Private Conversation

Randyll Tarly was livid with anger, as this was not only driving a wedge between him and his liege Mace Tyrell but was also making him turn into a threat to the Lord Paramount of the Reach. He desperately wanted to draw his sword or at least stand up and leave immediately. But reason told him he needed to listen to what the heir of House Di Natale had to say.

It would be an unpleasant conversation going forth, but it would be in the interest of House Tarly to stay. Leaving right now would put his family in a position where he would become enemies with the noble families of Lys and deepen the grudge with the noble families of Dorne. This would gain House Tarly nothing but negative influence. Victor could easily spread news of a close relationship between him and Dorne and the trust between House Tarly and House Tyrell would further weaken.

The simple fact that he accepted a very precious gift from Victor Di Natale in public was already a fact he could never deny. Once the trust is broken there is no turning back. And when he finally took some seconds to recap what Victor said his hands were already getting sweaty. Even though he was a famous warrior and already a good military commander, he was still only in his twenties and far from the Randyll Tarly in the later Tv series.

Oberyn was quite amused by the shenanigans of his former rival but didn't add injury to insult again. Lord Tarly was obviously already on the verge of breaking out, he didn't want to face a real life and death attack with a high-grade cloud steel sword. Victor was calm all the way troughs. Even if Randyll Tarly would rage, he was in no situation ever a threat to Victor, as way too many hidden weapons were always pointing at him.

After finally taking a few minutes to calm down the always proud noble son of the Reach decided to give in, for the sake of House Tarly. He whispered quietly.

"What do you want, boy?"

It was a huge surprise to Victor to hear such a direct question that seemed looked like a direct surrender from such a proud man. Never did he expect things to be so simple, honestly. But in the end, he somehow overestimated the loyalty and relationship between the noble houses and their liege. Randyll Tarly was in no way completely loyal to House Tyrell and that was clear to even House Tyrell themselves.

The Reach was only ruled by House Tyrell because they could gain the biggest benefit for the collective and because they were a strong family that related to House Redwyne and House Hightower by marriage. House Tarly didn't really have another option as to who to be loyal to, but that didn't mean they would sacrifice their major family interests, just for House Tyrell. Randyll Tarly probably had more suffering by betraying his own pride than by betraying a liege he didn't respect anyways.

"I don't want anything from you, Randyll Tarly. Right now, the House of Tarly doesn't have anything I desire, quite literally. What I do find interesting is your ability, a future famous military commander. I searched for a lot of information's about the Reach, because as a major ally of Dorne I might have to face their attack or attack them at any time.

I like to do my preparations very well and honestly there is nothing that could make me even a little fearful in the Reach, except this one thing that might happen in the future. Can you guess what I am talking about?" Victor decided to ask the question rather than to directly give his reasons. He wanted to see whether Randyll Tarly was only a great military commander or if he also had a keen sense for politics.

While the carrier of Heartsbane, a Valyrian steel great sword, was falling into deep thoughts, the two frivolous boys on the side were not generous enough to wait for him. Victor gave a small sign and a few beautiful maids started carrying in fresh sweet pastries and the finest herbal tea. They didn't even bother about the angry gaze from the other side of the table and were happily enjoying all kinds of pastries.

The tea ceremony was something Victor established in the Di Natale family and especially his grandparents enjoy it very much. He was constantly searching for new sorts of tea and to find out the best one. Maybe tea could become an industry of its own in the future. When seeing the happy and satisfied smiles on the opposite of the table Randyll decided to stop using his brain and joined in.

The sweet taste and the satisfying tea made him forget about his troubles for a short time. But when the end of the snack time was finally coming, he had to face the inevitable answer.

"You are afraid of me. But why? House Tarly has nothing for you to be afraid of." Randyll Tarly was a proud man, but he was indeed confused as to why Victor Di Natale would fear him.

He might have a good military ability but nothing Victor Di Natale should fear, as the biggest strength of his family was the strong navy that could protect them from any danger. He would probably never face a large army, compiled of mainly foot soldiers, by the Reach. At least in his perception.

"I am not afraid of the person sitting right across from me. There is no way I would be afraid of an unexperienced man who just married a wife and isn't even the head of his house yet. There are only a handful of people I respect and maybe fear in Westeros, certainly nobody is under the age of 30."

Randyll Tarly got even more confused as to what Victor wanted to point out. He was afraid of Randyll Tarly, but not the person right in front of him.