Chapter 124: The Big Fish Eats the Small Fish
In the morning, a personal letter from Cersei Lannister arrived from Maegor's Holdfast.
Glyn, slightly puzzled, took the letter bearing Queen Cersei's seal from Steward Surana.
The Queen had given Glyn a new mission: for the next period of time, he would be responsible for Prince Tommen's sword training and Princess Myrcella's horseback riding lessons.
Cersei's plans were extensive. She would not reveal the specific details to Glyn, but she used a plausible reason to keep Glyn in King's Landing.
At this time, Cersei felt Glyn's ability and loyalty were quite trustworthy, and Glyn also had a special arrangement in her plans.
After reading the letter, Glyn rubbed his hair.
Glyn felt there were many plausible reasons why he shouldn't necessarily be the one to tutor the royal children.
Regardless of his thoughts, Glyn would gladly accept it. Being able to tutor the Prince and Princess showed not only Queen Cersei's trust in Glyn but also a great honor.
Lord Glyn rubbed his chin. It seemed that his defeat of Ser Loras Tyrell had also played a role.
Wouldn't Ser Loras Tyrell think he was merely caught off guard by Glyn when he woke up?
Loras and Glyn were the same age, a time when their spirits ran high. Shouldn't Loras be shouting, "Last time I was careless and you tricked me," and then demand a rematch?
Lord Glyn really wanted to challenge Loras again to boost his prestige. If there was another chance, he would fight a little more exquisitely, and conveniently provide some material for bards' songs.
"Marcel, arm me!"
***
Maegor's Tower Garden.
Tommen was seven years old, a chubby little boy with golden curly hair and emerald green eyes.
"Lord Glyn, I heard you defeated Ser Loras Tyrell?"
Tommen's golden hair shone in the sun.
Glyn lowered himself and said, "Your Highness, Ser Loras Tyrell's swordsmanship is considered among the best in the Seven Kingdoms. Although I defeated him, I cannot deny his superb swordsmanship."
Glyn was very humble, and he listed the victories Ser Loras Tyrell had won in various tournaments.
"Although Ser Loras Tyrell was defeated by the stronger Glyn, we will not deny his past achievements."
Tommen's eyes lit up. "Lord Glyn, you are an upright and great Knight."
Glyn waved to the waiting squire and personally helped Tommen put on armor.
The gentle-natured Tommen was very excited today. "I love apple cake and cream cake!"
After speaking, the little chubby boy added, "I don't like to eat sweet vegetables."
Glyn's hands did not stop; he looked at the chubby little prince and could not help but smile.
After the armor was put on, Tommen's appearance was incredibly round.
Glyn stood to one side. Tommen began to do some basic movements, and soon the chubby little boy began to sweat.
"Your Highness, your swordsmanship is very fluid, you are really good."
"Strong Knight Tommen, bravely accept the challenge! Soon you will also defeat Ser Loras Tyrell!"
Panting heavily, Tommen's spirit instantly soared, and he once again wielded the wooden blunt sword at the empty air.
"That's enough," Glyn called out and handed a towel to Tommen, who was covered in sweat.
Tommen looked dazed for a moment before extending his chubby hand to take it, and clumsily wiped the sweat.
Glyn smiled. Compared to Joffrey, who always had a smug smirk, Tommen looked much more adorable.
Tommen's voice was clear and childlike: "Lord Glyn, can I become the champion of future tournaments?"
Glyn's smile was gentle: "Your Highness, your talent is outstanding, you definitely can."
Upon receiving Glyn's affirmation, the little chubby boy became very excited.
***
***
Narrow Sea.
The delicate and petite Daenerys Targaryen stood on the deck of the galleon, with Dik and Bronn behind her.
Daenerys looked at the battle below with a blank expression. She tightened her black cloak, the spacious hood perfectly concealing her trembling body.
Osha, leading the guards Glyn had left behind and the ship's sailors, was fighting pirates on another merchant ship.
During her southbound voyage, Daenerys encountered a large merchant ship and a pirate ship engaged in a boarding battle.
The kind-hearted Daenerys, holding back her anxiety, ordered the captain to bring their ship closer with the intention of helping defeat the pirates.
When they got closer, the guards on the merchant ship and the pirates were already fighting ferociously.
Daenerys's small face showed a hint of hidden fatigue.
That night, when she left, the excited Viserys had talked with Dik for a whole night, and the next day, his body began to heat up.
Since her brother fell ill, Daenerys had had nightmares every night. She remembered the terrifying dreams, but when she woke up, she couldn't recall the specific scene.
This morning, after getting out of bed, the ship's doctor informed that Viserys had finally started to recover. Daenerys, who had been worried, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Another one fell! Daenerys's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Although Daenerys didn't understand military affairs, she now knew that the Crabclaw Point warriors Glyn had sent to her were rare elites.
A total of 20 guards, and several had fallen. Daenerys felt heartache.
***
After the battle ended, Osha came to report: "Princess Daenerys, this is a merchant ship trafficking slaves! When we arrived, the slave traders on the ship had already been killed by pirates."
