chapter 90 part 2
Red Keep, Maegor's Tower Garden.
Glynn had just left when an official from the Tower of the Hand arrived.
Glynn's brows furrowed slightly. The official from the Tower of the Hand informed Glynn of the specific time to meet Lord Jon Arryn this afternoon.
Glynn had originally thought it would be tomorrow at the earliest. Why was Hand Jon so eager to arrange his meeting, as if very anxious…? An anomaly had occurred; Glynn smelled something unusual here.
Glynn gazed at a sea of flowers, his right thumb moving against his index finger.
Click, click.
Jaime, with one hand gripping the sword at his waist, walked towards Glynn.
Glynn's gaze turned to Jaime, clad in silver armor and white robes. He bowed in salute, but his heart stirred.
Yes, armor!
The perceptive Glynn had already sensed Queen Cersei's "dangerous" change.
Besides Jaime, this not-so-reassuring human shield, he needed the close protection of plate armor.
Plate armor was troublesome to put on and even more troublesome to take off. Men needed the protection of plate armor when facing danger.
From now on, Jaime would be Glynn's role model; from this point, as long as he was in the Red Keep, his armor would not leave his body.
If he were to get into Cersei's bed, trying to get out of Cersei's ship later, with Glynn's current strength, would require a considerable price.
For Glynn, stalling for time while avoiding being 'eaten' by Cersei was the optimal choice.
Glynn had to master the balance, both satisfying Cersei and maintaining a safe distance, leaving himself some leeway.
Glynn decided that to counter Cersei's demands, he would add a characteristic called 'slyly charming' to his persona.
However, Glynn was worried… he was a person with a sunny disposition, afraid he couldn't play the role of a slyly charming man infatuated with Cersei's beauty.
"…"
Jaime said directly, "Baron Glynn, most of the information I've gathered points to the Riverlands."
Glynn nodded and said, "Ser Jaime, this level of conspiracy is itself a mist."
Pausing, Glynn added, "Lord Hoster Tully is critically ill. The Riverlands currently lack the energy to participate in the Red Keep's power games. House Tully can be excluded."
Jaime's tone faintly carried a hint of anger: "The matter of the Lord of Riverrun is no secret, which is precisely why I… I have almost traveled all over King's Landing."
Glynn showed a smile and said, "Ser Jaime, I can understand your feelings. I think your sword is already impatiently thirsty."
Glynn's words suddenly improved Jaime's mood quite a bit: "Therefore, I temporarily gave up my investigation and have been waiting for you to return."
"Thank you for your trust. I can sense that you are almost losing patience. I am fortunate to have returned in time, otherwise Queen Cersei might have ordered me to lead troops to attack Riverrun."
Jaime's face was smiling: "You and Tyrion, both of you wield the magic of words, able to calm emotions without realizing it…"
As he spoke, Jaime patted Glynn: "Young Baron, don't underestimate me. Tell me, who is the black hand behind the scenes?"
Glynn gazed at Jaime and said, "Renly Baratheon."
[Renly Baratheon, the third son of the late Steffon Baratheon and Cassana Estermont, is the youngest brother of Robert Baratheon and Stannis Baratheon.]
Hearing this, Jaime furrowed his brow.
Glynn continued, "He is King Robert's younger brother, the Master of Laws, and the Lord of Storm's End."
[Renly was summoned to the Red Keep by Hand Jon shortly after coming of age, serving as King Robert's Master of Laws. During Renly's time in the Red Keep, Ser Symon Penrose of House Penrose acted as Castellan of Storm's End, responsible for assisting Renly in managing the castle's affairs.]
"…"
Jaime's azure eyes trembled as he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, saying, "Baron Glynn, is the information reliable?"
Glynn spread his hands: "Highgarden Castle is the same as the Red Keep; there are no secrets there. This is not a secret there."
Jaime smiled, showing his white teeth. His perfectly aligned large white teeth looked like they were about to eat someone: "Renly, he's merely a duke who only fights in bouts."
