In the early morning, the number of people leaving the city was far fewer than those entering, but the streets inside the River Gate were just as crowded. Most people weren't preparing to go out. Instead, they were gathered to watch the golden cloaks facing off against golden cloaks—a rare spectacle of infighting among the City Watch.
When the soldiers first arrived in large numbers last night, they had terrified the local residents. But after a full night without conflict, as dawn broke, the people grew bolder. Upstairs and downstairs, in and outside homes, near and far, high and low, all eyes were on the River Gate garrison, waiting to see how this drama would end.
Life was hard enough. Missing out on something this entertaining would be a regret for life.
…
"Daybreak is here, brothers waiting outside. The gate opening time set by His Majesty the King still matters. I'll send someone to open the gate. Once the streets are cleared, I'll escort the prisoner our commander wants to the Red Keep!" Bywater, who had caught a short nap in the sentry tower, climbed back up the wall, now full of energy. He called down from the battlements, and without consulting anyone or waiting for a reply, gave the order to open the gate.
The soldiers from various camps, transferred in during the night, were no longer in the same state of alert. They sat, leaned, or stood in a loose circle around the River Gate barracks, watching as the gate cracked open and a team of more than twenty men trotted out, before the doors were shut again.
There had been no fighting overnight, and with daylight and an audience, the chance of conflict was even slimmer. Even Slynt didn't consider using the brief gate opening as an opportunity to strike, nor did anyone suspect Aegor might have slipped away among the group. They simply raised their heads numbly and watched the guards move with practiced coordination—unlocking, unbolting, and cranking pulleys—until, after nearly half an hour, the River Gate, which bore the heaviest burden in the city, finally opened inward.
Traffic surged to life. The moment the gates opened was always the tensest for crowd control. The men who had opened the gate quickly took up positions, using their bodies to divide traffic into inbound and outbound lanes and preparing for the day's gatekeeping duties.
The long line waiting to leave the city began moving. But the usual rush of people entering did not appear immediately. First through the gate was a group of men in black escorting a carriage. The rest followed at a distance, as though avoiding a plague. No one dared overtake them.
…
Slynt's eyes lit up, his sleep vanishing. He rose to his feet, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. After a long, tense night, was the turning point finally at hand? If the Night's Watch had sent reinforcements to stir up trouble and rescue Aegor, then he wouldn't even need to fabricate a crime. He could arrest them with full legitimacy. On such a sensitive day, the charge of raising private soldiers in rebellion would stick. No one could talk their way out of that.
…
"Damn, what a spectacle."
The Night's Watchmen who had just arrived in King's Landing had no idea what was happening. Domi stared in awe at the crowd of gold cloaks surrounding the River Gate barracks. Under the rising sun, their golden cloaks gleamed brilliantly. One or two weren't much to look at, but en masse they were quite a sight. "Are all these guys just gate guards? Just this one gate has more troops than the whole Night's Watch. Truly worthy of the capital."
Alliser Thorne frowned. As a former garrison officer in King's Landing during Robert's Rebellion, he knew the composition of the city guard well. It was normal to see more men at the River Gate, but even during wartime, it was never this overblown. Had the City Watch expanded so drastically in peacetime over the last ten years?
Lacking answers, he shook his head. "Never mind that. The important thing is to deliver the wight to the Red Keep."
"Hey, someone's coming. Maybe the king heard we were coming and sent people to greet us."
But the gold cloaks ahead blocked their path, brandishing their weapons. Dozens of spears pointed toward the escort team.
"Stop!"
The men from Castle Black had all seen real battle. Without hesitation, they reached for their swords. The newly opened city gate was once again blocked by a fresh standoff. Alliser Thorne raised his sword, scanning the opposing crowd. When he spotted a familiar face, he sneered. "Oh, Lord Janos Slynt. Quite the welcome. The garrison blocks our way. Care to explain?"
