Capítulo 419: Chapter 420: The Decision
The road from King's Landing back to Bronze Gate City was long and bitter—especially for someone like Selwyn Tarth, returning as a released prisoner.
Bronze Gate stood with its gates wide open. Soldiers and laborers bustled in and out, the air heavy with an atmosphere of urgency and tension.
This was the scent of an impending great battle.
---
"Father!"
Selwyn snapped out of his thoughts and saw his daughter, Ser Brienne of Tarth, running toward him from within the gate.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Selwyn forced a smile. "The Lannisters were surprisingly merciful to me. Of course, my return is thanks to King Caesar. He used Tywin's second son, Tyrion, to negotiate my release."
Brienne nodded solemnly, her voice steady.
"Our house owes the king a great debt."
"Indeed," Selwyn agreed with a sigh. "I'm old now, and after losing the battle, I doubt I'll have the chance to repay him myself. But I hope you can represent House Tarth and repay his kindness."
"Father, don't say such disheartening things. His Majesty still values you greatly. He's holding a war council with the high lords right now, and he specifically sent me to escort you there as soon as you arrived."
Warmth surged in Selwyn's chest. His earlier despondency and anxiety lifted, replaced with renewed resolve.
Quickening his pace toward the castle, he asked,
"Tell me about the situation. Is His Majesty ready to launch the offensive?"
"He was, but..." Brienne explained what had transpired with the Iron Bank envoy.
Hearing this, Selwyn sneered.
"It seems His Majesty has put immense pressure on Tywin. The old lion was forced to dig into his family's gold to fill the Iron Throne's coffers. But the Braavosi are delusional if they think they can meddle in Westeros' wars. They're playing with fire."
Brienne remained silent, uninterested in such matters. As a knight, she was more accustomed to following orders than pondering the motivations behind them.
The two entered the castle and approached the first-floor council chamber.
Brienne knocked twice on the wooden door, and after receiving permission, pushed it open.
Selwyn stepped inside to find the chamber already filled with over a dozen high lords from the Stormlands and the Reach, with King Caesar seated at the head of the table.
---
"Your Majesty," Selwyn knelt on one knee and bowed his head. "It was my carelessness that allowed the Lannisters to exploit an opening and seize our forward camp—"
"That loss wasn't your fault," Samwell interrupted, stepping forward to help Selwyn to his feet. "No one expected the Lannisters to take the initiative and cross the river to attack.
But it's of little consequence. The forward camp on the southern bank of the Blackwater is more of a honey trap for the Lannisters. Tywin is likely struggling now, unsure whether to hold or abandon it."
Earl Selwyn immediately thumped his chest and declared:
"If Your Majesty wishes to reclaim the forward camp, I am ready to lead the charge myself!"
Samwell laughed heartily.
"Good! With courage like yours, no obstacle can stop us from marching into King's Landing."
Samwell's words, laden with meaning, made the gathered lords exchange knowing glances. It was clear where the Storm King's favor lay.
---
After reassuring Selwyn, Samwell returned to his seat and addressed the group:
"You're all aware of the Iron Bank's stance. Let's hear it—how should we respond?"
A brief silence followed before Leyton Hightower spoke first.
"Your Majesty, the Iron Bank is driven solely by profit. If the Lannisters can buy them off, so can we."
No one was surprised to hear this from the wealthy Hightower family, whose fortune rivaled that of the Lannisters.
Samwell, however, remained silent, sipping his tea without responding.
Selwyn then offered a rebuttal:
"If the Lannisters outbid us, will we keep raising the price? Fighting this war only to fill the coffers of Braavos would be absurd."
"And even if we offer more, there's no guarantee the Braavosi would side with us," added Randyll Tarly. "Let's not forget that the Faceless Men once sent assassins after His Majesty. The Sealord likely doesn't want to see His Majesty ascend to the Iron Throne."
"The Sealord has a personal grudge against His Majesty?"
All eyes turned toward Samwell at the head of the table.
He shook his head.
"I've never met the Sealord, nor do we have any personal vendetta. But it's clear Braavos opposes my claim to the throne."
"Why?"
"Because of the dragons," Samwell explained. "Braavos was founded by slaves who fled Valyria. They harbor an inherent fear and hatred of dragons.
I've long wondered how House Baratheon managed to rack up such a colossal debt to the Iron Bank in just over a decade on the throne. Now I suspect the Iron Bank covertly funded Robert's rebellion against the Targaryens."
"That theory holds some weight," said Mathis Rowan. "If that's the case, we shouldn't bother trying to buy off the Braavosi. I say we ignore them. With the supplies we've stockpiled, we have enough to march on King's Landing. Once the Lannisters are crushed, the Braavosi can't do anything about it. The Sealord wouldn't dare send troops to Westeros."
"Braavos has no standing army," Leyton agreed. "But they do have a navy said to be 'unmatched at sea.' That's not something we can ignore."
"'Unmatched at sea?'" Selwyn scoffed. "Anyone can make such boasts. The Sealord's fleet might bully the Free Cities' weak merchant navies, but I doubt they'd stand against the fleets of Westeros.
And let's not forget, Your Majesty's navy defeated the Redwyne Fleet of the Arbor. If the Sealord doesn't want to lose his own foundation, he'd best keep his ships docked and steer clear of our war."
"If the Stormlands fleet were here, I'd share your confidence," Leyton said, glancing at Samwell. "But Your Majesty has sent them to the Mander to guard against the Ironborn.
If the Sealord truly deploys his fleet to aid the Lannisters, it will be difficult to safely cross the Blackwater with our army."
Several Stormlands nobles hesitated, clearly wanting to argue that the fleet should prioritize protecting the army's crossing over defending the Reach from the Ironborn. But voicing such thoughts in front of the Reach lords would be unwise.
Samwell, tired of the delays and hesitation, decided to cut through the debate with a firm resolution.
---
"There's no need to worry about crossing the river for now," Samwell said, rising to his feet. "First, we'll drive the Lannisters back across the Blackwater. Lord Selwyn, will you lead the vanguard and reclaim the forward camp for me?"
Selwyn immediately stood, his voice resolute.
"I will give my life for Your Majesty!"
"Good! You'll lead 5,000 soldiers as the vanguard and set out at dawn. The main army will follow three days later and begin our march north!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" came the resounding reply from the gathered lords.
They all understood that the Storm King had made his decision. Once the army began its advance, there would be no turning back.
(End of Chapter)
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