In ti, it would be called the Night of the Falcon. Nearly five hundred soldiers of the crown fell, four hundred of them from the City Watch, forty of the Hand's own n, with the remaining losses divided between House Lannister and House Baratheon. Thanks to their sacrifice, the criminal world would not recover for a long ti to co. Unfortunately, things would not remain so simple. Over the years since King Robert's ascension, cri had grown fat, forgotten what fear felt like, and grown careless. On the Hand's side had been the elent of surprise and a thorough underestimation of the scale of his ambitions.
When the Night of the Falcon was over, a substantial portion of King's Landing's gangs had disappeared into the dungeons of the Red Keep. Co morning, the storm arrived.
...
King's Landing. The Red Keep. 295 AC.
Varys the Spider / Master of Whisperers.
Weeks after the Night of the Falcon.
Throughout his life, the Spider had confird to himself more than once that information was the key to everything. The Red Keep held many secrets, and even Varys would not claim to know them all. But those available to him had earned him the epithet of "the all-knowing." That flattered him in so asure, though he understood perfectly well that it was not true. He could not predict the notorious human factor.
For that reason, and out of a very considerable concern for keeping his head, Varys approached the preparations for his eting with his friend with the utmost care. Yes, his friend. Who would have thought that the Cheesemonger, Magister of Pentos, a rchant who would sell his own mother, and the Spider, the all-knowing spy of uncertain loyalties, would end up as close friends. Their friendship had begun at the very bottom. Together they had pulled off more than a few life-threatening sches, and the number of tis each had saved the other's neck was beyond counting. And after all these years, they were among the most powerful n in the world.
Today would be their annual eting, at which they could report to one another in person on their affairs.
"Who would have thought the little fledgling would pull sothing like this," Illyrio said thoughtfully, after the Spider's account.
"The fledgling has grown into a full-grown falcon," his companion corrected him. "My friend, we assud the young lord would be a second Robert. He is not. When he arrived, he managed to seize control of the capital, reach an agreent with the Lannisters for a joint raid, rein in the king's appetites, compel the criminal world to pay tribute to him, and is now actively purging the Gold Cloaks of corrupt officers."
"Pay tribute?"
"A great many influential figures were entangled in illegal business and took a dim view of the new Hand's activities. When they attempted to 'talk sense into him,' Lord Arryn, secure in his position and his support, simply laughed. So the less reliable elents sat down at the table with him to negotiate. The outco was a modest tribute to the Hand, a reduction in the gangs' appetites, and the performance of certain services. In exchange, the Hand redirected the raids toward smugglers. Ser Swyft distinguished himself particularly in that effort."
"Let guess," the Magister said with a crooked smile. "The nobility now loves him, the smallfolk adore him, his position is firmly consolidated, loyal n have been slotted into leadership posts, Axel's sellswords becoming officers of the City Watch, and he has acquired a certain amount of capital."
"Not exactly, but you have grasped the general idea," Varys confird. "How are the dragons, Young Griff, and the Golden Company?"
"Griff is doing well. He studies, trains, builds his authority. The shadow of the Falcon's Eye helps him greatly in that. Holess," aning Strickland, "is expanding the company's fighting strength. By year's end they will number twelve thousand. The dragon, however, is a cause for concern. The boy has begun to show signs of madness."
"Regrettable, but within the range of what we expected. It was to test for precisely that reason that we arranged the double ga. Let the mad dragon draw attention to himself while the young one grows."
"What of the she-dragons?" The question made Varys grimace. Doran Martell was a worthy adversary.
"The little aunt will make Griff a fine wife. Of the sun dragon I know very little. Snakes hide their secrets well." He had to admit his failure there. "I can only suggest five possible locations where the princess might be."
"That is not so pressing for the mont." Seeing that the subject of his failure was causing him genuine discomfort, Illyrio shifted the topic. "What do you plan to do about the Falcon?"
"It is too soon to say. Only ti will tell."
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