A Soldier Adrift: Captain Westeros

“You have a unique opportunity here Steve,” Tanya said, staring down at him. Her features were half cast in shadow from the candles of the room, and had she not been standing on a table, her cherubic features might have appeared halfway intimidating.

Steve regarded her evenly. Tanya had a way of getting overeager, and making suggestions about things without an adult’s understanding of the consequences, like when she’d suggested cutting off food to King’s Landing unless the inhabitants dragged Aerys before them. “Let’s hear it,” he said.

They were not the only two in the room, the antechamber to a suite in the Red Keep. Their companions were also present, some keeping their hands busy as they listened, others just listening with unabashed interest. Lyanna and Toby in particular had looks of intense focus that made Steve wary.

Tanya composed herself, as if preparing to give a business pitch to a room of investors. “In every battle, you led the charge that broke the enemy lines. You single-handedly retook the castles of disloyal lords. You held the bridge at Tumbler’s Falls. You crushed the skull of -”

“Alright, alright,” Steve said, raising a hand.

“I hear the full chivalry of the Reach ambushed Lord America once,” Robin said, not looking up from the small animal figure he was carving. “After a bloody battle, the Reach was forced to retreat.”

Steve ignored Robin, hoping once more that if he didn’t acknowledge it, they’d stop. He never should have introduced that joke to Westeros. “I contributed to the war effort,” he said to Tanya. “What of it?”

“You hold a great deal of influence, and a number of blue bloods on both sides of the conflict will be looking for ways to pay their debts to you,” Tanya said. “Before King Robert’s coronation, now is the time to call those debts in.”

“I’m not sure I’d call them debts,” Steve said.

“Please,” Tanya said, making a dismissive sound. “One side owes you for killing their enemies, the other for not killing as many of them as you could have.”

“Wait,” Steve said. “Are you suggesting that I…what, retroactively extort them?”

Naerys snorted as she sifted through a few sheafs of parchment, but said nothing.

“Of course not,” Tanya said. “There’s nothing coercive about it.”

“You could ask for many things, Steve,” Keladry said. She put down her knife and whetstone, turning to face him fully. “After any war, there are men who are not ready to put down their swords. Those swords could be put to use, across the Narrow Sea.”

“Yeeeess, they could,” Tanya said. “But influence could be parlayed into greater influence, which could buy more than the dubious loyalty of whatever soldiers the lords want to part with.”

“It’s like you were saying about how merchants make their fortunes,” Lyanna said. “You need money to make money, and influence for influence.”

“You only need a sharp knife for either of those though,” Toby said.

“Exactly,” Tanya said, a satisfied smile on her face. It wasn’t clear who she was responding to. She began to pace back and forth along the table. “Few are those who have contributed as much to the cause as you have, and they all have enemies who don’t want to see them profit. The reward for work well done is more work, and there are several prestigious positions yet to be assigned in the new regime.”

Steve watched his youngest ward as she paced. Sometimes, he worried about what kind of example she’d been set to act the way she did. Well, all he could do was be a good mentor to her, and try to give her the chance of a childhood she’d missed out on.

“You can’t believe Steve would be made Hand of the King,” Naerys said, skeptical.

“That’s not the right kind of power,” Tanya said.

“Tanya, if this is about me becoming King again,” Steve began. Robert had laughed and laughed when that story got out, saying it was only right for a daughter to want the best for her father.

“No, no,” Tanya said. “I’m talking about the most powerful position on the Small Council: the Master of Coin.”

Keladry made to respond, but closed her mouth, frowning.

“Imagine it,” Tanya said. “You could take Westeros from a backwater resource export economy to a manufacturing giant. Now, it’s true that we cannot beat slave labour on price, but a free worker paid a living wage will always create a superior product to one chained to their bench without hope for reward.”

“I’m not sure how I’d feel about investing the time needed for something like that when the Slaver Cities are right across the Sea,” Steve said, trying to avoid putting down an idea she’d obviously put a lot of thought into.

“The position would not take up all your time,” Tanya said, ceasing her pacing, and her tone grew sly. “I presume Westerosi production would be given quite the boost if a force of indeterminate origin was to raid a Slaver City and liberate a number of key personnel in certain high value industries.”

Steve started to think about how he could let her down easily, but then he thought about it. Myr took great pride in their glassmaking abilities, and so did Tyrosh with their dyes. If the slaves that worked as master craftsmen and their families were to disappear, and a competing industry were to spring up in Westeros…

There was a gleam in Tanya’s eyes now, as she watched him consider her words. “Just think, the Slaver Cities brought to their knees by the breaking of their monopolies and sensible taxation and tariff policies. They would surely raise their troops in response, but by the time they realised what was happening, it would already be too late. All that would be left to do would be to crush their sellswords with Westerosi forces, outfitted with Westerosi arms and armour made by Westerosi craftsmen, paid for by Westerosi goods.”

For a moment, he considered it.

“If Steve were to be made Master of Coin, he’d have to swear oaths to the crown,” Naerys said.

Steve blinked, and the darkness of the room seemed to recede, the candles casting light once more. Tanya seemed less like a devil tempting him to make a deal, and more like a young girl with a very healthy appetite for books and learning.

“That would be a bit of a drawback,” he said, apologetic.

Tanya sagged. She hopped off the table, looking down. She made as if to raise a hand to her face, but forced herself not to.

Steve felt like a heel. “You had some good ideas though, especially around freeing the slaves to hurt the Cities economically,” he assured her.

She looked up, biting her lip. “You could do all these things without swearing to anyone if you conquered one of the Slaver Cities? It would mean a smaller support base, but…”

Keladry looked interested at that one.

“Why don’t we put a pin in that, and come back to it after we’ve dealt with the issues that have cropped up with taking King’s Landing,” Steve suggested. “That way you’ll have some time to think of a proper plan.” It didn’t take much to show an interest in your dau- your ward’s interests.

“Yes, a proper presentation is required…” Tanya muttered to herself. “If you don’t want to become Master of Coin, you could still use several of Naerys’ ideas about buying property in the city.”

“Tanya!” Naerys hissed, holding her parchments to herself.

Tanya looked stricken. “I’m sorry, I thought your proposal was ready.”

Naerys sighed, holding a hand to her brow. “No, it’s - I was just scribbling ideas down.”

“I thought they were very good,” Tanya said earnestly. “Buying up damaged property and businesses is an excellent way to establish yourself for a reduced cost when you have influence in the local government.”

“I was going to offer them a fair price!” Naerys said. She darted a look at Steve.

“Of course,” Tanya said, confused. “It’s not predatory to offer a fair price for a burnt warehouse or inn unless you were the one to burn it.” She hopped up into a free chair, legs swinging.

Naerys groaned, and Steve stepped in. “Right, I think that’s enough on that topic for now,” he said. “Robin, how did your visit to your family go?”

“Well, they’re all fine, like I said, but uh,” Robin said, and here he looked apologetic, “Da was speaking about buying up the building next to his shop because the owner wants to go live with family in the Reach.”

“Yes, good,” Tanya said. Her chair was in front of one of the candlesticks, and she cast a shadow over the room. “Investing in local businesses is a surefire way to help the city and ourselves.” She steepled her fingers.

Something made Steve glance at Lyanna and Toby, and he swore he could see them taking notes in their minds. Maybe he’d been worrying about the wrong kids being influenced. He was sure it’d be fine.

Tanya began speaking about the benefits of expansion to a reputable business, and of franchising opportunities, and he made a note to speak with whoever had been helping her access the Keep library. She was just being enthusiastic about something she had a talent for, he reassured himself. It would all be fine. He was sure of it.