chapter 117 part 2
Along the way, Glyn reminded him worriedly, "Ser Jaime, your main task is to watch the show."
Riding along, Jaime's golden hair fluttered and his white cloak billowed, cutting a dashing figure.
Jaime's face darkened slightly. He shot Glyn a sideways glance and said, "Lord Wildling, don't you enjoy making things bigger?"
*Ser Jaime's wit has sharpened.*
Glyn spread his hands. "Ser Jaime, I will not go back on my word!"
Jaime understood Glyn was referring to his previous promise to help him plot against Renly.
The corner of Jaime's mouth tilted up. "A Lannister always pays his debts!"
...
The Great Sept of Baelor, the white marble plaza.
Jaime reined in his horse and gestured with his chin in a certain direction.
Glyn looked where Jaime indicated and spotted a green figure beneath the unfurled banner of the crowned stag.
The green figure was surrounded by a crowd, and Glyn could hear bursts of laughter from time to time.
*Renly is indeed high-profile.*
*Why is the mood so cheerful? Hasn't Lord Jon Arryn's funeral concluded yet?*
*Is this the Westerosi way of moving on?*
Glyn dismounted and handed the reins directly to a guard.
Glyn turned to Jaime beside him and said, "Ser Jaime, looking at Lord Renly right now, are you starting to appreciate Tyrion more?"
Jaime shrugged. "He has some minor flaws, but otherwise, he has always been outstanding."
Glyn sighed softly. "I heard that not long after Lord Renly came of age, Lord Jon Arryn brought him from Storm's End to the Small Council and made him Master of Laws. One could say he cultivated him with the utmost effort..."
Jaime looked strangely at the lamenting Glyn.
Jaime's memory had always been excellent. He clearly remembered that Glyn used to hate Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand, so much that he wished he could execute him personally.
And then there was the feud between Crackclaw Point and the Vale nobles, led by Lord Jon Arryn.
Jaime replied perfunctorily, "Perhaps he's gotten over it."
Glyn and Jaime spoke as they walked towards Renly and his group.
...
"Ser Jaime, the atmosphere here is so joyful. Is someone holding a wedding? Didn't you say Lord Jon Arryn's funeral hasn't ended yet?"
Glyn's words suddenly carried over, and the laughter from Renly's group died abruptly.
Before Jaime could answer, Glyn pointed at the banner. "Isn't that the crowned stag banner of House Baratheon? Could it be that Lord Stannis is also here?"
This was not the scene he had imagined... Jaime's face was calm, but he felt quite awkward inside.
Still, Jaime remembered their objective. "It's very possible. Lord Stannis and Lord Jon Arryn were always close!"
"Jaime, did you not see me?"
Lord Renly, wearing a sly smile, walked toward them.
Renly was about twenty, dressed in green, tall and powerfully built. His jet-black, shoulder-length hair framed his neatly trimmed features.
He was exceptionally handsome, and with a pair of smiling blue eyes, he instantly put people at ease.
Jaime shrugged and said, "I see you now."
Lord Renly laughed as if he didn't mind Jaime's cool demeanor in the slightest.
*An expert actor,* Glyn mentally assessed. *Renly's heartiness lacks a certain innate naturalness.*
*Robert's heartiness flows from within. This is a little brother who loves to imitate his big brother.*
...
Glyn moved closer to Jaime and asked, "Who is he?"
Glyn seemed to lower his voice, but the people around them heard him crystal clear.
Renly's smile froze for an instant.
The corner of Jaime's mouth curled up as he answered seriously, "This is Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws on the Small Council."
Upon hearing this, Glyn's brow furrowed slightly. He offered a salute. "Good day, Lord Renly. I am the Lord of Lightfort, Glynn Clegane."
Renly maintained the smile on his face and gave a slight nod.
Glyn rested his right hand on his sword hilt, glanced around, and said, "From a distance, I heard sounds of merriment and laughter... I have just returned to King's Landing. Has the funeral of Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, already concluded?"
As Glyn's words fell, the air around them seemed to freeze solid.
Lightfort? The Lightfort of Crackclaw Point?
Some nobles of the Crownlands had been about to rebuke this half-wildling noble from Crackclaw Point, but seeing him beside Jaime... it was clear the two were together. After some consideration, they refrained from acting rashly, deciding to observe the situation first.
They could all hear that the Lord of Lightfort's words carried a deliberate insinuation.
They felt that things were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
"Lord Master of Laws, please forgive my impudence. My question may have nothing to do with the law."
Glyn raised an eyebrow and continued, "Lord Renly, please believe my sincerity. I am merely a little curious."
Jaime's green eyes flickered as he looked at the tall-standing Glyn.
*This isn't a provocation. Is he preparing to question a Lord's character to his face?*
*I knew it would be like this. And on the way here, he had the nerve to worry I would escalate things.*
*I... Well done!*
...
The smile vanished from Renly's face. His blue eyes stared unblinkingly at Glyn.
Glyn spoke with a gentle expression. "Lord Renly?"
The atmosphere turned palpably heavy. The people around them silently watched the scene unfold.
Before long, a young man in golden armor suddenly strode out from behind Renly.
He shouted, "That is a deliberate offense to Lord Renly!"
The young man was slender, with long, flowing brown hair and a pair of beautiful golden eyes.
His features were soft and elegant, his appearance exceptionally handsome.
Ahem, Glyn had to admit he felt a little... pressured by the man's looks.
...
Glyn recognized the man as Loras Tyrell, known as the Knight of Flowers, Renly's "close" guard.
Glyn acted as if he didn't see the conspicuous Golden Rose sigil on the man's armor and turned to Jaime. "Ser, and who is this?"
*All for Cersei... sigh.*
Jaime glanced at Glyn and replied, "The Golden Rose of Highgarden, Ser Loras Tyrell."
Glyn gave a somewhat perfunctory nod and asked, "Ser Tyrell, how have I offended Lord Renly? Please, speak plainly."
The handsome Loras moved his lips, momentarily at a loss for words.
After a pause, Glyn raised an eyebrow and said, "Ser, were you just baselessly slandering the Queen's Chief Steward?"
Glyn brought up his title, Chief Steward to the Queen. It was a position neither high nor low, neither important nor insignificant.
But it was special because when the Queen's Chief Steward was away from court, he could, to a certain extent, be said to represent the Queen herself.
(end of chapter)