Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen James

Lord Tywin Lannister entered the city on a tall great steed, valiant, clad in armor of enamelled red steel, polished as bright as fire, and decorated with swirls of gems and gold; It was in a tall carriage, covered with crimson banners, and the six silent sisters escorted the remains. The funeral procession left King's Landing through the Gate of the Gods, because it was wider and more magnificent than the Lion's Gate, but as far as James was concerned, this choice was really a mistake: no one could deny that his father was a lion, but even Tywin The Duke himself did not dare to think of himself as a god.

The honor guard accompanying Lord Tywin's carriage consisted of fifty knights, crimson pennants flying from their lances.Behind the fifty knights were the princes of the western region. The strong wind was blowing, and their banners were "crackling" and countless banners were churned into a ball in the air.James rode down in turn, passing the wild boar flag, badger flag, beetle flag, green arrow and red bull flag, crossed double halberd flag, crossed spear flag, tree cat flag, strawberry flag, thorn flower flag, quarter sun flag, etc. coat of arms. Lord Brax wears a light gray coat with silver thread, with a purple unicorn embroidered on the heart; Lord Juster is in black armor, with three golden lion's heads on his breastplate - rumors of his death in battle For some reason, injuries and long confinement have reduced him to a skeleton; Lord Benfort is recovering relatively well, and seems to be ready for the next battle; Plumm wears purple, and Priest wears The clothes of the Moranders were tawny and green, but they all wore crimson silk cloaks in honor of the lords they escorted home.

Walking behind the princes were a hundred crossbowmen and three hundred hoplites, with crimson cloaks flying around their shoulders.Jaime, in his white robe and armor, felt uncomfortable in the red river. Uncle didn't take it easy on him either. "Captain," Ser Kevan said when Jaime finally came to the back of the line, riding beside him, "Has Your Majesty sent you the last order?" "I'm not here for Cersei." Behind them, a drummer beat, slow, regular, and mournful.Dead, it seemed to whisper, dead, dead. "I've come to say goodbye. For my father."

"It's her father too." "I'm different from Cersei. I have a beard and she has breasts. If you still can't tell the difference, uncle, you can count our hands. The one with two is Cersei." "Both of them are clever," said the uncle. "That's enough, and spare your prattle, sir, I'm not interested." "Okay." It seems that things are difficult to develop in the direction I hoped. "Cersei would love to say goodbye to you in person, but business is pressing and she can't get away." Ser Kevan snorted. "Isn't there something wrong with each other? Why don't you guard your king?" His tone seemed to be blaming.

"He's safe and sound," James said defensively. "Baron Swann is on duty this morning. He's a good and loyal knight." "In the past, as long as the white knight was mentioned, the word 'loyalty' did not need to be emphasized at all." I didn't pick these brethren, Jaime thought. If I had a choice, the Kingsguard would be restored to its former glory.Unfortunately, this is useless nonsense, after all, who would believe the rhetoric of the "Kingslayer"?A man who treats honor like shit.Let it go, James decided, I'm not here to argue with my uncle. "My lord," he said solemnly, "you must make peace with Cersei."

"Is there a war between us? Why don't I know." James ignored the other party's taunt, "The disputes within the Lannister family will only benefit our enemies." "Even if there is a dispute, it is not my fault. Cersei wants to rule everything, very well, I am all for it, I will leave all the affairs of the country to her, and I will leave the army and return to the fields and enjoy myself. I am going to Darry City and I My son lives with me, and his castle is in dire need of rebuilding, and the fiefdoms have to be reseeded and protected." He burst out with a bitter laugh, "Your sister doesn't leave much work for my old bone, does she? It's a waste of time here, it's better to go to Lancel's wedding, his bride can't wait."

His widow from the Twins.Cousin Lancel was ten yards behind, with sunken eyes and gray and dry hair, he seemed to be older than Earl Juster.Watching him, James felt the Phantom's fingers twitching again...she was sleeping with Lancel, Osmund Kettleblack, even, Moonboy! ...He had tried countless times to get in touch with Lancel, but he could never find a time when the other party was single—the cousin was either with his father or accompanied by a monk.It is true that he is Kefeng's son, but he is weak and incompetent deep down.Tyrion is lying, and his only purpose is to cause harm.

