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Chapter 177: The West Bows
🕑 Added 2025-02-28 12:35:34 +0000 UTCWhen Lynd left Highgarden, he informed Nymeria about the potion. She was equally surprised to learn that Willas had been the mastermind behind the apothecary.
Neither of them objected to Lynd’s caution, and upon returning to Summerhall, they handed the potion over to Malora for examination. Meanwhile, Nymeria began the process of taking over the political cabinet’s administrative duties from Malora.
Lynd, too, was occupied—he had an unexpected visitor to meet.
"Lord Kevan, I never expected to see you here. What business do you have with me?" Lynd asked directly as he entered the inn built specifically for visitors, where Kevan Lannister had been waiting for two or three days.
When Lynd returned to Summerhall, he had been surprised to hear from his steward, Mus, that Kevan Lannister had arrived and was awaiting his return.
The Lannisters had always maintained a distant relationship with him, and given Nymeria’s involvement, their relations were borderline hostile. During their time in King’s Landing, Lord Tywin had never even agreed to meet him in private. Now, with Kevan Lannister actively seeking an audience, Lynd could only speculate about Tywin’s true intentions.
Kevan had long been known as Tywin’s shadow—his every action and word aligned with his older brother’s will. It was obvious that his visit to Summerhall had been orchestrated by Tywin himself.
Kevan did not bother with formalities and stated his purpose outright. "Lord Lynd, I have come to negotiate a long-term grain purchase agreement with Lady Nymeria Footly’s Tumbleton. We are willing to pay 30% above the regular price for all grain exported from Tumbleton’s lands."
Lynd was not surprised by Kevan’s words. Nymeria had previously mentioned that Casterly Rock was seeking to buy grain from Tumbleton.
Following the extreme cold disaster, Casterly Rock had sent envoys to Tumbleton on multiple occasions, hoping to establish a grain trade agreement. However, Nymeria had rejected their offers each time, citing various reasons. It was clear that she still resented Tywin for what he had done to the Tumbleton lands.
"Shouldn’t you be discussing this with the Lady of Tumbleton?" Lynd asked, feigning ignorance. "Why are you coming to me?"
Kevan frowned. "Lord Lynd, you know exactly why I’m here. There’s no need for pretense."
"Oh, I remember now—it’s because Nymeria doesn’t want to see you," Lynd said with a smirk as he casually took a seat beside Kevan. "But why wouldn’t she want to see you? She isn’t the sort to be unreasonable. Could it be that someone wronged her and still hasn’t apologized?"
Kevan’s expression darkened slightly, and his tone hardened. "I do not believe there was anything wrong with what happened. A lord who failed to govern his own territory allowed bandits to run rampant, threatening even the lands of other lords—"
Before Kevan could finish, Lynd cut him off. "That’s no excuse for attacking and looting another lord’s territory. If we permit such reasoning, then the entire realm would fall into chaos. What do you think, Lord Kevan?"
Kevan fell silent. After a moment, he finally spoke. "We are willing to make reparations."
Lynd was genuinely surprised by Kevan’s words. There was no doubt that this offer represented Casterly Rock lowering its head. And given Kevan’s status as Tywin’s representative, this was effectively Tywin Lannister himself offering an apology—something that did not align with Lynd’s perception of him.
Tywin Lannister, in Lynd’s eyes, was the kind of man who would rather die than bow. Yet here he was, willing to concede.
However, Lynd quickly recalled a research report on the grain situation in the Seven Kingdoms that Jon Bulwer had completed before leaving.
The extreme cold disaster had devastated food production throughout the Seven Kingdoms, with only Dorne escaping the worst of the effects. Massive amounts of wheat, corn, and other crops had withered in the fields due to frost, forcing lords to rely on their dwindling grain reserves.
Although the latest cold had only affected the North, regions south of the Neck were still struggling to recover from the previous year’s agricultural losses.
Compounded by the recent crisis involving wights and the looming uncertainty of the future, most lords had begun stockpiling food in earnest. Aside from a handful of high-yielding territories in the Reach, no region was willing to sell grain anymore. In fact, many were actively purchasing whatever food they could find, driving prices to nearly double what they had been the previous year.
Lynd had long recognized the strategic importance of food supplies and had been accumulating reserves well in advance. His granaries were now filled to the point of bursting, and from time to time, he released small amounts of food to stabilize prices within his own territory.
