Tower of the Hand.
Gryn had just walked out of the stairs. Before he could reach Hand's Study, he was blocked by Hand's Steward, whom he had met in the morning.
"Lord Gryn, sorry, Lord Hand please go to Hand's Bedchamber."
Gryn didn't ask any more questions, just nodded slightly and said, "Your Excellency Steward, please lead the way."
Hearing this, Hand's Steward raised his head and glanced at Gryn, then stretched out a hand and said, "Your Excellency, Baron, please come with me."
Ta Ta Ta, there are only two people's footsteps in the quiet Tower of the Hand.
Going up another level, Gryn found two Gold Cloaks substations guarding the door of a room.
Hand's Steward stood still, bowed slightly sideways, and stretched out a hand in the direction of Gold Cloaks.
"Petyr Please be loyal."
When Gryn walked past Hand's Steward, a whisper that only the two of them could hear came into his ears.
Gryn tapped his chin, walked to the door alone, stood up, and calmly adjusted his armor.
Lancel, shadow, loyalty.
Gryn lowered his head slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up imperceptibly.
Not long after, Gryn, who had finished getting dressed, straightened his waist again and glanced at Gold Cloaks with his brown eyes.
Gold Cloaks opened the room door for Gryn without squinting, and Gryn stepped in.
Entering Hand's Bedchamber, Gryn first smelled a medicinal smell.
The strong smell of medicine almost filled the entire room.
Compared with the last time we met, there were several attendants silently busy in another part of the room.
In response to the pungent smell of medicine, Gryn's face showed no trace of color, and he nodded towards Duke Jon·Arryn who was leaning on the bedside. "Good day, Lord Hand."
Lord Jon said in a very friendly tone, "Come on, kid, I'm very happy to see you. Sit down and talk."
After the words fell, an attendant in the room brought a chair and gently placed it next to the bed.
The same routine again... Faced with Lord Jon's kind words, Gryn was on guard and rolled his eyes.
Gryn's eyes moved slightly, and he only sat on one-third of the chair, leaning slightly in the direction of Jon, with his hands on his knees.
Gryn spoke to take care of the frail Lord Jon, not to... Gryn just deliberately made the two of them look close.
Regarding Gryn's little move, Lord Jon did not show any abnormality. He stared at Gryn with his cloudy eyes and said, "I heard that you made a lot of noise at Highgarden this time?"
Gryn smiled sheepishly and replied, "Crackclaw Point is short of food. My steward told me that the price of food in the Reach is fair, so I took advantage of Kingswood Hunt to go to Highgarden."
After a pause, Gryn continued, "However, things didn't go well. I didn't have a few Gold Dragon in my pocket. Those businessmen didn't even want to pay attention to me, a poor lord who came all the way from Crownlands. So..."
Gryn stared at Lord Jon with bright eyes and said nothing, which finally made Lord Jon's face appear a little strange. "Ahem, what next?"
There was a hint of excitement in Gryn's tone. "Since my etiquette could not bring me the courtesy I deserved, I set up a ring on the outskirts of Highgarden and used the sword in my hand to talk to them. For several days in a row, I defeated more than a hundred the Reach challengers!"
"Ahem, that's interesting."
"Thank you for your compliments. The subsequent progress has been smooth. We have negotiated the trade of Crackclaw Point's leather for the Reach's grain. This makes me temporarily relieved. The root cause of Crackclaw Point's daily wars is actually mostly for survival food. Without a stable environment in the territory, it will only make the situation worse."
Gryn's words made Lord Jon inadvertently think of the heir. For a big noble, the heir is too important.
Jon·Arryn has been married three times.
The first wife was Jenny Royce, but Jenny died in childbirth, and the baby girl she gave birth to was also stillborn.
His second wife was his cousin Luyunna Arryn, who died of cold illness and gave birth to no children.
Lord Jon appointed many heirs, but each of them died before Lord Jon.
The first heir was Albert Arryn, the youngest son of his brother Ronnel, but he was executed by Mad King before War of the Usurper.
The second heir was Denys from a branch of House Arryn, but he was killed in War of the Usurper.
During War of the Usurper, Lord Jon married the daughter of Duke Hoster·Tully Lysa·Tully, Lysa·Tully, after many miscarriages, finally gave Jon a frail and sick legitimate heir, Robert·Arryn.
"Lord Jon?"
