Varys took a sip of wine and said, "Oh, it's as sweet as Summer, the grapes are singing on the tip of my tongue."
Tyrion·Lannister quietly watched Varys perform.
Varys suppressed the smile on his face and said, "Tyrion Hand of the King, I promise, I have served Arryn Hand of the King and Stark Hand of the King to the best of my ability, but..."
Shaking his head slightly, his face showed some grievance, and continued, "They have their own rules for doing things, and they are determined. As Master of Whisperers, whom everyone hates, there is really nothing I can do."
Tyrion swung the glass of wine and said, "What about me?"
Varys smiled lightly and held each other's hands habitually, "You are the wisest Hand of the King I have ever seen..."
Tyrion grinned. "But?"
Varys was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "You know what power is, or what is real power, but..."
Having said this, Varys moved his lips, smiled and shook his head, "Casterly Rock's Well of Wisdom loves you."
He first complimented and then said, "Tyrion Hand of the King, your sword is very scary. Fear will make people want to resist, and the consequences will become unpredictable."
Tyrion's two-colored eyes trembled slightly, while shaking the wine glass, he said, "Baratheon's two brothers will fight against King's Landing sooner or later. I have to prepare for the war. I don't have time to play with other people."
Varys nodded, sighed, and said, "It's so difficult to understand each other's difficulties..."
Tyrion shrugged. "I have to do this."
Varys nodded slightly and said with a smile, "This is Hand of the King's firm will. You see... I still can't stop it."
Tyrion laughed, "Master Varys, I might end up following in the footsteps of those Hand of the Kings... Well, I think poisoning may be better than swallowing alive. I'm curious about my fate."
Varys smiled and said, "You are willing to say this, which means you are not worried about the future."
Tyrion picked up the wine glass and took a sip, saying, "To my kind father."
Varys nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Lord Tywin will never allow others to harm Lannister."
Tyrion murmured in a voice he could hear, "Lannister."
Seeing that Tyrion was a little distracted, Varys said again, "Lord Hand, I have to admit that you did a really good job this time! You sitting in this position doubles my confidence in the future of the kingdom."
Tyrion stretched out his hand to rub his temples and said, "Are you referring to Gold Cloaks?"
Varys's voice seemed to be sighing, "Queen Regent Cersei controls King's Landing with two swords. Only a few people don't know this."
Tyrion grinned. "Among the few people, my good sister must be included."
Hearing Tyrion's joke, Varys suddenly became nervous. "Lord Hand, the Queen Mother is your biological sister, I don't dare to make fun of her."
Tyrion is just a handle. "Sir Varys, it's just a private joke. This is because I am gradually trusting you, continue."
Varys bowed slightly before continuing, "One sword left King's Landing voluntarily, while the other sword was forced to leave. Of course... there is also a new sword, a decorative sword."
Tyrion's eyes turned slightly. He felt that Varys seemed to be testing something. What did he want to know? The real reason why Gryn left King's Landing?
Why did the eunuch want to know this answer... He was silent for a while and said, "The person I really want to thank is my good sister. The sword of loyalty will not disobey orders, even if it is unreasonable."
Varys's eyes flickered, he paused, and he seemed to be regretting. "At least he left the whirlpool of King's Landing..."
Tyrion laughed and said bluntly, "Maybe Lord Gryn is homesick."
Varys sighed, "The one constant in Red Keep is that the big fish eats the small fish."
Tyrion didn't seem to understand Varys's allusion. "Sir Varys, be happy, my sister also has Kingsguard with a beautiful cloak."
Varys sighed, "Barristan Sir Selmy threw his sword to Iron Throne when he was expelled, but he also took away Kingsguard's remaining honor."
Tyrion laughed, "Do eunuchs also understand honor?"
Varys's eyes moved slightly, he paused, and he showed a sly smile, "Of course the eunuch doesn't understand what honor is, but I think... our views on honor may have a lot in common."
"Haha, I like your honesty."
Tyrion raised his glass and said, "Strange to say, I find that I like you more and more. Is it because I am half human..."
He put down the wine glass and added, "I am small, my feet are underdeveloped, and women are not interested in me, but the heaven the Gods is kind to me. I am still a man. One day I may get married and have children."
If the Gods is favored, my son will have the appearance of Jaime and the mind of Tywin. But you, you can't even have such a dream..."
After a pause, Tyrion said seriously, "Dwarf is a prank from heaven the Gods, but eunuchs are evil man-made by mortals on earth. Varys, what is your true identity?"
Varys's expression remained unchanged. "Lord Hand, as you said, there are not many choices for eunuchs. I just want to be a servant of the kingdom. If possible, with my small ability, I hope to serve the power that can stabilize the kingdom. Therefore, I will do my best every time for my small wish."
Tyrion stared at Varys for a while, he tilted his head and said, "Power?"
Varys said with a smile, "Power is a wonderful thing...Tyrion Hand of the King, have you ever thought about the riddle I guessed for you in the tavern that day?"
"I thought about it once or twice..."
Tyrion nodded slightly and said, "King, monk, rich man, who will die? Who will live? Master Varys, this is a riddle without an answer, or... there are too many answers, it depends on the choice of the person holding the sword."
Varys smiled lightly, "But he is nothing. He has no crown, no gold and silver jewelry, and no favor from the Gods. He only has the sharp sword in his hand."
Tyrion's eyes trembled slightly. "A sharp sword has the power to decide life and death."
Varys nodded, and the smile on his face gradually faded, "Since the person who really decides our life or death is the person holding the sword, why do we pretend to admit that the person sitting on Iron Throne has the power?
For example, this strong man with a sword in his hand, why must he obey a little boy like Joffrey, or a drunkard and rough guy like his father?"
Tyrion moved, leaned back on the chair, and said, "Because little boys and drunkards can command other strong men, and they also have swords."
Varys stared at Tyrion: "In that case, are they the ones who really have power? If so, where did their swords come from? Who will they choose to listen to?"
After a pause, he smiled slightly and continued, "Some people say that knowledge is power, some say that power comes from the Gods, and some even say that power comes from law.
However, that day, in the square of Great Sept of Baelor, our devout Archbishop, the legitimate Queen Regent, and many noble nobles present were powerless to do anything to the rioting people.
Ever since I came to Red Keep as Master of Whisperers, I have seen powerful people passing away one by one for various reasons, and I have been wondering who killed them. Maybe... could it be because the person who controlled the power controlled a power that he could not bear? "
Tyrion said with great interest, "Sir Varys, it seems you have found the answer."
Varys smiled and shook his head, "I dare not say it is the answer. Master of Whisperers is an observer. A pair of ordinary eyes can see many things and things... What I see is that power exists in the human heart. People believe that what is power is power, no more and no less."
Tyrion reached out and picked up the wine glass and said, "Sounds like power is a trick?"
Varys also picked up the wine glass and said, "Power is like a shadow on a wall. Even a short person can cast a huge shadow."
Tyrion laughed, "I like you, Master Varys."
Crackclaw Point, Lyanna Manor.
Gryn·Crabb looked at the housekeeper Surana, and she shrugged helplessly.
Gryn tapped his chin, took a step forward, and said, "Surana, let's go there together."
Surana walked and said, "My master, Lady Lyanna is not hiding from you on purpose. She doesn't know how to face you."
Gryn raised his eyebrows and said, "My cousin didn't mistakenly think that I would force her to drink moon tea, right?"
After walking silently for a few steps, Surana finally said slowly, "My master, please forgive me for being presumptuous, your Crabb Territory laws are easily feared."
Gryn thought for a moment and confirmed again that he had not yet enacted such territorial laws.
"Surana, you mean I was misunderstood... right?"
Surana gave a rare smile and said respectfully, "I have experience. It is easy to think too much when you are pregnant, and you like to imagine bad things."
Gryn glanced at Surana walking beside him. "..., that's understandable."
In the small hall, Lyanna·Crabb slowly sat on the chair with the support of Julia.
Gryn glanced at her belly and said gently, "Lyanna cousin, we haven't seen each other for a long time."
Lyanna said slightly uneasily, "Gryn, I..."
After waiting for a while, Lyanna saw that it was difficult to speak. Gryn said, "Why do you want to keep this child?"
After a pause, he added, "We are relatives, you can tell me the reason directly."
A layer of mist appeared in Lyanna's eyes, and she whispered, "I don't want to get married, but I want to have a child of my own."
Both Julia and Surana quietly glanced at Gryn who was silent.
After a moment of silence, Gryn said, "I understand."
He added, "This manor really needs an heir."
At night, candlelight flickers in the study.
Gryn's slender fingers tapped on the desk. Next to it was the letter received this evening. It was reported that Lan Li Baratheon was in Bitterbridge Xuancheng, Howandi. The king of Seven Kingdoms is called Renly I, and his Queen is Margaery·Tyrell.
Gryn was thinking, Lord Stannis must have also learned the news... If Gryn was not a time traveler, he would never have thought that Stannis would lead a few thousand soldiers and horses directly to Storm's End, intending to fight Renly's 100,000 soldiers and horses... The law... is both stubborn and tough.
Gryn paused his fingers, reached out and picked up the Westeros map, stood up and unfolded it on the table.
Gryn first glanced at the location of Storm's End, then stretched out his finger and pointed at the small island to the east of Crackclaw Point - Claw Isle.
Gryn pinched his chin and fixed his gaze on Vale's Gulltown.
Gryn's eyes trembled slightly... It was a pity that Jon left, otherwise he would have trained a general who could lead troops alone.
Gryn looked at Claw Isle on the map again. Without hesitation, he made a decision... The time has not come yet, so he will wait for the fruit to mature further before picking it.
Gryn picked up the letter from Varys... The sworn knight of the Lannister family led two thousand Free Riders away from Casterly Rock.
Gryn lowered his eyes and looked at the map. His eyes swept over Riverlands, Harrenhal and the Twins.
Gryn returned to the chair...Westeros's chaos is about to begin...Vale...House Arryn cannot stay... he needs a "murderer".
Iron Islands, Pyke.
King Balon's study is as humid and ventilated as usual.
Asha·Greyjoy's smile is very hateful, "Good brother, your sister is a shy the Maiden!"
Theon·Greyjoy glanced at his father sitting in front of the brazier, blushed, and whispered, "Then you should never marry. When I become king, the first thing I will do is to throw you into Silent Sister."
"What are you two talking about?"
King Balon's voice came, and Asha suddenly became "serious". This was the sister in Theon's sight.
"I plan to send you as the vanguard, Theon. You will lead eight long ships and sail north. Your mission is to attack Stony Shore, plunder the coastal fishing villages, and sink every ship in sight. Maybe you can lure a few northern lords out of their stone bunkers. Aeron will follow you, and Dagmer Cleftjaw."
Theon didn't even listen carefully to the following content. He said in disbelief, "Father, are you sure you will only give me eight ships? What can eight ships do?"
King Balon said coldly, "I have planned everything. You just need to listen carefully, Theon."
Theon felt like he had been slapped... His father didn't trust his abilities, so he was given the task of plundering, burning down fishermen's huts, and raping their ugly daughters. Moreover, he couldn't do this on his own. Wasn't this meant to ostracize him and show him off!
Theon clenched his fists.
Essos, Viserys City-State, West Port.
Creaking, Jon·Snow, Little Gryphon, and Rory stepped on the long plank and stepped off the ship.
Little Gryphon glanced at the surrounding environment with great interest, and suddenly reached out and patted Jon on the side.
He smiled and said, "Hey, Jon, are you thinking about that red-haired girl again?"
Jon smiled and replied, "Little Gryphon, her name is Renier."
Little Gryphon shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "I know, I know, I actually envy you."