Chapter 209 Paper, Pen, and the Messenger Crow 3
" Viserys told me that Targaryen dragon names are generally derived from the names of ancient Old Valyria gods... Visenya's dragon Vaghar, Rhaenys's is Miraxes, Aegon Targaryen himself rides the Black Death — Balerion."
"Legend has it that Vaghar's breath can melt a knight's armor... Miraxes can swallow a man and his horse whole... Balerion's flames are as black as night, like its scales, and the shadow of its wings can even cover an entire town."
Daenerys pointed to the small dragon, its body glossy black with scarlet stripes on its scales, and said, "My handmaid told me it looks like the reincarnation of Balerion."
Her gaze gently swept over the three baby dragons as they ate. "But... I don't want them to be reincarnations of legendary dragons."
After a moment of silence, Daenerys spoke, "They are my children, born of the blood of my own kin, and I will name them after those kin who were taken from me by the Gods."
Gryn could sense Daenerys' grief over losing her loved ones and her longing for them, so he hugged her slightly tighter.
Daenerys pointed to the platinum-colored dragon and said, " Viserys may be cruel and weak, but he is still my brother. His name is Viserion."
She pointed to another small dragon. "Bronze and emerald, though the time was short, Jon made me feel true kinship. I named Jons."
She pointed to the small, black and red dragon, which was noticeably larger than the other two. "Last night, I dreamt of my valiant brother Rhaegar, clad in jet-black armor, with flames burning fiercely within the narrow eye slits of his helmet. He was Rhaego."
Daenerys turned her head, looked up at Gryn, and said, " Gryn, do you like the name I gave you?"
Gryn looked down at her, nodded slightly, and said, " Dany, your family hasn't left you."
Daenerys tilted her upper body slightly, reached out and wrapped her arms around Gryn's neck, murmuring, "My knight..."
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! The warmth was short-lived, but was interrupted by the chaotic cries of three little dragons.
Gryn separated from Daenerys, raised an eyebrow, and looked at the three little dragons, who immediately began to eat obediently.
Daenerys couldn't help but laugh, saying, "They only become well-behaved in front of you."
She mimicked Gryn's gesture, raising one eyebrow slightly, and said, "Take me to the dormitory."
"Yes, my princess."
Red Keep, Maegor's Hold.
"Roll!"
As Cersei Lannister roared in anger, a golden cup came hurtling towards them, Hand of the King the Imp skillfully dodged.
"Hey, we're siblings..."
Before he could finish speaking, Tyrion Lannister saw Cersei pick up the wine jug, and he limped away.
Outside the gates of Maegor's Hold, Tyrion was still panting, wiping the sweat from his brow with exaggerated gestures.
"My sister is so gentle."
Tyrion's young squire Podrick Payne, silently handed him a clean towel, while his captain of the guard quipped, "My lord, you're even more hospitable this time than last."
Tyrion's captain of the guard, named Bronn, was a skilled swordsman whom his squire had found for him (Chapter 179).
When they first met, Bronn was a Free Riders with disheveled hair and a unkempt beard, wearing a faded blue cloak. He was lean and had a fierce, wolf-like appearance. When he saw the Gold Dragon, his face was filled with lewdness, so... Tyrion quickly took a liking to him, to his greedy smile.
Bronn's abilities quickly earned Tyrion's trust, and he was promoted to captain of his own guard. On the day of his appointment, Tyrion presented Lannister with a crimson cloak with gold handguards as a gift.
Today, Bronn's black hair was neatly combed, his beard clean-shaven, and he wore a black breastplate of Gold Cloaks officer, with a Lannister cloak hanging down from his shoulders.
Tyrion stroked his chin, looking his captain of the guard up and down, and said, " Bronn, your outfit... I heard they really like it?"
Bronn shrugged and grinned, "My lord, you are invincible."
Tyrion said seriously, "My captain of the guard, why do I worry that you might betray me every time I see your happy smile?"
Bronn gracefully placed his hand on his chest and bowed. "Lord Tyrion, my loyalty belongs only to you."
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the money pouch hanging from Tyrion's waist.
Tyrion chuckled, patted his money pouch, and said, "Now I can rest easy."
Tyrion took his short strides, with Podrick and Bronn flanking him on either side.
As they walked, Bronn whispered, "Lord Tyrion, I've heard that your Queen Mother sister has instructed your handsome cousin to contact quite a few mercenaries in King's Landing."
"She has little tricks up her sleeve every day; it's my clever older sister's hobby."
Tyrion stopped in his tracks, glancing back at Maegor's Hold in the distance. He sighed helplessly and said, "Her beautiful, fair shoulders bear too many responsibilities. As her favorite brother, I have to do my best to lighten her burden."
After he finished speaking, the three fell silent for a moment. Podrick cautiously glanced at Tyrion, whose face was deep in thought, and awkwardly tried to comfort him, "My lord, although... Queen Regent Cersei seems... not yet to understand your good intentions, but... I think she will feel your... thoughtfulness sooner or later."
Upon hearing this, Tyrion and Bronn exchanged a glance and pursed their lips.
Tyrion coughed lightly and stood with his hands behind his back. " Pod, you're right. My gentle sister will understand my good intentions sooner or later."
Bronn turned his head to the other side and chuckled.
Tyrion patted the little squire's thigh with a smile, a satisfied look on his face.
He started walking again, saying as he went, " Bronn, the gentle Empress Dowager is very angry today. Even the Gods can't predict her next move. You need to have someone keep a close eye on her."
Bronn grinned wickedly. "Yes, my lord."
Tyrion rubbed his hair... It was only a matter of time before the enemy besieged the city. In his eagerness to seize control of the Gold Cloaks, he had been acting too frequently. Even with his good cousin covering for him, Cersei still noticed something was wrong.
Tyrion laughed heartily again... but it was too late; his Ser Jacelyn Walder had already taken control of most of the Gold Cloaks on his behalf (Chapter 185).
Tyrion rubbed his chin... Gryn was indeed a reliable ally; in return, he needed to meet his nephew, the king, as soon as possible.
Thinking of Gryn, Tyrion felt a pang of regret; he should have asked him for more advice on how to serve Cersei.
Tyrion was cautious in the face of the Lioness's wrath.
The reason for Tyrion's caution was not only due to Cersei personality and his understanding of Tyrion, but more importantly, because the former Hand of the King had left him with valuable lessons from his own experience.
Dear sister, he's not Eddard Stark.
Bringing his thoughts back, Tyrion cheerfully hummed King's Landing tune.
Bronn grinned wickedly again. "My lord, I must tell you something: your pet has returned."
Tyrion's face stiffened, his voice tinged with pain. " Lady Tanda is here again?"
Lady Tanda name was Tanda Stokeworth. She was Crownlands Earl of Stokeworth Castle, and she had two daughters: her eldest daughter, Farriis (35 years old, married), and her youngest daughter Loriss (33 years old, unmarried).
Bronn replied, " Lady Tanda has invited you to dinner again. She has prepared a large piece of venison, two geese drizzled with mulberry sauce, and..."
Tyrion scratched his head in anguish, and then said, "Her youngest daughter, isn't she?"
After Tyrion became the Hand of the King, in order to counter the Baratheon brothers' blockade of King's Landing, he set his sights on Stokeworth Castle, which, like Rosby, was located not far north of King's Landing. The owner of this castle was none other than Lady Tanda.
Tyrion's meeting with Lady Tanda was pleasant in both process and outcome, but then she relentlessly pursued him, using Lamprey Pie, wild boar meat, and delicious cream soup as weapons, her aim being to marry her youngest daughter to Tyrion.
As for her youngest daughter, Loriss... well, half a person has seen a mountain... let's not even mention her.
Tyrion gazed into the distance, groaning, "I have given too much for this kingdom..."
Bronn said solemnly, "Lord Tyrion, King's King's Landing cannot do without the support of Stokeworth Castle."
Tyrion detected the schadenfreude in Bronn's voice.
He gave his captain of the guard a scrutinizing look and said, " Bronn, do you want to own a castle?"
Bronn's eyes lit up, and a lewd and obsequious smile appeared on his face, "Your Excellency, the esteemed and wise Hand of the King Minister, Bronn is at your beck and call."
Tyrion grinned. " Stokeworth Castle, Lady Tanda."
Tower of the Hand, Hand's Study.
Varys clasped his hands together and bowed in greeting. "Good day, Hand of the King of Tyrion."
Tyrion chuckled and said, " Varys, I hope you didn't bring any unsettling news. The Lioness's roar is enough to keep me up at night."
Varys smiled, took a letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Tyrion.
Tyrion picked up the letter and began to read, muttering to himself as he read, "The news that Stannis has declared himself king..."
Despite his formidable power, supported by the Lords of Stormlands and the Reach, Tyrion considered Renly Baratheon to be less of a threat than Stannis Baratheon.
Compared to Renly, who enjoys dress-up games, Stannis is strict and ruthless, and he is also highly experienced in combat. His Royal Fleet could suddenly appear at the gates of King's Landing at any time.
No matter how many fishermen Tyrion recruited to spy on Dragonstone Tyrion, not a single one returned, and even the Little Bird Varys had placed next to Stannis was nowhere to be found.
His biggest fear was the Baratheon brothers joining forces. If Stannis attacked from the sea while his brother Renly led his army to besiege the city, it wouldn't be long before Joffrey's head was on a spear... Worse still, his own head would be stuck next to his brother's.
For a time, this depressing image frequently popped into Tyrion's mind, until Stannis's raven raven, proclaiming him king, arrived.
Upon receiving the news, Tyrion immediately raised a toast with everyone, wishing he could dance for his sister Cersei.
Both Baratheon have declared themselves kings, and whichever one attacks King's Landing first, win or lose, could have the throne taken by the other Baratheon. Thus, the Lannister have gained more precious time, thanks to the Gods.
He looked up at Varys and said, "Lord Varys, isn't this news from decades ago?"
Varys smiled slightly and said, "My Lord Hand, please read on..."
Tyrion nodded slightly and then lowered his eyes.
After a while, Tyrion placed the letter on the table, frowning as he muttered, " The Crackclaw Point of the Crownlands supports Stannis as the rightful king?"
He looked at Varys and continued, "The rightful king? That term sounds familiar, Lord Varys."
Varys shrugged. " Hand of the King Tyrion, my Little Bird has investigated, and the source of this information should be Dragonstone, where Stannis is."
Tyrion's eyes flickered slightly. He chuckled, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and said, "Since Stannis became king, has he also taken a liking to these kinds of political maneuvering? If it were me, I would at least fabricate a more believable story. For example..."
He paused, then continued, " Stannis Baratheon and Robb Stark met at the best brothel in King's Landing to discuss their plan to take the Red Keep; that will at least scare away all the brothel owners."
He added, "Or... he said he was going to kneel down and lick Renly's boots... Well, that would definitely scare me away."
Varys first shook his head with a smile, then sighed and said, "My Little Bird told me that on his way to Mermaid Harbor, Lord Gryn's Mermaid, which was drifting with Marsh Marigold, stopped at Dragonstone for a while."
Tyrion asked, "A period of time?"
Varys replied, "About half a day."
Tyrion's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked seriously, "Lord Varys, is there any other intelligence?"
Varys' smile faded, and he lowered his voice slightly. "My Little Bird told me that Lord Gryn suddenly left the territory with six ships and hasn't returned since."
Tyrion's eyes flickered, and he leaned forward, saying in a deep voice, "Lord Varys, do you believe that Lord Gryn has betrayed the Red Keep?"
Varys immediately shook his head, adding a gesture of denial, "My Lord Hand, that's impossible. I doubt even the White Walker would believe such a thing."
He paused, then added, still uneasy, "I'd rather believe Lord Gryn sided with Renly than with Stannis; at least the former... could deceive quite a few people."
Tyrion stared at Varys, whose expression was slightly tense, and said with a grin, "Lord Varys, I fully support your hypothesis. I think there are quite a few people in King's King's Landing secretly plotting how to gracefully pledge allegiance to Renly, who commands an army of 100,000."