chapter 172 part 2
"There won't be any turmoil in King's Landing in the short term. Even if there is, the Red Keep will not abandon us. But we still need to prepare our own grain stores in advance to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. By my command, every one of you is to put your full effort into this."
…
…
After the men had left, Leyton said softly, "My lord, I don't think anyone… at least not our Gold Cloaks, will be paying any special attention to Flea Bottom anymore."
Glynn leaned back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Bread and blood… Just let the embers slowly spread."
…
…
Bitterbridge was the seat and castle of House Caswell in the Reach, a key crossing of the Roseroad over the Mander River.
The Reach, Bitterbridge.
Lady Olenna Tyrell snorted. "Robert has two sons, and Renly has an older brother. How can he demand that ugly iron chair?"
Lord Mace Tyrell wrung his hands, his face wreathed in a smile. "Mother, Robert I's two sons are still just children, and Stannis… You should know how much he hates me. That year…"
"If you're about to boast of your military achievements again, you can get out right now," Lady Olenna said impatiently. "This old woman grew tired of hearing it long ago!"
Lord Mace said with a grin, "I won't mention it, I won't mention it."
Lady Olenna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and slowly walked to a chair and sat down.
"Does Renly think that because he knows how to dress, how to smile, and how to talk, he's concluded he should be king? The Baratheons always have some absurd ideas. I think they inherited it from their Targaryen blood."
As she spoke, Lady Olenna angrily slapped the armrest of her chair. "After you help Renly put on a crown, what will our house get, besides kneeling to him endlessly and letting him lead us by the nose?"
Lord Mace asked, perplexed, "Mother, Renly has already promised to make Margaery his queen…"
Lord Mace's expression turned smug. He stroked his beard and added, "Renly has already agreed. That's why I am willing to support him."
Lady Olenna wanted to find a club and beat some sense into her oaf of a son's head.
Before Lady Olenna could erupt, Lord Mace continued as if to curry favor, "Mother, aren't you overjoyed? Our House of the Golden Rose will finally be the house of a queen, and this queen is your favorite granddaughter."
Lady Olenna took a deep breath. She felt that she was the biggest fool for getting angry with her idiotic son.
"My Lord of Highgarden, I am not senile yet. Are you certain Renly can give Margaery an heir to the throne?"
The smile on Lord Mace's face did not falter. He nodded and said, "Their child will certainly be the heir to the Iron Throne."
Lady Olenna bellowed, "You stupid pig! I mean, can Renly get Margaery pregnant?!"
Lord Mace's smile froze. He said in disbelief, "Mother, he… he wouldn't, would he? That would do him no good at all…"
As he spoke, Lord Mace suddenly trailed off.
Lady Olenna's voice was filled with mockery. "So you're not completely stupid. The Baratheons have a stubbornness that is difficult for ordinary people to understand. You're not unaware of that, are you? So, how does it feel to be led by the nose, my Lord of Highgarden?"
Lord Mace's expression grew frantic. "Mother, what do we do? I've already sent the ravens to summon my bannermen."
Lady Olenna snorted coldly. "What else is there to do? Send another raven telling them to go home."
Lord Mace was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "Mother, we can't do that. They will mock the Golden Rose behind our backs."
Lady Olenna snorted again. "But I think those vassals will only mock their foolish liege lord."
Lord Mace sat dumbly for a moment, then looked at his old and frail mother. A fawning smile appeared on his face.
"Mother, Lady Olenna, please help me."
Lady Olenna disgustedly swatted her son's hand away. "Don't come near me. Sit down properly."
Lord Mace chuckled and sat back in his chair.
Whether it was her husband or her son, Lady Olenna was past the point of anger. What angered her more was Renly, for scheming against the Golden Rose.
"Mace, how many men have you summoned?"
"Besides the twenty thousand on the border with the Westerlands, another eighty thousand are gathering here. One hundred thousand in total."
Lady Olenna couldn't resist another jab. "Lord of Highgarden, you truly are diligent. If I were Renly, I'd be moved to tears."
Lord Mace chuckled foolishly.
It took Lady Olenna a great deal of effort to compose herself.
"Write to Renly at once. Tell him… I am waiting at Bitterbridge to kneel to him. If he doesn't mind this old woman, then trouble him to set out immediately to see me."
Lord Mace hesitated. "Mother, Renly is gathering his army at Storm's End. He might not be able to get away for the moment…"
As he finished speaking, Mace noticed his mother's glare. It was a look he knew well… Yes, his mother was looking at him as if he were an idiot.
*Fine, I'm used to it by now,* Lord Mace thought, quite at peace with himself.
"If you don't want to be led by the nose, do as I say! Mace, the Golden Rose cannot be passive."
"Mother, I will send the raven out today."
Lady Olenna nodded, waved her hand, and said, "Go and arrange it."
But Lord Mace did not move, looking as though he wanted to say more.
Lady Olenna said impatiently, "My Lord of Highgarden, what else do you have to say?"
Lord Mace beamed. "Mother, I want to know what to do next… For example, what if Renly comes to see you as soon as he receives the letter, or what if he doesn't set out immediately?"
"Fair enough. You should be prepared, lest you do something irreversible again."
Lady Olenna's shrewd eyes stared at Lord Mace for a moment before she continued, "If Renly comes, it shows he still has some sincerity. This old woman will make her demands to him directly. If he is truly to be the future king, then he will receive the full support of the Golden Rose. The armies of the Reach and the Stormlands will march on King's Landing together to help him take that iron chair."
Lord Mace nodded slightly. This was his original plan. The few thousand Gold Cloaks in King's Landing could never withstand the combined might of over a hundred thousand men from the Reach and the Stormlands.
Lord Mace stroked his beard. He seemed to understand his mother's intention. The Golden Rose's support for Renly was conditional, and the issue of an heir was one of those conditions.
Lord Mace couldn't help but ask, "And what if… what if we don't see any sincerity from Renly?"
Lady Olenna snorted softly. "Then you will lead the hundred thousand men of the Reach and surround Casterly Rock for me. Make Lord Tywin answer for my two grandchildren. Don't the Lannisters always pay their debts?"
(end of chapter)