Chapter 172: Giving Warning
Egger stepped out of the Red Keep's main gates and stood on the gentle slope of Aegon's High Hill, dazed for several seconds. In this game of thrones, he had thought himself powerless to interfere and had no intention of meddling. Yet, in the end, he had not only been dragged in but now seemed to be actively seeking death—by opposing the side that had already won. This truly was...
"What are you thinking about? Ride that one. Move fast, don't let Lady Arya come to harm!" Ser Jacelyn Bywater slapped him on the back, thrusting the reins of a City Watch officer's horse into his hand. He gave a subtle, quick wink. "Go and return quickly."
Realizing this was no time for idle thoughts, Egger took the horse, vaulted into the saddle, nodded to Ironhand, and spurred the beast toward the west of the city.
The City Watch of King's Landing was a garrison force; they did not undertake external combat missions and possessed very few horses. Meanwhile, the members of House Lannister within the capital were numerous, with staggering assets. It would take considerable time to arrest and seize them all. He could only hope they would be slow to think of Tyrion, who was stationed outside the city.
Refusing to gamble his friend's safety on the negligence of others, Egger pulled the reins tight, gripped the horse's flanks with his legs, and leaned forward over the horse's neck to accelerate. The sun was gradually moving toward the zenith; nearing lunchtime, it was the hour when the streets had the fewest pedestrians. Egger ignored the strain on the horse and, for the first time, rode through the city like a reckless high-born youth. Beneath him was a fine horse accustomed to the roads of King's Landing; even under complex urban conditions, it galloped swiftly. Several times he nearly collided with pedestrians or cargo, avoiding disaster only through quick reflexes. In less than half an hour, the horse carried Egger from the Red Keep to the King's Gate.
The King's Gate was operating normally, with people coming and going as usual. As the largest city in the Seven Kingdoms, King's Landing closing its gates without cause would have an incalculable impact on the residents' daily lives and economic activities. In Eddard Stark's plan, as long as Cersei and Jaime were controlled within the Red Keep, the other Lannisters in the city would be rats in a jar. Out of confidence and a need for secrecy, the various gate garrisons had received no advance warning. This had indeed caught Cersei off guard, but it also provided Egger the opportunity to leave the city and warn Tyrion.
As he passed the gate, Egger was recognized by the guards—there was no helping it; his visibility was too high now. Last night, he had been a criminal the Watch was mobilized to capture, but by dawn, not only was the warrant rescinded, but the Commander who issued it had been thrown into a cell. For the man at the center of it all to be wandering freely through the city on horseback... which soldier didn't look upon such a person with a mix of respect and fear?
Encountering no resistance, Egger slowed his pace and passed through the gate as if nothing were wrong. After another moment of full-speed galloping, he arrived at his destination on the banks of the Blackwater.
The security soldiers at the industrial park entrance received him with trepidation. Egger declined their offer to announce him or accompany him; wasting no time, he went straight to Tyrion's office.
Tyrion had indeed not left. He was sitting behind his desk, writing furiously—a letter intended for Egger. Meanwhile, Jack and Morris were rummaging through the room, packing and organizing belongings.
"Egger, what are you doing here?" Tyrion put down his pen. "Better this way, I won't finish writing. It's clearer to tell you in person..."
"Forget the plans and proposals. Leave. Immediately! Now!" Egger glared, his voice low and urgent. "Jackken, Morrec, stop packing. Grab food and water for a day or two and set out this instant!"
"What happened?"
"Jaime attacked King Robert inside the Red Keep. The City Watch is already on its way to arrest you." Egger stepped aside to clear the doorway, urging him tensely. "Go to the stables immediately. Take two horses per person and head west at full speed, avoiding the main roads and settlements. Get back to Casterly Rock alive! As for the future of the Night's Watch industries, we'll have plenty of time to discuss that later!"
...
It took Tyrion only half a second to grasp the gravity of the situation. He hopped off his chair without hesitation and squeezed Egger's hand one last time before heading out; everything was understood without words. There was no formal send-off, no long goodbye. The two giants of the Night's Watch industries parted in haste. Watching Tyrion run toward the stables with his two guards, Egger composed his expression and thoughts before heading to the security team's training ground.