At the same time, he had taken advantage of the unusual food shortages to implement a registration system—only registered citizens of his territory were allowed to purchase grain from the Smallfolk’s Welfare Granaries at affordable prices. This census not only helped distribute food efficiently but also allowed him to systematically document the origins of his growing population.
Compared to Lynd and Nymeria’s calm response to the fluctuations in the grain market, the situation in the Westerlands was far more dire.
After suffering through a severe cold disaster and then enduring the raids of the Ironborn, the Westerlands had gone two consecutive years without a proper harvest.
Although the Westerlands was immensely wealthy and could afford to import grain from overseas, this was not a sustainable long-term solution. There were two major reasons for this. First, the shipping routes were long and fraught with danger—any accident at sea meant a total loss of supplies. Second, the cost was exorbitant. The price of grain imported from overseas was already three times the usual market price in the Seven Kingdoms.
Furthermore, the Westerlands was not a particularly fertile region to begin with. The terrain was predominantly mountainous, with very few arable lands suitable for large-scale farming. This made the need for a stable and abundant external grain supply all the more urgent.
Lord Tywin had recognized this problem years ago and had devised solutions accordingly. One of those plans had been the invasion of Tumbleton.
At the time, Tumbleton had been weak and poorly defended, but its territory was vast. The Lord of Tumbleton controlled an expansive stretch of fertile plains west of the Mander River. Enclosed by water on two sides, the land was rich and productive. If the Westerlands had successfully taken control of it, the long-standing agricultural deficiency in their region would have been resolved.
Unfortunately for Tywin, the plan had been disrupted by Lynd’s unexpected intervention, leading to its ultimate failure. Subsequent disasters had only worsened the Westerlands’ predicament. Tywin was fully aware of this reality, which was why he had chosen to send Kevan to Summerhall—effectively bowing his head on his behalf and offering compensation to Nymeria.
Lynd understood that Kevan had already pushed his limits with what he had said thus far. If he continued pressing the issue, it would escalate into outright enmity with the Westerlands. Though he was not afraid of the Westerlands, he saw no reason to create unnecessary hostility.
Having assessed the situation, Lynd made his decision. “I will help you mediate with Nymeria, but I will not interfere with the specifics of your grain agreement. You will have to negotiate the purchase price and compensation with her directly. Is that acceptable, Lord Kevan?”
Kevan exhaled slightly, relieved. “Thank you for your assistance, Lord Lynd.”
For Kevan, lowering himself before Lynd was not particularly difficult. Given that Lynd’s status as the Chosen One had become a symbol of the Church of the Seven, bowing to him was akin to bowing to the faith itself. Framing it that way eased any lingering discomfort he might have felt.
This long-term grain agreement was not merely about securing food supplies—it was also an opportunity to mend relations with both Tumbleton and Summerhall. With Lynd now emerging as a dominant figure, it would be unwise for the Westerlands to maintain open hostility with such a powerful individual.
Seeing that the matter had been settled, Lynd did not linger. He stood up to leave but suddenly paused, turning back to Kevan.
“Lord Kevan, I have a question—how is Lord Tyrion faring these days?”
“Tyrion?” Kevan looked puzzled, unsure why Lynd had suddenly brought him up. Still, he answered truthfully, “He’s in Casterly Rock, serving as the steward, assisting me with affairs.”
“Just a steward?” Lynd remarked with a faint smile. “When I was in Lannisport, I had many conversations with Lord Tyrion, and I found him to be exceptionally talented. Keeping him in such a minor position seems like an underutilization of his abilities. If Lord Tywin does not object, I would like to invite Lord Tyrion to Summerhall to assist me. It would also serve to strengthen our relationship. What do you think, Lord Kevan?”
Kevan looked at Lynd in surprise. He had not anticipated such high praise for Tyrion.
Although Kevan was the least prejudiced against Tyrion within House Lannister—apart from Jaime—he had never considered Tyrion to be particularly capable. In his eyes, Tyrion was merely a clever-tongued nephew who enjoyed making sarcastic remarks at inappropriate times. He had no real talents, which was why Kevan had only entrusted him with the relatively unimportant position of steward.
Lynd’s unexpected admiration for Tyrion immediately raised Kevan’s suspicions. His thoughts instinctively turned to Tyrion’s other identity—the first heir to Casterly Rock.
