Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 59: Whispers Before the Throne

The next day, at dawn.

The East Gate of Winterfell was once again crowded with armored knights riding warhorses, holding lances adorned with the direwolf banner.

Rain and Snowball, carrying passengers, slowly plodded to the front of the knightly procession.

The leading knight was Theon, clad in a set of gleaming black plate armor. His helmet was exquisitely crafted, and the Greyjoy kraken was subtly etched into the center of his breastplate, but a silver-gray cloak embroidered with a direwolf was clasped on his shoulders.

Joffrey could sense the turmoil in his heart.

"Rain won't slow down. Theon, do your best to keep up. Hopefully, we can all reach our destination before the Bloodraven attacks."

Joffrey waved at him. "I'll take the lead!"

Rain shook its thick mane and shot out of the city gate like an arrow. Snowball grumbled in discontent and followed closely behind.

Theon silently watched as the giant beasts rapidly disappeared from sight. He turned back to look at the hundred or so knights in their brightly polished armor, unable to suppress a hint of excitement and pride. He then raised his head.

Robb, standing on the city gate tower, nodded emphatically at him, while Lady Catelyn cast an expectant gaze.

Theon raised his right arm and waved it forcefully. "Departure!"

The iron knights filed out in single file.

The sound of hooves gradually faded, and Winterfell fell silent.

But for a castle in the daytime, the silence was a bit excessive.

Winterfell remembered everything from the past. Since the end of the Usurper's War, this was the first time it had seen the humans within its walls so quiet and worried.

Hopefully, nothing bad will happen.

…

It had been more than two days since they left Winterfell.

Tyrion was still reminiscing about the slippery Rose, unable to imagine that a person's body could eject so much water.

Praise the gods. Creating women with pure water, how did they think of that? Absolutely genius!

Tyrion was even more enamored with the wondrous power known as "recovery magic." What man could resist its allure?

He was increasingly curious about the extent of Joffrey's magical abilities.

Surely, they were far more potent than what had already been displayed. No wonder he acted so aggressively and recklessly.

"Good nephew, will the King see the contents of that letter?"

Joffrey responded with an inscrutable smile.

He knew what he was doing.

The average speed of a raven's long-distance flight was only four to five hundred kilometers per day. It would take four to five days for the letter to arrive, just shortly after the King's Landing operation, when the King and others would still be completely unaware.

This provided plenty of room for maneuver.

After conducting a routine reconnaissance of the King's convoy and confirming that everything was normal, Joffrey focused all his energy on the Red Keep.

Remotely controlling the situation in King's Landing was no easy task and required constant vigilance.

He activated the runes, and his "eyes" jumped back and forth between the countless locations within the Red Keep that he had set foot in, searching for valuable targets.

Ha! Joffrey smiled, his eyes narrowing. Luck was on his side today.

He had caught the rat.

Inside the sealed Throne Room, the Spider and the Mockingbird were whispering before the Iron Throne.

Petyr Baelish toyed with a silver Mockingbird pin, his shrewd gray-green eyes fixed on the somber and imposing Iron Throne.

"Varys, after joking around for so long, shouldn't we have a heart-to-heart?"

The Spider followed the Mockingbird's gaze. In the dim space, the cold throne transformed into a crouching beast, ready to devour the flesh and blood of all those lured by it.

"Power," the Spider sighed, "so alluring, yet always fraught with danger. It truly inspires both love and fear."

The Mockingbird chuckled. "My dear Lord Varys, what do you have to fear? In the game of power, you have long been invincible."

The Spider was not arrogant. "No matter how beautifully the web is woven, it will crumble at the touch of a lion or a fire dragon."

"Speaking of which," the Mockingbird shook his head, "Lord Varys's information turned out to be false. The male and female dragons are nowhere to be seen. Everyone was happy for nothing."

The Spider shifted his legs, finally broaching the subject. "Was this not your doing, my lord?"

The Mockingbird widened his eyes. "How could you think that!? This is the most ludicrous rumor! I cannot accept it!"

It was perfectly normal to suspect Littlefinger.

The Spider sighed. "If it truly wasn't you, then, I fear we are all in danger."

"How so?"

"My dear Lord Petyr, think about it. Who asked you to send people to Pentos to buy dragon eggs? Who sent a servant to accompany them, only for them to disappear along with two fire dragons? Who left a lover in the Red Keep, inexplicably causing the Hound to return to King's Landing ahead of schedule?"

The Spider added, "You can't possibly be unaware of who the current Prince of Dragonstone is, can you?"

The Mockingbird was silent.

Joffrey Baratheon. Had he become smarter? Was he the one who intercepted Lysa's secret letter? Had he discovered me!?

The Spider appeared uneasy. "Since he can do these things, how much do you think he knows, how much power has he gained, and how will he view us, these two diligent public servants under the throne?"

The Mockingbird murmured, "Could those new faces active in the city recently all be his people?"

He had thought it was all Tyrion's doing, a hidden move by the Lannisters, but the mastermind behind it was actually him!?

The Spider's tone became urgent. "More than that, many of my little birds have already sensed danger. Those people are likely about to take major action."

Who else in King's Landing could they take action against? Both of them understood.

Silence fell.

The Spider and the Mockingbird were both calculating their positions and strengths, trying to convince themselves to trust the insidious fellow beside them.

Trust, ha, who would have thought this would happen before today? But the immense danger forced them to endure each other, to endure the risks brought by this fragile alliance.

The Mockingbird spoke first. "He is not a prince."

The Spider smiled. He knew Petyr believed him, which proved his guess was correct. The events in Pentos were likely not related to Petyr.

The Spider whispered, "He is not a prince. We have a responsibility. The King should know the truth within a week."

The Mockingbird, born for power, calmly shook his head.

"It's too late."

Having identified the enemy, the Mockingbird grasped the main threads in a few breaths.

Daring to execute a member of the Small Council in King's Landing, could the prince's identity withstand it? The King probably wouldn't live long enough to know the truth.

The Mockingbird couldn't help but admire. "A meticulous plan. An attack in King's Landing, followed by an accident befalling His Majesty, while he is still far away in the North. According to His Majesty's itinerary, it's these next two days!"

The Spider seemed incredulous. "So soon?"

The Mockingbird appeared relaxed. "There is enough time to prepare. If you and I cooperate, what threat can those naive little fellows in the city pose?"

"As for what comes after," the Mockingbird sighed, "we'll just have to take it one step at a time."

The King was beyond saving, but he was confident he could take advantage of the ensuing chaos and use it to climb to even greater heights.

The Mockingbird greedily peered ahead, the Iron Throne within reach.

The Spider frowned. "There are also the Lannister guards. Not all of the King's Landing city watch are friends."

The Mockingbird ascended the steps of the Iron Throne, one step, two steps.

He stopped before the throne at the highest point, turned around, and looked down at the Spider. "Little birds may not be good at fighting, but I do have some brave friends."

The Spider smiled obsequiously. "That would be for the best."

Neither player was backing down.

What could Joffrey say? Indeed, ignorance is bliss.

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