chapter 178 part 2
Inside the room, Queen Cersei was barefoot, lounging against a pile of cushions. Her golden hair was disheveled but beautiful.
Lancel, a harpist, a flutist, and servants stood to one side. They were all young and handsome. Glynn had to admit that his boss, Cersei, certainly knew how to enjoy herself.
Glynn bowed. "Queen Cersei."
Queen Cersei gently swirled the wine in her cup, seeming to be in a decent mood. "Lord Glynn, have you met our new Hand of the King?"
Queen Cersei's beautiful eyes sized Glynn up, her gaze filled with scrutiny.
Glynn's eyes wavered slightly. It was a familiar yet strange feeling; she seemed to suspect something. *Tyrion...* He guessed there had been some minor incident between Tyrion and Cersei concerning him.
Glynn shook his head slightly. "I've heard of him, but we have yet to meet."
"You may all leave us."
The others quickly exited the room, but Lancel didn't move.
Queen Cersei's brow furrowed slightly. She crooked a finger, and Lancel hurried closer.
Cersei gave her cousin a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. "Go now, Lancel."
Before leaving, Lancel shot a furtive glance at Glynn, his eyes full of jealousy, only to meet Glynn's gaze as it suddenly shifted to him.
Lancel's heart skipped a beat. He quickly lowered his head and hastened his steps.
Glynn suddenly felt that, as the Commander of the Gold Cloaks, he had a duty to take his Red Keep captains to see King Joffrey and show their loyalty. Glynn had happened to hear that Joffrey had recently taken a liking to using live targets for his crossbow practice. Lancel would surely be happy to assist.
...
Queen Cersei took a small sip of the summerwine in her cup and said leisurely, "Lord Glynn, what is your opinion of the new Hand?"
"I hear Lord Tywin of Casterly Rock appointed him. I imagine there are reasons for it that I am not privy to."
A look of displeasure crossed Queen Cersei's face. "He is nothing more than a lucky clown."
She wiggled her toes and added, "And I don't like trouble."
Glynn said respectfully, "He is trouble you can dispose of at any time. The Gold Cloaks await your command."
Queen Cersei lifted her chin slightly. "Let's see what tricks the Imp has up his sleeve first."
With that, the corners of her lips curled into a smile. After a pause, she asked suddenly, "Are you aware that Tyrion intends to send the Mountain's head to Dorne?"
"Ser Lancel approached me about it. I heard it from him."
Queen Cersei snorted. "He's certainly quick to find allies."
Glynn averted his gaze. Besides Tyrion, he had also wondered if Lancel might have said something to make Cersei suspicious of him. *No, not Lancel.* Although Glynn was certain Lancel lacked the cunning for such a thing, he had tested him anyway. He would never underestimate anyone.
Cersei looked up at Glynn. "What do you make of it? Why do you think my imp of a Hand would suddenly try to curry favor with the Prince of Dorne?"
Glynn pondered for a moment before replying, "Tyrion wants to forge an alliance between House Lannister and House Martell."
Queen Cersei's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "The Martells harbor a deep hatred for the Lannisters. How could they possibly join forces?"
Glynn spoke slowly. "Queen Cersei, Prince Doran's hatred for House Lannister may trace back to the last generation, but the wars between the Dornish, Storm's End, and Highgarden have lasted for a thousand years. So, with enough sincerity, it is not an impossible feat."
"Sincerity? A dead man's head?"
Glynn shook his head. "Of course not."
Glynn moved a little closer to Queen Cersei and said in a low voice, "A marriage alliance."
Queen Cersei sneered, "He wants to marry Joffrey to a Martell..."
Before she could finish, Queen Cersei's face stiffened, her pupils constricting.
Queen Cersei shot to her feet, gripping Glynn's arm tightly. For the first time, he saw a look of panic and fear on her face.
Cersei had realized it too... If they were to form a marriage alliance with the Prince of Dorne, the Lannisters were the ones actively seeking it; they were in the weaker position. The Prince of Dorne would never send a Dornish princess to them, allowing her to become a "hostage" for the Lannisters to control.
Therefore, only by sending Cersei's daughter to Sunspear would Prince Doran Nymeros Martell believe in House Lannister's sincerity.
"Myrcella... I will never agree to send my Myrcella to the Dornishmen, just as I was sent to Robert Baratheon! Never!"
Glynn tried to soothe her. "Queen Cersei, please, don't be hasty. Perhaps I have guessed wrong."
Queen Cersei's eyes filled with tears. She cried out in rage, "You all deserve to die! They all deserve to die!"
Glynn continued to comfort her. "Queen Cersei, Princess Myrcella is still in the Maidenvault. Without your consent, no one can take your daughter from your side. I swear it."
Queen Cersei wrapped her arms around Glynn's waist and buried her face in his chest. At that moment, she missed Jaime terribly. She wanted to tell Jaime that his favorite little imp of a brother wanted to sell their only daughter to the Dornishmen like she was mere chattel.
Glynn could have remained silent, but he had already guessed that Tyrion had designs on him—or rather, on his six thousand Gold Cloaks. Since that was the case, Tyrion would have to bear the brunt of Lord Glynn's counterattack, because this was the table where the game of thrones was played.
A rational Cersei was no match for Tyrion, but an enraged Cersei was another matter entirely.
Glynn wanted to make Tyrion understand that they were now sitting at the same table in the game of thrones. If he wanted something, he should come to him directly, with sincere intentions and bargaining chips in hand.
...
They separated, and Queen Cersei wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
She said coldly, "Does he think that letter from our father makes him untouchable? It's just a thin piece of paper. Eddard Stark also had a piece of paper left by Robert."
Glynn said softly, "Yes. You hold the initiative. With a single command from you, he could be thrown into the depths of the black cells."
Queen Cersei turned and picked up her goblet, taking a sip of summerwine. She stood silently for a moment, then murmured, "Could the little monster be carrying out the Old Lion's orders..."
Glynn silently walked over, took the flagon, and refilled her cup.
Queen Cersei's green eyes looked at Glynn, as if seeking reassurance. "Lord Glynn, could this be an order given to Tyrion by Lord Tywin?"
Glynn shook his head slightly. "Queen Cersei, I cannot guess at the moment. Some things can only be known for certain through investigation. Or perhaps... when the time is right, you could ask Tyrion directly."
Queen Cersei's eyes shifted. She held her wine cup out to Glynn. "Glynn, I have no patience for waiting. I want an answer as soon as possible."
Glynn took the cup from Queen Cersei's hand. He paused, then said, "Queen Cersei, I will get you what you want, on the condition that his life is not harmed."
A smile appeared on Queen Cersei's face. She reached out and gently patted Glynn's breastplate, her eyes flashing with a cold light.
"Be gentle with him, Lord Glynn."
...
...
The Vale. The Bloody Gate.
"I thought you looked familiar, my lord..."
The Knight of the Bloody Gate lifted his visor, a faint smile on his face. His voice was hoarse. "Little Cat, you are a long way from home."
(end of chapter)