Chapter Twenty Two: Element Of Surprise

The Legion without Banners were hosted by Ser Tarrence Clegane that night. The infantrymen camped outside the walls of Clegane's Keep. Gregor and his lieutenants slept in the guest chambers of the keep.

Everyone who resided in or near the keep managed to catch a fairly peaceful rest. They all awoke quite early the following morning. The top officers of the Legion broke their fast with the Cleganes and their retainers in the Main Hall.

After breakfast, a rider arrived in the keep's courtyard. He had come from Robert Baratheon's forces. He claimed the King had called for a meeting between the leaders of the Royal Army. That included the foremost members of the Legion without Banners.

The meeting was to take place at high noon in Casterly Rock that day. So there was no time for the Legionnaires to waste. As soon as they heard the message, they prepared to head out straightaway.

Lord Gregor and Sandor bade a fond farewell to Ser Tarrence, Lady Daliah, and Lady Ellyn. Their parents and sister were reluctant to say good-bye, but they did, all the same. They were confident that both of them would overcome the encroaching struggles.

Dacey Mormont would be joining her lord husband in the field, so she and Gregor left their son Rickard in the care of Lady Daliah Clegane. She did not wish to part from her son, but the only way she could avoid doing so was if she parted from her husband. Either way, the separation was supposed to be temporary. Still, at least if she separated from Rickard, she could ascertain that he would be safe.

Dacey was not the only woman who intended to fight in the Greyjoy Rebellion.

Obara Martell insisted on travelling with the units of House Clegane of Clegane's Keep. Sandor put up no opposition to his intended's request, and his soldiers seemed to respect both of them for that. They all believed she would make an excellent lady for their future master. Furthermore, Nymeria Martell would remain with her father Prince Oberyn as his squire. Ellaria Sand, however, had chosen to remain behind.

While the baseborn daughter of Lord Uller could handle herself well in a combat situation, she had no taste for direct warfare. Instead, she would take care of Elia and Obella whilst their father was away.

She also planned to assist Lady Daliah in any way she could. Namely, she would help her tend to Rickard and the other children at Clegane's Keep. These specific children were not just Elia and Obella. They included all the children that had come south in the Legion's convoy. They were the children of the Legionnaires who had come to the Westerlands.

Ser Gerion Lannister's natural daughter, Joy Hill, was among that group of children. She had lived at Moat Cailin almost as long as her father. Gerion had sent for her when he officially decided to join the Legion.

Gerion recalled when King Robert had legitimized Prince Oberyn Martell's two eldest bastard daughters. At the time, that had been done primarily as a measure to ensure that the total number of female heirs in the Great Houses would be closer in number to the total number of male heirs. Yet now, one of his former baseborn girls would be marrying into a knightly house in the Westerlands, instead.

Gerion had often considered doing the same for Joy. He felt she deserved to have a name of her own. Ideally, he could use the same excuse as Oberyn; she would be a prospect for marriage for the other Great Houses.

In actuality, he cared little for the concept of using his own daughter as one-half of a marriage contract. Aside from that, Joy was already perfectly happy at Moat Cailin. Bastards were treated kindly there, just as they were in Dorne. Plus, Joy had made plenty of friends, baseborn and trueborn alike. The fact that she was a bastard did not seem to perturb her in the slightest.

She may not even want a name of her own. She's certainly never shown any interest in one.

All the same, Gerion would keep the idea of legitimizing Joy in mind. For all he knew, there could come a day when it would be advantageous, practical, and idyllic to make her a Lannister. Her mother Briony had been a common woman, so Lord Tywin Lannister would probably not approve of the concept. But Gerion had never bothered very much with pleasing his brother. What truly mattered to him was his capacity to please himself and his daughter.

And his commander.

Growing up the youngest of five, Gerion had never been a stranger to authority. Despite that, he did not blindly follow any order his siblings or anyone else gave him. As a self-imposed rule, he only accepted commands from people he could understand, admire, and relate to. Gregor Clegane was the first and only person he had encountered who met all three of those criteria.

Gerion had been the very first person to enlist in the Legion without Banners. As such, he had been fighting alongside Gregor Clegane longer than anyone else in their ranks. That included Dacey Mormont and Prince Oberyn. Additionally, Gerion had known the Mountain when he had still been his elder brother's vassal. He had both feared and respected him back then. He did not fear him as much in modern times, but he respected him a fair deal more.

Some of Gregor's commands had been vague and questionable, but they had all been honorable in purpose so far. As long as they continued to be (and there was no reason to suggest they would not), Gerion would stay by the Mountain's side.

I may remain the Legion's longest-serving member for many years to come. Imagine what Tywin will think of that.

The thought amused him somewhat. While Gerion would never intentionally aggravate his eldest brother, he looked forward to seeing the expression on Tywin's face when the latter discovered just how close he and Lord Gregor Clegane had become.

Gerion was one of the Legionnaires who rode with Gregor to Casterly Rock that morning. As before, Oberyn Martell and Dacey Mormont rode on either side of the Mountain.

Gerion had been asked to ride on the other side of Oberyn. It was arranged in that fashion so that the other Lannisters would see that one of their own was viewed and treated as the Mountain's equal. That would at least do the Legionnaires some good in the eyes of the Rock.

