Chapter 15 2 страница

Pulling himself away from the hearth, Tywin slowly paced over to his desk as his mind worked over how to salvage several plans that had been in the works and were now thrown off by that one piece of paper. Ever since he'd met Lord Nox on Pyke all those years ago, he had been focused on a single task. Bringing the Sorcerer's power under the control of House Lannister and solidifying the Lion's place at the top of the hierarchy of Westeros's Great Houses for years to come. Unfortunately, this task was proving far more difficult than he had ever imagined. The most obvious way to achieve this goal would be to have the Sorcerer breed into the Lannister line directly. But that was simply not possible due to unfortunate timing. Tywin only had one daughter, Cersei, and she was now married and Queen of Westeros. There were options outside of Cersei of course. Namely his nieces by way of his brothers Janei and Joy. But neither was a good option at the present time for the Sorcerer. Janei though was still but a babe, barely a year old now. Joy was closer in age, though not by much, but marriages with wider age differences had occurred.

His sister Genna was another option. But she was unfortunately wedded, bedded and mother to four children. And while the idea of disposing of her incompetent husband Emmon Frey and replacing him with the Sorcerer was indeed tempting, his sister was nearing the end of her child rearing days and was not the beauty that she had once been. A harsh fact, but one of life. And he knew that if he were to catch the sorcerer in such a manner he would have to do so with the pride and joy of the lionesses of Casterly Rock. So, while he wanted the power of the Sorcerer bred directly into the Lannister line, he unfortunately had to let go of gaining the Sorcerer through a marriage into the direct Lannister line.

But then he was gifted a second chance when the eyes and ears Tyrion had arranged to be put in place sent news of the Stark children, including the bastard son, not only having the same power as the Sorcerer but also of them being trained directly by the Sorcerer to use said powers. While the Sorcerer was the true prize, he would settle for a Stark child if they had the same power. And while many would obviously seek out to grab hold of the Heir, Robb Stark was the first one of the Stark children he eliminated from his list. As heir, Robb Stark would stay in Winterfell, and whoever married him would become the next Lady Stark, not Lannister. Which defeated the whole purpose of what he was trying to achieve.

Luckily, the Tully girl had proved herself quite fertile and had given birth to several options for him to choose from. The eldest girl was an attractive option. Word was that she was already turning into a beauty that could rival her mother and was every inch a Lady as any Lord could hope to obtain. A betrothal to Jamie would've been preferred, but his foolish son refused to step down from his position as a Kingsgaurd. His son had held such promise as a boy, but now he was little more than a disappointment as he would prefer life as a glorified bodyguard rather than take up the position his family needed him to.

For a time, he considered a marriage between the eldest Stark girl and Tyrion, if only so that the two could produce a child while he was still alive for long enough so he could groom a proper heir. But that idea was dismissed almost immediately as he doubted that anyone would ever willingly enter a betrothal with Tyrion. Not unless Tywin offered terms that were insulting to House Lannister. His nephews were an option as well, and he had plenty to choose from. Kevan had sired three sons in Lancel, Martyn and William while his late brother Tygett had managed to sire a single son: Tyrek. But that would require him to name one of them as his official heir, which was something he was hesitant to do as he still held out hope that Jamie would come to his senses.

But there was a problem with the eldest girl. While she was apparently the picture of a future Lady, word from their spies said that lacked in the one area he wanted. The eldest girl did not join her brothers and sister in their training under the sorcerer. Whether it was because she simply did not have the power or that she was giving into her mother's ridiculous teachings of the Seven, he didn't know. All he knew was that of the Stark children, she was either the weakest or completely powerless. While the eldest girl not being what he wanted was disappointing, there were still options. And this was where the second daughter came in to play. Word was that the second daughter had no problems regarding her sorcery. And while the eldest Stark girl might be shaping up into an ideal future Lady, the younger Stark girl was said to be Lyanna Stark reborn. An interesting prospect to be sure. But again, trying to arrange a marriage would require him to designate an heir. So as unfortunate as it was, he placed the Stark girls as a secondary option for now.

