Jaime's face darkened, almost losing his temper.
If I hand him over to the rightful owner, how can I explain it to Cersei?
"Since the matter has concluded, we won't trouble you further."
Brynden hit the brakes again and asked, "Jaime, are you returning to Riverrun with me?"
Jaime politely declined: "No, Ser."
Daeron silently approved.
As expected of Jaime Lannister, the God of Pure Love.
He's probably planning to ride to King's Landing immediately to visit his sister, Cersei.
Brynden frowned and said, "Lysa has been waiting for you all the time you've been away."
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Miss Lysa's kindness."
Jaime knew exactly what was going on.
If it weren't for the guidance of his idol, "Blackfish" Brynden, he wouldn't have bothered with that big-chested, brainless Tully girl.
Hearing this, Brynden sighed inwardly.
He had noticed early on that this lad's heart wasn't with his niece, Lysa.
Then there was nothing more to talk about.
Before he, as the uncle, could say anything more, someone else couldn't hold back.
Brandon said displeased, "Lysa has waited for you for so long. Even if you don't fancy her, you should go back and say a proper goodbye."
He quite liked that big bear girl.
Unfortunately, she was his fiancée's sister.
Jaime glanced sideways, disdainfully saying, "I thought it was someone important; turns out it's you, my defeated opponent."
"Lad, you were just lucky that one time."
Brandon's face turned gloomy.
Jaime: "Even if I gave you ten more years, you still wouldn't catch up to me."
What a good show.
Daeron stroked his chin.
From their back-and-forth, he understood the cause of the matter.
Not long ago, Brandon went to Riverrun to visit his fiancée and encountered Jaime, who was honing his swordsmanship with "Blackfish" Brynden.
The Lion and the Direwolf clashed upon meeting.
Evidently, Jaime was the ultimate victor.
He was only 14, four years younger than Brandon, yet he had already grasped Life Force, combined with his tricky and ruthless swordsmanship, his strength was acknowledged even by the veteran Brynden.
Brandon was inferior in skill and hadn't mastered Life Force.
He was easily unhorsed, losing face in front of his fiancée's family.
This was completely unacceptable to the proud and arrogant Brandon.
"This time it might not be the same, lad!"
Facing his opponent's contempt, Brandon clenched his fists, exuding a wild aura.
Life Force!
Daeron looked sideways, thinking, 'No wonder he dares to challenge again; he came prepared.'
"Then I'll play with you."
Jaime became interested.
However, before the two could fight, Count Walder stopped them.
"Hmph," Jaime pouted.
Daeron's thoughts stirred, and he spoke, "I hear that the eldest son and eldest daughter of the Stark and Tully families are betrothed. When will the wedding take place?"
Brynden replied, "In two more years, when my niece Catelyn turns 18."
"I see."
Daeron said, "Oh."
Counting from the time of their first menses, noblewomen usually marry at 13-14, occasionally staying until 16 if they haven't found a suitable match.
Catelyn is already 16, yet she still has to wait two more years.
Is Duke Hoster hesitant about joining the four kingdoms alliance?
Or does he look down on the impoverished North and wants his daughter to enjoy two more years at home?
Most likely the former.
Daeron had a clear idea in his mind and smiled, "Tully and Stark are both pillars of the Seven Kingdoms. With the assistance of these two great houses, the kingdom will surely grow stronger."
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling person.
Upon hearing this, Brandon patted his chest and said, "My father guards the North precisely for the prosperity of the Seven Kingdoms."
He said so, but felt a little uncertain in his heart.
the four kingdoms alliance, its intentions were unclear.
As the eldest son of House Stark, he knew exactly what it was for.
To conspire together and resist the Mad King.
Even his trip south this time wasn't to visit his fiancée, but to the The Eyrie in the Vale to deliver a letter to Lord Arryn.
The Tourney at Harrenhal was set for next year.