For a very similar reason, Victarion Greyjoy had been assigned to ride on the other side of Dacey. It would be imperative that everyone (not just the Lannisters) notice that the Iron Captain was at the very front of the Legionnaire column. That would signify that he was one of Gregor Clegane's most esteemed and trusted allies. It would also be an indication that not all Ironborn were dishonorable.

The Riverlords, Northmen, Crownlords, Stormlords, Reachmen, and Westerlords were still spread out in the vast space between Clegane's Keep and Casterly Rock. Going around that massive host would have taken too long; so the Legionnaires and the units from Clegane's Keep galloped through it. Throughout that trek, they gained a number of stares, many of which were of wonder and awe.

Evidently, they were amazed to see such a varied company travelling through their ranks. Most of them had only heard of the Legion without Banners and its universal understanding. This was the very first time the majority of those soldiers saw the extent of the Legion's cultural and regional diversity firsthand. Gerion noted their dumbfounded expressions, and he resisted the urge to smirk.

They may gape at us, but it's our tolerance that confuses them. They can't grasp the idea of all nine types of Westerosi working together. Oh, well; maybe one day, we will cure them of their ignorance.

From the time they entered the Royal Army's camp to the time they exited it, the Legionnaires never paused or halted for even a second. Neither did Sandor and his company. Soon enough, both troops reached the base of Casterly Rock.

Although they had arrived their destination, they still had a very long way to go to get to it.

At its highest point, Casterly Rock was around three times taller than the Wall or the Hightower of Oldtown. Thankfully, they would not have to climb all the way to the top. But they would have to go most of the way.

Fortunately, height and distance were their only challenges. The main entry to the Rock came in the form of a cavern known as the Lion's Mouth. Despite being a natural landmark, the Lion's Mouth had been amended several times ever since the Casterlys had been expelled by King Lann the Clever. Now it was large enough for twenty riders to trot abreast. So the Legionnaires were able to maintain their formation as they made their way up the wide passageway. Once they were through the Lion's Mouth, they had to traverse a network of steep manmade roads.

The ascent took the rest of the morning to accomplish. It was due to Gerion's familiarity with the Rock that they did not get lost or misdirected. Sandor was somewhat acquainted with the layout, as well, given the time he had spent there as Lord Tywin's squire. Still, even with his guidance and Gerion's, it was a wonder the Legionnaires and the Clegane retainers did not exhaust their horses by the end of it.

During the ride, Gerion could have sworn he heard Gregor talk to himself. The Mountain did not speak above a whisper, but Gerion clearly heard him say something along the lines of "This is just like climbing the steps to High Hrothgar."

That perplexed him. Whoever heard of such a place?

Whatever this High Hrothgar was, Gerion supposed that it was located at a very high altitude above the ground. If so, the analogy Gregor made was fitting. Even natives of the Rock were not fond of the arduous journey from top to bottom and vice versa.

What mattered was that Gregor, Sandor, and their parties were not late to the meeting.

Shortly before noon, they reached the summit of the Rock. There they were swiftly dismounted, and their horses were attended to by the stableboys. As all the garrons, coursers, palfreys, destriers, and geldings were led away, their owners were escorted to the council chambers by the Rock's master-at-arms, Ser Benedict Broom.

The most prominent leaders of the Royal Army had already gathered there. Among them were Eddard Stark, Mace Tyrell, Paxter Redwyne, Stannis Baratheon, Davos Seaworth, Hoster Tully, Tywin Lannister, Kevan Lannister, and Robert Baratheon. They were all assembled around a large table. Two knights of the Kingsguard – Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Boros Blount – stood vigil against the walls.

Gregor Clegane stepped inside with Dacey Mormont, Oberyn Martell, Gerion Lannister, Victarion Greyjoy, Allard Seaworth, Garth Hightower, and Smalljon Umber. Sandor Clegane stepped inside alone. Ser Wallis Peckledon, Obara Martell, and the other Clegane's Keep units stayed outside the room, as did Nymeria Martell.

When the Clegane brothers and the Legionnaires entered the chamber, the other men gazed towards them. None of them moved from where he stood, except the one closest to the entrance. This man turned out to be the King himself.

It had been five years since anyone in the Legion without Banners had seen Robert Baratheon. Apparently, the years had been good to him. Although he sat the Iron Throne, he clearly spent plenty of time on his feet, too. His physique was as durable and formidable as ever. He had gained a little weight, but the majority of it was muscle. Most notably, Robert was said to be fond of drink, but Gerion had never seen a man more sober.

As the King approached, Gregor, Sandor, and the other Legionnaires – with the notable exception of Victarion – lightly bowed their heads toward him.

"Your Grace," Gregor Clegane muttered as he returned to his full height.

"Welcome, Lord Gregor," the stag king said in response, grinning, "It is a pleasure to have you here."

He then looked around at the other individuals who had just entered the room. He stopped when his eyes landed on Victarion. He frowned, and his gaze lingered on the Ironborn warrior. He mumbled "I cannot say the same for the entirety of your present company, though."

Victarion Greyjoy grunted at that, but said nothing. Beforehand, he had assured his colleagues that he would not let any derogatory remarks made by the King or the King's generals to provoke him. He would let Gregor do all the talking.

"I do not blame you for having suspicions, Your Grace," Gregor stated candidly.

