The Red Keep was a labyrinth of stone and secrets. Link spent his first few hours walking the servant tunnels and the high galleries. He was memorizing the layout of the Stark chambers in the Tower of the Hand. He knew every exit and every blind spot. He was preparing the ground for Ned's arrival but he was also looking for his own advantage.
[Status Alert]
[New Objective: Information Gathering]
[Mental Fatigue: Low]
Link walked through a quiet courtyard filled with blooming roses when he saw a small man standing by a fountain. He was dressed in fine silks of yellow and black and his eyes were full of a restless intelligence.
It was Petyr Baelish. Littlefinger.
"You must be the lad the King mentioned" Littlefinger said without looking up from the water. "The one who was so eager to reach the city that he arrived a week early. And without a sword. A bold choice in a city like this."
Link stopped and gave a respectful nod. He knew that Littlefinger was perhaps the most dangerous man in the city. He was the architect of the chaos that would eventually destroy the Starks.
"I go where I am sent Lord Baelish" Link said.
Littlefinger turned and smiled. It was a smile that did not reach his eyes. "You know my name. That is good. Information is the only currency that matters here. But tell me Link why would a man who saved the life of a Stark prince allow himself to be banished to the stables?"
"The Queen wanted a villain" Link replied. "I chose to be a traveler instead."
Littlefinger let out a soft chuckle. "A traveler. I like that. But travelers often get lost. This city is full of people who want to help you find your way but every path they offer has a price."
"I am not looking for a path" Link said. "I am looking for a room."
"The Tower of the Hand is being readied" Littlefinger said while waving a hand. "But if you find the air in the castle too thin come and visit me at the docks. I have a business there where the wine is cold and the girls are warm. A man with your talents might find a different kind of employment."
Link watched him walk away. He felt the cold touch of the small dagger Ros had given him. He knew Littlefinger was already trying to weave him into a web.
Later that night Link returned to the lower levels of the Tower of the Hand. He was checking the locks on the doors when he felt a draft of cold air from a wall that should have been solid stone.
He pressed his hand against the masonry. A section of the wall pivoted inward.
[Warning: Secret Passage Discovered]
Link stepped inside. The passage was narrow and smelled of damp earth. He followed it for a dozen paces until he reached a grate. He looked through it and saw a small room lit by a single candle.
Two men were speaking in hushed tones. One was a large man with a bald head and a perfumed scent that even Link could smell through the stone. Varys the Spider. The other was a man in heavy armor with a thick beard. Illyrio Mopatis.
"The wolf and the lion are at each other's throats" the armored man said. "But this guard... this Link. He is changing the pieces. The boy was not crippled. The wolves are still alive. This was not the plan."
"He is a variable I did not see" Varys whispered. "He moves as if he knows the future. We must find out who he serves. If he cannot be bought he must be removed before the King arrives."
Link held his breath. He had heard enough. He backed away from the grate and exited the passage while closing the stone door behind him.
He was no longer just a guard. He was a target for the master of spies and the master of coins.
Link sat on his bed in the small servant quarters. He pulled out the rusted dagger and began to sharpen it against a stone. He had no sword and no allies except for a girl from a brothel. But he had something they did not.
He had the memory of a thousand deaths.
"Try to remove me" Link whispered to the empty room.
[Current Anchor: Arrival at King's Landing]
[Mental Fatigue: Moderate]
.....
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!