8th Month of 286 A.C. King's Landing
Prince Oberyn Martell
He had never truly liked King's Landing, the place was filled with people who seemed far too dishonest to ever truly mean what they said. The stench of lies echoed around the place like some sort of fog, it was as his father was fond of saying. "A stench of treason permanently clinging to a dead body." And yet he was here serving as master of whispers in the place where Elia and her children had died. Their killers were long dead though, handed over by the man who had given them their orders so that he might profit from the new regime. Oberyn had ensured their deaths would be long, Lorch had squealed like a little girl when the poison had gone into his system begging for the pain to end, Oberyn had not indulged him watching as the man's skin began to fall away and as his bones began to rot before he eventually died. Clegane was another matter, this was the man whom Oberyn had been told had raped his sister, and this was the man he was determined to kill with his own two hands. In the Dragonpit of King's Landing whilst men had been fighting in the west, Oberyn had had the man brought out and they had fought. Spear against sword, viper against a mad dog. They had exchanged blows but Oberyn had been slowing the man down, and when he had finally managed to drive his spear into the brute's exposed neck, he had laughed. The bastard had been lying in death's arms for three whole weeks before finally dying.
The poison had gone from his system, and this was good for him. Oberyn knew this anger was something that could only be harmful for him in the long term. Dorne had been crying out for justice and it had been achieved somewhat. Tywin Lannister was still alive though, but soon enough he would be dead as well and Oberyn was determined to be the one to end his life. But that was a plan for a later date, right now, Oberyn was merely happy and content to finally have his daughters with him. His little sandsnakes as he called them. Obara the eldest of his girls was nearly a woman grown at fifteen and was a warrior, a fierce one at that as well, Oberyn had to admit he was deeply proud of her and would not want to be someone to face her in the sparring yard. Then there was Nymeria, who at twelve was just as deadly if not more so than her sister was at fifteen, she had the charm and grace that Obara lacked and the skills to go with it. Tyene was a sweetheart truly she was, a true sweetheart, and a clever, clever girl, Oberyn had high hopes for her. Sarella was the bookish one of his daughters always looking for more to do and learn always asking questions. She and the King got along very well if Oberyn remembered correctly and that was something he had not expected. His four daughters were growing up so quickly it was surprising, they were part of King's Landing now and were some of his most useful informants as they had a way of getting to know things that no one else did. Ellaria, his one true love was a constant source of comfort and support as well, she was his rock and his anchor and he knew not what he would do without her. As for their daughter Elia he already knew she would be a handful. This was his life and why he did what he did as master of whispers, it was why he was meeting with one of his informants now to gather information.
Meeting in the alcoves of the Red Keep's gardens Oberyn's informant was tall and willowy, blonde of hair she was beautiful Oberyn knew but he also knew somewhat how to limit his lust for her. "So tell me what news has the man been sharing with you that he has not been telling anyone else?" Oberyn asks.
The woman is silent a moment her green eyes looking around suspecting something or the other and then she said. "He says that the man he is working for is moving forward with his plans. The submission of Tyrosh has thrown his plans into the works and now he is trying to play catch up with something that will not take as quickly as he would like."
"And did the man specify what these plans are?" Oberyn asks.
The woman nods. "He speaks of a weapon that if unleashed could cause all kinds of chaos in Westeros. A secret held deep within the bowels of the Red Keep that no one, not even the Lord Regent knows of. Something that Aegon the Unworthy buried deep within the keep when Dorne was not part of the realm before the conquest of Dorne. A proof of sorts, an unsettling proof."
Oberyn looks at the woman and asks her. "Did he specify what this proof was and why it would cause so much damage?"
The woman shakes her head. "He did not specify, but he said it was something that would do the King a lot of harm. A claim that goes back centuries. A rumour as it were, but something with written proof. This proof is something that he places a lot of importance on, and as such he is doing all he can to get to it. That is why he remains within the establishment where I am."
Oberyn considers this for a moment and then asks. "What more has the man told you? Has he said whom he is working for?"
At this the woman nods and says. "The man who held your position before you. The roots of this man's organisation are deep and are closely linked with this thing he is looking for. The man has faded from the light recently but is working behind the scenes to bring about the end of the alliance with Tyrosh. Furthermore, the man still has his allies at court who are looking to gain favour."
"Did the man say whom?" Oberyn asks.
Again the woman nods and responds. "Gaunt, Massey and Bar Emmon are the ones whom he keeps mentioning. Furthermore it is said that Tybolt Lannister was on the man's pay roll whilst he was here. Working to undermine Tywin Lannister and plant suspicion for many strange occurrences on to the old lion. It seems as if the Lady Gaunt is not as mad as she has made out, our friend says her son is working on her orders and is at court for one reason and one reason only. To bring about the end of the Lion and the Wolf."
Oberyn runs a hand through his hair then and asks. "Has the man said how he intends to bring this about?"
"Poison, bribes and chance. That is how they intend to do it my prince. Some things are not meant to be said in the open but there is a high chance they might try to bring Staunton into their schemes." The woman responds.
"Staunton?" Oberyn asks surprised. "Why him? He is one of the most loyal lords the King has."
"He also has something the men are looking for. The eggs my prince. They are the source of power for some who would see the different dragon in power. They get the eggs they have a symbol. Especially the black one." The woman responds.
