King Stannis

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***

Light woke up in a prison cell. Level two, for noble prisoners. A solid iron door and the ominous red glow of torches. The mattress is stuffed with fresh straw. Podrick sits on the next bunk.

- Ser Lancel,' said the squire. - You're alive!

Light scratched his forehead, wincing at the headache. A large bump was growing under his blond fringes. But there didn't seem to be any blood.

- How long has it been?

- Since you were hit on the head? - Podrick asked. - Three days.

Light suddenly realised he was starving. Fortunately, Podrick had left him some of his food, which allowed Light to get rid of the sucking emptiness in his stomach, if not full. He should also have taken a bath, but that would come later.

- Tell me the news,' Light said.

The news, as one might expect, was disappointing. The rebels, who called themselves the Deer Men, had turned the gold cloaks to flight and opened the gates to the enemy. Red Castle fell in an hour, Maegor's stronghold in two. When Lord Tywin reached the capital, it was all over: Stannis sat on the Iron Throne, and Cersei and the unconscious Light were his prisoners. Light survived thanks to Podrick. His loyal squire carried him from the battlefield and dragged him to Red Castle before Stannis's men got there. When Lyte was carried to the prison, Podrick refused to part with him and asked to be locked up with his master. The jailers willingly honoured his request.

- I'm sorry I tore your boots,' Podrick added. - I couldn't lift you, so I dragged you by your armpits, feet on the ground.

Light looked at what was left of his shoes. A lump came to his throat. He felt something he hadn't felt in a very long time: genuine gratitude.

- Thank you, Podrick. When we get out of here, I'll make sure you get the land next to mine.

- We won't,' said the squire sullenly. - The jailers say King Stannis has no mercy. He chops off the heads of his most important enemies and hangs the rest. Your head will be cut off, Ser Lancel. I'll hang.

- Tyrion said only death is final, but life is full of possibilities. I'll think, Podrick. Don't stop me.

The squire is silent.

Why didn't Stannis kill me first? Either he needs me as a hostage or he's going to try me. The second is more likely. I doubt Lord Tywin values me highly enough not to sacrifice me for victory. My uncle could buy me back, but I doubt Stannis needs the money. So, the trial. The main defendant, of course, will be Cersei. I'm just an accomplice. If I blame it on her, I can get away with it, but the price will be a break with the family, Cersei's execution and her children being recognised as bastards. The lion and the rose will fail: Margaery Tyrell will not be given away to Tommen Waters. The war would thus end with Stannis' unconditional victory, which is not what I want. What if you deny it and demand a trial by combat? No. Too risky. If my defence counsel loses, I'll be executed.

Then the trial is out. I have to run. When I investigated Varys' death, I discovered an underground passage leading to the river. The first thing we need to do is get out of the prison. To do that, we must get a meeting with Stannis and make a good impression on him. I'll say I was blinded by a false sense of duty to my family. I'll say Cersei encouraged Theon to kill the king and convinced him to lie to Stark. My only fault was that I knew and didn't stop it. But now I repent and I want to help the rightful king.

Will Stannis believe me? He would if Lord Stark would stand up for me. Where is he, by the way? If he's managed to cross the Trident, he may not be far from the capital. And if Lord Tywin is still within its walls, he'll be defeated. Stannis lost a lot of men on the Blackwater. He can't fight his uncle alone, but not with Stark. The Tyrells won't make it to the capital in time, they were still gathering troops three days ago. It doesn't matter. As long as Tommen is alive and legitimate, there's still a chance of victory. The key is to prevent the Queen's trial. Which is better: killing Cersei or escaping with her? It's not clear yet. I'll decide as circumstances dictate.

- Ser Lancel? Have you thought of a way out yet?

- Yes, Podrick. I have.

Light started banging on the door. A couple of minutes later, he heard footsteps. A red fleshy face with small eyes stared at Light through the barred window. A soaked voice asked:

- Well, what do you want?

- I want to see the king.

- And I want to fuck the queen,' the face smirked. - But the lads say she only gives to Lannisters. You fucked her too, didn't you, pretty boy?

- What makes you say that?

- Every servant in the castle knows. Some men are lucky to get a woman like that. It's a good way to die.

Light wasn't too surprised. It was foolish to hope no one had noticed him and the queen dating. While Cersei had been in power, the servants had kept quiet out of fear, but under Stannis, why should they be afraid?

- Don't be in a hurry to bury me. Tell me, how much do you want me to tell the king what I say?

The prisoner's eyes lit with greed. He named a sum. After some haggling, Light agreed. The jailer looked pleased: he didn't know that Light would have paid ten times that amount if he'd had the nerve to demand it.

- What shall I tell the king?

Light weighed several options, discarding them one by one. Only one could be guaranteed to get his attention.

- Tell him,' Light sighed, 'that I want to confess my crimes.

***

Red Castle was transformed. Instead of the red cloaks of the Lannisters, the yellow cloaks of the Baratheons. Unfamiliar lords and knights cracking jokes at the sight of a captive Lannister. At the door to the king's study, Light's escort stopped. The guard guarding the doors searched Light quickly but professionally. Finding nothing suspicious, he gestured for him to enter.

Stannis was not alone. To the king's right stood a barrel-chested man with hair sticking out of his ears. The coat of arms on his doublet depicted a fox inside a floral ring. A Florent, a relative of the king's wife. House Florent was the only House of Prostor to support Stannis.

The king raised his gaze to Lyte. The blue eyes resembled icy lakes.

- I'm told you wish to confess your crimes. Speak.

- I am guilty,' Light hung his head, 'of helping the queen to hide the truth. For love, I forgot my duty.

