Early June, the Riverlands.
The dark clouds of war had finally turned into a torrential downpour.
More than a dozen bands of "bandits" road the Riverlands, burning, killing, and looting. Their movents were erratic — attacking one village today, burning a granary tomorrow, and ambushing a rchant caravan the day after.
House Tully had no choice but to dispatch troops to suppress them, putting out fires everywhere.
However, this was only the prelude.
The first real battle erupted at the Golden Tooth, on the border between the Westerlands and the Riverlands.
The Kingslayer, Jai Lannister, led fifteen thousand n and crushed the four thousand Riverland troops stationed east of the Golden Tooth. Lord Vance was killed in battle, and the Riverland army scattered in defeat.
The Golden Tooth fell into Lannister hands.
When the news spread, the entire Seven Kingdoms shook.
Draco, Lord's Residence.
Luke's domain had been unusually lively these past few days.
First, Littlefinger's envoy arrived.
Petyr Baelish had sent a representative from King's Landing to urge Luke to travel to the capital and swear fealty to the new King Joffrey.
The envoy spoke eloquently — King Joffrey was wise and mighty, House Lannister was unstoppable, a wise man submits to circumstances…
Luke paid no attention to this scher.
He simply had the envoy thrown out.
As the envoy left in disgrace, his face still showed disbelief. A re baron dared to treat the Master of Coin's representative this way?
Next ca soone from the Westerlands.
This ti the visitor carried significant weight — Ser Kevan Lannister, Tywin Lannister's own brother.
Kevan had taken a risky route, slipping through the Riverlands from Grey Glen Town south of Harrenhal, then traveling along Jaqenion Avenue into Draco. He had originally co only to carry out his brother's orders, but after entering Draco, his entire mindset changed.
The mirror-smooth cent roads, the keep-right traffic rules, the service areas every fifty miles, the clean and tidy streets, the dazzling array of shops, the spirited guards, the ubiquitous "magical items"…
Kevan felt as if he had entered another world.
No — not another world… it was the divine realm.
He was deeply devout to the Seven and silently asked himself: Is this truly the mortal world?
When he finally t Luke Jaqenion, this feeling reached its peak.
The legendary magic baron looked extrely young.
Yet he carried an inexplicably majestic presence. Standing there, he seed like a towering mountain. His bearing and aura surpassed even his most respected brother, Lord Tywin.
Kevan didn't know what had co over him.
He subconsciously dropped to one knee and perford a deep bow.
If anyone else had been present, they would have been shocked. This was the kind of courtesy reserved for one's liege lord or the King.
Only after hearing the young baron say, "Ser Kevan, please rise. There is no need for such formality with ," did Kevan suddenly snap out of it.
Had he… been bewitched just now?
He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
"Lord Luke," he composed himself, "I co on the orders of my brother, Lord Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West, to pay you a visit."
Luke nodded, signaling him to continue.
"Lord Tywin greatly admires your generosity and benevolence. He says you are the greatest knight and the wisest commander in the Seven Kingdoms."
Kevan's voice gradually steadied. "The Westerlands is willing to provide full support for Draco's developnt, including craftsn and funds. For the next ten years, magical goods circulating in the Westerlands will be exempt from all taxes."
He paused, then stated the real offer.
"Lord Tywin wishes to exchange this for Draco's support of King Joffrey. If you are willing to send troops to help the Westerlands fight against the Northern army or the forces of House Baratheon, Lord Tywin promises…"
He took a deep breath.
"To betroth Princess Myrcella to you. After the rebellion is quelled, he will have King Joffrey grant you the title of Duke of Harrenhal."
Luke's eyebrows rose slightly.
Duke of Harrenhal?
Princess Myrcella?
The old lion Tywin was truly cunning.
Offering such a high price showed genuine regard for him.
But everything hinged on one condition: "Your army and magic will obey Lord Tywin's command and coordinate under his leadership."
Luke pondered for a mont.