"Suspicions you'd be wise to share," Robert professed, "Not ten leagues from here, the Iron Fleet attempted to burn the Westerlands Fleet last month. Yet even after that, you have come to this meeting with an Ironborn."

"An Ironborn who happens to be the brother of the very man who started this war, no less," Tywin Lannister pointed out.

Count on Tywin to state the obvious. Especially when the obvious is very unhelpful.

"Lord Victarion is on our side," Gregor uttered firmly.

"And you can be sure of that?" Mace Tyrell asked dubiously.

"Yes," Gregor replied simply.

"Would you care to tell us how?" Tywin queried.

"Because I have served with him," Gregor debated, "Neither you nor anyone at that table can claim that, Lord Tywin. I alone have the right to speak for him, and speak for him, I shall. So hear this: Lord Captain Victarion is a decent and honorable man. He joined the Legion without Banners by his own volition. He is the only one of Quellon Greyjoy's surviving sons who shares his father's ideals. He strongly believes in my cause. Above all… I trust him."

Robert and the leaders of the Royal Army were stunned by all those points. Truth be told, the other Legionnaires were quite stunned, as well. Victarion was the most stunned of all.

"With your life?" Tywin presumed.

Gregor hesitated, but only for a moment. After that, he slowly peered over his shoulder to look at the Iron Captain, and then he turned back to his front and pronounced sternly "Yes, with my life."

At that, Kevan Lannister moved away from the table and started walking towards the Mountain. In one of his hands, he clutched an unfolded piece of paper. When he was within reach of the tallest man in the room, he held the paper out to Gregor and proposed "Say that once more after you read this, Lord Gregor."

Gerion raised an eyebrow as his commander took the parchment from his second oldest brother.

"What is this?" Gregor inquired, looking down at the paper.

"It arrived just this morning," Tywin informed him, "The raven was sent from Moat Cailin."

Gerion and his companions watched Gregor as he read the contents of the letter. The more he read, his eyes appeared to gradually widen.

"My lord?" Gerion queried in concern, placing a hand on Gregor's back.

"There was an insurrection in the Legion," Gregor grimly announced.

"What?" Dacey Mormont asked quietly.

Gregor revealed "According to this, a number of the Ironborn Legionnaires attempted to seize Moat Cailin in Lord Balon's name."

"When did this happen?" Oberyn Martell enquired.

Kevan Lannister illuminated "This letter is dated very recently. Assuming it was written immediately after the conflict was resolved, the rebels must have waited until after you crossed Lord Frey's bridge."

Less than a week ago.

"How bad is it?" Smalljon Umber anxiously asked the Mountain, "What's the damage?"

"To our good fortune, the Blackfish put the rebellion down quickly," Gregor disclosed, "Under his direction, the rest of the Legionnaires managed to overwhelm the dissidents within an hour. They've all been killed or imprisoned."

"What of the losses on our side?" Gerion queried apprehensively.

"None of the smallfolk perished," Gregor proclaimed, "However, around a score of loyal Legionnaires were lost. Ser Brynden provided a list of casualties."

Gregor proceeded to pass the letter around to his fellow Legionnaires. They each took a minute to review it, and then they passed it along.

When Gerion received the letter, he only skimmed the casualty list briefly. Most of the names, he did not recognize or he was only slightly acquainted with. Unfortunately, there were also some fine knights on that list. Ser Osmund Kettleblack was one of them.

Gerion was stunned when he discovered this. He had seen Osmund in action. While he was not one of the best swordsmen Gerion had ever seen, he was still a very capable and formidable warrior. He had also been a member of Gregor Clegane's inner circle. Gerion may not have been as close to Osmund as he had been to the other members, but he still thought of Kettleblack as a reliable ally.

"Oswell Kettleblack needs to be informed that his heir has perished," Gerion recommended as he handed the letter back to Gregor.

"He shall be notified," the Mountain asserted, "Worry not, Gerion. Ser Oswell has two other sons, and he will know that his eldest died in the line of duty. That should give him some amount of comfort."

"Indeed," Paxter Redwyne coincided, "There is no better way to go,"

"I concur," Tywin Lannister declared, "But be that as it may, this issue poses a serious problem. One Ironborn insurrection has already occurred on dry land. Who's to say another will not?"

"I can ensure it will not," Gregor insisted, "And allow me to explain my confidence. Months ago, I received some dependable information of the possibility that Balon Greyjoy would incite an uprising. As a precaution, I had Lord Victarion cross-examine the Ironborn Legionnaires. After reviewing each of them thoroughly, he determined which were loyal to us, and which were loyal to his brother. Anyone who fell into the latter category was left behind at Moat Cailin. When I gave command of the moat to Ser Brynden Tully, he assured me he would be heedful of the Ironborn. That was how he was able to put the rebellion down so quickly."

"Well, my brother is a competent man," Hoster Tully admitted, "Even so, this fiasco could have been avoided altogether if the treacherous Ironborn were confined to quarters as soon as the King declared war."

"That would have set an impossible precedent in the Legion without Banners," Gregor contended.

Yes, it would have. The strong bonds of trust and companionship we've worked so hard to develop would have been in danger of collapsing.

"Sometimes a precedent must be set," Robert Baratheon professed.

