Lancelot met Tywin Lannister again in Tyrion's card room.
Tywin Lannister was dressed in opulent clothing adorned with gold thread, a cloak embroidered with the roaring lion of House Lannister draped over his shoulders, and red high boots on his feet. The ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword of House Lannister, Brightroar, was by his side.
As for the Valyrian steel armor, Tywin had given it to Kevan to use.
Tywin had passed the stage of personally charging into battle; as the Warden of the West, he no longer fought on the front lines.
Kevan was different; he still frequently participated in tourneys.
However, having Tywin as an older brother meant Kevan wasn't very famous in the Seven Kingdoms—less famous even than the Blackfish, Brynden Tully.
Brynden "Blackfish" Tully was the uncle of Catelyn and Edmure, currently serving as the Knight of the Gate in the Vale. He was renowned and well-liked.
When Jaime Lannister visited Riverrun as a child, he didn't play with Lysa Tully; instead, he pestered the Blackfish for stories of legendary knights.
Kevan was different. His brother Tywin was so famous that Kevan's presence was minimal. However, unlike Tywin's other brothers, such as Gerion (implied, though text says "Gillian" which might be a typo or translation quirk for Gerion or Tygett), Kevan had no desire to rebel against Tywin.
He knew that House Lannister's fearsome reputation in the Seven Kingdoms over the last thirty years was entirely thanks to Tywin.
Tywin toyed with a Golden Lion coin in his hand.
"Lancelot, one Golden Lion equals one Gold Dragon?" he asked.
"Correct. The weight is the same. That way, no one will care whether it's stamped with a lion or a dragon!" Lancelot said.
"You have done a great service to the family. You not only recovered Brightroar but also other Valyrian weapons. Your father Jaime and granduncle Kevan are honored to have received Valyrian weapons and armor."
"Tyrion has also made a fortune thanks to you. What reward do you want from me? A castle? There are several unclaimed lands in the Westerlands!" Tywin said.
When Tywin brought the Westerlands to heel, he exterminated several houses—wiped them out completely. The lands of House Reyne and House Tarbeck were still in his grasp!
Lancelot shook his head.
"As long as I outlive you all, everything belonging to House Lannister will be mine!"
Tyrion and Kevan's jaws dropped in shock. They hurriedly pushed their jaws back into place.
"Lancelot, show some respect! Is that how you talk to your grandfather?" Tyrion scolded him.
He feared Tywin would get angry and strip Lancelot of his status, disinheriting him from Casterly Rock.
But unexpectedly, Tywin Lannister laughed.
"Hahaha! Ambition is the way of a king!"
"I hope you can do even better! Exceed our imaginations!"
Leaving the card room, Lancelot planned to visit the Tyrells.
In a recent lottery draw, he had obtained five items:
Ice Crystal Stone: Used by the Snow-Treading Ebony Courser (Little Snow).
Purple Gold Crown: Kept for himself to wear.
Black Jade Intermittent Ointment: Intended for Willas Tyrell of House Tyrell.
Rose Sword: A blood-red sword, intended for his own use.
Felix Felicis (Liquid Luck): Intended for Joffrey to drink before the competition, to ensure he took first place in archery.
Arriving at the Tyrell residence in King's Landing, he announced his identity to the guard, stating he was there to see Loras.
However, he was told that Ser Loras and his brother Ser Garlan had taken their eldest brother, Willas, outside the city.
"What are they doing outside the city?" Lancelot asked.
"They went to the North Sea Kindergarten to see your mounts, Ser Lancelot! Lord Willas loves breeding horses; before you, he bred the finest hawks and hounds!" the guard replied.
"I see! I'll go find them right now."
Lancelot mounted the Ember Fire Dragon Steed (Little Fire) and hurried toward the North Sea Kindergarten.
At the North Sea Kindergarten, Gendry was training Babalu and the other three boys. They were to be Lancelot's guards.
"One, two! Three, four!"
Gendry had become a drill instructor. With every shout, the four little ones would thrust or retract their spears.
"Your training method is wrong!"
Gendry suddenly heard a voice coming from outside the kindergarten.
He turned and saw two men standing and one man being pushed in a wheelchair, followed by seven or eight attendants.
"Who are you? Which noble house are you young lords from?" Gendry asked.
However, as Loras walked closer, Gendry recognized him.
"The Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell!" he exclaimed.
Loras nodded. He was very famous in King's Landing, so he wasn't surprised to be recognized.
"So this is Ser Lancelot's North Sea Kindergarten? It seems rather unique!" the man in the wheelchair said. He was no older than thirty but looked somewhat aged.
"What are you doing here? And what did you mean earlier when you said my training method was wrong?" Gendry asked.
Looking at the man wearing a bull-horned helm, Loras smiled.
"Brother, could you take off your mask? That bull-horned helm is quite scary!"
"A bull warrior never removes his mask. My helmet is my mask, so I won't take it off," Gendry said.
"Aren't you afraid others will be scared of you and won't dare approach?" Loras asked.
"The children here call me the Bull Demon King, but they aren't afraid of me! They actually like me quite a bit!" Gendry replied.
"Alright. Loras, we came to see Hrakkar! I wonder if he is here?" Willas asked.
"Hrakkar? You mean Ser Lancelot's mount? Jon Snow took him to the South Mountain Nursing Home. They just slaughtered a few pigs and are stewing pork!"
Gendry said.
Hrakkar had a huge appetite, but sometimes he could go without eating because, after evolving, he could absorb faint magical energy from the air, enough to sustain his life.
However, Hrakkar still enjoyed eating meat sometimes, and like a dragon, he preferred it cooked.
"Then we won't disturb you. Let's go check the South Mountain Nursing Home!" Willas said.
The brothers were about to leave, but Gendry called out to them.
"Wait a moment. You said my teaching method was wrong. May I ask for your guidance, Ser Loras, Knight of Flowers?" Gendry looked at him.
"Challenge me? Why don't you enter the tourney instead? There are more strong fighters there!" Loras said. He didn't intend to bother with a nobody like Gendry.
But what he didn't know was that some nobodies were stronger than him.
"You aren't scared, are you?" Gendry's voice came from behind him.
Ser Loras stopped in his tracks and looked at a nearby attendant.
"Bring my sword!"
Loras took his weapon and walked up to Gendry.
"Come then! Today I will teach you how to use a sword."
But to Loras's surprise, Gendry brought out a warhammer from the room and rested it on his shoulder.
"Sorry, Ser Loras. I don't know how to fence. I like to smash things!"