Chapter Eighteen: The Plan

Catelyn accompanied Cersei and the others into the inner courtyard.

The rest of the people waiting to greet the king also gradually dispersed and got to work.

Except for Garon and Jon.

Just as Catelyn had snubbed the bastard, Garon had been ignored by association.

Before Maester Luwin left, however, he had told Jon some good news.

Benjen Stark was returning that day.

He'd arrive as early as the afternoon, or as late as evening.

Jon immediately grew excited and chattered endlessly to Garon about his relationship with Benjen.

As Garon waited with him by the castle gate, he saw how happy Jon was and suddenly asked, "Jon, so you're planning to join the Night's Watch?"

Jon froze. If Garon had asked him before, he might have admitted it outright.

After all, he'd always believed that a bastard had nowhere else to go but to take the black.

But after spending the past few days with Garon, Jon had realized there were other, more meaningful ways to live.

So he hesitated.

Seeing him like that, Garon immediately understood.

He stepped forward, patted Jon on the shoulder, and invited him, "Jon, if you haven't decided where to go yet, why not come visit me at Deepwood Motte after my betrothal?"

"The Wall and the Night's Watch will still be there. If you want to go, you can go anytime."

Jon's eyes lit up, but he soon stammered, "But Lord Ned..."

Seeing his reaction, Garon knew he was already tempted. He smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'll ask Lord Ned, and I'm sure he'll agree."

At that, Jon held out his hand to Garon and smiled. "It's a promise!"

Garon reached out and slapped his hand in agreement. "It's a promise!"

Just then, a fine gray horse came galloping from Winter Town.

Its rider wore a black cloak. Jon took one look and recognized Benjen Stark.

"Uncle Benjen!"

Jon cried out excitedly.

A moment later, Benjen rode up to him, looking exhausted.

But the moment he saw Jon, he broke into a hearty laugh. "Jon, did you come all this way to meet me?"

He swung down from his horse and warmly embraced Jon.

"Yeah. Maester Luwin told me you were coming back today," Jon explained with a smile as he pulled away. "I had nothing to do, so I waited for you with Garon."

"Oh, right, Uncle Benjen, this is Garon. Garon Glover!"

Benjen turned to him, curious. "Glover? Are you Galbart's son?"

When Garon nodded with a smile, Benjen asked, "How has Galbart been? Last I heard, his wound had flared up again."

Garon shook his head mournfully. "My father passed away six months ago after his wound acted up."

Benjen's expression stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected Galbart to die so suddenly.

He sighed faintly, then changed the subject. "I'm sorry. I should go see Ned first. Jon, come with me."

"Garon, we'll talk tonight."

Jon and Garon both agreed.

Garon stood where he was, watching Jon and Benjen leave. The smile slowly faded from his face.

"The king has arrived. The story's main event has begun."

"To be safe, it's time to put the contingency plan into motion..."

Garon gazed toward the Broken Tower. Before long, it would become the scene of Cersei and Jaime's affair.

And he planned to send someone there to witness it.

After thinking it over carefully, Garon turned and headed for the guards' quarters at Winterfell. His five guards from Deepwood Motte were there.

About half an hour later,

Garon found his guard captain, Roger, chatting and joking with the soldiers of Winterfell.

"Master Roger!"

Standing outside, Garon called out to him with a smile.

Roger and the other four soldiers from Deepwood Motte immediately walked over.

"Lord Garon, what brings you here?"

"Weren't you going with Lord Ned to attend the king?"

Garon shook his head. He glanced at the soldiers, still loudly discussing Lannister gossip, then lowered his voice.

"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me."

Roger looked puzzled but agreed.

After reminding the other four soldiers not to cause trouble, Garon took Roger back to his chambers.

Near the room, the two ran into a group of arrogant Lannister knights.

Garon and Roger discreetly stepped aside to let them pass.

Only after the Lannister knights had left did Garon lead Roger into his chambers.

He quietly closed the door, shutting out the noise outside.

"Master Roger, wait here a moment."

Roger nodded and looked around Garon's room curiously, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes.

He had no idea why Garon had summoned him so mysteriously.

Garon didn't explain right away. He went straight to the desk, sat down, and took out a sheet of paper and a pen.

After thinking briefly, he wrote a line on the paper with a quill.

[Tomorrow morning, meet at the Broken Tower. This is of the utmost importance. Tell no one. Balon Greyjoy!]

Garon studied it carefully for a moment, then folded the paper and turned to Roger.

"Master Roger, can I trust you?"

At this, Roger's casual expression instantly turned grave.

He clearly understood that Garon wouldn't have summoned him unless he had something important for him to do.

But Roger didn't hesitate for a moment. With a solemn expression, he replied, "At your command, Lord Garon!"

Garon nodded. He naturally trusted Roger.

Roger had been Garon's father Galbart's most trusted subordinate. When Garon was young, Roger had also trained him in swordsmanship.

In a way, Roger had watched Garon grow up.

After Galbart died, Roger had renewed his oath of loyalty to Garon. He was now the person Garon trusted most.

Garon had asked because he wanted to warn Roger that what came next was no small matter.

Seeing that Roger understood, Garon walked over and handed him the note, speaking in a low voice.

"Tonight, Lord Ned will host a feast for the king. Everyone will attend."

"When the time comes, I want you to deliver this note to Theon Greyjoy's room without anyone noticing."

Roger took the note quickly. Without even glancing at its contents, he tucked it into his clothes.

Worried he might let something slip, Garon warned him again, "Remember, don't let anyone find out!"

Roger nodded firmly. "I understand, Lord Garon!"

Garon smiled and nodded, then saw Roger out.

"A storm is coming..."

Garon watched Roger walk away, murmuring to himself.

Ever since Sansa had told him that Catelyn was looking for an opportunity to arrange a marriage alliance with the king, Garon had felt a constant sense of danger.

He had a feeling that tonight's feast would be anything but peaceful.

Catelyn would definitely use it to stir up trouble!

Rather than wait passively, he'd act first.

If something really did go wrong tonight, Garon would simply flip the entire table over—

He would lure Theon into discovering Jaime and Cersei's affair!

Theon wasn't Bran. If he stumbled upon Jaime and his sister's sordid secret, there were only two possible outcomes.

Either Jaime killed him, in which case Ned would surely search the whole city for the killer of his ward.

Winterfell wasn't King's Landing. With Ned in control of Winterfell, Garon would only need to nudge things slightly to turn suspicion toward Jaime and Cersei. The marriage alliance would be off.

Or Theon survived. Given his nature, he'd tell Ned about Jaime and Cersei's affair to protect himself from Lannister revenge. Jaime and Cersei would be killed outright by the enraged Robert.

And Theon would become a sworn enemy of the Lannisters. Tywin would make sure he was killed!

No matter how it turned out, Garon would be in an unbeatable position.

He could still marry Sansa, and he could use the Lannisters to kill Theon—a win on both fronts.

His only concern was the chain reaction from changing the story.

But—

There was no turning back now!

Garon was determined to marry Sansa. Anyone who stood in his way would die!

He silently reviewed his plan and decided there were no problems.

Just as he turned to head back into his room, a carefree voice sounded beside him.

"Hey, do you know where the brothel is?"