The four houses discussed supporting Crown Prince Rhaegar at the tourney, to enthrone him and replace the Mad King's rule.
Once Rhaegar ascended, the four houses would advance and retreat together, striving for more benefits.
Daeron: "I know."
But these words, heard by others, carried a deeper meaning.
Jaime noticed something was amiss.
It was well known that House Rivers was a staunch loyalist of Crown Prince Rhaegar.
Why would Daeron be here?
Previously, the King favored his Second Son, Daeron, who only posed a certain threat to Rhaegar's succession.
But after the young dragon's birth, the situation took a turn.
In the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms' lords, Daeron and Rhaegar were rivals, destined to be at odds.
"Has House Rivers defected?"
Jaime boldly speculated.
People always thought he was a brute who only understood force, but that was not true.
The most fair assessment of him should be a contemporary veteran general.
To earn that title, one must possess both supreme wisdom and supreme martial prowess.
It's just that his martial prowess was too high.
Usually, when he encountered a problem, his supreme wisdom would tell him it was time to use his supreme martial prowess.
Just as Brandon was bewildered.
Brynden secretly rolled his eyes, seriously doubting his brother Hoster's judgment.
"Wild Wolf" Brandon had a considerable reputation but was a complete brute.
The mutual communication between the four regional dukes was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Brandon still thought Prince Daeron was merely being polite to him; what an idiot.
"We're going back."
Brynden didn't want to stay a moment longer and bid farewell.
Daeron rose to see them off.
Walking to the front yard, two young dragons were sharing a goat.
"You have created a miracle."
Even with Brynden's cold, stony heart, he couldn't help but stop and watch.
After seeing them off at the city gate.
Daeron pondered for a long time, then asked, "Ser, you said a fish can eat its fill on the lake surface, so why does it drill into the mud deeper underwater?"
Brynden thought for a while.
Then, he gave an answer: "When winter comes, to survive, fish can only keep drilling deeper underwater, looking for a bite to eat."
"What about when the sun rises?"
"Two?"
Brynden's words were sharp, just like his hawk-like eyes.
Daeron was startled, then smiled, "Ser, it was a pleasure talking to you."
"My pleasure."
Brynden led his warhorse, making a dark humorous joke: "I know the special crops Lord Owen sells come from your hands. I bought one at a high price. If there are any more special crops of similar quality, please do me a favor."
"No problem."
Daeron readily agreed.
Soon, the group rode away.
Daeron remained in place, pondering the content of the other party's last sentence.
He took out thirty sweet melons and auctioned and sold them in the Riverlands, Westerlands, and Crownlands respectively.
Ten sweet melons in the Riverlands.
Three were sold at a low price to Count Tywys, three to Tully family, and the rest were sold individually to House Bracken, Frey... and other families.
He remembered Count Owen saying that three were sold to Tully family.
According to Brynden, he purchased one sweet melon separately.
"So, Duke Hoster bought two sweet melons and didn't share them with his brother?"
Daeron grasped the key point.
Brynden would certainly not lie.
That proved there were divisions within Tully family.
Just as he and Rhaegar had a competitive relationship, Duke Hoster and his brother Brynden were also not harmonious.
He remembered.
Brynden participated in the War of the Ninepenny Kings precisely because he didn't want to be commanded by his brother and wanted to earn his own fortune.
Later, he accompanied his niece Lysa to the Vale and served as the Knight of the Bloody Gate.
He didn't not love his brother or disregard his family.
On the contrary, Brynden always upheld the family motto.
Tully family's motto: "Family, Duty, Honor!"
In the later "War of the Five Kings," Brynden, even at an old age, was still fighting valiantly.
"With divisions, one can proceed slowly."
Daeron's vision was far-reaching.
Even a nest of trout has internal strife, let alone the coexistence of the Eagle, Deer, Wolf, and Fish.
The wavering Tully family was the biggest flaw in the four kingdoms alliance.
Daeron mused, "'Blackfish' Brynden might be a good start.