There, he asked breathlessly and with feigned anxiety about Arya's whereabouts. The result, naturally, was that she hadn't come today. Having put on the act, he let out a relieved sigh and pretended nothing was wrong. He gave a vague explanation for his haste and chatted with his appointed inspectors and the security captain. Soon enough, the City Watch soldiers arrived to arrest Tyrion.
Because they had grown used to Janos Slynt looking for trouble over the past two days, the guards offered no resistance when ten gold-cloaked riders entered the park. When the target was found in neither Tyrion's office nor his room, the gold-cloaked arrest squad naturally sought out the person in charge. Following the chain of command, they soon stood before Egger.
Merely letting Tyrion escape wasn't enough; the little man required a special saddle to ride, and he couldn't move very fast on the road. Only by buying him as much time as possible could this warning be more than a wasted effort. "Tyrion only left a short while ago," Egger lied. "He said he intended to leave by boat, sailing around Dorne to return to Lannisport."
Leaving by boat to circle the entirety of Westeros back to Casterly Rock? It was somewhat illogical. The gold-cloaked officer frowned. "Truly?"
"I don't know if it's true or not. That's just what he said."
The face of the questioning officer twisted slightly, but he ultimately had nothing to say. In the territory of the Night's Watch industries, facing the Chief Logistics Officer who allegedly had the Hand as his patron and could topple his own Commander—the famous White Walker Slayer, Egger West... who could act tough? Shaking his head, the officer conferred with his colleagues, then rode out of the park toward the Blackwater docks to the east—the wrong direction.
With Egger's help, Tyrion had temporarily cheated fate, but King's Landing was currently in a state of chaos. It was lunchtime, and countless residents were gossiping over family tables or in inn common rooms about the infighting within the City Watch at the River Gate last night. Many were also discussing the wight brought into the city that morning... until they heard the commotion in the streets. Opening their windows, they realized the show was far from over.
For the first time since the end of the Usurper's War, the City Watch was fully mobilized. Large contingents of soldiers poured out of the barracks and onto the streets; for a moment, the city was clad in gold. All seven gates of King's Landing were ordered closed. House Lannister faced its greatest crisis since Aegon's Conquest. Because their lady was Queen in the Red Keep, countless Lannisters had confidently treated King's Landing as a second Lannisport, settling down, seeking opportunity, and—for those who fared better—purchasing property and raising families. Now that Cersei and Jaime's secret was out, the main branch, the cadet branches... anyone in the city, even those from Westerman families with only a slight connection, were having their doors kicked in by Gold Cloaks. They were arrested, thrown into dungeons, and their wealth and assets were seized.
Members of the once-lofty and invincible Queen's family were being thrown into prison in droves; the cells of King's Landing were soon filled to capacity. But those who thought House Lannister was finished were to be disappointed: after Ned and his three hundred City Watchmen finally eliminated the Lannister forces within the Red Keep, they conducted a massive search only to receive the worst news: "The Commander of the Lion Gate has defected, escorting Jaime and Cersei out of King's Landing with his personal guard and horses."
...
"Send men to pursue them at once!" After a long-planned layout, for the Lannister siblings to escape from under his nose made Ned fly into a rage as if possessed by Robert. "Have Grand Maester Pycelle send ravens! Order the lords of the Riverlands and the Reach along the Goldroad to intercept and arrest the Kingslayer and the Queen at all costs!"
The City Watch, having endured infighting last night and a change of command this morning, was now busy purging Lannister influence from the city. They were in a state of scattered personnel, poor communication, and chaotic command. With few horses to begin with, it took a great effort to scrape together a pursuit force. They poured out of the Lion Gate in a mess, chasing toward Casterly Rock along the Goldroad.
In the afternoon, from the rookery in the southeast corner of the Red Keep, ravens with messages tied to their legs flapped their wings into the sky, flying west on the wind. The content of the letters was exactly as Eddard Stark had ordered; even if the Hand had someone check them word for word, no fault could be found. Only the Maester who sent them knew the truth—two of the ravens that should have flown to Stoney Sept had been replaced with ones flying to Casterly Rock.
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