Daenerys ignored the fresh blood on Osha's body. She stretched out her white hand and quickly said, "Osha, are you injured?"
Osha shook her head. Her smile was very simple. "Don't worry, this is all other people's blood. Those people can't hurt me!"
Daenerys still worried and carefully inspected her, then nodded slightly.
Dik's eyes flickered, and his voice was filled with excitement: "Princess Daenerys, their masters are dead. Strictly speaking, you are now their new mistress!"
Dik was the most well-read person in Daenerys's entourage, and could even be said to be the only scholar. She had appointed him as Daenerys's financial manager.
Daenerys shook her head. Her voice was firm: "I don't need slaves. I want to give them freedom!"
After speaking, Daenerys led her people towards the merchant ship.
***
The cabin door was pushed open, and Daenerys slowly walked down the wooden ramp, escorted by her guards.
What did Daenerys see? She saw chains and countless empty eyes.
Daenerys, who had traveled for years with her brother to various Free Cities, was not unfamiliar with slaves, but this scene was a first for her.
Living people were imprisoned like livestock in a dark, narrow space. Daenerys's heart was deeply shaken.
Daenerys's slender figure moved among the lifeless crowd. Her eyes involuntarily reddened.
Daenerys returned to the wooden deck. After taking a few steps up the gangplank, she turned to face those empty gazes.
Daenerys really wanted to tell Glyn, who was far away in Westeros, that when facing so many eyes, she easily became nervous, her body would tremble uncontrollably, and her heart was still somewhat afraid.
Daenerys took a slow breath. She needed courage. At least for now, she had to learn to rely on herself!
Daenerys slowly raised her smooth chin and declared in a loud voice: "I am the daughter of the Seven Kingdoms' ruler, Aerys II, Princess of Dragonstone, Daenerys Targaryen, born of the storm!"
"I am not a slave owner. I will not enslave you! I will break these chains, and when we stop at the next port, you will have the freedom to leave!"
"After leaving this ship full of wickedness, your freedom will belong solely to you. If you desire freedom, each of you must fight for it yourselves!"
After Daenerys's words, the cabin fell into a long silence.
A ray of sunlight penetrated through the cabin's entrance and shone on Daenerys, casting a layer of golden radiance upon her.
The eyes of countless empty souls stirred with a ripple. They seemed to see a walking goddess in the world.
"One, two..." Clang, clang, clang. The ship's cabin was filled with the sound of chains clashing. Everyone sincerely knelt towards Daenerys.
***
***
Under the tree, Glyn leaned against the tree, watching Myrcella and Tommen play in the garden from afar.
Glyn's ears twitched. He heard light footsteps and smelled the scent of lemon powder.
Varys, dressed in a loose orange silk robe, smiled and walked to Glyn's side.
Varys's gaze was fixed on the distance, towards where Myrcella and Tommen were playing.
Varys seemed to be sighing. "The Red Keep is everywhere hiding the ears of important people. Sometimes, this is actually the most relaxing place."
"Your little birds are truly everywhere..." Glyn nodded in agreement. "Lord Varys, as soon as I entered the Red Keep, even if I was wearing only a loincloth, I always felt eyes prying on me."
Varys smiled and said, "The Red Keep has always been filled with darkness! Lord Glyn, you will get used to it sooner or later."
Glyn shrugged. "I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't get used to it in this lifetime. The longer I spend outside, the more I miss my homeland!"
Varys clasped his hands together. "You are perhaps the only person who can resist the allure of power. This is truly admirable."
Glyn smiled and said, "Thanks to your praise, I might just not be able to adapt! Every day here requires extreme caution, and even a little longer time is enough to make people tired."
Varys nodded slightly, speaking with a slight tone: "Storms come and go, colossal waves crash over heads, and big fish eat small fish. This is the heart of the Seven Kingdoms."
Glyn smiled and said cheerfully, "Lord Varys, that's a vivid metaphor. It seems that those who can sit steadily are all figures exceptionally skilled at navigating troubled waters."
Varys covered his mouth and smiled for a moment, then suddenly said, "Lord Glyn, have you also received news from Pentos?"
Glyn's expression turned serious, and he nodded. "Illyrio Mopatis's trading company in Pentos sent news a while ago. I heard it was... very regrettable. Although I haven't interacted much, I know that Magister Illyrio is a very upright gentleman."
Varys's face showed grief: "I also didn't expect my old friend to suddenly encounter misfortune."
Glyn also sighed.
(end of chapter)
Chapter 124: The Big Fish Eats the Small Fish
In the morning, a personal letter from Cersei Lannister arrived from Maegor's Holdfast.
Glyn, slightly puzzled, took the letter bearing Queen Cersei's seal from Steward Surana.
The Queen had given Glyn a new mission: for the next period of time, he would be responsible for Prince Tommen's sword training and Princess Myrcella's horseback riding lessons.
Cersei's plans were extensive. She would not reveal the specific details to Glyn, but she used a plausible reason to keep Glyn in King's Landing.
At this time, Cersei felt Glyn's