Chapter 303: Chapter 304: Ambition
The festive atmosphere of the banquet returned, though it carried a subtle shift in tone.
Now, as the Horse Faction lords glanced at the young king seated at the high table, crowned and regal, their gazes held something new: a trace of awe.
Lord Mathis Rowan and Lord Titus Peake soon turned their competition from brawling to drinking, attempting to outmatch each other. Their rowdy behavior continued as if the earlier scuffle had only whetted their appetites for conflict.
Meanwhile, Noah Rowan, who had been dutifully standing by Samwell as a cupbearer, could no longer bear the sight of his father overindulging. He hurried to persuade Mathis to ease up on the wine, though the elder Rowan paid no heed, drinking as if Westeros was about to impose prohibition.
Soon enough, Lord Rowan seemed truly drunk. He staggered into the center of the hall and, to everyone's dismay, began to dance clumsily while belting out a wildly off-tune rendition of The Bear and the Maiden Fair.
"A bear! A bear! All black and brown and covered in hair!"
His coarse voice, combined with atrocious singing, grated on the ears of the assembled lords.
As Samwell considered instructing Noah to take his father away to rest, a servant entered the hall and whispered something to Randyll Tarly.
Randyll turned to Samwell and said, "A messenger from Highgarden has arrived."
"Bring him in," Samwell replied.
The hall immediately quieted. Even the inebriated Mathis Rowan allowed Noah to guide him back to his seat.
Soon, Ser Garrett Flowers strode into the room. The bastard son of Highgarden's steward was a towering man of robust build. Samwell remembered crossing swords with him during a tournament in King's Landing.
"Caesar," Ser Garrett began with a respectful bow, "I bring greetings from Lord Mace Tyrell, who deeply regrets the treachery you endured at Bloodstone Island…"
"Spare me the empty courtesies," Samwell interrupted coldly. "If Highgarden truly wishes to make amends, they can start by surrendering the one responsible for the treachery—Lady Olenna Redwyne."
Ser Garrett hesitated but then replied, "Lord Mace is willing to offer compensation for his mother's actions."
"What kind of compensation?"
"Kevan Lannister." Ser Garrett paused to let the name sink in. "He is currently being held in Highgarden. He came seeking an alliance with the Tyrells but was rebuffed. As a gesture of goodwill, Lord Mace is prepared to hand him over to you. In return, he hopes for the release of Ser Loras Tyrell."
"Kevan for Loras?" Samwell frowned, and a murmur rippled through the hall.
Kevan Lannister, brother to Tywin Lannister, was a key figure in the Westerlands and one of Tywin's most trusted allies. Highgarden's willingness to turn him over to Samwell signaled an unmistakable break with the Lannisters.
The offer was significant. Kevan's weight is enough to exchange for a Loras, so Tyrell's move is indeed a gesture of sincerity in seeking peace.
But unfortunately, Samwell was not satisfied, it wasn't enough.
Olenna must die.
Samwell's voice cut through the silence like a blade:
"No. If you want Loras Tyrell back, then hand over Lady Olenna."
"Are you certain?" Ser Garrett asked. "This is Kevan Lannister we're talking about."
"I only want Olenna."
Ser Garrett pressed on. "Caesar, asking a liege lord to surrender his own mother as a prisoner? Such an act would tarnish your reputation."
"My reputation was stained the moment Highgarden conspired to kill me. Moreover, keeping Olenna Redwyne—a venomous woman who plots against her family—within Highgarden is the true disgrace."
Before Ser Garrett could respond, Mathis Rowan broke in with a drunken shout:
"Olenna Redwyne betrayed her grandson-in-law and sacrificed her grandsons for her schemes! Keeping such a snake in Highgarden is a blasphemy against the gods! Tell Mace he'd be better off disowning her!"
"Exactly!" Titus Peake joined in. "All Olenna cares about is her precious Redwyne kin on the Arbor. Highgarden gains nothing by sheltering her."
"She's no more important than Highgarden's last heir," added Baelor Hightower coolly.
"Hand over Olenna Redwyne!"
"Hand over Olenna Redwyne!"
The chant echoed through the hall, gathering force as more voices joined.
