110 Scurrying rats

Scurrying rats

Loras POV

"The injuries are healing well, barely leaving any scars," The Grand Maester said as he checked on the injuries I received while fighting the Mountain. "Since you are experiencing pain, I will give you milk of the poppy. This amount should last for a few weeks."

"Thank you," I replied, trying to hide my disgust for the man.

Maybe because I have spent many days in a brothel, it wasn't hard for me to notice the smell of sex lingering in this room. I even saw some stains on the table; it almost made me barf in disgust. He was the Grand Maester, chosen by the rest of the Citadel to serve the Seven Kingdoms with his wisdom and knowledge. Pycelle was everything that was wrong with this city.

He was the lowest of the rats who had risen to the highest position. It would have been admirable if the world had been a fair place, but one could only guess how many deplorable things he had to do to achieve this position. Well, I had no intention of letting him enjoy his position for long. It was time the Grand Maester paid the price for all he had done.

As I left, I observed Pycelle's solar, counting the steps I took to climb down, the length of the hallways leading to this place, the number of corners, and the placement of the windows. As easy as it would be for me to kill him, it wasn't easy to get to him. Lannister men were stationed all around the old bastard.

It was hard to tell if it was to protect him or watch him. It wouldn't be surprising if Tywin were careful that the Grand Maester didn't do anything the Lannisters didn't want. Still, ignoring the Grand Maester's vices would be their undoing. There was always a way to get where one wanted. I only needed to find the path that led straight to him.

"Ser Loras," It was much harder to hide my disgust for the woman I met on my way back than for everyone else.

"Your Grace," I bowed my head, not out of respect or obedience but because I didn't want to show my eyes to her, as she would be able to pick up the hatred from them. "Queen Cersei."

"Are your injuries acting up?" I could hear her vindictiveness and pleasure of thinking that I didn't escape my fight with the Mountain unscathed. "I heard that a woman's touch helps a warrior's body heal faster. But I guess you would need a man's touch. I am sure I could provide some to you. Strong and broad, and of course, weak-minded and obedient. Maybe someone like Renly Baratheon?"

How easy would it be to draw my sword and run in through her neck? Even as I would be stabbed by dozens of swords afterward, I still would have enough time to enjoy her bleeding out before my eyes with eyes of horror and despair looking at me. In the end, it would be my win, as the Lannisters and the Tyrells would not be able to stand each other anymore.

Yet, as my hand went for my sword, I had to stop. As much as I wanted to do just that, imagining my family's demise made me stop. I didn't want to admit it, but I couldn't let my mother, sister, and brothers suffer because of my actions. I knew how the Lannisters deal with people they want to get rid of; Tywin wouldn't let even a single of them leave the Red Keep for the rest of their lives.

"I don't think I should listen to the advice of the woman who couldn't heal her husband's broken heart over the years she was married to him." My words weren't as vague as I intended them to be, but seeing her body shake with anger was worth it. "If you excuse me, your grace, I have matters to attend to."

"And what would that be?" Cersei asked as I tried to pass by her. "You have no responsibilities, no duty to attend to. How long are you going to rely on your family to do everything for you? How long are you going to put them in difficult situations?"

"At least my family doesn't need to rely on others to defend themselves against all the enemies they had made," It wasn't easy to find a way to defend my family, but at least nobody can't say I didn't try. "Well, I guess, with how powerless the Lannisters are against everyone else, it shouldn't be a surprise that you would beg everyone to help you. Maybe you will offer yourself next rather than your children."

"You want to know what power is, boy?" Cersei stood before me, staring down at me. "I will show you. Seize him."

"What?" I could barely say anything as two men took my arms, and the other Lannister men pointed their swords at me.

"This is power, and I hold it in my hands."

"Heh," I sneered at her. "You might hold the sword, your Grace, but you don't know how to use it."

As vain and foolish as she was, I knew she wouldn't be able to do anything to me. She thought they were her men, but I could see how hesitant they were to go any further. They knew that they couldn't do anything to me until their Lord told them to do it. And Tywin wasn't as immature as Cersei, so he wouldn't dare to harm the only lifeline he had in his hands.

"Release him," Cersei said, probably unable to stand my gleaming eyes as she ordered the men and walked past me. "I would warn you, boy, you are walking on sharp blades. So, watch your mouth next time."

"I will be sure to take that advice."

I will watch my mouth. You won't hear a thing from me. But the Lannisters shouldn't be worried about what I say. They might pretend that they didn't care about Varys' death, even insinuating that it was their work to put fear in everyone who might fail them. It was convenient for them that Varys was killed, as he was useless of late.

The investigation into Varys' death was negligible. From what I heard, they only asked a few questions from around the place they found his body. Nobody saw anything, of course. And even if they did, not many would tell anything to the dogs of the Lannisters. But I have to wonder how they will start feeling when another member of the Small Council dies.

