“The trial will be held in the afternoon. Why are you here so early?” The Stark guards, naturally more friendly toward men in black, greeted them warmly. A gray-cloaked guard said kindly, “Don’t loiter at the gates of the Red Keep. We still need to watch you, and the sun’s blazing. Everyone’s tired. Go find a place nearby to eat and then come back!”

“We’ve already eaten,” Nina replied, but she was quick to add, “But Master Aegor certainly hasn’t! Let’s go find a place to eat.”

The group escorted the newly released Aegor to the nearest inn by the Red Keep and ordered a generous spread to welcome him back.

Several people watched while one person ate. It made for a slightly awkward scene. Fortunately, aside from Ser Alliser, everyone present was a subordinate of Aegor’s, so there was no need for formality. As Aegor drank and ate, he asked casually, “The industry kept running fine during my absence, right?”

“You informed me long in advance, my lord, so operations continued as usual. We only assisted Lord Eddard in the investigation of Janos Slynt and Tyrion Lannister.” Nina sat beside him at the table, diligently pouring wine and attending to him. Her joy at his return and admiration for him were obvious. “Though you were gone longer than expected, we managed to restrain ourselves and didn’t act rashly to try and rescue you.”

“Well done.” After the Lannister forces were purged from King’s Landing, Eddard’s grip on the city had become nearly absolute. Trying to rescue him in such conditions would have failed and likely made things worse if it earned Eddard’s displeasure. Staying quietly in jail for a few days, on the other hand, had gotten him released. At first, Aegor had only used Nina as an assistant and secretary, but over time, as she never once failed in her duties, he had grown to trust her deeply. “Ser Alliser, they’re here to testify. What about you? As far as I know, you and Slynt go way back.”

“We do, which is why I came to see what happens when he crosses you.” Alliser replied gruffly, “I am a Thorne of House Thorne, and a knight anointed in the Faith. I have every right to enter the Red Keep and attend this trial. I don’t need your permission.”

“Yes, yes, you’re certainly qualified. As a logistics officer, I shouldn’t meddle in the business of Castle Black’s instructor.” Aegor chuckled. “But one thing I must correct: Slynt didn’t oppose me. He opposed us—the Night’s Watch industry and the entire Legion.”

Alliser snorted and turned his head away, clearly unimpressed by Aegor’s wordplay.

…

There was no point continuing the conversation. The two of them hadn’t gotten along well even back at Castle Black, and moving to a new city hadn’t changed that. So no more was said between them. Aegor, his appetite dulled after days of prison food, wolfed down his lunch, then rested briefly before deciding not to go home. Instead, he went with Nina and Jellos to enjoy the spectacle of their adversary being put on trial.

…

When they returned to the Red Keep two hours later, the gates had finally opened to those involved in the trial.

As the former Commander of the City Watch and a well-known figure in King’s Landing, Janos Slynt was entitled to be tried in person by the Hand of the King within the Red Keep. In keeping with the traditions of the realm, such trials were customarily open to a select number of citizen representatives who held standing and had been formally invited—meant to emphasize the rule of law and transparency of judgment.

Aegor had no noble birth, no title, and had not been invited by the Hand. Technically, he shouldn’t have been allowed to attend this trial… but during his days in prison, public opinion in King’s Landing had quietly shifted. He was still known as the “White Walker Killer,” but with the arrival of the wights in the city and rumors that “the boss of the Night’s Watch toppled the commander of the garrison,” that nickname had transformed from one of mockery to one of reverence.

Once, The Fantastic Adventures of the Night’s Watch had made him a laughingstock across the Seven Kingdoms. Its single truthful event, “The Battle with the White Walkers,” was used by many as proof of how absurd the rest must be. But after Eddard Stark gathered nobles and prominent citizens to witness the corpse of a wight with their own eyes, the tide of opinion turned overnight.

A Night’s Watchman who crossed the Sunset Sea to Westeros, slew White Walkers, possessed remarkable martial prowess, and was clever to boot—during Aegor’s time behind bars, he had unknowingly become a living legend in the eyes of the smallfolk and Crownlanders.

As that intangible quality called “reputation” steadily grew, he went from being a common Night’s Watchman to a distinguished figure in the eyes of the Stark guards and city watchmen. So when he, dressed in black, walked through the Red Keep’s gates alongside Alliser Thorne and several Night’s Watch witnesses, the guards—familiar with his face—saw nothing wrong with it and let him in without question or delay.

