a reason as small as not being taken seriously, but he wanted to know what she was planning with Lilyanna and the Greens, and he wanted to hear from her personally why she would align herself with those opposed to him.
Daemon's gold cloak shifted as he moved, "It is the House of Kisses, the Blue Pearl, and Mother's that we must check, yes? Then let us not waste any more time."
As he and his squadron of men moved through the streets, Daemon took note of how differently he was being treated compared to the last time he was in King's Landing. No one approached him; they would have never dared to, but Daemon saw the way the people looked at him with contempt, as if the sight of him disgusted them.
Daemon narrowed his eyes at one man who was openly glaring at him, it was only when he placed his hand on Dark Sister did the peasant look away with a huff. And these looks only grew worse the deeper he walked into Flea Bottom.
When they reached the House of Kisses, Daemon ordered two of his men to knock down the doors, startling the patrons and workers inside. The Gold Cloaks stormed into the brothel, spreading out and searching for any sign of Sylvi.
Screams erupted as the Gold Cloaks shoved aside silk curtains and overturned tables, and patrons began stumbling over one another in their haste to escape.
Daemon strode through the chaos with his usual predatory ease, his cloak gleaming in the candlelight.
"My prince." One of the guards called out, dragging a woman by the arm, "We were not able to locate the madam, but I know this one, she is one of her most trusted whores.
"And who might you be?" Daemon asked with a smirk.
"Ashlei, my prince." The woman said gruffly, staring at Daemon coldly.
Daemon ignored the look, "Where is Sylvi, Ashlei? You do yourself no favors by trying to hide her from me."
"I don't know." Ashlei growled as the Gold Cloak holding her jostled her roughly, "I told you, I don't know where she went, none of us do."
Daemon took a step forward, grabbing the woman by the chin, "Is that so?"
"Let her go!" Daemon turned his head and watched as a small boy jumped out from behind a table, his fists raised high as he ran towards them.
One of the Gold Cloaks moved swiftly to apprehend the boy, grabbing him and lifting him up by the collar of his tunic.
"Willam!" Ashlei exclaimed frightfully, "I told you to stay hidden!"
"Let my mother go!" Willam shouted, thrashing around in the guard's hold. He glared at Daemon, "She didn't do anything wrong! I'll kill you if you touch her!"
The guard holding him slapped Willam across the face, busting his lip open, "Mind how you speak to the prince, boy."
Willam ignored the pain and the warning he was given as he continued to glare at Daemon, "Why should I?! You're a prince, but you and your men are better than the bastards who crawl these streets at night, doing whatever they want and taking what they please!"
The guard hit Willam repeatedly after he said this; one of the blows was hard enough to knock out one of his teeth.
Ashlei began to struggle in own captor's arms, "Stop! Please, he's just a child-"
Daemon's gaze sharpened as he studied the boy, slowly, he raised a hand, and the Gold Cloak holding Willam hesitated before releasing him.
Willam stumbled but stood firm, blood running from his split lip as he kept his fists balled at his sides.
"What a fierce little thing you are." Daemon said amused, before turning to look at the boy's mother, flicking his wrist and commanding the Gold Cloak holding Ashlei to release her as well. "Where is Sylvi? I won't ask again."
Ashlei rubbed at her arm as she glared at Daemon, "I told you, I don't know."
"Will my men dragging you and your worthless son to Black Cells make things clearer for you?" Daemon asked, his smirk never flattering, but his eyes growing dark.
"Torture will not make me learn something that I don't already know, my prince." Ashlei said, her voice hoarse.
Daemon stared at her for a few moments before turning away, "Let's go."
Like Daemon's perfect soldiers, the Gold Cloaks slowly started to exit the brothel.
Willam spat out blood that had begun to pool in his mouth as his mother ran to him, pulling him into her arms and hugging him tightly. And under his breath, he muttered, "Princess Lilyanna really is the only member of that family that is worth anything."
Daemon immediately turned around, his lips pulled back in a snarl as he quickly advanced upon the child, grabbing him by the neck, and choking him.
Willam's eyes widened as he struggled for breath, fighting against Daemon's hold. Ashlei grabbed Daemon's arm, screaming as she tried to pull the man away from her son.
Daemon leaned down, hissing in Willam's ear, "Be sure to never show your face to me again, boy, lest I cut that unruly tongue of yours out."
Daemon threw Willam into his mother's arms, sending both crashing to the ground.
The prince stormed out of the building, his jaw clenched, a tight ball of rage growing within him as he walked.
"Shall we head to the Blue Pearl next, my prince?" Luthor asked, quickly moving to join Daemon, matching his stride.
"No." Daemon growled, "I doubt the bitch will be there. We'll go to the edge of Flea Bottom, near the Iron Gate."
Luther nodded his head, turning around to tell the men that they were heading out.
If I have to hear that girl's name one more time... Daemon forced his face to relax, resisting the urge to go back inside the House of Kisses and making Willam regret the words he spoke.
The world as he knew truly was going to shit if people thought that the two of them were comparable in any way, and worse, that he would be seen as inferior to Lilyanna in that comparison.
Mysaria did not visibly react as the doors to her solar were kicked open, nor when Daemon strolled inside the room like he owned the place.
"Daemon." Mysaria said dryly, "You could have sent word that you were coming to visit."
"And ruin the surprise?" Daemon asked coyly, stopping in front of the desk, "Besides, you always liked it when I came unannounced."
Mysaria arched a brow, unimpressed, "Would your wife enjoy hearing you say that?"
Daemon's smirk remained, "Why would she care about something that no longer matters?"
"If it no longer matters, why did you come here? You know that I had nothing to do with the Strongs' murder."
