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"Get out of the way! We do not have time to play your tedious game!"
Looking at the ugly swordsman before him, the Lannister rider urged his horse forward and slashed at the man's left arm.
From the path of the blade, the rider had not meant to kill him. That already counted as mercy. If the swordsman had been an ordinary commoner, losing an arm would have ruined the rest of his life. One stroke was enough to show what kind of world this was.
Fortunately, he was no ordinary commoner.
Steel rang.
The swordsman's right hand flashed to his waist. His blade came out after the Lannister's, yet struck first, knocking the rider's sword aside. He stepped in, seized the rider's right leg with his left hand, and dragged him down with savage strength.
The Lannister lost his balance and crashed from the saddle. Before the man could recover, the swordsman planted one boot on his chest and set the point of his blade beneath his chin.
"Go and inform my father," he said calmly to the other riders.
The horse screamed. Seeing one of their own taken down, the first few dozen Lannister riders immediately surrounded him. Their captain, sensing that something was wrong, sent a man to report to Tywin.
After more than ten tense minutes, Tywin rode over with visible urgency.
"Father," Jaime said, withdrawing his sword and stepping back. "Lord Leo and Maester Creylen were killed by the Brotherhood Without Banners. I survived only after trial by combat against their leader, Beric Dondarrion. But after Stone Hedge and this trial, my face has been ruined."
Jaime's face had changed beyond recognition, yet Tywin knew his son at once from his voice and the way he moved.
He stepped forward, gripped Jaime by both shoulders, and said gently, "It is enough that you came back alive. A lion gains only strength and honor from scars. Jaime, whatever has happened to your face, you are still my son. You are still a Lannister."
"Father..."
For a moment Jaime's voice caught. Then he remembered the more important matter and stepped closer to whisper.
"Father, among the Brotherhood I saw Thoros of Myr perform a miracle. The Red God... the Lord of Light is real."
"I know," Tywin said, showing no shock. "There is a red priest in our own party. If we mean to deal with Robb Stark, we will need their magic."
As expected, nothing could make Father lose his composure.
Jaime felt admiration rise in him. "Of course you already knew. You even recruited a red priest who knows magic. Then we also have someone who can raise the dead. After this, I can fight beyond my limits without worrying about-"
"Wait, Jaime." Tywin's brows drew together. "What did you say red priests can do?"
"Raise the dead. Even now, thinking of it makes my skin crawl. Beric Dondarrion had been pierced through the chest and throat by my sword, yet in the next moment he rose under Thoros's resurrection magic. He was conscious. He spoke clearly. It was not like the blood magic or necromancy of old tales."
Tywin swallowed quietly. His eyes had widened despite himself. After seeing Robb's magic and Moqorro's power, he believed the impossible words.
He looked back toward Moqorro, then lowered his voice. "I do not know whether this red priest can perform such a spell. But Jaime, you may have found us a powerful ally."
Hooves beat along the old road from Starpike to Highgarden.
An army too long to see from end to end moved slowly beneath a chaos of noble banners. It looked less like a single host than a temporary coalition stitched together for one purpose.
"Prince Oberyn, what delicacy are you enjoying?" Kevan asked, riding forward with his left hand hanging weakly and his right hand on the reins.
Oberyn was not steering his horse at all. In one hand he held a roasted animal leg with reddened skin, and with the other he shaved fragrant slices of meat free with a dagger. He swallowed, gave Kevan a sidelong look, and answered, "The leg of Willas Tyrell's dog. Would you like some, Lord Kevan? It tastes quite good roasted."
"A pity. I have just eaten my marching rations, and my stomach has no room for such a delicacy. It seems Prince Oberyn is well versed in meats beyond horseflesh."
Kevan declined the Red Viper's invitation without hesitation.
"Hmph. Lannisters are always so false. If you did not come for meat, then speak plainly."
The smile on Oberyn's face did nothing to soften the hostility in his words.
"We should reach Highgarden in two days," Kevan said, as if he had not noticed. "Lord Tywin's orders are these. The Tyrell prisoners will be used to exhaust Highgarden's defenses. The Stormlanders and the Reach nobles who have joined us will form the vanguard. House Martell's soldiers will serve as the strong center, and the fighting at the front will be under your command. Our Lannister soldiers will remain at the rear to supervise the host and guard against attacks from behind."
Oberyn's knife paused. "Did I hear that correctly? Tywin Lannister wants Martell soldiers in the center, and he wants me to command the battle?"
"Yes. It is Lord Tywin's promise to Prince Doran, and a show of goodwill from House Lannister. We sincerely wish to ally with House Martell, so that our two houses may stand among the greatest in Westeros.
