5 Brynden Tully I

276 AC

Ser Brynden Tully I

Ser Brynden stood watching Artys spar with a group of Vale heirs. As he watched Artys methodically defeat each squire he thought back to how he ended up the sworn shield and Knight of the heir to the Vale. His troubles with Hoster had only continued to escalate as he repeatedly scorned marriage offers arranged by his brother. After an admittedly blunt refusal to the hand of the sister of the head of House Bracken, his brother had been forced to send him into an unofficial exile from the Riverlands in an attempt to pacify his most powerful bannermen. Bryden had been intending to journey to each of the Seven Kingdoms on a tour. However, soon into his tour as he was preparing to leave the Vale by boat in Gulltown and travel to Kings Landing he had been invited to the Eyrie. That was 5 years ago and ever since he had been training the young Arryn heir and shadowing Artys on his escapades across the Vale.

A loud cry brought Brynden's attention back to his charge and he noticed Artys had disarmed the young Corbray. Lyn Corbray was skilled and had the makings of a good knight, however he was also vain and arrogant; Brynden could see the Corbray's frustration bubble up at being defeated by a younger opponent. Artys stepped forward and helped the fallen squire to his feet, clasping him by his wrist and returning his sword to him then loudly praising Lyn for a good fight and offering advice on his fighting style. Brynden watched as the anger dimmed in the young Corbray's eyes and instead become filled with pride having been complimented by his future liege-lord.

Bryden shook his head, this hadn't been the first time he had seen Artys defuse a situation unlike a child his age normally would. After shadowing and teaching Artys for half a decade he had long picked up that the boy was certainly not normal. While at times childish around his close friends Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark, he was a very mature child usually and seemingly stuffed with strange innovations and ideas. Once Brynden had heard him muttering about needing 'a fucking shower,' although why Artys wanted it to rain while he was training Brynden didn't know.

Soon the master-at-arms called the training to a halt and the young squires tiredly trudged over to the wells to strip out of their sweat stained gear and pour some refreshingly cold water over their heads. All except for Artys who looked like he had barely broken a sweat, that was another thing Brynden had quickly picked up on. The boy grew like a weed and already at his young age had started to gain the body of a warrior. He also rarely tired or struggled, sometimes training for long periods of time after his fellow squires had finished which landed him in hot water when he missed his lessons with Maester Coleman. In his pursuit of training Artys had introduced weightlifting and a strange art he called 'calisthenics' which he claimed to have discovered in a book Brynden was sure didn't exist. When Artys woke early he would lift sets of specially made weights in a series of poses and movements, somehow Brynden had been conned into joining Artys and he had to admit he felt much stronger and didn't mind the way the exercises made his body look, the maids certainly didn't mind!

Brynden followed Artys into his father's solar and watched him put his feet on Jon Arryn's desk. As soon as the door shut Artys groaned, "Gods, remind me again Ser Brynden why I have to put up with pricks like Corbray on a daily basis," Brynden supposed Artys had possibly mimicked Brynden's 'soldierly' way of speaking.

"Jon would tan your arse if he heard you speak that way, the Corbray's while poor are an old and influential house. It's a nice and easy way to keep them happy." Brynden responded knowing his young charge was only being semi-serious.

Artys nodded his head once before staring off out into the distance through the window. "Has there been any word from my father, Ned or Robert? They should have arrived in Lannisport by now for Prince Viserys' tourney. Although I must say I am upset father wouldn't allow me to come with them, Cousin Elbert surely could've stayed in my place and overseen the Vale. I'd have loved to see the Rock and the Royal Family. Apparently, the Queen is a real beauty!" Artys started to laugh after seeing Brynden's eye twitch at his final comment.

"If I remember correctly, it was you who asked your father to stay because you had a project you wanted to begin and no nothing yet, it takes time for a crow to reach out here," Brynden said, "Speaking of which what is this new project?"

"One moment, when Lysandro arrives with this quarter's records we can begin our little meeting. Plus, I need him to overhaul several of the Arryn records and bookkeeping while my father is away. Although father is content to allow me my ventures, he has been slightly resistant in introducing my reforms."

Although Brynden saw the use in Lysandro Rogare he had to profess his dislike for the man, 4 years ago after the first incredibly successful Arryn trading venture Lysandro had returned with the fleet from Lys offering his services. He came with his wife, young daughter, and the remains of the Rogare fortune. Apparently after the Rogare family fell from grace they had owed vast sums to debtors for several generations. When Lysandro saw strange ships docked in Lys he inquired as to their origin. After finding out the full story he decided to gamble his family's future in the Vale. Fortunately, it seems his roll of the dice was a winning gamble.

