Blond hair? No that's Lion's mane

{THIRD POV}

A carriage and two men could be seen moving along the rocky paths of the westerly mountains. One with long blond hair and the other with short trimmed hair that was the blackest of the blacks, the contrast was quite striking, especially when their hair shined in the sunlight.

Lann was thinking, looking around intently at the rocky hills. He had decided to make something for himself far away from the reaches of the Rowans. And what better place than one across these hills?

Now the only problem was how he could grow himself and create the life he always hoped for in this place that seems nothing but a pile of rocks. Sure, there were rumors of gold, silver, and other mines hidden underneath the rocks but one needed a lot to dig them out, even if they existed.

"You don't look the part for a brooding type but damn do you brood a lot." Jaskier II sounded annoyed. "Could you liven up a bit? You've got enough gold under there for you to live a modest life without working until the day you die."

"What would a beggar who sings for money like you even know about the ambitions of men?" Lann retorted casually. After a couple of days of traveling together, he came to understand this 'bard' a bit better.

The bard really didn't seem to care for anything other than songs, adventures, and stories. But Lann knew enough to not trust a man too much, lest he stabs you back years later. Though he felt comfortable enough to joke with the 'bard'.

"Bitch I'm way older than you. And what ambitions of men? If it weren't for this fucked up world, most sixteen-year-old kids like you would only be thinking of getting their dick wet." Jaskier seemed to be reminiscing about something.

"Also I'm a bard! In the future, this is going to be a fuckin famous job! Every king and the noble houses would want people like me to entertain them with songs!" He gave his impassioned speech.

Lann looked back at Jaskier, a light of pity visible in his eyes, "So you're a jester who only sings?"

Jaskier was dumbfounded if his expression was any indication. "That's why kids need proper schooling. Or they don't even respect their elders." He mumbled under his breath and continued to walk.

***************************

It had been a moon since he left the Reach and Lann was finally at his destination. Unlike what he had seen around the mostly barren hills, the area beyond seemed to be quite fertile and full of life.

He could also spot a tall rocky hill with many manmade structures strewn about on it. The Casterly Rock, he had heard about the place from the different tribes and villages around the hills during the travel here.

A seat of power high above the tall castle built on the rocky mountain, overlooking vast lands and seas under one's rule. Now that's a dream a man should have, not the bullshit about going around singing for people in hopes of getting something to eat that day.

"I've seen that look. A dangerous one, of greed and longing, regardless of costs. Many men have burned in the fire of greed, of wanting more than what they already have. Empires have burned and left nothing but shadows, burning themselves away in greed."

Lann was taken aback by the seriousness and gravity in the bard's voice. Looking at his very ordinary yet mysteriously entrancing face, Lann caught a trace of nostalgia and helplessness in the bard's eyes.

He could tell that this was genuine advice given to him with much sincerity. Turning to his side to look at the bard one, he looked forward at the Casterly Rock and the setting sun behind it.

The shining soft light and the cool breeze blew through Lann's long golden blonde hair, making it seem like a lion's mane. He exuded a ruler's or rather a lion's dignity too, although it needed some time to actually develop.

"I will keep that in mind. But this is a path I have chosen when I was merely 5 name days old. I don't want a life of mediocrity, buried by history, I want a legacy that will be sung by bards like you in the far future." Lann spoke after thinking for a moment.

Jaskier looked at the resolved and determined Lann and smiled a wry smile. "That you will little lion, your cubs will shit gold." Mumbling under his breath he chuckled alone while Lann ignored the antics of the strange bard.

"So you are going to take that mountain with the holes borrowed in to dig gold, that they call Casterly Rock for yourself? Quite the ambition you've got." Jaskier strummed his lute as if he found a new song… or maybe a joke.

Lann still looking ahead answered, "Yes, I have thought a lot about it during this time. From what the villagers around the hills have said, that rock is the only known goldmine.

I could either spend my time and effort finding other mines or I could use that time and effort to take over the one well-known and relatively developed mine. And I think I should take chances on finding other mines only when I already have a stable source of wealth."

"You do realize that you are alone right? Sure, you are a rich kid with that gold stash but how are you going to match those ambitions of yours when you lack the strength? You don't plan to go to people's homes and ask them politely to leave, do you?"

Lann's dignified face suddenly scrunched up. The bard would never let him have his moment. He scowled, "It's not something someone as stupid as you need to think about. I will think up my own plans!"