"Of course, we know you still bear hatred over Princess Elia Martell. But King's Landing was in chaos then. There were many things Lord Tywin had no time to stop. When this war is over, the murderers who took part in that matter will be delivered into your hands. Lord Tywin has also promised Prince Doran that House Martell will receive a satisfactory answer."
Kevan repeated the words Tywin had taught him.
"No time to stop it?" Oberyn laughed softly. "Do you think I believe that?
"I swear by every god in the sky, this matter will not end while I still breathe. Believe me, I will make all Westeros know whether it was one beast's act or whether someone stood behind him giving orders."
"I believe the Seven will reveal the truth to you," Kevan said. His right eyelid twitched once. "Prince Oberyn, I will go arrange my men so the formation can be changed when needed."
He turned his horse.
"Lord Kevan!" Oberyn called as the horse passed him. His voice dropped, casual and poisonous. "Since the Lannister host will be at the rear, should we fear a sword in the back?"
Kevan turned sharply, his brow furrowed.
Oberyn smiled, wicked and charming, and sliced another piece of meat. "I jest, Lord Kevan. Why so grave? Ah, at your age, perhaps even desire needs help from a potion. You should enjoy life while you can. Wait a few more years and even medicine may not help."
Kevan did not answer. He rode away. Behind him, the smile vanished from Oberyn's face, and his black eyes followed Kevan's back.
Kevan was not deceived by Oberyn's reckless exterior. Before leaving King's Landing by ship, Tywin had spoken to him of the Martell brothers.
"Kevan, this plan is House Lannister's last chance. Do not underestimate the two Martell brothers.
"Dorne has warriors as countless as sand, yet this one stands above them all. That is how the Dornish praise Oberyn Martell. He is indeed a Red Viper, fierce and deadly in the strike. But Doran Martell is the shadowed grass that has kept Dorne in Martell hands all these years.
"If Robert had not died and thrown the realm into the war of kings, House Yronwood would never have stirred up such waves. They would have been slowly brought under Martell control.
"Oberyn is the viper, but Doran is the grass. A viper hidden in grass is deadliest. Once parted from it, its weaknesses show."
Off Lannisport, nearly two hundred oared warships flying blue banners with purple grapes occupied the sea. They lay quietly beyond the harbor instead of moving to attack.
On the deck of the Great Kraken, Theon frowned at the enemy ships crowding the offshore waters.
"Asha," he said uneasily, "the Redwyne fleet has been blockading the sea for days, but they have made no move to land. Do you think they discovered our traps and defenses?"
Asha, whom he had summoned from the Black Wind, considered before answering. "It is possible. But King Robb's orders were to stop them from landing at Lannisport and then counterattack when the time was right. If they refuse to attack, that also serves our purpose."
"That is what I thought," Theon said. "But I called you here to ask whether we might strike first and break the Redwyne fleet. Stannis's royal fleet was destroyed at Oldtown. If we destroy most of Redwyne's strength here, the Iron Fleet will be unrivaled in Westeros.
"And if the wars on land and sea go smoothly, Robb might truly unite the Seven Kingdoms and sit the Iron Throne. When that happens, should I ask him for a great fief and rule as a lord paramount?"
As he spoke, his eyes filled with longing.
A shadow crossed Asha's eyes. She turned and ordered the ironborn on deck, "All of you, below. King Theon and I have important matters to discuss."
Theon had not given the order, but Asha had built real authority through battle and the way she handled matters fairly. The ironborn obeyed at once and went below.
Theon's expression did not change, but one corner of his mouth twitched.
Asha seemed not to notice anything improper. She moved close and said softly, "Theon, do you truly submit to Robb Stark? Is your greatest aim only to be called 'my lord' by greenlander women?"
"Asha, what do you mean?"
"Theon Greyjoy, you are not Theon Stark. Our father, Balon Greyjoy, died because of Robb Stark, indirectly if not by his own hand. Do you not want revenge? Do you not want the Old Way restored? You dream of becoming a lord. Do you still remember the words of House Greyjoy?
"We Do Not Sow."
The words seemed to have been held back for a long time, and Asha grew more intense as she spoke.
"Father was killed by Quenton," Theon said without hesitation. "I am satisfied with the life I have now. I do not want to restore the Old Way."
Asha's agitation disappeared at once. A bright smile appeared.
"King Theon, forgive me. Those words were a test. You are indeed loyal to King Robb. Of course, it was not my idea. It was a task King Robb gave me. You may verify it with him at any time."
"So that was it." Theon paused, then laughed. "Asha, you acted as if it were real."
"Thank you for the praise, King Theon. Perhaps I have some talent for acting."
She laughed with him.
On the deck of the Great Kraken, the two Greyjoys laughed freely. Yet both pairs of eyes held a hidden light.
A warning horn sounded. Theon and Asha looked ahead at once.
The Redwyne fleet that had occupied the offshore waters was beginning to move away.
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