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x To Lady Margaery, Forgive me for troubling you again, but I must confess that I am out of coin.
This time, it was not reckless spending.
Necessity forced my hand.
You know, I think, that I was not the son my father favored.
When I left him, he gave me a longsword and a horse.
Nothing more.
Now the Red Mountains lie before us.
I judged it necessary to improve my own equipment before the fighting begins.
A knight without armor is a sorry sight, and if word spread that a vassal of House Tyrell rode into battle so poorly supplied, some might think Highgarden had been ungenerous.
Fortunately, near Uplands, we encountered a caravan of House Hightower carrying exactly what I needed.
I opened my purse.
Yet I remembered your previous warning and deliberately passed over costly plate, choosing a cheaper mail shirt instead.
I also bought leather armor for each of the new recruits.
I know this may anger you.
But those brave men of the Reach have followed me all this way into the mountains.
I could not bear to send them into battle half dressed and unprotected.
I believe the beautiful, kindly Lady Margaery would feel the same.
“Hah!” The beautiful, kindly Lady Margaery crushed the letter in her fist and clenched her teeth.
A moment later, despite herself, she laughed.
Lady Olenna looked up from beside her.
“What is it?” “Samwell again.
He has written to ask me for money.
Again.” “Then give it to him.” Margaery stared.
“Grandmother, this is the second time!
He is spending on purpose.
If I give him more now, he will only empty his purse again and write another letter.” “Are we poor?” Olenna asked.
“No, but that does not mean we should let him demand coin whenever he pleases.
This is extortion.” “Then refuse him.
Have Todd bring our soldiers back as well.” “What?” Margaery’s anger faltered.
“But if we do that, can Samwell still settle the land?
And you meant to use him against Dorne, did you not?
Are we simply abandoning that?” Olenna smiled.
“Now you understand why he dares to squeeze you.” Margaery sighed, stepped closer, and took her grandmother’s arm.
“Teach me, then.
What should I do?” Olenna patted her hand, but did not answer at once.
“What do you make of Samwell Greenhand?” “He is not quite what the rumors promised.” Margaery thought for a moment.
“Aside from the fat.
They say he is timid and weak, but he must have some courage.
He is daring enough to squeeze House Tyrell.” “More than that.
He killed Carter, Todd Flowers’s squire.” Margaery’s eyes widened.
“What?” “You heard me.
I received a letter from Todd.
Samwell killed Carter for threatening a nobleman with steel.” “How did he dare?
Did Todd not stop him?
And is he not afraid the soldiers will hate him for it?” Olenna drew a folded letter from her sleeve and handed it over.
“Read.” Margaery scanned the letter.
Surprise slowly replaced anger.
“The fat boy has more cunning than I thought.
And that was decisive.
Ruthless, even.” She lowered the parchment.
“The rumors truly cannot be trusted.” “What surprises me most,” Olenna said, “is his ability to train men.” “That too.
In barely more than a month, he turned dockworkers into disciplined soldiers.
It hardly seems possible.” “Randyll Tarly taught his son well.” Olenna’s voice turned thoughtful.
“Bold.
Decisive.
Cunning.
Capable with soldiers.
Samwell already has many of the qualities a lord’s heir should possess.
So why would Randyll strip such a son of the inheritance?” “Perhaps because he is so fat.” “Your father is a round-bellied puff fish, and did that keep him from becoming Lord of Highgarden?” Margaery winced.
She was used to her grandmother’s sharp tongue, but hearing it turned on her father still made her uncomfortable.
“That is different.
House Tarly’s words are First in Battle.
Lord Randyll wants an heir who can lead a charge.” “Do you think Randyll Tarly is a brainless brute?” “No.
He is one of the finest commanders in the Reach.
I only mean that he prefers battle to schemes.” “You still think he is a brainless brute,” Olenna said, cutting through the polite veil Margaery had drawn over the thought.
Before the younger woman could protest, Olenna continued.
“During Robert’s Rebellion, Robert Baratheon rose against House Targaryen and won three victories in one day at Summerhall.
He looked unstoppable.
Then he met Randyll Tarly at Ashford and fled north defeated.
After that, the Reach host marched into the stormlands and laid siege to Storm’s End.
How long did that siege last?” “More than a year, I think.” “More than a year.
And still the castle did not fall.” Olenna’s mouth curved.
“Do you remember why?” “Davos Seaworth smuggled a ship full of onions into Storm’s End and broke the famine long enough for Lord Eddard Stark to arrive.
Stannis knighted him for it.” Olenna smiled without warmth.
“Have you ever wondered how the Onion Knight sailed one little smuggling ship through a harbor sealed by more than two hundred Redwyne warships?
He was brave, yes, but bravery does not make a ship invisible.” Margaery frowned.
Then understanding began to show in her eyes.
Olenna’s gaze deepened.
“Here is a secret, then.
During the siege, Randyll Tarly sent me a letter.
He never wrote the words plainly, but the meaning was clear enough: Storm’s End had no food left.” Margaery went still.
Her grandmother had not been at the siege.
Why would Lord Randyll write to Highgarden only to tell her that?
Then she thought of the Onion Knight.
Olenna saw the realization and smiled.
“After Randyll’s letter reached me, I wrote to Paxter.
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS TheDevotedReader I hope you enjoyed this chapter.