"Do I?" Daemon asked, "I know you're hiding the others here, planning on fleeing the city together, hm? How would this, along with purposely inciting discontent among the citizens whenever you do not get your way, not make you look guilty?"
Daemon's expression and his tone grated on Mysaria, and she scowled at him, slowly standing up. "Just say what it is that you came here for, Daemon."
Daemon's smirk fell, "You have aligned yourself with my brother's youngest daughter. Are you so desperate for scraps of power that you'd crawl into the Hightowers' service? Or perhaps you have decided that you needed another Targaryen to fuck?"
Mysaria scoffed, her blood boiling, "Lilyanna saw value in me, in what I could build, and she is far more useful to me than a prince who cares for his own desires and is always one step away from being banished and discarded like trash!"
Daemon's jaw clenched, and for a moment, it looked as though he might strike her, but instead, he gave her a sharp and bitter smile. "Careful, Mysaria. Do you think hiding behind that brat makes you untouchable? I can rip your pretty little council and your operation here apart one piece at a time, and there would be nothing she could do to stop it."
Even as her heart started to race, Mysaria forced her voice to remain calm, not wanting to give the man the satisfaction of knowing that he had frightened her. "Are you afraid of her, Daemon? Is that it? Are you doing this because you believe that she will usurp the throne from Rhaenyra, or because you wish to prove your beliefs correct and to show your brother how important you are?"
The words stung more than he wanted to admit, but before Daemon could say anything else, Luthor entered the room. "My prince-"
"I thought I said that I did not want to be disturbed while I was speaking to the suspect?" Daemon asked harshly as he glared at the knight. "And that you were supposed to search the building for the other councilors?"
"You did, my prince, and we have found and rounded up the councilors." Luthor said cautiously, "But Princess Lilyanna is outside, and she is demanding to speak to you and this woman."
"Perfect timing as always." Mysaria muttered under her breath, a disbelieving chuckle escaping her mouth.
Daemon scowled, his teeth grinding as he turned back toward Mysaria. "Seems the brat has come to rescue you. How quaint."
Daemon walked out of the room, Mysaria and Luthor following him. In the large hallway, Lilyanna stood with two Gold Cloaks, both of whom looked uncertain as to whether they should bar her path.
"Uncle." Lilyanna bit out, her eyes narrowing as they locked on Daemon, "You have been busy, I see."
"Traitors walk amongst us, niece, and it is my job to find and bring them to justice. Which makes it all the more curious why you are here." Daemon said, closing the distance between them and grabbing the front of her collar, pulling her closer to him and forcing Lilyanna to tilt her head further back to look him in the eyes.
Lilyanna rolled her eyes, unbothered by her new position as she looked at the man boredly, "I know who Lyonel and Harwin's killers are, but don't worry, I won't tell father how I did your job for you while you were harassing innocent men and women."
Daemon's grip on her cloak tightened, his lips pulled back in a snarl, "Of course you wouldn't tell Viserys, why would you want him to know about the spies in your employ? Do you think you have me fooled, child?"
"Look, I get it, you don't like me, and I certainly don't like you, but there is a group of men out there who are currently getting away with a massive crime. So, can we focus on that for the time being, and you can accuse me of whatever madness you are thinking me capable of after they have been captured?" Lilyanna asked.
Daemon wanted nothing more than to grab Dark sister and run Lilyanna through, ending this farce once and for all. He clicked his teeth and forced himself to swallow his pride, "Who are the murderers?"
"They're a ratcatcher and a Gold Cloak. I don't know their names, but they went by Blood and Cheese to hide their identities from the other. A servant girl in the Keep saw them in the Tower of the Hand the night before the murders, carrying a heavy sack of what I assume to be tools. And I know that they were hired by another Gold Cloak by the name of Perkin."
"That's impossible!" Luthor exclaimed, not wanting to believe that two of their own could have been involved in this plot.
"It's the truth." Lilyanna said coldly before looking back at Daemon, "If you take them to the Black cells, I am positive they will admit to their roles in this plot."
Daemon's eyes narrowed, his grip finally loosening on her cloak. He released her with a shove, making her stumble back a step. "Accusing my own men of treachery without proof is tantamount to treason."
"Like I just said, uncle, you will get your proof if you bring them in for questioning. Unless you'd like to believe the Hand and his son were slain by ghosts, this is the only true lead you have." Lilyanna said, straightening her cloak deliberately.
Luthor shifted uneasily, his gaze flickering between the princess and his commander, sweat beginning to bead at his brow.
Daemon glared at her, "If you're wrong, niece, I'll see to it that you pay the price for slandering the City Watch, so you'd best pray these wretches exist."
"Good to see that your return to power hasn't corrupted you." Lilyanna said sarcastically.
Daemon ignored the jab, "What do they look like?"
Lilyanna described each man's appearance from what she remembered and from what Dyana and Jayne had told her.
Daemon's jaw clenched, and Lilyanna could see a flicker of recognition in his eye when she had described Blood and Perkin's appearances. With a sharp motion of his hand, Daemon signaled to Luthor, "Put the word out, tear apart Flea Bottom brick by brick if you must. Find them."
"Yes, my prince," Luthor said, bowing quickly before moving to bark orders.
Daemon looked at Lilyanna and Mysaria one last time, not bothering to hide how suspicious he felt about the two of them. With a scoff, he turned on his heel, following his men as they started to leave the manse.
Mysaria let out a slow breath once Daemon had walked away, "You Targaryens must always make things more dramatic and difficult than they need to be."
Lilyanna did not respond to Mysaria's comment, her mind already racing ahead.
Larys must be planning something to cover his tracks; it can't be this easy, can it? Lilyanna thought.
The princess wanted this to be the endgame of this whole investigation, but she could not stop the feeling that this was only the beginning and that the rug may be pulled out from underneath her again.