"Moreover, what guarantee do you have that Lord Victarion's word can be believed?" Tywin Lannister pointed out, "You asked an Ironborn captain to render judgment on his compatriots. His heritage makes him biased. A far more practical solution would have been to remove all the Ironborn from your ranks."

Gregor sighed and mumbled angrily "I thought we were past the days when a man's entire family was judged on his actions."

"Perhaps you are," Stannis Baratheon supposed, "The rest of us are not so imprudent."

It was here that Victarion Greyjoy finally entered the discussion. He stepped forward and uttered softly yet forcefully "My lords."

Every head turned to the Iron Captain. As he maintained his normal grimace, he declared "You cannot be faulted for assuming all Ironborn are scheming, conniving liars. There was once a time when I myself believed all greenlanders were weak, pitiful, and powerless. After serving in the Legion without Banners, I have overcome my prejudice. Allow me to help you overcome yours."

Gerion noticed a smirk break out across Gregor's face. It was laden with pride and satisfaction.

By this point, most of the leaders of the Royal Army were starting to believe the Mountain was right about Victarion's integrity. Even the King himself was having second thoughts.

"You wish a chance to prove your loyalty?" Robert Baratheon assumed.

Victarion lightly nodded his head.

Robert folded his arms and commanded him "Kneel."

Victarion was a little alarmed by the abruptness of that order. Gerion knew that he had never knelt to any man in his life. Not even to Gregor or his elder brothers. Gerion prayed he would make the right decision.

Don't be stubborn. This situation could get unpleasant.

To his good fortune, it did not. Slowly, Victarion dropped to one knee in front of the stag king, and he bowed his head to him. From that position, he proclaimed "I, Victarion of House Greyjoy, swear my oath of fealty to you, Robert of House Baratheon. I swear it by salt, I swear it by the sea, I swear it by the Drowned God."

Robert was pleased by that. He smiled and placed a hand on the Iron Captain's shoulder, saying "You may rise."

Victarion was quick to obey that command. When he was back up on his feet, Robert looked him in the eye and stated "I appreciate your oath, and I believe you mean well, but saying those words is not enough. First, you must prove to me that you can be trusted, too."

He led Victarion over to the table. Kevan gestured for Gregor and the others to approach, as well. Gerion followed his brother eagerly.

This should be interesting.

A detailed map of Westeros had been spread out across the surface of the table. A number of tiny figurines were spread along the western half of the map. These figurines represented the current known whereabouts of the Iron Fleet and the Royal Army.

Robert placed a finger on the Sunset Sea and pronounced "As you know, the Ironborn attempted to launch a sneak attack on Lannisport. Their goal, obviously, was to burn the Westerlands' fleet. Luckily, before too many ships were lost, we managed to push the Iron Fleet back."

"Thanks in large part to the information Lord Gregor supplied us," Davos Seaworth added in.

"Quite so," Robert Baratheon acknowledged, "Alas, this defeat will not be enough to discourage Balon Greyjoy. Am I correct?"

"You are, Your Grace," Victarion affirmed, "My brother attacked Lannisport because he saw their fleet as the Westerlands' greatest line of defense. Burning those vessels would have given him absolute freedom to raid the western half of this country's coast. Since he only partially succeeded, he will have to adapt a more cautious approach. But this rebellion is far from over. For now, we have only managed to delay his movements."

"I believe that," Eddard Stark murmured, "You say 'we.' Does that mean you will indeed help us stop your brother?"

"It does, my lord," Victarion responded.

Robert Baratheon nodded and stated "Then, tell us, Lord Victarion; what will be his next move?"

Victarion gazed down at the map and studied it intently. After a minute of uninterrupted silence, he pointed to two spots along the west coast. As he did this, he declared "His forces will make for Seagard and Faircastle. The first is all that stands between them and the rest of the Riverlands. The second is a fortified stronghold surrounded by water. Both are prime targets for the Iron Fleet to assault."

The other lords made a note of everything they just heard. Paxter Redwyne looked to the Iron Captain and inquired "Can we be certain of this?"

"Very certain," Gregor Clegane declared, "I can confirm everything Lord Victarion just said."

"And why is that, Lord Gregor?" Kevan asked in interest.

Gregor looked around the room and explicated "Long ago, I picked up some information about Lord Balon's schedule. After burning the fleet at Lannisport, he planned to attack Seagard and Faircastle right after. Although we saved most of the fleet, I can assure you that he still intends to carry out this campaign."

"I would not be surprised," Hoster Tully contended, "Seagard and Fair Isle are practically within spitting distance of the Iron Islands."

Eddard rubbed his chin, and then he queried "Where did this information come from?"

"I cannot say," Gregor bluntly replied, "Nor can I explain why I cannot say. All I can tell you is this: I've acquired this information through a very reliable source of my own."

Ah, yes. The "source" again.

It had been almost seven months since Gregor had first informed his inner circle of his secret source. In the time since then, he had not mentioned it again even once. But Gerion had often wondered on what this source actually was. It was only by Gregor's request that he and his colleagues had not asked for any clarity.

Nonetheless, the King and his affiliates were not content with this vague description.

"How can we trust in this 'source' if we do not know what it is?" Robert Baratheon asked rhetorically.

