chapter 97 part 1
Chapter 97: The Unfathomable Human Heart
After some conversation, Glyn gained a deeper understanding of Davos Seaworth.
Davos was a man who took his duties seriously.
Because of this, the sons he raised by his own example were all talented men in the royal fleet.
Furthermore, Davos deeply admired Lord Stannis. It was something that went beyond loyalty, coming from the very marrow of his bones.
With a gentle expression, Glyn listened to Davos's words, his mind racing.
With Davos himself untouchable for now, Glyn set his sights on his sons.
Petyr Baelish had gotten him three ships and their crews. Glyn would give them the trust they were due, but he would not entrust everything to someone who had just pledged his allegiance.
The sea was not the land, and trust was not a free hand. Excessive leniency would only breed ambition out of thin air.
Though the fleet was small, it still required a reasonable system of checks and balances to ensure loyalty to House Clegane.
The current manpower was certainly insufficient; Glyn still needed to recruit enough sailors for three ships.
Some sailors could be supplemented from Mermaid Port. Besides sailors, Glyn also needed to arrange for a trustworthy "vice-commander" for the fleet.
To achieve this goal, Glyn would need to do some maneuvering.
...
Glyn nodded slightly and said, "Ser Davos, to receive an invitation from Lord Stannis is a great honor. In about ten days, due to political affairs in the Red Keep, I will need to travel to Essos. When that time comes, will I have an opportunity to visit Dragonstone to pay my respects to Lord Stannis?"
Davos's tone was placid. "Lord Glynn, Lord Stannis is a diligent man. Aside from inspecting the fleet, he is always stationed at Dragonstone handling his affairs. Lord Stannis has just finished an inspection tour, so Dragonstone welcomes you at any time."
Glyn first placed a hand on his chest in thanks, then said, "My Mermaid Port is about to establish an escort fleet. This is a good opportunity to ask Lord Stannis for some guidance."
The dutiful Davos asked, "Oh? You're doing this to escort your merchant fleet?"
"Yes, Ser. In Blackwater Bay, we have the royal fleet, so we never worry about the safety of our merchant ships. I am making preparations in advance for trade in Essos."
Davos agreed, "It would be rather sensitive for the royal fleet to appear over there. Merchant ships need their own fleets for escort."
Glyn shrugged and said, "Only after getting deeply involved did I realize how difficult it is to establish a fleet. If not for Lord Petyr's help, I nearly would have given up."
Davos's heart stirred. "The Master of Coin?"
Glyn nodded slightly. "Yes. Through his assistance, I will be incorporating a small band of maritime sellswords. My three warships can finally set sail from the harbor."
Davos's tone was sincere. "The sea is different from the land. With a great sea between you, you will need to have sufficient patience."
Glyn shook his head. "Indeed. The sea is full of distrust. Thank you for your sound advice, Ser. For now, all I can do is be patient."
After a pause, Glyn added, "It is precisely because it is full of distrust that I believe my sincerity will eventually bring me a reliable fleet commander."
Davos nodded. "The gods will protect every sincere man!"
Glyn humbly posed more questions about fleets, and Davos answered each with great patience.
At the same time, Glyn revealed his somewhat ambitious plan for his fleet… a House Clegane fleet of ten warships.
Before they knew it, the night had deepened.
Davos rose to his feet and bid Glyn farewell.
For someone he admired, Glyn never skimped on his praise. "Ser Davos, this evening has been most pleasant. Your sound advice has been of great benefit to me. Your ability is admirable, and your character is even more so."
Davos maintained his usual modesty. "Lord Glynn, I am but an illiterate ship captain."
Glyn reluctantly saw Davos off, arranging to visit him again in three months to continue seeking his guidance on matters of the fleet.
In response to Glyn's enthusiasm, Davos offered to give Glyn a tour of his pride and joy—the warship *Black Betha*.
...
After sending Davos away, Glyn returned to the small hall.
Glyn liked the expansive view from the small hall. Although it was not private enough, his household guard was the best protection he could ask for.
Glyn sat down at the desk and ordered a maid to light a few more candles.
Glyn spread a sheet of finely trimmed parchment on the table and picked up a quill pen.
As the candlelight flickered, Glyn began to write.
Today, he had finally confirmed Queen Cersei Lannister's ultimate stance, so Glyn could write to the Lord of Highgarden with peace of mind.
If today's outcome had been a breakdown in his relationship with Queen Cersei… Glyn would have had to find another way to continue pushing for Lord Mace Tyrell's appointment as Hand of the King.
At that point, his boss Cersei would no longer care what Glyn had promised Highgarden, what consequences it would bring, or what kind of impact it would have.
She'd be responsible for the kill, but not the burial. If Cersei could think of such things, she wouldn't be Cersei.
The ever-growing Golden Rose was a very united family.
Without a remedy, the Golden Rose, feeling they had been deceived, would never let the matter rest, if only for the sake of their pride. Glyn would bear the brunt of it.
To prepare for the worst-case scenario, Glyn had even considered personally making a trip to Winterfell in the North.
In short, Glyn had long prepared all sorts of countermeasures.
After finishing the letter for Lord Mace, Glyn leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
Thankfully, he had managed to placate Queen Cersei today.
Although there were twists and turns, the situation had not become unmanageable. Glyn would continue to push forward according to his original plan. The first stage was to incite chaos, but stop short of a full-blown rebellion.
At this moment, Glyn was thinking about Queen Cersei.
Through today's events, Glyn discovered that his weight in Cersei's heart was far heavier than she imagined.
Aside from the Lannisters, he was likely the most trusted outsider she had.
Therefore, Glyn dared not underestimate Cersei's desire for control.
What Glyn still sought was the initiative to be able to jump ship at any time... He felt his armor was already failing. He needed to prepare another shield besides Jaime.
Glyn reached out for another blank sheet of parchment. The second letter was for the little rose of Highgarden.
Glyn shouldn't be the only one bearing this burden. It's time for everyone to get busy!
...
...
The next day, in the administrative hall of the Red Keep.
Glyn saw Varys, whose head was as smooth as an egg.
Varys was plump, clad in a loose purple silk robe with a gold-threaded vest. He wore soft velvet slippers, pointed at the toe.
Glyn caught the scent of lilac from Varys.
Glyn placed a hand on his chest and bowed. "Good day, Lord Varys. I have yet to thank you for your help. I will surely keep your kindness in my heart."
Varys clasped his hands together and shook his head. "Good day, Lord Glynn. It was a small effort on my part. The fact that the King and the Hand have entrusted you with such a weighty task is cause for celebration."
A hint of helplessness crept into Glyn's voice. "This kind of important task is one I would rather not have fall upon my shoulders."
Varys claimed to have been born a slave in Lys, one of the nine Free Cities of Essos.