So James stopped thinking about his cousin and continued to lobby his uncle, "After the wedding, are you still staying in Darry?" "At least for a while. It is said that Sandor Clegane was a bandit in the Three Rivers Valley. Your sister wants his head. I guess he joined Dondarrion's gang." Jaime had heard about the incident at Saltpans, and now most of the country knew about it.The looting was brutal, women raped and killed, babies massacred in their mothers' arms, half the town burned to ashes. "With Lando Tarly guarding Maiden Springs, it should be no problem to hand over the bandits and thieves to him. Uncle, you'd better go to Riverrun."

"Riverrun is under the command of Ser Daven. He is the new Warden of the West, and he won't need me—and Lancel needs me." "Okay, uncle." Listening to the rhythmic drumbeat, James' head throbbed.Dead, dead, dead. "Be careful, let your knights strengthen their patrol protection." His uncle shot him a grim glance. "You threaten me, ser?" threaten?He couldn't help being taken aback. "Just to warn you. I mean... Sandor is dangerous." "When I hanged bandits and robber knights, you shit and pissed as a baby. Ser, if you fear I'll fight Sandor or Dondarrion myself, well, not every Lannister All love vanity."

what happened?Uncle, have I offended you? "Adam Marbrand can also complete the task of sweeping the countryside, or else, Pai Brax, Pai Banfort, Pai Plumm, they can all do it, but the one who can sit on the high position of prime minister and dispatch in the middle, in the world, only You are alone." "Your sister knows my conditions. Tell her, the conditions remain the same - tell her at her pillow." Kevan clamped his horse belly and walked away, no longer talking to James. James watched silently, the Phantom's right hand twitching.He originally held a glimmer of hope, thinking that Cersei was too paranoid to cause today's situation, but it seemed that he was the one who was wrong.He knows about us, about Tommen and Myrcella, and Cersei knows he knows.On the other hand, Sir Kevan is the born Lannister of Casterly Rock. He doesn't believe that Cersei is going to deal with him, but... But if I misread Tyrion, will I misread Cersei?If a son can kill his father, why is it so strange for a niece to execute her uncle?What's more, this is an uncle with evil intentions. He knows too many inside stories, and he left behind endless disasters.Perhaps Cersei secretly left this dirty task to the Hound, so she wouldn't have to stain her hands once Sandor Clegane had killed Ser Kevan.Sandor has it.Kevan Lannister had been a mighty swordsman, but he was old, and the Hound...

