Chapter 47: Easily Overlooked Quality
Marcellus said, "Joffrey has been seeking me out, hoping to meet with you."
Glyn stopped his steps, his eyes flickering, "Do you know his purpose?"
Marcellus first shook his head, then nodded, "My lord, I guess he is here for his son. Joffrey is an old man who had a child late in life; he only has a five-year-old son. As a merchant's son without protection after his death, you can imagine his future fate. This is my guess."
Glyn didn't speak. Joffrey's recent trade with The Whispers had become more frequent, but the one appearing was always Steward Hershel. Glyn had only exchanged a few words with Joffrey when he came to pay his respects on the ship last time; they couldn't be called familiar.
Without familiarity, there could be no trust.
If Matthos's guess was correct, would an old father whose life was in peril entrust his child to a stranger?
Suddenly, Glyn covertly shook his head and chastised himself. Recently interacting with so many scheming individuals, he was easily becoming prone to suspicion and paranoia.
Matters should be judged by their significance; without further information, one should not habitually attribute everything to conspiracy. Excessive suspicion was merely a sign of excessive worry.
...
Glyn asked, "Where is he?"
Marcellus scratched his head and lowered it, "His carriage is nearby. Joffrey has been insisting on the friendship and admiration he has established with you through trade at The Whispers. I couldn't shake him off, and he's so badly injured that I didn't have the heart to turn him away."
As he spoke, Marcellus secretly glanced at Glyn's face.
Everything had its pros and cons. Because of his family's rules, Marcellus had been subjected to harsh restrictions for the sake of an heir.
Matthos merely appeared mature on the outside, but lacked the cunning that comes from experience.
Merchants interact with all sorts of people every day, and their rich experiences have honed their discerning gaze. Joffrey had already seen through Matthos; otherwise, he wouldn't dare to rely on Matthos.
But Marcellus was a descendant of House Clegane, and Glyn could slowly guide him.
Glyn said, his face stern, "Go and bring him in."
Marcellus also felt that he had handled the matter sloppily. He lowered his head dejectedly and went to call someone.
...
The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling. Glyn ordered Montun to bring a chair, then found a shady spot and sat down.
Today, the discovery of eavesdropping in the Hand's study made it seem that old Lord Jon Arryn was unaffected, but inwardly he was certainly not as calm as he appeared. No one could possibly face this matter with such equanimity.
The aftermath of the Hand's study incident had become unpredictable.
...
Glyn then thought of King Robert's second brother, Lord Stannis Baratheon, who was not favored by King Robert.
It wasn't until Marcellus mentioned pirates and the Kingsguard today that Glyn almost overlooked the iron-faced and uncompromising Lord of Dragonstone, Stannis Baratheon.
Indeed, Stannis Baratheon seemed to possess the trait of being easily overlooked.
If today, a respected Hand like old Lord Jon Arryn, without direct evidence, were to merely use a poem to frame a lord, what would someone as absolutely meticulous about the law as Lord Stannis Baratheon think?
Furthermore, according to Glyn's memory, Lord Stannis Baratheon was very dissatisfied with only serving as Master of Ships.
He was also extremely dissatisfied that King Robert had overlooked him, letting Robert's favored younger brother, Lord Renly Baratheon, inherit the Lordship of Storm's End and serve as Master of Laws.
During Robert's Rebellion, Stannis Baratheon clearly made significant contributions, yet he was granted Dragonstone, a barren rock of black stone, while the ancestral seat of House Baratheon was instead given to his younger brother, Renly Baratheon, who had contributed nothing.
Given Stannis Baratheon's temperament, dissatisfaction had already turned into a burning hatred.
...
Glyn calculated in his head, wondering if he could anger the weak old Lord Jon Arryn to death without directly intervening.
If not angered to death, then at least keep him bedridden. Old Lord Jon Arryn was very stubborn and would not easily forgive Glyn.
There are no eternal enemies in the game of power, only eternal benefits. Thinking of this, Glyn thought of a natural ally.
The clip-clop of horse hooves, mingled with the creaking of carriage wheels, gradually approached. The carriage passed through the main gate and slowly drove into Glyn's courtyard.
The carriage stopped in front of Glyn. Marcellus scratched his head, his face troubled, and said, "My lord, Joffrey cannot get out of the carriage."
Glyn waved his hand impatiently, "If he can't get down, then he can't get down. Open the carriage door."
As Glyn's words fell, before Marcellus could act, a thin, dark-skinned man who had been sitting on the front edge of the carriage bowed towards Glyn from afar, then got out and opened the carriage door.
As soon as the carriage door opened, Glyn smelled a rotten odor.
Joffrey, whose face had been flushed with health not long ago, now lay pale, leaning against the carriage seat.
After painstakingly discerning Glyn's appearance, Joffrey finally spoke, "Your esteemed Knight, please forgive me for coming unannounced."
Joffrey's voice was very weak. "After I was struck, I felt that this time I wouldn't escape death. All men must die; I do not fear death, but I cannot let go of my young son."
After a pause, Joffrey forced himself to rally his spirits and continued, "During my injury and hardship, I thought of all my friends and relatives. I despairingly realized there was no one I could truly entrust him to. Thanks to the grace of the Seven Gods, I, humble as I am, was fortunate enough to know you."
Joffrey looked at Glyn with hopeful eyes. "You have a reputation for being loved by the people. Although the time we have interacted is short, I can feel that you possess a compassionate heart for the weak. I can only beg you to forgive a dying father's recklessness for the sake of his young son."
Joffrey struggled to slide off the seat, ignoring his injuries.
Joffrey, half-kneeling, raised his face, which was covered in cold sweat. "I am willing to offer all my worldly possessions, as long as you protect my son."
Glyn sighed inwardly and said, "Where is your son?"
The thin, dark-skinned man who had opened the carriage door earlier now led a small boy by the hand from behind the carriage.
The chubby little boy must have just finished crying; his small eyes were red and swollen.
Glyn reached out and touched the little chubby boy's head. "What is your name?"
The little chubby boy hesitated, not daring to speak.
The thin, dark-skinned man, still holding the little chubby boy's hand, hastily said, "My esteemed lord, his name is Dalibor."
Glyn touched Dalibor's head again and said to Joffrey, "Joffrey, your steadfast fatherly love has moved me. Your son, Dalibor, will become the adopted son of Knight Ma Gang Beck of House Clegane."
(end of chapter)