Before long, only Tywin, Kevan, and Tyrion remained in the room—the three Lannisters.
Tyrion Lannister continued sipping his ale. "So, how goes the war?"
"So far, rather well," his uncle answered. "Edmure Tully scattered his forces into small patrols along the borders to prevent our raids. Your father and I struck before they could regroup and defeated them piecemeal."
"Your brother Jaime's victories have come one after another," Tywin added. "He first mustered at the Golden Tooth and crushed the forces of Lords Vance and Piper. Then he fought the Tully host beneath Riverrun. The lords of the Trident were routed—Edmure Tully and many of his bannermen captured in one stroke. Lord Blackwood fled with a handful of survivors back to Riverrun and now hides behind its walls while Jaime tightens the siege. The rest scattered back to their lands."
"And your father and I are eliminating them one by one," Kevan said. "With Lord Blackwood gone, Raventree fell quickly. Lady Whent, short of men, yielded Harrenhal. Ser Gregor has burned the lands of Houses Piper and Bracken to ash…"
"So no one in the Riverlands can stop you?" Tyrion Lannister asked.
"There are still a few bones left to chew," Kevan replied. "House Mallister still holds Seagard, and Walder Frey of the Twins is gathering men."
"They are of little concern," Tywin said. "The Freys will not move unless they smell victory, and at present the air reeks of Tully defeat. As for Jason Mallister, he lacks the strength to stand alone. Once Jaime takes Riverrun, they will bend the knee. If Stark and Arryn do not send armies, the war is already won."
"If it were me, I wouldn't worry much about House Arryn," Tyrion said. "At most the Blackfish might bring a few men—he is still a fish, after all. But the Starks are different."
"Eddard Stark is our hostage," Tywin said. "Rotting in the dungeons beneath the Red Keep. He will not be leading armies."
"True," Kevan agreed. "But his son has called the banners. He sits at Moat Cailin with a large host."
"Then our dear King Robert must have met with an accident," Tyrion Lannister said.
"You are perceptive," Tywin replied. "This return has matured you. Facing death seems to have improved you. And your handling of Leo Lefford earlier was well done."
"When challenged, one must answer with iron and blood," Tyrion said. "When they kneel, you help them rise, or none will ever submit again. But let us return to House Stark…"
Tywin rose and began pacing around the table. "Your nephew rules in King's Landing now. And your sister, of course."
"No surprise," Tyrion said. "I care nothing for the cesspit politics of the capital. I only hope Joffrey spares Lord Eddard's life…"
"Certainly," Tywin replied.
Tyrion sighed. Unless he could fly back himself, he doubted Eddard would survive. Which left the real problem.
"Robb Stark's army…"
"Gathering at Moat Cailin," Kevan repeated.
"His mother is a Tully. He will not sit idle," Tyrion said. "Jaime is in danger at Riverrun. We should send a raven immediately—"
Tywin snorted. "You still have much to learn. If Robb Stark wants to reach Riverrun, there is only one crossing."
"The Twins," Tyrion said. "Frey territory."
"Late Lord Walder Frey," Tywin said. "I do not think he will choose a side yet. The outcome is not decided."
"True," Tyrion said, unable to explain his foreknowledge, "but what if there were a greater temptation than defying you?"
"What?" Tywin asked. Kevan also turned to him.
"Imagine this," Tyrion said. "Young Robb Stark marches south with his banners, desperate to cross at the Twins."
"And his mother will press him to hurry and save her family," Tyrion continued. "She's reckless—she'll do anything."
"So what would Lord Walder demand? He has long sought to raise his house's standing…"
"Not merely a toll," Kevan said.
"A marriage," Tywin concluded.
"Exactly," Tyrion said, pleased. "If Robb Stark agrees to wed a Frey, what then?"
"That is speculation," Tywin said, though his tone had softened. "Wars cannot be fought on guesses."
"But it costs nothing to be cautious," Tyrion Lannister said. "My dear brother's life is at stake. Writing a warning costs little."
Tywin nodded. "A fair point."
"Since we're speaking of Catelyn Stark," Tyrion added, "she said something in the Eyrie."
"What?" Tywin asked, already taking up quill and parchment.
"She mentioned the Mad King. That I might be connected to him…"
"Rumors," Tywin said sharply, not meeting his eyes as he wrote. "I thought no one in the Seven Kingdoms would dare smear Lannister honor. Yet some still test my patience."
"These slanders will vanish along with the Riverlords," Tywin said, pressing the quill so hard the ink bled through. "When Riverrun falls, Hoster will kneel and apologize for his daughter's lies."
"Tyrion," Kevan said, "you were born with two green eyes. That night you took a terrible fever."
"When it broke at dawn, one eye had turned pale violet. The maesters recorded it carefully—it was illness, nothing more."
Tyrion nodded. "The rumors don't trouble me. I only thought to mention it."
"Oh—and Father," Tyrion added, "at the end of the letter, please write this: if the battle turns against you, do not seek glory by taking Robb Stark's head. Your safe return matters more than anything."