Which brought him to his ideal target, and why Joy's status as a bastard had been so important to his goals. Lord Stark's bastard son was the favored student of the sorcerer, so much so that the Sorcerer had recently named Jon Snow as his Apprentice. Which, according to his brother, was akin to a knight naming a squire who was sure to become a knight of the realm. Both Jon and Joy were close in age, enough so that no one would even think twice about the two becoming wed. And they were both bastards, which meant that they were malleable to where they would make their home. He'd been planning on offering terms to Lord Stark for a betrothal between the two, which would include petitioning the King for legitimization for the two of them, raising them to the ranks of noble Lord and Lady and granting them Castamere and the surrounding lands. The castle was still in ruins and flooded, but it would serve as a good test for the boy to see how he would turn the castle around. And to ensure that the power of the Sorcerer would enter the Lannister mainline, he would put in the contract that the first-born girl of their union would be betrothed to the heir of Casterly Rock. While this method was not expedient, it would ensure that within the next two-generations that the line of Sorcerers would be bred into House Lannister. And while it was more than likely that he would not be around to see his plan come to fruition, he would lay the groundwork for House Lannister to become the unquestioned power in Westeros.

But now that plan was now faltering on a knife's edge. Joy's legitimization made it so that it would no longer be a betrothal between two bastards, but rather between a legitimized daughter of House Lannister and a bastard. And while he did not care for the opinions of the sheep, the image of such a union reminded him far too much of what his father, the 'Toothless Lion', had done when he married his sister to that foolish Frey. But there was still time to salvage it. All that was needed was for the boy to be legitimized as well. Which, if he were being completely honest, he was surprised had not already happened. The boy was the Northern Sorcerer's Apprentice, had bloodied himself against bandits in the North, had ventured into Valyria and returned to tell the tale and he had bested an anointed knight in single combat quite easily. And not only that, but apparently the boy now wielded a sword which was like the Sorcerer's, if only a different color. With such a reputation at such a young age, the boy had more than earned his legitimization. And Stark was the King's brother in all but blood. So, the question remained: why did Robert hesitate? He didn't want to throw his word in to get the boy legitimized, as that could truly tip his hand to the realm, but he might have no choice soon. Especially with the tale his brother brought back about their brief stop at Sunspear in Dorne.

'The Martells, ' Tywin frowned, sitting down and staring blankly off into the distance as he thought about just what his brother had told him regarding the events at Sunspear.

Apparently, Snow had been training in the yard with Oberyn Martell's squire when the two caught the eye of Princess Arianne Martell. The two then proceeded to have a friendly competition, which Snow ended up winning. However, word of what was going on got out and soon they had attracted quite the crowd. And after the two had finished, Ser Gerold Dayne had proceeded to slander the Martells and the Princess. Snow defended her honor and fought the man and beat him soundly. Earning him the attention of Princess such that she even danced with him that evening and spent the next several days in his company almost exclusively.

This situation was perhaps the most worrying to him. Arianne had but three years on the boy and was reputed to have grown into a beauty that men would do anything for just to have her grace them with a look. But most concerning was that she was still un-betrothed even though she was approaching her six-and-ten name day. And the ruling Prince or Princess of Dorne taking a bastard as their consort was not without precedence. Was this Doran's plan? Use his daughter to ensnare the Sorcerer's prized pupil and gain his power and the potential support of the North? The two kingdoms had already established a very profitable trade in the last few years. Was that how Doran came to learn of the boy's power? If the Martell's gained the power of the Sorcerer and made a full alliance with the North, then Tywin knew that House Lannister's position would be threatened. If such a situation were to come to pass, he would more than likely have to arrange a situation where Clegane would be unknowingly offered up as a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter to sate the Martell's quest for vengeance.

