Chương 84: Hear us roar
Lord Tywin Lannister was almost on cloud nine, the closer they've got to the date when they will take over the contracts from the Dustin's the happier he was.
He still remembered with slight distaste in his mouth how the weak woman almost begged under the threat of suicide for more compensation.
Scoffing the issue that annoyed him so much, he thought about the steps that were taken after the meeting.
Thanks to his men spreading the word of him "legally" obtaining the lucrative deal and the old lion's generous compensation to the "small" Northmen upstarts , Tywin Lannister was now hailed as one of the most decent, compassionate, fair and magnanimous Lords in Westeros, especially in his loyal bannerman's keeps and castles.
The word even spread out to King's Landing court, where his daughter did not omit to flaunt this event and to use it whenever necessary for her own interests and joy because of the Northern barbarians misfortune.
Tywin knew how his daughter hated the Dustin's, he didn't knew why, at least not yet, but even so he probably wouldn't care.
The reputation of his House was the most important thing for him.
Thinking about it, he made a face that flashed with clear dissatisfaction before he hid it under his usual, stern mask. The reason being as always his untruthful sons.
One, a useless dreamer playing the children game of being a knight, the Old Lion was still restless thinking about how to change Jamie's mind and show him that the so called knights are just sheep's to be used at the whims of the Lord.
Second, a bloody imp who just whored and drunk, Lord Lannister struggled not to strangle the walking disgrace every time he saw him.
'That is not important right now.' Tywin shook his head throwing out all the unnecessary thoughts and hastened his step to get back to his night chambers to finally rest, the only important thing right now was his fleet.
He organized everything already, all his merchant ships and their escorts majestically floating anchored in the Lannisport harbor with the cargo already loaded and waiting for his word to set out.
Every day he took a moment from his busy schedule to admire the view happy to burn the image of the House Lannister dominance in the pathetic small folk minds.
Almost 700 ships, including the ones he got four years ago from the North, and the new ones build exactly as per the blueprint he so cleverly got during the "negotiations".
They weren't cheap, he burned through gold more in the last four years than he did in the last two decades, but they were worth every golden dragon and stag invested into them. He now had one of the most powerful Navy's in the seven kingdoms.
Finally Lord Lannister smiled, or maybe just changed his expression to the usual authoritative smirk.
'Nothing can go wrong' when this though entered his mind, like it did every other day, Tywin decided to check all the documents again.
His could already recite most of them even in his sleep , but the bad feeling lingering and ever present in the back of his mind would vanish only after he confirmed everything, just to return few days later again .
The old man hated it, especially when looking at the unfair conditions that the merchants would only agree upon.
He understood that it was probably the work of the Dustin's, a petty last "oorah" before the upstarts disappear in the annals of history the same way like all the others before them did, or maybe he will take pity on them, and will throw some scraps their way if they beg nicely.
No, he would not, they need to learn their place.
Who of right mind dared to compete or make things difficult to the most powerful House in Westeros needed to pay the price for their insolence. There were once the Reyne's and Tarbeck's and where are they now?
"A Lannister always pays his debts..." he murmured while getting closer to his chamber, already seeing the men guarding it.
Tywin wondered again, he knew for now he will have to tolerate the rubble at his feet, but when the time comes...
The old Lion was already getting ready to renegotiate the contracts conditions. Who ever dared to demand from him double the amount in case of breaking the delivery conditions? These greedy, fat merchants will get their due later, not in gold, but blood for their disrespect.
It was an unthinkable stain on his honor as a proud Lord Lannister, and the there was the Iron bank!
His fists tightened, these greedy, old slaves agreed to be the guarantor for both sides every time! Whare was their fairness when he signed and stamped his House seal on this unfair deal?!
Even if they earn 3 million dragons a year, it is still a steep price to pay, as failure would cost them double that in debt and the right to dissolve the deal itself! True it was the same for both sides, but he was a Lannister!
Risks were evident there, but what choice did he have with the Casterly Rock gold mines almost drying up.
The last months the mined gold was not even worth counting!
Now, he needed to endure, but his time will come.
There were always the Castamere mines, but to dry the place and invest to bring it back to the level on which they would be useful again was beyond his financial power, no, he would wait for five or ten years. Earn what needs to be earned from his new trade agreement and the he will prepare the Reyne mines as his legacy for Jaime.
Tywin felt his headache coming back, he promised himself no more work for the day and yet nothing else was on his mind but this.
For a moment he wondered if he should call upon a servant girl and release his stress inside of her, the idea seemed really pleasant to him, especially now.
Lord Lannister steps halted just before his door as he got ready to inform his guard about his decision when a hastened steps stopped him before he took any action.
Looking back, the shadows of a person came first, dancing on the walls of the dark castle corridors in the accompaniment of the torches fire, next a short, hastened breaths reached Tywins ear.
With scornful face Lord Lannister looked at his brother Kevan hastily shortening the distance between them.
"You should slow down, it's unsightly for a person of your status to run like that Kevan." the first thing he did was reprimand his younger brother.
Tywin wasn't stupid, it was clear that something bad happened, but he believed that they, as Lannisters always need to keep a calm mind.
"Th-the f- fleet!" Kevan only said two words between his breaths, and the Warden of the West heart skipped a beat.
Tywin didn't wait for his brother to calm down and explain, he stormed inside of his night chambers and went directly to the balcony.
His eyes were now watching his greatest nightmare come to life.
A bright orange and red hue encompassed the whole of Lannisport town, harbor and the enclosed bay waters.
Old Lion didn't see the ships he admired just this morning anymore, no...
Now his eyes gazed at 700 balls of fire floating in the water.
His hands tightened on his balcony railing with the nails drowning blood and making it drip, drop by drop to the ground.
Tywin calmness was scary for Kevan and the Lannister guards, getting closer, the younger brother could see the red like a devil eyes looking at the black sales with golden kraken engraved on them.
'They will hear us roar!' Kevan knew his brother will not let it go.
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