Chapter 6
King's Landing, 281 A.C., Two weeks later…
I had to hand it to Estermont, he was spot on with his nephew's reaction. Robert had spent the rest of the day raging across the Red Keep while Jon Arryn left the capital with The Mountain and Lorch that evening. Due to the Narrow Sea still being blockaded, the Hand would have to make the nine-to-ten-day journey to Storm's End on horseback to then sail another four or five days to Sunspear. The next day, a calmer, though still agitated, Robert would announce to the court that his betrothal to Lyanna Stark remained unchanged but that the bastard's fate was to be determined when the Hand returns with Ned's party.
Speaking of them, Wyman was understandably upset when his father's name was not among the survivors captured. When he asked me if his father was still alive, I was honest with him, that it was possible but unlikely and that they wouldn't know for sure until Ned returns. He took that as well as you could, with him asking to be alone that night before returning to a slightly more subdued form of normal the next day.
I didn't pay much attention in the moment but I remember William Dustin's name being among Ned's confirmed survivors. His survival would probably prevent his wife Barbara's resentment towards the Starks, the same resentment that cause Houses Dustin and Ryswell to side with the Boltons in canon.
After that, not much happened with Wayfinders Guild still waiting for the first shipment of sticky stone from Sea Dragon Point. The most recent raven a few days ago reported that the cog full of sticky stone had safely made it to Seaguard and was being unloaded to be taken overland to the Blue Fork, where it would sail downriver until it reached the crossroads near Castle Darry and from there, the King's Road down to the capital. When the Targaryen blockade is eventually lifted, the sticky stone will instead go to Maidenpool and sail to King's Landing from there.
So, Wyman and I did two things to pass the time. The first was to recruit skilled workers and artisans from King's Landing to bring to Wolfsport. The results were mixed because as it turned out, while many people were badly affected by the Sack and even willing to leave the capital, they were less interested in moving far away to the cold North. That's not to say we didn't have success, we managed to recruit three blacksmith brothers and their families whose forge burned down when the Lannisters took the city, a silversmith that recently completed his apprenticeship, four separate carpenters and best of all, a middle-aged exiled Braavosi shipwright. The last one I had to hide from Stannis because all shipwrights were being conscripted to rebuild the Royal Fleet but Horesso, the shipwright, lost his whole family in the Sack and just wanted out of the city.
The second thing I did was make a new "invention". I mentally debated myself for days on whether or not I wanted to give away another invention to the crown, even if it was for financial gain. What ultimately decided it was two things, the first was that I had a lot of inventions I was going to make in Wolfsport and Castle Warg, safely away from prying eyes so I was fine with letting go of a minor invention. The second reason was I wanted to make money off commission with the Wayfinders Guild to fund future inventions and that required impressing Stannis and Davos.
So, what did I make? It took the better part of a week, but with the help of Dagwell and one of the local carpenters I recruited, Westeros had its first backstaff. Based specifically on the Davis Quadrant from my old world, it was a navigational tool where the user would stand with their back to the sun or moon (hence the name) and look through a slidable sight vane to observe the shadow cast by the upper vane on a horizon vane and navigate by calculating the angle of the shadow. It wasn't perfect by any means but it was more accurate than the astrolabes sailors were currently using.
Which brings me to today, on a ship captained by Davos with Stannis and Wyman, sailing into King's Landing after a two-day journey to Duskendale and back. While the Targaryens still blockaded the Narrow Sea with a bigger fleet, Stannis had built up the Royal Fleet enough to defend the Crownland coast from Wendwater to Duskendale from any Dragon incursion.
I stood with my cousin and Stannis as we observed Davos using the backstaff, back to the sun, eye looking through the sight vane and observing the shadow and muttering numbers. Davos maybe illiterate, but he still knew his numbers and was an experience sailor, so the backstaff was a bit awkward for him to use at start of the journey but he was using it with ease on the way back. Wyman hadn't been informed of the invention until the day before and simply kept his mouth shut and let me show it off to Stannis and Davos.
"What are your thoughts on this 'backstaff' Ser Davos?" asked Stannis in a neutral tone. I had Davos, Stannis, and Wyman use the backstaff for themselves after I showed them how though Stannis has refused to give his thoughts instead wanting Davos to give his first.
Davos smiled and lowered the backstaff, "A bit unwieldy at first, but once you get use to it, it's much more accurate than our astrolabes or the Essosi cross-staffs. I wish I had this and the wayfinder back in my smuggling days." He chuckled.