"Do you question Lord Varys about how his little birds sing their songs?" Gregor astutely countered.

"No, but at least we know of his birds," Tywin Lannister disputed, "Have you birds of your own, Lord Gregor?"

"I use no birds," Gregor claimed frankly, "Incidentally, you may be interested to know that this source was what saved your fleet, my lord."

Gerion tried not to scoff at the expression across his oldest brother's countenance.

It appears even the great Tywin Lannister can be puzzled.

Gregor continued with "A man of your intellect must realize that it was not mere happy coincidence that you were prepared for the attack on Lannisport months in advance. You already know that my word of caution was what prevented a greater tragedy. The intelligence which led to that warning was provided by my source. Think on that. Because of my source, hundreds of Westerlander sailors are still alive."

"That… that is true," Tywin Lannistered grudgingly admitted, "But if you were aware – or even suspected – that the Iron Islands would rebel, why did you not inform the crown directly?"

"At the time, I had no hard evidence," Gregor disclosed, "My word was all I had then."

"It seems to be all you have now, as well," Stannis Baratheon noted.

"That may be," Gregor alleged, "But given the circumstances that brought us here, I'd like to think that my word carries a little more merit today."

"We shall see if it does," Robert Baratheon muttered. He looked back down at the map, and he thought aloud "Since we have no conclusive way of predicting Balon's actual movements, we shall assume Lord Gregor and Lord Victarion's claims are correct. With that said, we must also assume that the Iron Fleet will sail for Seagard and Faircastle in the very near future."

"What shall we do to stop them, Your Grace?" Eddard Stark asked the question that was on everyone else's mind.

"Ordinarily, I would propose we eliminate the problem at the source," King Robert announced, placing his finger on Pyke, "But by the time our ships reach the Iron Islands, Balon's could already be over halfway to their destinations. As such, we need to concentrate on the defense of Seagard and Faircastle for now."

"How shall we proceed?" Paxter Redwyne questioned.

"We have two options: to reinforce the strongholds, or to prevent the siege altogether," Robert Baratheon pronounced, "Again, because Balon's exact timetable is unknown, we may not have time to set up reinforcements at Seagard and Faircastle, or even get them there on time. Therefore, our only alternative is to intercept the Ironborn before they get there."

That last statement brought a wave of disquiet over the room.

Just when things were starting to look up…

"Are you suggesting we face the Ironborn on the open sea?" Stannis Baratheon incredulously asked his brother.

"Yes," Robert uttered in a somewhat mocking tone, "In war, one generally encounters his foe on the field of battle."

"In war, one generally fights those battles on actual fields," Eddard Stark debated, "Robert, while the mainland of Westeros is ours, the Ironborn all but live on the sea. Engaging them there would be folly."

"I must agree with Lord Eddard," Mace Tyrell remarked, "On the deck of a ship, the Ironborn are unmatched. They've been known to vanquish forces three times theirs. And even when Lord Paxter, Lord Stannis, and Lord Tywin combine their fleets, the Iron Fleet still greatly outnumbers ours."

"Our only choice is to meet them at sea," Robert maintained, "If we do not, Seagard and Faircastle will be lost. And with them, the safety of the Riverlands and the Westerlands."

"Then we shall all reside in a watery grave," Davos Seaworth murmured quietly.

Nearly everyone there was thinking much the same, but the Onion Knight was the only one who dared to voice that thought. Robert seemed disappointed or irate that his associates were so displeased with his proposition. That was not a good sign.

When the leader starts to have doubts, that's when the followers should begin to panic.

Luckily, there was no panicking. Just then, Gregor Clegane placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and mumbled crossly "Have you no faith in yourselves?"

"This is not a matter of faith, Lord Gregor," Kevan Lannister debated, "The Iron Fleet is capable of wreaking havoc along the coasts of Westeros. They can do worse – far worse – on open water. Any sane man would not wish to face them at sea."

Gregor thought on that for a moment, and he meekly nodded his head. Then he broke into a smile and slyly proposed "What if I told you we may have the means to even the odds in our favor?"

That drew everyone's attention.

"What means?" Robert Baratheon inquired keenly.

"I've something to show you all," Gregor Clegane ambiguously proclaimed, "But first, we must go somewhere else."

"Where?" inquired Mace Tyrell.

"Somewhere outside," Gregor muttered plainly, "Preferably somewhere open."

"This time of day, the training yard should be clear," Gerion Lannister disclosed. That was the first time he had spoken since the meeting began. He was used to speaking last. But it was not often that he had the last word.

"That will do," Gregor said in approval. He made his way over to the door of the chamber and bade the others, "Follow me, if you would. We shall continue the meeting in the training yard."

That was more a request than a command. All the same, every person in that chamber voluntarily chose to accompany Lord Gregor outside. That just had to know what he had that could possibly give them an advantage over the Ironborn in maritime warfare.

…

As everyone left the room, Allard Seaworth caught up with his father, Ser Davos. They had only exchanged a glance and a smile during the meeting; no actual words were spoken. When they were both out of the council chamber, they finally had a chance to talk. The Onion Knight was elated to see his second son.

That's to be expected.

Other than the occasional letter, they had not corresponded with each other in over three years. The walk to the courtyard would only take a few minutes, but that was enough time for them to mingle.