- Hide the truth? - Florent chuckled. He had an unpleasant, grunting laugh. - Is that all? What about the assassination of King Robert that you helped bring about?

- Wait, Ser Axell,' Stannis muttered. - I'll hear Ser Lancel first.

- Thank you, Your Grace. As you may know, I assisted Lord Stark in his investigation. Before he left, he told me the terrible truth. The Queen was cheating on her husband with her brother, and her children are illegitimate. Knowing this, I nonetheless declined Lord Stark's offer to ride with him, stayed in the capital, and swore an oath to Joffrey. I did so out of loyalty to my family, and also because I loved Cersei and wanted to be with her.

- Go on.

- The queen loved me back. I was happy, and I did her bidding willingly. I arrested Theon Greyjoy. I knew he'd killed Robert on Cersei's orders, but I pretended to believe his tortured testimony that Lord Stark had ordered it. I suffered remorse and tried to make amends for the harm I'd done by fulfilling my position as master of the law as best I could.

- You cut off the hands of thieves and sent Janos Slynt to the Wall.

- Yes, Your Grace. Was I wrong?

- Yes, you were. How did Theon Greyjoy manage to wound my brother? Was Robert really drunk?

- Yes, Your Grace, and I blame myself. I should have been firm when your brother demanded a drink from me. Forgive me, Your Grace, but when your brother is stubborn, it's very hard for him to object.

- Yes, Robert is like that. Stubbornness is what ruined him. Stubbornness and his bitch wife. When did you find out about her plan?

- The night before she was murdered. Lord Eddard brought it to my attention, and he learned it from Varys,' Stannis nodded. - I couldn't talk the king out of joining the general fight, but I did help Lord Stark escape. When I found out the king was dead, I--' Light took a deep breath, 'I felt an undignified sense of joy. Cersei was free and I could be with her!

- You loved her, I realised. What about her? What did she see in you?

- A replacement, I suppose. They say I'm a bit like my cousin Jaime.

- What made you decide to come clean?

- I was nearly killed at the Battle of the Blackwater,' Light rubbed the lump on his forehead. - I was unconscious for three days, and when I woke up, I had a lot of rethinking to do. Seven didn't bring me back to life so that I could continue to sin!

Stannis drummed his fingers on the table.

- You speak well, Ser Lancel. You admit what's already proven--your connection to Cersei, your part in the false Greyjoy trial--and deny the rest. And you don't forget to make yourself look as good as possible. I don't believe a word you've told me.

- Your Grace, you can ask Lord Stark--

- Lord Stark is dead.

Light felt the ground slipping from under his feet.

- What do you mean, dead?

Stannis gritted his teeth.

- Died at the Battle of the Trident. A terrible fight, they say. There's talk of werewolves and a dwarf leading a horde of savages and other nonsense. One thing is certain. When everything was hanging by a thread and it looked like the Northmen were about to break through, the Kingslayer personally led the attack, cut his way through Stark's guards, and slew him in a duel. The leader's death forced the Northmen to retreat: Lord Bolton was the first to turn back, followed by Manderly and then the rest. - Stannis looked Light in the eye. - Why are you suddenly silent, Ser Lancel Lannister? Has joy robbed you of your tongue?

Ser Axell Florent smiled carnivorously.

- Give him to me, Your Grace. I'll have him talking in no time.

Stannis frowned.

- No torture, Ser Axell. Ser Lancel has just shown us how far he's willing to go to clear himself of guilt. Cersei will do the same, I think. Let the Lannisters denounce each other in front of all the lords-- it'll be a glorious spectacle.

- Your Grace, what if the queen demands a trial by combat?

Stannis snorted.

- Do you think I haven't thought of that? You are cunning, Lancel Lannister, but I am no fool. Cersei will probably call on her brother or the Mountain to defend her, but by law only a knight of the Kingsguard can defend the queen. The Mountain isn't one of them, and I kicked the Kingslayer out of the Guard - Robert should have done it. Barristan, Ockhart and Moore are not in the capital: I heard you sent them away with Cersei's bastards. The Hound's badly wounded, Greenfield's dead. So Cersei's only defence is...

- Ser Merrin Trant.

Stannis smiled miserably.

- When the Lannisteress hears of this, she'll change her mind in favour of a regular trial. You'll drown Cersei, and she'll drown you. That's how we'll find out the truth.

Light realised he was about to be sent back to his cell.

- Your Grace,' Light made a desperate attempt, 'you don't believe me, all right. But what if I prove my remorse with a deed?

- What kind of deed?

- I'll help you defend the city from your enemies.

- If you mean your fire vents, my men have already figured out how they work. It's a simple matter. The pyromancers have agreed to make gunpowder for me, so I don't need you.

- What if I offered you something new?

The king was clearly running out of patience. His fingers drummed on the table faster and faster.

- Like what?

- Balloons,' Light said. - Devices that allow you to take to the skies to drop pots of wildfire on your enemies' heads.

- Up into the sky without dragons? - snorted Ser Axell. - Nonsense.

- They said the same thing about my 'fire vents' until they started firing.

Stannis thought for a moment.

- It might prove useful,' he decided at last. - What do you want in return?

- A room with a bath, for starters. And release my squire. Podrick saved my life and he's innocent.

- Fair enough, Stannis has admitted it. - I'll give you a week. If there's no result, you go back to the dungeon.

- And if there is a result?

- There will be a trial either way. If you can justify yourself, I'll put you in the service. If you fail, you lose your head. My men will follow you everywhere you go. If you try to flee or tell your men, you'll be killed on the spot. I'm not to be trifled with. Do you understand me, Lancel Lannister?