Bear School Astartes

Chapter 166: 166. Vassal

Everyone is aware of the road conditions in King’s Landing, and Jamie’s tumble on the ground has utterly ruined his expensive leather outfit.

However, everyone present has been on a battlefield. There, guts and intestines get slashed, and human and horse excrement mix with blood on the ground, yet aren’t those who need to cut and fight still doing so?

For those who have seen battlefields, although these things are still disgusting, they no longer cause physical nausea.

”Kingslayer, you truly are the disgrace of the White Sword Tower.”

Balistan said through gritted teeth, disappointedly.

The White Sword Tower is the residence of the Royal Forest Iron Guard in the Red Castle, and it’s said to be the symbol of knightly spirit in the Seven Kingdoms.

And Jamie Lannister having an affair with the wife of the person he swore loyalty to... this made the old Balistan feel the world had become absurd.

With the backbone captured, the Lannister soldiers were quickly disarmed.

Lann and Edd originally thought Robert would take his anger out on Jamie. But the king didn’t even look at him this time and directly had him taken away.

Having captured the most capable actions, the most powerful, and the highest-ranking Lannister in King’s Landing, Robert simply walked around the Red Castle and issued orders to place Cersei and the crown princes under house arrest.

Until her detention, Cersei had not even realized what had happened.

She continued to curse the king for trampling on Lannister dignity for the sake of a good brother.

She mistakenly thought the main cause of this incident was Tyrion’s kidnapping.

When the blonde beauty was dragged to the top of the tower for confinement, Lann’s eyes remained calm and unruffled.

In political struggles, those who lack wisdom, insight, and intelligence don’t even know the reason for their own failure.

Cersei, although the queen, now any maid in the Red Castle would be more aware of what’s going on than her.

When all the Lannisters in the city were caught, Edd and Lann saw a somewhat weary yet slightly exhilarated Robert on the Iron Throne.

”I always have a dream, brother.”

Sitting on the hideous throne forged from a thousand swords, Robert Baratheon’s words were like a sleep-talk.

”I always dreamed of giving up the throne, riding a fine horse with a warhammer, and sailing to the Free Cities to become a mercenary king, fighting wars, experiencing adventures, dancing and frequenting brothels—that’s life. But when I think of Geoffrey inheriting the throne, with Cersei and the various Lannisters fawning around him, I can’t shake off the thought.”

”That little beast, he cut open a pregnant cat’s belly when he was young just to see what kittens’ embryos looked like.”

”To be honest, knowing he’s not my seed even made me a little bit relieved. At least...” Robert gave a self-deprecating smile. ”Hey, at least he isn’t the gods’ punishment on me for waging wars.”

The vast throne room had no response.

Edd wasn’t good at comforting others, and Lann wasn’t in a position to offer solace.

”Alright, let’s not say more about this.” Robert stood up from the throne, stretching his shoulders.

”The war is about to begin. Before it arrives, I was full of dread. But now, I’m starting to feel a bit excited. Tell me, Edd. What are the Imperial Council’s decisions and strategies?”

When the topic turned to official business, Edd spoke more freely.

”We lean towards requiring the Lannister family to explain whether their assassination attempt on my young son, Brandon Stark, was true. Afterward, Jamie Lannister and Geoffrey will don the black and be sent to the Northern Wall to join the Night’s Watch.”

”As for Toman and Miser, they are still young, and sins shouldn’t fall on them. They will be sent as bastards to the Lannister family, continuing the family line. I hope that old lion Tywin will be placated by this peace offering. As for Cersei...”

”As for Cersei, she will be hanged by me,” Robert interrupted Edd coldly. ”This is the greatest concession I can make to prevent war. Just one death, only one.”

”If that old lion Tywin still refuses, then there’s nothing more to say, commence war.”

Edd opened his mouth, but eventually didn’t voice any words of advice. After glancing at Lann and sighed, he half-knelt on the ground.

”As you command, I will return to the North to muster the forces loyal to the Stark Clan.”

After a brief report, Lann and Edd left the throne room together.

Walking through the considerably subdued royal court, Edd shook his head.

”It’s hard to imagine you could predict Robert wouldn’t spare Cersei before I did.”

”I don’t know Robert better than you do, you’re his good brother,” Lann said calmly.

”But precisely because I don’t know him as well as you do, I have no unrealistic expectations of him. Hot-tempered people will do explosive things. I thought it couldn’t be persuaded, so I thought along the lines of ’unconvinced’.”

”Well, at least you were right,” Edd nodded with pursed lips. ”Those ravens I sent out early with messages to the houses of the North weren’t wasted.”

Lann suggested Edd release the ravens early to summon the Northern vassals before heading to the throne room.

Although the reaction was just three to four hours sooner than usual, after experiencing the recent events, Edd’s sense of urgency regarding intelligence increased significantly.

Their ravens arrived just an hour earlier than the Lannister’s, which created the current advantage.

If the Lannister had received the ravens sooner, they’d have been the ones storming the gates before.

”Lann, with your abilities... although I don’t think war is a good thing, you could definitely earn a title, or even land and a castle in this war. I hope you will come to the North. The Stark family has never let down its vassals.”

Edd stopped and sincerely expressed his stance to Lann.

King’s Landing, this quagmire, really taught him a lesson. Not to mention Lann’s capabilities, just his vision and wisdom were something the Duke of the North really desired for support.

But Lann naturally wasn’t interested in this.

”I will return to the North with you, but as for being a vassal... let’s forget it. In fact, I think the life King Robert mentioned earlier is also what I’d like.”

If it were someone else, they’d be eagerly persuading him. After all, gaining a capable and smart person for a family is a grand opportunity.

But Edd was that ’archaic’ kind of person, if others weren’t willing, he wouldn’t force it.

It’s probably this ’old-fashionedness’ that made Lann not dislike him much.

”If that’s the life you want, then so be it. When we leave, we will bring the plant and animal materials you want, along with the dragonbone.”

Lann gave Edd a gentle nod.

”Thank you for the help.”