King's Landing was built atop three primary hills. One hill held the Dragonpit, the second housed the Great Sept of Baelor, and the last was crowned by the Red Keep—a fortress that remained strictly out of bounds for Edmure. He estimates that the city could hold dozens of Riverrun castles, while as much as hundred times the people. He sat in his temporary quarters, poring over a map to plan tonight's raid.
His current residence was located on the Street of Steel, conveniently near the Great Sept. The area was filled with smithies and was considered a respectable, middle-class district. Starting his search here was the most logical choice. While Edmure had been apprehensive about diving into the city's notorious sewers, his Perk saved him the embarrassment. Navigating the subterranean passages, he noticed several red spots concentrated near the Great Sept. Considering that the old monks in Westeros didn't practice kung fu in basement, he correctly deduced that these were hidden caches of wildfire.
With his Stealth skill well beyond Level 100, Edmure easily evaded the King's monitors and retrieved a sample. Back at home, he obsessed over a way to neutralize the substance without drawing attention. His encyclopedic herbal knowledge gave him the base composition of the concoction, but he knew it lacked a certain something—a catalyst not found in nature. Like Valyrian steel, wildfire required magic beyond mere materials and procedure. Edmure wasn't interested in making it; he wanted to spoil it. He threw himself into a feverish series of experiments.
In the Prince's Quarters
Prince Rhaegar was meeting with his Kingsguard. Oswell Whent was present and, hiding nothing, voiced his suspicions about his nephew.
"A shadow-binder?" Rhaegar pondered the words, while an older knight shifted, his hand instinctively resting on his sword hilt.
"Shall I remove the threat, my Prince?" Ser Barristan Selmy offered, a quick and permanent solution.
"Not yet, Ser Barristan. We should monitor him first; he is an interesting boy," Rhaegar replied calmly. "He hasn't hidden his talent, yet he isn't using it for anything overt. What is he truly after? Just a few books from Queen Alysanne's collection? It is time to don the clothes of a beggar again, old man. Loiter around his place; shadow him. The boy has a flair for attracting attention. If he is found to be dangerous, kill him. The only interesting warlock is a dead warlock."
Rhaegar glanced at Oswell, who merely nodded in silent agreement.
At Edmure's Residence
At dawn, the gods finally provided the solution.
"Honey, sandalwood oil, and a touch of saffron," Edmure muttered. "The Myrish merchants can produce a suitable quantity of the mixture quickly. I'll head out this afternoon after a trip to the Sept. The Gods helped me find the answer; it's only fitting I show my sincerity."
With that, Edmure left his house, with a beggar on his tail.
"Still trying to bribe the Smith, then?" The old Septon from the previous day greeted Edmure, gesturing toward the towering statue.
"First, let me thank the Mother for her protection," Edmure said, walking toward the crowded statue where many women stood in prayer.
Ser Barristan, disguised in his beggar's rags, watched Edmure closely. Years ago, Barristan had used this same guise to rescue King Aerys from the city of Duskendale. That incident had broken the King's mind, leading to his current madness and refusal to bathe. However, Barristan's disguise was child's play in front of both Edmure and the old Septon. The Septon was a Faceless Man, his current appearance a trick of illusion magic that defied conventional explanation.
"Young man, wouldn't the Father be a better candidate for your appreciation?" the Faceless Man asked. "After all:
'The Father's face is stern and strong,
He weighs our lives, the short and long.'"
"But," Edmure countered, reciting from a different verse:
"'The Mother gives the gift of life,
Her gentle smile ends all strife.'"
"A well-raised boy indeed," the Faceless Man teased. "Shall we wait until you finish speaking with the Smith, then?"
"No need; his ears are likely aching after listening to my platitudes," Edmure joked back. "I'll leave for the day, lest the Seven strike me down with thunder."
"Blasphemy," Barristan muttered theatrically, trying to integrate himself into the scene.
Both Edmure and the Faceless Man shared a meaningful glance, seeing right through the old knight, and went their separate ways. Barristan flushed, realized his cover was compromised, but decided to follow regardless. He trailed Edmure as the boy walked toward the central square, humming an unfamiliar tune.
Edmure finalized his trade with the Myrish merchants, ordering the materials for his wildfire-spoiler. He had no idea exactly how much the Mad King had stored, but he planned to spoil the majority of the caches, leaving only enough for the King's routine antics. He didn't want to tip his hand too early by neutralizing everything.
To play a trick on his pursuer, Edmure beckoned the tailing Barristan over. "Good ser, I am new to the capital. Will you point me toward a smith who can work with Valyrian steel? I'll give you a pretty penny for the help."
The duo entered the famous shop of Master Tobho Mott. Edmure, acting as if the place were his father's solar, tossed a pouch of gold to Mott and secured a private workspace. He directed the master smith to set up a drawbench according to the designs he'd perfected in Riverrun. Soon, Edmure was back to the rhythmic work of drawing wire and weaving chainmail.
Barristan watched until dusk before returning to report to Rhaegar. The Prince instructed him to continue the surveillance even though his cover was blown. At worst, no one would blame a Kingsguard for executing a suspicious child in the capital. Barristan walked back to his post, whistling the tune Edmure had been singing:
"There must be some kind of way out of here"
Said the joker to the thief.
"There's too much confusion now
I can't get no relief
Businessmen, they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
All of them along the line, don't know what any of it's worth"
[The song is a snippet from the song, 'All along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan.
You can find a version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7Hj-ea0VE]