The Lion's Claws was impressive, with its red hull and double decks that would allow for two hundred oarsmen to man it. It was far from the largest ship in the Seven Kingdoms, that galley belonged to the Hightowers with the Honor Of Oldtown, which was rumored to have four decks and had twice as many oarsmen as the Lion's Claws. Still, even half the size of the Honor Of Oldtown, the Lion's Claw would still be the finest war galley in the Sunset Sea, ready and able to smash any raiders and deter any pirates and Ironborn from attacking Lannister tradeships.

"Lord Tywin will be pleased." Dramen said evenly, running a delicate hand on one of the railings, admiring the craftsmanship put into it. His green eyes remained focused on the scorpions and catapult that could easily send any enemies of the Lannisters to one of the seven hells.

"She's a fine ship, my Lord." Ser Royce Lanny, the new captain of the latest addition to the Lannisport fleet, boasted. He'd have command of Lord Tywin's flagship until another was chosen by their liege lord. A veteran of the seas, Ser Royce was one of the most loyal and dedicated sailors in service to Lord Tywin. He was wearing a shirt of heavy chain over boiled leather, his half-helm in his arms.

"The finest this side of Westeros, Lord Lannister." Lysonos bragged. "The Lion's Claws is the fastest ship in the Sunset Sea, being able to outpace even the fastest longboat." It was a bit of a brag, but not too big of one. Speed was crucial, yes, but it alone did not win battles.

Their assurances and boasts meant nothing if Lord Tywin was not pleased. At the very least, the Lion's Claws was a beautiful ship, from the figurehead of a roaring lion, down to the smallest details in the captain's cabin with the decorations on the wall, lions made out of gold. Dramen drummed his fingers against the railing, pressing his lips together in thought for a few seconds before deciding to speak. "Ser Larys."

"Yes, my Lord?" His trusted knight took a step forward, his cloak tossing and turning from the sea wind.

"I charge you with delivering the final payment to the Harbormaster, once we return to the Gold Keep." A Lannister always paid their debts, and Lysonos did some fine work. Plus, best to keep him working for them, and not say, the Tyrells or Dragonstone. Lord Stannis had taken most of the best shipbuilders in Westeros to build his Royal Fleet.

"As you command, my Lord." Ser Larys bowed his head before taking a few steps back. He was a good man, trustworthy, competent and skilled with a sword.

Dramen extended his arm in the direction of the fat Tyroshi, the smell from his expensive perfume mixing with the salt-air. It was a horrid combination. "I hope to conduct more business with you in the future, Master Lysonos."

"Of course, my Lord!" Lysonos grabbed his hand with both of his own, his skin soft without a single callous, fleshy and large. "House Lannister's fleet shall be made out of the finest galleys and cogs!" They better be, Lord Tywin and Dramen were spending a fortune on just hiring shipwrights. And Dramen had no doubt that the Tyroshi would remain loyal as long as he filled his pocket with coins, and the promise of a potential lordship.

Not that Lord Tywin would ever raise an Essoi to lordship like his father Tytos before him, but the existence of House Spicer brought many merchants from the Free Cities, all who hoped to catch the eye of the Old Lion. All that did was enrich Dramen's own pockets.

"Good." Dramen's smirk was well hidden beneath his neatly trimmed beard. He released his grip on the Tyroshi's hand. "I shall send Lord Tywin your regards."

"Wonderful! Now I have a nice bottle of Arbor Red sitting in my office. I would be honored if I would be able to serve you a drink, my Lord." Lysonos' smile extended to his red cheeks, hidden by his colorful beard.

Dramen's eyes briefly drifted past the railing, down at Weiss who had her arms wrapped around Lady Lefford's, laughing at some joke that Lady Peckledon likely retorted. Ser Tylan stood close by, but this smile was strained. He glanced in Dramen's direction with wary eyes. Did something happen? That wasn't possible, not with all those guards and knights that he brought along. A dozen red cloaks stood several feet away with Commander Tytos, keeping an eye on all of the workers that kept looking at the three ladies.

"Perhaps on my next visit." Dramen slowly started to talk in the direction of the gangplank, down the stairs. The two knights and the Tyroshi followed without a word "I promised my daughter that I would take her to buy apple and lemon cakes."

"Such a dutiful Father." Lysonos bowed his head slightly. "I shall save the Red for your next visit, My Lord, and prepare desserts for your daughter and her companions."

"You're too kind." Dramen said dryly, disembarking from the Lion's Claws with Ser Larys right behind him. He reached the walkway in a few seconds, passing crewmen as he did so. The wooden plank dipped beneath him as he and his escorts left the ship, and he returned to solid land once more.

"My Lord." Ser Tylan placed a fist over his chest while Weiss and her friends curtseyed. Good, they still remembered their manners, especially in public.

"Lord Lannister." Alysanne Lefford and Alis Peckedon said, their hair ruffled by the sea wind and salty air. Good girls, and got along with his Weiss just fine. Every child needed some friends, but you couldn't just grab people roughly the same age and class and shove them together. One had to be selective, a task which he delegated to his lady wife, and she delivered magnificently. Lady Lefford was the heiress to the Golden Tooth, one of Lord Tywin's most powerful bannermen. And Lady Peckledon was from a knightly house, the honor of being Weiss' companion would ensure their loyalty.

"Father." Weiss gave him a small smile, looking every bit a lady. She was still young, and had much to learn, yet she seemed brighter than most girls her age. Should Ceria not give him a son, Weiss would be a worthy successor. "The Lion's Claw is such a magnificent ship, just being in its presence makes me feel at ease."

"I'm glad." Dramen gave the double decked war galley one last look. "We shall pass by the Street of Bread on our way to the Gold Keep." That caused the eyes of all three ladies to light up.

"Ser Larys will escort you to the wheelhouse." He gave Ser Tylan a brief glance. "I have something to discuss with Ser Tylan before we depart."

It better be important.

With half a dozen red cloaks in between himself and the ladies, Ser Tylan walked a pace behind Dramen. He was an old knight, one that had been in service of the Lannisters of Lannisport since the days of Dramen's own Father.

"What has you worried, old man?" Dramen kept his eyes focused ahead, catching glimpses of hair so blonde that it appeared white in between armored red cloaks. Weiss' hair and eyes may have been Velayron, but her face and nose screamed Lannister. He didn't seem to mind being away from Weiss, so it wasn't a direct threat, nor was it urgent enough that he would order them back to the Gold Keep, but it was weighing on his mind.

"Rumors, my Lord." Ser Tylan said gravely. "Sailors and merchants are whispering that they haven't spotted any Ironborn in several moons."

"Unusual." Dramen frowned. It was no secret that Balon Greyjoy, the Lord Reaper of Pyke, had Ironborn longships raid tradeships, from the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Cities. He often complained that his own bannermen refused to follow his commands to reign in piracy. A poor lie, but alas, one that might have some truth to it. A poor leader would find it difficult to wrangle such an unruly mass of subjects, much less ones accustomed to reaving as they wished. "The late Lord Quellon was a squid that wished to walk on land. It's likely that he passed on such teachings to his children."

Dramen was too young to have fought Ironborn raiders personally, Lord Quellon wished to reform his people, and outlawed any raidings of the Westerlands. Whether out of pragmatism or a foolish idealism to attempt to reform their culture, he was uncertain. That didn't stop him from attacking and dying in the Reach near the end of Robert's Rebellion. He knew better than to bring the might of Lord Tywin upon him, unless he wished to be immortalized in song like the Reynes.

"The septons he has expelled from the Iron Islands would say otherwise, my Lord." Ser Tylan grunted respectfully. "I do not trust the squids, nor any who follow their Drowned god."

"I shall speak with Lord Commander Tytos, and have more of the City Watch deployed near the docks and coast." Dramen narrowed his eyes. Without much information to go on, that would have to be his best option. He couldn't deploy too many men, unless he wished to start a panic in the city should this just be what it was, a simple rumor. And setting off a panic in a trade port would make him wish the Greyjoys attacked, in terms of damage to his coin. No, he'd take some precautions, and maybe send a raven to Lord Tywin once he found the truth behind the rumors. While they might not attack Lannisport directly, the rest of the coast was far more open and vulnerable. "If the Seven hear our prayers, those squids are burning their own ships like the Starks of old." Stupid wolves.

Even if the Greyjoys were planning an attack, they would be idiots to target the Westerlands. They were the wealthiest of the kingdoms, in terms of coin, and Lord Tywin's reputation was known from the Wall to Dorne. An attack on the Lannisters would mean an attack on King Robert, who would have to raise his levies to defend his good-family. The deployment of a few more guards from the City Watch should be more than enough.

"Once we have proof I'll inform Lord Tywin, until then, additional men from the City Watch shall suffice." Dramen ended the conversation, receiving a nod from the old knight. They walked in silence until they reached the stone sidewalk of the docks. The red cloaks in front of them parted the moment Dramen increased his pace. Ser Tylan followed him closely but silently. Hopefully it was just Ser Tylan jumping at snarks and grumpkins. A quick prayer to the Seven wouldn't hurt anyone, after all, they were dealing with squids.

It was time to get his sweetling the sweets she desired.

A/N

It's been fun writing this so far. Really happy with how the chapters have been coming out. Regarding the appearance of the rest of RWBY, Night_Stalker and I will be keeping that information close to our chest, but I'd love to see theories or guesses.

Its always fun reading those.