Chapter 137 - Leaving King's Landing (II)
🕑 Added 2025-03-03 23:55:14 +0000 UTC“Kings are springing up like mushrooms after the rain,” Petyr Baelish commented, grinning mischievously around the naked prostitutes.
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After thinking for a moment, Robert made his decision with an unquestioning tone. “Lannisport will be transformed into the capital of the Seven Kingdoms.”
Although abandoning the city would really dent morale, the city had no effective defense against dragons. In comparison, there was no other castle as powerful when it came to defense as Casterly Rock.
At the same time, Lannisport was close to the Iron Islands, which could attack at any time. If there was a kingdom with few people, it was the Iron Islands, an army of just over twenty thousand men, and that was still a slightly increased number. There were probably no more than fifteen thousand.
Robert's words made everyone balk at the king's decision. Many were reluctant to leave King's Landing. This was the capital of Westeros, the center of power on the continent for almost three hundred years.
The entire city had become a symbol of royal authority in the eyes of commoners throughout the kingdom. Once they abandoned King's Landing, it would be like announcing that they were losing a war that hadn't even begun.
But in the face of an easily irritated Robert, no one dared question the king at that moment. Many had died at the king's hands recently, and no one wanted to be next.
In all honesty, Tywin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Robert accept his proposal. He himself knew it was a risky decision, but the right one to make. Once the dragons arrived, the city would be like the Vale of Arryn, unable to defend itself properly against a dragon.
At the same time, he also thanked the gods that Robert had listened to his advice. He no longer had the patience to deal with mad, drunken, murderous kings. However, Tywin, even though he didn't like Robert, knew that he couldn't do anything against him, or this war would be declared officially lost.
The war was only happening because Robert's reputation was still worth something in people's eyes, especially after killing Rhaegar Targaryen, the Silver Prince. If Robert could kill Rhaegar, he could kill Rhaegar's son.
With Robert's orders, the entire court began to mobilize.
In the Tower of the King's Hand, Robert and Tywin were sitting side by side, looking at the city with calm gazes.
“What are you going to do with the city?” Robert asked, with an indifferent tone. He hated King's Landing, it was a cage for him, he had wanted to be a mercenary when he was young and he still had that desire.
“If the Targaryen King wants it, we'll give him a city in absolute chaos,” Tywin replied with a cold tone. “If that delays their movements for months, it's an advantage for our side.”
Robert nodded, immediately understanding what Tywin wanted to do. He didn't disagree and even easily accepted the proposal that would kill tens of thousands of people and probably create chaos capable of frightening even the demons in hell. Just the thought of half a million starving, food-crazed people sent shivers through Robert's body. Tywin was truly cruel.
Suddenly, just as Tywin was about to continue, a gentle knock sounded on the door, causing them both to look at it with cold stares.
“Come in,” Robert ordered with a cold tone.
The door was opened in the next second and a fat, bald man wearing a purple cloak appeared before them. There was a worried expression on the eunuch's face.
“Has something happened, Varys?” Robert asked with a serious tone, noticing the expression on the Master of Whispers' face.
“Robert Arryn has declared himself King of the Vale of Arryn, Keeper of the Moon Gates, Lord of the Eagle's Nest and the East,” Varys spoke directly, broaching the subject, causing Tywin and Robert to look slightly surprised.
“If I remember, the Guardian of the Vale is less than ten years old,” Robert asked with a confused tone, remembering the information about Jon Arryn's son.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Varys continued. “The Regency of the Vale is in the hands of Lysa Tully.”
Tywin frowned deeply. “A child wouldn't have such an absurd idea of declaring himself king; someone must be behind Lysa Tully, probably one of his wife's lovers.”
Tywin's words were no different from an accusation that Lysa was having an extramarital affair and that her son was not, in fact, Jon Arryn's son.
“Old hawk...” Robert couldn't help but feel sorry for his adoptive father, who raised him like a son, just as he raised Eddard. In the end, everyone turned on each other.
