Under Pyke, the icy sea breeze howled endlessly.
The wind blew through the endless tents, taking away the last bit of thin warmth.
The siege has been going on for several weeks.
House Greyjoy and Pyke are like stubborn shells attached to the cliff, hard and silent.
In the huge tent of Robert. Baratheon, the warm brazier dispelled the chill, and the air was filled with the aroma of barbecue and wine.
The king himself was walking anxiously.
The stag armor he was proud of had become tight, and his growing body made him breathe heavily with every step he took.
"Seven, this damn place is more boring than Ned's the North."
Robert. Baratheon grabbed the wine glass on the table and drank the wine in one gulp.
"Can't those Ironborn come out and fight happily? They have to hide in the stone shell and stink!"
Inside the tent, Eddard. Stark stood expressionlessly in front of the map, like a statue.
The vassals of Stormlands and Crownlands sat aside, silently enduring the king's complaints.
At this moment, the door curtain was violently opened.
An attendant walked in quickly, holding a letter sealed with Hand of the King sealing wax in his hand.
"Your Majesty, this is an urgent message from King's Landing."
Robert. Baratheon waved his hand impatiently.
"Read."
Not long ago, Jon. Arryn sent a letter asking Stannis to lead a fleet back to King's Landing. The letter said that the situation is very critical.
He hated this feeling and it made him unable to fight with peace of mind.
The attendant unfolded the letter, cleared his throat, and began to read.
The letter was written by Jon. Arryn. The content was lengthy and full of worries about the current situation in the kingdom, as well as the chaotic situation of King's Landing.
Robert. Baratheon felt drowsy until a name suddenly woke him up."
..House Lychester openly gathered troops, detained vassals loyal to the king, and conspired to restore Targaryen. The treasonous behavior was clearly exposed.
"In the name of the King, I declare House Lychester to be traitorous."
"Their fiefdoms and property were all deprived..
"Fuck!"
Robert. Baratheon roared like thunder.
"Jon is crazy! Who asked him to make the decision!"
The attendant trembled all over and did not dare to read any more.
Robert. Baratheon snatched the letter paper and roughly scanned the words on it, his face flushed with anger.
"Rebellion? Just relying on those East Riverlands old royal party bastards to cause trouble on their own?"
"Put the blame on the governor I personally appointed!"
He crumpled the letter into a ball and smashed it on the ground.
"I am the king! Such a thing! Did he ask me!"
There was dead silence in the tent.
Eddard. Stark finally moved.
He bent down to pick up the wad of letter paper, slowly unfolded it, and read it carefully.
"Judging from the evidence provided by Jon, there is no problem in making such a ruling."
"House Lychester's actions indeed resemble rebellion.
His tone was as cold and hard as his person.
"East Riverlands Lords are all supporters of Targaryen. They are so active in supporting House Lychester to become the governor of Riverlands. It is difficult to say that there is no secret conspiracy...
A lord from Crownlands also spoke cautiously, "House Lychester, as the governor of Riverlands, detained his vassals and caused wars to break out under his rule. They cannot escape the blame.
"Your Majesty, Lord Eddard is right. Now King's Landing is in turmoil and the royal army is on an expedition."
"House Lychester has just replaced House Tully as governor, and Riverlands rebels have gathered in large numbers. How can they escape responsibility?"
"If we are not severely punished, Targaryen kings everywhere may follow suit."
Robert. Baratheon's roar almost overturned the roof of the tent.
"What a waste of imitation!"
"I think you are just jealous! Jealous that Lychester boy can fight better than you! He can make more money than you!
After scolding, Robert. Baratheon fell silent, and his heavy breathing echoed in the tent.
He sat down again, and the huge chair groaned under the weight.
"House Lychester! I like them!"
Robert. Baratheon's voice became deeper, with a trace of unquestionable stubbornness.
"But this matter really cannot be left unasked."
"Remove the position of governor of Lymond. Lychester, retain the fiefdom, and the Riverlands land currently entrusted in the name of House Lychester and lose its owner will all be assigned to House Lychester."
"Let the old Lymond find a Lychester and inherit House Lychester in the future."
He paused and then made an even more shocking decision.
"As for Suleiman, tell that kid that I plan to move him to Crownlands."
"Give him a piece of fertile land and leave him a Hand of the King position in the future."
These words shocked everyone.
It is simply unheard of to handle it so lightly.
