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[CRASTER'S KEEP]
[KARL TANNER stabs a Night's Watchman in the neck. JON enters. KARL TANNER pulls his knife back and bows. KARL TANNER spins his knives and walks towards Jon. They battle, JON's sword against KARL TANNER's knives. It is an even match. They pause for breath.
They engage again. KARL TANNER gets the upper hand and stabs JON in the leg. JON groans. JON frees himself from the dagger and they battle again. KARL TANNER has the upper hand. JON slices KARL TANNER's face, who falls back. They grapple and parry. KARL TANNER spits in JON's face, then sweeps his legs from under him. JON falls and KARL TANNER kicks at him, then stomps on JON'S hand to prevent him from grabbing his sword. A stabbing sounds, and KARL TANNER drops his knives and stumbles backwards. SISSY has put a knife in his back. She looks terrified. KARL TANNER reaches back to remove the knife while walking towards SISSY. She backs away and falls, and KARL TANNER successfully dislodges the knife. He naces her with it. Suddenly, JON's sword pieces through KARL TANNER's mouth. JON slowly withdraws his bloody blade. KARL TANNER falls dead atop SISSY. JON kneels down to her.]
All those watching the fight had been doing so in silence, so in fear for their loved ones while others were simply watching to see who would co out on top. Karl Tanner didn't fight fair and when he took advantage of the fact and overpowered Jon, most of the Starks were hissing in anger, outrage and fear. None of them were under the delusion that everyone summoned would live to the end, not when they've seen people here die.
When one of Kraster's wives ca to Jon's rescue, many blessed her for her effort, eventually cheering when Jon put his sword through the man's mouth.
"Boy has skilled" Jai admits with a small smile, "but he's too set on his belief of fighting fair."
"Like you?" Tyrion raised a brow.
"It'll get him killed" Jai pushed on. "Or worse."
Tyrion didn't need to ask what was worse than death, not after all the shit he'd seen here.
[GRENN, JON, and a Night's Watchman survey the grounds. The MAN hands JON a sword. GHOST approaches.]
"Where in seven hells have you been? Co here."
[GHOST whines. JON pets him.]
Robb smiled at seeing his brothers future self be reunited with his future familiar. The wolf had survived, he did not end up like Greywind...
"What should we do with this lot?"
"It's not safe for you here on your own. Mance Rayder has an army heading this way and there's worse out there than Mance. Co with us to Castle Black. We can find you work. Keep you safe.
"aning all respect, Ser Crow, Craster beat us and worse. Your brother crows beat us and worse. We'll find our own way."
"You want to stay here in Craster's Keep?"
[MORAG spits.]
"Burn it to the ground and all the dead with it."
"A singular bad idea" Doran said with a frown. "This far up North where you won't find a good place to rest, a place like that is a treasure. Burning it is a waste.'
"These won have not had good mories here, nor will they have any if they continue to do so" Elia pointed out.
"They don't need a house for mories. They need it for shelter" Doran said with a tongue click. "The Watch could also take it over and turn it into an outpost for their rangers as well. Burning it is a waste."
"I agree" Ned added with a frown. "Perhaps once Caster has been ousted this ti, I can convince Mormont to make an outpost of this. Take all the food and wine and whatever else that is useful back to Castle Black."
"And the won?" Daenerys questioned. "What will happen to them?"
"The sa choice that Jon gave them, I will give as well. They are victims of Craster, and the North is vast for them to find a place for themselves."
"Not the worst idea..." Catelyn mused. Maybe she'd hire so of them for Winterfell... only the young ones though. Those would be easier to settle down with life at Winterfell. Perhaps she'd coax so to share her faith as well.
[STANNIS and DAVOS wait, STANNIS pacing anxiously.]
"Where is this? Doesn't look like Westeros" Renly asked with a frown.
"I believe those are Braavosi, my Lord" Varys smiled. "And I believe this might be a chamber for the Iron Bank's eting with its clients. One of many."
