Chapter 161 Ian's layout (Part 2)
"The Parliament Palace? You want me to go *there*? Willingly walk into their trap?" Illyrio stared, unable to grasp Ian's meaning.
"It's merely a diversion," Ian explained. "Because our men are participating in tomorrow's tourney, rumors are flying all over Pentos that you have forged an alliance with Prince Hazan. Meanwhile, Hazan and the Tetrus family's actual alliance is a secret known only to a select few."
He leaned closer. "In the eyes of most parliamentarians, you and Prince Hazan are allies, and Governor Tetrus is your common enemy. Therefore…" Ian whispered the rest of his plan into Illyrio's ear.
Illyrio listened, his expression shifting from doubt to consideration. "The plan is indeed clever," he conceded, nodding slowly. "But its success hinges on one thing: you must first deliver Princess Daenerys and her brother to the Red Temple, correct?"
"As it happens," Ian said calmly, "I have noticed several boys and girls within this very manse who share the silver hair and purple eyes of Her Grace, and who are of a similar age."
"You mean to use stand-ins?" Illyrio's eyes widened as he understood. "Hazan and his men won't verify their identities?"
"Time is everything, Your Excellency. If we wait until we arrive at the temple atop the mountain to make our move, it will be far too late for them. My agreement is this: the moment their spies see my carriage carrying the princess two streets from your residence, they will act. Her Grace and the doubles will remain inside the carriage, their faces obscured from view."
He paused, letting the details sink in. "Before I even leave the manse, I will have our Unsullied move the true princess and her brother to the castle on the hill behind the estate. It is easily defended and difficult to assault—more than sufficient to hold until this is all over. So, what is your decision?"
Illyrio weighed the proposal, his gaze fixed on Ian. Finally, he gave a decisive nod. "We will proceed with your plan. You will handle your part within the manse; leave the rest to me." His eyes narrowed. "Remember, do not betray a single flaw in front of Hazan. When this is finished, I will reward you handsomely."
"You have shown me great kindness, Your Excellency," Ian replied with a bow. "I will always be on your side."
***
"How did it go, Celia? Is he taken?" Hazan asked eagerly, personally refilling her goblet with wine.
"When he left the temple, he needed the wall for support," Celia said, a confident smile playing on her lips as she accepted the glass. "I am convinced he is now my devoted servant."
"Meow." Daju, the orange cat who had been resting in her lap, suddenly leaped onto her shoulder, regarding Hazan with curious eyes.
"A new pet?" Hazan noted, seeing the creature for the first time. "I don't believe I've seen him before."
"Yes, a temple cat," Celia explained, gently stroking the animal. "Since I will be leaving Pentos soon, I wanted a small souvenir." She carefully lifted Daju's paw, pulling him back down into a warm embrace in her lap.
Her expression then grew serious. "But I have some bad news. I saw a new vision in the flames."
"What is it?" Hazan's attention sharpened instantly.
"I saw that after our operation begins, the princess of Westeros dies in the ensuing chaos. Then, I saw the Horse King's wrath as a fire that burned everything outside the walls of Pentos."
"What?" Hazan's face contorted with fury. He slammed his fist on the table. "How is that possible? Illyrio would have the Beggar King and his sister protected in the most secure location!"
"Perhaps the manse's defenders fall into disarray when they cannot contact Governor Illyrio," Celia mused. "Or perhaps they attempt a desperate breakout with the princess. Or, in their despair, they decide they would rather die and take us with them. The vision I saw was only a fleeting glimpse, but its consequences would be disastrous."
"What do we do?" Hazan forced himself to calm his racing heart, his mind scrambling for a countermeasure. "We cannot abandon the plan now. We are too close. We must…"
"We must find a way to get Daenerys into our custody first," Celia finished his sentence smoothly. "Only then can we prevent the most terrible outcome."
"Yes! Control her first." Hazan was about to agree when the absurdity of the suggestion hit him, and he almost laughed. "How is that possible?" he asked incredulously. "All our preparations, all our deceptions, have been to make Illyrio misjudge our objective when he finally discovers our actions. We have gone to such lengths to avoid alerting him, and now you suggest we kidnap his precious princess? Do you want him to see through our entire charade?"
"*We* could not do it, of course," Celia replied with a sly smile. "But do not forget, we have just acquired a new ally. One who can come and go from Illyrio's manse as he pleases. One who has earned the trust of the Beggar King and his sister."
"You mean Ian?" Hazan's eyes lit up. "If it's him…"
"If it were him," Celia added, guiding his thoughts, "and Illyrio was not in the manse, no one would stop him if he wished to escort the royal siblings out for a visit to the Red Temple, or some other such pretext."
"But will he help us?" Hazan pressed, a cascade of doubts tumbling from his lips. "Are you certain of him? If we tell him our plan beforehand, what's to stop him from running straight to Illyrio?"
"Which is why we will compress the timeline," Celia explained patiently, laying out the trap Ian had designed for himself. "We will detain him after tomorrow's tourney concludes. Only when Illyrio has departed for the Parliament Palace will we reveal our intentions. With no time to warn his master, Ian will see that cooperating with us is his only choice. Once he has brought Princess Daenerys out of the manse, our forces can move into position, and the entire operation will begin."
"That could work," Hazan admitted, "but what about the time between Illyrio entering the Parliament and Ian bringing Daenerys out? There could be a gap."
"We will have Governor Tetrus stall for time. Is he not a renowned orator? Let him stand before the Parliament and accuse you of all manner of 'shameless behavior.' I guarantee, while sitting in that chamber, Illyrio will never suspect that you two have already formed an alliance."
***
*Winterfell*
"I already lost Lyanna once, Ned," Robert Baratheon said, his voice thick with emotion as he gripped Eddard Stark's hand. "I will not let it happen a second time."
"She is not my sister, Your Majesty," Eddard replied, his tone weary. "My sister has been gone for many years. Have you forgotten what she looked like? This girl is, at most, seventy percent similar."
"Yes, yes, I'd forgotten," Robert admitted with a dismissive wave. "Though their faces differ slightly, it's the look in her eyes, Ned! The temperament, the spirit… you know she wields a sword? And rides a horse? She is exactly as Lyanna was back then. And the most important part—her name is also Lyanna! What a wonderful coincidence, eh?"
"And so?"
"And so?" Robert repeated, his voice rising with theatrical passion. "Can't you see? It is the will of the gods, Ned. After Cersei's betrayal, this is the Seven's compensation to me."
"What does the will of the gods matter? Not one of the Seven Kingdoms will allow you to marry a commoner."
"I don't care!" Robert roared. "A commoner? That is easily fixed! Does she not have a brother? A knight named Lorraine. Fine, there are no knights in the North, but I can canonize him myself, right now! The man has strength. There is no one in my Kingsguard who could match him."
"That is because Ser Barristan is not at Winterfell," Eddard corrected him quietly.
"Oh, damn it, 'Barristan the Bold'!" Robert scoffed. "Besides the Sword of the Morning and me in my prime, how many men in the world could have been his equal? Must a man defeat Barristan Selmy to be considered an outstanding knight?"
"No, Your Majesty," Eddard said, shaking his head. "I do not deny Lorraine's power."
"That's enough, then," Robert declared, his mind made up. "I am certain that when this war is over, there will be plenty of empty castles in the Westerlands. An outstanding knight deserves a castle of his own. And Lyanna… she will become a proper countess. My queen."
"You're mad, Robert."
"On the contrary! I am more sane now than I have ever been!" Robert bellowed, his eyes blazing. "I was mad the day I lost your sister!"
---
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