"Ser Alliser?" Slynt stepped forward, feigning surprise. He'd clearly stopped the wrong people. At the end of Robert's Rebellion, he and Alliser had both served in the City Watch. When Tywin Lannister tricked the gates open, Slynt surrendered, and Alliser resisted. As a result, Slynt became commander, and Alliser was sent to the Wall. Given their shared history, it was hard for Slynt to play the tough guy now. "What are you doing here?"
"We're escorting a wight to present to His Grace," Thorne answered curtly. "Why? Does that violate any law in the Seven Kingdoms?"
"Of course not." Slynt glanced at the cage. "But I'm curious. Why is Ser Alliser traveling with Tyrion Lannister?"
"Coincidence," the dwarf replied with a smile. "The gate opened late, so we ended up waiting together."
"Lord Slynt ordered the Night's Watch office relocated," Tyrion added. "I'm here to carry out that order."
"Why not use the King's Gate? And why bring so many men?" Slynt narrowed his eyes. The difference in clothing made it easy to distinguish true brothers of the Watch from the security team. "Looks to me like you brought your little army to help your fellow rebel escape. Or perhaps you planned something worse."
Not a fool, are you? Tyrion smirked. "My lord, I don't know what you mean. We're law-abiding citizens of the realm. We entered unarmed. What could we possibly do?"
Slynt scanned the black-clad security team. Empty-handed. No excuse to attack. But he made up his mind. Tilting his head, he signaled. "Ser Alliser, take your men and go. These other black-cloaked impostors, who have not sworn their vows, are suspected of aiding a criminal. I'm taking them in for questioning."
The gold cloaks from other camps, gathered around, followed orders. They didn't dare assault their River Gate comrades, but arresting a group of unarmed civilians? That was easy.
The rangers from the Wall sheathed their swords and stepped aside with Ser Alliser, distancing themselves from their "brother unit" to avoid being drawn in. They watched the mass arrest, confused.
Tyrion stood, calm-faced, as the gold cloaks, several times his number, surrounded and detained the security guards he had brought. The process was smooth. No struggle, no bloodshed.
He had come to rescue Aegor, to find or force an opportunity. But Slynt gave him none.
Fortunately, Tyrion had anticipated this. Before setting out, he'd instructed the team not to resist, not to carry weapons, no matter what. Now, dozens of black-clad men stood still, allowing themselves to be taken. It wasted the garrison's manpower and denied them any excuse to escalate.
Tyrion wanted to curse, to mock, to threaten. But in the end, all he said was a merchant's pleasantry: "Lord Slynt, very well. I wish you a smooth investigation."
…
The battle to remove Slynt had lasted three days. Leaks had thrown everything into chaos. Tyrion was growing uneasy. He began to wonder if he should call on his brother in the Red Keep for help.
But then Slynt, after staring at Tyrion for a long moment, gave a new order.
"Take Lord Tyrion as well. I suspect he's involved in the murder and brawl last night."
"Slynt, are you mad?" Tyrion raised his brows. He hadn't been this shocked even when a wight lunged at him. He never needed to invoke Cersei or Jaime. The Lannister name was enough. He never imagined Slynt would dare arrest him in broad daylight.
"You arrest me, and guess what my father will do when he hears?"
Slynt grinned. "I'm not mad, nor am I eager to arrest you. I'm simply investigating. Didn't you wish me luck? I need your cooperation and that of your accomplice, Aegor West."
It didn't matter what excuse he used. The fact remained: a Lannister was being arrested in the streets. The dwarf was well-known in King's Landing. Amid the murmurs of onlookers and Tyrion's stunned silence, his squire Jack was disarmed. Two gold cloaks seized Tyrion by the arms and dragged him from the River Gate.
Slynt had informed Robert yesterday that the queen had tried to bribe him into rebellion. The king had ordered him to bring two hundred trusted men to the Red Keep today and await further orders. If war between Baratheons and Lannisters broke out, then this Lannister son would be a valuable hostage. Better to control him early than chase him later.
The plan went smoothly. Tyrion Lannister was dragged away in public.
Unfortunately for Slynt, the person who witnessed it was Jaime Lannister, who had just arrived at the River Gate to leave the city for Dragonstone at the king's order.
(To be continued.)
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