And that was not a situation he wanted to place himself in. He would make sure to cover his tracks well, but if it ever came to light that he sent his best enforcer to die just to please another House then the reputation of House Lannister would once again fall. And he could not, and would not, let that happen. Which meant that he would have to try and move quickly to secure the boy. He could send a letter directly to Stark offering the betrothal, but he doubted that he would receive a favorable response. Much as a squire was usually not marriageable until they achieved knighthood, he assumed the same was true for anyone that was apprenticed to the Sorcerer. Not to mention, Stark's foolish honor would not allow him to see past what happened during Robert's Rebellion and what he'd done to ensure Robert's future reign as King was secure. No, the best option would be for the boy to approach his father and request the betrothal. But that... that was difficult to achieve. He could send Joy north with the hopes that she could catch the boy's eye, but she was still but a girl and wasn't ready physically or mentally ready to seduce even a boy on the cusp of manhood. Which left him in quite the quandary.

" Milord. Lord Kevan, Lady Genna, Lord Tyrion and Lord Gerion are here to see you. "

" Send them in, " Tywin responded to the guard just outside, not bothering to rise from his seat nor to turn towards the door.

In short order, his siblings and his remaining child made their way into his solar before closing the door to ensure that they had privacy. " Well brother, here we are, one big happy family again. " Gerion commented dryly as he flopped, not sat, flopped, down into one of the chairs available. " Is this where you tell me where I'm such a disappointment again? Only this time for not bringing back more than just our family's sword from Valyria? Or is this when you tell us all your grand scheme to sell my daughter like a two-stag broodmare? "

" Gerion, shut up. " Genna countered, slapping their brother on the back of his head with a firm hand before taking the seat next to him, leaving Tyrion to hop up onto another as Kevan preferred to remain standing for now. " I would've thought your ill-thought-out venture to Valyria would've matured you. "

" Oh, it did that dear sister and more, " Gerion countered back, rubbing the back of his head. " It's why I've spent the entirety of the day with my daughter, trying to make up for the shit of a father I've been too her. And that is how I discovered the rather peculiar nature of her education. An education which emphasizes Northern Houses and traditions. An addition that was apparently ordered by you, dear brother. And given just how well we all know you; it was not difficult to connect the dots and figure out your plan. I can even guess that you were going to offer Castamere as an incentive. Tell me I'm wrong. "

Tywin had to give his brother credit for figuring it out so quickly. Not that he would say it aloud. Anyone who bore the name 'Lannister' should've been able to figure out his endgame. " We all have a duty to our House, including Joy. " Tywin responded, looking directly into his brother's eyes. " A duty that has become much more apparent with her legitimization. And as you already seem to know what I am planning, then tell me this. Can you name a better candidate for your daughter's hand? If so, then I would hear it now. "

He knew the argument was over the moment his brother didn't immediately respond. " Gods damn you, Tywin. You haven't changed at all, " Gerion growled. " She's only eight for god's sake. "

" She will not be wedded until the appropriate time, " Tywin countered back. " But setting up a betrothal is not outside the norm. And yes, I do intend to offer them Castamere as a test to see how the boy can handle himself. "

" But a bastard marrying a legitimized Lannister, " Tyrion chirped, a smile playing on his face. " Dear father, what will the—how did you put it? How will the 'sheep' react to such a development? "

" The boy will be legitimized soon enough, " Tywin shot back. " It is a wonder the King hasn't already done so before this. But once word spreads of his actions, then he will gain his legitimization. And it will no longer be two bastards marrying, but rather a Stark marrying a Lannister. "

" That is provided that Lord Stark even allows his son to be married to a Lannister, " Tyrion pressed further, making Tywin want to grind his teeth. " We Lannisters are not thought of all that well in the North. And lest we forget, it was Lord Stark himself who was the first to speak of Jamie's new moniker. A moniker which has stayed with him to this day. "

Tywin did not need to be reminded of that fact. " Joy will play on the boy, and through him we will get to Stark. But first, we must get Joy to Winterfell. The eldest girl, Sansa, is entering the age to obtain handmaidens. We shall send an offer to Stark for Joy to enter her service. "

The plan was sound enough, but as soon as his intentions were announced he noticed something. A tightening around his brother's eyes. " You have another idea, Gerion? " Tywin asked, turning to his brother with a look that demanded he speak up.

