Bloodline 16

Facing the Grand Maester's rebuke, the young assistant maester nervously swallowed and said, "I'll revise it at once, Lord Pycelle."

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Pycelle impatiently waved a hand. "I'm giving you one last chance."

At that, the assistant maester secretly swallowed again. He understood the Grand Maester's meaning: if he still failed to write it properly next time, he would be sent back to the Citadel. That was a consequence he could not bear.

After the frightened young man left, the maidservant, who had been standing like a wooden post nearby, brought over a silver wine decanter and cup at Pycelle's signal.

As the maidservant poured the wine, Pycelle stretched out one hand and freely indulged it.

"M-My lord..."

Pycelle patted her backside. "Good girl. You've worked hard. Go rest."

He sniffed his fingertips. As the door softly closed, Pycelle picked up the wine cup with a lecherous look and took a sip.

Setting down the cup, the old maester recalled their secret conversation that day.

Though Lord Regent Gryn had retained a little of the Half-Wildling nobles' traditions, his proposals were always so tempting. This... he had to admit the man's generosity and kingly bearing.

That was the power to recommend the next Grand Maester, with priority even over the Conclave. (Grand Maesters were senior members of the maester organization and served the king as representatives of the Citadel. By tradition, the power to recommend a Grand Maester belonged to the Citadel's Conclave.)

If Gryn gave him that authority, his influence in the Citadel would expand without limit. He might even become the uncrowned king of all the maesters in the Seven Kingdoms.

And what price did he need