Ruler 9

Ser Anguy shrugged again. "He should be in a good mood. Eight Northmen were beaten flat by him and Greyjoy."

After his words fell, the only sound in the study was the unceasing scratch of a pen across parchment.

The former Hand of the King and new Warden of the West whom Gryn had sent to the Westerlands—Ser Harys Swyft, Kevan's father-in-law—had barely managed to help Dick Crabb and the Crabb Trading Company take over the Lannister family's gold mines. Yet according to the latest intelligence, the situation there had taken on the air of "the mountains are high and the Lord Regent is far away."

The construction of the Lannisport garrison had encountered numerous covert obstructions. Not only Ser Harys, but quite a few Westerlands lords had also taken part.

Some harbored ulterior motives, while others had calculations of their own.

Gryn's quill paused slightly. Given the current situation in the Seven Kingdoms, he could not directly mobilize a large army and send it to the Westerlands to resolve this problem.

But those people's ambitions had to be restrained, with intimidation as the primary means.

Having made up his mind, Gryn's quill began moving again... The Golden Tooth garrison should be expanded further, and the guards at the gold mines also needed to be reinforced.

Gryn set down his quill. He also intended to invite another group of Westerlands lords' sons and daughters into the court.

Gryn looked at Ser Anguy, who stood quietly nearby, and said, "Have Ser Allard proactively compensate them for all the losses caused at the brothel, and..."

His fingers tapped the tabletop several times. After a brief pause, he continued, "Order the King's Landing Peacekeeping Force to expel every Northman involved in the brawl from King's Landing, in addition to collecting the usual fines."