Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, came walking from the end of the road.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ser Domeric."
He was dressed the same as before. His gray-green eyes seemed able to see through people's hearts, and the little tuft of carefully groomed goatee on his chin made him look even more refined. Behind him, his dark gray silk cloak was fastened with a clasp shaped like a mockingbird.
"Lord Petyr, how is your progress?"
"This matter is far simpler than you imagined."
Petyr snapped his fingers.
"Ser Janos Slynt is a greedy fellow. As long as you give him enough gold dragons, you can make him do anything."
"Anything?"
Domeric's eyes lit up.
"Yes, anything."
The corners of Petyr's mouth curved upward.
"Provided you have enough gold dragons, of course. Naturally, I would never doubt the wealth of Lonely Mountain Ridge. Speaking of which, you are far richer than the royal treasury, where only mice are left."
"I want to see him now and have a proper discussion with him. You know King's Landing's current situation is a little tense. Lord Eddard needs the support of the City Watch."
"No problem. Leave it to me. I will arrange for him to meet you at once."
Petyr bowed elegantly.
"I was drinking and visiting brothels with him just yesterday."
Naturally, Littlefinger was not doing this to help Domeric.
He simply wanted the situation in King's Landing to become even more chaotic.
Domeric looked deeply at Littlefinger, a false smile hanging on his face.
"Then I will have to trouble you, Lord Petyr."
"No trouble at all. After all, I am also on Lord Eddard's side."
A faint light flickered in Petyr's gray-green eyes.
"You truly are a loyal servant of the realm."
"Not at all, not at all. You and Lord Eddard are the loyal ones."
…
It had to be said, this Mockingbird's words sounded sweeter than song.
If Domeric were Lord Eddard, he might actually have believed him.
Only after Littlefinger disappeared did Benita, his personal guard, step out from the shadows.
"That man cannot be trusted. When I followed him before, I saw him enter the queen's chambers."
"Whether he can be trusted does not matter. As long as he is useful."
Domeric naturally knew that Littlefinger was currently betting on both sides. Whichever side had the greater chance of victory, he would place his wager there.
Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, was extremely efficient.
The matter had been entrusted to him in the morning, and before afternoon, the commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt, came to visit.
The City Watch, also known as the Gold Cloaks.
They were King's Landing's garrison and law enforcers, and in theory, they were loyal only to the royal family.
Under Janos Slynt, the Gold Cloaks were deeply corrupt, but they were also one of the few forces outside House Lannister's control.
Amid the political vortex formed by Lord Arryn, Stannis, Renly, and House Lannister, he had always remained neutral.
This was also why King Robert had never thought of replacing Janos Slynt, even though he knew perfectly well that the man was an utter fool.
Because in King Robert's eyes, his successor would very likely lean toward House Lannister.
In the original plot, this commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt, betrayed Lord Eddard at the critical moment. He was then briefly granted the title of Lord of Harrenhal by Cersei, before finally being exiled to the Wall by the Imp, Tyrion, and dying at the hands of Jon Snow.
It was worth mentioning that during Janos Slynt's tenure as commander, the City Watch numbered as many as six thousand men, three times more than the usual two thousand.
Although many of them were drunkards or street rabble and were desperately lacking in combat strength.
If they met disciplined, well-equipped regular soldiers head-on, they might collapse at the first touch.
Even so, they were still a force that could not be ignored, especially in a defensive battle inside the city.
…
Benita was entirely shrouded in a black robe, playing the role of a maid.
Her left hand gathered up her wide sleeve, while her right held the pot as she slowly poured the tea.
Her elegant and noble bearing made one feel that she must surely be the daughter of some noble house.
Boiling water was poured into the cup, and misty steam rose from it. Benita placed the pot back on the little red clay brazier at her side.
Domeric took the cup and drank lightly, slowly tasting it on the tip of his tongue.
Opposite him, Janos Slynt wore an extremely respectful, bowing-and-scraping expression.
Upon learning that Ser Domeric, the trusted man of the new Hand of the King, Lord Eddard, wished to see him, Janos had immediately taken a bath and had even prepared jewelry from Braavos across the Narrow Sea.
"Ser Domeric, please accept this small token."
Janos revealed a worldly smile and handed over a beautifully decorated gift box.
But Domeric had no intention of opening it to look.
He pondered inwardly, his gaze assessing Janos Slynt.
This commander of the City Watch was unimpressive in appearance, even rather ugly.
He was a short and stocky man with a double chin, a bald head, and a frog-like face. His body was shaped like a small barrel.
"Are you bribing me?"
"Of course not. This is a token of respect for Lord Eddard."
By now, there was no one in all of King's Landing who did not know that Domeric was the son-in-law of the Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark.
