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"Gerion." Tywin nodded shortly, but not in an especially hostile manner, while Kevan gave him a warm smile. Tywin simply continued as he was wont to do. "Now that you're here as well, we can begin properly. Shut the door if you would."
...
Gerion blinked, then did as his brother said, shutting the door to the study, and latching it for good measure, he turned back to face his brother, along with everyone else in the room. Tywin was the sort of man who had that effect on people, even when he was your older brother.
"What's this about Tywin." Tygett groused, "Some political scheme?"
Tywin glared at him, but Tygett wasn't the type to be cowed by that, so they just held each other's gazes, causing the room to settle into an awkward silence.
Eventually, Tywin spoke, still not breaking eye contact with Tygett. "In essence, yes, this has to do with a political scheme, one that involves the entirety of House Lannister, our bannermen, and the Westerlands as a whole." Tygett looked a bit vindicated but also seemed to be growing uncomfortable under their eldest brother's stare, which did not waver as he kept speaking. "I've gathered you all here because every member of our family will be involved. That is why I told you to bring your wife."
Tygett finally broke the staring contest to cough slightly. "Darlessa isn't able to travel right now."
"A shame that," Tywin said harshly, before his own gaze broke off, scanning over the room.
"I will be frank with you all, my intention is to solidify Lannister rule over the Westerlands, completely and irrevocably, by implementing a series of political reforms meant to codify and extend our power. These reforms have been extensively researched and planned by myself, Maester Eomund, and Callum here." he gestured to the boy next to him, who perked up at the praise.
Gerion couldn't blame the boy, praise from Tywin was a rare thing, though he couldn't fathom how a boy that young had any impact on Tywin's political machinations. "They touch on nearly every aspect of government and administration in the Westerlands, particularly in House Lannister territory."
Gerion glanced around again, Genna was tilting her head in curiosity but didn't seem surprised. Kevan looked like he knew this was coming, which he probably did, and Tygett looked unimpressed as always. "Where do we come into it?" the third son of Tytos asked cooly.
Tywin folded his fingers.
"I am creating a new administrative position, dubbed Lord Tempor. It is a position for a temporary Lord, to be appointed over an administrative region of Lannister territory to govern for a five-year period, at the end of which the appointment will end. The territory will neither be inherited, nor owned by the appointee. Instead, they will perform a lord's functions, oversee the collection of taxes, the execution of justice, the raising of banners, and whatever other functions that may arise.
They will wield power, but only in my name, like a Castellan, but for the land instead of a castle." Tywin's gaze was sharp. "I would like to appoint you two, Gerion, Tygett, as the first Lord's Tempor, Genna, your Husband Emon may be useful for this as well, presuming he has the spine to arrive here in person."
"I'll… encourage him," Genna said, sounding more exasperated than frightened. "Honestly if you didn't go to every possible length to scare him-"
"Enough, I don't need to hear about it." Tywin waved her off with his hand. "Tell him he may have it if he comes to me and asks properly. He'll need to swear an oath to serve House Lannister in that position, but that shouldn't be a hard choice. It's better than he'll get as a household knight for his weasely old father." Tywin said coldly and for once Gerion, and hells, even Tygett agreed with him. Nobody really liked the Freys. "The primary point, you too, is will you accept?"
"When you say temporary Lord-" Gerion started, only to be cut off by his eldest brother.
"In all effect you will be a lord, acting in my name and without forming an independent house. You will rule with the right of pit and gallows, and be responsible for ruling the region, though you will be assisted by other new positions. There will be bailiffs to collect taxes, and law clerks to aid with court affairs once I finish the legal code." Tywin paused. "I will likely also instruct you on specific goals I wish to pursue for a region specifically, but mostly you will rule in a manner similar to a vassal lord."
Gerion hesitated for a moment. He had never thought he'd get the chance to be a lord, not being born the fifth of his father's children, and the fourth son. Obviously, this wasn't the same as Tywin's position, not a true House Lord, not even close, but still close enough in the ways that mattered… "Will we be able to keep the profits of our incomes even after our appointment ends?"
"Partially." Tywin nodded, "Half of the collected incomes will come to the Rock, and one quarter will be put into a regional treasury for use by future Lord Tempor's, but the remaining quarter will be yours to do with as you please, which ought to be more than enough to enrich yourselves."
"Will we have full rights to establish new mines, hunt in forests, and that sort of thing?" Gerion followed on.
"Yes, that's part of the purpose of the position." Tywin nodded. "With Reyne and Tarbeck lands included, our territory is simply too vast for me or Kevan to govern directly, we must act as a family to improve our position."
"To improve your position you mean," Tygett grumbled.
"To improve all of our positions," Tywin said firmly. "There isn't a person in this room who does not benefit from these reforms. They will elevate House Lannister to levels of power and authority never seen in the Westerlands or Seven Kingdoms." Tywin nodded. "There's more, much more, but I need to know first, will you accept the appointments."
Gerion again hesitated, before frowning and asking one last question. "Before I answer, I'd like to know where you're sending me."
Tywin nodded, gesturing towards a map of the Westerlands on the wall. "I am sending you two first to the areas where House Lannister's control is weakest, do well there and I'll charge you with improving our wealthier regions.
Gerion, I would make you Lord Tempor of the Silver Valley, the parts not controlled by Lord Serret. The Tallowmen there are mostly Yeoman, and they've historically owed many debts to the Lannisters for protecting them from House Serret's expansionism. It's time to call those debts due and bring them to support our cause. I don't care how you do it." He turned to Tygett.
"Tygett, you are a martial man, I'm putting you on the north coast. You'll rule as far away from me as you can possibly be. Your assignment is to improve the defenses against the potential for future Ironborn raiders and encourage the development of the northern countryside. I believe that suits both of us."
"I accept," Tygett said bluntly. "You are correct."
"Good. Gerion?"
'Well, I'd be an idiot to say no.' This was a chance for Gerion to build a fortune, one he could pass down to his eventual children, even if he couldn't give them a cadet house of their own. "I accept, I know a good offer when I see it, and I'll not turn down a slice of buttered toast."
Genna chuckled at that, as did young Jaime, so Gerion thought he'd done a good job.
"Good." Tywin, much to Gerion's surprise, smiled, though perhaps it was more of a smirk, evil and cunning. "If Emon finds his balls he'll be Lord Tempor of the Grey Valley, between the Gold Tooth and Hornvale, you can tell him that as well Genna. Remember though, only if he comes here and asks for it himself."
"I know, I know, I'll bully him into it." Genna smiled brightly. Sometimes Gerion felt bad for Emon. Honestly, the man wasn't bad for a Frey.
"Alright, then onto the next matter at hand," Tywin said, flipping over the paper that was on his desk. "Before any of this can happen, we have some preparations to make."
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