" Damn it all, Tywin, " Gerion growled. " Yes, there is another way we can send Joy to Winterfell. As an acolyte to the sorcerer. "

That brought Tywin up short. " Explain. "

Sighing, Gerion scratched at his hair. " I wanted to wait longer to see if I can confirm it, but there is a chance that Joy might have the same type of power that Nox has. "

" Joy can use magic? " Tyrion asked, sitting up in his seat straighter. If there was one thing that could make Tyrion pay attention to something it was anything that dealt with the arcane. Or whores. " How do you know? She hasn't shown any such powers before. "

" Because, according to Nox…I had the same power as well. Or at least the capability of learning how to use the same power as he. " Gerion admitted, though he did not seem enthused by the prospect.

'He said he 'had the same power', not that he has. Meaning that this magic power can be lost. ' " You have never shown anything like what we witnessed Nox wielding Gerion, " Tywin stated with narrow eyes, wondering if his foolish brother had managed to pull the wool over his eyes for years. " How can you be sure that Lord Nox wasn't just humoring your dreams of glory and honor? "

" One, those dreams died the moment I was shipwrecked in Valyria, " Gerion shot back immediately, meeting Tywin's hard glare with one of his own. " And two, Nox isn't one to lie, at least not about this. And before you jump down my throat, like usual, I spent a lot of time learning as much as I could from the sorcerer about his power. Hells, I'm willing to bet that I've learned more about the sorcerer and his power in the little more than a month I've spent with him than you have in the years you've spent trying to dig up any scrap of information you can. Now, do you want me to tell you what I learned? Or are you just going to continue to berate me for hours on end? "

Leaning back, Tywin motioned for Gerion to continue. As galling as it was to admit, his brother had a point. He'd spent years and thousands of gold dragons trying to uncover as much information as he could about the sorcerer. And in the end, he had barely enough to fill a single sheet of paper for all his trouble. Gerion however had spent over a month on a single ship with the man. His insight could prove invaluable.

" For starters, Nox does not call his magic, well, magic. He instead calls it the 'Force'. Think of it like a giant lake and those who can use it being the rivers that are fed from said lake. One cannot simply learn how to use the Force; you are either born with the ability to wield the Force or you are not. And just as all men cannot be as strong as your monster Clegane, not everyone who can wield the Force can do so in equal measure. The measure of an individual's strength is something Nox calls 'Force Sensitivity'. The greater and individuals Force sensitivity the stronger they can become. And it seems to be that those that are trained can tell if an individual has any Force sensitivity just from looking at them, though how I have no idea. And just to let you know, Nox took careful note of both you and Kevan back during the Greyjoy Rebellion and, these are his words, you two have the Force sensitivity of a stone. "

Tywin did not appreciate the thought. The fact that House Stark could be considered superior to House Lannister in anything was an insult of the highest order. Which was why he was so focused on introducing this power into the Lannister line.

" Yet, you apparently do have this power, Uncle, " Tyrion noted, scratching at his chin. " How? "

Gerion shifted his weight as he continued. " Sheer luck, and that is the best answer that I can give. If two Force sensitives have a child, then it is almost guaranteed the child will be Force sensitive as well. The same is true if only a single parent is Force sensitive, though Nox did note that if the Force sensitive is on the weaker side then the odds of any offspring with a non-Force sensitive individual goes down to about a flip of a coin. However, there are rare, and he stressed rare, occurrences where two non-Force sensitive individuals will give birth to a Force sensitive one. So, in all honesty, it was sheer luck that I was apparently born with these powers and the rest of you were not. "

