AN :
Next goal for another extra chapter is 400 power stones.
In the Game of Stones, you either win or you wait. The more Power Stones you offer, the faster the chapters come.
...
( Tygett Lannister POV )
Callum had gotten a lot thinner since coming under Tygett's care, a testament to the exercise he put him through, and to the admittedly dull foodstuffs available on the coast, especially compared to Casterly Rock.
...
That was not to say the boy had gotten weaker though, indeed, Callum had become a wiry, muscular lad. When Tygett had first taken on his nephew, he'd assumed the boy was a sloth with no fire in his gut, but Callum had thrown himself into his training with a dedication that has proved Tygett wrong. He certainly was no match for his brother, and he lacked the fiery ambition of a true warrior, but he was no longer unsuited to be a squire. In reward for his efforts, Tygett had allowed him a greater level of freedom. He had even intended to bring him out to fight the Ironborn, though winter's arrival had ended that plan like so many others.
"You're wearing an odd expression Uncle Tygett."
"I'm healthy enough, only frustrated," Tygett said. He had grown much more comfortable around the boy over the last year. Honestly, he was probably closer to Callum than he was to Tywin or Kevan at this point. "When your father made me Lord of this land I did not realize just how bitter a gift it would be."
"Well, if it is too bitter, you'll only be Lord of it for another nine moons," Callum replied, not looking away from his book. "That's when your term as Lord Tempor expires, or at least it would be, I doubt that Father will recall you in winter."
Tygett chuckled dryly. Typically, he would never accept the level of cheek and familiarity that Callum had from a squire, but as his nephew, the boy had a fair bit more room afforded to him. "I didn't say it was unsuitable boy. Bitter lands need bitter men to lead them. That's why the Northern lords are all so dour." Tygett imagined that their lands were much like his own, only poorer and somehow even worse off, facing the constant threat of starvation in winter. "Besides, despite the raids, Tywin still receives more in tax than the paltry sum he collected before. I doubt he'll refuse me at all if I ask to continue."
"...indeed," Callum said, shutting his book and sitting up a bit to match Tygett's gaze. "You know, when I wrote my political treatise, I insisted that Lord's Tempor should be moved around every five years." Callum paused for a moment. "But in the current situation, moving you off of the north coast would be disastrous. I don't think father will do it. Not based on my correspondence with him."
"Oh?" Tygett had to admit, he wrote to Tywin far less than his nephew did. If he was going to take orders from Tywin then he'd get them through Kevan if he could. Kevan might be their eldest brother's lapdog but at least he could phrase an order in a way that didn't leave Tygett fuming. "And what's on Tywin's mind?"
Callum paused a moment, scratching his chin, which still hadn't grown a single hair so far as Tygett could tell. "I think he prefers stability in the Westerlands above all else right now." The boy said quietly. "With the statue left unfinished due to the winter the tourney for it called off, of course, and I think Father's actually relieved about that, as much as he wants to see it done." Tygett had heard that story from a crestfallen Callum. Workmen simply could not safely assemble the top part of the "skin" in the harsh winter winds atop Casterly Rock. Joanna's giant golden edifice stood half assembled-only up to about her hips, overlooking Lannisport. She would stay that way until the weather improved. "Things are… well I don't know what you've heard, but King's landing is dangerous right now, even for father."
Tygett frowned, he hadn't heard anything of the sort from Kevan. "I suppose it has to do with the queen's condition?"
"Aye." Callum nodded. "Queen Rhaella seemed to get better around midyear, but the winter has apparently sent her right back into her illness, and Maester Pycelle says it's worse than before. In his estimate, she'll likely die before the new year."
Tygett hissed, "That's disheartening…" he knew there was enmity between House Lannister and the king, or rather between Tywin and the king, but no one had ever spoken ill of queen Rhaella.
"And nobody knows what King Aerys will do when she does, Especially with Rhaegar and Princess Valia still suffering from the same ailment. At least Lord Steffon has recovered." Callum continued. "Father is working with him to prepare in advance in case…" the boy paused. "Well in case King Aerys does something foolish when she does. He has already become very paranoid over her illness."
