chapter 194 part 2
Tyrion began to laugh. "I like you, Lord Varys."
...
...
Crackclaw Point, Lyanna's Estate.
Glyn crabbe looked at Steward Sulana. She shrugged with a helpless look on her face.
Glyn gave a slight nod, then started walking. "Sulana, come with me."
Sulana walked alongside him, saying, "My lord, Lady Lyanna is not deliberately avoiding you. She simply doesn't know how to face you."
Glyn's eyebrow rose. "My cousin doesn't think I'll force her to drink moon tea, does she?"
They walked a few steps in silence before Sulana slowly spoke. "My lord, forgive my presumption, but the laws of your crabbe lands easily make people afraid."
Glyn thought for a moment. He confirmed again that he had yet to establish any such laws for his domain.
"Sulana, are you saying I'm being misunderstood... correctly?"
Sulana gave a rare smile and said respectfully, "I have experience. It is easy to overthink when one is with child, and one tends to imagine the worst."
Glyn glanced at Sulana walking beside him. "...I can understand."
...
In the small hall, Lyanna Crabbe, supported by Yuria, slowly sat down on a chair.
Glyn glanced briefly at her belly and said warmly, "Cousin Lyanna, it has been a long time."
Lyanna said, somewhat unsettled, "Glyn, I..."
After waiting a moment and seeing Lyanna struggle with how to begin, Glyn spoke up. "Why did you decide to keep the child?"
He paused, then added, "We are family. You can tell me the reason directly."
A film of moisture appeared in Lyanna's eyes. She said in a low voice, "I don't want to marry, but I want a child of my own."
Yuria and Sulana both stole glances at the silent Glyn.
After a moment of silence, Glyn spoke. "I understand."
He then added, "This estate does indeed need an heir."
...
That night, candlelight flickered in the study.
Glyn's long fingers tapped on the desk. Beside him was a letter he had received that evening. It reported that Renly Baratheon had declared himself King of the Seven Kingdoms at Bitterbridge in the Reach. He was styling himself Renly I, and his queen was Margaery Tyrell.
Glyn thought, Lord Stannis Baratheon must have learned of this news as well... If Glyn weren't a transmigrator, he would never have imagined that Stannis would lead a mere few thousand soldiers and march directly on Storm's End, planning to fight a decisive battle with Renly's hundred thousand men... By all rights... So stubborn and so unyielding.
Glyn's fingers paused. He reached out, took the map of Westeros, and stood up to spread it across the table.
Glyn first looked at the position of Storm's End, then reached out and tapped a small island to the east of Crackclaw Point—Claw Isle.
Glyn pinched his chin, his gaze fixed on Gulltown in the Vale.
Glyn's eyes quivered... He lamented Jon's departure; otherwise, with a little training, he would have been a general capable of leading an army alone.
Glyn looked at Claw Isle on the map again. Without much hesitation, he made his decision... The time was not yet right. He would wait for the fruit to ripen further before picking it.
Glyn picked up Varys's letter... A sworn knight of House Lannister was leading two thousand sellswords out of Casterly Rock.
Glyn's eyes lowered to the map. His gaze swept past Riverrun and Casterly Rock in the Riverlands.
Glyn sat back down in his chair... The chaos of Westeros is about to begin... The Vale... House Arryn cannot be allowed to remain... He needs a "murderer."
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Iron Islands, Pyke.
King Balon's study was as damp and drafty as usual.
Asha Greyjoy's smile was wicked. "Dear brother, your sister is such a shy maiden!"
Theon Greyjoy glanced at his father, who sat impassively before the brazier. His face flushed as he said in a low voice, "Then never marry. When I am king, the first thing I'll do is throw you into the Silent Sisters."
"What are you two talking about?"
King Balon's voice carried over. Asha immediately became "serious"—at least, in Theon's eyes.
"I plan to have you lead the vanguard, Theon. You will command eight longships and sail north. Your mission is to harry the Stony Shore, reave the coastal fishing villages, and sink every ship you see. Perhaps you can even lure a few northern lords out of their stone keeps. Euron will go with you, as will Dagmer Cleftjaw."
Theon barely heard the rest of it. He said in disbelief, "Father, are you sure you're only giving me eight ships? What can be done with eight ships?"
King Balon said coldly, "I have planned everything. You need only listen carefully, Theon."
Theon felt as if he'd been struck across the face... His father didn't trust his abilities. He had been given a paltry reaving mission—burning fishermen's hovels, raping their ugly daughters—and even for this trivial task, he was not given full command. Wasn't this an attempt to sideline him, to use him as a figurehead?
Theon clenched his fists.
...
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Essos, the city-state of Viserys, West Harbor.
Pat, pat, Jon Snow, Young Griff, and Rolly stepped onto the long plank and walked off the ship.
Young Griff scanned his surroundings with great interest, then suddenly reached out and clapped the shoulder of the person beside him.
He grinned and said, "Hey, Jon, are you thinking about that red-haired girl again?"
Jon smiled back and replied, "Young Griff, her name is Rhaenys."
Young Griff shrugged with an air of helplessness. "I know, I know. I'm just envious of you, is all."
(end of chapter)