Chapter 69: A Meeting in Times of War
300 AC, King's Landing…
"I don't understand why my mother has to be here…" said a man with red cheeks and a big belly.
"Shut it, boy. We don't have time for your kind preferences." A snorting sound rang through the room as Lady Olenna Tyrell spoke, "Now, Lord Varys would have surely explained to us the situation regarding the war but I can't see him here?"
"Considering our position, I'm surprised he didn't escape before, my lady," said Lord Petyr Baelish.
"Enough!" Lord Tywin slammed his hand on the table, "Your bickering is no use to us, if you are planning to talk let it be something useful." His eyes had bags under them but they still carried the steel of the toughest swords. The last few moons have been hard for him as his son was executed up in the North and a conspiracy was targeting his family. The smallfolk and nobles were rising against him and the fear of his reputation was fading in a quick motion.
Everything started with the baneful wedding of Starks and Baratheons. Though he smiled when he heard the news about the massacre, the waking of the Stark Lord and accusations he made were not to his liking. The whole realm rise against him except for some houses in the Westerlands, Reach and Crownlands. Even then, they were not enough to counter them as each day they were losing more territory. More than half of the Westerlands were already in the hands of the Starks.
"Now, if you have any problems which we may be solved in the near future, you may speak," said Tywin.
"My lord," Mace dryly coughed and spoke, "There is an increasing number of crimes in the city and after the culling of the City Watch, there are not enough men to protect the streets so…"
"I will send a hundred men and I'm sure that will be enough." Tywin cut his words before he can continue.
"Yes, yes, that will be more than enough. If not for those believers, we wouldn't need extra men but they broke their words and sided with the Starks."
"Just like a certain house from the Reach…" Littlefinger sneered. A stern look from Lord Tywin shut Littlefinger's mouth.
Tywin rubbed his temples as headaches were strong these days. His daughter and grandson were giving him too much trouble nowadays. The former was crying all day after the death of his brother. If Tywin didn't know that they were his children then he would thought of them as lovers. On the other hand, the latter was the most troublesome thing he saw in his years.
Joffrey was complaining about everything he saw and he was wanting to execute everyone who said something he didn't like. Tywin was seeing some similarities with Aerys in him and he needed to do something soon lest he kills someone he shouldn't and cost them the war.
Tywin looked around the table as he looked at everyone's faces. The small council was quick to change these days. The only one who remained from the last reign as Lord Petyr Baelish. Tywin was not sure about the man's intentions but as long as he provided coins to them during the war, he was willing to turn a blind eye for a while.
The seat of Grand Maester was vacant for now as the Grand Maester Pycelle was killed by a whore in his room. Apparently, the whore was the sister of a young woman who Pycelle molested. He was found with a hundred stabbing wounds on his chest and dried blood on the ground. A new Grand Maester still wasn't sent so his apprentices were filling his position for now.
Lord Mace Tyrell was named Master of Laws not for his competence but for his position as the future father-in-law of the king. Though he didn't want to admit it, his family needed allies in these times and Tyrells were the only ones willing to do so. Just like his son, Lady Olenna was also in the council but her being was requested for her skills. Though with the vacancy in the seat of the Master of Whisperers, he was willing to entertain the thought of selecting her. With her extensive spy network, they could work out some sweet deals.
Though Tywin wished to fill the Master of Ships position with someone from the Westerlands, the only house that had a massive navy was House Redwyne. Most of their navy was docked at Dragonstone as after the wedding, the keep fell easily when they heard the news of the extinction of Stannis Baratheon's line.
Three of the small council positions were filled by Reachmen so Tywin had to choose someone from other kingdoms as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. He would have chosen Loras Tyrell as the boy was skilled as much as his son Ja… Nevertheless, he has chosen Lyle Crakehall for the position as he was known to be strong as much as the Mountain but less savage.
Littlefinger opened his loathful mouth to speak, "My lord, Iron Bank has come to the King's Landing with…"
Tywin, again, cut his words short, "If it is to ask for payment go and tell them, a suitable payment plan will be prepared but after the war."
"No, my lord. They have come to offer an additional debt to our cause with a condition," said Littlefinger with a smile on his face.
Everyone's face was shocked as they looked at Littlefinger with confusion. Iron Bank was not an organization that would offer coins for a lost cause. Instead of them, they should have gone to Starks but Tywin smelled something fishy here so he asked, "What is the condition?"
"They want us to ban worship to the Prophet and his God," Littlefinger said.
Tywin raised an eyebrow, "And what is the amount of coin they are offering?" Honestly, this condition was something they were already enforcing as their temple was destroyed due to them siding with the Starks.
"Ten million million gold dragons and zero per cent interest," Littlefinger spoke in one breath.
Mace spat out the wine he was drinking and the others' mouths hung open. Iron Bank's offering of debt was not a miracle but these ten million gold dragons were absolutely miraculous. They could buy all the sellsword companies in Essos with this amount of money and they could also buy two of the Free Cities. What was more surprising was the interest rate. They were talking about a bank here, not some neighbour. A bank not expecting interest was the strangest thing they ever heard.
Though ten million golds was a big debt, Tywin was going to accept it. Either they were going to win the war and pay the debt at a later time, or it was going to be the Starks who was going to pay the debt as they were going to accept it in the name of the Iron Throne.
"Accept the offer," Tywin said, "However, this debt will not get out of this room, I don't want it to be heard until the end of the war."
Littlefinger nodded his head, "Then I will take my leave as they were waiting for our answer." He left his seat and went towards the door.
Tywin looked back to Lady Olenna, "How are the preparations for the wedding are going?"
Olenna gave out a thin smile, "We have no problems on our end, Lord Tywin but you should reign your daughter a bit as she is becoming a problem."
Tywin creased his brows and asked, "What did she do?"
"She insists for the wedding to be postponed for a time and guess the reason, Joffrey has a small red mark on his face."
Tywin facepalmed for a while then he collected himself and spoke, "The wedding will happen in a week as planned and if she comes to you, again, with a similar request, send her to me."
Olenna smiled sweetly and nodded her head.
Tywin looked at them and said, "The union between the Crownlands, Reach and Westerlands should be further strengthened. I heard Lord Tarly has a son seeking marriage. I'm sure he will want a gentle girl from a noble line."
Mace gave out a big smile, "Yes, yes, my niece would be a perfect lady from a noble line…"
Olenna shook her head and sighed softly, "I'm sure Lord Tarly would be delighted at the news, my lord. After all, a commander fighting on the field for our cause should be rewarded after his feats."
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