"Thank you for Lord Tywin's high regard," he said slowly. "However, rumors are spreading across the Seven Kingdoms that Joffrey is not Robert's true son…"
Kevan interrupted anxiously.
"That is slander!"
His voice rose. "Stannis and Renly are rebelling and slandering Prince Joffrey and Queen Cersei! I have also heard that King Robert was murdered by his two ambitious brothers!"
Luke smiled.
"Whose words are true and whose are false does not matter," he said. "What matters is that Draco only obeys the True Dragon Emperor."
Kevan was stunned.
He had not expected that even after offering such generous terms, this minor baron would still refuse.
He launched into a long speech, analyzing why the Lannisters would achieve total victory… the Westerlands had a powerful army, had already taken the Golden Tooth, Lord Tywin was a master strategist, King's Landing was under Lannister control, Joffrey had already been crowned, and Stannis and Renly were no threat…
These argunts had clearly been taught to him by the old lion Tywin.
But Luke remained unmoved.
He never gave a clear answer.
When Kevan left, he carried several books with him:
The Celestial Dragon Epic, The Legend of the Holy Knights, and a thick but relatively slim volu — The Seven Gods Bible.
After the Lannister envoy departed, representatives from Dragonstone and Storm's End also arrived.
They brought several chests of gold dragons and rare treasures.
The representative from Dragonstone was "Onion Knight" Davos Seaworth, one of Stannis's most trusted advisors.
This low-born smuggler had beco one of the most trusted n on Dragonstone.
The representative from Storm's End was Ser Cortnay Penrose, a close confidant of Lord Renly.
When Renly had stayed long-term in King's Landing, Ser Cortnay had acted as castellan of Storm's End, managing the castle's affairs.
Both n were extrely respectful.
They hoped Luke Jaqenion would swear fealty to their respective lords.
But the offers…
Fell far short of what the Lannisters had proposed.
Both houses promised that after quelling the rebellion and reclaiming the Iron Throne, they would grant Luke the title of Count and na him Count of Draco.
Luke nearly laughed out loud.
A count?
They were treating him like a beggar.
No wonder these two brothers couldn't compete with the Lannisters. They weren't even willing to offer a decent price in their empty promises — who would sincerely help them?
At least offer a marquisate…
In truth, the two Baratheon brothers already held Luke in high regard.
After all, Luke was rely a baron who had received his title less than a year ago.
Elevating him to count was already a significant promotion.
They had also sent trusted envoys — Davos was Stannis's right-hand man, and Cortnay was Renly's castellan.
But in Luke's eyes, it was still far too dismissive.
He gave the sa reply: "Draco only serves the True Dragon Emperor."
Davos and Cortnay looked at each other in dismay. What True Dragon Emperor? In the end, they could only leave helplessly.
Like Kevan Lannister, they too took away three books.
The victory at the Golden Tooth reached Riverrun.
Edmure Tully hastily assembled fifteen thousand n to confront Jai Lannister.
The result was a crushing defeat.
Edmure himself was captured.
Riverrun was besieged.
The Riverlands fell into chaos.
Luke stood on a high point of the lord's residence, gazing at the flowing waters of the Erald River in the distance.
In his hand was the latest intelligence from the Web.
The Northern army had already begun marching south and was crossing the Neck.
The Northern force had started with around 12,000 n, a quarter of them cavalry. By the ti they reached Moat Cailin, their numbers had grown to 18,000.
Robb Stark, that teenage Young Wolf, was leading his direwolf and more than ten thousand elite Northern soldiers toward the Riverlands.
The Westerlands army had advanced eastward. Jai Lannister had besieged Riverrun, while Tywin's main force was assembling.
Luke turned and walked back into the room.
On the table lay a sample copy of The Seven Gods Bible.
It was the "holy scripture" he had personally helped compile — beautifully printed and exquisitely bound, with a golden dragon pattern on the cover.
Soon, this book would spread across the Seven Kingdoms.
When that happened, the real fun would begin!
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