Lucas had sought an audience with Robert and had been granted one during the time when the king was most sober, in the morning, at the breakfast table.
"Lucas," Robert bellowed as soon as Lucas entered the room. "Sit down."
Robert was sitting on a large chair, fit for his massive frame. In front of him on the table, numerous appetizing dishes were spread and Robert's plate was fully loaded. Clearly, he was a heavy eater.
Lucas bowed his head slightly in greeting.
"Your Grace," he said, and took his seat at the table across from Robert.
"Breakfast?" Robert offered.
Lucas shook his head. "I have had my breakfast."
"An early riser you are," Robert commented, and Lucas smiled.
"Say," Robert added. "What are you here for?"
"I assume that you must have heard those rumours," Lucas said.
"About you going to Winterfell," Robert replied. "I have."
Despite Robert being indulgent in his own vices and uninterested in politics and administration, he was definitely not as unaware as many people believed him to be.
"So," Robert asked. "Finally, here to seek my permission?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes, Your Grace," he said.
Robert's hands stopped moving as he looked up from his plate directly at Lucas' face.
"What do you even want from the North?" he asked.
"Resources," Lucas replied. "And stability."
Robert raised his eyebrows slightly in confusion. "Stability?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Lucas answered. "So far, I have received quite a few orders for the weapons I have been forging. Not only from the Great Houses, but also from the vassal houses."
"And now that I have started supplying these weapons, more and more minor houses have been contacting us."
"This is true for all realms, except the North," Lucas continued. "Lord Manderly of White Harbor has sought information about a small order, but apart from him, no other house in the North has done so."
"I believe that out of fear of the coming winter, they are not very willing to take risks with their coin. This summer has been unusually long, and therefore they fear a long winter."
"I am not saying that a war will break out," Lucas added. "Even with my weapons, I doubt anyone could actually invade the North successfully. And Northerners surely have no interest in anything south of the Neck."
"But my weapons surely tilt the balance of power in one direction. And when only one realm out of the seven lacks these weapons, it is bound to create some friction. Some instability. The Northerners will be treated with even less respect than they are now. They might even become targets of insult and ridicule at gatherings. This is something better avoided."
"And how does your going to Winterfell ensure stability?" Robert questioned with a frown.
"I want to strike a deal with Lord Stark," Lucas informed. "I will extract resources from his lands, and in return, I will forge him weapons."
"That sounds promising," Robert replied. "You and Ned should work out the details among yourselves. I am not interested in any of that."
"But," Robert's voice hardened slightly. "Do not try to fool or rob Ned because of his compulsions. He is a good man. Give him a good deal."
Lucas was not really surprised. Ned was one of the few people Robert genuinely cared about. In fact, he cared for the Lord of Winterfell even more than his own brothers.
"No, Your Grace," Lucas smiled. "Lord Stark will surely get a fair deal."
"Probably more fair than the rest of the houses," he said. "It may even mend the distance between our two houses."
Robert, though a bit surprised, grunted in acknowledgement.
"And I believe your absence will not affect the work ongoing in King's Landing and the New City," Robert remarked.
"No, Your Grace," Lucas replied. "I have planned and initiated almost everything. The men I am leaving behind are very competent, and they will have no problem following up on the work."
"Good," Robert nodded.
Lucas took it as his cue for dismissal, stood up, and walked away.
.
.
.
Days later, a small convoy departed from the city of King's Landing. Fifty soldiers, more than a dozen maids and servants, Tillie, and Lucas.
Gary had been left behind in King's Landing, and in Lucas' absence, he had been appointed the temporary commander of the City Watch.
As Lucas' convoy left the city, the eyes of many people in King's Landing lit up. It was not as though he was unaware that, in his absence, his power would be targeted. But he did not care much for his power. At least not now.
The soldiers who were loyal to him were going to remain loyal to him. The development work was going to continue without any impediment. It had Robert's full blessing and support. While the court officials and the other lords might think this to be an opportunity, their space for manoeuvrability was very limited.
Gary was sure to face a lot of heat and pressure, as people would try to use him, pressure him, entice him, bribe him, or turn him to their side. Lucas was not worried about that man. He was competent enough to know what to do. And besides, it was also a kind of practice for Gary.
Lucas was not going to remain in King's Landing forever. The man needed to learn how to handle and manage things. And when Lucas returned, he would sweep everything back to himself.
The one person who was going to miss Lucas the most was certainly Cersei. In the past few days, after she had learned that Lucas would be leaving King's Landing, he had been summoned to her chambers almost every night. And Lucas too had responded well.
He had given her the pleasure she had been craving. He made her feel the thrill of being with him every night. And she was far too reluctant to part with him. The night before his departure from King's Landing had been spent entirely with her. She had not let him go until the morning, and Lucas had obliged her, fucking her brains out.
At one point, she had even seriously considered coming with Lucas to Winterfell in the name of seeing the North. But the plan was absurd. Her hatred for the North and its people was well known.
He was certain that the next time they met, he would be able to use the power of tame on her. And she would an extremely powerful pawn in his sheath.
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