The voice of Gryn awakened Lord Jon who was trapped in memories.
Gryn looked worried on his face, but his heart was moved.
Although Lord Jon appears to be in similar condition to the last time we met, Gryn can feel that Lord Jon has no chance of recovery.
If Maester can maintain the status quo of Lord Jon... for a year or two?
Lord Jon came back to his senses and stared at Gryn with complicated eyes for a while.
After all, the future of the kingdom belongs to the young... The old Lord Jon sighed in his heart, suddenly feeling that time is the cruelest.
Lord Jon's emotion was only momentary, and he would not forget the purpose of meeting Gryn in person.
Lord Jon praised, "I was right, Lord Gryn, although you are young, your abilities are outstanding."
Lord Jon's praise, Gryn sounds harsh.
Gryn shook his head slightly and took the initiative to say, "Lord Jon, during this period, I also learned about some situations through various channels."
"For more than ten years, in order to hunt down the Targaryen Young Dragons that fled to the other continent, the kingdom has spent more than 100,000 to 200,000 Gold Dragon every year, but there is still no harvest..."
Having said this, Gryn stopped talking and looked at Lord Jon in confusion.
Lord Jon The muscles in his cheek twitched slightly.
"Lord Gryn, you are exaggerating the difficulty. We used to sit in Red Keep... If someone can sit in Essos, it will be a different situation..."
While Lord Jon paused, Gryn nodded happily and said, "Lord Jon, then I'm relieved. I'm just worried that I won't get Red Keep's support."
I have people on my hands. I have more than two thousand clan soldiers (Gryn's deliberately exaggerated data). They have fought for House Crabb for generations. Everyone is an excellent soldier, very reliable, and worthy of Red Keep's trust.
I will take my clan soldiers across the ocean, and we will search every corner of Essos. As long as there is enough time, I will definitely be able to dig out the hidden Targaryen Young Dragons.
Of course, back to the beginning, what I need is the support of Red Keep..."
Lord Jon moved his lips slightly, paused for a long time, and then said, "I will keep my promise. When you return smoothly, you will be Warden of Crackclaw Point."
Gryn couldn't help being surprised, opened his mouth and said, "Lord Jon, with all due respect, where is Red Keep's support?"
Lord Jon's cloudy eyes flashed with sharpness. "Crackclaw Point has never had a guardian. This is the support of Red Keep."
Gryn's tone was very unwilling. "Lord Hand, I don't even have a ship to cross the sea!"
Lord Jon stared at Gryn for a while, then said, "You don't have to lead so many subordinates in three years. As long as you work hard in three years, no matter what the result is, you will still be Warden of Crackclaw Point."
Gryn held his forehead and smiled, with suppressed anger in his eyes. "Honorable Lord Hand, I am just a swordsman, I don't understand what you mean."
In the room, Gryn, who was suppressing his anger, and Lord Jon, who was calm, formed two completely different scenes.
"Lord Gryn, I know you are very smart, you have actually understood what I meant."
Lord Jon stared at Gryn and said, "Or, you deliberately found an excuse that sounded decent... Are you feeling pity for Targaryen's old owner?"
Loyalty...Gryn stood up suddenly and raised his voice. "Lord Jon, you are insulting my honor with unwarranted speculation! I will never accept it. I will duel with a swordsman who can represent you, and I will use victory to prove my loyalty to the kingdom! Immediately!"
The air inside Hand's Bedchamber seemed to have solidified, and everyone present was stunned.
Except Gryn and Jon.
Gryn looks murderous.
Gryn's actions failed to change Lord Jon's calm face.
Lord Jon A flash of sadness flashed across his eyes, secretly regretting this rare opportunity.
I, Jon·Arryn, am really not suitable for this kind of planning!
Lord Jon was thinking that this might be the Gods's mercy and blessing, preventing him from losing the glory he had guarded throughout his life in the last stage of his life.
Lord Jon sighed secretly, that's all, it's been more than ten years, and a poor and weak Crackclaw Point can't make a big splash.
My next one will do better than me!
"That's enough, damn it, I can't listen anymore!"
A rough voice sounded from behind the bed.
The majestic King Robert·Baratheon strode out from behind.
Gryn glanced at Lord Jon on the bed, and nodded to King Robert: "Good day, Your Majesty, the Whispers is at your disposal."
King Robert stood still in front of Gryn: "Damn it, why did I fall asleep? Baron of The Whispers, you disturbed my sweet dream.