The team behind caught up.The cousin was accompanied by two monks, and James greeted him. "Lancell, old cousin. I'd love to come to your wedding, but I'm not allowed to go away because of my duties." "You must protect the king." "I will. But, it's a pity that I can't come to your new house. By the way, don't worry, this is your first marriage, but it's her second. I believe your wife will be happy to guide you how to made." This obsessive remark caused the surrounding lords to burst into laughter, while Lancel's monk cast a stern look.Cousin himself squirmed restlessly in the saddle. "I know how to be a husband, sir." "Well, that's what a bride needs on her wedding night," said James. "A man who knows how to do his duty." A blush rose to Lancel's cheeks. "I will pray for you, cousin, and I will also pray for Her Majesty the Queen Mother. May the old woman give her wisdom, and may the warriors protect her well." "What does Cersei want a warrior? He has me." Jaime turned his horse, white robes blowing in the wind.The imp lied, Cersei would rather have sex with Robert's dead body than a pious fool like Lancel.Tyrion, you bastard, you don't even get a good fuck for a lie, so vulnerable!After he bid farewell to his father's funeral carriage for the last time, he flew back to the distant capital. On the way back to the Red Keep on Aegon's High Hill, Jaime Lannister found the streets of King's Landing almost deserted.The soldiers who once crowded the casino and the cafeteria have left one after another.Valiant Garlan returns to Highgarden with half the Tyrell army, and his mother and grandmother go with him; the remaining half marches south under Mace Tyrell and Matus Rowan Marching, the Duke of Tyrell will besiege Storm's End again. As for Lannister, only two thousand elite veterans were kept outside the city, waiting for Paxter Redwyne's fleet to arrive, take them across Blackwater Bay, and attack Dragonstone Island.According to intelligence, Lord Stannis left only a small garrison when he went north, so Cersei thought that 2,000 people would be enough. The rest of the Westerners were sent home to their wives and children to rebuild their homes, sow the land, and strive for the last harvest before winter.On the day they set foot on the road back to the west, Cersei took Tommen to the camp to inspect and let the soldiers cheer for the little king.She was so beautiful that day, and he couldn't forget the smile on her lips, and the bright autumn sun shining on her golden curly hair.No matter how many people talk about her sister behind her back, as long as she puts her heart into it, she can win everyone's support. As he passed the city gate, Jaime saw more than twenty knights practicing horseback riding in the yard.Here's another thing I'll never do again, he thought.A gun is heavier and harder to handle than a sword, and he can't even handle a sword well.He imagined that he was holding a gun in his left hand, and tied the shield with the severed limb of his right hand—but in a martial arts contest, the opponents always ran from the left, and the shield tied to the right was just a pure display like the nipples on the breastplate?No, my jousting days are over, he told himself as he dismounted... Still, Jaime couldn't help stopping to watch. Ser Tallard the Tall was hit on the head from behind by a sandbag and fell off his horse.The pig was so strong that it pierced the target's shield, and Kenroth of Ketche cleaned it up for him.By the time Sir Dermot of the Rainforest entered the field, the new shield had been put on, and then Lambert Turbury's gun barely missed, but Jon Bentley, "Beardless", and Humfrey Both Swyfer and Erin Stackpy took good aim, and Red Roland Connington even snapped his spear perfectly. In the end, the Knight of Flowers eclipsed all the previous ones. James had always believed that the decisive factor in jousting was horsemanship.I saw Loras rushing forward in a chic posture, and the spear seemed to be integrated since the mother's womb... Hey, no wonder his mother always has a bitter face.Just kidding, he really can stab wherever he wants, and his balance is better than that of a cat.Maybe it wasn't a fluke that he knocked me off my horse last time.James suddenly felt sorry that he would not have another chance to fight this kid, so he left everyone in training and walked away. Cersei was in the study of the Red Keep, with Tommen and Lord Merryweather's black-haired wife Myr.The three of them laughed at the Imperial Master Pai Sear. "Did I miss any joke?" James pushed the door open. "Oh, look," said Marilyweath, out of breath, "your brave brother is back, Your Majesty." "Most of him is back." James noticed that the queen was drinking again.Lately, Cersei had kept a jug of wine by her side at all times, and she had so disliked Robert Baratheon's drinking habits.He didn't like it, these days, it seemed like he didn't like everything the old lady did. "Master," Cersei