Chapitre 270: Chapter 271: Infiltration
Under the shroud of night, Highgarden was eerily silent.
Torches dotted the darkness like scattered stars, carried by patrolling rebel soldiers.
"Did you hear something?" one soldier asked.
"Sounds like the wind."
"I think it's the flapping of wings. Probably a big bird."
"Or maybe… a dragon."
At the mention of dragons, the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances.
Their officers had specifically warned them to be vigilant for Samwell Caesar's dragon, which could bypass the walls and deliver enemies straight into the castle.
The soldiers instinctively gripped their whistles, ready to sound the alarm, and moved cautiously toward the source of the sound.
The torches barely illuminated a few paces ahead, leaving the rest in heavy shadow.
Suddenly, the air grew oppressively hot. It felt as though a fire was burning nearby.
*Could it really be a dragon?*
Their grips tightened on their weapons.
"Lakqumos."
A strange voice broke the stillness, low and raspy. The air seemed to shift and twist, as if invisible tendrils were writhing toward them, worming their way into their ears.
"Who's there?" one soldier shouted nervously.
"It's me! Mace Tyrell! Don't shoot!" A plump, round figure stumbled out of the shadows.
"Lord Pufffish?" The soldier recognized him and let out a breath of relief. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't tell me you're trying to escape," another soldier said suspiciously.
"No, no!" Mace Tyrell waved his hands frantically, but his voice trembled with unease.
"Looks like he was trying to escape!" One soldier kicked Mace, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Annoyance and embarrassment surged as they realized they'd been frightened by this cowardly lord.
"Don't hit me! Don't hit me!" Mace cried. "I have urgent news for Lady Arwyn—very important news!"
The soldiers exchanged glances before reluctantly lowering their weapons.
"Fine. But this better be good, or else…"
"Of course, of course! I wouldn't dare deceive Lady Arwyn..." Mace stammered, nodding vigorously.
---
In the great hall of Highgarden, a heated argument was taking place.
"Retreat? Why would we retreat?" Lady Arwyn Oakheart demanded shrilly.
"We came to the Reach to plunder, not to play power games," declared King Balon Greyjoy. "We've taken what we came for; it's time to leave."
"No! You can't leave!"
"Can't leave?" Balon sneered. "And who are you to command me? Not even Tywin Lannister would dare speak to me like that!"
"Enough, enough," Ser Stafford Lannister interjected, attempting to mediate. "We share a common enemy; there's no need to quarrel among ourselves."
"Save it, Stafford," Balon said dismissively. "The Reach army is about to encircle Highgarden. If we don't leave now, we won't get another chance."
Turning to his brother, Victarion Greyjoy, Balon ordered,
"Make preparations for the retreat. All Ironborn must return to the Mander before dawn."
"Yes, my king." Victarion nodded and left to carry out the command.
Lady Arwyn's face darkened with fury.
Stafford Lannister attempted to console her. "The Ironborn leaving doesn't change much. With the hostages in our hands, the Reach army won't dare attack. We'll negotiate with them at our leisure."
Before Arwyn could reply, soldiers entered the hall escorting Mace Tyrell.
"Lady Arwyn, the Pufffish was caught trying to escape. He claims he has urgent news for you."
"Escape?" Arwyn's brow furrowed in anger. "Who was guarding his room?"
"Kruse and Briar."
"Execute them!" Arwyn snapped, venting her frustration from her earlier argument with Balon.
"Yes, my lady." A knight of House Oakheart departed to carry out the order.
Turning her attention to Mace, Arwyn asked coldly,
"Pufffish, what's this important news?"
"It's true, I have something critical to tell you," Mace stammered, nodding fervently.
Samwell Caesar knew he had to act quickly. Once the rebels checked Mace's room and found the real Pufffish still there, his ruse would be exposed.
Using the ruby Melisandre had given him to disguise himself as Mace Tyrell was a bold and dangerous gambit. But if it succeeded, it could end the Reach's civil war in one stroke.
"I know a great secret—do you want to know how Caesar hatched his dragon?"
"Speak," Arwyn commanded, her interest piqued.
Even Ser Stafford and Balon turned to listen, their curiosity evident.
But Mace shook his head. "This secret isn't free."
Arwyn sneered. "What do you want?"
"Release my Tyrell family members. Then I'll tell you."
Ser Stafford laughed. "You're not as brainless as you look, Pufffish. But do you really think we'd fall for such a trick?"
Balon snorted. "You expect us to trade hostages for a secret we don't even know is real?"
"I'm still in your hands," Mace said obsequiously. "I wouldn't dare lie to you."
Ser Stafford offered, "We'll release the Tyrell women. Tell us your secret."
"And my two sons—Willas and Garlan," Mace countered.
"Absolutely not!" Arwyn refused flatly.
Mace sighed theatrically. "Fine. But I'll only tell one of you."
"Ridiculous!" Arwyn snapped. "You know nothing and are just trying to sow discord!"
"I do know," Mace insisted. "One of the conditions for Caesar marrying my daughter was that he share the secret of hatching dragons."
Ser Stafford stepped forward. "Fine. Tell me, and I'll release all the Tyrell women."
"Tell me!" Balon interrupted, suddenly intrigued despite his earlier skepticism. "Pufffish, tell me, and I'll spare your life!"
"He's lying!" Arwyn shrieked.
Balon ignored her, and Stafford smirked, saying,
"She might be right, Pufffish. It's hard to believe you'd have the wits for such a scheme. But you almost fooled us."
"I'm not lying," Mace said earnestly. "Fine. I'll tell the three of you—but only if you release Garlan."
"Garlan's too valuable," Ser Stafford replied after a pause. "We'll release Willas instead."
"Fine," Mace relented. "But release him first."
"You tell us first," Stafford countered. "If your secret proves true, we'll release him. A Lannister always pays his debts."
Mace hesitated before sighing. "Alright. I'll tell you three alone."
"Good." Stafford waved everyone else out of the hall.
Even Arwyn didn't object. After all, who wouldn't be curious about the secret of dragons?
Once the heavy oak doors closed, leaving only the four of them in the room, Balon pressed impatiently,
"Pufffish, tell us—how did Caesar hatch his dragon?"
"He hatched it..." Mace began, slowly stepping forward.
At that moment, faint shouts could be heard from outside, something about "He's a fake!"
The three rebels hesitated, their expressions shifting.
But Samwell acted instantly.
He poured his mental energy into agility, converting all his remaining strength. Despite the lingering effects of the Storm's End cannon blast, his agility surged to 13.32.
His heart pounded violently in his chest, like a drumbeat driving his body forward. Blood coursed through his veins with such force that it strained his vessels, causing them to bulge visibly beneath his skin.
Before Ser Stafford could react, Samwell struck, smashing his fist into the Lannister knight's throat.
*Crack!*
The sound of shattering bone echoed. Staford's neck collapsed, his head lolling limply to the side.
One strike. Instant death.
Arwyn screamed.
Balon fumbled for the curved blade at his waist, but he was too slow—or rather, his opponent was too fast.
Samwell closed the distance in an instant, driving his fist into Balon's abdomen.
The Ironborn king let out a strangled cry as blood and bile spewed from his mouth.
Without missing a beat, Samwell seized Balon's blade and pressed it against Aelinor's neck.
The entire exchange had taken mere seconds.
The heavy oak doors burst open, and rebel soldiers flooded in, shouting,
"He's a fake! This Pufffish is a fake!"
But the scene before them froze them in their tracks.
Samwell's calm voice broke the tense silence.
"I'm fake, but my hostages are real. Now, shall we negotiate?"
(End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone