About a few dozen kilometers south of Lannisport, the king's procession set up camp, expecting to reach Lannisport in five more days.
The port is located at the foot of Casterly Rock and has long been managed by a branch of the Lannister family. Before Robert's army had arrived, the head of the branch had already sent a large number of people to greet them and had sent many supplies, including food, fruits, and fine wines.
Unlike ravens, which need to rest in the woods, the dragon flying continuously could stay aloft. When the sun was obscured, its massive shadow cast over the camp. Some people in the camp stood still, staring blankly at the sky.
"Quick! Have the knights drive the crowd off the open ground ahead!" The Captain of the Kingsguard, Barristan, now with a full white beard, was still vigorous as he began to give orders.
"What is Wright here for?" Robert, who had stopped his hammer practice on the training grounds, also looked up at the sky.
Barristan walked over to him, "He must be in a hurry; otherwise, Lord Wright wouldn't have ridden the dragon to the Westerlands without prior notice."
Odahviing, with its massive size and overwhelming presence, was like bringing a nuclear missile to someone else's home. The Baratheon brothers had long privately discussed that dragons could fly freely in their own territories—King's Landing, Dragonstone, the Stormlands, and the Stepstones—but it was better to inform the lords of other regions before visiting. Otherwise, a peaceful visit might turn into a threatening enLorder.
Those who had come with Robert from King's Landing saw the dragon's arrival and quickly vacated the open area outside the camp. Only the people of the Westerlands stood idly, unaware.
Lyn Cobrey, leading a group of Red Keep guards on horseback, formed a line and drove the crowd back, allowing Wright to land.
"Lyn, is the king in the camp?" Robert, who enjoyed hunting, so Wright asked for an update.
Lyn bowed to Wright, "Lord Wright, the king is inside. I will take you in."
Odahviing, exhausted from its nonstop flights between King's Landing and the Westerlands, landed and folded its wings, panting heavily. Within moments, a strong sulfur smell spread through the air.
"Let's go." Wright barely took a few steps before noticing the Westerlands people gathering around Odahviing. Some were trying to approach it. He turned to Lyn and said, "Have the Red Keep guards stay with it; we don't want the Westerlands people turning into minced meat."
Lyn smiled, "Don't worry, Lord Wright, I've already given the order. It was the same situation when the big one first came to King's Landing."
Walking with Lyn into the camp, a wide path was cleared from the entrance to the king's tent. On either side were various tents, some with people skinning animals, others sharpening weapons. The outer areas of the camp were where soldiers and servants lived, and as they moved inward, the tents became more luxurious, and the attire of those around them grew more noble.
"Lord Wright, it's been a long time!"
"How is Lord Mace's health?"
"Lord Wright, you've gotten even more handsome!"
"Congratulations on having another son!"
The greetings came from the high-ranking nobles. Wright walked quickly, and anyone who received a response from him drew envious glances from those around them.
"Lord Wright!" A thin male voice called from his right. Hearing the familiar voice, Wright turned to see, "Varys, just the person I was looking for, I was about to find you. Come with me to see Robert."
As the Master of Whisperers, Varys knew some things and joined Wright as they walked toward the golden tent in the center of the path.
"Lord Wright, are you here for the Riverlands matter?" Varys asked.
Wright replied as he walked, "Yes and no. The Freys want to raise an army to fight someone, and that's the king's concern. As the Archmage of the Seven Kingdoms, my job is to deal with magical creatures. I need to find out if there are any popping up over there."
"Edmure Lord sent a letter to the king, and the Small Council have seen it. The letter was vague." Edmure Tully, the new Lord of the Riverlands, was known for being unclear, and once information passed through him, it often became inaccurate, something Varys couldn't control.
"Vague? Then it's possible." Wright quickened his pace, leaving Lyn behind, with Varys jogging to catch up.
At the massive golden tent, surrounded by many banners of crowned stags, a soldier in white armor stood at the entrance.
"Barristan, long time no see!"
Barristan, with his white beard, nodded. "Go in, the king is waiting for you."
Inside the tent, it was about the same size as the Red Keep's reception hall. There were a dozen empty tables, and at one side was a large wooden throne. To the left of the throne was a small door, leading to another tent of the same size, which contained the king's bedroom.
Robert was not sitting on the throne but at a dining table, eating fruit. Two richly dressed nobles, one man and two women, sat beside him.
"Robert, why are you eating again?"
"Eat! I've lost so much weight lately." Robert looked up and answered Wright before continuing to eat.
It was better than having large meals every day. Looking at Robert's significantly thinner frame, Wright didn't know what to say. Robert's weight loss seemed abnormal, as though he had been ill. His hair, which he had intentionally grown to shoulder length, was a cover for the bald patches on his scalp.
At Robert's side, a beautiful lady with thick black hair styled on top of her head, slightly curled bangs, and wearing pure gold earrings and necklace, continuously peeled fruit and placed it on Robert's plate.
