The Redfish (Edmure SI) chapter 86 (Patreon)

Blood in the streets

Edmure POV

Soon it will be time for the show. Tyrion monitored Aegon and Golden Company well. The fifty new faces got barracks rooms on the Great Pyramid's lower floors. We needed now for Aegon to strike, and for him to do so, we needed to provide opportunity. While Tyrion worked to get into Aegon‘s good graces, I started to watch Euron‘s ships.

For a moment, my mind was preoccupied with the spider. What was Varys doing? Was he indeed in a coma? Somehow, I didn‘t believe it. If he didn‘t die back then, he was hidden and done something in the shadows. So, when I couldn‘t find my way to the Eurom‘s ships, I stalked people around the harbor—listening to their whispers.

I listened to the rumors about Astapor and how the little queen defeated Yunkai and defended the Freedmen from slavery. I spread those rumors, but the rumors about Daenerys conspiring with the Great Masters wasn‘t mine. The more I listened, the more I found how farfetched they were. Someone was working hard to spread them, and I had an idea of who was responsible.

That was fine, as everyone did their work. It was time for me to do mine. I was lord Edmure Tully, Lord Paramount of the Trident, Hand of the King, the Redfish. And I bumped into one of the men dressed in Golden Armor, knocking him to the ground. It was a loud crash, and common people stopped whatever they did and turned to us.

“Hey, what were you walking,” I told the man on the ground. “Or you can’t see with the cock of the false dragon in your mouth.”

“What your words, slave,” The man replied angrily, standing up. “Just because you have favor with the Queen, you still should be careful of daggers in the dark.”

“At least my Queen is true, cocksucker,” I won’t ever get used to cursing. “Everyone knows the Golden Company works only for the Blackfyre’s cause. Your little false dragon won’t trick me.”

I shoved the man out of the way before leaving. I did an excellent job of painting a target on my back. At least, I think I did. If what I thought about Aegon was true, he would not react well to my words. He was a brat, and I didn’t think he could take an insult, especially to his identity. And if it isn’t him, someone among them will not let my words slide easily.

I wasn’t concerned for my safety. I knew my skills well, even though I could only see with one eye. I was always careful. It made me more paranoid, but it was fine. I could take one or two of the Golden Company, three might be a bit much, but I don’t think they will risk traveling in a group of three when they want to kill me.

…

I still didn’t get used not having any servants of my own. When I returned to the Great Pyramid, I wanted to send someone to fetch Tyrion and Asha, but I immediately remembered that I didn’t have anyone to order. So, I just sat on my bed and rested while waiting for them to come by themselves. It would be weird if I came to them, as I was in no position to talk to them if I were the one approaching them.

I had minor status, no power over anyone, and stayed in the Great Pyramid only because of Daenerys’ grace. Still, I had the ear of the Queen, so it wasn’t weird that people would come to me to get a favor. Mostly it was merchants or former rulers of Meereen. They asked me to encourage the Queen to return to slavery to prosper the city more.

I only listened to them and promised to deliver their words to the Queen. They wouldn’t know I never bothered to do so, and I got few favors from them. A win-win situation for me, that is. As the night started, I thought I could not receive my visitors. But soon enough, I heard footsteps in the hall behind the door of my room.

“I have been awaiting your presence,” I said as I opened the doors before Asha could knock.

“Aye, I can see,” Asha replied, walking inside with Tyrion. “You have nothing better to do anyway.”

“Let’s get to the point,” I said. “What did you find out?”

“Euron was starting to smuggle men of the Golden Company,” Asha began. “I suspect about a hundred have already entered the city.”

“Could you keep a closer look at him?” I asked.

“Euron already doesn’t trust me,” Asha said. “My refusal to help him made him quite angry. I heard from a few of my most trusted men that he had already tried to poach them to join him. It is a good thing that he doesn’t know about Theon. No matter what, Theon is still the sole son of my father, and if my men would betray me, it would be for my brother, not uncle.”

“Aegon started to poach Bronn to join him,” Tyrion said. “So far, he didn’t come at me directly but left quite a few hints.”

“So, it has begun?” I asked.

“Most likely,” Tyrion agreed. “Once he thinks he has enough power, he will strike.”

“Then we need to force him into action before he is fully prepared,” I replied.

“It is a reckless plan,” Tyrion commented. “Going alone might get you killed.”

“Your brother was considered the best in the known world, and I defeated him,” I replied. “There aren’t many who could challenge me.”

“Yes, but then you had two eyes,” Tyrion said.