"I thought the same Ser Davos." Stannis responds to Davos before turning to me, "Well, I take it you want a deal similar to the wayfinders?"
"Yes, but with one difference, instead of a supply contract I'm looking for ten percent commission on all sales with the crown setting the price." I pitch with all the (minimal) salesman experience from my world.
Stannis grinds his teeth, "Ten percent! Do you take me for a fool? No, you will have three percent."
"We both know you are no fool my prince but three percent is too low since these don't need to wait on sticky stone shipments and can be produced immediately and in greater numbers. How about seven percent, a nice holy number." I counter.
Stannis looks me in the eye for moment before grinding out "Five percent and no more."
"Great! The Wayfinders Guild will began making them immediately while waiting on the shipment of sticky stone, which should take another three or so weeks to arrive." I say as I smile.
As I watch the docks of King's Landing get closer, I hear my cousin congratulating Stannis on his betrothal to Cersei Lannister that was announced yesterday and quietly snorted to myself when I heard Stannis grinding his teeth.
I wonder how much of a shitshow that marriage will be. I thought to myself.
The last of the wyldfire was successfully moved out of the capital a week ago with only a dozen lives lost when two barrels exploded on the south side of the Blackwater, fortunately the winds were blowing towards the water, limiting the spread of the wyldfire until it was extinguished. With the threat gone, many highborn and more importantly, their daughters, sisters, nieces and granddaughters started to make their way to King's Landing and the Red Keep both to attend the upcoming royal weddings and to make marriages and alliances.
The ship docked and after walking down the gangway Wyman and I bid Stannis and Davos goodbye and left for the Wayfinders Guild with the backstaff, content with knowing I created another revenue stream for House Seastark. Five percent commission may not sound like much, but considering once captains see and realize its usefulness, they'll be selling like hotcakes and this combined with a monopoly on backstaff sales in the North will make House Seastark a pretty penny. The rest of the day was spent with Dagwell and Wyman preparing the guild for the production of the backstaff by hiring more carpenters and securing the additional wood needed for production.
King's Landing, four days later…
It was announced at court that Jon Arryn had successfully made it to Sunspear with his prisoners and negotiated with the Martells to release their "guests" and bend the knee. To celebrate this, Robert called for a feast to be held tonight and it helped that there were now enough highborn ladies in the Red Keep so it didn't feel like a sausage fest.
I was slightly buzzed and had just gotten done with a conversation with a fat, middle-aged Wyman Manderly and his son Wylis Manderly. I could see my cousin chatting with Lord Slate, Probably trying to set up a betrothal between himself and Lord Slate's daughter, not that I have any issue with that. I thought to myself when I crossed paths with a fifteen-year-old Cersei Lannister in a red dress and two other blonde hair ladies of similar age, one with brown eyes in a blue dress and one with green eyes that matched Cersei's in a white dress. She had arrived recently to the Red Keep with her father, who had left to bring Jaime back to Casterly Rock.
"So, you're that Northerner that made these wayfinders everyone is droning on about." Cersei wastes no time being a bitch. I ignore her words and tone and place a fake smile on my face.
"Why yes, I am 'that Northener', Lord Hugo Seastark. It is an honor to meet you Lady Cersei and I must congratulate you on your betrothal to Prince Stannis!" I took pleasure in seeing her eye briefly twitch before cutting her off, "And who are these wonderful ladies accompanying you?" I turn to acknowledge her friends.
The brown-eyed blonde responded first with a smile, "My name is Jeyne Farman, Lord Seastark, it's an honor to meet you." "Lady Jeyne, I am honored to meet you." I return her smile before turning to the other one. "O-oh, my name is Myrra Lannister, Lord Seastark and it's a pleasur- I mean, honor to meet you!" She stuttered and blushed.
"Oh? A Lannister? Which one of Lord Tywin's siblings is your father?" I ask, not remembering her name from canon. Before Myrra could respond, Cersei answered for her.
"As if she'd come from the main branch, no she's merely a Lannister of Lannisport." She said in a dismissive tone and I saw Myrra flinch.
"A cadet branch of a Lord Paramount's house is nothing to scoff at, I should know better than anyone." I counter while still looking at Myrra, who seemed surprised I was defending her. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Myrra." I finished with a smile that threatened to turn into a smirk when I saw her stiffen when I subtly referenced her word change.
