chapter 88 part 2
"When I was welcoming you just now, your retinue looked even more magnificent, but I noticed there wasn't a single woman among them. An unspeakable concern has been hidden in my heart all this time."
Glyn rubbed his forehead, feeling a rare sense of helplessness. "Lady Surana, you were once my mother's most trusted handmaiden. In my heart, you are like family. You can always speak your mind freely before me."
Surana gave a slight shrug. "I've already confirmed that everything is fine. When I was attending to your bath earlier, I observed you. Your reaction was normal, and with that budding infatuation that ended before it even began, I can see I was overthinking things."
Glyn tilted his head back and smiled. "In any case, thank you for your concern."
"My lord, I have heard of many outstanding young men who fall into difficult loves, unable to obtain what they desire, becoming listless for the sake of love. The bloom of a Golden Rose is fleeting; a woman's best years of beauty are actually very short, and most men's love is born from intoxicating beauty."
"The future Lady Crabbe need not be excessively noble. A young lady from a noble house slightly less powerful than House Crabbe would be an ideal choice. She would bear you sons and daughters, and you would provide her with the status and protection she deserves. This is the balance that ensures a House's tranquility."
"As for a beauty that stirs your heart... you can seek that from a mistress. You have plenty of gold dragons to squander now."
Glyn listened quietly, then paused before asking, "Lady Surana, thank you for your heartfelt words... but may I ask, was this my mother's final message?"
Surana bowed her head. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. I do not possess the renowned wisdom of the maesters. My lady was always worried about you. In her final days, she left some words. She instructed me that I could offer you counsel when the time was right."
The room fell silent for a moment. Glyn suddenly said, "Surana, can you tell me the truth now?"
Surana paused for a moment before replying respectfully, "My lord, your wisdom is no less than my lady's. I believe you must have some guesses. It all stems from that war over a decade ago."
...
...
As dusk approached, Glyn, surrounded by his Household Guard, passed through the Lion Gate and entered the city of King's Landing.
Just as he entered the Hook Harbor, Glyn spotted Jaime Lannister on a white horse.
Although the golden-haired Jaime still looked as dashing as ever, the perceptive Glyn noticed a certain change in him.
Compared to before, Jaime seemed to carry an added sharpness.
Glyn dismounted, handing the reins to his squire, Zashir.
Glyn, followed by Samwell, whose hair was now slicked back, walked toward Jaime.
A corner of Jaime's mouth lifted. He too dismounted, and with a flick of his hand, he tossed something toward Glyn.
Glyn reached out and caught it, looking at the object in his hand. "A key?" he asked, puzzled.
Perhaps distance makes the heart grow fonder. Having not seen each other for a while, Glyn felt a bit closer to Jaime.
Jaime shrugged and said, "Queen Cersei felt you've worked hard this time and prepared a small house for you, so you can live a little more comfortably."
A "small house" by Jaime's standards... So extravagant. A Lannister is still a Lannister!
Glyn handed the key to Samwell, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Ser Jaime, this key was surely your idea."
Jaime couldn't help but laugh. "Little lord, you guessed right. I'm not good with words, so I just picked up a key on the road. With this thing, it's easier for me to convey Queen Cersei's reward for you."
Samwell scratched his head, looking at the key in his hand, unsure of what to do.
Glyn noticed Samwell's predicament. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Sam, just take it. Don't worry."
Although Samwell said nothing, his broad body gave him a strong presence.
Jaime glanced at Montun, then at Samwell. His lips curled up as he said to Glyn, "Are they brothers?"
Upon hearing this, Montun and Samwell couldn't help but look at each other.
Montun gave a foolish laugh, while Samwell smiled shyly and averted his gaze.
Glyn looked up and smiled, gesturing with his hand. "Come, Sam. This is Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard."
Samwell awkwardly placed a hand on his chest in salute to Jaime. "Good day, Ser Jaime. It's an honor to meet you. My name is Samwell Tarly, from The Reach. I am Baron Glinn's servant."
Jaime's eyebrows twitched. "The Tarlys of Horn Hill?" he asked.
Samwell's lips moved, but he didn't know how to respond. He looked to Glyn for help.
Glyn gave a slight nod and said, "Ser Jaime, Sam is a Tarly of the Crab Claw Peninsula."
Jaime had only asked casually. He nodded slightly and said, "Let's go. I'll take you there. This is a task Queen Cersei gave me."
Glyn nodded, and together with Jaime, they set off toward the new house gifted by Queen Cersei.
...
On the way, Jaime suddenly said, "Baron Glinn, I've been investigating during this time and have gathered a great deal of intelligence."
Glyn's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Jaime and said, "Did you find anything?"
Jaime shrugged. "A lot. Perhaps too much."
Glyn raised an eyebrow. "Ser Jaime, it seems you've thrown around quite a few gold dragons."
"It's the method I'm most familiar with."
Glyn thought for a moment and said, "I estimate that most of the intelligence you've collected is meant to mislead."
Jaime pulled on the reins, adjusting his horse's direction. "Baron Glinn, you really are good at this sort of thing. I also felt something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was."
Is he complimenting me?
Because of their last experience together in the Queen's Quarter, the broad-minded Glyn was often sensitive to some of Jaime's remarks.
Glyn nodded. "This is a very common tactic. Conspirators will naturally do everything they can to hide themselves, and at the same time, they'll try to deliberately mislead us."
A cold light flashed in Jaime's green eyes. He despised these kinds of dark-hearted individuals the most.