“Well, not they have a chance, but nothing more,” I didn’t back off. “Anyway, if Euron suspects you, Asha, don’t try to get too close, but if he does something big, I want to know.”

“Fine, but you have many promises to keep when it is over.”

“I will be true to my word,” I said.

“Well, then all is fine,” Tyrion was the first to leave. “Good hunting.”

Now left alone, I took my sword and checked that it was sharp, but my armor and covered it with a dark cloak. Making sure my face was covered, I left my room. I didn’t bother hiding my presence as I walked through the halls of the Great Pyramid. I made sure that there were plenty of people who noticed me as I entered the city.

…

The night was dark. Clouds covered the sea of stars usually seen in the sky. The city was relatively quiet, all things considered. Few walked the streets; aside from patrol, there was barely anyone else. I walked up to the tavern, I could feel some eyes staring at me, but I dismissed them. I took a seat at the tavern and ordered an ale.

I ate a bit of fruit as I pretended to get drunk. Every time I drank half of the cog of ale, I would ask for another. I made sure to pace myself enough to keep my senses intact but still be able to fool anyone watching that I drank too much. As midnight descended, I wobbled outside the tavern into the dark streets.

It didn’t take even ten minutes before I heard footsteps behind me. They were following me, two men and, from the sound of it, clad in armor and armed. Sometimes I wonder if my hearing got better with losing an eye or maybe over the years of war and betrayal, I have become too paranoid and started to assume the worst.

As I turned one corner, I saw two men before me. Even in the dark, I saw a glimmer of steel as their swords were unsheathed. Without waiting for them to take action, I moved first, tackling a man before to the ground. I smashed his head to the ground and rolled away. Taking their surprised reaction, I quickly pulled out my sword and moved to the other man.

I heard two men running towards me while another started to get up as my sword clashed with the last one. They were pretty well-trained and experienced. The one I engaged in combat only defended himself, waiting for his friends to arrive. Not wanting to get surrounded, I moved back and watched as three men drew their swords and joined the first one.

I wasn’t afraid. I could handle four. I just needed to keep an eye on them all at all times. I will be in danger if I lose sight of at least one. So, the fight began. I didn’t let them lock with swords with me, as I knew I couldn’t stop moving as they would stab me and cut me if they found a chance to do so. Kicking one of them in the shin, I blocked the second one before jumping back, evading the third’s sword.

As the fourth one jumped at me, trying to catch me off guard, I deflected his sword and punched him in the face. I heard the crunch as my gauntlet met his nose. They didn’t wear helmets, which were harder to hide than armor. Seeing that the man I punched was still in a daze, I quickly knocked his sword away from his hand and pushed him to another two coming to me.

As the two caught their friend, I focused on the last one running to me. This time I blocked his sword with my left hand. The gauntlet took most of the damage, even if it still hurt. I stabbed him in the unprotective thigh and then headbutted him in the nose. As he fell to the ground, another two took his place.

By now, one couldn’t fight with the injury in his leg, and another had lost his sword and was busy searching for it in the dark. So, the two before me were the only ones I needed to focus on. I dodged one attack and stepped to the side of a man, stabbing him into an armpit before using his body to block another swing from the last one.

Letting the body fall, I turned to the one who had lost his sword and ran to him. Before he could react, I sliced his throat, letting blood flow to the ground. Now there was one who wasn’t injured and one with a stab wound in his leg who barely could stand. The uninjured one looked hesitantly at me, and it cost him, as he could hardly receive two swings of my sword before I found an opening in his defense and stabbed him through the chest.

“Now, only you left,” I said, walking to the barely standing man. I grabbed his throat and pushed him to the wall. “You will tell me everything I want.”

“Sons of the Harpy will have their revenge,” The man spoke.

“I am sure they will, but I don’t think I speak common as well as you do,” I could see the realization of his blunter settling in his eyes. “Don’t worry, we have all night, and you made sure that no patrol would come this way, didn’t you?”

“I know nothing,” The man said.

“We shall see,” I replied, digging my finger into the hole in his thigh. “I know who you are and know who tasked you to kill me. I want to know where are the rest of you hiding.”

“I will not tell you,” It was barely a whisper as he tried to hide his pain.

“We shall see,” I replied.

It took only a couple of minutes before the man broke. With few promises that I would let him live, he told me of the hideouts and meeting places he knew of. After I got everything I could from him, a few patrols arrived. They quickly recognized who I was, as not many walked with covered faces and had one eye. They took the man, and I ensured he would be brought to the Queen discreetly. The street had to be cleaned, and nobody knew what happened tonight, except the Queen.