"Is it true you made the wayfinder point north through a magic spell? Cersei and I made a wager on whether or not you used magic, Myrra and I said no." Jeyne asked excitedly.
"And I said yes. So, what heathen spell did you use in front of your pagan trees?" Cersei mocked.
My smile vanished and I looked her dead in the eye. "None. No magic needed when sticky stone is a naturally occurring magn-" I'm cut off when a tall, lanky brown-haired man calling out while joining the group.
"Lady Jeyne, there you are! Oh, greetings Lady Cersei, Lady Myrra, and…" he greets everyone but trails off and I take my queue to introduce myself. His eyes widen as he clears his throat. "I am Ser Gareth Clifton of Fair Isle and Lady Jeyne Farman's betrothed. I have heard much about you Lord Seastark and your wayfinders."
"Oh yes I was explaining to Lady Cersei that the sticky stone used in the wayfinders is not magic but magnets at work." I respond politely.
"Magnets!? How do they work?" Cersei cuts in and for a brief second, the image of two white guys in black and white clown makeup rapping badly flashes across my mind and I suppress a shiver. Westeros may survive a Second Long Night but I'm not sure it could survive the Juggalos.
"You can ask a maester as I'm sure they know more about the subject then I do. So, that means you win the wager Lady Myrra and Lady Jeyne!" I deflect, not wanting to go into details of magnetism and magnetic poles.
"Oh yes! That means you owe Myrra and I five gold each Cersei!" Jeyne exclaimed happily, oblivious to Cersei's eye twitch of annoyance. Ser Gareth was not oblivious to Cersei's deteriorating mood and offered his hand to Jeyne. "Lady Jeyne, would you like to dance?" He asked smoothly. She giggled and took his hand to be led to the dancefloor while Cersei walked off with a huff. I awkwardly turn to Myrra and offer my hand. "So, would you like to dance?"
"I'd love to." She shyly agrees and I take her hand as we take our place amongst the other dancers.
"So, one cadet branch to another, what's it like being a Lannister in Lannisport and dealing with the main branch close by? I like the Starks but I couldn't imagine living right next to them!" I ask smoothly as we danced.
She giggled. "It's a pretty good life. The Lannister name carries a lot of weight even for the cadet branches and while we're not Casterly Rock rich, we're still a wealthy house. As for the Lannisters…they're good family and neighbors though a bit prideful at times." She says the last part with a pretty smirk before asking. "And you? What's it like being a Seastark living so far away from your liege lord?"
"Cold winters with a lot of sailing to keep the Ironborn and Wildlings at bay. As for living away from the Starks? I think it's a good thing, instead of crowding around Winterfell, we managed to resettle a part of the North that was barely inhabited even by our standards and created wealth and trade in a region that sorely needed it." I say as I match her smirk.
"The Westerlands does not have all the land the North has to give to new vassals." She responds.
"True. The Westerlands is smaller and more densely populated than the North so giving your family Lannisport was probably the best House Lannister could do. Your family has certainly made the most of the opportunity to grow Lannisport into one the largest trade hubs in the Sunset Sea." My smirk turns into a smile.
The rest of the night blurs together with dancing and ale but Myrra was the most memorable part. I dance with several more women but dance with Myrra a second time…
"Aren't younger brothers so annoying at times?" I ask, slightly drunk.
Myrra laughs, "I know right! My younger brother Burton can be a real menace, one time he…"
I talk to a few lords about politics and potential trade deals but end up talking to Myrra again…
"The Greens were in the right!" She boldly declares and I roll my eyes.
"You're only saying that cause your house fought for the Greens but the Blacks were in the right because Rhaenyra was the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne." I respond.
"I could say the same to you, you're only saying that cause the North sided with the Blacks!" She counters.
"That's not true. I support the Blacks for a different reason." I say as she studies me for a moment. "It's cause The Sea Snake supported the Blacks isn't it" and laughs when I mumble "Lucky guess." …
As I shoulder a drunken Wyman out of the Great Hall, I feel eyes on the back of my head and turn to see Tywin giving me a strange look. It didn't seem angry or upset, at least to my drunken mind, more calculating. I turn and continue with Wyman to our rooms to get some sleep. I'm sure it's nothing.
A/N: Writer's block and a busy time at work are to blame for the delay. Hope you guys enjoy