Game of Thrones: Reincarnated

The next morning, Lucas arrived at Tywin's solar and took his seat across from him.

Tywin did not immediately bring up the matter of him being summoned to King's Landing by Robert. Instead, he started with something else.

"So, Lucas," Tywin began, fixing him with a measured gaze, "how do you intend to respond to the requests from other lords and houses for weapons made of your steel?"

At first, Lucas had not even started forging weapons or shields. It was only about six months ago that he had begun weapon production. As anyone would expect, he had first armed the soldiers of House Lannister with those superior weapons and shields. Of course, Tywin had paid him for it though at a discounted price.

"I think I have kept them waiting long enough," Lucas answered with a thoughtful nod. "If I delay much further, it will start to look outright unreasonable."

"So probably within a few days, I will begin dispatching weapons in batches," he continued. "I will try to maintain as much balance as possible among the different houses. That way, no single house feels slighted or gains too great an advantage."

"Yes," Tywin agreed. "But according to the reports I have received from King's Landing, Renly is not too pleased that you have delayed the shipments to the Stormlands. He has been trying to persuade Robert to pressure you, or rather, me into sharing the secret of your steel with the Crown."

"He can dream on," Lucas scoffed. He knew perfectly well he did not have to worry himself for this matter. Under no circumstances would Tywin ever allow the secret of that steel to be handed over.

"Even so," Tywin said, his tone turning contemplative, "I do not think you will be able to keep perfect balance among the houses."

"The North, for instance, would never be able to afford either your steel or your weapons. We do not know how much time more will this summer last and winter is always on their doorstep, and they are unlikely to spend precious coin so freely."

"Yes, I am well aware," Lucas acknowledged. "So far, the North is the only region from which I have hardly received any orders or requests."

"But they have something else to offer besides gold," Lucas added, a slight smile curling his lips.

"Oh?" Tywin arched an intrigued eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"Resources," Lucas replied confidently. "If you think about it, the North is by far the most resource-rich region in Westeros."

He leaned back slightly in his chair. "It is almost like nature's way of maintaining balance. Since that land is largely infertile, rugged, and a hard place to survive, it compensates them in other ways, with natural resources."

Tywin regarded him closely for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"That is an interesting theory you put forth. I was not really aware of it."

"Yes, interesting," Lucas said, his eyes bright with certainty. "But probably true as well."

"And you intend to exchange resources for these steel and weapons?" Tywin asked.

"Yes," Lucas said. "They should have plentiful and coal and ores."

"But before that," Lucas added. "I must fix the piracy issue of those iron islanders."

"If I want to increase my trade with the North, I will have to secure this side of the sea, the Sunset Sea, from piracy," Lucas said thoughtfully.

"Neither the overland route which has to pass through Riverlands and that Frey's Twins, nor the long sea voyage around to the Narrow Sea is a good alternative."

"This is not going to be an easy task," Tywin remarked. Those squids were a real menace, and they had made trading in those waters difficult for years.

Since Lannister ships rarely sailed north toward the Iron Islands, Tywin had never concerned himself much with the problem. But not that, it was an easy matter to deal. Piracy was in their culture and unless you could decimate them, he doubted that they would ever leave their ways of life.

"I will think of something," Lucas said, almost casually.

Tywin gave a small nod but offered no further comment. Instead, he finally shifted to the real matter at hand. He pulled out the parchment from King's Landing and placed it on the table in front of Lucas.

Lucas raised an eyebrow as he picked it up and read through the message. By the time he finished, a wide grin had spread across his face.

"What do you think?" Tywin asked, genuinely curious at the unexpected reaction.

"I will go," Lucas said simply. Tywin was almost taken aback in shock. He had not expected such ready agreement. For 18 years of his life, Lucas has hardly left Casterly Rock and for him to agree so easily had almost shocked Tywin.

He had thought long and hard about how he might need to persuade Lucas if he proved reluctant.

"You will go?" Tywin asked again, almost to confirm he had heard correctly.

"Yes," Lucas nodded. "I will go."

But then Tywin narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind already turning to the next question.

"And what do you intend to charge for it? Mind you, whatever price you might demand will most likely end up being paid from Lannister coffers."

Lucas shook his head with mild amusement. "You do not need to worry about the price. I do not intend to ask for gold coins."

"No?" Tywin's eyes sharpened. "Then what?"

"I will ask for something else," Lucas said with a sly smile. "If I do not get it, I would not take the work."

Tywin's curiosity deepened. "And what is it that you want?"

Lucas leaned back slightly. "Your spies will inform you soon enough, once I reach King's Landing and make my demands. Would they not?"

Tywin studied him for a long moment, then gave a thin, humourless smile of his own. He did not press the matter further, though his mind churned with possibilities. There was not much the crown could offer Lucas that he could not already seize for himself. Which only made him more intrigued and a little wary. This nephew of him was sometimes really unpredictable.

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