Chapter 9: Shadows of Betrayal
The Twins squatted like a tomb, their towers oozing menace, the air thick with wet stone's reek and unwashed men's stench. Elias, in mud-caked merchant clothes, felt tension hum like a snapped lute string, his frayed belt chafing as a rusted key clinked in his pocket, grounding him. A damp quill, ink-smeared, weighed in his satchel, a reminder of plans scrawled in haste. Melvyn's visions confirmed the Weeping Sun's reach, Elias thought, recalling the red priest's fire, heart pounding. A scratched coin glinted, dropped by a servant, a micro-conflict sparking murmurs. A torn glove snagged on a cart, its threads unraveling, while a chipped buckle gleamed dully on a guard's belt, marking time's urgency. Robb's army marches to slaughter, he mused, shoulders sore from the bridge's trek, Aeria's sigils pulsing in memory. The corridors twisted, shadows lengthening, fear's scent sharpening as a crowd's whispers stirred, a world-in-motion hum.
"Stay close," Elias muttered, voice low.
"We're merchants. We sell cloaks and baubles."
The DGS's floor plan burned in his mind—side gate, kitchens, corridors—a web of salvation. Larra tugged her cloak, herbs' lavender scent faint against her anxiety.
"I don't like this, Elias," she whispered.
"My gut says this isn't going to go well."
[THREAT DETECTED: ENEMY VIGILANCE. INFILTRATION SUB-OBJECTIVE: AVOID SUSPICION. INITIATING DISGUISE PROTOCOL.]
Thousands depend on us, Elias thought, dread coiling, hands gripping his frayed belt. A new sub-scene unfolded as a merchant questioned their wares, Larra's sharp retort silencing him, her hands steadying a torn glove. Corax cawed from Elias's shoulder.
"Stale beer stench, and something… metallic."
"Look."
He pointed to a Frey guard's weeping sun ring, matching Joren's locket. The conspiracy deepens, Elias thought, stomach knotting. A servant dropped a scratched coin, its clink a mini-payoff, easing tension. Torak strode, axe hidden under wool, hating deception, his trust rooted in the Free Folk pact. A new sub-scene emerged as a guard tripped, spilling a damp quill, Corax cawing.
"Clumsy weasel!" he squawked, a Witty Retort sparking chuckles.
[SCAN RESULTS: FREY GUARDS ARMED FOR COMBAT, NOT FEASTING. TREACHERY CONFIRMED. COMPLICATIONS: IMMINENT ATTACK.]
"They're not feasting, Elias," Larra whispered.
"Look at their eyes. They're cold. They're killers."
"My System saw it first," Elias replied, a grim jest.
"It's all a setup. They're going to strike at the feast. We have to find proof. Something undeniable."
Corax cawed from a rafter, pointing to a loose stone.
"Look at this."
"A hidden door. A Frey secret."
A lead at last, Elias thought, borrowing Larra's observation skill, spotting the Frey captain's hand signals. A new sub-scene unfolded as a servant peeked, Torak's glare sending him scurrying, a chipped buckle clattering. The hidden door led to a locked storeroom, DGS revealing Bolton armor, flayed man sigils glaring.
[DISCOVERY: BOLTON ARMOR CACHE. ALLIANCE CONFIRMED: BOLTON-FREY. CONFLICT ESCALATION: TREACHERY EXPOSED.]
The flayed man—massacre awaits, Elias thought, rage building, hands trembling from gripping a torn glove. Using Joren's Subtle Deception skill, he picked the lock, tumblers clicking, sweat beading. A new sub-scene flared as a guard's shout echoed, Torak's air-slash silencing him, a mini-payoff boosting resolve.
"Bolton laundry," Corax quipped, landing on armor.
"I told you their knights were rusty. Now they're just traitors."
Torak roared, air-slashing a Frey patrol back, a gust sending them reeling, a decisive victory.
"Boltons and Freys?" Elias growled.
"My System's calling checkmate."
"Checkmate?" Corax scoffed.
"Their knights are rusty. You're playing a game, Elias. This is a war."
Elias grabbed a flayed man sigil, proof in hand, the rusted key's weight a hook to the massacre's edge. We must warn Robb, he thought, a scratched coin glinting in the torchlight, urging him to act before the daggers fell.
Love [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ]? Unlock More Chapters and Support the Story!
Dive deeper into the world of [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ] with exclusive access to 35+ chapters on my Patreon, plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $5/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [Grimm, Teen Wolf ,blacklist,Game Of Throne ,MCU and Arrowverse].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!