On the third floor of the Spice Inn, inside a spacious yet simply furnished sitting room.
Beneath the chandelier hung with candles stood a square wooden table. Tyrion Lannister and Davos Seaworth sat facing each other, while Jon Snow and the nine-year-old young Count Monterry each took a side.
It looked like they were about to play mahjong, but the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, completely lacking the liveliness of a mahjong table.
"I really don't want to keep arguing with you. It's just a simple question, yet we've dragged this out for nearly half a month. You may not be tired of it, but I am," Tyrion said wearily.
"We all understand one fact. To maintain stability in the Reach, it's best not to let nobles outside the bloodline of Garth 'Greenhand' interfere with Highgarden."
After a pause, Davos spoke sincerely, "I won't beat around the bush. His Majesty Stannis Baratheon plans to grant Highgarden to House Florent.
The next Duke of the Reach has already been decided as Lord Axell Florent.
Even when Robert was still alive, Ser Axell served diligently, acting as the castellan of Dragonstone for His Majesty for ten years.
Afterward, he followed His Majesty through campaigns across the realm, risking his life in battle. For the sake of the king, he personally sent his own brother, Count Alester, into prison.
His Majesty should reward him."
"As far as I know, Axell never fought on the front lines, nor did he achieve great feats like you. If he must be rewarded, granting him Harrenhal would be more than enough," Tyrion said calmly.
Jon added, "Axell married the daughter of Gerrick of 'royal blood.' I'm not saying wildlings are unworthy of being the Duchess of the Reach, but as you said, the Reach lords descended from Greenhand are very xenophobic."
The hundred thousand wildlings were a powerful force. Daenerys had no intention of playing the game of thrones in Westeros, so she never considered incorporating them.
But at the Wall, Jon and Stannis had been trying to win them over.
Jon, through sheer charisma (or perhaps protagonist's luck), won over leaders like Tormund.
Stannis, however, had always had negative charisma. Even southerners disliked him, let alone wildlings beyond the Wall.
Thus, forming marriage alliances with wildling leaders became one of his options.
Like Robb, once the king had a wife, he let his relatives handle such alliances.
Axell Florent had originally set his sights on the valiant Val, who was Mance Rayder's sister-in-law. Unfortunately, Val did not fancy him, and Mance did not think highly of Stannis.
So Axell settled for second best and chose a descendant of the previous King-Beyond-the-Wall, "Redbeard."
But the wildlings had no hereditary monarchy. The descendants of a wildling king held little value, much like the sons of a deceased khal.
Southern nobles, hoping to rule the wildlings, simply assumed they could find a compliant royal lineage among them.
In reality, few wildlings acknowledged any so-called "royal blood." They didn't even care about Mance Rayder, the current King-Beyond-the-Wall, let alone descendants of a former one.
Now, the already meaningless marriage alliance had instead become a burden for Axell.
As Jon said, Sansa was not descended from Greenhand, but she and Aegon were at least of distinguished birth, far superior to Axell, a second son, paired with a wildling woman.
"Ser Axell intends to annul his marriage, send his current wife to the Silent Sisters, and then marry Margaery Tyrell. If Margaery dies, he will instead marry the youngest daughter of Count Randyll Tarly," Davos said awkwardly.
Under the Faith of the Seven, there were many orders: common septons and septas, the militant orders, monks in monasteries, and the Silent Sisters who tended to the dead.
The monks were true ascetics, shaving their heads and taking vows of silence, spending their days in labor, meditation, prayer, and silence.
The Silent Sisters were somewhat like nuns, taking vows of chastity and silence. While other clergy served all aspects of the Seven, the Silent Sisters served only the Stranger.
Thus, they were also called "the Stranger's wives."
Sending his wife to the Silent Sisters was essentially forcing her into such a life. It was cruel.
Tyrion sneered, "Axell worships the Lord of Light, yet he sends his wife to the Faith of the Seven. What does that even mean?
Besides, Randyll Tarly is currently serving as my sister's Hand of the King. You haven't even taken King's Landing yet, and you're already eyeing his daughter."
"Seven hells!" Jon suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "I just remembered, Sam's mother is also a Florent, Axell's own niece.
That would make Sam's sister Axell's grandniece. How can they marry?"
"It's not sibling or parent-child marriage. The Faith of the Seven does not forbid such cousin marriages," Davos said awkwardly.
"I think sibling marriages would be easier to accept," Tyrion muttered.
"That's only because you've become a Targaryen," Davos retorted.
"Even for my dear sister and brother, I would still say the same," Tyrion said with a grin.
Davos gave him a long look and said bluntly, "The Reach is too important, especially now that the Long Night has arrived.
His Majesty will only entrust it to his most loyal followers.
To put it plainly, Lady Sansa has provided us with one hundred thousand tons of grain, but Highgarden alone stores more than three hundred thousand tons."
"What about the Vale?" Tyrion asked.
Davos sighed. "His Majesty's current base lies with the Vale lords. They oppose Lady Sansa taking control of the Eyrie."
"So there's nothing left to discuss?" Tyrion spread his hands.
"His Majesty suggests that Sansa could inherit Riverrun from House Tully," Davos said.
