Ultimately, Lord Staunton, beaten until his head was bloodied, was carried away for emergency treatment.
If he didn't leave now, he would die here.
Daeron adjusted his mood to welcome another group of people.
"Lord Brynden, we meet again."
Daeron looked him up and down, noticing Brynden's travel-worn appearance, and said, "After the Tourney at Harrenhal ended, I wanted to say goodbye to you, but I didn't expect you to leave a step ahead."
Brynden, leading a dozen Trident Knights, had already been waiting nearby.
Hearing the other's words, he showed no sign of intimidation.
"I had to rush home to tell my brother about the grand occasion."
Brynden had been traveling for days and didn't care about his ragged clothes, half-joking, "Whether it's a trout or a Blackfish, both have a side that cares for the family."
Daeron understood and asked, "Then your coming here, is it by the order of Lord Hoster?"
In fact, he had roughly guessed what the other party intended to do.
Sure enough, Brynden knelt on one knee and solemnly swore, "Prince, I see your ambition. If you do not mind that I am no longer young, I am willing to be at your disposal to sweep away the obstacles along the way."
Behind him, the dozen Trident Knights all knelt down one after another.
Daeron's expression remained unchanged as he pointed out, "I believe in your character and integrity, but if you encounter a strong enemy in the future, will you be restricted by others?"
Tully family was famous for its unity.
He coveted the Blackfish's reputation, but that didn't mean he could tolerate a grain of sand in his eye.
"In the past, I fought for my ideals, for my ideals."
Brynden was unequivocal and said decisively, "From today on, I will fight for you, for the restoration of Targaryen glory!"
Those were beautiful words.
Daeron's heart settled, and he personally stepped forward to help the man up. "Ser, to receive your oath of fealty is my utmost honor."
Brynden did not get up, however, insisting, "Prince, please accept my oath and let me become your guardian knight."
If he was going to do it, he would do it thoroughly, without any hesitation.
Daeron looked at him with newfound respect, drew his obsidian blade, placed it flat on his shoulder, and performed the oath-taking ceremony.
A moment later.
Brynden stood up straight and pointed behind him. "These young men all followed me. If you give them a bite to eat, they will serve you."
Daeron wouldn't take his dark humor literally and actually mistreat this troop of Trident Knights.
The Riverlands, located at the center of the Seven Kingdoms, had always been a land of four wars.
Because it was constantly invaded by various regions, it was considered the weakest of the realms.
In fact, that was incorrect.
The Trident Knights were famous throughout the world and were the most elite troops in the Seven Kingdoms.
Similar to the 'Good Sons' of the Han Dynasty in his past life.
Of clean birth, wealthy families, providing their own horses and equipment, and possessing good moral standards, they were the best source of soldiers.
It was only their geographic location that dragged them down, causing them to always be beaten.
In the Dance of the Dragons, the Riverlands army led by Kermit Tully and Benjicot Blackwood killed anyone and anything in their way, tearing through half the Seven Kingdoms.
According to Brynden's introduction.
These Trident Knights all followed his name and followed him voluntarily.
Among them, several older knights had even participated in the War of the Ninepenny Kings.
There were eighteen in total, nineteen including Brynden.
Daeron beamed with joy and said generously, "Come with me, I want to feast you all."
These weren't nineteen soldiers, but nineteen knights.
In Westeros, every proper knight could lead troops and charge on the battlefield, possessing the ability to hold their own.
"It just so happens I am hungry and thirsty."
Brynden wouldn't be polite and followed him into the Hall of Abundance.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
The Blackfish wouldn't let himself go hungry.
Barristan showed a look of joy and said, "Ser Brynden, we can fight side by side again in the future."
"Yes, Barristan the Bold."
Brynden took a look at him, feeling a bit indifferent.
Both being legendary knights, the two had chosen different paths.
He looked down upon the various constraints of the Kingsguard.
—
King's Landing.
Red Keep, Small Council Chamber.
Bang!
Aerys slammed the table hard and roared, "That damned unfilial son, he stole my dragon, my dragon!"
The ministers sat upright.
Varys frowned, falling into deep distress.
Just now, the severely injured Lord Staunton had been carried back to Red Keep for treatment.
Prince Daeron had shown through facts that he would not be easily deceived.
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
Tywin couldn't bear to watch any longer.
Aerys immediately turned his spearhead. "Tell me, did you conspire with Daeron to let him retreat to his fief and steal my dragon!?"
The veins on Tywin's forehead bulged as he suppressed his anger.
Damned madman!
I told you to name your Second Son as heir as soon as possible, but you refused to listen.
Now that father and son are estranged, you're looking for trouble with me instead.
Do you think I'm made of clay?
Tywin sneered and delivered a precise blow. "Not only has Daeron retreated to his territory, but Prince Rhaegar has also returned to Dragonstone. Both of your sons have chosen to distance themselves from their father."
"How dare you!"
Aerys instantly flew into a rage.
Tywin turned his head away; you can shout if you want.
Aerys's eyes were blood-red, and his breathing was like a bull's.
But he really couldn't do anything to Tywin, and he was even a little afraid.
Seeing that the King couldn't find a way out of the situation.
Lucerys stood up and threw out a document. "My lords, I don't think now is the time to discuss the two princes. Please take a look at these."
Tywin picked one up and read it carefully.
It was intelligence from the Narrow Sea.
Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr had teamed up once again, sending a Tyroshi admiral disguised as a pirate with the intention of occupying the Stepstones, and they were currently fighting other pirates.
Driftmark, Crab Island, and Gulltown all relied on maritime trade.
During the fighting in the Stepstones, they had been affected to varying degrees, and their losses were not low.
