Game of Thrones: Oath of Iron and Fire-Chapter 16 Spiders and Little Fingers

The Free Cities aren't just cities, like Myr, but also have manors and towns attached to them. Myr's agriculture isn't bad either, with gunpowder grass plantations and firewine vineyards.

Gendry and Qyburn followed "Fatty" out of Myr and saw the Wolf Pack's camp, the "Wolf's Den," by a riverside in the Disputed Lands. Though small, the Wolf Pack still held itself to strict military standards.

"We ain't bragging, but our discipline is one-of-a-kind. Maybe comparable to the Golden Company," Fatty said proudly. "After all, our ancestors were the elite under Lord Cregan, not a ragtag bunch of thieves and murderers."

Gendry looked at the Wolf Pack's defenses. The mercenary company was indeed relatively formal. Deep trenches surrounded the camp, filled with sharpened stakes; the tents were arranged in rows inside, with wide pathways.

The latrines were built by the water, and all waste was washed away by the current. The horses were uniformly tied up on the north side.

Tall watchtowers surrounded the camp, with lookouts who were cautious and vigilant.

"And mercenaries brawling in the city of Myr, the magisters don't like that. But out in the wild, every mercenary company has a few enemies, except for the Golden Company. They're too big, too strong, almost like a regular army!" Fatty explained.

"How many men does the Golden Company have?" Gendry asked curiously.

"About ten thousand or so! They were originally an army disguised as a mercenary company, the spawn of Blackfyre rebels in exile, the ghosts of Blackfyre! I don't know the details, but the best advice is to stay away from them!" Fatty shrugged.

A mercenary company of ten thousand was unique in the Disputed Lands.

"Alright! Let's go in!" Fatty, dressed in brown leather armor and a grey cloak, took the lead. The guards at the camp gate recognized the recruiter.

After a while, a burly, muscular man walked out of the camp gate. He had a long scar on his face, running from his lower cheek to his nose.

"Good to see you, Fatty! I thought you brought us a new client!" Scarface said, then hugged him.

"It's a bit worse than you think. No new clients, but I've brought fresh blood!" Fatty was introduced with a smile.

"And who might these two be?"

"Hammer, a strong kid who's not only tough but also an apprentice blacksmith."

"Maester, an old man who's well-trained in medicine despite his age."

Fatty then introduced Scarface to the two. "Handsome fellow, our Wolf Pack's infantry officer, skilled with mace, long knife, and longsword."

Gendry and Qyburn greeted "Handsome."

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"Compared to this young man, what am I handsome for?" Handsome laughed. "Come on, the captain's waiting for us in the tent!"

The Wolf Pack's captain's tent was large and spacious, with the tallest and oldest banner, depicting wolves in motion with different fill colors, probably patched up when it got damaged.

"This banner's over a hundred years old, from the time of the Dance of the Dragons!"

The group entered the tent, where weapons like maces, chainmail, warhammers, and spears hung on the racks. The Wolf Pack's captain was sitting on a campaign chair, a robust man with grey beard, grey hair, and grey eyes.

To the captain's left was a tall, smiling man with a purple beard and hair, greased as if oiled. To the captain's right was a dark, shadowy figure in a green and orange, exceptionally gorgeous feathered cloak, clearly from the Summer Islands.

"Our captain, Greybeard! Our quartermaster, Longlegs! Our archery officer, Black Billy." Fatty introduced. "Maester, the old man skilled in medicine. Hammer, the strong boy who's also an apprentice blacksmith!"

Then Fatty walked up and whispered something to Greybeard and the others.

"The old man's joining our crew, and Old Dick will have some company!"

"Very honored!" Qyburn replied gracefully. Dick, apparently another old man.

"Kid, Fatty says you're strong. How about showing us what you've got?" Black Billy asked curiously.

"Piece of cake!" Gendry picked up a large adult warhammer and easily swung it around.

Greybeard and the others watched his steps, movement patterns, and facial expressions. Warriors could tell skill and strength. Gendry was unhurried and confident, handling the heavy hammer well. Considering his age, he was naturally strong.

"Welcome aboard! From now on, you're brothers of the 'Wolf Pack,' howling with the wolves!" Greybeard said loudly, then hugged each of them one by one.

...

In a brothel in King's Landing, the deepest and most tranquil room. Many of the brothels in King's Landing were properties of Littlefinger.

Lord Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger, and the Spider, Varys, sat facing each other in the room, a contrast of thin and fat.

Littlefinger was slender and agile, shorter than the average man, with a pair of gray-green eyes full of mirth. He had a bit of stubble on his chin and a few strands of silver in his black hair, though he was not yet thirty. He wore a silver mockingbird clasp on his cloak. Varys, on the other hand, was plump and powdery, with a bald head as smooth as an egg. He was dressed in a loose purple silk robe and velvet slippers.

"Your silver mockingbird is truly delightful to behold!" Varys complimented.

"Thank you for the kind words, my old friend! Any news lately? You seemed quite eager to see me!" Littlefinger said with a smile.

"There is indeed one piece of news!" Varys said. "An apprentice from a blacksmith's shop has gone missing, causing his good master great distress! The boy's hidden letter says he's gone to the Reach, but he might have sailed away!"

"Apprentice? Blacksmith's apprentices are everywhere in King's Landing. Losing one occasionally is no big deal. Maybe the boy couldn't stand the heat or his master's exploitation!" Littlefinger shrugged.

"Maybe! But I think, if such a handsome and strong boy slipped away from the docks or the gates, your people should have noticed occasionally!" Varys said.

"Who doesn't know that our Lord Baelish is beloved by all, with customs officials and the Gold Cloaks of King's Landing all loving your gold dragons!"

"The birds are chirping, why don't the birds go look?" Littlefinger asked.

"The birds are always looking up, perhaps forgetting to look down. My mistake, my birds are always limited!" Varys spread his hands. The main reason was that he hadn't paid much attention to this pawn.

"No problem, my old friend! The boy you asked me to find personally can't be just anyone! Let me guess, this kid is probably from a noble house?" Littlefinger's eyes twinkled.

"Nothing gets past you, my old friend! Indeed, he is a boy of noble blood!" Varys leaned forward and said.

"I'll do my best! But with all the comings and goings in King's Landing, there might be no clues! You know, a minor character, my friends don't pay much attention!"

"I'm just glad you're willing to help!" Varys chuckled.

"Cheers! To the kindness of Lord Varys!" Littlefinger poured Varys a glass of Summerwine.

"Cheers!"

"I have a question, why did you change your sigil? My good lord!"

"The Titan is so intimidating, my old friend! Look how friendly this mockingbird is!"

"It's not just friendly, the mockingbird imitates the calls of other birds, just like we attach ourselves to power!"

"Who could argue with that? After all, we're just minor players!" The two drained their glasses, the Summerwine in them as red as blood.