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The breeze blew gently as leaves fell upon the path. As if reflecting the castle's joy, the weather had grown milder.
Cole had been in King's Landing for some time now, unaware of what was happening back on Dragonstone.
He practiced swordplay in the yard as usual. Though there was a training ground in the inner yard, most who used it belonged to House Tyrell and House Lannister.
It seemed the Lannisters were content to leave him be for now. He had stated his conditions, but the Lion had yet to respond.
Perhaps he needed to apply some pressure on the King's Landing Royal Council. He couldn't simply wait for Joffrey to be poisoned by the "Strangler" at the wedding, with no follow-up on their agreement.
Though he wondered if Joffrey could escape his fate at all.
"Lord Snow!" Podrick came running from outside the yard. "Something's happening, something's happening in the main courtyard."
The yard he referred to wasn't the small one where Cole and his companions currently resided, but the Royal Courtyard, where dignitaries from all Seven Kingdoms gathered.
The Tyrells, housed next to the Maidenvault, and the Martells, situated nearby.
Cole quickly understood Podrick's meaning.
Looking out the courtyard door, they observed the tense atmosphere surrounding the Dornish camp.
Though the Lannisters had deliberately placed House Tyrell of Highgarden and House Martell of Dorne at opposite corners of the Red Keep, conflict had erupted nonetheless.
It wasn't that the Tyrells sought old grievances to upset the Martells.
Yesterday, a small brawl had broken out in a tavern in Flea Bottom. Such skirmishes had become common lately, so this alone wasn't remarkable.
But a Tyrell soldier had died in the fight.
Cole had just finished dealing with these two houses, neither of which was easy to handle. Now it was the Lannisters who faced the headache.
Sure enough, a Lannister soon arrived to mediate, with Tyrion representing the Lion's family.
Cole had been planning to visit his old friend anyway, so he asked Podrick to invite Tyrion to his yard once the matter was settled.
Podrick led Tyrion into the courtyard, where he found Cole sitting at a table, tending to his sword.
Cole gently wrapped the blade in pure cotton flannel, wiped away the remaining dust, then evenly applied sword oil along its length.
He laid the sword flat on the table, sprinkled some sword powder, then turned his head. "Did the people of Highgarden receive the explanation they sought, Lord Tyrion?"
"The old Dornish saying goes 'Flowers must bow to the sun,' but Lady Olenna seems to strongly demand that the prince apologize to them." Tyrion sighed. "She even called the woman accompanying Prince Martell a 'sand whore.'"
"Pour me some wine, my friend." The Imp sat at the table.
Cole instructed a servant to bring wine and pour for them both.
Lord Tyrion picked up his glass and took a deep gulp.
"There are no fewer than ten thousand Tyrell men outside King's Landing, and only three hundred Dornishmen, yet our prince seems remarkably brave," Tyrion continued.
"I've heard stories about Prince Oberyn." The Red Viper of Dorne was far more fierce than his brother, Prince Doran.
Tyrion sighed. "Jousting, warfare, even his sexual appetites—his interests exceed those of ordinary men. I personally greeted him at the Blackwater. Do you know what our prince asked for first, Jon?"
He continued without waiting for an answer. "He wanted a blonde girl. I thought perhaps he had tired of the Dornish woman at his side. Guess what he said?"
"'I want to share her and share the pleasure.'"
Cole chuckled. Prince Oberyn truly had a reputation for such matters.
"He wouldn't journey all the way to King's Landing merely to find a blonde woman."
"Of course not," Tyrion said helplessly. "He came for a terrible murder committed sixteen years ago. I wonder if you've heard of it."
"You mean the Dornish princess who married Rhaegar Targaryen?"
Tyrion nodded his oversized head twice.
"You seem irritated, Tyrion. I hope my next question won't add fuel to the fire." Cole decided not to dance around the issue.
Tyrion was momentarily startled, then recalled Jon's purpose in King's Landing. He had mentally prepared for this, yet had hoped they might continue their conversation in friendly tones.
"Oh? I hope it's nothing unpleasant."
"The Hand has not provided an answer. This is hardly the attitude of a friend, Lord Tyrion."
Tyrion knew this question was coming. "We've been exceptionally busy with wedding preparations. I didn't mean to neglect you, Jon."
"I'll return to Dragonstone to report after the wedding. I understand the Hand is preoccupied. In that case, please relay a message to him: The Stormlands are my bottom line." Cole spoke with solemn gravity.
Tyrion remained silent for a long moment. "Very well. I'll pass your message along."
Cole raised his glass and smiled politely. "I hope our friendship endures, Lord Lannister."
Tyrion found the wine on his lips had turned bitter. Their relationship had transformed from one kind of friendship to another.
He didn't linger long. The Master of Coin had daily obligations. Not only did he need to fund the King's wedding expenses, but also raise money to repair the docks.
While occupied with wedding preparations, they hadn't forgotten the war that might ignite at any moment.
King's Landing needed warships. Though Lannisport maintained a fleet, Lord Tywin wouldn't easily dispatch those vessels elsewhere. They served as defense against potential Ironborn raids.
Only the ships of the Reach could be summoned. But for that fleet to sail into Blackwater Bay, Dragonstone must grant passage.
When Tyrion returned to his tower, his squire Podrick informed him that the Hand had summoned him.
With barely a moment to catch his breath, Tyrion hurried to the Hand's study.
Lord Tywin had been waiting, his quill moving purposefully across parchments.
"How was it resolved?" Lord Tywin asked without looking up.
"It ended unpleasantly," Tyrion replied with a shrug. "Prince Oberyn also inquired when we might fulfill our promise."
"And Cole asked about your response to his conditions."
"Response? What response does he expect? I've already named him Duke of Storm's End," Lord Tywin stated flatly.
"He didn't accept your generosity, father." Tyrion noted. "Stannis not only offered him Storm's End but also a wife."
Though I heard the girl was something of a monster herself, he thought.
"He asked me to relay a message: 'The Stormlands are the bottom line.'"
Lord Tywin's expression remained unchanged. "The Stormlands were originally intended for them, but many nobles there still support our cause. If they kneel and surrender, how can we simply cast them aside?"
"A true dilemma," Tyrion said with a curl of his lips.