iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 619 Debts Must Be Repaid

Would Stark dare disobey his orders? He had come in the name of the King and Queen to destroy Stannis.

Prime Minister Mace's cheeks slowly puffed out. If... the Starks did not obey his orders, did that mean their loyalty was questionable?

If that's the case, after Stannis is defeated, is it possible that he will lead his army to Winterfell?

The Battle of Treeside... the siege of Storm's End... the rescue of King's Landing... the defeat of Stannis... and the fall of Winterfell...

Prime Minister Mayes’s eyes shone brighter and brighter; his reputation as a great general will be passed down through generations!
……

Thinking of this, he tried his best to hide his excitement and authoritatively ordered everyone else to leave the study, leaving Tyrion alone.

After Tyrion climbed into the chair and sat down, Prime Minister Mace pushed the glass of wine he had personally filled towards him.

"Thank you, sir."

Tyrion smiled and nodded in thanks, then picked up his glass and took a satisfied sip.

Prime Minister Mace looked extremely amiable. He stroked his beard and tentatively asked, "How do you think Stark should cooperate with my operations?"

After a pause, he added, "Let me hear if your thoughts align with mine."

Tyrion's expression remained unchanged as he humbly said, "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, thank you for giving me this opportunity to demonstrate my abilities. Please allow me to thank you again."

He put down his wine glass and slowly began to speak: "Actually, my method is very simple..."

He leaned forward slightly: "...urge the Duke of Stark to attack Stannis, while you, well, we will watch the battle and wait for the right moment...to deliver the fatal blow."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Mays' face showed displeasure: "It's too obvious. This will cause dissatisfaction among the Northerners, and it's not honorable."

Tyrion's eyes lit up: "Stannis has seized many of the Night's Watch's fortresses. You could have taken them back while they were fighting. This is one of your wise battle plans."

Prime Minister Mace hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and looked directly at the dwarf: "Could it be that the Starks... are feigning allegiance to the King and Queen?"

Tyrion's pupils contracted slightly: "Your Excellency, what do you mean?"

Prime Minister Mace leaned back in his chair, stroked his beard, paused, and then spoke: "If the Duke of Stark does not obey my orders, does that mean he is still secretly 'taking care' of the usurpers?"

He seemed to be lamenting, "If Winterfell fails to live up to the King's trust, as the Hand of the King, I will have no choice but to tie up the Wolf and await His Majesty Green's judgment."

Tyrion's pupils constricted again; he had to admit that he had underestimated the Duke of Highgarden's appetite.

He couldn't help but recall the old lion's assessment of the Duke of Highgarden that he had "overheard"—a greedy and foolish rose.

Greed is fearless.

Tyrion was starting to regret praising the Duke of Highgarden too much.

Having left the stage of power, his skills had become rusty...

……

After a pause, Tyrion cautiously reminded him, "My Lord Hand, please forgive my bluntness, but His Majesty Green has always been very patient with the Starks. That alone is hardly enough to prove their disloyalty to the Kingdom."

Prime Minister Mayes was surprisingly candid. He nodded, his eyes fixed on Tyrion: "Do you have a way, Tyrion?"

The Duke of Highgarden was as kind as a neighborly uncle, but Tyrion was a deadly headache; he seemed poised to become a true villain.

What should he do?
Tyrion deliberately feigned a nervous expression, making sure the other person saw it, before speaking in a low voice: "I think, perhaps, you could send someone to oversee the Stark army's movements?"

After listening to the slanderous words of the treacherous minister, Prime Minister Mayes paused in stroking his beard. He seemed to have grasped something, but he wasn't quite sure what it was...

He asked authoritatively, "And then? Tell me specifically, my loyal Tyrion."

Tyrion suppressed the urge to tear his hair out. If he were to act according to Tyrell's wishes, he could foresee the miserable end of this treacherous minister...

At that time, his head will be very useful, to appease Green's anger, and also to appease the anger of the North.

Alternatively, he could also be the culprit who misled Tyrell.

To survive, he had to save himself.

……

Tyrion's eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice: "Lord Matus Rowan is a good choice. He is a loyal vassal of yours, and his eyes can keep an eye on the Starks' every move."

Upon hearing Tyrion's suggestion, Prime Minister Metz was initially tempted, but then secretly shook his head. Matus's presumptuous behavior had already angered him; he could mercifully forgive his offense, but he could not trust him.

At the same time, he was well aware that his plan had to be kept secret.

……

Prime Minister Mays waved his hand and shifted his gaze: "Martus is not the right person, and Stark will certainly be wary of the Reachers."

Tyrion managed to maintain a composed expression; Prime Minister Mace's intentions were clear—he was the best candidate.

He paused, trying to salvage the situation: "Your Excellency, if they join forces..."

Prime Minister Mace waved his hand and interrupted with great enthusiasm, "My heir will soon send more troops and provisions. At that time, Eastwatch will have at least 60,000 Tyrell troops. If they join forces, they can wipe out all the rebels in one fell swoop, and I can put an end to the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms."

Indeed, dwarfs are better suited to be jesters who amuse people than cunning retainers.

Under the expectant and encouraging gaze of the Duke of the Inflatable Fish, Tyrion climbed down from his chair, patted his chest, and said, "Your Excellency, Hand of the King, I volunteer to go to the Stark camp. Please grant me your permission to make this presumptuous request."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Mays burst into hearty laughter.

Having received the Duke of Highgarden's promise of an incredibly generous reward, the despicable dwarf limped out of the room.

As the door closed, Prime Minister Mays took a sip of his wine with great pleasure.

Yes, he admitted that there was an element of gambling involved this time as well.

Whether or not it succeeds, this Lannister bloodline is a perfect scapegoat, and Tyrell doesn't need to take any risks.

If he had any selfish motives, it was that he had never forgotten that his most beloved youngest son was killed by the Lannisters (Chapter 146).

……

Looking eastward, at the dock.

A merchant ship slowly docked, and as the water gates lowered their ramps, a tall man who looked to be around thirty years old stepped off.

The man had a strong chin and was very handsome; the sea breeze tousled his slightly long, light sandy brown hair.

As he stood there surveying his surroundings, several other men with Dornish features, who shared similar characteristics with him, disembarked.

"Sir, there must have been a battle here."

The man smiled, revealing dimples: "If Her Highness's letter had arrived a day earlier, we might have caught up with this excitement. Let's go."

His name was Damon Shad, known as "the bastard of the City of Grace," and he was considered one of Dorne's finest swordsmen.

He was once Arianne's lover, and now one of Arianne's confidants, sent to deal with Jaime, who was exiled to the Wall (Chapter 498).

.........

.........

"Green!"

Arya Stark's clear voice drifted into his ears on the cold wind, and Green, who had just dismounted, looked in the direction of the voice and revealed a gentle smile.

Arya suddenly galloped away, while Daisy Mormont signaled the others to slow their horses.

Along the way, she saw many light cavalrymen guarding the king from afar. Their smooth arrival here must have been with the king's permission.

Once they reached a suitable distance, Daisy ordered everyone to dismount and kneel down in the direction of the king.

"Giggle..."

Arya, who had already dismounted, trotted excitedly. Then, seeing her rushing towards him from a few steps away, Green caught her steadily and spun her around a few times before putting her down.

The moment her little feet touched the ground, Arya hugged Green's leg and looked up at him, exclaiming, "I missed you so much!"

Green ruffled her hair and looked down at her: "Long time no see, little Arya."

Arya puffed out her cheeks and released Grimm's leg: "I'm all grown up now. I'm a swordsman personally appointed by the Duke of Winterfell, and the only female swordsman in Winterfell."

(End of this chapter)