While his thoughts were still in turmoil, Robb's voice rang out, "Uncle, apart from the hundred Northern soldiers I will take into Riverrun, I will hand over the rest of the men to you. I hope you will stay outside the city. Only then will the cunning Lord Frey relax his guard."
Duke Brynden was slightly startled. He quickly understood Robb's intention. He moved his lips and said, "I hope we can still follow the original…"
Robb's voice trembled with suppressed emotion. "Do you know? When I close my eyes, all I see is Jeyne dying tragically before my eyes…"
He reached out and tightly grasped his Uncle's wrinkled hand. "It is also for my kingdom. I must do this."
Brynden's expression was pained. "Roslin Frey, your future bride, she is not like Old Walder. She is very kind."
Robb closed his eyes for a moment and said, "Women and children should be treated with leniency. War or hatred has nothing to do with them. That lady… I will treat her well. I will spend my life… doing my best to compensate her."
Stepping out of the King's Camp, Duke Brynden looked at the loudly shouting and laughing Northern soldiers. From time to time, someone would salute him from afar.
Every day on campaign, Robb was the first in the entire army to wake up and the last to go to sleep. He seemed to be everywhere, and these battle-hardened elites adored his grand-nephew.
…He did too.
Duke Brynden whispered to his captain of the guard, "Keep an eye on Lady Sybelle. Send more men."
Tyrion, who should have been awaiting execution in the dungeon, had disappeared. He had once again become a hot topic in King's Landing.
Some said that Little Devil had escaped the heavily guarded Red Keep dungeon using unknown evil magic.
Some said that Little Devil had bribed the jailers, giving them enough gold dragons to last a lifetime.
Some said that Little Devil was actually already dead, and his head was on its way to Sunspear.
Some said that Hand of the King Tywin had secretly released Little Devil, and it was all a trick to deceive others.
Some said that Kingslayer had threatened the little King with his sword to release Little Devil.
Some said that Little Devil was actually still hidden in the Red Keep and would reappear unharmed once the storm passed.
At Kettleblack Mansion in Hook Alley, Leyton scratched his cheek and said, "And quite a few people believe that Little Devil was so sinful that the Seven Gods sent him directly to the Seven Hells."
Greene Crabb looked up from the map spread on the long table and said, "Are the Dornishmen in King's Landing still gathered outside the Red Keep?"
Leyton rolled up the parchment and said, "Yes, Lord. However, their emotions have stabilized somewhat, or rather, they began to stabilize after the clash with the Gold Cloaks there yesterday."
Greene stared at the location of Crab Island, in the eastern part of the Claw Isle peninsula, and said, "Hmm, they will be well-behaved for now. They need the Red Keep to provide a reasonable explanation as soon as possible."
Duke Tywin's efficiency was swift. The former Lord of Crab Island, Lord Ardrian Celtigar, had been imprisoned in the Red Keep dungeon, and the House Celtigar's rule over Crab Island had been stripped by order of the Small Council.
At the same time, a raven carrying Greene's order also flew to Mermaid's Port to quickly return Crab Island to Crabb's dominion.
Leyton walked over, pouring wine for Greene as he said, "If they don't get a satisfactory 'excuse,' I think the Dornishmen in the Marches will blame the accompanying Dorne Envoy for not fulfilling their duty to protect the Prince."
Greene took a sip of summer red and said, "Hmm, on the surface, that certainly seems to be the case."
Leyton put down the silver flagon, thought for a moment, and said, "Lord Greene, will Prince Doran raise an army?"
Greene's gaze shifted to the location of Dorne and said, "At the very least, he must do something, otherwise the stable Dorne will spiral out of control."
After a pause, Leyton spoke, "Lord Greene, the number of red robes around King Joffrey has increased again. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a suitable opportunity for him to meet you alone for now."
"It seems to be going smoothly."
Greene's gaze slowly swept across the Riverlands. "No need to rush. He still needs to accumulate something beyond anger. I only need to meet him before I leave King's Landing."
Rubbing his temples, Greene suddenly said, "Did Ser Jaime leave smoothly?"
"Yes, I felt it was too smooth. At dawn, he set off with dozens of sworn knights and over a thousand newly hired free riders."
Greene smiled faintly. Jaime had directly dumped the mess on Hand of the King Tywin. It looked more like a son expressing some dissatisfaction to his father, and the method was very… unique.
Leyton added, "I heard that the Commander of the Gold Cloaks, Ser Adam, requested to accompany Ser Jaime on the campaign to the Riverlands, but he did not receive Duke Tywin's permission."
The corners of his mouth involuntarily curved. "The various affairs of the City Watch seem to be giving him a headache."
Greene patted Leyton's shoulder and said, "Prepare. I want to have an audience with Queen Mother Cersei."
Knock, knock, knock.
After a knock, Brienne pushed the door open. "Lord Greene, Duke Tywin just sent someone over, inviting you to attend the Hand's meeting."
Outside the Prime Minister's Tower, Lord Mace's voice carried over. "Oh, Duke Green."
Greene stopped and offered a faint smile, saying, "Good day, Lord Mace."
As he drew closer, Lord Mace glanced left and right and whispered, "I heard there's a new King on the Iron Islands."
Greene's gaze shifted slightly. "Is that why Duke Tywin called the Hand's meeting?"
"It should be for that."
Stroking his beard, Lord Mace sighed, "Duke Tywin is truly hardworking… I always thought he was a heartless man, but I never imagined he cared so much for his son."
Greene chuckled and echoed, "It is indeed surprising."
Lord Mace suppressed the urge for his lips to curl upwards and said, "I think the Martell will have a hard time understanding such genuine father-son affection. Alas, until the day before yesterday, the entire Seven Kingdoms misunderstood Duke Tywin."
Seeing Grand Maester Pycelle shakily walking towards them, Lord Mace patted Greene's arm and said, "We'll talk after the meeting."
Hand's chambers.
Duke Tywin sat at the head of the long table like a stone statue, his hands clasped, resting his chin.
"Euron Greyjoy."
Ser Kevan looked around at everyone and continued, "He is the half-brother of the late Lord of the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy. He was exiled from the Iron Islands by Balon for sleeping with Victarion's (also a half-brother) salt wife."
He added, "Lannisport has sent intelligence. He returned to the Iron Islands the day after Balon Greyjoy's unexpected death and took the Seastone Chair of the Iron Islands. It is said that the King's Landing chieftain, Sawane Botley, who raised an objection at the time, was drowned by him in a barrel of seawater."
After Ser Kevan took his seat, Greene asked him, "Besides the son who took the black, didn't Balon also have a daughter who led the Ironborn to invade the North? Asha Greyjoy… Ser, is there any news of her?"
"Asha Greyjoy fled the Iron Islands with her crew after losing to Euron at the kingsmoot on the Iron Islands."
"She couldn't win."
Pycelle's maester's chain jingled softly. "Euron is called 'Crow's Eye'. His galley is called the 'silence' because all of his crew are mute. His ship is painted red, supposedly to better conceal the blood soaking its hull. Rumor has it he is the most vicious pirate in all the world."
Lord Mace stroked his beard and said, "No matter how vicious a pirate is, he can only be a pirate."
Duke Tywin's golden-green eyes shifted slightly and he said, "After Euron took the Seastone Chair, he appointed Airy Emmon to govern the affairs of the Iron Islands, and he himself disappeared with most of his fleet. Gentlemen, this mad pirate will attack any port in the Seven Kingdoms."
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"