"You're going to take a loan from the Iron Bank?" Renly turned to his brother. "With how much the crown already owes, do you think it is wise?"
"No" Stannis answered simply. "But it might be the only choice."
"We've been here since midday."
"Easterners have a different sense of ti, I've often found. Once I was waiting for Salladhor Saan here in Braavos. Together, we were going to run three shiploads of the finest-"
[The door opens. TYCHO NESTORIS and two other Iron bankers enter and sit.]
"Welco to the Iron Bank Please, sit."
[STANNIS ponders, then sits.]
"This is Stannis of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals and the First n, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.
"The Iron Throne is currently occupied by Tomn of the House Baratheon, King of the Andals and the First n, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
"He shares no blood with . He is a bastard born of incest. As was his brother before him."
"I'm afraid that matters little to these n" Varys explained, "they only care about who is currently poised to return their gold. And the Iron Throne owes a large debt."
Stannis set his jaws stubbornly and glumly.
"The king's grandfather tells a different story. A story about a jealous uncle whose attempts to usurp the throne from the rightful king cost the Seven Kingdoms dearly in blood and gold."
"Gold you loaned him."
"And you feel your blood gives you a claim on our gold?"
"More than any man living."
"Across the Narrow Sea, your books are filled with words like "usurper" and "madman" and "blood right." Here, our books are filled with numbers. We prefer the stories they tell. More plain. Less open to interpretation. How many fighting n remain loyal to you?"
"4,000."
"And how many ships do you have? The ones still afloat, Ser Davos, not at the bottom of Blackwater Bay."
"32."
"And how much wheat and barley and beef and pork do you produce on Dragonstone to feed your 4,000 n on your 32 ships?"
"None."
"I believe you have lost the Iron Bank here, Lord Stannis," Varys said kindly. "They see no value in supporting a man who cannot sustain the army he has, let alone an army he may hire with their gold."
"Perhaps lying may have done you good" Shireen suggested. "I know you hate to lie, but mayhaps it would have shed you in a favourable light."
"It wouldn't work with the Iron Bank. They are very thorough about who they loan out to" Stannis explained, still none too pleased.
"You can see why these numbers seem unlikely to add up to a happy ending from our perspective. I'm afraid we must respectfully decline your request. But we thank you for paying us the honour of your visit."
[STANNIS stands to leave. DAVOS rises as well.]
"My lord."
"I'm not a lord, Ser Davos Seaworth. You would not be either here. In Braavos, thieves are not rewarded with titles."
"Well, strictly speaking, I didn't do the thieving. That would be the pirates. I just moved what they stole from one place to another."
[DAVOS removes his right glove to show the stubs of his fingers.]
"This is the paynt that was demanded by King Stannis for my cris. I consider it an honest accounting. He's an honest man and he's your best chance to get back the money you've sunk into Westeros. Which is a lot, I imagine. Wars are expensive."
"The war is over."
"As long as Stannis lives, the war is not over. Who's the real power in King's Landing? Humour ."
"Tywin Lannister."
"How old is Tywin Lannister?"
"67."
"And when he dies, who's in command? A half-grown boy, the product of incest? Cersei Lannister, a queen whose people despise her? Jai Lannister, a man best known for killing the king he was sworn to protect? When Tywin's gone, who do you back?"
"That is a problem for another ti."
"Begging your pardon, I think it's a problem for now. There's only one reliable leader left in Westeros. Stannis. He's got the birthright. He's in his pri. He's a tried and tested battle commander. And he doesn't just talk about paying people back, he does it."
"You may yet get your loan, Lord Stannis," Varys said with a smile. "Your Hand has put forth an honest account, based on logic, reason and reality rather than pompous grandeur as many of the West do when eting the Iron Bank'
"Ser Davos is an honest man who is not shy about speaking the truth," Shireen said with pride. She turned to her father, who had a small smile on his face.
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