Ser Garrett paled at the overwhelming demand.
Samwell raised his hand, silencing the uproar.
"Tell Mace Tyrell this: if he wants his son back, he must deliver Olenna Redwyne."
Ser Garrett reluctantly bowed. "As you command." He turned and left the hall.
---
As the messenger departed, the Horse Faction lords fell into heated discussions.
"Highgarden dared to detain Kevan Lannister. They're clearly ready to sever ties with the Lannisters."
"Olenna probably sacrificed Kevan to save her own neck."
"Do you think Mace will actually hand her over?"
"Mace has no spine!" Mathis Rowan's booming voice cut through. "Caesar, if Mace refuses, we should march on Highgarden and put Randyll in charge of the Reach!"
Before Samwell could reply, Randyll's cold voice interjected:
"Mathis, you're drunk."
"I'm not drunk! I'm perfectly sober!" Rowan swayed unsteadily but pressed on. "We've got the strength! Let's take Highgarden and make Randyll the Warden of the South!"
Randyll, unimpressed, replied tersely, "You're still drunk."
Samwell chuckled. "Mathis, the Rowan family is far more powerful than the Tarlys. If anyone deserves to replace the Tyrells, it's you."
Mathis immediately shook his head like a rattled drum. "Nonsense! Rowan's no match for Oldtown! If anyone should lead the Reach, it's Lord Hightower!"
Baelor Hightower, speaking for his absent father, smiled politely. "The Hightowers are unworthy of such honor. If any family is suited to rule, it's the Peakes, with their royal Gardener bloodline."
"Peake?" Mathis guffawed. "Gardeners or not, the Peakes were nothing more than bandit lords before the Tyrells raised them up!"
Amid the clamor of competing claims, Titus Peake, clearly emboldened by wine, finally stood and declared:
"Why stop at deposing the Tyrells? They're just glorified gardeners! The Gardeners themselves were no more than glorified hedge knights. Why not rid the Reach of Tyrells entirely?!"
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Peake's bold suggestion to overthrow the Tyrells outright stripped away any pretense of civility, exposing the underlying ambitions of the Horse faction.
Everyone looked at Lord Peake with different eyes. Some were angry, some were disdainful, and some were thoughtful.
Samwell broke the silence with a disarming smile. "Lord Peake, you've had too much wine."
Realizing his blunder, Peake's son, Arman Peake, quickly escorted him out of the hall, muttering rebukes.
After leaving the banquet hall, Arman whispered in his father's ear:
"Father, what you just said was a bit too much!"
Lord Peake leaned against his son and murmured:
"Who would take what you say seriously when you're drunk? And you know what? Sometimes, if you don't try a little, you'll never get what you want."
"Are you testing Caesar?" Arman asked thoughtfully.
Lord Peake hummed and said no more.
---
Later that night, Samwell paid Peake a visit.
"Caesar," Arman greeted him cautiously.
"Is your father resting?"
"Yes, please come in."
Inside, Titus Peake sat by a table, a fresh glass of wine in hand, looking surprisingly lucid.
"Caesar," Peake began, pouring another glass for his guest. "You're not hesitating to strike at Highgarden, are you?"
Samwell swirled the wine in his goblet. "After the betrayals at Bloodstone isle, The Tyrells are nothing to me now."
"Good!" Peake's eyes gleamed with ambition. "I know you care a lot about your reputation. Let me handle the dirty work. But when the Tyrells are gone, I want Highgarden."
Samwell's smile remained, but his mind was already deciding Peake's fate.
"Agreed," he said simply.
Lord Peake was totally unaware and laughed:
"Would you like me to help you find a new queen? My daughter is also a little beauty!"
"Let's talk after we deal with the Tyrells in Highgarden."
"Yes." Lord Peake raised his glass and clinked it with Samwell's. "We will march into Highgarden in two days, with House Peake as the vanguard!"
Peake, oblivious to the storm gathering around him, raised his glass. "To the conquest of Highgarden!"
"To Highgarden," Samwell echoed, draining his cup.
As a single drop of wine slipped from his lips, it gleamed red—like blood.
(End of Chapter)
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