(Jon POV)
"So what are the results of your inn? Did it work out?" I ask Ned as we go through the financial aspects of the Eyrie and Vale as a whole. Ever since I found out that he was interested in and skilled at writing, as well as talented with languages, he has been helping me. I pay him for it, as it should be. I might be his foster father, but I want to teach the boys something. And from what Eddard has shown me, he deserves the pay.
"You should genuinely come and have a look sometime."
"I would love to, but you see how much work I have all the time."
"I thought I took a lot of that away."
"You do, but ever since you arrived, new problems have arisen. I am asked about the increased earnings we make."
"You haven't told them?"
"If I send a raven to King's Landing, telling the Master of Coin that the reason for our increased gold is the inn my ward has created, I will be highly suspicious and investigated. The King would want my head for treason and other crimes. They would believe me to hide some nefarious deed."
"So he is truly mad then?"
"Who?"
"The King."
I stop writing and look up, furrowing my brows.
"Your habit of speaking your mind, while refreshing, will get you in great trouble, potentially fatal. Talking about the King that way, however, WILL get you trialled for treason and then killed."
"The Defiance of Duskendale is a widely known event that shook the realm. Talking about the mental health of the one person who has all the authority to do as he pleases is not only a prerogative of the people but an obligation. If the people are punished for questioning his mental capability, it is time for a change."
.
The Defiance of Duskendale began early this year when Lord Denys Darklyn ceased to pay his taxes to demonstrate his anger. Duskendale, which had once been an important port on Blackwater Bay and a seat of kings, had seen its wealth shrink and trade dwindle due to the growth of nearby King's Landing. Lord Darklyn desired to win a charter for Duskendale, similar to what Dorne had received nearly a century before, but Lord Tywin brusquely refused.
Aware of the strained relationship between King Aerys II Targaryen and Lord Tywin Lannister, Denys invited Aerys to come to Duskendale to hear his petition. When Tywin advised him not to go, Aerys, who wished to distance himself from his Hand, decided to deal with the problem personally. Aerys travelled to Duskendale with a small escort led by only one Kingsguard knight, Ser Gwayne Gaunt, to bring the defiant Lord Darklyn to heel. Upon arrival, however, the King was imprisoned. This shook the entire realm; the King was supposed to be untouchable, yet here he was, imprisoned.
The Defiance lasted half a year. Lord Denys remained convinced that it was a matter of time before Tywin offered better terms. However, Tywin gave Duskendale a final demand to surrender the King, promising that refusal would result in the loyalists storming the town and executing everyone inside. Tywin Lannister is not a forgiving man; it was inevitable that he would have gone through with this threat.
The Defiance was eventually ended when Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard offered to perform a solo rescue mission. Lord Tywin gave the Kingsguard a day before he would storm the castle. I don't know how he did it, but from what I could gather, Ser Barristan rode together with the King to safety but was wounded by an arrow. Without his hostage, Lord Denys surrendered. And yet, little good it did him.
King Aerys II Targaryen's vengeance was terrible. Though Lord Denys Darklyn begged for mercy, the King demanded the deaths of Denys and his immediate family, as well as his uncles, aunts, and distant House Darklyn kinsmen living in Duskendale. The lands and incomes of Duskendale were granted to House Rykker, while the lands of House Hollard were taken away, their villages burned, and their castle torn down. Ever since this event, more and more bits and pieces of information have reached me, telling me of the King's lapses of ... judgment.
.
"Eddard, listen to me. That's exactly the time I am talking about. Don't repeat such things, at least not while you're under my House's protection." I tell Eddard. I agree with him and understand what he wishes to say, but the walls have ears, and I don't wish to see my house burn to the ground on my watch.
"I shall keep my treasonous free speech for myself in the future and act more furtively."
"..."
"..."
I shake my head and change the subject. This is another matter that has gotten a bit bothersome. When I started fostering the two, I thought Robert was my biggest concern.
"The septon has visited me today."
"Again? Quite stubborn, that man."
"Indeed. He has been visiting me for the seventh time this month. I understand that you are a descendant of the First Men, and the people of the North believe in the Old Gods, but you can respect the Faith we have here. I don't ask you to attend any sermons or even take the time of day to follow the Faith, but respect is something we used to agree on."
"Pfft, Gods ... Fuck that. I don't care about Faith, whether in the North or here in the South. And no one will make me care about it, no matter what you make me do or who he is."
"I took you to one session. One and no more. The septon talked about humility, which Robert and you could use more."
"I haven't approached the septon or the septa again ever since we argued, and I will continue to keep my distance. But if he approaches my inn and shouts at me or my workers, calling us sinners, I will do what I must to stop that. The hypocrisy of the Seven is something that makes my skin crawl. I thought we agreed on the problems of blind faith."
*Sigh*
I worry about his ability to convince others. If we continue this, he might even convince me about the stupidity of Faith.
"Let's not talk about it. There are more pressing matters."
"Like?"
"I received a message. The Mountain Clans have attacked a village and raided it."