Glynn's eyebrow twitched; Jaime had indeed become even sharper.
Jaime said in a deep voice, "Baron Glynn, tell me, why would Renly target Cersei? What is his motive?"
Jaime, like Glynn, was very clear that the current House Baratheon was very powerful.
Jaime now needed a way forward.
After Robert seized the Iron Throne, he bestowed Storm's End of House Baratheon upon his youngest brother Renly, while Stannis, who had distinguished himself with great military achievements during Robert's Rebellion, received only the distant and barren Dragonstone.
Robert's distribution after ascending the Iron Throne left Stannis perpetually dissatisfied. Over the years, the relationship between the three Baratheon brothers had grown to be more like that of enemies.
The far-sighted Glynn also did not want Jaime to become a pawn in easing the relationship between the three Baratheon brothers.
Renly is so terrifying, untouchable? Only for now; schemers are never short of patience.
"…"
Glynn reached out and patted Jaime's arm: "Ser Jaime, what do you wish to do? No matter what your final decision is, I will stand by your side. This is also for Queen Cersei. You can trust me."
Glynn, solemn-faced, thought to himself: Ser Jaime, when your heart truly lets go of Cersei, that will be the time for the two of us to join hands.
Glynn's words made a smile appear on Jaime's face: "Young Baron, is your heart without fear?"
Glynn shrugged and said, "I have a backer. Crab Claw Peninsula never fears any invading enemy."
Glynn grasped the hilt of his long sword and continued, "When an external enemy appears in Crab Claw Peninsula, no matter what kind of generational feud, we can cast aside our differences and unite closely until all invaders are annihilated. This is our thousand-year tradition. Ser Jaime, if they join forces to attack Crab Claw Peninsula, remember to command the Westerlands army to give them a good kick in the ass from behind."
Glynn's desperate stance, however, made Jaime regain his composure.
Jaime sighed deeply: "It would be exhilarating to imagine, but Cersei… Her Majesty the Queen would be in great danger. I cannot let her be in peril."
Hearing this, the killing intent on Glynn's body also instantly dissipated. With a gentle expression, he said, "For Her Majesty the Queen, we can also plan slowly, if you have the patience."
Jaime's eyes lit up and he said, "Baron Glynn, do you already have a plan?"
Glynn nodded, gazed at Jaime, raised his right hand, and extended five fingers.
Jaime smiled unconcernedly, but his hand froze when it reached his waist.
Before, in Maegor's Holdfast, Jaime, to escape Cersei's temptation, had left in a hurry. Lannister had indeed forgotten his money pouch.
Jaime's expression was slightly embarrassed: "Ahem, you know, Lannister, what is borrowed must be returned."
"…"
"…"
That afternoon, the Tower of the Hand.
Glynn suddenly stopped as he was about to enter the Tower of the Hand, looking in the direction of the Throne Room.
Glynn saw Lancel, hiding his body behind a tree, staring motionlessly at him.
The sunlight was dazzling, and Glynn squinted slightly.
The scorching sun was like fire. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, nor a hint of a breeze; it was as if the air itself had frozen.
Glynn expressionlessly retracted his gaze, resumed his steps, and entered the Tower of the Hand.
As Glynn passed through the great hall, he spotted Varys, the Master of Whisperers, walking towards him.
Glynn bowed in salute, but did not stop his steps.
Varys, with his hands clasped, also merely nodded slightly in return, and likewise did not stop his steps.
As the two men brushed past each other, Varys's lips slightly opened and closed a few times.
Glynn's ears twitched. Although Varys's voice was very low, he still heard the content clearly.
"Beware of shadows."
Will adding a few more words kill you? Glynn hated riddlers, unless their identities were exchanged.
Glynn's heart stirred. Combining this with Lancel's abnormal behavior, his thoughts turned.
Glynn stepped onto the stairs.
(end of chapter)