Explosions only display their full destructive power when they occur in confined spaces. Such ideal conditions are rare in the chaos of a battlefield. Aegor was, in fact, cheating—using a pre-arranged "burial" setup to amplify the already terrifying force of thermal weapons, thus maximizing their deterrent effect.
The same amount of Powder used in cannons might not have shattered such a massive boulder, but Tyrion didn't know that. Right now, in his oversized head that didn't quite match his small body, only one thought remained: Casterly Rock, the source of House Lannister's pride and a fortress that had never been taken, was just this boulder magnified dozens of times. If such a weapon were used against a tightly packed Westerlands army or buried under Casterly Rock itself... what kind of devastation would that unleash?
So that's what Aegor meant by "excellent"!
Tyrion suddenly understood.
If he returned to Lannisport alone and reported to his father Tywin that the Gift army possessed a weapon more fearsome than dragons, and that the Westerlands forces were no match for it, the old lion would likely snort in contempt and dismiss it as cowardly nonsense. He might even suspect his son of colluding with outsiders, using fear to deceive him and seize Casterly Rock for himself.
But this time, Uncle Kevan was also stationed at Golden Tooth. He had definitely heard that thunderous blast, like the wrath of the gods, when Aegor detonated the boulder. Once the allied forces withdrew, Kevan could even personally inspect the remains and confirm the truth. Tyrion had his own history of lying to his father, but Kevan, as Tywin's trusted brother and most capable aide, was deeply relied upon. If he stood witness to Tyrion's words—wasn't that truly "excellent"?
"I understand." Tyrion's Adam's apple bobbed, but his throat was dry and no saliva followed. He could only nod stiffly, forcing himself not to show a foolish expression of shock. "I will relay Daenerys's terms and demands in full to my father."
...
Of course, Aegor also wanted to use the Westerlands' formidable military power for his own purposes. However, Tywin had long destroyed any reason to trust him, with his well-known pattern of betrayal. At the end of Robert's Rebellion, wasn't it that same old lion who, under the guise of supporting the king, marched on King's Landing, only to sack the city once the gates were opened, and had his men butcher the Targaryen children?
Whether it was twenty thousand, thirty thousand, or even one hundred thousand troops, Aegor was confident he could defeat them in the field. But if such an army were allowed to join his forces, only to betray him at close range, then not even the reborn Sun Tzu could salvage the outcome.
Unreliable allies are better left out entirely.
Before heading south to the main battlefield in the Crownlands, Aegor had led several thousand men across the Riverlands to meet Tyrion here. Recruiting him was a sincere goal, but not the primary one. The true purpose was to ensure that, while he was focused on taking King's Landing and dealing with the Riverlands and the Golden Company, there would be no threat to his rear.
This kind of brazen military display might strain his friendship with Tyrion, but Aegor was not concerned. Their bond had been forged through life-and-death trials. A smart man like Tyrion would understand that this act wasn't out of hostility, but necessity, right?
"Alright, we've had enough fresh air. Let's return to the tent." Aegor believed Tyrion had grasped the situation. His tone quickly softened, his earlier ruthlessness replaced with a friendly demeanor. "The kitchen has prepared a feast and fine wine. It's been years since we last met. Let's not go home until we're drunk!"
"Haha, that sounds great!" Tyrion also relaxed and became lively again. He wasn't yet Lord of the Westerlands. His only job was to serve as a negotiator and mouthpiece. Why should he worry about his cold and domineering father? "But wine alone isn't enough. I need women to get properly drunk."
"Hahaha, the kitchen has plenty of serving girls, and there are even spearwives in the army. If any catch your eye, feel free to try your luck. I won't interfere!"
"Oh, women!" Tyrion suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Good thing you reminded me. I almost forgot. Jack, go fetch her!"
"Who?"
"I brought a woman who should probably be considered yours. I brought her to return her to you."
Huh?
Aegor's heart skipped a beat. Shouldn't he be the one saying that?
After arriving outside Golden Tooth, he had made arrangements to keep Myrcella from encountering her family—whether accidentally or on purpose. But to his surprise, the girl had been very perceptive. In the past few days, she had stopped following him around entirely and instead stayed quietly in her tent with Melisandre, never coming out.
Her obedience and understanding made Aegor feel conflicted, and he began to waver on whether to let her meet Tyrion.
From a personal standpoint, he very much wanted the sweet girl to experience a little warmth and love from family again, even if only for a moment...
But reason told him otherwise.
If Tyrion saw his niece, he would undoubtedly insist on taking her back to Casterly Rock, and Aegor would have no reasonable grounds to refuse. Rather than face that difficult decision, it was better to be firm from the outset and avoid the situation altogether.
Later, once the poisoning plot had been "fully investigated" and the framing complete, and Tyrion had become Daenerys's Master of Coin and one of his own, and Myrcella had fully placed her trust in him, there would be plenty of opportunities for family reunions.
...
After returning to the main tent and waiting for a moment, the woman Tyrion had mentioned was brought inside. Aegor didn't need to see her clothes or face. Just the long, familiar legs were enough to confirm her identity.
It was Asha, who had once left Ice Canyon Port with two men and a pile of gear, swearing to assassinate her uncle Euron Greyjoy. After her departure, she'd disappeared completely. The later Ironborn raids proved her mission had failed. And now, she had ended up in the Westerlands?
Aegor's expression grew strange. It was one thing that she failed, and if they had never crossed paths again, he wouldn't have bothered searching for her. But for this woman to be captured by the Lannisters of all people, and returned to him no less... now he owed them a favor for it?
Wasn't this a perfect example of someone becoming more trouble than they're worth?
Tyrion caught Aegor's expression and immediately confirmed his guess—that Asha had been released on purpose. He waved a hand. "Untie her and leave us."
The Gift soldiers who had accompanied her inside also recognized Asha. Seeing that Aegor had no objection, they waited a beat, then turned and left along with the Westermen who had removed her leg irons. The tent flap dropped closed behind them, leaving only three people inside.
"Lady Asha, long time no see." Out of respect for her status as a relative of a martyr who fought against the wights, Aegor didn't immediately lash out. He crossed his arms, not bothering to hide the blame and dissatisfaction in his tone. "Since we parted ways in the Gift, how did things go with your family? And how did you end up in the Westerlands? If it's convenient, I'd be happy to hear the story."
Compared to their last meeting, Asha's appearance hadn't changed much, except her hair had grown longer, now falling to her ears and partially covering her face, adding a rare trace of femininity. Dressed in plain Westerlands garb, her face pale, her spirit depleted, it was clear that endless setbacks had worn away her fierce pride. Only a flicker of lingering resentment remained to hold her together.
She took two steps toward where Aegor and Tyrion sat, fighting the shame and frustration inside. Just as she prepared to speak, her eyes met Aegor's, and a sudden wave of dizziness overtook her. Before she could open her mouth, her legs gave way and she fainted.
"Hmm?" Tyrion had just seen Asha walking steadily. Then, in the blink of an eye, she staggered. He was about to remind her to watch her step when the Kraken's Daughter suddenly raised her head, eyes flashing with fury. With a shriek, she lunged straight at Aegor.
(To be continued.)
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