Chapter 22: The Red Keep

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  The narrow alleys of King’s Landing twisted before me, the early m light barely pierg the filth-ridden maze. My hood ulled low, shadowing my face, but my spirits were light, lighter than they had been in a long while.

  The brothel, or rather, Ros, had proved useful.

  The city’s grime, the stink of humanity mixed with rotting waste, all seemed less intrusive today, for my successes with her made me care less about everything else.

  I turned down a narrow street, the walls looming high oher side, the brick stained dark by years of . My feet carried me towards our small hideaway, a mansion tucked ly into a fotten er of King’s Landing, inspicuous but fortable. Well, for our purposes at least. We got it for free when Kinvara cured the sick child of a lord, and he gifted this pce to stay, so I couldn’t really pin.

  Even with Dorne bag me, I was mostly just a bum. As I neared, something caught my eye. A glint of polished metal, sunlight boung off the armor of several guards. Their uniforms were ing with a stark blue and gold, the sigil of the embzoned on their chests.

  Royal guards.

  I felt a prickle of curiosity, raising an eyebrow as I watched them for a moment. What business do they have here? Tyrion had returned without issue, so why were these bastards at my doorstep?

  I pulled my hood tighter, slipping through the narrow side gate. The door was already open, the guards’ presence weighing tension in the air.

  Ihe hall was quiet, the flicker of sunlight throwing dang shadows against the stone walls. I found Kinvara safe, draped in her crimson robes, her hair falling in waves, a soft smile pying at her lips. She looked regal as though she were a Queen, far too used to these moments of poressure.

  Her gaze flickered to me, her eyes fshing with a mix of amusement and something else—a tension that buzzed beh the surface. “Dearest bodyguard,” she called.

  “You’re awake early,” I said, closing the door behihe wood groaning softly. My eyes drifted to the guards standing at attention, their hands resting loosely on the hilts of their swords. I assumed that the Sand Snakes were still asleep sihey were not here.

  “The Quee,” Kinvara began, her voice smooth, as though she spoke of the weather, “has extended an invitation.” She turned fully to face me, the fabric of her robes shifting around her like liquid fire. “Or at least, that’s what they called it. Calling it a summon seems more fitting.”

  Cersei Lannister? I wondered, my curiosity piqued. “Heh… Does the Queen need guidan the ways of fire and light?”

  Kinvara’s eyes sparkled with something close to mischief. “She might be beyond the Lord’s light,” she murmured only loud enough for me to hear, “but heless, she demanded an audience. And I’m obliged to ply. Would you like to join me, Vis?”

  The question was casual, her tone light, but it was a great opening. She knew I was looking for a way into the castle, and there were few ways better than this.

  I smiled, the answer f before she had even finished speaking. “Even if I wasn’t your bodyguard, I’d urn down an invitation to the Red Keep,” I said, stepping closer, l my voice so only she could hear. “Especially not ohat es from the Queen herself.”

  “I thought you’d say that,” she said softly, ining her head towards the door where the guards waited. “Let’s go then. The Queen awaits, and we wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”

  “Follow us,” one of the royal guards said. We moved together, the guards falling into step around us as we exited the mansion. The streets outside were slowly ing alive, vendors setting up stalls, children dartiweeheir ughter eg off the stone walls. We walked at a brisk pace, Kinvara’s robes trailing behind her, her steps graceful, ung of the lustful gazes of the guards as their armor ked softly in rhythm.

  The Red Keep loomed ahead, its towers pierg the sky, its walls casting long shadows over the bustling streets below. I stared at it for a moment. This was where my aon the queror first nded and built his base; his son Maegor the Cruel saw it pleted. The Red Keep was made by Targaryens for Targayens, but most of all, it was my… home.

  The guards led us through the gates, their expressions stern. The atmosphere shifted as we ehe ates of the castle. It was a sudden quiet, the city’s noise fading into a distant hum. The halls were cool, the air heavy with the st of stone and torch smoke.

  I walked beside Kinvara, our escort of pace guards leading us deeper into the belly of the beast. I kept my hood low, my face hidden. It wasn’t like anyone would reize me anyway, but old habits die hard. Oher hand, Kinvara moved with an elegahat made her seem almost out of p this grim stronghold—her robes flowing, her step light, her head held high. She looked as though she owhe pbsp;

  In her mind, she probably did. And perhaps that was why the guards g her with an odd mixture of awe and fear at the woman’s fidence.

  Kinvara’s presence drew eyes even among those aced to royalty, and her graceful smile was always on her lips. People looked at her, servants, members of high standing, lords that’d e to visit the castle, and we ighem all as we walked through halls that I’d dreamt of before. Halls I reized from my childhood.

  We were soht to a grand door that looked desigo impress more than fun simply. I didn’t hate it. It was nostalgibsp;

  The Red Keep was as cold and uninviting as I remembered from my childhood, but at least it felt like home. I didn’t feel like a trespasser. The st time I’d set foot here, I was five, and it’d already beeeen years…

  The guards paused, and one of them stepped forward, knog briefly before pushing the door open. His voice echoed into the chamber beyond as he announced us.

  “The Lady Nyra, Priestess of R’hllor is here, Yrace,” he said, his tone dull. I caught a flicker of blonde hair through the gap of the door and green eyes flickering to look at us from inside.

  “Invite her in,” a feminine voice called, and the guard nodded. He then g me and seemed to decide I didn’t warrant any introdu.

  “You heard her,” the guard said, and Kinvara moved forward, her robes swaying, a smile pying on her lips. She shot me a brief gnce before stepping through the doorway, her eyes fshing with somethiween amusement and tension.

  “I’ll be alright. o worry,” she murmured in a low voice. “Rather, try not to cause trouble today, mhm?” She asked, and I gave her a long look.

  She knew why I’d chosen King’s Landing rather thaher Kings. I wao kill Joffrey. I just smirked at her words. “No promises.”

  She gave me a half-warning and half-amused look before she stepped through the door, the heavy wood closing behind her, leaving me in the hallway with the guards stationed nearby.

  The guard moved to close the door behind her, stepping in front of me as if to emphasize my portance. “You wait here,” he said, barely gng at me. His voice was gruff and dismissive.

  I shrugged, not b tue. “As you wish.”

  I leaned back against the cool stone wall, my arms crossing over my chest as I looked around. The hall was grand, as one would expect of the Red Keep, but far too empty. I could hear distant voices, the muted ctter of movement deeper within.

  The boredom set in faster than expected. I g the guards, both staring straight ahead, their faces expressionless. I shrugged, turning around. They didn’t seem like they’d stop me so there was no point standing around waiting, not when the Red Keep had so much to explore—so mas to uncover. And… so many people to meet.

  I slipped away from the guards, my steps quiet against the stone floor, my curiosity pulling me deeper into the keep. This portunity that I wasn’t about to waste.

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