chapter 89 part 1
Chapter 89: The Beauty
The dusk in King's Landing was not gloomy; under the setting sun's rays, it was tinged with a thin layer of crimson.
King's Landing, Hook Alley.
At Glyn's signal, Samwell produced a key and, with a click, unlocked the large door.
"Didn't you say it was just some random key you picked up?" Samwell paused, scratching his head as he looked at Glyn.
Glyn shrugged.
This was Lannister-style dry wit. Having spent the most time with the Lannisters since arriving in King's Landing, Glyn was already well-acquainted with it.
As long as it was something related to gold dragons, the more valuable it was, the more nonchalantly the Lannisters would describe it.
Entering the courtyard, Glyn looked up and surveyed the three-story white building, then turned to Jaime beside him. "Ser Jaime, it really is a small mansion."
Jaime Lannister let out a relaxed laugh and patted Glyn's arm.
"Haha, if it isn't our Baron Glyn? Long time no see. Didn't the tenderness of the Reach manage to trap you there? Ahem… Welcome to House Crabbe's new residence."
Tyrion Lannister spoke as he sauntered over.
If not for his appearance, Glyn felt Tyrion's entrance was quite grand.
Jaime asked in confusion, "Tyrion, how did you get in?"
After speaking, Jaime glanced up at the mansion's high walls.
Tyrion's eyes followed Jaime's gaze. "Jaime, my brother, thank you for looking up to me for once. That's my dream."
Jaime threw up his hands. "Did I leave you here?"
Tyrion glanced at the unfamiliar Samwell, nodded slightly, then walked over to Glyn and patted his… thigh.
"My esteemed Ser Jaime, thank you for your tactful way of describing my abrupt appearance here. Actually, I wanted to tell you that I saw quite a few books in this mansion's library. I accidentally became engrossed in reading. By the time I came to my senses and went to find you, I discovered the main gate wouldn't open. So, to be precise, I am a pitiful soul abandoned here by a Lannister."
Jaime smiled helplessly. "My apologies. I thought you had business to attend to and had already left."
Tyrion grinned. "My height makes me easy to overlook. Perhaps I'm suited to be an assassin. Be careful, Jaime of the Kingsguard. The assassin Tyrion is everywhere."
Jaime's lips twitched. He had no intention of responding.
Glyn had already noticed Samwell's restlessness upon hearing about the library.
Glyn smiled and said, "Sam, go find the library. From now on, that place will be your domain."
Visibly excited, Samwell nodded vigorously and immediately set off.
After a few steps, Samwell suddenly stopped. Unsure what he had just remembered, he scratched his head and walked back.
Perhaps out of nervousness, Samwell bowed awkwardly to Jaime and Tyrion before taking his leave once more.
Tyrion looked at Glyn, his eyes full of suspicion. "Glyn, your gaze tells me you like him very much. Is he your lover from the Reach? Congratulations. Also, I will never get blackout drunk in front of you again."
Glyn couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Lord Tyrion, rest assured, he is my future advisor. Like you, he loves books, and his head is filled with a great deal of knowledge."
"Haha, hearing you say that, I suddenly like him too. It seems you've gained quite a bit this time. You have an extra brain by your side."
Glyn spread his hands. "Indeed. He'll tell me that before drawing my sword, I can try a polite greeting first. It might achieve the same result."
Tyrion roared with laughter for a while, then suddenly lowered his voice and asked in a serious tone, "How was the Reach? You know what I'm asking about, right?"
Tyrion couldn't stay serious for more than three seconds, but his enthusiasm was infectious to Glyn.
Playing along with Tyrion, Glyn paused dramatically before speaking. "The plains of Highgarden are a sea of golden roses as far as the eye can see. The fruit is so ripe it bursts in your mouth..."
Tyrion's face showed undisguised annoyance.
Glyn tilted his head back and laughed, continuing, "The weather in the Reach is very hot. So hot that the girls there can't wear long robes, only sleeveless short shirts... When it's scorching, the riverside is a landscape of pale, glistening skin."