“What excuse did Lysa Tully use to crown her son?” Tywin asked with a touch of sarcasm, a sarcasm reminiscent of Tyrion speaking.
Although it seemed easy for a Great House to declare itself king, you had to remember that vassals existed, and they couldn't agree to something like that so easily. No one wants to be labeled a traitor in the eyes of the people.
“Lysa accused Queen Cersei of killing the Hand of the King, her husband Jon Arryn, to cover up the murder,” Varys glared at Robert and spoke in a calm tone, not daring to look at him again.
Crash!!!
The sound of the table breaking was heard immediately after Varys' words. Robert had hit the table so hard that it had broken.
Robert hated those slanderous rumors with all his might. Knowing that such rumors only fed his enemies made him completely furious.
“You crazy bitch, I'll kill you and your bastard!!!” Robert roared at the top of his lungs as he gasped with rage. He wanted to summon his army and set off towards the Eagle's Nest to cut off the head of the traitorous bitch that Lysa Tully was.
Tywin also had a grim expression. Even if he didn't care about the opinion of sheep, he knew the impact something like this could have, especially on his grandchildren, who were heirs to the Iron Throne.
“It seems that Lysa Tully's son really isn't Jon Arryn's,” Tywin said coldly, without hiding his murderous intent. He dared to have Queen Ellia, Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys killed. What was Lysa Tully in the face of these identities?
“But we can't do anything right now. We're leaving King's Landing,” Tywin said, calming down and returning to being the cold thinking machine he was.
Robert, although he wanted to ignore what Tywin said and march towards the Vale of Arryn, knew he couldn't, not at this delicate moment.
Taking a breath to calm himself, he looked at Varys and spoke with a deadly cold tone. “Whether it's poisoning, murder or anything else, as long as you kill Lysa Tully, I don't care.”
Robert continued: “If the Vale won't bow, let them engage in a civil war to decide who will be the new Lord of the Vale.”
Tywin looked at Robert with satisfaction. The Vale of Arryn in civil war was better than a cohesive Vale of Arryn ready for war. It was better to consume the Vale's internal forces, weakening the entire region.
“We can arm those mountain barbarians, let them fight against the Lords of the Vale. That way, we don't have to worry about the Vale any time soon,” Tywin added, speaking with a mischievous tone.
Looking at the two, Varys thought it certain that they were son-in-law and father-in-law. Both were cruel and cunning like old foxes.
“I will carry out your orders, Your Grace and Hand of the King,” Varys bowed and replied with a respectful tone. But if you looked into his eyes, you could see amusement and pleasure in the eunuch's eyes. He really liked King's Landing, conspiracies, assassinations and poisonings were something he, a conspirator, loved to do.
Varys withdrew from the Hand of the King's chambers, leaving the King and the Hand of the King alone again. He only heard one word before the door was slammed shut.
“Targaryen...” muttered the eunuch, looking thoughtful.
“According to Jon Connington, Aegon is anxious to meet his family and is heading for Dragonstone to meet his aunt.” Varys felt a headache at this information.
He knew that young men were impulsive by nature, but even with all the training he had received, Aegon still refused to listen to Jon Connington's advice.
But then again, Varys didn't think that was a bad thing. Even if Aegon was a Blackfire, there was no way he wouldn't have the bloodline of House Targaryen, as Daemon Blackfire was the son of Aegon V and Princess Daena Targaryen. So he really wasn't worried if they doubted Aegon's identity.
If the dragons recognized Aegon as a Targaryen, then he was a Targaryen. If Varys had known about Aenar's abilities, he wouldn't have been as confident as he was right now.
“The plan must be accelerated,” Varys muttered to himself as he walked through the corridors of the Red Keep one last time.
Comments
king_kyle
cant wait to see what happens with that little shit i hope it gets exposed straight away
Jonathon Granger
Who is Jon connington and what ageon is he talking about?
Vrati
Young Griff might be in over his head if he think he can just demand a dragon from the Targaryen.