Tyrion shook his head. "I actually agree with that suggestion, but Sansa will never accept it. Her uncle is still alive, and her grandfather is in the Twins helping Ser Barristan set up defenses in the Neck."
"Then divide the Riverlands in two. Riverrun remains with the Tullys, and Lady Sansa inherits Aegon's title as Duke of Harrenhal."
"That won't work. Sooner or later, the two sides will clash. And don't forget the Dragon Queen," Tyrion said quietly.
Davos stiffened. "Is she going to interfere in the affairs of the Seven Kingdoms?"
Tyrion replied, "She still insists on her oath: 'Whoever ends the Long Night shall be king.'
But the Crownlands are the ancestral domain of House Targaryen, cultivated over centuries.
Just as the North belongs to the Starks and the Westerlands to the Lannisters.
No matter who ultimately sits on the Iron Throne, the Targaryen lands must be reclaimed.
Either move the Iron Throne to Storm's End, or compensate her with lands equal to the Crownlands, such as the Trident region connected to the Crackclaw Point."
Davos hesitated.
This was something neither he nor Stannis had considered before, but upon reflection, the Dragon Queen's demand was not unreasonable.
She had aided the Wall when the wildlings marched south, and when the Long Night came, she rushed to fight the Others, forming one of the two main forces against them alongside King Stannis.
Responsibility and power were equal. At the very least, she had the strength to demand corresponding rights and benefits.
After a long silence, Davos said helplessly, "I need to discuss this with His Majesty."
"Discuss it again?" The drowsy young Count Valerion complained. "Lord Rainwood, every time there's a problem, you go back to consult someone. We've been going back and forth for nearly half a month. If you discuss it again now, when will the next negotiation be?"
"This time is different. It involves the Dragon Queen and the ownership of the Crownlands," Davos said softly.
Monterry sighed like a little adult. "My lord, I may be young and less experienced than you, but I know the history and traditions of Westeros.
Before Aegon the Conqueror arrived, King's Landing was just forested hills, and most of the Crownlands were undeveloped.
It was the Targaryens who turned wilderness into today's prosperous towns and villages.
By tradition and law, the Crownlands should belong to the Targaryens. There is nothing to discuss.
Otherwise, why should the Greenhand lineage rule the Reach? Why should the Starks rule the North? Why do the Lannisters hold the Westerlands?
And what about Storm's End, the Eyrie, Sunspear, and the countless ancient lordships?
If you break this tradition, the Seven Kingdoms will fall into chaos."
Davos was left speechless.
Tyrion winked at the young count and chuckled. "I thought you were just here to nap as a witness!"
The boy flushed and lowered his head. "I woke up because I was hungry."
"Then let's eat. That's enough for today," Davos quickly said.
"To be honest, instead of focusing on taking King's Landing and playing politics, Stannis would do better to concentrate on the Night King. If he deals with that, Sansa Stark won't demand anything.
But if someone else kills the Night King, all these plans will become a joke," Tyrion sighed.
Davos replied meaningfully, "To be honest, if the Dragon Queen hadn't stirred things up with this 'legitimate descendant of the Mad King,' His Majesty wouldn't have cared about Lady Sansa's small moves.
If you, this 'super bastard of Aerys,' hadn't appeared, and if you hadn't joined forces with Lady Sansa, it wouldn't matter even if the Reach were granted to Aegon's posthumous child."
Tyrion's eyes flickered. "You think the Dragon Queen has a scheme? What could she be planning? Surely not the Iron Throne?"
Davos stood before the table, looking down at him. "I would also like to know why she insists on provoking His Majesty.
She knows you and Lady Sansa are unwilling to live quietly, yet she gives you the opportunity to stir up trouble.
It's as if she is encouraging you to play the game of thrones and oppose His Majesty."
Tyrion gave a bitter smile. "That sounds as if she encouraged her mad father to violate my poor mother and give birth to a wretch like me."
Davos met his gaze. "In any case, His Majesty will not allow two scheming Targaryens to hide in the shadows while he fights the Others.
To be frank, His Majesty will not stir trouble within the Seven Kingdoms. He targets only the Targaryens other than the Dragon Queen, namely you and Sansa.
As long as you abandon your claim to the Iron Throne, swear loyalty to His Majesty, or leave Westeros, the realm will immediately unite against the Others."
"Swear loyalty? Of course. Aren't we discussing the price of that loyalty right now?
Meet our demands, and Sansa and I will immediately shout, 'Long live the king, long live King Stannis!'" Tyrion cried theatrically, raising his fist.
Davos turned and left.
"Wait!" Tyrion hurried after him. As they descended the stairs, he lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "I have a suggestion. It will benefit both sides."
"Have you lost your mind? You dare to demand Storm's End?!"
"No, no, just as collateral…"
The dwarf's voice grew even softer.
"You want to imitate your ancestor, 'Clever' Lann. Just as Lann tricked Casterly Rock, you want to swindle Storm's End from His Majesty without lifting a finger?" Davos said coldly.
"No. My ancestors were Valyrian dragonlords. When they wanted something, they took it by war, never by deception," Tyrion said seriously.
Lann the Clever was the ancestor of House Lannister, a legendary figure. Casterly Rock originally belonged to another house, and Lann obtained it through trickery without shedding a drop of blood.
(End of Chapter)
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