The battle was over, lasting only a few short minutes from start to finish.
Seven or eight disfigured corpses lay on the ground, and the strong smell of blood and dismembered limbs made Barna and some of the commoners, who had been cheering on the warriors around them, gag continuously.
Bronn's four companions skillfully searched the bodies for money bags and any valuable items, while Bronn walked to the cart full of goods, picked up a damaged chainmail with his sword tip, looked at it, and then threw it away in disgust.
Barna's thoughts snapped back from his memories. Barna looked at Bronn beside him, swallowing, still feeling a surge of fear and disbelief. It was too difficult to be born in Westeros.
It was terrifying. He watched with his own eyes as this man and his four brothers used cruel and brutal methods to torture Sir Guy, extracting information about his property, which was held by his mistress and ex-wife. Then they killed Sir Guy, infiltrated Seaguard, killed his ex-wife, and made off with all the money.
Barna softly answered Bronn's previous question: "Yes!"
"It was just for this scrap metal."
He touched a dented helmet on the cart, a smile on his face. No matter what, he had successfully completed the task Lord Arthur had given him, and that was enough!
Everything was back on track, his life had restarted, and the woman who had run off with the money had paid the price.
His remaining life should be dedicated to serving Lord Arthur until his death.
In the distance, the outline of Lions Den Valley, though not yet visible, was already appearing in his sight.
Suddenly, a rider galloped up, and Barna felt a great sense of foreboding.
"We must change course, Lord Barna!" The rider panted, handing over a piece of paper.
Barna quickly took it, unfolded it to read, and his brows furrowed deeply.
"What's going on?" Bronn sat on the trailer, raising an eyebrow and looking strangely at Barna, who stood upright beside him.
Barna sighed deeply and handed the parchment in his hand to Bronn. "No! Are you an idiot! Do I look like I can read!" Bronn cursed, "Read it to me!!"
Barna took back the parchment and, embarrassed, read it word by word:
"A Letter to the Lords of the Riverlands."
"I, Arthur, Lord of Vicon Gorge, Vassal of Daedings Family, swear by the Seven Gods, with a profound appreciation for peace and reverence for honor, do hereby write this declaration."
"Previously, wildlings from the Brightmoon Mountains rampaged, invading the lands of the Riverlands and endangering the peace under Riverrun's rule. I led my farmers in the Battle of Weeping River Valley, severely defeating the High Mountain Clan, lifting the siege of Deep Valley City, and winning continuous victories, forcing the wildlings to retreat far away, thus restoring peace and tranquility to the Riverlands."
"Thereafter, I led my people to build a fortress in this ownerless, desolate, and poor valley, reclaiming land, and constructing fortifications, aiming to become the first line of defense protecting the Riverlands and resisting further wildling incursions. All my efforts are for the stability of the Riverlands, and for safeguarding the peaceful rule protected by Tully."
"However, peace and goodwill have not earned the respect of my neighbors. Lord Roger Legge of Willow Wood City, harbored unjust greed for my sacred fiefdom and acted basely."
"His crimes are threefold!"
"Crime One: Incitement to Conspiracy! Alliance with Thieves! House Legge has abandoned the honor of nobility, secretly contacting mountain bandits, promising them money and weapons, and inciting these scoundrels to attack my territory and kill my people, intending to create chaos. This act is no different from that of a bandit, truly a disgrace to nobility."
"Crime Two: Treacherous Assault! Undeclared War! After their plot was exposed and their messenger captured, House Legge, far from showing restraint, still occupied my land with their soldiers. This is a blatant trampling of a lord's sacred land rights, an act of undeclared war by a coward."
"Crime Three: Corrupting Morals! Endangering the Seven Kingdoms! The actions of House Legge have set a terrible precedent of using conspiracy and bandits as tools to encroach upon friendly neighbors. If this trend is not curbed, then my fate today will be the fate of any law-abiding lord in the Seven Kingdoms tomorrow."
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