However, your attitude still makes me happy. The remnants of Targaryen deserve to die. I only hate that they can only be killed once!
Damn it, who will get me a glass of wine, where is my Lannister stupid pig attendant? Who told me where he was hiding again?!"
There was a bang, and Lancel·Lannister took the wine glass and flask and pushed the door open in a panic.
Lancel, who is King's Squire, can be said to have taken a big risk, hiding near Tower of the Hand to hint at Gryn.
Gryn remembered King's Landing the evening before the hunt, Lannister indeed all debts must be paid!
Gryn glanced at Lancel's little face, and was moved... Lancel, for the time being, I can only sympathize with your experience in my heart.
While Lancel was pouring wine for King Robert, Gryn quietly moved to the side and stood with his eyes lowered silently.
Robert raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp, saying, "Be smart, Lannister. If you dare to delay my wine again, I will hang you on the city gate!"
King Robert said to Lord Jon, "Jon, you should take good care of your health, and leave these bullshit to Steward. As long as my war hammer is still there, nothing big will happen to the kingdom!"
Jon smiled and said, "Your Majesty, it's me who disturbed your sweet dream. I'm just not used to it. I've left many things to Petyr. He has always done a good job, so I can rest assured."
Robert laughed, "This is good news. If it makes you feel at ease, let him run more errands. Although I don't like his hypocrisy, he is really good at getting rid of trouble."
After saying that, King Robert's eyes moved to Gryn, his big eyes staring at Gryn motionlessly.
Facing the fierce momentum of Robert, Gryn is naturally... calm and composed.
Not long after, Robert burst out laughing, "Gryn·Crabb, the young man is not bad, he is a good the Warrior! Your Dragon Extermination Plan I heard it, you are much more reliable than my imperial ministers who talk nonsense all day long, and you have spent so much Gold Dragon, but I haven't even seen a finger! Tell me, how do you want Red Keep to support your plan?"
Gryn looked at Robert, and his tone was full of confidence. "Your Majesty, I have enough manpower, I only need Red Keep to provide 150,000 Gold Dragon every year!"
The smile on Robert's face froze for a moment, and he cursed, "Damn it, you damn Crownland Bannermans, all you want is money when you see me, and you only need 150,000, every year? Do you think that Iron Chair will pull out gold nuggets for me when no one is around at night?!"
Gryn, with the power of Robert, said bluntly, "Your Majesty, Essos is much bigger than Westeros. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. I can't let my people be there while looking for targets and begging at the same time."
King Robert laughed, "Young the Warrior, you made me laugh! Well, let the soldiers fight with hunger, they will not only curse you, but also burn your tent!"
King Robert looked at the door. "Go and call my Master of Coin!"
Jon said at this time, "Petyr is at Hand's Study, go directly downstairs and ask him to come up."
Dong-dong-dong, Petyr, who was dressed neatly, entered the room and saluted King Robert: "Good day, Your Majesty the King."
Robert nodded and said, "Petyr, is there still Gold Dragon in the kingdom's treasury?"
Petyr raised the corners of his lips, caressed his chest and said, "Your Majesty, as long as you have needs, Petyr will always have the right amount of coins in the kingdom's treasury."
King Robert nodded with satisfaction and said in a deep voice to Gryn: "Baron of The Whispers, I don't like waiting without results."
With a bang, Gryn's Right Hand was slapped on the chest (Gryn was wearing armor), as if the Warrior was about to go into battle. "Your Majesty, you only need to support me for three years, I only need three years!"
King Robert had a look of satisfaction on his fat face. He nodded and said to Petyr on the side, "Petyr, prepare 150,000 Gold Dragon for him!"
Petyr stroked his chest and nodded. "Take orders, my majesty."
King Robert's eyes moved to Gryn again. "Gryn·Crabb, this is for three years, I will give it to you at once!
Damn it, I won't let the soldiers fight on an empty stomach, but I won't be so luxurious that you eat Gold Dragon to fight!
Do you know what is the most expensive? It is the useless information! I will let Varys help you, remember, I will not tolerate your failure, and there will be no additional rewards!
Remember, the faster the better, as long as you succeed, I allow you to put the remaining Gold Dragon in your pocket!"
King Robert, I am willing to go through thick and thin for you...Gryn looked at King Robert with an even firmer gaze.