chapter 156 part 2
Don't be fooled by Janos Slynt's usually crude behavior; he had already sensed that the new Hand of the King, Eddard Stark, was very dissatisfied with his performance. The new Hand was not like the previous one; Lord Stark held great influence over King Robert. Janos was very worried about losing his position as Commander of the Gold Cloaks. He desperately needed the support of a powerful figure to hold onto his current power.
Just as Janos was agonizing over this, Queen Lannister extended a hand to him. He felt as if the gods were watching over him.
...
Pell walked over. "My lord, 1,000 pointed helms, 1,000 mail coifs, and 1,000 breastplates."
Glyn's eyebrows rose, and he turned to look at Janos beside him.
A pair of fat hands wrung together. Janos hurriedly explained, "Lord Clegane, please report back to Queen Lannister for me. Many eyes are on the City Watch. To avoid arousing suspicion, I've prepared 1,000 sets of equipment for now."
Glyn nodded in agreement. "Lord Janos, your consideration is very thorough. Her Highness the Queen indeed dislikes unnecessary trouble."
Janos's smile deepened. "I have already arranged for people to prepare the remaining equipment. In three days at most, my Gold Cloaks will have replaced all that... old stuff."
...
In the night sky, a full moon hung high.
On the Rosby Road outside King's Landing, Glyn and Pell rode on horseback in the front, followed by a line of transport carriages.
Glyn pulled on the reins to adjust his horse's direction. "Pell, for the time being, you will be stationed near the forest east of the Rosby Road. The legion's required grain and fodder will be delivered by Lannister merchants from Rosby to the north."
Pell bowed his head to accept the order.
Glyn added, "Steward Rosser will also prepare a batch of grain to be stored near the Iron Gate."
Seeing Pell's confused expression, Glyn smiled and asked, "Ser Pell, you don't like the Iron Gate?"
After a moment of thought, Pell tentatively spoke, "My lord, are you going to..."
Glyn nodded. "We must have a city gate under our control. Otherwise, I won't be at ease."
He shook the reins and continued, "Pell, you must be ready at all times and await my command. Also, you must remember, the enemy who would stop us from holding the gate may not be outside the city, but within."
"Yes, my lord!"
...
...
The next morning, Red Keep, the Maester's Tower.
"Nine-Fingered Maester" Pycelle was all smiles. "Lord Glyn, welcome. Pycelle is at your service."
Glyn pointed to the chair in front of the desk. "Sit, Grand Maester Pycelle."
The decrepit Pycelle trembled as he sat down, then he nearly leaped out of his chair. The reason was... Glyn had placed a blank sheet of parchment on his desk. His most beloved item had now become one of the main characters in his nightmare.
Pycelle wanted to cry. "Lord Glyn, I... I... I've been recovering from my injuries recently, I haven't done anything. Everything I'm saying is the truth, I swear it to the gods."
Glyn leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and sighed softly. "This morning, when Her Highness our Queen was leaving the Red Keep, I noticed she looked very unwell."
Pycelle was stunned for a moment, then spoke cautiously, "I think... everyone knows the relationship between the Queen and the King is not very good. Plus, our Queen has never liked hunting, so... she was in a bad mood?"
Glyn shook his head slightly, his eyes fixing on Pycelle. "Our new Hand of the King seems to suspect there is a problem with the royal bloodline. I'm referring to the three children."
Pycelle's drooping eyelids shot open, his expression one of utter shock.
Glyn gave a faint smile. "My guess was right. It seems you've known for a long time."
Pycelle first nodded blankly, then quickly shook his head. "My lord, I really don't know..."
Pycelle suddenly stopped speaking. The other main character of his nightmare had appeared in his line of sight—that dagger.
Glyn placed the dagger on the desk and said, "Maester Pycelle, please, speak slowly. I am listening."
Pycelle took a deep breath. "My... my lord, I did have my suspicions, but I never dared to think too deeply on it."
Glyn showed a look of understanding. "You had already read the book written by Maester Meryn, which is why you were suspicious... correct?"
Pycelle's face was a mask of misery as he replied in a low voice, "Yes, Lord Glyn."
Glyn smiled. "So, in order to gain the trust of the new Hand, you deliberately gave that book to Lord Eddard... hinting that there was a problem with the royal bloodline... is that right?"
Terrified, Pycelle shook his head frantically in denial. "No, it wasn't like that! The Hand of the King asked me for that book himself!"
Glyn stared at Pycelle quietly for a while. Only when Pycelle had calmed down a little did he speak: "Many people in the Red Keep saw your attendant deliver that book to the Tower of the Hand. And I saw that very book in the Hand's study. Maester Pycelle, this is irrefutable, iron-clad proof."
Tears streamed down Pycelle's face in an instant. He did have some ulterior motives at the time, but he had been truly wronged... Pycelle was Lord Tywin's man, how could he possibly harm Queen Cersei?!
Glyn consoled him, "Don't worry too much. I will protect you, Maester Pycelle."
Maester Pycelle sobbed, "Lord Glyn, I've been truly wronged, I swear to the gods."
Glyn frowned, seeming a little impatient. "Write."
"Write... write what?"
Pycelle thought for a moment, then said in a panic, "Lord Glyn, I really..."
Seeing Glyn pick up the dagger, Pycelle dared not speak further. He tremblingly picked up the quill but hesitated to write.
Glyn became very patient again. He said slowly, "You must have done it to protect your seat on the Small Council. Because you understood Hand Stark—he didn't trust you. If you didn't achieve some outstanding merit, you would be removed from the Small Council sooner or later.
So, you deliberately gave that book to Hand Stark and intentionally alluded to Hand Arryn's last words: 'The seed is strong.' Once the matter of the dark hair and the golden hair came to light, the heads of Queen Cersei and her three children would be more than enough to secure your position, and even earn you the absolute trust of the new Hand."
Glyn finished with a word of praise, "A brilliant scheme, isn't it, Maester Pycelle?"
Maester Pycelle stared blankly at the gentle-faced Glyn. He was beyond shocked. Whose man was Glyn? What was he trying to do?
He was very clear... Glyn had fabricated his crime. He was completely innocent, yet there was already coincidental, iron-clad proof... He knew that if he personally wrote down the 'facts' as fabricated by Glyn... he would never again escape the control of the man before him.
Unless... Lord Stark was willing to testify for him, but... was there any point to that now?
*I don't want to die. I want to live.*
(end of chapter)