"What about Jaime's injuries?"
Tyrion Lannister leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his goblet as he watched his father carefully.
Lord Tywin Lannister's emerald-green eyes flickered briefly.
"It shouldn't be life-threatening," he said coldly. "But his hand…"
He paused.
Then dismissed the subject entirely.
"Never mind that. Let us continue discussing the war."
Tyrion immediately understood.
His father had no intention of discussing Jaime any further.
Tywin Lannister did not dwell on weakness—not even the weakness of his favorite son.
Instead, the Lord of Casterly Rock leaned forward over the war table.
His sharp gaze fell upon the map spread across the wooden surface.
"From the very beginning," Tywin said slowly, "I believed Stannis Baratheon would be the most dangerous of all our enemies."
"Yet strangely, he has not moved."
Tyrion listened attentively.
"I assumed the Boy Blacksmith would act cautiously," Tywin continued. "I thought he would remain across the Narrow Sea, waiting for the perfect moment."
Tywin's lips tightened slightly.
"But I was wrong."
"That boy moved faster than anyone."
"Faster than Stannis."
"Faster than Renly."
His voice grew colder.
"He rescued the Three Rivers."
"He destroyed House Frey."
"And each action was executed with ruthless efficiency."
Ser Kevan Lannister frowned.
"It's possible his forces came through the Vale."
"But Lady Lysa Arryn has made no move at all."
"The Eyrie is beyond our control," Kevan continued. "We know almost nothing about what is happening there."
Tywin nodded slightly.
"Exactly."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Everyone knew Stannis Baratheon's reputation.
Stannis was not a man who retreated.
He was stubborn.
Rigid.
Relentless.
Most people considered him humorless and uncharismatic.
But none doubted his ability.
He was an experienced commander, a skilled sailor, and a hardened warrior.
And he controlled most of the royal fleet.
Dragonstone lay dangerously close to King's Landing.
It was only natural to consider him a serious threat.
Even Cersei feared both of Robert's brothers.
Tyrion took a sip of wine.
"Clearly you underestimated that boy," he said with a crooked smile.
"He will cause us significant trouble."
Tyrion's head was slightly too large for his body, and his features were often mocked as ugly.
Yet behind those mismatched eyes lay a sharp mind.
Ser Kevan cleared his throat.
"This cannot be entirely our fault."
"Most of the intelligence reports sent by the Spider from across the Narrow Sea are fragmented and unclear."
"Sometimes I doubt Lord Varys's competence."
He shook his head.
"We know very little about the Three Dragons or the wild deer."
"We did not even learn about the enemy landing until it had already happened."
Tywin exhaled slowly.
"Regardless… the storm has already begun."
"There are three forces now moving toward the Iron Throne."
He gestured toward the map.
"I always regarded Stannis highly."
"Perhaps I neglected the other fronts."
He paused.
"But Stannis is still the closest threat to King's Landing."
"Varys has provided some information," Tywin continued.
"He claims Stannis is building ships."
"He says Stannis is recruiting mercenaries."
"And he insists that Stannis has brought a shadowbinder from Asshai."
Tywin snorted quietly.
"But what does any of that truly mean?"
"And how much of it is even true?"
He rubbed his temples in irritation.
"Kevan. Bring the map."
Ser Kevan immediately unrolled a large leather map and smoothed it flat on the table.
Tywin studied it carefully.
"Jaime has left us with quite a mess."
He pointed toward the northern Riverlands.
"To the north, the bastard holds the Twins."
"That fool Jerry Frey has no idea how strong the enemy truly is."
"But if they have already taken Riverrun…"
"They must have at least five or six thousand men."
Kevan nodded.
"Most of them are elite cavalry."
Tywin's eyes narrowed.
"That is precisely what the northern army lacked."
"Now that weakness has been corrected."
He tapped the map again.
"More importantly… the northern road south has been opened."
"If those forces unite…"
"It will become a serious problem."
Tywin moved his finger westward.
"Meanwhile Edmure Tully and Tytos Blackwood are entrenched here."
"Unless we force a battle, retreating toward Lannisport and Casterly Rock will be impossible."
He paused briefly.
"Edmure is a fool."
"But Lord Tytos Blackwood has some ability."
"Jaime is severely wounded and not yet recovered."
"And his army… no longer exists."
Tyrion raised an eyebrow.
"That bad?"
Tywin ignored the remark.
"To make matters worse," he continued, "Thoros of Myr and Beric Dondarrion will continue harassing our supply lines."
His finger moved east.
"To the east lie House Arryn and Stannis Baratheon."
"To the south… Storm's End prepares for war."
"As for the Reach…"
Tywin's expression darkened.
"They are likely deciding which master to serve."
"And beyond the Narrow Sea…"
"Rumors speak of a massive fleet from the Triarchy and an army numbering hundreds of thousands."
Tyrion chuckled softly.
"Well, Father… at least Rhaegar Targaryen hasn't risen from the dead yet."
Tywin gave him a cold glance.
"Tyrion."
"I hope you intend to offer actual advice."
"Not merely sarcasm."
Tyrion placed his wine cup down.
"Very well."
He cleared his throat.
"The most urgent task is to disrupt our enemies."
