12 Le menu gastronomique

**(Altair's POV)**

As I lay in my bed I ponder over my actions, there are many things that I didn't tell them in my conversation. As a person with high empathy but who is emotionally cold and unaffected added to my modern knowledge, I can easily see through the facades of men and women in the castle. I can see through their fake smiles and easily notice their suspicious behaviour.

I can distinguish loyal men from spies as their nervousness masked by fake smiles or calmness betrays them. They are not trained spies of the 21st century but only crude spies.

Well some of them are but they are like the maester, but his body betrays his face. I can see no wrinkles around his eyes, no squinting or visible bottom teeth and I can tell from across the hallway that his smile is as fake as some of the celebrities' boobs.

Recently as his actions grew more suspicious, I can see signs of nervousness in him, sweating of forehead of sweaty palms when he touches me. I can tell he is up to something. I am not sure what he is up to, I am not sure whether it is something good or bad, heck I am not even sure if his target is me. However, It is a fool's errand to wait for your enemy to take action, especially when I have no way to respond.

Hence I gouged maester's eye so that if something happened to me people would suspect him first. They will thoroughly investigate whatever poison, whatever weapon was used to kill me. Even if the attacker is not the maester, the fact that my death will be investigated and there will be consequences greatly reduces my chances of success.

I was going to pass over the consequences of such actions as childish fits of rage. I was going to fake crying over my father's rebuke or apologize sincerely to wear down the rumours and not stand out.

Then what was the reason for my madness you may ask?

Well, it is very simple my previous plan went to shit when I touched that golden meatball. I smiled thinking about how greatly my power had changed my plans.

I wasn't afraid to play the game even before I got my powers. However, in my previous plans, I had to be very cautious, had to face numerous adversities and injustices, had to predict and maneuver around plots of other players, be prepared for great sacrifices of limbs, friends or even family, as well as be resilient enough to face consequences of my and my enemy's actions.

Now that I have my powers I am better prepared for any unexpected consequences and can accelerate my plans to a great degree. This was the reason why I changed my plans and resorted to such bloodthirsty and aggressive behaviour even though I was just a year old.

My action had two main purposes to instil fear and respect. My actions have to portray me as someone who is powerful.

This action is the beginning of my legend, all the rumours and gossip are the sparks to the start of a great fire that burns through swathes of land. Never before has the halls of this ancient castle seen such a bloody scene caused by a year-old child.

It may seem as if I am exposing myself to my enemies and letting them know I am a threat. However, for all its consequences my infamy has many advantages.

Nothing better to explain it than the words of a very wise dwarf.

"What unites people?

Armies?

Gold?

Flags?

Stories.

There's nothing in the world more powerful than a good story. Nothing can stop it. No enemy can defeat it."

Well, when people look at me as a bloodthirsty and ruthless person. Their outlook towards me is filled with fear and respect. This helps me increase my power in the hearts of people. This can be best described by the words of a man who has recently joined the game. A man I believe most of these spies belong to. A man who is no man.

"Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick. A shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow."

Hence I used this action to start casting a shadow. While it may not seem much right now, This invisible influence will grow with my actions in future.

As Varys said, "Influence grows like a weed". I have to start spreading my influence as soon as possible as I only have two years before Jon Arryn marries Lysa Tully.

After this period I will constantly have an adversary in my own castle plotting against me and curbing my influence.

Although she won't enter Vale until the end of the rebellion at around 283 AC. The emergence of a new lady of the house in itself will start curbing my influence. Also, as Petyr's future pawn, he will also start playing against me in favour of Lysa.

Although my birth may cause some hindrance to the marriage between Jon and Lysa by Hoster Tully. As he is trying to get his blood to rule both North and the Vale. I know Little Finger will somehow manage to smooth things out and marry Lysa to Jon Arryn.

Also, Hoster Tully isn't an amateur player. He is an ambitious Lord who is able to predict the tide of rebellion and uses his daughters as pawns in order to increase his power and influence. He will send knights of his house and loyal men to Eyrie to ensure his daughter's influence.

Establishing myself in the hearts of people as heir of the house in this short time period is a very challenging task. My earlier plan was to become lord of Eyrie through treacherous means after being exiled. However now that my powers have awakened I will become Lord of the Eyrie, Protector of the Vale and Warden of the East in a very aboveboard method.

I am trying to play aboveboard not for naive notions like honour but it is to not deal with the hidden danger of usurping power. I don't want to be surrounded by enemies in my own castle like Robert. Also, don't think me playing aboveboard means I will show mercy to those who stand in my way - those are two entirely different things.

Another purpose behind my action was to mask my cunning and ambition. I need time to increase my raw power as I won't be weak for long. When they grasp upon my weakness I will already have grown stronger than they could ever expect.

It is like how Sun Tsu said: "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak ."

As of now my profile to the players of the game is of madness and ruthlessness like Joffrey. I may appear powerful to normal people but for the players, I am not a threat to them at most they have to change their plans. This keeps me alive while showing only enough strength to not get killed in plans that are to manipulate my father.

This psychological evaluation of madness by the world is not as bad as it seems. It is the perfect mask for intelligence and ambition. If you think the image of a madman prevents me from getting killed.

If you think being seen as a madman stops you from amassing power then you only need to look at Euron Greyjoy, Ramsey Bolton and the Targaryen kings. Also, I am not really a Madman like some of them.

This way of playing the game is inspired by none other than my enemy Lord Petyr Baelish. In his own words -

"A man with no motive is a man no one suspects. You always keep your foes confused. If they don't know who you are or what you want, they can't know what you plan to do next."