Their liege lord, Lord Stannis Baratheon, observed this interaction between father and son. Strangely, he found himself somewhat envious of them. He had never bonded with his own father that way, and he had no sons of his own. While Stannis had never been a sentimental man, he had always appreciated the sacredness of family unity.

It is a pity there are not more who appreciate that sacredness these days.

His wife, Lady Selyse of House Florent, was carrying his first child. She was scheduled to give birth very soon. According to Maester Cressen, Stannis' firstborn would almost certainly be a girl. Stannis was not pleased, but he was accustomed to disappointment. Even so, he never voiced his displeasure. He was never one to complain about what he did not have. He was keener to focus on what could be his.

Selyse and I will have more children. One is bound to be male.

As the Legionnaires and the leaders of the Royal Army exited the council chamber, they were joined up by the soldiers from Clegane's Keep and a number of the Lannister household guard.

The group was composed of over fifty people by this point. Davos and Allard were the only ones in that entire company who uttered a single word on the walk to the courtyard. The others followed Lord Gregor Clegane in silence.

When they reached the courtyard, they found it empty, just as Gerion Lannister had forecasted. Gregor requested for a sturdy wicker basket, a wooden pallet, and a slab of solid stone to be brought out. Lord Tywin sent for those items, and the Rock's servants were quick to go in search of them.

Five minutes later, those three items were sitting in the courtyard. The stone slab was standing in the very center of the clearing. The wicker basket was set atop the slab. The wooden pallet was leaned against the slab at a steep angle.

Gregor had everyone stand in the courtyard so that the stone slab and the wicker basket were totally concealed by the wooden pallet. He also made certain that they kept a certain amount of distance between themselves and those three objects.

This should prove most… intriguing.

Once the Mountain was content with where everyone was standing, he reached into his doublet and pulled out a small leather pouch. After untying and widening the mouth of the pouch, he outstretched his left hand. Then he upended the pouch over his left hand, and its contents poured out.

The contents turned out to be a coarse powder. The powder gave off a strange odor, like the ash left over in a hearth after the fire has gone out. The hue of the powder was predominantly black, but there were spots of grey here and there.

Gregor looked around at the assembled crowd and announced "What I hold here is a mixture of three minerals: coal, sulfur, and a creation of my own which I call saltpeter. Alone, each of these ingredients serves plenty of useful purposes, such as a type of fuel or oxidizer. Together… they form a very dangerous compound. I call this compound 'black powder.'"

Stannis noted the curious expression on his elder brother's face.

He was always easily fascinated.

However, Robert was not the only one who was taken in by the Mountain's sermon. Most of the leaders of the Royal Army, Sandor's men-at-arms, and even Gregor's fellow Legionnaires were deeply interested, as well. Apparently, even those closest to the Lord of Moat Cailin had been wholly unaware of the existence of this black powder.

If he took the effort to create this mixture in total secrecy, it must be remarkable, indeed. Then again, if he created it without anyone noticing, it may turn out to be underwhelming.

"What does this 'black powder' do, my lord?" Eddard Stark enquired.

"It would be difficult to describe in words," Gregor disclosed, "So I shall provide a demonstration."

Gregor returned the black powder to the pouch. Then he took out a short piece of thick twine which had been soaked in oil. He stuffed half of the piece of twine into the pouch, and then he pulled on the pouch's strings until the mouth of it was almost totally closed. There was just enough room for the other half of the twine to poke out.

He then gave the pouch a few good shakes so that the hidden half of the twine would be buried in the pile of black powder. As he did this, he asked no one in particular "Could I have a candle that's been lit?"

Again, his request was rather perplexing.

He wants a lit candle right now? It's broad daylight.

Lord Tywin had another of his servants fetch a candle and light it. When the servant returned with the candle, he gave it to Gregor straightaway.

Gregor took a moment to guarantee that everyone was at least ten meters away from the center of the courtyard. After making sure of that, he held the flame of the candle against the oil-soaked twine. It took less than a second for the twine to catch fire. As the flame slowly began to spread along the twine, Gregor looked around at his company and instructed them "Watch very closely. And I'd advise you to cover your ears."

Sandor Clegane and the seven Legionnaires chose to heed that second statement, and they brought their hands close to the sides of their heads. Everyone else kept their hands at their sides. Even so, Gregor went ahead with the demonstration.

When the flame on the twine reached the mouth of the pouch, Gregor turned around and flung it at wooden pallet. Immediately after he threw the pouch, he ducked down and pressed his hands against his ears. His brother and colleagues did the same. Stannis and everyone else merely watched on, hardly ever moving a muscle.

The instant the pouch landed against the pallet, there was a deafening explosion.

The explosion was so loud and so powerful that those standing closest to it were nearly thrown off their feet. It was thanks to the people standing directly behind them that they did not.

In the five seconds immediately following the explosion, bits of gravel, slivers of wood, and chunks of stone flew all over the courtyard. They were all tiny in size but abundant in number.

Sandor noticed that the smell of ash had returned. Not only that; it had increased exponentially. By the potency of the odor, it was as though there really was a pile of ash nearby.

In addition to that, a huge cloud of smoke had been left by the explosion. It covered much of the courtyard, and it gradually spread out until the entire vicinity was covered in it. King Robert and many of the others looked away to avoid getting it in their eyes. Some of them developed a bit of a cough. Luckily, the cough only lasted as long as the smoke did.

