Ch. 2 The Mannis

The Fifth Day of the Second Moon, of the year 298 A.C.

"Lord Stannis," I called out to the Lord of Dragonstone as he's walking towards the Great Hall.

When Stannis Baratheon turns around, I took note of the beard over his hollow cheeks and his heavy brow. Like his elder brother, King Robert, Stannis has black hair and possessed dark blue eyes that radiate disapproval on everything they saw. Or maybe he just disapproves of the gold lion embroidered on my reinforced jerkin.

"I was hoping I could have a word with you, my lord," I respectfully say to the Master of Ships. As I approach, I'm a bit surprised to see how tall Stannis is. He might even be an inch or two taller than I am, but he is not as well as muscled as myself.

"I am rather busy at the moment," Stannis said with a pause at the end.

"Ser Lancel Lannister, my lord," I answer the unasked question.

"As I said, Ser, I am busy," Lord Stannis stated as he turned to walk away.

Refusing to be dismissed so casually, I fell in step with Lord Stannis as he traversed the halls. I catch the slightest hint of my reluctant companion grinding his teeth.

"I would like to discuss a business proposition with you, my lord," I said before Stannis can crack a tooth. "A proposition that will bring you a fair amount of gold."

We walked several steps without speaking. The only noise was the click of Stannis' boots on the stone floor and the grinding of his teeth. The further down the corridor we walked, the more I understood. With his attitude towards me, a man he's never met, I'm convinced Stannis knows the truth about Cersei and Jaime. That or he's an insanely unpleasant person.

That thought of Stannis knowing the truth doesn't sit well with me. There is no way Baelish was able to suggest such a thing. The man has been dead for years. That leaves me to conclude Varys hinted at the truth, or Jon Arryn and Stannis were able to somehow come to that conclusion on their own.

"And what is the proposition you wish to speak of," Stannis said as he came to a stop and faced me.

"I hope to strike a deal for the purchase of something you have in abundance, obsidian," I said as I stared into the blue eyes of Stannis the Mannis. "I wish to use obsidian to tile the floors and for decorations in several rooms in Casterly Rock. Since Dragonstone has the largest deposit of obsidian in Westeros," I state while leaving my last line open for Stannis.

I patiently waited as Stannis silently stared. Securing a large shipment of dragonglass may be a precaution against the undead, but this conversation served another purpose. Unless I've completely misread Stannis, he will have to be dealt with. Exposing the truth about the royal children will have devastating effects on House Lannister. I can not allow that.

The only real holdup is trying to figure out if Stannis or Renly is the greater threat. I've not seen Lysa Tully yet, but I've placed her on my list as a precaution. I also need to have a conversation with Lord Gyles Rosby, the new Master of Coin.

"We can discuss this tomorrow, Ser," Stannis suddenly announced. "Right now, I'm needed in the Small Council Chamber," The Master of Ships said as he turned away and continued down the corridor.

Watching the Lord of Dragonstone departing, I begin to wonder what Varys would have to gain from leaking information about Cersei and Jaime's treason. For that matter, I also wonder why Illyrio wed Daenerys to Drogo. Does the Spider plan to support the last Targaryens in their attempt to conquer Westeros, or does he have something else planned?

If I didn't suspect Illyrio would visit the Red Keep in the coming year, I would kill Varys and be done with it. Despite Varys being the most immediate threat to my House, Illyrio isn't someone to ignore either. Eliminating them both is the ideal course of action.

Of course, their deaths will not be an easy feat nor something that a drunken brawl can see to. The hardest part will be eliminating them without drawing suspicion on House Lannister. That and dealing with any contingency plans Varys may have laid in the event of his untimely death.

Turning on my heel, I make my way towards the barracks. I'm curious if anyone has begun to test the waters with the new 'Royal Guards'. At the very least, I'm sure Cersei will try to persuade my men to follow her.

Make no mistake, every single one of the Legion that traveled with us was hand-picked for their loyalty to me. I even went to great lengths to personally inform the men of the possible bribes the Queen would throw at them. Of course, each man had instructions to accept the bribe, but then immediately notify me.

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Jon Arryn looked up when the door opened. He had asked Lord Stannis to arrive early, but that doesn't always go as planned. While most of the members of the Small Council arrived shortly before the scheduled meeting time, Varys was unpredictable about his arrival time.

When Lord Stannis Baratheon steadily made his way into the room. Jon felt a touch of relief. This should give them a few minutes alone. Jon also noticed that Stannis looked more agitated than normal and decided to voice his opinion.

"You seem agitated, Lord Stannis," Jon Arryn stated in an aged voice. The Hand of the King would be celebrating his seventy-ninth name-day this year.

"I just had an encounter with Lancel Lannister," Stannis said as he made his way to his chair.

"Oh, anything of note?" Jon asked.

After a moment to organize his thoughts, Stannis gave his head a small nod. "He wants to set up a business deal. He mentioned purchasing obsidian," Stannis revealed.

Jon Arryn leaned back in his chair and thought the situation over a bit. "He's most likely sincere. The boy is only six and ten, I doubt he's aware of what's going on," Jon said.

"He's the heir to Tywin Lannister, and they have a larger force inside the Red Keep than every other guard force combined. They know something," Stannis stated.

Jon Arryn immediately shook his head. "If Tywin Lannister suspected the truth, he would have arrived with an army, not an oversized honor guard. Lord Tywin is traveling with his heir. That alone will cause a desire for increased security," The Hand of the King told Lord Stannis.

"So we wait?" Stannis asked.

"Yes. We wait and say nothing. Once this tourney is over, and the guests have departed, then, and only then, do we go to Robert," Jon Arryn said with a tone used to giving commands.

"That won't stop the war from coming," Stannis replied with a heavy tone. "Lord Tywin will not sit idly by."

"No," Jon Arryn agreed. "I don't suspect he will."