Jaskier smiled, "Your loss. I would've helped if you had asked nicely."

"Helped by making people sleep out of boredom? Or distracting them? That one might actually work though." Lann teased the bard.

Jaskier gave a mysterious smile and answered, "I could do both of those and more, but that'll have to wait for when your plan succeeds. I'll just observe from the sides."

******************

{MC POV}

I can see that the little lion doesn't trust me all that much. It is obvious from his amateur attempts at hiding his plots and machinations from me. It has been a month since we came to this place but the kid still maintains distance from me.

But I expected this. The kid may still be young but he is still the ancestor of Tyrion and Tywin after all. If nothing, the clever title isn't wasted on him at least. He uses his mind in the right places, I suppose he is only limited by his life experiences.

After coming to the small village beneath the Casterly Rock aptly named the casterly village, Lann has been going around finding more information while devising his plans.

And what absurd plans he has created. I saw him the other day, bribing servants of the Casterlys with gold to make spooky noises, wail and bang on walls before disappearing from the village the next morning before the sunlight.

"As long as you go to other places beyond the hills and never come back here, you could live a great life with this gold. You can live a life of plenty and luxury as long as you do this." Lann was coaxing a young boy, no more than 15-16 years of age into his plans.

When Lann realized his plans were failing and the servant boy was panicking, he changed gears fast. "Okay, let's do it like this, you tell me everything you know about the Casterly Rock. Every room, every hidden corner, and every secret you know. After that, you will take this gold and run away from the village."

"If I find out you have lied to me or someone else comes to know about this arrangement then believe me when I tell you I'll put tens of times more gold as the bounty on your head." Lann said putting on his best menacing face, which seemed to be working surprisingly well.

If you want it done right, do it yourself. What wise words indeed.

**************************

{Lann POV}

I wanted to bribe some servants to spook away the Casterlys from their rock but that plan spectacularly failed considering the servants' meek natures and my own lack of persuasion. I need to work on being more persuasive and intimidating.

Anyway, I took it upon myself to get the work done so I am trying to get into the Casterly Rock castle, if it can even be called that, through a secret door that the guards often use to go out whoring.

Secretly paying a little gold to the poor, promiscuous women to lower the prices a bit should lure most of the trouble away. It is surprising what you can accomplish with enough gold and whores. Truly, women can be the downfall of many a man.

After waiting for nightfall the next day, I hid by the secret passage the guards use to sneak out of the rock. I waited until the soft noises of the guards sloppily escaping died down. Then I put on the servants' clothes and walked inside the place.

The reality of the massive height of this rock set in when I finally started to climb up. The Casterlys have a ring fort high up the rock so I need to reach there to start my plan.

I really need to do some training to make my body move the way I want it to, I'm still young damn it!

After huffing and getting some air inside my lungs having reached the top of the hidden cleft inside the rock, I started exploring it.

Although the fort is built around and within the rock giving them good defense, they seemed to have not thought of young boys with thinner physiques with a tall stature like myself would be able to sneak around their fort.

I quickly found the Lord and Lady Casterly's room. It's good to be rich, you get to leave the lamp burning through the night. A bang here, a soft shout there, a wail or two mixed in and I run away leaving the confused old couple terrified.

Moving to other places, I peeked at a small opening on a wall made due to natural rock formation splitting up. There, I saw a beautiful sight I could never forget.

In a luxurious room, with many fineries gilded in gold, under the light of the flickering torch, a maiden no more than 20-name days old was lying on the bed, naked. She was writing around while her hands moved around her smooth supple skin.

She moaned in pleasure as she spread her legs and played with herself like I had heard the soldiers back in House Rowan speak of doing. Gods! how I wish the hole in the wall was slightly to the right and I would've been able to see her in all her naked glory.

I waited and watched whom I assumed was the Lord's daughter as she finished and went back to sleep. I have decided, I will come back here often.

The next day, I found out from asking around that Lord Casterly's daughter is called Lyssane and she is only 18 name days old. A bit older than me but I don't mind. Apparently, she is not married because she wants a man who, like the first Casterly, could slay lions.

So, on the agenda, other than my nightly visits to the fort of Casterlys, is me finding some lions. Can you tame them provided that you feed them with enough meat I wonder? I don't think I could slay one but with my wits, I can surely tame one?