Chapter 75: An Offer That Cannot Be Refused
Nearing noon, the sun grew gradually scorching.
As Glynn was waiting for the next challenger, Steward Rosell came rushing over.
"My lord, the next challenger insists on fighting you with a spear."
Glynn's eyebrows raised slightly as he asked, "Which House is he from?"
"He is a member of House Creyne. It's said he's the elder brother of the Creyne swordsman you defeated yesterday."
Glynn's gray eyes flickered. "A duel between swordsmen... If he insists on using a spear, he may, but it will cost him. Charge him one hundred gold dragons."
Rosell obeyed and departed in a hurry.
…
Before long, a Creyne spearman who appeared to be nearly thirty walked onto the dueling platform with a dark expression.
Standing opposite Glynn, the Creyne challenger lowered his visor.
*Wooo wooo…* The horn signaling the start of the match sounded.
The Creyne spearman, leveraging the advantage of his spear's length, was the first to thrust straight at Glynn.
With a flick of the longsword in his hand and a clang, Glynn knocked the spear aside and charged forward.
Glynn's movements were incredibly swift. By the time his opponent could react, he had already closed the distance.
With a thud, Glynn's shoulder slammed into the Creyne spearman's chest.
The Creyne spearman instantly lost his balance and was about to fall backward.
With a bang, Glynn swung the pommel of his longsword and smashed it fiercely against his opponent's visor.
After a dull thud, the Creyne spearman, his visor slightly dented, lay motionless on the ground.
Glynn said coldly, "Carry him away!"
This was an honorable duel of swordsmen, yet he insisted on coming up with a spear just for show.
And just because he was charged a bit more for the challenge fee, he dared to scowl at Glynn.
The magnanimous Glynn, for the sake of the purity of the contest and, more importantly, for the honor of swordsmen, would naturally end the fight cleanly and decisively.
No one valued honor more than Lord Glynn.
…
Glynn looked up at the sun and made a gesture.
Upon receiving Glynn's signal, Steward Rosell immediately announced loudly that the morning's challenges were over.
As Glynn stepped off the platform, he saw the three siblings of House Tarly.
Steward Rosell had already reported to Glynn that the members of House Tarly wished to see him.
On the dueling platform, Glynn seemed invincible.
Off the platform, Glynn's features were handsome and gentle, making it easy for people to take a liking to him.
Glynn took the initiative to bow with a hand on his chest. "Good day, Lord Samwell Tarly."
Samwell, who was portly and bearded, gave a shy smile. "Good day, Lord Glynn Cleber. This is my sister, Talla Tarly."
Talla Tarly, in the bloom of her youth, had clear eyes and fair skin. Her beauty was not stunning, but it was very pleasant and grew on you.
Glynn looked at Talla Tarly and bowed. "Good day, Lady Talla Tarly. Your presence brings more splendor to this place."
Talla Tarly's face was slightly shy. She gave a small curtsy, lifting her skirt slightly, and said, "Good day, Lord Glynn Cleber. Thank you for your praise."
Glynn nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Samwell's younger brother. "Good day, Lord Dickon Tarly."
Dickon Tarly's eyes sparkled as he looked at Glynn. He bowed with perfect form. "Good day, Lord Glynn Cleber. I admire you greatly!"
Glynn smiled humbly and offered encouragement, "I believe you will also become an excellent swordsman in the future."
After completing the tedious exchange of pleasantries, Glynn invited the three Tarly siblings to join him for lunch.
…
…
Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast.
Early this morning, Queen Cersei had another huge argument with King Robert.
By now, Queen Cersei's anger had subsided.
Queen Cersei held her wine cup, her brow furrowed, seemingly lost in thought.
She was finding it increasingly difficult to tolerate King Robert.
For Queen Cersei, every time King Robert sought her bed, it was an insult to her.
And, most importantly, her Joffrey had grown up.
As the self-proclaimed true heir to the Old Lion, Tywin Lannister, Queen Cersei wanted to prepare a foolproof plan, just as her father would, to get rid of the nauseating King Robert.
After calming down and thinking it over for a long time, Queen Cersei felt there was still no plan more certain than having Jaime assassinate him personally.
It was best not to leave any evidence for something like this!
Queen Cersei thought that Jaime had a weak character and was prone to hesitation, so persuading him would take considerable time.
*My cousin Lancel is now King Robert's squire...* Queen Cersei's lips curled into a smirk as she drained the Summer Red from her cup in one gulp.
…
…
Red Keep, Tower of the Hand.
The Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish, in order to assist the gravely ill Lord Jon Arryn with the affairs of the realm, had moved his office to the Tower of the Hand.
Petyr sat upright at his desk, as motionless as a statue, with only his gray-green eyes twitching from time to time.
Petyr was a man adept at summing things up. He now had to admit that Lord Glynn from Crackclaw Point had taught him a lesson in the game of thrones.
…
The Vale, for Petyr, was something that would sooner or later be in his pocket.
What Petyr was now contemplating was the problem of ruling the Vale after obtaining it.
Gold dragons might be able to buy loyalty, but such loyalty is unreliable, because for the sake of more gold, they might turn around and stab you in the back.
Petyr often used gold dragons to buy people he needed, so he understood this point deeply.
…
Petyr's house was not one of the traditional martial nobility. It lacked vassal houses that were both skilled in warfare and dependably loyal, and it also lacked sworn swords who recognized only their own liege lord.
In Westeros, without such a family foundation, even if Petyr had an army, it would be difficult to control. On the contrary, it could easily be bought by his rivals.
Without the deterrent of an army, even if he obtained the Vale, he would be constrained at every turn by the Vale nobles.
He would also have to be constantly on his guard, lest he be assassinated by savage nobles due to conflicts of interest.
…
This was not the outcome he wanted.
Petyr had made a point of looking into it these past few days. The enmity between Glynn's forces and the Vale nobles had been accumulating for a long time; one could say it was almost irreconcilable.
Therefore, when it came to dealing with the Vale nobles, Glynn was, to a certain extent, a reliable and natural ally.
Petyr thought that the location of Crackclaw Point was perfect. Perhaps he could use Glynn's army to check the Vale nobles.
With a check in place, a certain balance could be achieved, and he would be able to control the situation.
In this way, Petyr would have enough time to deal with the disobedient Vale nobles on one hand, while securing the loyalty of the others on the other.
In the end, Petyr would leave only the Vale nobles loyal to him, thoroughly control the Vale, and become its true master.
Petyr narrowed his eyes slightly. This was a grand transaction.
For this grand transaction, Petyr needed to precisely calculate Lord Glynn's needs and weaknesses.
Although their interactions had been brief, Petyr believed Glynn's shrewdness was no less than his own.
Petyr felt he had to offer a condition that Glynn could not refuse.
(end of chapter)