The next day, Septon Alyse returned from the Great Sept of Baelor with good news for Arthur.
"The High Septon is very appreciative of our efforts in spreading the Faith of the Seven among the wildlings of the Red Mountains," Alyse reported. "He has agreed to dispatch a group of clergy to the Starfall domains."
"However," the septon added, "regarding the complete set of rare religious texts you requested, the sheer volume and the cost of copying them is immense. The High Septon says a donation of gold dragons to the Seven is required before he can grant them to you."
"I don't know the value of such texts," Arthur replied. "Calculate the cost, add fifty percent on top, and donate it to him."
Arthur wasn't surprised by the High Septon's request for money. The current High Septon was a morbidly obese man, corrupt in thought and gluttonous by nature. In the original timeline, he was eventually torn to pieces by a starving mob during the riots in King's Landing.
"And what did the High Septon say about Redwyne burning the sept?" Arthur asked.
"I showed him the evidence we collected," Alyse said. "But he dismissed it as one-sided. He claims he cannot be certain whether your accusation that Redwyne burned the sept and slaughtered the clergy is true."
"He also mentioned that the septon of Oldtown has accused you of allowing wildlings to raid septs and burn church lands. It seems to me the High Septon has no desire to get involved in our dispute with the Arbor."
Arthur nodded. He hadn't expected much from the fat High Septon anyway; as long as the man didn't actively cause trouble, it was fine.
Gerold then spoke up. "We've located where Margaery Tyrell is distributing grain to the poor. It's at Cobbler's Square."
"Cobbler's Square," Septon Alyse mused. "It faces the Gate of the Gods. Many septons preach there. It is a good place for acts of charity and spreading goodwill."
A strange look crossed Gerold's face. "We also heard that she has two people with her... though I don't know if the rumors are true."
"Who?" Arthur frowned. "Speak plainly."
" 'The Beauty' Brienne, and young Lord Edric Dayne."
Arthur's expression froze. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of Zhanlu, activating the ability of the Double-Edged Sword.
Double-Edged Sword: The Male Sword can sense the location of the Female Sword. (This effect is only usable by the host.)
A moment later, a bitter smile touched Arthur's lips. He sensed the Female Sword he had given to Edric; it was indeed somewhere within King's Landing.
Lord Selwyn of Tarth had written to him previously, saying Edric had followed his daughter to Storm's End to serve Duke Renly. At the time, Arthur was entirely focused on the Reach and hadn't paid it much mind. He had forgotten the connection between Renly and the Reach, as well as the connection between Brienne and Renly.
"Shall I gather the men?" Gerold asked. "I have Jimmy and Zac watching Cobbler's Square to see if the rumors are true."
"No need. This is King's Landing." Arthur exhaled deeply. "I'll go out myself and assess the situation. Don't make any moves until I return."
Despite his calm words, Arthur still put on his rattan armor.
"Ser, where are we going?" Penrose asked, trotting behind Arthur on a small palfrey as they navigated the busy streets. "This isn't the way to Cobbler's Square."
"Just stay close," Arthur urged his horse forward, his hand on Zhanlu as he tracked Edric's location. "Watch your purse for pickpockets, and don't let your horse bolt."
Guided by Zhanlu, Arthur soon arrived in front of a spacious, elegant mansion halfway up Visenya's Hill. Two guards in armor emblazoned with the golden rose of House Tyrell stepped forward.
"Ser, identify yourself," the taller guard demanded. "What business do you have here?"
Arthur dismounted. "I am Ser Arthur Snow. I am here for my cousin, Edric Dayne."
"He's the Sword of the Morning!" the other guard exclaimed, his hand flying to his sword hilt as if facing a great enemy.
The tall guard reflexively took a step back, his eyes full of wariness.
Penrose jumped down from his horse. "Go announce my lord at once! You two think you can draw steel against my master? Do you have a death wish?"
The two guards exchanged glances before scrambling toward the mansion, vying to be the first inside. Moments later, the tall guard ran back out, panting.
"Ser, Lady Margaery invites you inside."
In a garden behind the mansion, Arthur saw Margaery Tyrell, along with Brienne and Edric.
Edric was trying to shrink his small frame behind Brienne's towering figure, his head hanging low like a child caught misbehaving.
Margaery approached with a smile, her eyes as bright and lively as a doe's. "Ser Arthur, I did not expect our next meeting would be in King's Landing."
Arthur looked the young woman over. Compared to the tourney at Starfall, she had blossomed, growing taller and more womanly.
"Fate plays cruel tricks," Arthur said, then turned his gaze to Edric. "I've come to take Edric back. He is my cousin."
"Edric is not my prisoner. I have not restricted his freedom," Margaery said with a shrug. "On the contrary, he follows Lady Brienne, tasked by Lord Renly to protect me."
Understanding dawned in Arthur's eyes. It was as he suspected. "Very well. Come with me, Edric."
Edric lifted his head, his round face flushing red as if he were summoning all his courage. "Cousin... I don't want to stay on Tarth. I am Lady Brienne's squire. I swore to serve her and follow her. Besides, Lady Margaery is helping the poor in King's Landing. What she is doing is right—unlike Lord Paxter!"
Brienne stepped forward, her hand on her chest. "Ser Arthur, please believe me. I swear on my sword to protect Edric from harm."
Arthur gave Margaery a deep look, then turned back to Edric.
"Edric, your life is your own to decide. Strive to do what you believe is right. If you ever get tired, come back to Starfall."
Edric shrank back a little. "I... I understand, Cousin."
Arthur nodded to Margaery. "Forgive the intrusion."
Everyone had the right to determine their own life and be responsible for it. Arthur didn't want to be the overbearing patriarch, forcing his will upon Edric.
Leaving the mansion, Arthur spent the next week exploring every corner of King's Landing, hoping to unlock new cards and understand the capital city, the seat of the King.
His efforts paid off, unlocking two new cards from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms system.
Rations Depleted (Bing Liang Cun Duan): Increases hunger and decreases satiety for all units within a half-mile radius. (Units affected will experience a slight boost to all abilities for the next day after their hunger is satisfied.)
Indulgence in Pleasure (Le Bu Si Shu): Has a chance to make a target addicted to a specific object or activity. (The more compatible the object is with the target, the higher the probability of success.)
These two cards perfectly illustrated the stark, divided reality of King's Landing.
The slums and the wealthy districts.
The rich typically lived in walled mansions on the slopes of the city's three hills. These hills were named after Aegon the Conqueror and his two sister-wives: Aegon's High Hill, where the Red Keep stood; Visenya's Hill, crowned by the Great Sept of Baelor; and Rhaenys's Hill, home to the ruined Dragonpit.
The poor, meanwhile, were crammed into the low-lying slums clustered between the three hills.