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#321 - Chapter 55: The North Has Not Forgotten (Part 3)

As it turned out, the seemingly ordinary castle servant was none other than Arya in disguise. Initially, she had planned to lure Ilyn Payne out with a forged warrant and eliminate him along the way. However, events unfolded unexpectedly. She hadn't anticipated that Ilyn Payne would still be wearing armor so late at night. Forced to change her strategy, she chose to confront him directly, but she didn't expect it to go so smoothly.

Ilyn Payne unsuspectingly bent down, completely unaware of the impending doom. In that split second, Arya moved like a phantom. The dagger in her hand flashed out like lightning, striking Ilyn Payne's chin with incredible speed and force. The dagger mercilessly pierced through skin and bone, embedding itself deep within his brain, instantly ending his life.

Arya gripped Ilyn Payne's head tightly, slowly dragging his heavy body into the room and gently closing the door behind her. The entire action was seamless and silent. After completing this, Arya immediately began searching Ilyn Payne for the keys, knowing that these keys were crucial to her next plan.

Having obtained the keys, Arya did not hesitate. She quickly concealed Ilyn Payne's corpse in a corner of the room. She understood that her time was limited and the consequences would be dire if her actions were discovered. Therefore, she had to race against the clock and leave this dangerous place as soon as possible.

Relying on her familiarity with the Red Keep's layout, Arya moved through the corridors silently like a ghost. She skillfully avoided patrolling soldiers and other potential threats, gradually approaching her target. Finally, she reached the entrance to the kitchen cellar and plunged into the tunnel without hesitation.

The cellar was pitch black, with only the faint light from Arya's half-burnt candle illuminating a small area in front of her. In this dim and hazy light, Arya dared not relax her vigilance, remaining highly alert, constantly watching for any movement around her.

Maegor's Holdfast, a massive square fortress, stood proudly at the heart of the Red Keep. It stood behind a twelve-foot-high, rock-solid wall, surrounded by a dry moat filled with sharp iron spikes. This castle was like a city within a city, heavily guarded, and the royal chambers were located within. It was outside these walls that Eddard Stark's head was displayed after his execution.

Arya tiptoed across the moat, fearing that the slightest carelessness would alert the guards patrolling above. Finally, she successfully reached the castle's sewer outlet and found an inconspicuous secret door, revealing a secret passage leading directly to the Small Council chamber.

Entering the Small Council chamber, Arya originally planned to install a sharp, poison-tipped spike on the Iron Throne. As soon as King Tommen sat on the throne without any suspicion, he would be poisoned to death, reuniting him with his short-lived brother.

However, just as Arya was about to step into the throne room, a clear sound of footsteps reached her sensitive ears. She stopped instantly, as if frozen in place, then quietly leaned down, pressing her ear against the closed door, listening intently to the movements outside.

The footsteps sounded rather chaotic and numerous, suggesting more than just a patrol of soldiers. As the footsteps drew closer, Arya cursed inwardly: it was too late to retreat back into the secret passage! Therefore, she quickly looked around, searching for a place to hide.

Instantly, Arya made a decision. With agile movements, she stepped onto the wall, reaching the high bookshelf in a few strides, and clung tightly to the wall. She skillfully used her body to blend into the shadows, as if she herself had become part of the darkness. At the same time, she drew a delicate three-shot crossbow from her waist, holding it tightly in her hand.

With a loud crash, the heavy wooden door was pushed open, and more than ten figures filed in. Several guards quickly stepped forward and lit the candles in the room. In an instant, the originally dim room was brightly lit.

Arya's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on these uninvited guests. Unexpectedly, she recognized three key figures among them—the 'Queen Regent' Cersei, the 'Kingslayer' Jaime, and the 'Spider' Varys!

Seeing the three of them taking their seats at the conference table, Arya dared not relax her vigilance. She held her breath, her hands gripping the cold crossbow tightly, her heart beating faster. At this moment, she knew that if her whereabouts were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, she had to concentrate all her attention and wait for the best opportunity to strike.

Cersei frowned, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction as she said, "Lord Varys, what is so important that you called us here so late at night?" As she spoke, she gestured to the maid beside her to drape a heavy cloak over her shoulders.

Varys bowed slightly, answering with a solemn expression, "Your Grace, I have just received important news, of utmost importance! I have already sent someone to inform Lord Tywin." His voice was low and serious, as if suppressing some unknown tension.

Arya's heart tightened, and she cursed inwardly. If those they sent discovered that Tywin was dead, they would immediately close the Red Keep. She quietly shifted her body, attempting to find a more favorable shooting position.

Just then, a guard suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping directly towards where Arya was hiding. Arya was horrified and quickly curled up, silently praying not to be discovered. Fortunately, the guard only glanced casually and did not suspect anything. Arya breathed a sigh of relief and continued to hold her breath, daring not to move rashly.

Time passed second by second, and Arya's patience was gradually worn away. She knew that if she continued to wait, the opportunity to assassinate would be gone once Tywin's body was discovered. Even escaping safely would be a problem, as Varys was more familiar with the secret passages of the Red Keep than she was. If she acted rashly, she would probably be discovered and surrounded before she even left the tunnel.

Just as she was preparing to launch an attack at great risk, a sound suddenly came from outside, and Cersei and the others couldn't help but look towards the door. A man in a black robe, as thin as a rake, and a knight who was extremely tall and wore armor stood side by side, creating a strong contrast that was impressive.

Seeing this, Cersei asked, "Maester Qyburn, is this the surprise you mentioned earlier?"

Maester Qyburn quickly bowed and replied, "Your Grace, this is the person I want to introduce to you, the new Kingsguard! From now on, he will serve only you."

Cersei couldn't help but marvel after hearing this, "It's unbelievable that you actually did it, successfully bringing him back from the brink of death!"