…

I was starting to feel bad for Lady Eri, as she always was the person to whom I would come for help. How many times have I put her in a bad position where she was forced to protect me? Yet, she was the only person I trusted with my life. And her brothel was the only place that I liked in this city. The only place I felt safe.

"Jayne was sad that you couldn't come to see her one last time," Eri said as she poured tea for me. "But time was tight, and she understood that if she and her father didn't take the ship, then there might not be another chance."

"As long as they are safe, that's all that matters," I replied, feeling relieved that those two had managed to escape this rat-infested city. "Have you learned anything of what I asked?"

"There are only a few high-quality establishments that can keep their mouths shut about their transactions with people in high seats," Lady Eri replied, relaxing in her chair.

"That means it would be hard to get them to talk and even work with me," I said with a tired sigh.

"Not particularly," Lady Eri disagreed. "When there are so many clients, it is beneficial for our kind to work with each other. After all, we are just women. Alone, we can't protect ourselves from the hands of the men, especially during a war. Information about unsavory men is expected to be shared. And it so happens that your target is one of the most unsavory people my friends have worked with."

It wasn't surprising at this point. Pycelle was bringing in more and more serving girls, telling people that he was getting weaker each day. But I knew it was because of the pressure Tywin put him under. He relieved his stress on these poor girls who couldn't defend themselves. But who cared about them? They were just collateral damage in this game.

"So, is it possible?"

"He likes women on a slender side," Lady Eri replied as she looked over my body. "Lose some weight, grow out your hair, and make sure there aren't any injuries on your face. There is only so much we can hide under powder."

"How much time do I have?"

"Not much. Four weeks, maybe more, maybe less," Lady Eri replied. "It isn't easy to smuggle woman into the Red Keep, even if it is the Grand Maester who does the smuggling. It has been a few weeks since he took one of the women, and from what I learned, he changes the girls every few months. If he could, he would probably do it more often. But it works better for you, giving you time to look the part."

"I will see you later then," My time was limited, and I didn't want to be seen with Lady Eri for her good.

"Take care of yourself."

She knew I wouldn't listen to that request. I had work to do. The Grand Maester wasn't the only one of my targets. The next one who shall die by my hands was Ser Phillip Foote. A loyal dog of the Lannisters that testified against Tyrion in the trial. Telling everyone proudly how Tyrion filled Joffrey's chalice with poison.

I will let him go peacefully. It wasn't that hard to overdose on the poppy milk. And since I already have enough of it, I should use it. I already know at which hour he retires to his chambers and how to get into them without anyone noticing me. The Peckledon heir won't be smug with his newly acquired gold for much longer, either.

…

The dinner of the family was always silent, it was probably because of me. I tend to disagree with everything they say. And my dislike for their actions wasn't hidden. At this point, I had to start wondering why they even called for me to join them. And why would I agree to it? Maybe I hoped that they would realize that siding with the Lannister wasn't the wisest path to take and would tell me to help them get out of this position they put themselves in.

It wasn't meant to, though. I was already dead tired, as I hadn't slept last night. After forcing Ser Phillip to drink the milk of the poppy until he wasn't responsive enough, I killed and robbed the Peckledon heir. His body should be found in the alleyway near a tavern soon, and people will think that he died because of drugs and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sneaking out and then into the Red Keep was taking its toll on me; each time, it was getting harder to do so.

"I think it is time for you to return home, Loras," I turned my tired eyes to my father. "The next wedding will be in two months. After the wedding, I think you should return to Highgarden."

"I don't think a ten-year-old boy will be able to provide an heir," I commented about how absurd the wedding was. "So, the Lannisters want to tie you down with them. Or is it the other way around?"

"As always, you are too suspicious of everything," Margaery tried to divert the topic. "It is beneficial for both families to have a physical connection to each other. Our bannerman would be more willing to fight together with the Westerlands."

"So, you want me gone after the wedding?" I asked, not surprised as I was waiting for the moment they got tired of me. "And if I refuse to?"

"Don't act like a little child, Loras," Grandmother didn't like my tone. "All you are causing us is trouble. For appearance's sake, we let you stay with us until the wedding. But we can't tolerate your actions against the Lannisters any longer."

"That's fine with me," I replied; by that time, most of my targets would be dead, leaving only the Lannisters themselves. "But don't think you can order me to go wherever you want me to go. I promise to leave King's Landing after Margaery's wedding, but don't expect me to go to Highgarden."

"And where will you go?" My grandmother asked, looking straight into my eyes, trying to find something within them.

"Where no rats are scurrying around me."

A.N. I have some bad news. I will be gone from May 6. I have been selected to do mandatory military training for nine months. I will post as usual until the end of April and then post the rest of the chapters I have on my pa treon before I am gone. I don't know how much free time I will have in the military, but from what I hear, I should have weekends off, even if not all of them. So, I will try to write as much as I can on weekends and holidays. Thought I would probably have to drop most of my stories until I finished my training. I want to focus on ending "What is dead may never die" and continue "Will of embers." Thanks for reading and support.