Brynden smelled Lysandro enter the room before he even saw or heard the man. While he wouldn't agree with the Westerosi stereotype of Essosi being soft, pillow biters he could certainly see where the idea came from. Lysandro was dressed in flowing silks and almost drenched in perfumes that left Brynden's nose tingling and burning from the spices. That being said, the man was a genius with coin and seemingly loyal seeing as his entire family lived in the town at the foot of the Eyrie under the watch of Artys. He watched Lysandro perform an ostentatious bow towards Artys before gracefully sitting in the chair at the side of the table. Artys clapped his hands together, removing his feet from the desk and bade Lysandro to begin with his report.

Brynden leaned close, while never interested in copper counting, he was always interested in Artys' schemes because if he wasn't present for half of them, he would think these reports were bullshit. Lysandro gave him a sly look, and deliberately took his time opening the reports, teasing Brynden something he never failed to take joy in. "Well, my lord, I will start with the good news, the Arryn Steel Works at Ironoaks is doing very well, the recent expansion to accommodate the demand in Essos and to continue outfitting your new cavalry wing has gone smoothly. There are a few issues in the growing village outside the works with squalor and crime however I believe the appointment of a magistrate and some preemptive building should solve the issues. Secondly, the Falcon Trading Company is experiencing a major boom, with the supply of steel fixed, we are making money hand over fist in Essos as Free Companies pay huge premiums to purchase our superior steel. Recently, the Company of the Rose signed a deal to buy exclusively from us. After using the funds raised from the first voyages to expand the docks and create a proto arsenal, the fleet has been expanded to 35 falcon ships and 12 Eagle ships. As the Falcon ships and Eagle ships are so quick the newly expanded trade route to Volantis has been opened and as of this quarter, we are making roughly 350,000 golden dragons every 4 moons. However, at your behest around 250,000 golden dragons are being used to expand the docks, build new ships, and fund the renovation of the roads in the Vale. Finally, the completion of the semaphore towers in settlements lining the Mountains of the Moon have been completed, the militia is close to being trained on their usage."

Artys nodded and leaned back on his chair before turning to Brynden, "Brynden, I would like you to select 50 experienced men from my hussars and send them in groups of 5 to the towers to oversee the training and ensure the Mountain Clans don't react aggressively to their construction," Brynden tipped his head in acknowledgment, "Lysandro, how far are we in recreating the Braavosi arsenal in Gulltown? I want our fleet to expand at a faster pace so that we can expand our trading routes to Yi Ti and the Far East."

"My Lord, that brings me onto the bad news. The Grafton's and Arryn's of Gulltown seem to have put their differences aside and are targeting Shett and FCT (Falcon Trading Company) businesses. Coupled with a sudden upswing in piracy out of the Three Sisters that seem to be targeting only our shipping it has slowed the expansion efforts significantly. Gulltown is booming and the city population has expanded by nearly 5,000 people but that's completely to do with our businesses, it seems their plan is to stall our growth and copy our ship designs. Several of our spies' report that the Grafton's and Gulltown Arryn's have attempted multiple times to get their hands on the designs for the Falcon ships and Eagle ships."

Brynden was watching Artys carefully and noticed the flash of anger in his eyes, for a split second it felt suffocating being in the same room as the boy and as quickly as it came the feeling left. Artys drummed his fingers on the desk before finally asking, "Do we know if the increase in piracy is connected to the Grafton's and Gulltown Arryn's?"

Lysandro nodded, "It is likely my lord, the timing is far too suspicious and lately reports suggest that someone is arming the Sistermen with weapons and armour." Artys hummed in response before sitting straight up.

"Here's what we are going to do, give the Shett's 900 golden dragons and tell them to hire as many street thugs as possible. Mix into that around 200 Arryn men at arms. I want them for the next 7 days to destroy as many Grafton and Gulltown Arryn shops, warehouses and manors. I want Gulltown to be in a state of chaos, enough chaos for me to declare martial law and bring Arryn men at arms into Gulltown and establish peace. That should destroy much of both family's foundations and quieten them down. When peace is 'restored' buy up as many of the destroyed shops and warehouses you can. I want their managers to flip to our side and weaken them so they can't contest with our businesses."

Artys turned to Brynden and continued, "Brynden, I want you to gather a thousand of my hussars, and one thousand five hundred of my pikemen. Enough to sweep through the Three Sisters without leaving us vulnerable to the Mountain Clansmen, take 7 Eagle ships and 15 Falcon ships with you to hunt down any Sistermen fleets." Artys stood up and walked to a large map covering the Vale, "If I remember correctly the Sistermen castles are made of wood, take the Greek fire we arm the Eagle boats with and we will burn them out of their rat nests. Tywin Lannister built his reputation with the Reyne's and Tarbeck's, it looks like the Sistermen will be my Castamere. We will start with Long Sister, then Sweet Sister and finally end with Little Sister"

Brynden suppressed the shiver down his spine and in his head mumble a quick prayer to the Seven for the Sistermen. However, his sympathy evaporated when he remembered his lessons on the Sistermen as a young boy. His Septon had told him the islands were a den of avarice and sin, their populace so inbred many had webbed fingers and feet. While he was busy thinking Brynden almost missed Artys' final statement.

"Of course, I will be coming with you."