Leo's mind churned the second he heard Varys's report.
The name the Spider dropped belonged to some nobody noble from the Crownlands—someone Leo had never heard of. It didn't match a single one of the theories he'd been running through his head.
Was it really just some gambler who lost his shirt and panicked?
But if the guy was just a small-time lord north of King's Landing like Varys claimed, how the hell did he get poison into the royal camp kitchens? And how did he murder the servant in broad daylight and dump the body in the Blackwater without leaving a trace?
Varys had conveniently skipped every detail that actually mattered. He'd just handed over a name and called it a day.
Even Jon Arryn's careful phrasing—"We will end the investigation here"—felt like a polite slap: Here's your answer. Be happy with it.
Leo didn't buy a word of it. The minor noble was a scapegoat, plain and simple.
The real question was whether Varys couldn't dig up the truth… or whether Robert and the Hand already knew it and simply didn't want to tell him.
And even if the little lord was guilty, why not punish him right now? Why slap a "you're being very reasonable" medal on Leo's chest and promise to nail the guy later under some other charge?
Justice delayed is still justice denied.
All those thoughts flashed through Leo's head in a heartbeat. None of them reached his face.
He put on his best good-ol'-boy grin. "Thank you, Your Grace, and thank you, Lord Hand. I know you'll see that I get fair treatment."
Robert looked a little embarrassed for half a second, then recovered fast. "Neo, don't worry. When the time is right I'll strip that bastard of his titles and lands and hand them straight to you."
He turned to Jon Arryn. "Jon, find the lad a decent farm and fields near King's Landing—something roughly the same size. Consider it a personal gift from me for his knighting. I named him knight myself. If he doesn't even have a patch of dirt to call his own, people will say their king is stingy."
"As you command, Your Grace." Jon gave a small nod, then glanced at Leo as if to say, Happy now?
Leo wasn't about to turn down free real estate. "My deepest thanks to the king and the Hand. I, Neo Presto, will continue to serve King Robert with all my loyalty."
Robert barked a laugh, clearly relieved. "No need for all that formal crap! Tonight we'll throw a feast in the Red Keep to celebrate your knighting. We'll drink until we can't stand!"
Classic Robert—any excuse for a party.
With the serious business done, Jon Arryn excused himself to handle the mountain of state affairs. Robert clapped Leo on the shoulder and started walking, clearly planning to introduce him to young Tommen. Leo had promised to become the boy's sworn shield, and Robert figured it was time they spent some time together.
Varys trailed along quietly behind them.
After a few steps Leo spoke up. "Your Grace, there's one more thing I need to report."
Robert slowed. "Go on."
"I've received word that some of my men who were separated from me have turned up in the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea. I'd like your permission to cross over and bring them back." Leo kept his tone respectful. "I did promise to serve as Prince Tommen's sworn shield… but I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill that duty right away."
Robert stopped dead. The easy smile vanished. His face darkened and he fell into a heavy silence, like something unpleasant had just crawled back into his memory.
Varys shot Leo a long, searching look. He had been the one who helped spin the whole "lost fleet from the east" lie. Now Leo was suddenly talking about finding his missing men? Interesting.
The Spider studied Leo's face for any tell, but saw nothing. That only made him more curious.
Varys knew exactly why Robert had gone quiet.
Not long ago he had brought the king grim news: the last Targaryen remnants—Mad King Aerys's children, Viserys and Daenerys—had been spotted in one of the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea.
Robert had won the Iron Throne through rebellion, but those two surviving Targaryens were a thorn he could never pull out. The boy and girl were growing up. Soon they'd be old enough to have children of their own—dozens of "royal-blooded" heirs who could one day threaten everything Robert had built.
He had raged more than once about sending assassins to finish the job. Jon Arryn always stopped him cold, calling it dishonorable and the kind of act that would stain Robert's name forever.
Jon was Robert's foster father and the realm's most trusted Hand. Robert couldn't force the issue.
But the fear never left him. Every year the Targaryen kids got older, the danger grew.
Now Leo wanted to sail to Essos at the exact same time.
Robert's expression hardened. He turned to Leo, voice low and deadly serious.
"Neo… can I trust you?"