chapter 140 part 1
Chapter 140: The Hunter and the Prey
"Strong-willed..." Hearing this, Glyn's eyes trembled slightly.
It seemed it wouldn't be long before Lord Eddard noticed the issues within the royal family.
The Starks were very pure-hearted; their noble character could even sway their enemies, but their weaknesses were too obvious.
The Starks' unwavering sense of justice would push opportunists toward their adversaries, and Cersei's nature was a natural counter to the Starks.
The game of thrones had no room for the pure of heart.
Glyn had no confidence in convincing Lord Eddard to abandon his principles and become more adaptable. Furthermore, if Lord Eddard were to win, Stannis Baratheon would inherit the Iron Throne, which would not align with House Crabbe's interests.
Lord Glyn ruffled his hair. His original plan was to save all the direwolf pups at a critical moment, repaying Lord Eddard's kindness.
Glyn listened intently to what Lord Eddard was saying; Eddard was completely open with him, without any suspicion.
With Glyn's intelligence, even if he were caught off guard by Lord Eddard's sincerity, he could still maneuver according to his original plan.
He felt that Lord Eddard seemed to be his bane, because Glyn knew his own nature: he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless toward good people.
Glyn sighed inwardly; he was not, after all, a perfect player in the game of power.
...
A slight smile appeared on Glyn's clear-cut face. "Let's just say the capable do more work... Lord Glyn is omnipotent!"
Lord Eddard's mood improved considerably. He sighed and said, "That's why I miss the simplicity of the North so much. There, the only enemies are the cold and the Wildlings."
Glyn nodded understandingly. In truth, he also preferred straightforward methods.
After a pause, Glyn said seriously, "Lord Eddard, out of courtesy... we can initially respect the established rules of the game here, but..."
He clenched his fist, then continued, "If the results aren't good, then we'll do things the Northern way! King Robert trusts you deeply, and you are his Hand of the King. They should adapt to you, not the other way around."
Lord Eddard was somewhat moved. He had to admit that Glyn's words were very appealing, and his reasoning was sound.
Lord Eddard thought of Robert, and a hesitation stirred in his heart, causing him to frown.
Glyn's brown eyes moved slightly; he guessed the reason for Lord Eddard's hesitation.
"Lord Eddard, forgive my presumption, are you concerned about King Robert?"
Lord Eddard looked at Glyn, paused, then spoke frankly, "Glyn, you are very perceptive. Robert and I are like brothers, and I am here to help him. I don't want to make things difficult for him."
Glyn was silent for a moment, then said directly, "Lord Eddard, your renown and His Grace's are known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, but I must remind you... you are not the King of the Seven Kingdoms!"
The direwolf's eyes suddenly sharpened, but quickly softened. "Boy, I've never had such a thought. I'd like to hear your reasoning."
Glyn picked up a wine glass, paused, then set it back on the table.
"Forgive my bluntness, but you are the Hand of the King, yet you consider problems from the King's perspective, which is why you feel so constrained. You are a Stark; you have your own way. Whether King Robert finds it difficult or is pleased, those are questions for King Robert to consider. You cannot do it for him."
Lord Eddard's tightly knit brows finally relaxed. He felt as if the gloom in his heart was gradually fading.
Glyn added, "Many people consider the First Men's methods crude and violent. At worst, we can be a little more gentle. A just heart fears no gossip."
Lord Eddard stepped off the carpet, his tall figure rising from the wooden chair. He paced a few steps and said, "Glyn, you've reminded me well. I am here to solve Robert's troubles; I almost forgot that point."
Glyn also rose and stood before Lord Eddard, saying, "Lord Eddard, thank you for being patient with a young man like me."
Lord Eddard's large hand clapped Glyn's shoulder, a faint smile on his face. "Boy, a lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Wisdom is not limited by age."
Glyn nodded solemnly.
After a moment's pause, Glyn suddenly chuckled and said, "Given King Robert's temperament, if he could govern the kingdom with a warhammer, he'd surely be willing to sit on the Iron Throne every day."
Lord Eddard hooked the corner of his mouth. "He very well might."
Glyn spread his hands, saying, "Lord Eddard, things have become much simpler."
"Have you already decided how to begin?"
Lord Eddard looked at Glyn.
The descendants of the First Men lacked a certain flexibility. Although Glyn had the distinctive appearance of the First Men, through his interactions, Lord Eddard found that this boy possessed the shrewd wisdom of the Andals, and his sense of honor was sufficiently steadfast.
*I saved an excellent boy...* Lord Eddard felt comforted. He didn't consider this an act of kindness; his sense of honor told him that women and children should be protected.
Glyn analyzed, "Lord Eddard, Grand Maester Pycelle is clearly hiding something..."
...
The dining hall of the Tower of the Hand.
Arya straightened her small waist and looked at Jon Snow, who was sitting at the very back. He and Montun were sitting there, talking and laughing.
Her brother occasionally let out a hearty laugh, which made Arya happy too. She was very curious about what they were discussing.
Arya's eyes flickered. She noticed Sansa kept secretly glancing at Lord Glyn, who was sitting next to her. That smile was truly annoying!
Arya and Glyn were sitting on the same long bench. Her small bottom shifted, inching a little closer.
Glyn, who was discussing First Men legends with Lord Eddard, seemed to notice the movement beside him. He reached out and gently patted Arya's head.
Arya jutted her chin towards Sansa, thinking, *Annoying Sansa, don't even think about stealing my good friend!*
Sansa Stark noticed Arya's little gesture and subtly rolled her eyes at her sister.
...
"Lord Eddard, House Crabbe has finally restored the glory of its ancestors, and a peaceful Crackclaw Point will also be able to contribute to maintaining the stability of the kingdom in the future."
Lord Eddard nodded slightly and said, "Good boy, peace is precious. You've done very well; your mother would be proud of you."
Lord Eddard sighed inwardly. He had already learned from Glyn about the conflict between the Vale and Crackclaw Point. The animosity between them was practically irreconcilable, and Lord Eddard found it very difficult to mediate.
He knew very well that such things could not be forcibly suppressed; that would only invite deeper hatred, growing more profound with time.
Lord Eddard couldn't consider too many things for the time being. Affairs within the Red Keep consumed most of his energy. He first needed to resolve the problems directly before him before he had the leisure to tackle other matters of state.
Lord Eddard believed that Lord Glyn was not a warmonger; he would have ample time to find a stable way to resolve the grievances and prevent a military conflict between the Vale and Crackclaw Point.
...
At midnight, the Red Keep was dark and quiet.
Glyn and Lord Eddard, accompanied by a few guards, walked out of the Tower of the Hand. Several Gold Cloaks on night duty noticed their presence but remained silent.
Lord Eddard was the Hand of the King; no one dared to meddle.