" Yet, like our brother said Gerion, I've never seen you do anything that this sorcerer is rumored to be able to do, " Genna added, bringing the conversation back around. " Why is that? Surely, you haven't been hiding this magic, have you? "

" No, I haven't sister, " Gerion replied. " Apparently if an individual who is born with these powers never receives instructions on how to use them, it is probable that they will live their entire life in ignorance of what they can do. And according to Nox, this instruction must occur while the individual is still young. Why I'm not entirely sure, but Nox said that it has to do with the mind of a youngster being able to adapt more readily to this power. If they too long to learn how to use the Force, then it is possible for the power to go dormant. "

So they were on a timetable then. " So, because you apparently beat the odds and were born with the ability to use this 'Force', then it is likely that any offspring you have will be able to use the Force, " Tywin summed up. " Which is why you believe that your daughter might be able to use the Force. Is there a way that you can tell? "

" No. Not unless she does something obvious right in front of me, " Gerion answered with a sigh. " The only one who can tell right now is Nox. And perhaps Jon Snow as well. If Joy does have the ability to use the Force, the only way to find out will be to send her to Winterfell and have the sorcerer test her. And if she passes his tests, then she will need to remain in Winterfell in order to learn how to utilize her powers. "

The information was quite promising. Sending Joy to Winterfell with the intention of her becoming one of the sorcerer's acolytes was an easy method for getting more Lannister eyes on what was going on in the North and gain an insight into Nox's methods. And sending Joy North to be tested wouldn't be without precedence either. Lords and Ladies from across the land had been throwing their sons at the sorcerer for years, hoping that he would take an interest in them. And from the stories he'd told so far, Gerion apparently had a report with the sorcerer. Both angles would need to be leveraged to get a Lannister a prolonged stay in Winterfell. And this also provided him with another opportunity as well. But the plan wasn't without risk. It would have to be firmly installed in Joy's mind that no matter what, family came first. She was a Lannister. Not a Stark or a Nox. The last thing House Lannister needed was for one of their own to turn their back on them.

" You will send a raven to the sorcerer in the morning, Gerion, informing him of your intentions on bringing Joy to the North to have her tested to see if she has this 'Force'. " Tywin ordered. " And you will go with them, Tyrion. "

" Me? " Tyrion gaped like a fool. " Why? Not that I'm complaining, bu-"

" You've proven yourself to be quite clever over the past few years. Now I am giving you a chance to prove just how clever you are. " Tywin cut in, not wanting to listen to Tyrion stutter. " The North has grown substantially in wealth over the past few years due to various exports that they have begun crafting in mass. Their glass production is their primary source of coin, but they have also made a significant amount off their new smelting process, their exotic food production and now this new medicine that can apparently cure greyscale. During your stay in Winterfell while Joy is being tested by the sorcerer, you will do everything in your power to learn what you can of these new processes and bring them back here to Casterly Rock so that we can begin duplicating them. "

Tyrion bit his lip in a nervous tell that he would have to eliminate soon if he was to be of any use in the future. " That is quite the task. You're asking me to all but steal the secrets of the sorcerer. "

" Not steal. House Lannister does not steal. We are merely going to begin our own processes using what the Starks have spent years of effort and coin on to create. " Tywin countered. " House Lannister must begin seeking ventures outside of our mines if we are to retain our position. "

It was a piece of information that Tywin did not want to share, as it would project weakness to the other Houses. But none of their gold mines had managed to find any new significant veins of gold in years. House Lannister wasn't broke, not by a long shot. But the staple upon which their House had risen to power was no longer as easily to obtain. He'd put a great deal of effort into making sure that this knowledge did not become known and for years he'd been successful. But it would only be a matter of time before word got out. And once it did, House Lannister needed to be known for something other than their gold mines if they would survive in the long run.

