The old crab said, "After the Little Sun appeared, the wights hid in wells, sewers, and ruins. Anywhere they could conceal themselves, they crawled into it.
Wights do not need to breathe or eat. They wait for the sun to disappear, wait for the living to be alone, then silently approach and kill them."
"Randall Tarly leads the Sons of the Warrior in daily sweeps outside the city, yet they have never completely wiped out the Others lurking around King's Landing. Wights kill the living, and the Others raise the dead."
"So clever?" the dwarf exclaimed in surprise.
"You've killed over a million wights in the Westerlands. How do you not know this?" the old crab asked, puzzled.
"They do hide in forests, yes, but they have never infiltrated our camps like assassins," the dwarf replied.
The old crab turned his gaze toward the Dragon Queen. "That is because Her Majesty is here. When the wildlings beyond the Wall marched south, they were constantly followed by the Others. From the outskirts, the Others gradually eroded their ranks, expanding their army of wights."
"It seems the Faith still lacks divine spells like 'Detect Evil,'" Dany said thoughtfully.
Among the seven aspects of the Seven, only the Mother, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger had been activated. The Maiden, the Crone, and the Father remained untouched.
Recently, the Dragon Queen had been busy fighting the Others, with neither the time nor the inclination to hunt down a few evil gods for nourishment.
Perhaps it was time to set aside some effort to activate the remaining three aspects.
Dany made her decision silently.
She said, "As mere warriors, wights are not particularly frightening. They cannot form efficient and powerful formations like human armies. A group of scattered fighters can only charge mindlessly with a single tactic.
But wights retain the memories they had in life. In familiar places, facing familiar people, they become extremely dangerous assassins.
Casterly Rock's fall proves this.
At that time, Casterly Rock had four thousand defenders. With proper coordination, using dragonglass weapons and the advantage of terrain, holding off a thousand wights would not have been difficult.
But the wights did not charge in shouting. They silently dispersed, assassinating familiar people house by house and killing soldiers within the barracks."
"What about Melisandre? Did she take action against the Others outside the city?" Tyrion asked.
"If the Others appeared, she would certainly act. But whenever they are found, it never reaches her turn. The knights of the Faith already charge forward shouting 'For the Seven,'" the old crab said with a curl of his lips.
"I mean, can the Red Woman detect the location of the Others?"
Tyrion emphasized, "She understands prophetic magic."
"Prophecy…" The old crab's expression turned strange. "I don't know whether the Red Woman can predict the Others' location, but Dragonstone does have a true master of prophecy.
Several times, he predicted in advance which castles would be attacked and which would withstand assaults.
At first, we thought he was talking nonsense. After all, he had just arrived at Dragonstone and had never even set foot on the continent of Westeros.
Facing our doubts, he only said: 'Because of the Queen's request, I set aside time each day to divine the movements of the Others. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.'
And in the end, we had no choice but to believe him.
For example, at Storm's End, he predicted that the Others would be repelled."
"Are you talking about the red priest Moqorro?" the dwarf asked in surprise.
He remembered Moqorro well because the man resembled his family's sigil, an angry lion's head.
"He has already been converted by me and now follows the Faith of the Seven," Dany said proudly.
"But Moqorro looks troubled, sighing day and night, as if he misses his former master," the old crab said hesitantly.
Dany's face hardened. "Has he carefully studied the annotated papal edition of The Seven-Pointed Star that I gave him?"
"I don't know," the old crab shook his head. "Every day he performs prophecies on schedule. After that, he goes to the basement to prepare wildfire. Once he completes his daily quota, he returns home and shuts himself in. No one knows what he does."
"Alas, the religious atmosphere on Dragonstone is still not strong enough," the Dragon Queen sighed, then decided, "Arrange for someone to send Moqorro to the Great Sept of Baelor. Give him the status of a bishop. Surrounded by influence and companions, he should quickly adapt to his new identity and life."
"Is that necessary?" Tyrion asked, confused.
Dany sighed sincerely. "You don't know how much the Mother envies R'hllor. She longs for a devotee like Melisandre."
The old crab reminded her, "Your Majesty, there is another matter. The first group of red priests sent to aid King's Landing has arrived. They come from Pentos and Myr.
Besides the priests, there are warriors in splendid armor.
They wear orange cloaks and wield spears whose tips resemble burning flames. They are called the 'Hands of the Sacred Fire,' the armed force of the Red God's faith, similar to our Sons of the Warrior.
It is said that soon, priests from Braavos, Tyrosh, Lys, and even Volantis will arrive one after another."
"King's Landing is about to be dyed red," he emphasized.
The Dragon Queen nodded with satisfaction and said magnanimously, "Very good. The united front against the Others must gather every possible force. International allies coming to Westeros to join the war should be welcomed warmly.
Count, harvest five hundred jin of cabbage from the greenhouses on Dragonstone and send it to them as extra provisions.
The long night has lasted for months. They must not have eaten fresh vegetables for a long time."