—

Of course, entering the Red Keep was one thing. Approaching Maegor’s Holdfast, where the king resided and convalesced, was another matter entirely. That was strictly forbidden. Under heavy guard stationed by Eddard throughout the keep, all spectators and witnesses were confined to a specific route and escorted into the trial chamber—the throne room.

Due to the terrain atop Aegon’s High Hill, the Red Keep was not large. There was no separate hall built for judicial proceedings. Thus, the throne room was commonly used for trials. This was also why such hearings were typically held in the afternoon—during the mornings, Eddard held court there, receiving lords and petitioners on the king’s behalf. At midday, servants would move in tables, chairs, and benches for the plaintiff, witnesses, and others. Only after these arrangements were complete could the trial begin.

Stepping into the throne room, now transformed into a temporary courtroom, Aegor’s lingering resentment at being imprisoned for nearly a week instantly faded, this was a real trial. Compared to this, the earlier “trial” in the Hand’s solar, where he’d been questioned and released after a few sharp words, felt more like a family scolding than punishment. No matter how severe Eddard’s expression, no matter how fair and strict he claimed to be, he was fundamentally kind-hearted. In truth, Eddard was the Night’s Watch’s greatest supporter. He had protected the Night’s Watch and its interests before, and that wouldn’t change now.

Soon, Aegor realized this was his first time inside the legendary hall. But to his disappointment, the fabled throne forged by dragonflame was not visible. Since neither the king nor the Hand would preside over the trial, and the Master of Laws had no right to sit upon the Iron Throne, they had covered it with a curtain. A large wooden chair had been placed in front of it to serve as the judge’s seat.

…

Janos Slynt had made many enemies, but few of them held real power. Thousands of commoners loathed him and would have gladly watched him lose his head, but most were not eligible to enter the Red Keep. People from all corners of King’s Landing filtered into the throne room, but even at its peak, only a bit more than half the spectator seats were filled. It paled in comparison to the grand spectacle of Tyrion’s regicide trial in the original timeline.

After a while, Arya bounded in through the doors to join the commotion. Upon seeing Aegor, she angrily shook her head and deliberately sat on the opposite side of the gallery.

“What’s wrong with Lady Arya?” Nina had noticed and was puzzled. Given Arya’s usual demeanor, she should have run up with a smile when she saw Aegor.

“Nothing. The little lady’s in a bad mood.” Aegor had scolded her earlier about trying to sneak out of the Red Keep to resume her sword practice. But now he remembered, this little wolf was his only source of information within the Red Keep. If they fell out and never spoke again, he would be the one to lose out. “Nina, go sit with her and cheer her up. If you get the chance, try to find out how the king is doing and when the war might start.”

“Understood.” Nina nodded, stood up, and made her way over to Arya. She sat beside the girl and began chatting warmly.

When Lord Renly Baratheon, the Master of Laws and today’s presiding judge, finally entered, Aegor realized asking about Robert’s condition had been pointless. If the king were dead or dying, Renly—second in the line of succession—wouldn’t still be in King’s Landing. He would have returned to the Stormlands to prepare his claim.

But if Robert was truly fine, why had the Lannisters gone to war with the Iron Throne?

As he pondered this, Renly called for the prisoner to be brought in, and the trial began.

…

Janos Slynt was escorted into the throne room by two gold cloaks.

Compared to their last encounter just a week prior, the once-powerful commander looked as if he had aged twenty years. His formerly solid frame had withered, and the few strands of hair remaining on his balding head were now nearly all gone and gray. He looked lifeless, leaning on the two soldiers as they helped him to the defendant’s dock. He clung to the railing like he could barely stand.

“Janos Slynt, son of a butcher.” Renly sat in the wooden chair before the Iron Throne, elevated on the platform at the front of the room. Clad in official robes, he looked majestic and composed. “You stand accused of hiring assassins, abusing authority, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, inciting unrest, and leaking vital military information. How do you plead?”

Slynt slumped against the dock. He struggled upright and raised his head, gritting his teeth. “I deny everything! These are false accusations by the queen and her cronies… and some with ulterior motives!”

Like Aegor, the former Commander of the City Watch denied all charges. But would he be able to “resist strictness and go home for the New Year,” like the chief of logistics had?

Renly’s expression didn’t change. He turned to the guard beside him and said, “Call the first witness.”

(To be continued.)

***

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep