House Lannister Golden is their hair, and golden is the wealth they mine from the Westerlands. The power and influence of the Lannisters cannot be overstated. It is as much a threat as a promise for Lannisters to say that they always pay their debts. Fealty provides great returns, and loyalty is richly rewarded. Rebellion and insubordination is destroyed root and stem, as the Reynes of Castamere could attest if any were left alive. No one doubts Lannister subtlety, for this is the family whose ancestor Lann the Clever used only his wits to gain the stronghold of Casterly Rock and stole gold from the sun to adorn his hair. Loyal Lannister vassals know how to wield their gold to good effect. They cannot, perhaps, ever be quite as rich as a Lannister, but their liege lords do not begrudge the effort. Deep pockets full of gold, and the backing of a lion of the west, goes a long way to security among the merchants of the world—and in the shifting allegiance...