Chương 26: Chapter 26
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***
A new letter flashed before his face, coming from the King's Lands. He looked closely, struggling, through the cloudiness in his eyes, to read the lines on the parchment.
'This is Tyrion writing. Tommen is at Rosby? The only good news in the last few days.'
He tossed the
the letter aside into a rather large stack of opened letters. It used to be Tywin's job, but now his brother was dead. Probably murdered.
'It's the work of the Dornish, seven gods be damned,' the thought ran through his mind.
At first Amory Lorch had died in a suspiciously strange way, simply by tumbling down the spiral staircase in the tower. Everyone assumed it was an accident-although Tywin had to find a replacement for his faithful dog.
Then the servants' steward died, I think his name was Weese. That was already worrying. Many were muttering about the curse of Harrenhal, but the older brother dismissed it as coincidence. It did seem random - a rabid dog had snuffed out its master, such things were not uncommon.
'And Clegane wasn't in the castle at the time. He'd gone on another raid, north of the Riverlands.'
But a few days later it happened - his older brother simply did not wake up.
When Tywin learned of Eddard Stark's death and what Joffrey had done to him - he was furious. He was also afraid. No one saw it but Keevan. He has lived with Tywin since he was very young and knows all of his habits. He could see that Tywin had a twinge of fear for his son. The Starks could do anything to Jaime and would be in their own right.
'How could Cersei allow such a thing to be done to her son-king? Lord Eddard is one of the honourable men of Westeros, a hero of Robert's Rebellion. If he had stayed alive, much would have changed...'
The Guardian of the North was beheaded on the steps of the Sept of Baelor, and the body was thrown down into the crowd. The heated crowd tore the body apart, right in front of the king. No one had ever been able to find even the remains....
Sometimes Kivan was afraid to even think what the angry mob and the city's poor had done with Lord Stark's body parts.
The boy - Stark declared himself King of the North and the Trident, and at the same time sent a letter to Tywin... with a 'gift'.
Lord Casterly of the Rock could only stare angrily at Jaime's severed hand. Cursing the Starks, Cersei, and stupid King Joffrey, Kiwan saw the rare sight of his older brother lose his temper and smash the castle furniture. That was the last time he'd seen Tywin like that, when Aerys had forcibly taken Jaime into the Kingsguard.
Word spread through the castle, among the servants, that he would order the execution of the two Stark girls for such abuse of the heir to House Lannister. That the Old Lion would punish the Dark Wolf severely.
'Tyrion is Tywin's heir now.'
Despite Tyrion now being Lord of the West, all burdens fell on Kivan. Many lords began to call upon him with various requests, hundreds of letters now had to be sorted out by him. And this despite commanding an army of many thousands. Heavy is his business, Ser Keevan Lannister.
'Despite his blind hatred of his second son, Tywin was right about one thing for sure - the lords would never take a dwarf seriously. Tywin feared a second Titus Lannister.'
- Water. - Kivan turned to his new cupbearer, who had practically inherited it from his brother. A small girl with wavy brown hair, who looked more like a boy, poured water into his cup.
The day before his death, Tywin had wanted to march west to punish the insolent Wolf who had dared to plunder the Lannister fiefdom. Many lords had demanded it, and Tywin, despite his formidable reputation, had to act. Otherwise, it could be shaken.
Now Tywin is dead, and the army's march has been delayed for a few days. But we cannot delay. While Stannis laid siege to Storm's End, he, Kiwan, needed to drive the wolves out of the West.
He hoped Tyrion would do well in the capital, fortifying it.
Memories also came of his own, eldest son, Lancel, who was now in King's Landing. He had formerly served as a squire, under the now deceased King Robert, but now had knight's spurs.
'And Martin and Willem are being held captive by Robb Stark. And what he will do with them, only the Seven know.'
His wife, née Swift, was a quiet and religious woman. She would not survive the deaths of both sons....
Keevan angrily tossed aside another letter that had come from the King's Lands. How he was fed up with everything.
'The fate of House Lannister hangs heavy on me now,' he thought. - 'Will I be able to bear it? Brother, how you are missed.'
He turned back to the letter with a kind of regret inside, and gazed down at the inked lines.
'This is my duty.'
'''''''''''''''''''''''''"'
-So your name is Esgræd, then? - Theon asked, smiling. A local islander stood before him, tall, with hair short for the noble women of Westeros and a pretty face.
- Yes, I am the wife of Master Shipwright Sigryn. - issued the young woman, a short axe hanging from her belt.
' Esgred... Esgred... familiar name. I think I've met a rook by that name.'
They stood aboard a newly rebuilt rook, a black and slender ship a hundred feet long with a single tall mast. It had fifty oars and a deck and could hold a hundred men.
Theon had come to inspect his new ship, built by Sigryn on behalf of his father.
- You don't look much like a shipwright's wife. - Theon said. - Your hands are callused, I can see that from here. You walk like a warrior, and an experienced one at that. You've been in raids, haven't you?
'I wondered why that face looked so familiar. She's changed a lot since I left Pike.'
-Right. - 'Esgrèd smiled. - My husband doesn't keep me at home like a cook or a salty wife.
- And what do you want from me? - Theon asked.
- 'I have heard of your courage, Prince Theon. - She, swaying her hips seductively, walked up to him and leaned in close to his face. A hot whisper burned his ear. - Would you like to make me your wife?
Her hand tried to probe between Greyjoy's legs, but he stopped her in time.