Only then did Tyrion nod in satisfaction. "Now that's the beautiful scenery of the Reach I remember."
Glyn gestured with his hand, inviting Jaime and Tyrion into the house.
Glyn and Jaime tacitly slowed their pace, letting Tyrion walk alone in front.
Glyn looked at Jaime: *No chance to talk business today.*
Jaime looked back: *It's fine, we're not in a hurry.*
Behind Tyrion's back, Glyn and Jaime quietly completed their exchange with just a look.
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The waves of Shipbreaker Bay surged endlessly, crashing against the reefs and leaving behind circles of white foam.
The Stormlands, outside Storm's End.
Brienne was the only surviving child of Lord Selwyn Tarth. She lived on the Isle of Tarth, which neighbored the Narrow Sea and the Stormlands.
Brienne's father, Lord Selwyn Tarth, had always wanted to find a suitable match for her. Although it was no easy task, Selwyn had found three men for his daughter in succession—three men who were interested in Brienne's inheritance.
Since she was a child, Brienne had been unusually tall and large, with a build as strong as any man's.
Brienne loved to wield a sword, and her dream was to become a knight.
Brienne was naive and straightforward, though a bit willful and stubborn.
After her third betrothed had three bones broken by Brienne, Lord Selwyn gave up his plans to find her a husband. He sent his daughter to Storm's End, entrusting her to Ser Goodwin to be trained in combat.
From Ser Goodwin, Brienne learned to use a longsword with greater skill and how to fight in plate armor.
The time she spent training with Ser Goodwin was a rare period of happiness for Brienne.
But then, Ser Goodwin fell ill and died.
"You have the strength of a man, but you still have the heart of a woman. Practicing with a steel sword in the yard is one thing; plunging a foot of steel into another's belly and watching the light fade from their eyes is another matter entirely."
"On the battlefield, a brief moment is a lifetime. I saw him pull a dagger and thrust it into the gap in my friend's armor. His strength, his speed, his courage, all the skills honed through arduous training... worthless as a mummer's fart. All for nothing, because he flinched at the moment he should have dealt the killing blow."
Brienne recalled Ser Goodwin's lessons.
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While in the Kingswood, Glyn had also thought of Brienne, the Beauty of Tarth.
Most men in Westeros, and even many women, held a prejudiced view of women who wielded swords. Brienne's situation was certainly more wretched than the ones Glyn knew of.
This was also why Glyn had not brought any female warriors from Crackclaw Point when he came to King's Landing. When one's power was weak, there was no need to be unconventional and attract unnecessary trouble.
Unless Glyn's ambitions were limited to Crackclaw Point. For House Crabbe to move beyond the peninsula, improving the public's ingrained perception of it was an undeniable and heavy responsibility.
The unique environment of Crackclaw Point had given rise to the Thorn Legion, composed of women. Glyn felt this stage would hold a great attraction for Brienne.
Glyn hoped that Brienne, who was a strong fighter, sincere, and loyal, would join the Thorn Legion. At the right moment, she could leave Crackclaw Point with the legion and win the renown that was hers to claim.
But he knew that the current Brienne was in the throes of a girlish crush, secretly in love with her liege lord, Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End.
The time was not yet right. Given Brienne's personality, she would not leave the Stormlands.
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Samwell's sudden decision to join him had changed some of Glyn's plans.
He later learned that Samwell had been dragged by Talla and Dickon to watch the tournament Glyn was hosting.
It was this coincidence that allowed Glyn and Samwell to meet.
And it was this meeting that prevented Samwell from being forced by his father to take the black and join the Night's Watch, as in the original story. Instead, he actively chose to leave Horn Hill and join Glyn's camp.
Therefore, on the way back to King's Landing, Glyn made some arrangements in advance. For example, he sent out a guard with a silver tongue, Anguy, to make contact with Brienne ahead of time.
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