"Hmm, I assume this isn't the first time it happened."
"Yes. They call themselves the Black Ears. They take their name from their custom of taking the ears of men they defeat in battle as trophies, but leave them alive as a sign of shame."
"Quite morbid."
"And it is getting worse. They have increased their attacks. That was the third in the last two months."
"What do you suggest?" he asks me.
"I have already arranged for a party to deal with the problem. Both you and Robert will accompany us. We ride in the morrow."
"Aye, I'll be ready."
I watch Eddard leave my solar with sure steps. It is hard to believe he hasn't even seen his 15th name day. He is always ready, always poised, no matter what happens. No matter what I teach, he takes to it swimmingly and easily. I can only hope this fosterage will benefit House Arryn in the coming years and that the connection between our houses remains strong. Now it is time to see how Robert and Eddard react to real-life fighting experience.
.
Roughly 50 knights of House Arryn have been mobilised and are marching towards the last village where the Black Ears have supposedly attacked. The mountain clans or hill tribes are a culture divided into clans of varying size and strength that live in the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon. They are primitive and have bothered the Vale for far too long. Robert and Eddard are riding beside me. Robert, at almost 16, is a tall young man with strong muscles and a powerful physique. But Eddard, at almost 15, doesn't seem to lag behind his friend.
"Well, Robert, Eddard, what can you two tell me about the Mountain Clans?" I ask them.
"Ugh, come on, Jon, you know I don't like history lessons. I couldn't care less about how they came here," Robert groans.
"Robert prefers to bash in heads and swing around his hammer uselessly."
"Hey! It's not useless. I've gotten incredible with it, and it is a good weapon to use against armoured opponents. Something you can't claim your longsword to be."
"Oh? At least, I can cut down enemies left and right, with each swing, without getting numb arms after doing that dozens of times."
"WHAT?! That's absurd. I swung my Warhammer for one hour yesterday. ONE HOUR! Try to replicate that."
"Why would I want to do that? I don't like to sweat like you do."
"You would also sweat if you were working as hard as I am."
"I prefer to be effective and not brutish."
"Oh, say that again, you-"
"Enough!" I say, stopping their argument. They have become rather playful. Robert takes every chance he gets to fight Eddard, and Eddard likes to get some work in occasionally. He is the one who controls their discussions and knows what to say to enrage his friend. But Robert doesn't pay enough attention to realise it.
"I told you to study more, Robert. Eddard, you tell us what you know about them. I feel like you are way too happy about what we are going to do."
"Aye, he is. Why's that, Ned? You got yourself a girl finally?" Robert asks.
"No. What I find amusing is the history of the Mountain Clans. During the coming of the Andals to Westeros, they conquered the Vale of Arryn from the First Men. Some First Men submitted to and intermarried with Andals after the Battle of Seven Stars, but others refused to kneel. The First Men who fled from the fertile Vale proper into the Mountains of the Moon are the ancestors of the modern clansmen. There is fierce enmity between the mountain clans and the knights of the Vale, and the clans do not trust the 'lowland lords' as they call them."
"Ah, so you like them because they are descendants of the First Men?"
"No. I don't like their way of life. I believe they are capable of doing better if they are given the opportunity."
That makes me interested.
"What do you mean by that, Eddard?"
"I am certain that we could teach them how to grow their own food and become more civilised and profit the Eyrie and the Vale as a whole."
"Interesting. And how do you suggest we do that? We will meet them on the battlefield, not the usual one between large armies. What makes you think we would achieve anything?"
"We don't have to stop what we're doing. We use this chance to push them back until their backs are against the wall. When their lives and entire existence hang in the balance, they will be open for negotiations. And I'm certain they will be willing to talk to me."
This could be an interesting way of handling things. If Eddard manages to talk the Mountain Clan into ceasing their raiding actions and becoming productive members of the Vale, it will help the smallfolk.
"Very well. Eddard, we will try it your way. How would you like to proceed?"
"The simplest way would be for you to allow a few men and me to take a different route to the Black Ears' last noted location. If you and Robert take the bulk of our forces to march there directly, they will most likely miss us and focus on you. That way, we will flank them and strike them when they think that they caught us by surprise."
"And how would you find your way through the forest? You were never here and don't know it."
"Aye, that's true. But if you give us some time by making camp here, we will have enough time to scout ahead and keep ourselves hidden. I assume that they haven't noticed us yet, but they will soon. They know the Mountains of the Moon like you know the Eyrie; this is their home. But they won't suspect that you walk into their trap willingly to give us time to ambush them instead. It will work."
"A bold and uncertain strategy."
"Ah, come on, Jon. You know that Ned never misses in these things. He'll make it, I know it!" Robert's voice booms through our ranks. It seems Ned has Robert's complete trust, no matter what.
"Very well. But you will take Elbert with you. My nephew knows the Vale better than you do and will be able to give you valuable advice. Usually, he would have led such a thing, but I know of your special skills and incredible mind."