Oberyn groans then. "Gods above not those damnable eggs. Very well, is there more information that you have for me?"
The woman nods. "This comes not from our friend my prince but from another person. Another one of my clients. It seems the High Septon is beginning to lose his patience with the Lord Regent. The faith militant might well be coming back into power in Baelor. It seems the High Septon is considering using force of arms to force the regent to make the king's faith known to all."
"He fears the King will worship the old gods. Strange this High Septon did not seem to be like the old one." Oberyn ponders.
"The old High Septon was not being pressurised by elements of the Faith in Oldtown to ensure that the ways of the seven did not die out. The worship of the Old Gods and the growing presence of northmen worries those of the most devout. There is also something more, my patron knows of a man in the riverlands who has begun spreading the worship of a more basic faith, it is has no title yet, but it does have the old gods on a pedestal. This is another reason why the High Septon seems to be considering armament." The blond haired beauty said.
Oberyn nods at this he too had been hearing of this new stripped back faith of the seven. "Very well, is there anymore that you need to tell me?"
The woman nods. "Something else came up when I was speaking with my patron. It would seem the High Septon is looking towards what you are doing and is meaning to speak with the Lord Regent about it."
Oberyn is somewhat taken aback by this and raises an eyebrow in question.
The woman merely says. "This High Septon is not the old one. He is trying to prevent mass desertion from the faith. And you my prince are a perfect example to use."
With that their meeting ends and Oberyn walks back into the keep whilst the woman goes back to her establishment. So many things to ponder, the most important are the ones he shall tell the Lord Regent. Ser Arthur is guarding the door when Oberyn enters, he gives a slight nod to his cousin and then walks into the room. The Lord Regent is sat there looking over papers and sighing. He looks up though as the door closes and his voice is hard when he speaks. "So my prince, tell me what news you have for me."
Oberyn sits down and then says. "I have news on what the bastard is doing in the brothel and why he is pushing so hard inside court." He pauses and the Lord Regent is silent before nodding for him to continue. "He is looking for something, something that will give his master an edge over us. Something from the time of Aegon the Unworthy, that might well prove something or the other about the king and his lineage."
The regent looks up interested then. "And what sort of thing could this be?"
"I am not sure but I do believe it could well be a letter or a confirmation written by the grand maester of the time. I have heard of such a document existing, when I looked through the old papers, there was a man mentioned who knew something similar." Oberyn says.
The Lord Regent nod. "Very well, was this man ever found?"
"He was never found at least not in a way that would leave a trace. Any account of what he might or might not know was lost to the archives of history and memory. But the rumours persist. If this paper exists then it could be very damning to the King." Oberyn says.
The regent nods in understanding and asks. "Where do you believe the thing could be?"
"Somewhere deep within the Red Keep. Where no one has been for a long time. A place where only the deepest and darkest souls have looked and explored in recent memory. Aegon the Unworthy who would have known about such places and would have kept it there. It would have been somewhere he could get to easily enough but somewhere where no one else could get to unless they too knew about it." Oberyn says.
"The man would've had to be accompanied by the Kingsguard. There might be a record of such a thing within white sword tower. Especially amongst the things that once belonged to Terrence Toyne. I shall ask the lord commander to look there." the regent says.
Oberyn nods. "I shall send my own sources to look within the keep for more information and to see if we can find this thing before the others do. Furthermore, Gaunt, Massey and Bar Emmon are all working for our enemy. It seems he has promised them certain things that they have all long desired."
The regent nods. "Massey is in the Stepstones right now, is this deliberate?"
"I believe so my lord regent. Massey is an ambitious man and no doubt he hopes to gain some sort of information from Velaryon. After all Redwyne was someone who too was looking to gain something from all of this and he is dead now. Massey is someone who would be most susceptible to the charms to the flies on the wall." Oberyn responds.
The lord regent sighs and says. "I suppose you are right. He shall have to be dealt with. Now what more do you have for me? Tyrosh will not last for long that much I know, and shall have to be dealt with accordingly. And what of the eggs? I assume they will be wanting them as well."
Oberyn nods. "Yes my lord regent. They want the eggs but so long as they believe Staunton has them, then they should be safe."
The regent nods and then says. "There will come a time when we shall need to see if these eggs have any other value than that of symbolism. For there are things coming that we might need them for."
An ominous thing to say but something that is true nonetheless. Oberyn presses on. "It appears the High Septon is beginning to take note of your man Causter and the trouble he is causing in the Riverlands. It seems he is beginning to think of re arming the faith, in order to force you to publicly announce the king's faith."
The regent sighs then. "Of course he would. I should have seen this coming. Your spies in the faith are still ready to do as they are commanded to?" Oberyn nods. "Good for the time shall soon come for this man to be removed as swiftly as possible."
Oberyn nods taking note mentally. And then he asks. "What of Tywin Lannister?"
The regent sighs once more. "The man must remain alive for some more time. There are plans being put in place that he is essential to. Lys and Tyrosh must have governors once this war is done. And when it is, that is when you shall have you chance."
Oberyn is not all that satisfied with the explanation but still says. "Very well so long as I am the one who gets to kill the man and no one else. I shall allow him to live a little while longer."
The regent nods. "Good, for when you do get the chance, I do not want a trace left of him."