Night fell, and at some hazy moment in the darkness...
Varys naturally learned the two new pieces of news. With his abilities, neither was particularly difficult to obtain. Even though he was now hiding underground, there were still people willing to bring him intelligence about actions taken so openly.
The Gold Cloaks were searching for ratcatchers, preparing to explore the secret passages.
Gendry was not staying in King's Landing, but had returned to the safer army camp outside the city.
Was I running out of time? Varys asked himself. Had the moment truly come when I had to draw my sword?
He absolutely could not leave this place, the stronghold he had cultivated for so many years. Then he could only adopt the mindset of a beast and seek an opportunity to assassinate his target.
Chapter 310: Varys's Last Dance
Varys felt himself merge with the deep darkness. Night was his best friend.
The time has come to choose my fate, thought Varys, the former Master of Whisperers. Leave King's Landing, or launch an assassination.
Assassination had not been Varys's original intention, but the Lannisters had now suffered a crushing rout. The Imp had been captured, Joffrey torn apart by a mob, and Cersei had fled in haste. The Archon of Volantis had brought an allied army from far away only to suffer defeat, while people's hearts and popular support turned ever more toward Storm. Given time, how could his restoration scheme succeed? With all this, Varys had to confront the most ruthless course: assassination.
Surrender was not even among Varys's considerations. One look at the council Gendry had appointed told Varys his attitude. Barristan, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, believed the Mad King's folly had stemmed from Varys, while the Hand of the King, Stannis Baratheon, had long been