NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: The Shadow of Lions
Chapter 21: The Shadow of Lions
The sun rose over Sunblode Isle with an unnatural stillness. The usual hum of the docks, the clang of the forge, and the chatter of merchants seemed subdued as if the island itself sensed the storm brewing in the west. Ivar stood on the balcony of his study, staring out at the horizon. The letter he held bore the unmistakable crimson and gold seal of House Lannister, a warning wrapped in courtesy.
"House Lannister is displeased by the unlawful seizure of its envoy and the interference in matters not concerning House Sunblode. Such actions do not go unnoticed. We urge you to tread carefully, Lord Sunblode, for lions have sharp claws."
Lysa entered the room quietly, her sharp eyes falling on the letter. "Tywin doesn't waste time, does he?"
"He never does," Ivar replied, folding the parchment and placing it on the table. "This isn't a threat—it's a promise. He won't move openly, not yet, but he'll be planning."
Lysa leaned against the wall, her expression unreadable. "The question is, how do we respond? If we let this pass, we look weak. But if we escalate, we risk provoking the lion into a full roar."
Ivar's gaze remained fixed on the sea. "We don't respond—not directly. Tywin thrives on control. If we unsettle him, force him to react to us, we can disrupt whatever plans he's weaving."
Lysa raised an eyebrow. "Unsettle Tywin Lannister? That's a bold goal."
"Boldness is what brought us here," Ivar said.
Tensions Rise in the Riverlands
While the threat from the Lannisters loomed, the Riverland Accord remained fragile. Lords whispered of Frey's humiliation at Harrenhal, some questioning whether Ivar had overstepped his bounds. At Riverrun, Hoster Tully convened a gathering of the Accord's key members, including Ivar, to address the rising tensions.
The great hall was filled with lords and knights, their voices low as they debated the implications of Ivar's actions. Walder Frey sat at the far end of the table, his face a mask of barely contained anger. Across from him, Tytos Blackwood and Jonos Bracken exchanged tense glances, their old feud simmering beneath the surface.
Hoster Tully raised a hand, silencing the room. "We are here to discuss the future of the Accord. The threat from the Ironborn has been contained, but new dangers are on the horizon. If we are to remain united, we must act with caution and resolve."
Jonos Bracken snorted. "Caution? Is that what you call letting Sunblode dictate terms? Frey's humiliation has made us look weak, not strong."
Frey's lips twitched in a smirk as he leaned forward. "Finally, someone with sense. Lord Sunblode may think himself a savior, but he's only sown discord."
Before Ivar could respond, Tytos Blackwood spoke, his tone sharp. "And what would you have done, Lord Frey? Sold us all out to the Lannisters for a sack of gold? Lord Sunblode exposed your treachery and saved this Accord from collapse."
Frey's face darkened. "Watch your tongue, Blackwood. You speak of treachery, but it's your house that's constantly undermined mine."
The room erupted into argument, the lords shouting over one another as tensions boiled over.
Ivar rose slowly, his presence commanding the room into silence. "Enough."
His voice was calm, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. "This bickering is exactly what our enemies want. While we argue over old grudges and wounded pride, the Lannisters tighten their grip on the west. If we can't work together, we'll fall together."
Hoster nodded, his expression approving. "Well said, Lord Sunblode. The Accord must stand united."
A Whisper in the Dark
That night, as the lords retired to their chambers, Lysa intercepted Ivar on his way to his quarters. Her expression was tense, her usual composure shaken.
"We have a problem," she said, handing him a sealed letter.
Ivar broke the seal, his eyes narrowing as he read. The letter detailed reports from her agents: a Lannister force had been seen near the border of the Riverlands, moving under the pretense of a military exercise.
"They're probing us," Lysa said. "Testing our defenses."
"They want to provoke us into making the first move," Ivar replied. "But we won't give them the satisfaction."
"What do we do, then?"
Ivar's gaze was cold. "We prepare. Quietly. If Tywin wants to test us, we'll be ready."
Fortifying Sunblode
Upon returning to Sunblode Isle, Ivar set to work strengthening his position. The docks were expanded to accommodate more ships, while the soldiers underwent rigorous training. Timothy led the enhanced soldiers in a series of brutal exercises, pushing them to their limits in preparation for whatever the Lannisters might send.
"You think Tywin will risk open war?" Timothy asked as they watched the soldiers drill.
"No," Ivar said. "Not unless he's certain he can win. But he'll try to weaken us first. Sabotage, assassinations, alliances with our enemies—those are his weapons."
Timothy grinned. "Then let's make sure he regrets using them."
The First Blow
The first act of Lannister retaliation came not with an army, but with whispers and gold. Merchants loyal to House Sunblode began disappearing on their trade routes, their caravans ambushed by unknown forces. Crops on the mainland were set ablaze, and rumors spread through the Riverlands accusing Ivar of harboring ambitions to seize Riverrun itself.
Lysa's agents worked tirelessly to counter these efforts, but the damage was done. The lords of the Riverlands grew uneasy, their trust in the Accord shaken.
At a council meeting in Sunblode's great hall, Roland slammed his fist on the table. "This is Tywin's work. He's turning the lords against us without ever lifting a sword."
"And it's working," Duncan added grimly. "If we can't stop this, we'll be fighting more than just the Lannisters."
Ivar stood, his expression unreadable. "Then we take the fight to him. Not with armies, but with the same weapons he's using: deception and fear."
Lysa raised an eyebrow. "What are you proposing?"
"We hit him where it hurts," Ivar said. "His gold. Tywin's power is built on wealth. If we disrupt his mines and trade routes, we cripple his ability to fund his schemes."
Sabotage in the Westerlands
Lysa's agents infiltrated the Westerlands under the cover of night, targeting key gold mines and trade hubs. Using knowledge from Ivar's system, they employed explosives and tactics far beyond anything Tywin could anticipate.
At the same time, Timothy led a team of enhanced soldiers on a daring raid against a Lannister supply convoy. The attack was swift and brutal, leaving no survivors to report back.
As the flames of the destroyed convoy lit the night, Timothy grinned. "Think the lion felt that?"
"He felt it," one of the soldiers replied, wiping blood from his blade. "The question is how he'll respond."
The Lion Roars
The retaliation was swift. A Lannister fleet appeared off the coast of Sunblode Isle, their banners visible against the horizon. The island's defenses were tested as catapults launched flaming projectiles at the approaching ships.
Ivar stood on the battlements, his expression calm despite the chaos. "Hold the line," he ordered.
The battle was fierce, but the Lannister fleet was ill-prepared for Sunblode's enhanced soldiers and superior naval tactics. By dawn, the surviving Lannister ships retreated, their banners tattered and their pride wounded.
Timothy approached Ivar, his armor scorched but his grin intact. "That was satisfying."
"It was a warning," Ivar said. "Tywin knows we're a threat now. He won't stop until one of us falls."
The Gathering Storm
As the aftermath of the battle settled, Ivar called his council together. The room was heavy with tension, each member aware of the stakes.
"This isn't just about Sunblode or the Riverlands," Ivar said. "This is about survival. Tywin Lannister wants to break us, but we won't give him the chance. We'll strengthen our alliances, fortify our defenses, and prepare for the storm to come."
Roland nodded. "And if the lords of the Riverlands falter?"
"Then we remind them what's at stake," Ivar replied. "Unity isn't an option anymore—it's a necessity. If we don't stand together, we'll all fall apart."
As the council dispersed, Ivar returned to his study, his mind racing with possibilities. The shadow of the lions loomed large, but the sun had not yet set on House Sunblode.