Two months passed in a breeze. As Margaery had informed Lucas, the Tyrell entourage, except for Loras Tyrell and a dozen more soldiers, had departed King's Landing.
During the week Margaery had stayed after their first time, Lucas had visited her a couple more times. And both those times had been filled with pleasure and bliss.
Margaery had enjoyed every moment, and she had been truly unwilling to part with him. He would not be wrong if he said that he had taken Margaery on a ride to heaven.
Lucas had reassured her that they would meet again soon. Although the powers of tame had not worked on her, Lucas was certain that the next time he met her, she would be entirely his. Margaery had tried to bring up the topic of setting up a betrothal between them but Lucas had very skillfully dodged it. At least, for one year.
Also, as a measure to show that she had been successful in her endeavour, the pace at which weapons were being supplied to House Tyrell had been increased slightly. It was not much, but it would keep Olenna and the remaining Tyrells content for a while.
In King's Landing, and in the new city that he had been building, the work had been progressing at a rapid pace. The transformation had started to become visible.
A significant length of pipes and the drainage system had already been laid throughout the city, and in another couple of months, more than half of the sewage problem would be solved. The pipes for water supply and the drainage system were also being laid in the Red Keep, and in another fortnight the work inside the palace would be complete.
Lucas had not encountered Robert much in these two months, only a few times. But Robert had been very happy with the progress of the work. He was too pleased and had showered a great deal of praise on Lucas, much to the dissatisfaction of the other court officials.
The training of the men who had been recruited into the City Watch was also progressing at a brisk pace. The City Watch of five thousand men had been restructured in a proper manner, with a clear chain of command established.
Small patrolling squads under officers had been formed. Apart from this, City Watch stations had been opened throughout the city where the common folk were free to come and report whatever problems or crimes they had been facing.
Lucas had also completed the written code of conduct for the soldiers of the City Watch, and it was being thoroughly implemented by the men. Although it was not as detailed as Lucas would have wanted, it was sufficient for now. He could improve it slowly.
In the past two months, Lucas had been using his powers of tame on whichever soldier it was possible to use them. He had cultivated a very strong image, one of benevolence, kindness, justice and empathy in front of the smallfolk and the three thousand soldiers he had recruited from among them. Even with the men who had already been part of the City Watch, he had managed to build good relations. As a result, he had been able to tame more than sixty percent of the soldiers, and he was certain that within another month, this figure would rise even higher.
It was not that everything had gone smoothly. In the very beginning, a few soldiers had tried to ignore his orders or had indulged themselves in the old practices of corruption to which they had grown accustomed. But, as Lucas had publicly declared, the moment he came to know of such things, he dealt with them properly.
The initial days had been tough, and the smallfolk had been afraid. They were not willing to take the risk of reporting corruption or harassment to Lucas' men who were constantly patrolling the streets. But once they began to see results, their belief in promises made by Lucas rose, and more and more people started taking the initiative, and corruption was almost eliminated in the City Watch.
Although the new recruits would need a few more months to become average soldiers in regard to fighting skills, Lucas could safely say that he now commanded a competent force of five thousand men.
Nothing much had happened on the front of his interactions and relations with the other court officials and the small council. No new kind of conflict or friction had arisen with them, but neither had his relations improved with anyone.
Occasionally, it was Petyr Baelish who would take the initiative to converse with him. He seemed quite interested in learning about the progress being made with the work going on in both cities. Although the master of coin tried to portray his interest as purely academic, and slightly as an effort to build better relations with Lucas so as to secure good spots for his pleasure houses, Lucas could easily spot the hidden intentions in those eyes. The master of coin was also a frequent visitor to the sites where work of any kind was being carried out. He again termed it as mere curiosity but Lucas wondered what it actually was?
Renly and Stannis too had sought him out on at least two occasions. Both of them had been dissatisfied with the pace at which weapons were being delivered to them.
Lucas had assured them that the rate at which he was producing weapons was the best he could manage, and that he could not halt the supply to any other great house either.
Stannis, though disappointed, had not shown much reaction, while Renly had acted slightly furious. But that had been the end of it. No one had sought him afterwards.
The most curious reaction had come from Joffrey. After what had happened during their first encounter, Lucas had somewhat expected some kind of retaliation or an act of revenge from that entitled brat. But no such thing had occurred. He had hardly encountered Joffrey, and even when he did on occasion, other than that smug and arrogant look, Joffrey offered nothing else.
Lucas was not sure, and neither was he interested in finding out, but it was probably Cersei who had been holding his reins. How long she could hold them was a matter of debate.
Lucas had also spent some time with Tommen and Myrcella. Both of them were as sweet and innocent as children should be, and they were quite eager to spend their time with him.
And the most interesting one, Cersei. Like he had done after the first time, Lucas would feign work and business and would keep his distance from Cersei.
Cersei being Cersei was able to hold herself up for a few days but would summon him for one reason or another. And every time he was summoned, Lucas fulfilled all her lust and would pleasure her in all possible ways. He would stroke her anticipation for the next time and then would vanish for days. He did not approach her unless she herself took the initiative.
He had been summoned almost 15 times in the last two months and after every session, she would grow more restless. Although his power of tame had not worked yet, Lucas knew that Cersei was on the verge of breakdown.
*
*
*
[Add the book to your collection. Send some power stones and leave your opinion.]
[Access to Advanced chapters on P@treon. One extra chapter released per week on P@treon. Replace @ with a.]
[email protected]/shadowauthor