"That is good. I will accept it, then."
Domeric smiled.
Seeing this, Janos Slynt immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this man had not come to investigate his corruption and bribery.
During Janos's time as commander of the City Watch, he had become notorious for accepting bribes and selling offices. Basically, half the officers and soldiers had to pay him money.
Domeric pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I wonder, Lord Janos, whether you have ever thought about this. King Robert never manages affairs. Now Lord Eddard is Hand of the King. Every matter in King's Landing, great or small, is decided by Lord Eddard's word. Whether you can continue sitting in your current position depends entirely on one sentence from Lord Eddard."
"I know that. I have long admired Lord Eddard and am willing to swear my life to him."
Janos patted his chest and gave his guarantee.
Domeric had not expected him to be so cooperative.
But Domeric knew that the loyalty of such a man was not worth a few coins. He still needed to be properly beaten into shape.
"I heard that after Lord Arryn discovered you had been taking bribes, he found two people willing to testify against you. But not long after, those two people were found murdered… Lord Eddard wishes to know whether such a thing happened."
Domeric deliberately made the matter sound even more serious.
Janos's face immediately changed, and he stood up at once.
"Ser Domeric, you misunderstand!"
Domeric waved his hand and pressed down on the shoulder of the short, stocky man.
"Lord Janos, I did not say I was going to try you under the laws of the realm right away. I did not say I was going to take your life either, nor did I threaten your entire family in King's Landing…
"I am simply reasoning with you."
Janos's face grew even paler. He could not quite tell whether this was Lord Eddard's intention.
Could it be that the newly appointed Hand of the King wanted to make an example of him as soon as he took office?
Domeric guided him patiently.
"As long as you obey Lord Eddard's orders, everything I just mentioned can be treated as if it never happened. After all, those were old matters from Lord Arryn's time. The current Hand of the King is Lord Eddard.
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Janos Slynt nodded solemnly.
"I understand. I understand!"
Then he said with great seriousness:
"I never imagined Ser Domeric was not only the finest swordsman in the North, but also so skilled at reasoning. I am truly impressed."
"Not at all, not at all. Lord Janos flatters me."
Domeric waved his hand.
"See? Is it not much better for everyone to reason things out? Once hands are raised, feelings get hurt."
"Yes, yes."
Janos nodded.
"I wonder what orders Lord Eddard has. Just say the word. I will certainly obey the Hand of the King's command."
Domeric pondered for a while, then slowly explained his plan.
"But this…"
Janos's eyes widened. Clearly, what Domeric wanted him to do did not conform to the laws of the realm.
"This is Lord Eddard's command. There is no need to question it. Also, this is the reward Lord Eddard instructed me to give you. Five thousand gold dragons."
Domeric took out a large bag of gold dragons and tossed it onto the table in front of Janos.
"There will be another ten thousand gold dragons afterward."
"This…"
Janos had not expected Lord Eddard to be so considerate of his subordinates, even giving him a fee for carrying out duties. He immediately dropped to one knee.
"I swear I will be loyal to Lord Eddard to the death, and I will absolutely obey your orders!"
A cudgel in one hand, gold dragons in the other.
This commander of the City Watch was instantly trained into perfect obedience.
"Is there any problem with what I just instructed you to do?"
"No problem, no problem!"
Janos Slynt nodded like a pecking chicken.
Domeric then took out a map of King's Landing and pointed out several key locations, instructing Janos to send men to occupy them in advance.
Finally, Domeric pointed to his personal guard, Benita, and warned him:
"This is my dedicated liaison officer. She represents Lord Eddard's will and mine. Lord Janos, you must obey her orders."
"Understood, understood!"
Janos Slynt raised his head slightly and glanced at the woman, whose entire figure was hidden beneath the hooded robe.
Then he quickly lowered his head again.
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🏰🩸 GAME OF THRONES: SECRETS BENEATH THE DREADFORT
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🚨 SOMETHING IS BURIED BENEATH THE DREADFORT...
And perhaps it was buried for a reason.
The North is a land of old blood, older grudges, and secrets hidden beneath snow and stone.
But few places inspire more fear than...
The Dreadfort.
30+ chapters ahead are already available.
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🩸 THE DREADFORT HIDES MORE THAN BONES
🏰 Dark northern secrets
⚔️ Political intrigue
🐺 Westerosi power struggles
🩸 Bloodlines & betrayal
❄️ The brutal North
👑 Ambition & survival
💀 Mysteries best left forgotten
The North remembers.
But the Dreadfort?
🩸 The Dreadfort hides.
🔥 30+ CHAPTERS AHEAD.
👉 Go beneath the Dreadfort before the public readers reach the door.
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❄️ Winter may be coming. The secrets are already here.