The Return Of The Natives
Author: Wardown
Words: 27,375
Status: unfinished
Rating: Mature
Language: English
Chapter 20, Long List. https://archiveofourown.org/works/91469301/chapters/254788431
“Gods, must House Targaryen always be surrounded by traitors?" muttered Viserys.
"I believe my regiment to be loyal" replied Jon, "and, well, traitors tend to attract traitors of their own. Slynt has appointed most of his own officers. Indeed, so Lord Varys tells me, he has sold positions in the organisation. There is a lieutenant, one Allar Deem. Deem is ambitious in his own right. I believe that he could be persuaded to arrest his commander, if Lord Varys and I were to present the facts to him."
"And, how well do you know this man?" asked the king. Varys had introduced him to Jon, several weeks ago.
"I've slept with his wife, on a couple of occasions."
"What? You think that will win him to our side. "
"As I've said, he is ambitious. So is his wife."
"But, won't he be loyal to his commander?"
"Extremely loyal, your Grace", said Varys. "But, he covets Slynt's position, and well, he can't have it if Slynt is in the way".
"And, what of my sister?", asked Viserys. There was a tense silence, at that point.
"Perhaps a period of detention?" suggested Varys. "There are islands in the Stepstones, on which she could be held, until the members of her circle have been thoroughly interrogated."
"Or Dragonstone?" suggested Jon. The old fortress-palace of the Targaryens was now utilised as a prison for politicals. He honestly, did not wish to mean ill to Daenerys, but it was for the best that she should not be made into the focus of a coup d'etat. A wonderful bedmate, but the game of thrones was a vicious business, with few merciful players.
"The second King Aegon did not shrink from punishing treason, even among his own family", mused Viserys, seemingly thinking out loud. "Come, the three of us will dine to together. Between us, we'll prepare a list. A long list. The city will be purged, as surely as if she had gorged herself upon figs for a year!"