"We must prevent the alliance between Houses Arryn, Tully, Stark, and Baratheon from reforming."
"If they unite…"
"We will be unable to move at all."
Tywin folded his arms.
"And how do you propose we accomplish that?"
Tyrion smiled faintly.
"Chaos is easier to create than cooperation."
"There is only one Iron Throne."
"But there are many kings."
He leaned forward.
"Robb Stark is not Eddard Stark."
"And Gendry is not Robert Baratheon."
"They do not share the same friendship."
"And now Eddard Stark is dead."
Tyrion continued calmly.
"Furthermore, Stannis and Renly hate each other."
"As for the Vale…"
"Lady Lysa is far too unstable to commit her forces."
"Any involvement from the Vale would likely be the actions of individual lords."
He spread his hands.
"The so-called alliance is much weaker than it appears."
Tywin nodded slightly.
"Continue."
Tyrion smiled.
"We currently hold valuable hostages in King's Landing."
"The Old Wolf and his daughters."
He paused.
"Would Robb Stark willingly kneel to someone else?"
Tywin corrected him.
"Actually… two daughters."
"The youngest escaped."
"We do not know if she lives or dies."
Tyrion shrugged.
"Then we pretend we still hold her."
Tywin considered the idea.
"Perhaps we offer Robb something attractive."
"A title."
"A marriage alliance."
"Or even…"
He paused.
"A crown."
Tyrion blinked.
"You mean declaring him King in the North?"
"That is an extremely high price."
"Only temporarily," Tywin replied calmly.
"A last resort."
"As long as he remains obedient."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"The North is poor anyway."
"There is little profit to squeeze from it."
"The Northmen have always lived separately from the rest of the realm."
Tyrion remained silent.
In truth, Westeros had rarely been unified.
Division was far more common.
Still…
If the Iron Throne gained legitimacy by surrendering territory…
Even Joffrey might refuse such humiliation.
"Our allies are indeed too few," Tyrion admitted.
In his heart, Tyrion knew why.
Tywin Lannister had made many enemies.
Decades earlier, he offended Dorne.
More recently, the Lannister armies had ravaged the Riverlands.
Even their supposed allies—the Freys—had suffered.
"The beginning cannot be changed," Tywin said quietly.
"What matters is what we do next."
For the first time, Tyrion sensed something unusual.
Even Tywin Lannister felt isolated.
"Marriage alliances could help," Tyrion suggested.
"My sister has three children."
"Unfortunately we face four major families."
"Stark."
"Arryn."
"Martell."
"And Tyrell."
Tywin waved his hand.
"We will discuss that later."
"For now we stabilize the situation."
Ser Kevan spoke again.
"The alliance between Stannis and Renly has not yet been finalized."
"It appears Renly may move first."
"Renly lacks a navy."
"Stannis lacks a large army."
"Let them fight each other," Tywin said.
"Tyrion understands the situation well."
He turned to his brother.
"Kevan."
"What do you think we should do next?"
Kevan studied the map carefully.
"If we remain here… we may be attacked from three directions."
Tyrion leaned closer to the map.
If the Riverlords cut their retreat…
If the Stark army attacked from the north…
And if the Baratheon forces marched along the Kingsroad…
They truly would be surrounded.
Tywin nodded slowly.
"In fact… it could become four directions."
"If the Vale and the crabfeeders move as well…"
"We would have no escape."
He tapped the map decisively.
"Therefore we retreat."
Tyrion immediately understood.
They would abandon the siege of the Twins.
The front line was too dangerous.
"So we will no longer block the river?"
"Impossible," Tywin replied.
"We move tomorrow."
"To Harrenhal."
Kevan frowned.
"Harrenhal?"
"That cursed place?"
Tywin shrugged.
"Let people talk."
Then his voice hardened.
"Send out raiding parties."
"Find two ruthless knights."
"And give them men who enjoy killing."
"Each group will take three hundred cavalry."
His emerald eyes glowed with cold fire.
"From the Gods Eye to the Red Fork…"
"I want the Riverlands burned."
Tyrion studied his father's face.
Normally such tasks belonged to Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch.
Without them…
Tywin seemed even more irritated.
Kevan stood.
"I will issue the orders immediately."
After he left, Tywin looked at Tyrion again.
"Your mountain clans might enjoy raiding as well."
"Let them loot whatever they wish."
"Goods."
"Livestock."
"Women."
"Take what they want."
"Burn the rest."
Tyrion snorted.
"Teaching them to raid would be like teaching a rooster how to crow."
"But I prefer to keep them close."
Tywin nodded slightly.
"Then control them."
"I will not tolerate them pillaging the city."
Tyrion blinked.
"Which city?"
"King's Landing."
Tywin said calmly:
"I am sending you to court."
Tyrion nearly choked on his wine.
"Me?"
"What exactly am I supposed to do there?"
Tywin answered simply.
"Take charge."
Tyrion burst out laughing.
"My dear sister will love that idea."
"Let her complain."
Tywin's voice turned cold.
"Someone must control her son."
"Before he destroys us all."
Tyrion smiled slowly.
This would be interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
And somewhere in the distance…
The war for the Iron Throne had already begun.
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