The old crab's cheek twitched. "Your Majesty, the cabbage can be sent, but what I mean is, the red priests already have constant conflicts with the Faith of the Seven. Now you want to send Moqorro to the Great Sept and make him a bishop…"
"Moqorro was once the successor to the High Priest of Volantis. If this sparks a religious war, King's Landing truly will be dyed red with blood."
"Relax. Even if a religious war breaks out, the Faith of the Seven, as the local power, will never lose," Dany said calmly.
"But it will affect the greater situation of the united front against the Others!" the old crab cried.
Tyrion immediately said, "Then let Stannis and his red priests consider the bigger picture.
Inform the lords of the Crownlands that if their cities are harassed by the Others again, they should send word to King's Landing.
With so many red priests, along with the twin-headed demon dragon and the wyvern legions, it would be a waste to leave them idle in the city."
Dany's eyes shifted. "Count Celtigar, why not use the cabbage delivery as an excuse to visit Stannis?
See what he has been busy with lately. Also get him moving a bit. I've heard rumors that several castles have been conducting suspected sacrifices to the Others."
"We must not make the mistake of surrenderism. Since he sits on the Iron Throne, even if it is covered in filth, he must bear the corresponding responsibility," she said sternly.
After the old crab signed off, the dwarf muttered, "If I were Stannis, I would rather be dead.
After all that effort, he only got a filthy chair and has to clean up your mess."
"What did you say?" the Dragon Queen's gaze turned dangerous.
The dwarf lifted his chin without flinching. "Am I wrong? You want to punish the nobles who surrendered to the Others, but you care about your reputation and don't want to get your hands dirty, so you let Stannis play the villain."
"I am not the Queen of Westeros. Why should I get my hands dirty?" Dany replied coldly.
"I didn't say you were wrong. I'm just lamenting Stannis's unfortunate fate," the dwarf sighed.
"You, a man whose family has been wiped out, are pitying others?" Dany mocked.
"House Baratheon is nearly wiped out as well," the dwarf said, his expression growing more complex. "Highgarden's Tyrells were exterminated early by the ironborn. No one knows whether Margaery died in Casterly Rock.
When Casterly Rock fell, the Tullys of the Riverlands were also destroyed.
The Starks' uncle, Edmure Tully, along with his wife and son, were prisoners in Casterly Rock and ultimately became wights alongside the Lannisters."
As he said this, the dwarf's expression turned strange, part smile, part sorrow, part mockery.
"Edmure, the so-called best uncle in Westeros, had a fate similar to King Aegon. Both were betrayed by the Starks, captured, and promised that though they would lose their freedom or be exiled, their children would inherit a minor title and castle to continue the family line.
Neither lived to see those promises fulfilled. Both died miserably and now rest in heaven."
After a moment of silence, the dwarf continued, "Two days ago, Robert Arryn died of illness. His heir, Harrold Hardyng, was burned to ashes by wildfire while visiting Silk Street. The Arryn line, which lasted thousands of years, is now completely extinct.
In recent years, everyone has suffered. At least we Lannisters still have two adult men and a healthy daughter. Three direct heirs remain alive, so we are fully qualified to sympathize with others."
"Finding joy by comparing misery after your house has been destroyed. Very good," Dany said solemnly in praise.
"Reality is what it is. Whether I seek some amusement or not changes nothing. I might as well make myself a bit happier. At least I have a clear conscience. I did everything I could for the Lannisters."
At this point, Tyrion let out a deep sigh. "This is the cruel rule of the game of thrones. There are winners and losers. Between them arises irreconcilable hatred, and in the end, no one escapes unscathed.
Speaking of which, among the once-glorious nine great houses of Westeros, only House Martell of Dorne remains intact. It seems doing nothing is the safest course."
Dany had no interest in continuing the conversation and began to dismiss him. "That's enough. It's late. You should go back and rest. Tomorrow you still have to travel over a hundred kilometers."
"Well…" Tyrion hesitated, then said awkwardly, "Could you move my tent into the hall as well?"
"For what?" Dany asked, puzzled.
"This is Tarbeck Hall. It would be safer closer to you," he said sheepishly.
"Are you insane?" Dany looked at him as if he were mad.
"Why don't you understand?" the dwarf exclaimed. "I am a Lannister, and this is Tarbeck Hall.
Back then, my father slaughtered hundreds of the Tarbecks here, right where we sit. Not even a six-year-old child was spared, thrown into a well to drown.
Now that I am here, how could the spirits not seek revenge?"
Afraid she would mock him, he added, "In the Westerlands, many have heard the wailing of spirits here.
The winds of Tarbeck and the rains of Castamere are said to be their cries. Some travelers have even seen apparitions at night."
"If you meet spirits, just tell them your real father cuckolded Tywin, and you killed him yourself. They'll probably like you instead," Dany said calmly.
"There really are spirits?" the dwarf asked, startled.
Dany ignored him and waved him away.
After he finally left, she took out a glass candle and began contacting the distant Vajra.
(End of Chapter)
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