ordered, "please, repeat the news to your lord captain." Pycelle looked extremely embarrassed. "Here comes a crow," he said at last, "from Stokeworth. Lady Tanda announces that his daughter Norris has given birth to a strong and healthy boy." "You'd never guess what they named the little bastard, brother." "I remember they wanted to call him Tywin." "Yes, but of course I stopped it. I told Faris that I would not allow my father's reputation to be ruined on the wild breeds produced by swineherds and sows." "The Countess of Stokeworth insists the name is not her own," interrupted Grand Maester Pycelle, his wrinkled forehead beaded with sweat. "She said it was taken by Norris' husband. That Bronn, he . . . seems he . . . " "Tyrion," Jaime blurted out, "he named the kid Tyrion." The old man nodded tremblingly, wiping sweat on the sleeve of his robe. James laughed, "It's here, dear sister, you can't find Tyrion anywhere, so he's been hiding in Norris' belly." "Clown. You and Nabronn are both clowns. There is no doubt that the bastard is sucking the nipple of the idiot Norris at this moment, and the mercenary is watching and gloating at his insolence." "The child may be named so because of his resemblance to your brother," Mrs. Marilyweiss thought. "He may be born with a deformity, missing a nose or something." She giggled. "We have a present for the good boy," the queen announced. "What do you say, Tommen?" "Give him a cat." "A lion cub would be better," suggested Mrs. Merryweather.Let it rip his little throat, her smile was the all-too-clear cue. "I want to give him a different kind of gift," said Cersei. It must be a new stepfather, James understood the meaning of his sister's eyes.He had seen that look on Tommen's wedding night, when she had burned the Tower of the Hand.Back then, the green flames bathed the onlookers, and people were like pale and rotting corpses, like a group of greedy zombies, but there was also beauty among the zombies——under the vicious light, Cersei was terribly beautiful. , she put one hand on her chest, her lips were slightly parted, and her blue eyes were piercing.She was crying, James realized, whether from grief or ecstasy he couldn't tell. He looked at his sister with concern, for she reminded him of Aerys Targaryen, and the former king was so fascinated by burning.The king has no secrets from the Kingsguard.Towards the end of Aerys' reign, relations between him and his queen were strained, and they not only separated, but also avoided each other as much as possible during the day.But when Aerys burned people, there was never peace in Queen Rheira's bedroom at night.The day he burned the Hammer and Dagger Chancellor, Jaime and Jon Darry happened to be guarding the Queen's bedroom while the King was luxuriating in it. "Stop! You're hurting me!" they heard Leyla cry through the oak door. "You're hurting me!" The voice was more unbearable to his ears than Lord Chester's scream. "We swore to protect her from others," James finally said. "Yes," Darry admitted, "but he's an exception." Jaime saw Rhaella only once after that day, and that was early in the morning when the queen set off for Dragonstone.Rhaella put on her cloak and pulled up her hood, and quickly climbed into the King's Wheel Palace, descended from Aegon's Hill, and went to the river to board the boat.He had no chance to speak to the queen, but he heard the whispers of the maids, who said that the queen looked as if she had been tortured by wild animals, her thighs were full of claw marks, and her breasts were bitten by teeth.A beast, a crowned beast, Jaime thought quietly. The Mad King was so overwhelmed at last that he forbade anyone to wear a weapon in front of him—except the Kingsguard.He was slovenly, with a matted and dirty beard, long unkempt silver-blonde hair that fell to his waist, and crooked yellow nails that were nine inches long.But the sharp weapon still tortured him, and he couldn't escape the sharp weapon on the Iron Throne.His arms and legs were densely covered with scabs and half-healed scars. Let me reign over the charred bones and roasted flesh, James looked at his sister's smiling face, he was full of thoughts, let me be the king of ashes. "Your Majesty," he said gravely, "may we speak privately?" "Okay. Tommen, it's time for you to go to class today. Please follow the Grand Maester to the classroom." "Yes, mother. We are studying the blessed King Baelor." Mrs. Mary Weiss also left tactfully, and kissed the Queen Mother on both cheeks before leaving. "Will you dine with me tonight, Your Majesty?" "I'm going to be mad if you don't come." Jaime couldn't help noticing the way the Myrish woman swayed her hips as she walked.Every step is a temptation.When the door was closed, he quickly cleared his throat and said, "First Kettleblack, then Cobain, and now this woman. Dear sister, are you going to open a circus?" "I like Mrs. Tanya. She makes me laugh." "She is Margaery Tyrell's squire," Jaime reminded Cersei, "and she will leak information about you to our little queen." "Of course she will." Cersei reached out to fill her glass. "When I offered to take Tanya in, Margaery trembled with excitement, and you see what she said: 'She will be your sister, as she is mine. Of course I will give her to you! Your Majesty, I've got my cousins ​​and many ladies and ladies.' Well, our little queen can't bear to leave me alone." "You know she's a spy, so why keep her?" "Margaret was smart and miscalculated. She didn't know that the Myr bitch was a poisonous snake with a honey belly and a sword. Now I let Tanya pass back the information I have carefully selected to our little queen, some of which are even Really." There was a mischievous gleam in Cersei's eyes. "On the other hand, Tanya reported to me the situation of the 'Virgin Margaery' in detail." "Would she? How much do you really know her?" "I know she's a mother, and she's got a son, and she'll do anything to make him good in the world. That's what mothers do. Mrs. Merryweather may be a viper, but she's not stupid, she Knowing that I can do a lot more than Margaery can, she would rather be on my side. She told me so many things, you will never guess." "whats the matter?" Cersei sat down by the window. "For example... did you know that the queen of thorns has a large box of coins in her steward? They are gold coins minted before the war of conquest. Whenever a merchant offers a gold coin transaction, she will gladly use the gold of Highgarden to pay, because Each gold coin is only half the weight of the current gold dragon. Hehe, which merchant dares to sue Mace Tyrell's mother for fraud?" She took a sip of her wine. "Have you had a good time riding today?" "Uncle is very concerned about your absence." "Uncle's opinion is none of my business." "Of course it's none of your business. You should make good use of him, and if not at Riverrun or Casterly Rock, you should send him against Lord Stannis, shouldn't you? Better use Kevan—" "Roose Bolton is the new Warden of the North. He'll take on Stannis." "Don't forget, Lord Bolton is trapped beyond the Neck, and the ironborn hold the main road, Moat Cailin." "They won't hold out for long. Bolton's illegitimate son will soon remove this small obstacle and open the way. Lord Bolton has also received reinforcements from two thousand Frey soldiers. The Frey army is led by Hosteen and Aenys. Their combined strength was enough to overwhelm Stannis and a few thousand wandering cripples." "Ser Kevan—" "—will concentrate on governing Darry, and teach Lancel how to wipe his ass. Leave him alone, his father's death castrated him, and he became a useless old man. Davon and Damion are more to us it works." "They are capable," said James, who had always been on good terms with the two cousins. "But you need a Prime Minister. Who would you rather than an uncle?" The elder sister smiled, "Don't worry, I won't use you. I plan to use Tanya's husband, whose grandfather was Aerys' prime minister." Giant Prime Minister.James thought of Owen Merryweather, kind and incompetent. "If I remember correctly, his grandfather was exiled by Aerys and his lands were confiscated." "Robert has restored his estate, at least in part. Tanya will appreciate it if I let Orton take back all his lands." "After talking for a long time, you are just to satisfy the request of this Myr bitch? I thought we were discussing who to choose to govern the country!" "The country is governed by me." May the Seven Gods bless all.My sister always thought she was Lord Tywin with breasts, but she was far from it.Among other things, my father had always been as ruthless and calm as a great glacier, while Cersei was emotionally burning like wildfire.When she heard that Stannis abandoned Dragonstone, she jumped up and down like a little girl, thinking that the other party had given up the fight for the throne and exiled herself; and when the north came to report that Stannis had occupied the Great Wall, she suddenly had a fit , so that everyone dare not interface.She has no shortage of wit, but judgment and patience. "You also need a strong prime minister to back you up." "A weak ruler needs a strong assistant, just as Aerys needs a father, but a strong ruler needs only a loyal herald." She swung her glass. "How is Lord Harlem? He won't be the first pyromancer to be Hand of the King." Of course not, the last one was slaughtered by me. "It is rumored that you intend to appoint Oren Waywater as Sea Secretary." "Have you ever spied on me?" Seeing that he didn't answer, Cersei tossed her hair back. "Weirwater is very suitable for this position. He has spent half his life earning his living on ships." "Half life? He's not even twenty years old." "He's twenty-two! Besides, is there any point in arguing about it? Father wasn't even twenty-one when he became Hand of Aerys. It's time for a change. There should be more energetic young people around Tommen, no. Just