-I don't think we're going to make it work. - Theon said, his expression unruffled.
-Why not?' she smiled playfully, and then increased the pressure. Her hand twisted deftly and continued on its way, stubbornly gripping his trophy. He felt the heat inside him flare up.
Clapping his hand, Theon continued.
- I'm afraid I already have a faithful life partner. - There was irritation in his voice.
- And who is this lucky seductress who has managed to woo my prince?
- Not her, but him. - The smile that appeared turned into a smirk. - And he doesn't like you very much.
There was a sharp whistle of wind and a multi-coloured something landed on the maiden. That 'something' was Cicero.
-Ah-y-you're a naughty girl! -Ah-you're a naughty girl! You're taking a swing at your brother!
'Can he read my mind? I've never seen him do that before,' Greyjoy marvelled as he watched the parrot chase Asha away from him with its long wings. The attempt to chase him away with his hands was not received very peacefully. He scratched his claws several times on his sister's hands and she was forced to move quite a distance away.
The axe was immediately removed from his belt and prepared to fly at the insolent bird. But, Cicero, as if sensing danger, quickly left the deck of the ship and flew off in an unknown direction.
- Sister, I think we don't have to hide now...' but Theon didn't have time to finish. His reflexes kicked in just in time, and the small axe hit the tree instead of Theon.
Asha glared angrily at him. He held up his hands soothingly.
- This was too much. Do you really want to be a fratricide?
Greyjoy himself didn't even have time to fear for his second life. It had all happened so quickly that he hadn't even realised it until then, and he had acted more by reflex.
- If I ever see your ugly bird again, I'll make a nice stew out of it.
-That's too cruel,' her brother shook his head. - Can't you just forgive my pet?
- Wouldn't dream of it!' she looked at the scratches that were bleeding a little, and then at Theon.
- 'Let's go back to Pike, Theon. We have a lot to talk about.
- Let's. - Theon agreed easily. - But before we go, let me think of a name for this ship.
'If I call it the Aurora or the Titanic, no one will understand. Do you need something flashy?'
-I'm not sure your ship needs a name. -No. It's not very impressive...' -Asha smirked, licking the blood off her hands.
- 'Son of Thunder,' he said suddenly. - 'Son of Thunder. That's what I'll call him.
-What a strange name.
- It's all right. I like it.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''"'
They returned to Pyke, where his father had already started a feast for the visiting lords of the Iron Islands. Sitting on the high platform next to Asha, Theon was having a conversation with her.
- So you went to the Great Wick? As I recall, the Goodbrashers were already in Pyke. I saw their banners.
- That's just a small part of it. The Goodbrasers' sworn captains who were near Pike when my father raised the cry. - Asha replied, breaking off a piece of black bread.
- Do you know anything about your father's plans? - He asked a new question, eating the local analogue of ukha. The Ironborn call it 'fish food.'
- Only that he's gathering vassals and preparing to strike. Most likely the West, if Old Lion is indeed dead.
- Dead, dead. - A parrot flew in, and Asha gave him an unkind look. Theon, trying to draw his sister's attention away from the pet, spoke a little louder than usual.
- 'And what about Dagmer Szczerbatny? Will he be arriving soon?
She looked at him.
- In a week to a week and a half he'll be here. The old pirate wishes to raid, though his father wanted to leave him here.
Suddenly, seated in the centre of the high platform, Baelon rose cautiously. He was pale and his uncombed hair was tangled. Squinting blindly, he looked round the hall and said in a hoarse voice, coughing all the time.
- I'm off to my upper room. - He looked at all the Greyjoys sitting around him. - As soon as you have finished your... kha... meal, come there. We need to discuss a plan.
Lord Baelon left the Great Wormhole Pike, and Theon, still the same, leisurely continued eating the 'fish food'
'How I miss the potatoes...'
Soon finished, he travelled with his uncle Victarion to his father's upper room. Eiron and Asha were already inside.
- Uncle Aeron. - Greyjoy greeted him. - I've just chosen a name for my ship.
- We'll discuss it later. - Lord Balon interrupted them. He pulled a map from somewhere in the depths of his desk.
-We're going west. - He told them all. - Tywin is dead, and Teen Wolf has defeated a Western army at a village. Now this land is defenceless and decapitated.
His finger pointed at Lannisport.
-Victarion! You... kha... take a hundred ships with you and visit this city again. Burn the lion fleet and sack the city. - Victarion nodded. The task his brother had given him was to his liking.
Euron had once taken this rich city by the sword, but now it was time for the head of the Iron Fleet to do so.
- Asha! Cha... Cha... - A new series of coughs. - I'll give you forty ships. You will take bloody Cayce! This was once our outpost. It's time to return it to our rightful hands!
Asha smilingly nodded. She stroked her small axe that she had nearly killed Theon with.
- Theon! You will take command of twenty-five rooks and take Bright Isle. Aaron and Dagmer Szczerbatny will go with you. They will help you with advice.
'He doesn't trust me much. And wants to know what kind of dough I'm made of,' the thought ran through her mind.
Asha gave her younger brother a mocking glance, but he didn't react.
- What's next father? What are we going to do? - Theon asked the question, drawing the attention of all the relatives.
Baelon's eyes lowered to the map and glittered suspiciously.
- You say Robb Stark wants an alliance with us? He needs to prove the alliance is worth it.
A wrinkled finger jabbed at a single point on the map.
- Casterly Rock. That is our primary target.
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