"Lady Jayne, good afternoon." Wright recognized her, the second daughter of the five Bracken daughters.
Like Robert, their lives were also on an uncontrollable Lorddown. After hearing the bad news, they were sad for a long time, and it took over half a year for them to recover their spirits. Now, all five women were inseparable from Robert, enjoying their last moments together.
"Good afternoon, Lord Wright." Jayne stood up to greet Wright, bowed, and then sat back down.
The square table had Robert and Lady Jayne sitting on one side, Wright alone on the other, with Varys sitting across from Wright. When Jayne sat down, the man and woman opposite Robert stood up.
The woman close to Wright looked very frightened, trying hard to control herself, while the man did the same, though he forced a smile.
"V-Wright... Lord... Good... afternoon!" The man stammered.
Wright looked up carefully at his face, brown hair, and ordinary looks. Then he turned to the woman beside him—blonde, with a great figure and pretty, but no impression of them came to mind.
Are they seeking something from me? Seeing the man stutter, and them sitting with Robert before his arrival, Wright directly asked Robert, "Who are these two?"
Robert wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief, elbow on the table, and pointed at the man. "This is Titus Peake, Lord of Starpike! The lady beside him is his wife."
Wright looked at Titus, who wore a smile but was sweating profusely, his hands slightly trembling.
"Sit down and talk!"
Upon hearing Wright, the two slowly sat back down and glanced at Wright again. Titus pulled out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face and accidentally dropped his pocket watch on the ground.
Wright raised his hand, and white light appeared in his palm. A magical hand reached out, grasping the pocket watch and returning it to Wright's hand.
"A pure gold pocket watch from Tyrosh."
With a 'clink,' Wright opened the pocket watch and said, "A limited edition ruby model from 296, made by the great craftsman Drell. Tasteful."
"Keep it! This thing is quite expensive." Wright placed the pocket watch on the table in front of Titus.
"Thank you, Lord Wright!" Titus finally showed a sincere smile, realizing Wright wouldn't kill him.
Robert clapped his hands, and several maidservants came over from the side of the tent, placing wine glasses and fruit in front of the group. Titus's situation was something Wright had asked Robert to handle. If Wright wanted to kill someone, Robert would have people come in to clean up the body. If Wright didn't, the maidservants would serve wine.
Wright didn't look at Titus, instead focusing on the woman next to him. "Lord TItus, is this your wife, Margot?"
"Lord Wright, I am Margot Lannister." Margot sat and gave a slight bow to Wright.
Margot, born in Lannisport, was a side branch of the main house of Casterly Rock. In her youth, she had married the unremarkable Titus, a flower placed on cow dung.
Today, Margot had sprayed imported perfume from Lys, her hair let down from the usual updo, and draped over her shoulders. She wore a golden outer robe.
When Wright entered the tent, Titus subtly nudged her. Reluctantly, she unbuttoned her robe, revealing a short dress in pale green with lace trim that exposed her smooth abdomen and cleavage. Margot had never done such a thing before, and with her gentle appearance, she looked like someone who was reluctant yet inviting.
Robert had long noticed Margot's odd behavior. As someone well-versed in such matters, he laughed inwardly, not interested in Margot's body but curious to see how Wright would handle it.
"Hmm!" Wright caught a glimpse of the cleavage, then looked up at Varys, sitting across from him, and quickly dismissed the thought.
"Hahaha!" Robert excitedly slapped the table and called for the maidservants. "Quick, pour wine for everyone, hahahaha!"
Wright hadn't expected Titus to be here, and he knew he had to resolve his matter before discussing the vampire situation. "Lord Titus, have you made up your mind?"
"Lord Wright, I've sold all the property in Starpike, and the money is stored in the Tyroshi branch in Highgarden. I plan to buy a house in Tyrosh and start some business!" Lord Titus blurted out a long string of words.
This attitude works! Wright nodded. "Good. As long as you come to Tyrosh to do legitimate business, I welcome it. I toast to you!"
Wright raised his glass, and Titus smiled broadly as they clinked glasses. He then tugged on his wife's arm, and Margot followed suit, clinking glasses with Wright as well.
He had saved his life and his title, selling the castle but keeping the money. Titus smiled with satisfaction, while his wife, Margot, smiled awkwardly.
Titus Peake, whose family crest features three castles on an orange background, was once part of the powerful House Peake family of the Reach. The Peakes had been one of the most prominent families in the region, with their ancestral seat at Starpike Castle. A thousand years ago, they had defeated the Manderlys and taken their Dunstonbury Castle. The current White Harbor Castle was built as a copy of Dunstonbury. The Peakes also gained Whitegrove Castle through their alliance with House Gardener and had arranged multiple marriages of their daughters to Gardners kings. All told, the Peake family produced seven queens of the Reach and forged ties with other prominent Houses in the region, establishing themselves as the strongest House for a time.