" Well, " Tyrion breathed, slapping the arms of his chair. " I suppose I will need to begin crafting quite the story to spin if I'm to slip one past Lord Stark and Lord Nox. Any ideas? "

" I'm sure that you will figure something out. " Tywin replied dismissively. " Now leave me. I have work to be done and am losing light. Gerion, I want to read over the raven you will be sending to the sorcerer and Lord Stark when we break our fast in the morning. "

Used to his dismissals, his siblings and Tyrion all immediately got to their feet and left. But despite what he'd said to them, he did not start working right away. Instead, he allowed a slight grin to appear as he thought of the future. 'Joy will succeed. That girl has always been different. And now I know why. She will spend a few years learning what she can from the sorcerer, and after she flowers, I will send her instructions to begin seducing the boy Jon Snow using any means necessary. They will wed. And she will start giving birth to children that will have this power, this Force. And then House Lannister will rise higher than ever before. '

But as pleasant as the thought was, it was still just a single plan. And Tywin was not one to place all his coin on a single plan. He needed a backup plan as well. And a third plan as well. He would not rest until this strange Force power resided within House Lannister, where it belonged.

Standing upon his balcony in the Sorcerer's Tower of Winterfell, Nox let his senses wander over the bustling courtyard below trying to take a moment to just relax. The past week since they'd finally returned to Winterfell had been a whirlwind of never-ending exhaustion for both the inhabitants of Winterfell and its visitors. The fair had gone over well, almost unbelievably so. Small folk from all over the North had made the journey to Winterfell, lured in by the prospect of being able to showcase what they could do in front of many different Lords and perchance even earn the Lords and Ladies of the North favor. A feeling that was heightened when Robb announced that the small folk would be able to partake in some of the games that would be held during the week. Which had led to a truly surprising development as a simple woodcutter from the lands of House Glover defeated the Greatjon himself in a log throwing contest. Instead of being offended though, the Lord of Last Hearth had instead invited the man and his family personally to the great hall that night to feast and drink and celebrate the man's victory.

Outside of the games though, there was unfortunately little that the small folk offered in terms of advancements. One netmaker woman had crafted a new weave, which increased the tensile strength of the fishing nets, allowing them to garner a greater haul before breaking. And another man from the lands owned by House Karstark had shown his idea for a gravity fed watering system for smaller farms. Both useful, but hardly groundbreaking. At least to Nox anyway.

The one that had really caught his eye however was a family from the lands of House Forrester. During the previous winter they had stumbled upon a sweet maple tree and had begun harvesting its sap after they discovered that it was edible. After a few years of experimentation with the aid of House Forrester, the family was able to create a rudimentary simple syrup, which was an immediate hit with the Lords and Ladies. A sweetener, any sweetener, was a highly sought-after commodity. And therefore, it was expensive. With but a single taste, Ned had offered the family whatever assistance they needed in order to expand their work and begin the process of planting more of the trees that created the sap.

While the presentations of the small folk were only mildly interesting at best, the same could not be said of the presentations given by the students of Winterfell's college; led by Samwell Tarly and their newest member Talisa Maegyr. Talisa's presentation had been easy enough for Nox to predict. The lady from Volantis had presented her and Nox's cure for greyscale, including going into an in-depth explanation of the how and why it worked, which he was sure went over most of the assembled nobles' heads. But while the specifics may have gone over their heads, the implications did not. Greyscale was considered one of the worst, most contagious sicknesses in all the known world. To have a cure readily available was astounding.

Samwell, the other students and Maester Luwin had all worked together to present the second display the College put on. Well before he'd left for Valyria, he'd planted an idea into Samwell and Luwin's head about gears and automation. And he was more than pleased to see that the two had taken to the idea like a fish in water. And in less than seven months, the group had gone from theorizing to creating a basic steam engine in the form of an atmospheric engine. The engine itself stood over two grown men tall and required specific timing to work the values in order to introduce the steam and to vent the steam so that piston would move. It was rudimentary, but a huge step forward. At least to Nox who could understand its worth anyway.

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