Although House Lychester lost his position as governor, he is still a first-line vassal of Riverlands.
Although Suleiman lost the inheritance rights of House Lychester, it changed to a more fertile land in Crownlands, and could also get a promise from Hand of the King.
I don't see any punishment at all.
Eddard. Stark frowned.
"Robert, you cannot handle state affairs based on personal preferences."
There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"If the evidence is conclusive, House Lychester is a rebellion, and a decision should be made after investigation."
Robert. Baratheon sneered and picked up the wine glass again, but his eyes became sharp.
"East Riverlands Those bastards have nothing to do with the Lychester family."
"Riverlands You and I both know what vassals and lords are like, Ned."
"Old Jon doesn't like Lychester. He just wants House Tully to secure his position as governor. He will definitely cause trouble for Lychester."
He drank the wine in one gulp.
"This incident at best proves that House Lychester is incapable of ruling Riverlands and cannot control his subordinates.
"Remove his position as governor, and the matter is over.
A muffled discussion suddenly erupted in the tent.
This decision was so generous that it was almost absurd.
If someone else had done this, Robert. Baratheon would probably mobilize an army to hang the traitor immediately.
Just when Eddard. Stark was about to refute again, a voice rang.
"Your Majesty."
The old and wealthy Lord Rosby Gyles. Rosby stood up.
He was plagued by illness, and his voice had a hint of constant coughing, but he seemed wise and gentle.
"Your kindness and foresight are admirable."
He first complimented, which made Robert. Baratheon's expression soften a little.
Robert. Baratheon snorted, tacitly allowing him to continue.
Gyles. Rosby continued, "But your decision may not be convincing to the public, and it will also make Jon. Arryn's situation in King's Landing even more difficult."
"Your Majesty's appreciation of House Lychester may be right."
"But we always need a proof."
His words were unhurried, but they caught everyone's attention.
"Prove his loyalty to the royal family and silence everyone."
Robert. Baratheon finally became interested. He leaned his fat body forward, and the chair groaned louder.
"What proof?"
The corners of Gyles. Rosby's mouth curved slightly.
"The next order is to summon Suleiman. Claire. Lychester to come to Iron Islands alone and make a personal confession in front of you."
The air inside the tent suddenly solidified.
This is an extremely fair proposal, but it is also the most troublesome.
Coming here means surrendering your life to the decisions of others.
Failure to come would be rebellion.
The former law enforcement officer Elin Payne stood in the shadow of the corner, his expressionless face seemed to move.
Gyles. Rosby's voice is still gentle.
"If he comes, it means that House Lychester is still loyal to the royal family."
"Then everything will be as Your Majesty wishes."
"Remove Lymond. Lychester's position as governor, but retain the land he currently controls, making him a powerful vassal of Riverlands."
"Move the title of Suleiman to Crownlands and give a promise to the imperial advisor. This is a reward for loyalty."
"If he doesn't come...
Gyles. Rosby's voice became darker.
"That means that House Lychester is indeed involved in the secret conspiracy and has confirmed the name of rebellion."
Robert. Baratheon stared at Gyles. Rosby, with those blue eyes twinkling under the thick black eyebrows.
He hates calculations and plots.
But he likes this kind of direct challenge.
Whether he is loyal or traitorous, you will know if you call him over and have a look.
"Ha!"
Robert. Baratheon suddenly burst into laughter and slapped the table so hard that the wine glasses jumped up.
"Okay! That's a good idea!"
He pointed with his thick finger at Gyles. Rosby.
"Old man, you have more brains than them!"
He turned to Eddard. Stark with a provocative smile on his face.
"How about it, Ned? Is this fair enough?"
He grinned, showing teeth stained red by wine.
"Shall we make a bet?"
Eddard. Stark did not speak, but nodded slightly in agreement.
This is indeed the best way at the moment.
Come, it means that House Lychester is still loyal.
If he doesn't come, it means that House Lychester participated in the rebellion, and the evidence is conclusive.
Robert. Baratheon stood up violently, his voice as loud as a bell.
"That's it!"
"Send someone a letter! Immediately!"
He strode to the tent door and opened the heavy curtain.
The icy sea breeze rushed in instantly, making his black beard dance wildly.
He looked at the gray sky and rough sea outside, and let out a roar, which was louder than the sound of wind and waves.
"Tell Suleiman!"
"Tell him to come to me! to his king!"