Chapter 38: The Depths of King's Landing
Chaos is a ladder. Petyr Baelish enjoys, or perhaps excels at, creating chaos and then profiting from it.
Every time he incites turmoil, Petyr always manages to strengthen his own position.
What is his objective this time, or is this just a casual move?
Normally, upon being summoned by Lord Jon Arryn—who has always suppressed the staunch Targaryen loyalists—Glyn, as a descendant of one such family, would surely panic. His first instinct would be to seek help from Queen Cersei.
Queen Cersei has long been displeased with Lord Jon Arryn's monopoly on power. Given her character, she might even seize this as an opportunity to make a scene.
From Queen Cersei's perspective, it would be: "How dare you touch my people? I've finally caught you! An opportunity delivered right to my door—I can't let it pass!"
Given Cersei's poor political judgment, it's possible that even after learning this was Petyr Baelish's doing, she might still secretly thank him.
Queen Cersei could escalate the matter, but it's unlikely she would gain anything from Lord Jon Arryn.
Queen Cersei is no match for Lord Jon Arryn, and she would never reflect on her own mistakes. She would only blame those around her, especially Glyn.
Just as Tyrion said when he analyzed Queen Cersei's character for Glyn, she is exceptionally fond of you when she likes you, but she will despise you all the more when she grows to loathe you.
His favor with her would most likely be reduced to nothing.
While his life wouldn't be in danger, Glyn would most likely be driven out of King's Landing, becoming a laughingstock.
At a time like this, his patron Cersei was unreliable.
This was also a disadvantage brought about by Glyn's low political standing.
In Petyr's eyes, even if the matter was exposed, a minor lord from the countryside struggling to protect himself wouldn't dare to retaliate, nor would he have the power to do so.
Petyr probably felt it was more likely he could remain hidden behind the scenes, ensuring his own safety no matter which way things went.
If Petyr understood Glyn, his actions would have been more cautious, his schemes more sophisticated.
He wouldn't have acted so rashly, or he would have removed himself from the situation entirely.
Petyr saw Glyn as a small, non-threatening pawn that could be casually sacrificed.
He had been underestimated!
...
Glyn halted his train of thought. "My good friend, Lord Tyrion, I need your help."
Tyrion's face was serious. "What do you intend to do?"
Glyn first expressed his gratitude. "I have no intelligence channels of my own in King's Landing. I need access to Lannister intelligence. I want to see Petyr Baelish tonight."
Without the slightest hesitation, Tyrion nodded in agreement to Glyn's request before speaking, "Will there be bloodshed? If this escalates, it will be even more disadvantageous for you. My suggestion is..."
Tyrion paused for a moment, then continued, "You could find an excuse to lie low for a while. It just so happens you might be responsible for the Queen's hunt in the Kingswood. I'll go see Jaime tomorrow morning to settle the matter first."
Glyn shook his head slightly. "I don't deny that's a good idea. Perhaps with the passage of time, the great lords will forget a small person like me."
Glyn took a sip of Dornish Red and spoke again, "Perhaps I can avoid it this time, but as long as I remain Queen Cersei's steward, I will always be a target for someone with ulterior motives."
With a soft sigh, a cold light flashed in the depths of Glyn's eyes. "I still must see Lord Jon Arryn. House Crabbe will not forget the care he showed us."
The atmosphere grew a bit heavy. A smile appeared on Tyrion's face. "Haha, you were the one who taught me that saying. Yes, I remember now. Petyr has picked a fight with the wrong person this time!"
Glyn smiled. "The worst-case scenario is that you'll only be able to see me in my own lands from now on. I have Goldenflower Ale and mermaids there. You'll like it."
"Lord Glyn, I've actually always been very skeptical of the mermaid legends..."
...
Late at night, all of King's Landing had entered the land of dreams.
Clad in black armor, Glyn leaned against an outer wall, gazing at the starry sky.
Inside the courtyard, Anguy silently approached a guard. He struck suddenly, one hand covering the guard's mouth, the other pressing against the back of his neck. With a forceful twist, the guard fell limply.
This was the fifth guard Anguy had dealt with.
His work done, Anguy mimicked a bird call, sending a signal to Glyn outside.
Hearing Anguy's signal, Glyn vaulted over the high wall and slipped silently into the courtyard.
Anguy approached Glyn and whispered, "My lord, the three visible sentries and two hidden ones have all been taken care of. Our men have already taken their places."
Glyn's Clansmen were truly ill-suited for this kind of night work. Fortunately, the newly joined, natural-born archer Anguy was quite skilled at it. Otherwise, Glyn would have had to do it himself.
Glyn decided to transfer another batch of men from the Scouting Corps over; they were suited for this kind of work.
Anguy spoke again, "Getting inside the house is different from being out here. It'll be easy to wake the guards inside. I suggest we go straight through a window..."
Glyn raised his eyes to look at the third-floor window. "Petyr is actually resting here tonight. He really is cautious."
Glyn figured it wasn't that Petyr Baelish had guessed he would suddenly "visit," but rather that it was a habit born from his character.
A man like Petyr, who loved to create chaos day in and day out, would not have a fixed residence.
Glyn said to Anguy, "Just you and I will go up. The others will remain on alert."
...
On the bed, a soundly sleeping Petyr Baelish suddenly felt a light breeze.
Petyr's eyelashes trembled slightly, and then his eyes snapped open.
Petyr sat up straight, staring at the two figures in his bedchamber, a brief look of confusion in his eyes.
Petyr froze in shock, a cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back.
Glyn motioned for Anguy to light a candle, and the room was filled with light.
Petyr squinted, and after adjusting to the candlelight, he said, "You are... it's you!"
Glyn casually dragged a chair over without a shred of ceremony. With a scrape, he placed it beside the head of the bed.
Anguy silently walked to the door of the bedchamber and stood guard.
Glyn sat down in the chair. "I am truly delighted by Lord Petyr's gift, so I've taken the liberty of disturbing you late at night. You must be pleasantly surprised."
Pleasantly surprised? More like terrified.
Petyr forcefully suppressed the panic in his heart. An elegant smile appeared on his face, his voice hoarse, "I would be more welcoming if Lord Glyn had visited during the day."
Petyr spread his hands. "If you don't mind, I'd like to put on a robe."
Glyn was also a little surprised. The cautious Petyr actually slept completely naked.
Cautious people often lack a sense of security and generally don't sleep in the nude. Perhaps years of smooth sailing had made Petyr overconfident.
Glyn made a "please" gesture, not minding at all.
Just as Petyr was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he noticed that a dagger, glinting with a cold light, had appeared in Glyn's hand at some point.
Petyr put on a black long robe. "I have heard of you. You are an exceptionally outstanding young man. I have been looking for an opportunity to get to know you."
Petyr curled his lips and added, "We can be considered acquainted now. We're already friends, and I am very, very willing to help my friends."
A smile appeared on Glyn's face. "There's a chair over there. You can sit opposite me."
Danger. Petyr could feel that this young man was still considering whether or not to kill him.
And another thing, where were his guards? How did these two people appear in his room?
Although Petyr's mind was in turmoil, he maintained a calm facade. He acted naturally, following Glyn's words, pulling over a chair, straightening his clothes, and sitting down opposite Glyn.
(end of chapter)