New students start from 'Game of Thrones'

Chapter 23 Analyzing the Motives

Owen led Harris and Hill slowly toward the courtyard gate. By now, they could all clearly hear the rush of water and smell the sharp salt of the sea breeze.

"Are we near the coast?" Hill whispered.

"Likely. Or at least close to the water," Owen nodded.

He pressed his face to the gate, peering through the cracks. A straight street came into view—and combined with the sound of water and the breeze, he suddenly knew where they were.

"Let's go back," Owen said, turning to the others.

"Aren't we going to check outside? We still don't know exactly where this is," Harris asked, confused.

"I already have a good idea. And we don't know if there are spies watching. No need to take the risk," Owen replied softly. He led Harris and Hill back into the tunnel, retrieved their torches, brushed away the ashes from the smothered flames, and headed slowly back toward the Hand's Tower.

When they returned to the tower's hall, most of the guards had finished dinner and retired to their rooms. Only the twenty to thirty men Owen had assigned to the search remained.

Owen nodded at them. "We'll hear your reports one by one—after we eat."

The three sat at a long table. A cook brought out bowls of stew and bread, and they ate greedily, finishing their meals in minutes.

Afterward, Harris and Hill left first. Owen asked a servant for paper and ink, then sat alone, listening as each guard reported his findings. Once everyone had spoken, he took the notes to his room and organized them into a clear map of the Hand's Tower—marking every hidden chamber and passage.

He tossed the rough notes into a candle flame, watching them burn to ash, before picking up the finalized map and heading out.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Enter," came Eddard's voice. Owen pushed the door open and closed it behind him.

"Well? Did you find anything?" Eddard asked at once, glancing around the room as if afraid of eavesdroppers.

"See for yourself," Owen said, handing him the map.

Eddard unfolded it, studying it by candlelight. "This many? So many rooms in the Hand's Tower have hidden chambers?" he asked, disbelief in his voice.

"Yes. Most are in the floors where the Hand and his family live, and in the rooms used for meetings and work," Owen confirmed.

"Did you find the secret passage in and out of the tower?" Eddard asked, his face darkening.

"We did—in the basement. It's a wide tunnel, probably built by the Targaryens to move their dragons between the Dragonpit and the Red Keep. It runs south, likely to the Riverfront Street. It'll make a good escape route," Owen explained in detail.

"How many people know about this tunnel?"

"Only me, Harris, and Hill. They're both tight-lipped."

"I know Harris—he's the quietest of all the guards. No one can get a word out of him if he doesn't want to," Eddard said, a faint smile crossing his face.

"Now—will you tell me why you thought the Small Council was a trap?" he asked, his tone turning serious again. After the afternoon's discovery, he was even more eager to hear Owen's take.

"Of course, my lord," Owen nodded.

"From the start, three of the four councilors—all except Lord Renly, the king's brother—were testing you.

"First, Varys—the 'Spider.' His first words were loaded. If you'd agreed with him about praying for Joffrey, it would've signaled you were soft on the queen and the prince. Your refusal told him you weren't to be swayed.

"Then there's Petyr Baelish—Littlefinger. He tried to ingratiate himself with you at once. Think about it: a minor noble from the Fingers, no matter how favored by the late Hand, shouldn't have risen to Master of Coin by charm alone. That tells you he's brilliant—and ruthless. Why would a man like that fawn over you? Do you really think it's just because of Lady Catelyn?

"Finally, Grand Maester Pycelle. He acts senile, but the fact that he holds the Hand's chain proves the king trusts him. Don't be fooled by his trembles—he's sharper than he looks."

Owen paused, letting Eddard absorb this, then continued:

"Next, they brought up the tournament. That was another test. They talked about the empty treasury, then goaded you into growing angry with the king. Notice how Littlefinger and Varys worked together? They must have dealings—likely sharing information.

As far as I know, the brothel that His Majesty the King often likes to visit is Lord Berisi's property. Brothel is often a gathering place for intelligence clients, and as long as you are willing to spend money, you can buy any kind of intelligence

The lord's brow was furrowed, his face grim. After a long pause, he said, "If what you say is true... then none of the councilors are to be trusted?"

"Not yet. Lord Renly might be harmless, but the others are all playing their own games."

"I understand Varys and Pycelle. But Baelish—he's already Master of Coin. He controls the crown's gold. What does he gain by currying favor with me? Just because I'm the Hand?" Eddard asked, confused.

"My lord—what do you know of the Fingers?" Owen countered.

"Not much. Poor soil, few people. It's not even as prosperous as your Ram Village," Eddard said, frowning.

"What if Littlefinger wants more? A better fief? A higher title—maybe even a dukedom?"

"That's impossible. Every region in the Seven Kingdoms already has a duke. The only way... unless a great house falls... or there's a war..." Eddard stopped mid-sentence, his voice trailing off.

He thought of Robert's warning about the realm teetering on the edge of conflict. He thought of Jon Arryn's death. Suddenly, Owen's words didn't seem so far-fetched.

"Owen, before we left for King's Landing, I received a letter. It said Jon Arryn was murdered—by the Lannisters. What do you make of that?" Eddard said, his voice low.

"How did the late Hand die, according to the king?"

"Robert says he died of a fever."

"Not by sword... but by sickness. That makes poison likely. If the Lannisters did it—why? What did Jon Arryn discover? Something that threatened them enough to kill him?"

Owen's words were deliberate. He knew the truth from the show, but he wanted to guide Eddard to investigate Jon Arryn's final days—without revealing his own knowledge.