chapter 174 part 2
"Advance! Advance! Advance!"
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Sansa Stark cried out in terror, "I have no bread! I have no bread! I have no bread!"
She and several other girls clung together tightly. The knight who had been protecting them lay beside them, his head covered in blood. He was no longer breathing. Although the Gold Cloaks and knights tried their best to guard the front, some people always managed to break through. Various desires drove more and more of the mob towards the area where dozens of girls were gathered.
A filthy hand grabbed Sansa's ankle, trying to drag her away. Another hand grabbed the hem of another girl's skirt. A splendidly dressed young noble was just about to rush over to rescue them when he was struck on the side of the head by a flying stone and fell straight down.
"Gods, save us!"
Rip! Sansa's sleeve tore. A chubby white-faced girl clutching her sleeve was dragged down from the platform.
"Grab onto me!" Sansa immediately reached out to grab the girl but clutched at empty air.
The scene before Sansa changed. She had let go with one hand to save the other girl, and as a result, she was powerless to resist the force gripping her ankle… Sansa was also dragged down from the platform.
"Mother!"
Sansa screamed. Around her was suffocating darkness. Sobbing… she could only weep in despair.
***
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In the distance, hundreds of Marsh Golden Helm Flower banners fluttered. War drums rumbled, and horns blared. Beneath the banners, a thousand-man army, arrayed in blue and gold, advanced with shields raised. The surging mob before them shattered upon impact.
***
Glynn exhaled. He handed Ice to a nearby Household Guard, then took off his helmet. The players at the table of power were all manipulating King's Landing, a city filled with sacrifice and sin. The undercurrent Glynn had secretly set in motion had directly erupted into a tidal wave.
Glynn threw his helmet to the ground. He considered himself a man of deep schemes and foresight, but he had miscalculated the power of incitement and the scale of the riot… Chaos might be a ladder for all players of the great game, and the hidden hands at play had exceeded his calculations. Glynn closed his eyes and took a shallow breath, telling himself not to treat the game of thrones as a game for one person. Glynn turned and started walking… Lord Glynn, unyielding and indomitable.
***
The Kingsguard surrounding Cersei and Joffrey parted as Glynn approached. Glynn bowed, hand over heart. "Queen Cersei, King Joffrey, please rest here for a moment. Our reinforcements will arrive soon."
Queen Cersei nodded slightly. Though her chin was still held high, she couldn't hide her current distress. Not far away, a group of noblewomen and their daughters were gathered. Their cries made Queen Cersei furrow her brows, revealing a scornful and impatient expression.
Joffrey, kicking Sandor crabbe, angrily demanded, "You useless dog, where did you run off to?!" Sandor stood there motionless, offering no explanation, allowing Joffrey to punch and kick him.
After a moment of silence, Queen Cersei waved Glynn over. Glynn's eyes flickered slightly as he walked to her. Queen Cersei sized Glynn up and down, then said warmly, "Lord Glynn, you weren't injured, were you?"
Glynn shook his head slightly and said solemnly, "Queen Cersei, when you go out in the future, please allow me to guard you."
Queen Cersei's gaze was gentle. "I will. Only you can set my mind at ease." When Queen Cersei suddenly became gentle, she surely had something to arrange; this was Glynn's professional experience. Glynn showed no pride from having saved her. He remained humble. "Queen Cersei, protecting you is my duty."
Queen Cersei's beautiful eyes fixed on Glynn, her voice laced with fury. "This peasant riot will affect Joffrey's authority. How do you think we should counterattack?"
"Queen Cersei, to restore order, we need to implement a curfew as soon as possible, and prolong its duration as much as we can."
"And what else?"
"We need to acquire food… As for the specific methods, you can discuss them in the Small Council."
Queen Cersei snorted coldly. "The current Small Council consists of only two idiots. Their folly caused today's riot and put my son in danger." She paused, then continued, "Today's events have made me sick of Pycelle's and Varys's stupidity. From now on… I will directly exercise my authority as Queen Regent for important matters."
Joffrey, having finished venting, walked over. He said, "Mother, I want to punish Pycelle and Varys!"
Queen Cersei looked at an angry Joffrey, smiling faintly. "They are cowards by nature. Joffrey, you will frighten them."
Joffrey snorted coldly. "Don't let them make mistakes again. I never want to encounter a scene like today's again."
Queen Cersei nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes turning to Glynn. "Lord Glynn, I need you to handle this as you did the Queen's Quarter…"
Joffrey glanced around, then suddenly said, "Have any of you seen Sansa?!"
Queen Cersei couldn't help but stand up, scanning her surroundings. "Wasn't she being watched by Ser Allun and Ser Mandon?!" Queen Cersei and Joffrey both looked at Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard, who was standing guard nearby.
Ser Mandon Moore replied expressionlessly, "When the chaos erupted, my first thought was of the king."
Queen Cersei nodded. She looked to the other side. "Ser Boros, Ser Meryn, go retrieve the Stark girl."
Ser Boros Blount did not move. He said languidly, "Queen Regent, our white cloaks are very likely to enrage those rioters."
Cersei snapped sharply, "Boros, obey my orders, or take off that white cloak! Remember your vows!"
Joffrey added, "And you two confirm the Wolf's status while you're at it."
"I think he's dead. Someone saw him torn apart by the mob."
***
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A week later, in the Throne Room.
Tyrion Lannister limped in, interrupting the Small Council meeting convened by Queen Cersei. Queen Cersei said disgustedly, "Who let you in?"
As he walked, Tyrion said, "Hahaha, I finally know where Joffrey learned his good manners from!"
"This place has changed so much…" Tyrion sighed, walked to a chair, and climbed onto it.
Queen Cersei's voice was faintly laced with anger. "Get out! This is not where you belong!"
Tyrion grinned. "Cersei, I do love your welcoming ceremony, my dear sister." After speaking, Tyrion pulled a letter from his pocket and tossed it to Varys. "Lord Varys, my dear sister certainly likes you best."
Queen Cersei put down the quill in her hand, her beautiful eyes fixed on the letter in Varys's hand. "What game are you playing? This is the Small Council, not one of your usual brothels."
Tyrion smiled. "I'd say they're quite similar. The Small Council is also responsible for providing amusement… hmm, though perhaps for fewer tips." He paused, then continued, "Clever sister, don't pretend anymore. You've already seen the familiar sigil on the letter, haven't you?" Tyrion met Cersei's icy gaze and added, "That's right, our most amiable Lord Father has sent a letter to his dearest son."
(end of chapter)