บท 265: Chapter 266: Turning the Tables
The arrival of the dragon cast an oppressive silence over the banquet hall.
But in the next instant, chaos erupted.
Lord Orton Merryweather's face twisted in panic as he bellowed:
"Action!"
The side doors to the hall burst open as crossbowmen tried to rush in.
Samwell shoved Lady Tannya aside and charged forward, shouting:
"Dragonfire!"
An inferno of orange and red spewed from Cleopatra's maw, engulfing the side entrance. The few crossbowmen who had managed to enter were instantly reduced to charred husks.
The roaring flames blocked the doorway, leaving the Merryweather family's soldiers no chance to advance.
Samwell overturned the long dining table before him, sending food and cutlery flying in all directions. Amid the commotion, he snatched a carving knife and pressed it against Lord Orton Merryweather's throat.
"Lord Orton, if you value your life, order your men to stand down."
Feeling the sharp blade at his neck, Lord Orton immediately shouted:
"Stand down! Stand down!"
Terrified by the dragon and now hearing their lord's commands, the Merryweather soldiers quickly dropped their weapons, relieved to be spared.
Meanwhile, the loyalist knights who had accompanied Samwell were only just realizing the gravity of the situation. Sweating with fear, they pushed away their plates and began shouting curses.
"Traitorous dogs of the Reach!"
"Lannister lapdogs!"
Their furious outbursts filled the hall.
Samwell silenced them with a raised hand. "Go and open the gates. Let our army in."
He then kicked the crying young Russell Merryweather—Lord Orton's son—out from beneath the table and added,
"Take the boy with you, just in case the gate guards need convincing."
"Yes, my lord." Garth Hightower stepped forward, grabbing the wailing child by the scruff and dragging him away. A group of knights followed.
The hall grew quiet once more, its occupants stunned by the sudden shift in power.
Only Cleopatra seemed unfazed, casually picking roasted meat from the overturned table and devouring it.
"Lord Caesar…" Lady Taena approached timidly, her voice trembling. "This… this was all the Lannisters' idea…"
"Exactly!" Orton interjected hastily. "The Lannisters forced us into this! That bastard Gerold Hill is in the adjoining room—you must catch him!"
Samwell gestured silently to Ser Hayle Hunt, who immediately took a small group of men to the next chamber.
There, the crossbowmen were still reeling from the earlier blast of dragonfire. Upon seeing the knights, they pointed toward the open door.
"Gerold Hill already fled, my lord!"
When Hayle returned with this report, Samwell merely smirked.
"He won't get far."
Outside, the heavy thud of the portcullis lowering signaled that the castle gates had been opened. The sound of hoofbeats followed, heralding the arrival of Samwell's cavalry.
Satisfied that the situation was under control, Samwell removed the knife from Lord Orton's throat.
Orton exhaled shakily, rubbing his neck.
"Lord Caesar… the Merryweather family surrenders unconditionally. I beg your mercy…"
Samwell ignored him, instead rummaging through the overturned food until he found an untouched leg of lamb. Tearing into the meat, he ate in silence.
Lady Taena, eager to please, hurriedly poured a goblet of red wine and offered it to him. But Samwell didn't take it, leaving her awkwardly holding the glass.
By the time he finished his meal, Chiman had entered the hall with a contingent of soldiers.
"Lord Caesar, the castle is secure," Chymer reported.
"There's a Lannister bastard among the prisoners. Don't let him escape."
"We already caught him," Chymer replied. "Do you wish to see him?"
"Bring him here."
At Chiman's signal, guards dragged in a young man with golden hair, limping from an arrow wound in his leg.
"Gerold Hill?" Samwell asked, his tone casual. "Tell me, which noble families in the Reach have the Lannisters swayed to their cause? Answer truthfully, and I may spare your life."
Gerold sneered, his face defiant.
"First, I don't know all of Lord Tywin's plans. Second, even if I did, I'd never tell you!"
"Good." Samwell chuckled, his grin cold. "I respect a lion with pride. Oh, wait—you're not a lion, are you? At least Lord Tywin doesn't think so."
Gerold's expression faltered, but he quickly recovered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Save your games, Caesar. You'll get nothing from me."
"We'll see." Samwell took the wine goblet from Lady Taena at last but handed her a carving knife instead.
Lady Taena stared at the knife, bewildered.
Samwell gestured toward Gerold.
"Prove your loyalty, Lady Taena."
The color drained from her face as realization dawned.
Samwell's tone remained calm but firm.
"I promised you a reward for obedience—a castle, no less. But if you won't seize the opportunity…"
Trembling, Lady Taena clenched her jaw and stepped toward Gerold.
The Lannister bastard struggled, but Chiman held him firmly, forcing his head down to expose his neck.
Lady Taena hesitated, her breath ragged, her hands shaking violently. She was no warrior—Taena was just a commoner from Myr across the Narrow Sea. She had married Orton Merryweather during the lowest point of his family's history, believing in a bet that had paid off handsomely.
At the time, the Merryweather family was in complete disarray. Orton's grandfather, Owen Merryweather, had served as Hand of the King under the "Mad King" Aerys II. During Robert's Rebellion, Owen Merryweather had been blamed for his failures in suppressing the rebellion. His decisions led to a series of defeats, including the loss of key territory in the Riverlands and a failure to decisively crush the rebel forces.
Enraged by these failures, the Mad King had stripped Owen Merryweather of his position, titles, and lands, and exiled the entire family to Myr.
It was during this time of exile, when the Merryweather family was impoverished and destitute, that Taena, with her beauty and ambition, had married Orton. While her family and peers believed she was throwing away her life by marrying a fallen Westerosi noble, Taena held firm in her belief that the Merryweathers would one day reclaim their lost glory.
Her gamble proved right.
After Robert Baratheon ascended the Iron Throne, he reinstated the Merryweather family's titles and restored their ancestral seat at Longtable. Taena's "investment" yielded significant returns, elevating her to the position of a noble lady in the Reach.
Now, staring at the white dragon devouring its feast in the banquet hall, Lady Taena knew it was time to gamble again.
Summoning all her courage, she let out a guttural cry and drove the knife into Gerold's throat.
Blood spurted forth, splattering her face.
The knife wasn't sharp, and her strength was lacking, so the wound wasn't immediately fatal. Gerold thrashed like a fish out of water, his gurgling breaths filling the hall.
"Pull the blade down," Chiman advised.
Eyes squeezed shut, Lady Taena obeyed, slicing deeper until the life left Gerold's body.
"Well done." Samwell clapped his hands. "Lady Taena, Longtable Keep is yours."
Still shaking, Lady Taena turned toward Samwell, confused.
But Orton Merryweather understood immediately. His face went pale, and he bolted for the door.
A sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by the twang of a bowstring.
An arrow struck Orton squarely in the back, sending him crashing to the floor.
Lady Taena gasped, covering her bloodied mouth as her wide eyes darted between Orton's corpse and Samwell.
Samwell approached her calmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I believe your son is only six years old?"
She nodded weakly, her mind spinning.
"Then by law, Lady Taena Merryweather, you shall act as regent of Longtable Keep until your son comes of age."
A mix of shock and elation spread across her face as the words sank in.
With newfound composure, she dropped into a low curtsy.
"Thank you, Lord Caesar. I swear my eternal loyalty to you!"
Samwell's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Your loyalty should be to House Tyrell."
Lady Taena's smile turned coy.
"Of course. To House Tyrell."
Samwell didn't correct her further, instead asking:
"Where is Lady Olenna?"
"This way, my lord," Taena said, her tone brimming with newfound confidence.
(End of Chapter)
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