Chapter 2.4 Grey Rat

Barbrey Dustin scowled at the "grey rat" in front of her. Maester Lyndon, a decrepit, white-bearded man with a face full of wrinkles. He wore a long gray robe to protect him from the cold, and a smile, falsely friendly, which he flashed to all he met.

"Milady" greeted Lyndon as he saw the woman, who was looking at him with distaste.

"Maester Lyndon" greeted the woman, and saw the white envelope the maester carried in his aged hands. "Who is the letter from?"

"From Lord Manderly, my lady. It is the one Lord Dustin was apparently expecting. I was on my way to deliver it to him."

"Then you can give it to me, I will deliver it to him."

"I am afraid I must refuse, milady. It is my duty to deliver the letter directly to the Lord. Besides, there is another letter, from the Citadel."

Barbrey was about to say something to the Maester, to answer him for his refusal to deliver the letter to her; a refusal that probably stemmed from her gender, but the second letter caught his attention much more.

"From the Citadel? What do they want with us? Oldtown is far enough north."

"I'm afraid a humble Maester such as myself is unaware of that."

"I see...::" whispered Barbrey, and let him pass over to where his son stood, but his dark eyes bore into the man's back, watching him with utter suspicion.

The Maester, with his calm smile, continued on his way, moving forward confidently, almost like advancing the King in King's Landing. He felt safe after all, no one messed with the Maesters, they were too important in the manors.

After a couple of minutes, he was already in front of Wolfgang's office, who had already taken a bath after finishing his training, and had returned to work.

The soldiers kept the Maester waiting, but the sharp-eared man could hear a few key words of the dialogue going on on the other side of the door.

"My Lord, I still can't believe these. This knowledge is truly incredible. A priceless piece" said a female voice.

"Well, you can't give me all the credit. It's all knowledge from a book I read a few months ago on a visit to The Rills."

"There? It's amazing that they have so much knowledge."

"Well, House Ryswell is a house with a great history, the book was probably misplaced by some Maester some centuries ago. But yes, with that book you will be able to save many lives."

"I thank you sir! I... I don't know how to repay you for this."

"Just fulfill your dream, that's enough help for us. You should already have a basic understanding of the text, I want you to continue studying it so that later you can teach more boys, or girls, who share your vocation. Medicine is key anywhere, and I feel that leaving the sick in your hands, Lady Catelyn, is the right thing to do."

"Then your wish is my command, My Lord, I will take it upon myself to save as many lives as I can, from all alike."

"I expect no less from you" smiled the boy, and the young woman stepped out, coming face to face with the Maester, who, of course, could only hear fragments of the conversation.

"Lady Catelyn" greeted the Maester, but the girl ignored him and continued on her way with a bright smile. 'Lady Catelyn Stout, eldest daughter of Harwood Stout, Lord of Goldgrass. I understand her dislike of me, the brat wanted to go to the Citadel, to study medicine, but it seems she doesn't know her place, that's why she's still single at over 20 years old. 'Women like that have no future' thought the man, stroking his beard, but despite the snub he had been given, he entered Lord Dustin's office with the same smile as always.

"Maester, what can I do for you?".

"My lord, it is a pleasure to see you. That girl... that was Lady Catelyn, was it not?"

"Yes, it was."

"She seemed very happy, it seems you did something good for her."

"I did, it was something the girl wanted to do a long time ago, but because of certain... characteristics of her person, she couldn't do it."

"That's nice, she's a good girl."

"She is" smiled Wolfgang. "But Maester, your time, and mine, is quite busy. Especially, with the current circumstances."

"Oh yes..." the man said in a sad tone. "This Greyjoy rebellion... What will these people have in their heads, do they not listen to the wise men in their seats with them?"

"The Greyjoys have always listened more to their priests than to their Maester."

"I think they can complement each other perfectly. Throughout the Dominion the Septons work complementarily with the Maesters. Faith and science are reconcilable."

"I am more than clear about that. I like to call myself a man, of science, and also a man of faith."

"Only of another faith."

"Yes, of another faith to yours, Maester," said Lord Dustin, and then thought: 'But neither are the Old Gods. I have always been a Christian man.'

"Oh, but what I was coming to. Here my Lord, two letters."

"Two? Too many letters coming in lately, I hope it's not bad news" Lord Dustin replied, and saw the two senders; Wyman Manderly and Archmaester Benedict."

Wolfgang first read the message from the Citadel, and it was a... request. The Citadel was asking the young man to share secrets about their farming methods, for the greater good they argued of course. If the Dominion applied these methods, their harvest would multiply, and they would be richer than they are now, and they are already grotesquely rich.

The arguments used by the Citadel were, of course, to protect the little people, and how, with such knowledge, the Masters could help the kingdom. A small chuckle escaped Wolfgang's mouth, he had already understood how this information worked, and why his mother called them "grey rats".

"What was it Milord? I hope it's nothing about my post" expressed the Maester, with false concern.

"Oh, fortunately it is not about your post, Maester, it is about the methods we occupy in agriculture."

"That? What are they asking of you?"

"That I share them with them."

"Oh! That would be good My Lord, many people would benefit from that. Besides, having the goodwill of the Citadel is always good."

"Is it? Something surprises me though."

"Tell me, My Lord."

"How did you hear about the new farming methods? They are quite far away after all."

"That... the Citadel is the vanguard of knowledge, it's only natural that they know about what's going on in the kingdom, My Lord, especially with the latest migrations. It's impossible for them not to draw attention to themselves."

"You speak the truth, Maester. Barrowton has become a prominent point of interest to many."

"So it would seem, my lord. Besides, it's not a bad thing either, after all, if such knowledge does the realm good, nothing is lost by sharing it," the Maester said, and Wolfgang nodded, but then stared at the Maester, a smile gracing his face.

An awkward silence lasted for a couple of minutes, until the Maester spoke again.

"My Lord, what is going to be your decision on that letter?".

"Oh, that? I got distracted thinking about something else, excuse me Maester."

"No need to apologize Milord, we all have enough on our minds."

"Well, I see no reason why I should refuse" smiled Wolfgang. "But I have other matters to settle. You will understand that, sharing this, is not something that can be done easily. It is not something that can be summed up in three lines."

"I understand perfectly my lord. Then I withdraw."

After the Maester left, Wolfgang did not have time to read the second letter, and called Beron and Amon.

"My Lord" said the adult, bowing his head, while Amon greeted him with respect, and a hint of fear in his eyes.

"I want you to guard the Maester's tower more tightly. Let any raven that comes out be shot down. If they don't give him time to write, even better."

"It will be done," Beron replied, and Wolfgang gave him the order to stand down.

"Your instructions" said Amon's cold voice.

"Here" said Wolfgang, and took an apple that lay on his desk.

"An apple?"

"I want you, while he sleeps, to infiltrate the Maester's room. Take his pillow and choke him to death. Once he is unconscious, before he dies, shove a piece of this apple down his throat, choke him to death."

"Do you want it to look natural?"

"Yes, and remember, this is proof that you are more than just a mindless beast. That you can be delicate and effective."

"I... I will Milord" Amon replied, still with his head down, and withdrew from the room.

Now... it remained to review Lord Wyman Manderly's letter.