Lucerys's expression was grave, and he said in a heavy voice, "Just yesterday, the maritime merchant fleet of House Grafton of Gulltown was plundered. The sailors were brutally murdered, and three ships along with their cargo were completely destroyed."
"Three Daughters?"
Varys was the first to speak in surprise.
Three Daughters, also known as the Triarchy, was composed of the three Free Cities of Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr, and was active around the time of the Dance of the Dragons.
At its peak, it had assisted the Greens in battle and fought the famous "Battle of the Gullet."
The once-prosperous House Velaryon was severely weakened because of that battle.
Lucerys was extremely vigilant. "That's right, Three Daughters is making a comeback."
"What is the reason?"
Tywin frowned and began to take it seriously as well.
House Lannister's rise to wealth relied on two points.
One was the gold mines in the mountains of Casterly Rock.
The second was the tax revenue from Lannisport.
If Three Daughters occupied the Stepstones and choked off the north-south trade of the Narrow Sea, it would also have a significant impact on Lannisport.
Lucerys glanced at the King and said, "The specific reason is unknown. According to surviving sailors, Three Daughters seems to be guarding against dragons."
Dragons! A sensitive topic!
Aerys suddenly looked up and shouted, "Damned pirates, I will gather my troops and go on an expedition to the Stepstones to bring the Stepstones into the Kingdom's territory."
Another great blueprint for his reign.
Qarlton quickly advised, "Your Majesty, there is no need for the Iron Throne to go to war with the Free Cities."
There were precedents for going to war.
Except for the time when the 'Rogue Prince' Daemon Targaryen briefly conquered the Stepstones.
Other than that, they had almost always suffered losses.
The ministers also stopped paying attention to the King's unrealistic shouting and discussed countermeasures among themselves.
Lucerys said, "Three Daughters has a powerful pirate, apparently called the Smiling Knight, who is the one chasing after the merchant ships of Westeros."
"A remnant of the Brotherhood Without Banners, merely lucky to have survived."
Tywin was dismissive.
He wasn't afraid of any so-called pirate or the Smiling Knight; he only worried about Three Daughters's return.
The Free Cities were incredibly powerful.
They had money, the best equipment, and countless mercenaries hungry for gold—
As long as the rulers of the Free Cities were willing to spend money, they could attract countless greedy men to be at their disposal.
Westeros appeared strong, but was actually weak inside.
The noble lords fought their own battles and refused to present a united front against outsiders.
Once Three Daughters completely occupied the Stepstones, trying to drive them out would be harder than taking food from a hyena's mouth.
The meeting lasted for over an hour, but no result was ever discussed.
For no other reason!
Their strength was insufficient to threaten the three Free Cities.
Lucerys was unwilling to give up. "My lords, are we just going to watch Three Daughters occupy the Stepstones and do nothing?"
What else could be done?
Tywin didn't want to discuss it further and stood up, saying, "The news that the Targaryens have dragons again has reached the other side of the Narrow Sea. The Free Cities are wary of dragons, and occupying the Stepstones is a war strategy."
If they wanted to stop it, the only way was to go to war.
Clearly, the Iron Throne did not have the capacity to go to war.
"My lord—"
No matter how Lucerys called out, Tywin turned a deaf ear.
Walking out of the council chamber.
On the way back to the Tower of the Hand, Tywin ran into Barristan.
"Ser Selmy, why have you returned?"
The other man was supposed to be in the Prince's Domain, ordered to protect Daeron.
Barristan would not lie, so he told the unimportant parts. "I have come by the Prince's order to take Princess Shaena and Princess Elia to the Hall of Abundance to attend the Flower Dance Festival."
In reality, it was to take them away, out of the King's sphere of control.
Tywin questioned, "Flower Dance Festival? How have I never heard of it?"
"A festival established by the Prince, said to commemorate the completion of the Hall of Abundance."
Barristan only half-understood it himself.
Tywin pondered for a moment and said, "It just so happens my daughter Cersei is also in Red Keep. Take her along to attend the Flower Dance Festival with the two princesses."
He still held out hope for a marriage alliance.
As the saying goes, if the Prince does not walk toward Lannister, Lannister will walk toward the Prince.
What the young boy and girl lacked was time together.
Barristan hesitated slightly, but to avoid the Hand's suspicion, he agreed.
After a while.
Barristan finished the handover with Ser Gerold, "White Bull," and the two said their goodbyes.
Looking at the back of his Kingsguard brother, Ser Gerold sighed, "I'm the only one left, I'm the only one left."
Seven gods above!
When would a Kingsguard be selected to fill the vacancy, find him a companion, and share the pressure of guarding the King?
At this time, Jaime approached Ser Gerold to ask some questions.
As they talked, Jaime inquired, "Both Barristan and Ser Arthur Dayne have learned the advanced methods of Life Force. You have been protecting His Majesty; have you ever learned it?"
"I have not."
Ser Gerold had a steady temperament and said whatever was on his mind. "However, Ser Arthur wrote to me, saying that when he has time to return to King's Landing, he will teach me the tricks."
"Then—"
Jaime's eyes lit up.
Ser Gerold refused directly. "No, my Kingsguard brothers have warned me that I cannot pass it on to anyone privately."
The conversation ended there.
Jaime remained where he was, looking at Ser Gerold's wall-like, tall and imposing back, as well as the white cloak that symbolized honor, a surge of envy welling up in his heart.
His father was urging him to marry again.
Telling him to marry Duke Hoster's second daughter, Lysa, or else get lost and return to Crakehall to be a squire.
But he didn't want to marry a Tully girl, nor did he want to slink back to where he came from.
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