A couple minutes later, the smoke subsided, and the results of the explosion were on full display.

There was nothing left of the wicker basket, the wooden pallet, or the stone slab. They had all been reduced to rubble.

Gregor smiled at the sight, and he turned back to everyone else. He folded his arms and proudly announced "As you can see, black powder is as deadly and destructive as wildfire. However, it also works much more quickly, and it is far easier to control."

"So it would seem," Robert Baratheon murmured drily. He broke into a small grin and remarked "That was… quite impressive, my lord."

Gregor nodded lightly in acknowledgment and stated "Thank you, Your Grace. Shall we see if it will impress the Iron Fleet, as well?"

"Perhaps we shall," Robert conceded, "Tell me; how did you make this compound?"

"The same way anything is made: constant trial and error," Gregor answered simply.

Oberyn Martell stepped forward and professed "I'm certain we would have noticed if you were experimenting with this substance. The noise alone would have been a giveaway. Yet we never caught on. Just when did you find the opportunity to test your creation, Gregor?"

"I never did, Oberyn," Gregor revealed, "In fact, I myself did not know it would actually work until this very moment. For all I knew, the black powder might have done nothing at all."

The Red Viper chuckled at that. Dacey Mormont, Robert Baratheon, Sandor Clegane, and a number of the other individuals present snickered a bit, as well.

Unsurprisingly, Stannis was not one to laugh. There were some who claimed he had never even learned to smile.

Does Lord Gregor not realize he just ran the risk of making himself look like an ass? In front of his KING?

Robert clearly did not share his younger brother's mindset. He kept his focus on the residue in the center of the courtyard, and he queried "How much black powder do you have?"

"Another hundred pouches of equal strength to this one are currently in my camp," Gregor enlightened him, "I also have enough coal, sulfur, and saltpeter to make a thousand more. They just need to be mixed."

Stannis Baratheon moved beside his brother and asked "If you were to guess, Lord Gregor, how many pouches would be required to sink a single Ironborn ship?"

The Mountain thought on that for about a minute, and then he conjectured "That would depend on the size of the vessel and the responsiveness of the crew. But if you'd prefer a rough estimate… I'd say nine or ten pouches."

"That sounds fairly accurate," Victarion Greyjoy coincided.

"If that's the case, we should have enough black powder to destroy over half of the Iron Fleet," Paxter Redwyne noted.

"It would seem that way, Lord Paxter," Gregor stated in agreement, "However, before we use the black powder in a combat situation, I will need some assurances."

"What assurances, my lord?" Davos Seaworth inquired.

Gregor firmly declared: "Firstly, I and I alone will determine how the black powder is distributed, as well as who it is distributed to. It is paramount that everyone who is charged with handling black powder is able to do so properly and responsibly. The slightest misstep could yield devastating repercussions to our own forces. Furthermore, having too much black powder on any of our vessels could be quite hazardous, so I must limit how much is stored on each ship. If, after the war, any of our current supply of black powder is still left over, whatever remains will be turned over to me and the Legion without Banners. Lastly… the knowledge of how to make black powder shall not be passed on to anyone."

Everyone had paid close attention to Gregor's short sermon, and they had no issue with the majority of his points. The last one, however, struck many of them as rather demanding.

"That is a very strict condition, Lord Gregor," Kevan Lannister remarked.

"I realize that," Gregor Clegane mumbled, "But it is nonnegotiable. I will not have black powder created by anyone other than myself."

"Why?" Tywin muttered dubiously, "So you can own the exclusive rights to manufacture it, just as you do with those construction materials of yours?"

The Mountain slowly shook his head and proclaimed, "Oh, no, Lord Tywin. Unlike concrete and cement, I am not going to sell black powder. It is an extremely volatile and unsafe substance. In wrong or incapable hands, it could cause untold damage. I will not be a party to such reckless destruction."

Now he is starting to contradict himself. Does he even realize that?

"If black powder is so unstable, why would you have us use it in the first place?" Stannis Baratheon said inquisitively.

"I never said it was unstable; I said it needed proper handling," Gregor contended, "Keep in mind, Lord Stannis; it is essentially the dry equivalent of wildfire. As such, it needs to be managed like wildfire, too. The pyromancers of King's Landing do not share their formula for wildfire with anyone outside their order. In that same fashion, I intend to monitor the crafting and circulation of all black powder just as thoroughly. For the duration of this war, I will allow the Royal Army to use it. But once the war ends, I expect any remaining black powder to be returned to me."

"What shall be done with the leftover black powder?" Garth Hightower queried.

I'd like to know that myself.

"It will be placed in storage at Moat Cailin until the next war," Gregor solemnly decreed.

Acceptable solution. In any case, it is unlikely that the "next war" will happen for many years. After all, once it becomes known that Robert's Master of Order has a weapon as catastrophic as wildfire, anyone with the sanity of Patchface will know better than to rebel against the crown again.

"Very well, Lord Gregor," Robert Baratheon claimed, "I will ensure that our forces understand that the black powder is handled with care, and that none of them try to keep any for themselves."

"I am grateful for that, Your Grace," Gregor Clegane stated appreciatively.