old, wrinkled bones. Aurene fits right in, he's got a lot of energy." He was feisty and handsome, James thought... she slept with Lancel, Osmond Kettleblack, even Moonboy! ..." Paxter Redwyne would be a better fit, after all he commands the largest fleet in Westeros. This Orion Weirwater could be in charge of the boats - if you buy him one as a toy. " "What a boy you are, Jaime. Redwyne is a vassal of Tyrell, and nephew of Lord Highgarden's hideous mother. I will not allow Lord Tyrell's minions to infiltrate my council." "You mean Tommen's council?" "You know exactly what I mean." I know. "I think Aureen Weishui is terrible, and Harlem is even worse. As for Coben... Gods, he followed Wag Holt, and was stripped of his necklace by the Academy City!" "It's all gray sheep. Anyway, Qyburn has been useful and loyal to me—not even my own blood." Dear sister, if we go on like this, we will one day be a feast for crows. "Cersei, listen to me, now you see dwarfs everywhere, and turn our friends into enemies one by one. At least, Uncle Kevan is not your enemy, and I am not your enemy." Her face was contorted with anger. "I begged you, I begged you to help me. I knelt before you and you refused me!" "My oath..." "...didn't stop you from murdering Aerys. Words are but wind. You could have me, but you chose this robe. Get out." "elder sister……" "Get out! Are you deaf? I hate to see your ugly limbs! Get out!" To drive him away, she poured wine over her face.She missed, of course, but James understood the implication. By the time he was sitting alone in the conference room of the White Sword Tower, holding a glass of Dorne red wine and reading the white code with his severed limb, dusk had already arrived.The Knight of Flowers came in, took off his white robe and sword belt, and hung them on the wall beside Jaime's things. "I saw you in the yard," James said. "You ride well." "Not just 'good', of course." Ser Loras poured himself a glass of wine, and took a seat across from the half-moon table. "A humble person should answer: 'My lord, I appreciate your kindness' or 'Well, my mount is great'." "Well, my mount is still on its way, and your lord's kindness is like my modesty." Loras waved to Bai Dian. "Lord Renly used to say that reading is a maester's work." "At least this one is left to us, and it records the history of everyone who has ever worn the white robe." "Looked at it for a while. The coat of arms is beautifully painted. I like to look at the pictures. Lord Renly has a few exquisite books in his collection. The preservation of these monks makes them feel ashamed." James couldn't help laughing, "It's a pity that they are not here. Sir, the function of history is to broaden your horizons. You should understand the lives of people before you, and use them as a lesson." "I know these people. Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryan Redwyne, Ambitious, Barristan the Bold..." "...Galwyn Corbray, Erin Connington, Darry the Devil, well, you know these too? Do you know the 'strong' Lukamer?" "Sir Lukamer the 'Woman'?" Ser Loras seemed amused. "Isn't he the one with three wives and thirty children? They cut his cock at the end, and there's a song about him." , do you want me to sing it to you, my lord?" "And Sir Terrence Toyne?" "He slept with the king's mistress, and died a miserable death. Lesson, men who wear white breeches have to fasten their belts tighter." "Gairs in Gray Robe? Generous Oliva?" "The former is a traitor, the latter is a coward, both shame the white robe. My lord, what do you want to say?" "Nothing. You don't have to be so sensitive, ser. Do you know Cotoine the Immortal?" Ser Loras shook his head. "He was the Kingsguard for sixty years." "When? I've never heard of—" "Do you know Ser Donnel of Duskendale?" "I seem to have heard the name, but—" "Andison Hills? 'The Bald Eagle' Michael Metain? Joffrey Knox? The Red Robert Flower who never surrendered? What do you know about them?" "Buddha Flower is the surname of the illegitimate child, and so is Xishan." "But both became captains of the Kingsguard, and their stories are contained in this book. Also in this book is the story of Roland Darklin, the youngest Kingsguard before me , he won the white robe on the battlefield, and died an hour later in the white robe." "It shows that he is not good at martial arts." "He was mighty. He sacrificed himself to save the king. You see, so many warriors wore white robes that their deeds are almost forgotten." "What should be forgotten will naturally be forgotten. People only remember heroes, and only remember the strong." "Heroes and villains," so at least one of you and me will be sung. "There are a few who are both. Like him." He tapped the page he was reading. "Who?" Loras turned to look. "Ten small black balls on a bright red background, I don't recognize them." "It belonged to Kryston Cole, Iron Guard of Viserys I and Aegon II," James said, closing the white code. "Known as 'Kingbearer.'"