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"This is news from the North," Tyrion said as he took the parchment.
The report said that Winterfell had fallen to the Ironborn. This message was far more detailed than the one Cole had earlier. It claimed that Bran Stark, the second son of Eddard Stark, and Rickon Stark, the youngest, had been burned to death by Theon Greyjoy.
Tyrion, the so-called little devil, knew that his sister, the queen, would be pleased by this news. But for them, it wasn't good news at all.
With members of House Stark still alive, there was a real chance their anger would soon turn toward the Lannisters—just like the trouble Tyrion had faced in the Eyrie.
"The lion is always blamed, just because it eats meat," Tyrion thought bitterly. "But the wolf isn't much better."
He needed to warn Cersei to keep a close eye on the girl—Sansa. She was their only bargaining chip now. If she escaped like her father, then Jaime truly might never come back.
He had heard that Eddard Stark had appeared at Stannis' side, so it must be true. Many believed Stannis was the rightful heir to the throne. But everyone knew the Iron Throne should belong to the Targaryens. It wasn't Stannis who should sit on it, but the son of the Mad King, across the Narrow Sea.
Still, what truly unsettled Tyrion wasn't the Starks, or Stannis—it was Cole.
He had asked his father to make Cole a knight and even suggested giving him Harrenhal as a fief. Yet now, Cole served under Stannis and had already achieved many great things.
"Look at you," Tyrion thought, "you've done so much for Stannis, and all he's given you is a ruin."
When he first read the report, Tyrion felt like he was reading the story of a legendary knight.
The Cole described in the letter seemed like a stranger. The quiet boy who once followed him now held such power. Tyrion couldn't help but think, If only he were in King's Landing now.
He had thought Cole was dead and had even mourned him briefly. Who would've guessed he'd come back to life?
Were they close friends? Not really. They'd only spent two months together. Honestly, Tyrion felt a deeper bond with Shae than with him.
"He's just another bastard who clings to power," Tyrion cursed inwardly. "Just like Bronn—loyal only to gold."
He wanted to say to him: Whatever Stannis gives you, House Lannister will double it.
Now Stannis was marching on King's Landing, and the army he led had been built entirely by Cole. The only good news was that Stannis had left Cole behind at Storm's End.
Tyrion couldn't understand why. Was Stannis afraid that Cole's achievements outshone his own? Did he fear people would say he took the throne only because of Cole?
That would be foolish.
Or maybe Stannis planned to give Storm's End to Cole?
Would Tywin ever give Casterly Rock to someone else? Of course not. Even if he'd rather see Tyrion dead on a battlefield or exiled to the Night's Watch, he would never let him inherit it.
Still, this might be for the best. At least Tyrion wouldn't have to face Cole on the battlefield.
He had made all the preparations he could in King's Landing. He told Cersei the castle wouldn't fall, but in truth, he wasn't so sure. The castle had been strengthened by generations of Targaryens—it was high, its walls thick—but they didn't have enough men to defend it.
Most of the soldiers in the capital were new recruits. Tyrion knew he couldn't rely on them too much.
The alchemists had brought him a strange liquid that burned even on water
. They called it "wildfire."
To Tyrion, the green flames looked like ghosts dancing in the dark. But that was fine—let Stannis's fleet feel the wrath of these ghosts.
The only thing Tyrion could hope for now was that his father, Tywin, would arrive with his army as soon as possible. With so few men, they couldn't hold out for long.
He had sent Shagga and the other mountain clan warriors into the royal forest, hoping they might slow down Stannis's advance.
The clansmen were brave, no doubt about that, but in a proper battle—especially one defending a city—discipline mattered more than courage. Tyrion didn't think they would run or switch sides, but he couldn't trust them to follow orders or hold the city walls.
Tyrion had gathered dozens of ships on the Blackwater River. In addition to the city's own fleet, he'd commandeered every merchant vessel docked in King's Landing. Now, not a single ship remained unused on the river.
There was even a group of traitors in the city already calling Stannis their king. They were known as the "Horned Folk," though these fools didn't realize their plans had been exposed.
A eunuch in the palace—one with spies everywhere—had passed along the news. His network was so vast it even made Tyrion uneasy. But for now, the eunuch had proven useful.
Without him, Tyrion wouldn't have even known the traitors existed.
If they made their move during the battle, it would become a serious threat.
He had done everything he could. But Cersei didn't see it that way.
She blamed him for hiding Tommen and claimed he wanted to harm Joffrey. She even threatened him using Shae.
Cersei didn't bother using her head. Before Joffrey had children of his own, Tommen was his rightful heir. Tyrion was only trying to protect him.
And as for harming Joffrey—sure, the boy was a monster, but he was still family. Tyrion would never hurt his own blood.
Not that it mattered. He was the "little monster." If he got angry, people expected him to send anyone straight to the Seven Hells.
The courtyard of the Red Keep led directly into the throne room. The castle had seven towers in total.
Inside the hall, a velvet carpet stretched from the bronze doors all the way to the Iron Throne. The king would walk in and go straight to that ugly chair.
Aegon the Conqueror had built it from the swords of those who surrendered to him. Sometimes, Tyrion wondered if any of those blades had been made of Valyrian steel.
After seeing the sword "Ice" that Eddard Stark had brought from the North, Tyrion was sure the sword Cole carried—"Winter Night"—was also Valyrian steel.
Same dark color, same deadly sharpness.
The terms brought forward by the young wolf—Jon Snow—were simple: release his father and sister, return their ancestral swords, and declare that the North would no longer answer to the Iron Throne.
Tyrion thought they should talk it through. Maybe they could even trade Sansa and the sword Ice in exchange for Jaime.
His chambers were in the Tower of the Hand. They had Myrish carpets, round golden-framed windows, a private meeting room, and an attic. But Tyrion still wished there was a woman waiting for him inside.
Lord Tywin had banned him from bringing prostitutes into the castle.
But where was Tywin now?
Tyrion wished he were here already.