Kevan believed he had seen through Lynd’s intentions. He pretended to consider the request for a moment before shaking his head and saying, “This is not a decision I can make. I need to return to Casterly Rock and inform the Lord.”
“Indeed,” Lynd nodded. “As the first heir to Casterly Rock, working under another lord’s command would require careful consideration. I assume that is also Lord Kevan’s concern, is it not?”
Kevan was slightly taken aback that Lynd had so openly voiced what he had been thinking. For a moment, he wasn’t sure how to respond.
“What if Tyrion were no longer the heir?” Lynd continued, his voice calm and deliberate. “What if I could arrange for Jaime to remove his white cloak and return to Casterly Rock? Would you then agree to Tyrion working for me?”
“What?” Kevan stood up abruptly, his expression hardening as he stared at Lynd. “You can make Jaime take off his white cloak?” His voice carried both skepticism and the weight of sudden seriousness. “You’re not joking, Lord Lynd.”
“Of course, I’m not joking.” Lynd shook his head. “In fact, Jaime’s Kingsguard oath was already broken when he killed the king. You could have forced him to remove his white cloak then, but no one had the heart to push him into it, so the matter was left unresolved. I, however, could propose to King Robert that Jaime be relieved of his duties. It wouldn’t be difficult—just a fabricated reason and—”
“No!” Kevan cut him off, shaking his head firmly. “If you truly attempt this, Jaime will not return to Casterly Rock. He is far more likely to don the black robes of the Night’s Watch.”
Unlike his uncertainty about Tyrion’s abilities, Kevan knew Jaime’s character well. If Jaime were ever forced to relinquish his Kingsguard vows, there were only two possible outcomes—either he would take his own life, or he would seek exile at the Wall.
“What if I can convince him to remove his white cloak voluntarily?” Lynd pressed.
Lynd was not speaking idly. He knew that if Varys discreetly delivered a message into Jaime’s hands—one that contained a direct threat against Cersei and Joffrey—it would force Jaime to act. The Red Keep was not yet the stronghold of Westerlands loyalists that it would become in a few years; its inner guards had not yet been fully replaced with men from the Rock. The Lannisters did not yet control the city’s political web. If the threat was made at the right moment, Jaime would have no choice but to comply, unable to rebel even if he wished to.
However, Kevan had no way of knowing that Lynd had such leverage. To him, Lynd’s words seemed no more than speculation. He shook his head again. “My lord, this is a family matter for House Lannister. I ask that you not interfere. As for Tyrion, I do not believe the Lord will agree. If it is talent you seek, I can recommend other capable individuals.”
“In that case, forget it. Forget I said anything.” Lynd shook his head, choosing not to pursue the matter further. Without another word, he turned and left the room.
Kevan remained standing, his brows furrowed in thought. He could not shake the feeling that Lynd was up to something. Though Lynd had dropped the subject for now, Kevan was certain he would not let it go so easily.
By the time Kevan left Summerhall, he had already made a decision. Once he returned to Casterly Rock, he would keep a close watch on Tyrion. The safest course of action would be to make him his own attendant, keeping him nearby at all times. It would also be best to restrict his visits to brothels to avoid any unexpected situations or potential abductions.
Far away in Casterly Rock, Tyrion was blissfully unaware of these unfolding plans. At that moment, he was lounging in his chambers, instructing a servant to carefully press his clothes, while his mind was already wandering to the brothels of Lannisport. He was weighing his options, considering which establishment to visit that evening.
Though his current position was not one he had particularly desired, it provided him with a generous salary—more than enough to sustain the lifestyle he wanted.
But he had no idea that this comfortable existence was about to come to an abrupt end. And all of it stemmed from a fleeting remark made by Lynd—one he had spoken without much thought, without considering whether it would succeed or fail, or what its consequences might be.
After leaving the inn, Lynd went to find Nymeria and informed her of Tywin’s proposal. Nymeria did not object.
In truth, she had long since let go of her anger toward Tywin for what had happened in the past. The reason she had avoided meeting with Kevan had been nothing more than a matter of timing—every time he had sought her out, she had simply been occupied with other matters.
Now, with Kevan’s offer, the grain purchase agreement not only provided an excellent buyer for the surplus grain in her lands but also came with additional compensation. There was no reason for her to refuse.
That very afternoon, the agreement that would alleviate the grain crisis in the Westerlands was formally signed in the Redemption Town Hall.