Tygett felt his eyebrows lift. "Is there a risk of war?" Why had he not been told of something so important? Surely Kevan knew!
"A very low risk I think. Aerys does at least trust Lord Steffon for the moment, and no sane man wants a civil war just because the queen got sick." Callum said, "But a low risk isn't no risk at all, and father is taking precautions just in case."
"Hmmph, tell him not to murder the whole royal family."
"He's suggested nothing of the sort, only forcing Aerys to abdicate in favor of Rhaegar or Viserys if the king goes too far." Callum frowned. "Do you mind if I change the subject, I always find myself worrying too much when I think about Father and King's Landing."
"I don't-" Tygett started to reply, only for Qyburn to storm into the room, his black cloak bearing a thin coating of sleet on his shoulders and atop his hood. The black Maester looked harried.
"My lords." The normally grouchy healer said. "A messenger just arrived from the West." Qyburn looked slightly out of breath. "He says that the Ironborn are burning the Running Country and that they Razed Mallow's Stone to the ground."
"What?" Tygett blinked, glancing down at his map. "But that's a fishing port! The Ironborn never raid fishing ports!" They did too much trade there, it was much better for them to go inland aways, or to raid isolated homesteads, than to raid the villages where an Ironborn fisherman or trader could make good money selling their likely stolen loot.
"This isn't a typical raid my lord." Qyburn wiped off his shoulders, growing visibly less panicked as he spoke. "The messenger said it was a fleet of six longships, three of them larger than the raiders we normally see. I'd call that more of a war party." The Black Maester paused a moment. "Ser Ludo is apparently awaiting your order at Reddinghall, he was unsure if he should sally out given he might be outnumbered."
"Smart man." Tygett nodded, this sort of thing wasn't a raid he could just let pass, this was more like an invasion fleet. Even with all the constraints of winter, he needed to launch a counterattack. "Send a raven to Reddinghall at once, tell him to wait until I arrive to reinforce his position, and send another to Klimmeth in Eagle's Nest, tell him to be on guard in case this is part of a larger invasion."
"Yes, My Lord." Qyburn nodded, before turning to Callum as if the boy would have anything more to add. Callum only shook his head.
"Go on Qyburn."
The man nodded, and hurried out, reminding Tygett that the healer was more Callum's creature than his, just like that man Lyman, Septon Loben, and a few other men in the cavalry. It was disconcerting to see them listen to a boy so young, but it was not something Tygett felt a need to correct. He turned to his nephew and frowned. "You will accompany me as my squire when we depart tomorrow morning."
"On horseback?" Callum asked, frowning right back.
"If this ice storm persists? On foot- with wagons maybe, for the men and their gear. If we rode out in this weather the horses would all be lame before we reached the Ironborn."
"We'll be wise to bring food supplies with us too. It's not impossible we get stuck in Geert's Gap if this turns into a blizzard over the next few days."
"We won't be taking Geert's Gap. We'll follow the coast." Tygett said, glancing at his map. "The Ironborn have a better chance of spotting us coming, but it will be warmer if we avoid the high passes and I'd rather have fewer deaths before we even reach the fight."
"Right." Callum nodded. "In that case, I should go prepare your armor."
"Yes." Tygett nodded. "And yours as well."
...
Chronicle of the Targaryen Dynasty in the Seven Kingdoms
Maester Willem
279 AC - Twelfth Day of Ninth Moon
The early arrival of Winter two weeks ago wreaks havoc across the Seven Kingdoms, particularly the North. Queen Rhaella also begins to suffer once again from the sickness that has plagued her since last year, with her symptoms worsening with the winter chill.
News from Dragonstone says that the same is at least not true for Princess Valia or Prince Rhaegar and that they are continuing to recover. Lady Cassandra Baratheon, nee Estermont, Wife of Lord Steffon Baratheon, gives birth to a baby girl, who is named Argella, though Lord Steffon remains in King's landing during her birth.
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