"You needn't worry about any of my men taking some without your consent," Eddard Stark bluntly muttered.

"Or any of mine," Mace Tyrell conceded.

Tywin Lannister and Hoster Tully swore the same vow, and Stannis Baratheon was the last to agree.

Once all the great lords agreed to Gregor's conditions, Robert Baratheon turned to face the crowd and announced "Now that it is established that we have this edge over the Ironborn, I submit that we go ahead with my proposal to intercept the Iron Fleet before they reach Seagard and Fair Isle."

This time, Robert's suggestion received no resistance or rejections from anyone else.

"So be it," the stag king murmured after a period of quietness, "Now we must decide how these countermeasures will be devised and executed."

"Shall we return to the council chamber, Your Grace?" Eddard Stark presumed.

Robert answered his best friend's question with a nod.

Everyone in the group departed from the courtyard and began to head back the way they came. On the way there, Stannis heard what sounded like a low-pitched groan.

It turned out to be his brother's stomach. Soon, others noticed the groan, and they gazed in the king's direction.

When he noticed the stares, Robert flushed and commented "Excuse me. I have not eaten since sunrise."

"None of us have, Your Grace," Eddard humorously informed his best friend.

"It might do us some good to have a bite of luncheon," Robert suggested.

"I will have meat and mead brought to the council chamber, Your Grace," Tywin Lannister offered.

"Very well, Lord Tywin," Robert gladly acknowledged his father-by-law's proposal.

Soon enough, the large group arrived back at the council chamber. Once the Legionnaires and the leaders of the Royal Army were reassembled, Tywin sent for food and drink. Robert proposed that they wait until the meal arrived to resume their battle plans, and no one protested.

While they waited for luncheon, everyone in the room passed the time by conversing with someone else. Garth Hightower talked with Mace Tyrell and Paxter Redwyne, Allard Seaworth talked with Davos Seaworth, Eddard Stark talked with Robert Baratheon, and so on.

Stannis was pretty much the only person who was uninvolved in any of those conversations. He simply stood off to the side and observed the others as they mingled.

Then, at one point, Gregor Clegane walked over to him and requested "May I have a word, Lord Stannis?"

"That would depend on the subject of your word," Stannis Baratheon stoically replied.

"It has to do with the security of your family," Gregor informed him.

That succeeded in earning the stag lord's attention. He looked the Mountain in the eye and told him "I'm listening,"

Gregor first checked to ensure that they were not being overhead, and then he stated "I have heard tell Lady Selyse is with child."

"You've heard correctly," Stannis affirmed, "Of course, the rest of the country has heard that, as well. My wife's pregnancy is common knowledge."

"Yes, my lord," Gregor conceded, "But what I have to tell you is not."

"Go on," Stannis beckoned him.

Gregor illuminated him with "Early last year, the Legion uncovered the existence of a group of fanatic Targaryen loyalists somewhere in the country. We are actively working to snuff these traitors out, but until, we are treating them as a genuine threat to the crown."

"Are they a confirmed threat to Robert and his family?" Stannis asked.

"Yes," Gregor claimed, "However, they are an even greater threat to you and yours."

"How so?" Stannis questioned uneasily.

"According to our intelligence reports, once your heir is born, they will try to kill her soon after," Gregor apprised him.

How does he know I am having a daughter?

While that was an excellent question, it was not the one Stannis put into words. Instead, he asked "Do you know how they will attempt this?"

"Before she is even a year old, she will be given an anonymous gift," Gregor revealed, "The gift will be a doll. The loyalists are hoping that the doll will be placed in your daughter's cradle."

"What harm could a simple doll do to her?" Stannis wondered aloud.

"It will be tainted with greyscale," Gregor responded.

Stannis was flabbergasted by that. "Greyscale?"

"Yes," Gregor validated, "Fortunately, the loyalists are unaware that I know of this scheme of theirs. So it is completely avoidable."

"What would you have me do?" Stannis inquired attentively.

Gregor urged him "Any time your daughter receives a doll from an unknown party, do not bring it anywhere near her. You must burn it right away."

"I will do so," Stannis asserted.

Normally, Stannis Baratheon questioned the authenticity of anything he heard, even if it was from someone he respected and trusted. But when his family's security was at stake, he took the news very seriously.

"A question, my lord," Stannis enquiringly commented, "If you learnt about this plot a year ago, why are you only telling me of it now?"

"I was waiting for the right opportunity," Gregor insisted, "I could not risk sending a raven. It may have gotten lost on the way to Dragonstone, or worse yet, intercepted by the Targaryen loyalists. I ultimately realized that the only safe option was to tell you in person. I've been trying to arrange a meeting between you and myself for months. It was simply our good fortunate that your brother the King called this meeting."

"What if the Ironborn not rebelled?" Stannis hypothesized.

"Then I would have found some other way to meet with you," Gregor claimed.

Stannis nodded his head, seeing the logic in that argument.

Now I am finally beginning to understand him.

"In any case, I am indebted to you, Lord Gregor," Stannis debated, "Know that you have my most profound appreciation."

"You have no need to thank me, my lord," Gregor assured the older man, "I am merely carrying out my duties to the throne and the country."

Yes, you are. Now I see why Robert charged you with maintaining the integrity of Westeros. Evidently, you overlook nothing.