However, their downfall came when they repeatedly backed the wrong side. After King Aegon I's conquest, the Peakes refused to marry into House Tyrell, cutting ties with them and becoming isolated in the region. During the Dance of the Dragons, they supported the greens, depleting their forces and wealth.
After the Dance ended, House Peake attempted to reassert itself by aligning with House Targaryen once more, with Unwin Peake becoming the Hand of the King after Corlys Velaryon's death. However, Unwin's ambitions to marry into the royal family were thwarted, and his family was pushed out of King's Landing by House Rogare.
Despite this, the Peakes' lands and castles remained intact. They could still hold their position as a large lordship, but House Peake remained restless. During the Blackfyre Rebellion, they supported the Blackfyre cause openly, leading to their loss of two castles, leaving only Starpike. When the rebellion failed and Daemon Blackfyre was killed, House Peake's position weakened further.
In the second Blackfyre Rebellion, Lord Gormon Peake once again supported the Blackfyres, but he met his end at the hands of the Green Seer, Brynden Rivers, who killed him personally. By 233 AC, House Peake attempted another rebellion, killing King Maekar I, but they were fortunate that the Targaryens were focused on selecting a new king. With the rise of House Tyrell, House Peake's influence waned, and they were left to fade into obscurity.
Now, House Peake had fallen into the hands of Wright. When Theon and Asha were among Daenerys's retinue, they provided Wright with a list of the Golden Company's upper echelon. Wright had eliminated the Golden Company's main force in Meereen, issuing bounties for those who escaped. Once Daenerys was taken back to King's Landing and Dorne switched allegiance to the Baratheons, Wright began cleaning up the remaining factions.
Robert was touring the Riverlands and summoned Lord Titus Peake. When Robert mentioned the names Laswell Peake, Torman Peake, and Pykewood Peake, Titus immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
Fortunately, Robert, having fallen ill, had little time to spare, leaving Wright in full charge of the matter. Robert allowed Titus to accompany him on his tour, but after that, he had no further involvement.
In terms of legalities, a publicly exiled person committing a crime in another land would not affect their family. However, when that person fell into the hands of someone like Wright, a man who would kill without hesitation, the situation was entirely different. Titus barely escaped with his life that day.
Wright had initially planned to extort a sum from House Peake, but when Lord Manderly of White Harbor came to Wright in Volantis and the two reached an agreement, Wright seized the opportunity to rid House Manderly of their ancestral rival.
Now, Titus, having sold off his Houses's lands and relocated to Volantis under Wright's watchful eyes, maintained a good attitude, as Wright had no further desire to take his life. With Titus's house fortune now at Wright's disposal, the former lord had only his hollow title to hold onto, while Wright would ensure that his wealth was put to use.
As for his wife, Margot Lannister, she had never been involved in any scandals. She was a woman of good education and virtue, willing to sacrifice her body for her husband. Titus had his own plans, using Margot's charms to seduce Wright. The two had been married for many years, and Margot had not yet conceived a child. Titus had already decided that Margot would leave him and follow Wright, seeing this as a way to benefit himself in the long run.
"Lord Titus, please rest for now. We still have some matters to discuss with the king," Varys said, ushering them out.
Once the couple left the tent, Robert looked at Margot's retreating figure and said, "Not all Lannister women are sluts."
"Every large family has its outliers," Wright responded, joining in the jest.
A young serving girl, no older than ten, was standing beside Wright, pouring wine. Upon hearing their conversation, she pouted in displeasure.
"Ha ha! I forgot there's a little Lannister here," Robert laughed, slapping the table.
Wright, noticing the girl's reaction, activated his magical sensing ability and discovered that she possessed a strong magical aura.
The tent was filled with magical signatures, many of which were magical items that Wright had given to Robert. He hadn't been scanning for magical energy until Robert mentioned the girl. Only then did Wright notice her.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"My name is Rosamund Lannister," the little girl pouted, holding the wine bottle and looking at Wright angrily, muttering words that were hard to understand.
She turned out to be a distant relative from a branch of the family. Wright reached out and gently stroked her soft blonde hair. "Would you like to be my magic apprentice? You'd be my fourth official disciple."
"I don't want to! I don't want to stand naked in the street!" the girl cried, clutching the wine bottle and sobbing with her head lowered, too scared to run in front of the king.
Lady Jayne covered her mouth in surprise. Varys's face reddened, though his expression remained neutral.
Robert was momentarily confused and turned to Wright. "Don't you already have plenty of disciples at your magic school?"
Wright responded, "The disciples at my magic school receive standard magical training, but for my official apprentices, I tailor the magic to suit their unique characteristics, in addition to the regular curriculum."
Robert asked, "What about Jojen Reed? What's his Conjuring weapon magic?"
Wright smirked, "That was part of my work with the Three-Eyed Raven. He's under my guidance, though he's not officially one of my disciples."