Game Of Thrones : Merchant of Two Worlds

Boris gave a wry smile. "Sir, I already have five assistants under my command. I'm also responsible for teaching Lena and the others, as well as preparing the hospital to treat patients. I'm afraid I'll be overwhelmed with work. You'd best recruit more assistant bachelors or literate apprentices as soon as possible!"

Jason Liu nodded but sighed. "Didn't you tell the bachelor who came last time to buy goods that we need more assistants and apprentices?"

Boris shook his head. "I brought it up. However, the response wasn't very hopeful."

Jason frowned. "I discussed this issue with Bachelor Angelo, and he promised to help spread the word at the Citadel in Oldtown. But the North is so far from the South. How many would realistically come? I honestly don't know."

Far to the south in Oldtown, Bachelor Angelo wasn't prioritizing Jason Liu's request. He had asked an assistant to casually circulate the news in the academy, but most of his attention was on King's Landing.

The sudden death of Jon Arryn, Duke of the Eyrie and former Hand of the King, had sent shockwaves through the realm. King's Landing was in chaos, and everyone was speculating about who would fill the powerful position of Hand.

Even Lord Mace Tyrell, Duke of the Reach, had sent a letter expressing his condolences and offering to visit King's Landing. However, he hadn't received a reply.

The Tyrell family had supported the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion, but when the rebellion succeeded, they had no choice but to submit to King Robert Baratheon. Despite this submission, King Robert never fully trusted the Tyrells, viewing them as potential threats.

To avoid prolonged conflict and consolidate his rule, Robert accepted their surrender. But after ascending the Iron Throne, he ensured the Tyrells were excluded from the inner circle of power. The family, despite its wealth and vast influence, remained marginalized.

The Reach, with its fertile lands, wealth, and large population, was one of the strongest regions in Westeros. Yet, the Tyrells had no significant role in the royal court. Their frustration grew over the years as they remained on the sidelines while other houses held sway over the Seven Kingdoms.

To gain favor, the Tyrells had even lent Robert millions of gold dragons without interest, but it did little to change their standing. Robert, along with his loyal allies, worked to keep the Reach in check, fearing its potential to rival the crown's power.

Jon Arryn, as Hand of the King, had been one of the most vocal opponents of giving the Tyrells any significant role in court. His death gave the Tyrells a glimmer of hope. They believed they might finally secure a place in the power center of King's Landing.

However, Robert acted swiftly to crush these ambitions. He made it clear that the Tyrells would not gain any undue influence, leaving the family disheartened and powerless.

The root of their struggles traced back to the time of Aegon the Conqueror. When Aegon Targaryen unified Westeros, he deliberately weakened the Reach, the largest and wealthiest region, by supporting the Tyrells, a house of stewards, to replace the ruling Gardener kings.

This division created resentment among the Reach's powerful noble houses, many of whom viewed the Tyrells as upstarts. Over the centuries, the Tyrells struggled to win the loyalty of their vassals. Even now, a third of the Reach's lords resisted their leadership.

If the Tyrells gained significant power in King's Landing, they could unify the Reach under their banner. A unified Reach, with its vast resources, could rival the entire realm. This was a prospect neither Robert nor his councilors were willing to tolerate.

Meanwhile, Jon Arryn's death had rippling effects beyond King's Landing. Reports spread that Grand Maester Pycelle, tasked with treating Jon Arryn, had failed. Robert, known for his temper, expressed dissatisfaction with Pycelle, even blaming him for the loss of his trusted advisor.

Although Robert likely knew that Jon Arryn's advanced age contributed to his death, his drunken rants sowed uncertainty. The Citadel in Oldtown, upon hearing of the king's anger, debated recalling Pycelle and replacing him with someone deemed more capable.

Power politics even infected the academic halls of the Citadel. Scholars who had dedicated their lives to study now saw an opportunity to secure influence in King's Landing. The prospect of becoming Grand Maester tempted many, turning the normally serene institution into a hub of ambition.

In King's Landing, the political landscape was no less turbulent. By night, the cramped, dark alleys of the city gave way to brightly lit mansions of the powerful. Ambitious nobles hosted lavish banquets, each vying for a chance to influence the selection of the new Hand.

The position of Hand of the King, second only to the monarch in power, was a coveted prize. With Jon Arryn's death, King's Landing became a battlefield of intrigue, as lords and courtiers schemed to secure this prestigious role.

Every noble house with aspirations of power sent emissaries or held secret meetings. Banquets and alliances formed and dissolved with alarming speed. The air in the capital buzzed with plots and counterplots, as King's Landing transformed into a stage for the ambitious and the ruthless.

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