Silence fell over the inner keep as Arthur's words faded.
The air seemed to solidify, and even the flicker of the torches slowed. Brynden Tully whirled towards Roger Lygg, his voice deep and forceful: "No!"
"Neither of you can die!"
"You can each appoint a Knight! To fight as your proxy! This aligns with noble tradition! And it aligns with the laws of the Seven Kingdoms!"
He futilely tried to salvage the situation.
Roger Lygg let out a beastly roar, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Arthur: "He has already agreed!"
"Just him and me! To the death!"
Brin turned to Arthur, his voice very low, pleading: "You are a Lord, you should not risk yourself, my Lord."
"Let me do it!"
Lucien stood by silently, just grinning. He had personally witnessed Lord Arthur's swordsmanship.
Olivier, on the other hand, was full of anxiety, almost grabbing Arthur's other hand: "My Lord, there is absolutely no need for this. Why take such a risk?"
Arthur looked at him with a smile, his eyes calm: "Haven't you always wanted me to be like a true noble?"
He countered Olivier.
"Can a noble of the Seven Kingdoms refuse someone's trial by combat?"
Olivier showed a bitter smile: "But I also don't want any harm to come to you, my Lord."
Arthur merely smiled, no longer explaining.
Who are you looking down on, he thought, recalling the days of sword practice with Bronn during previous campaigns, from an initial even match to even subtly gaining the upper hand before Bronn left.
His mastery of his body far surpassed ordinary people, and his swordsmanship was so agile it was superb, able to fight Bronn, he could also be considered a top swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms.
What's more, this fat man in front of him, his son died, his heart also died, he was merely a body with decaying vitality, forcibly propped up by anger.
On the other side, Blackfish and Robin Lygg huddled together, also talking in low voices, trying to turn the situation around. Arthur didn't look like a warrior at all, and they both believed he was doomed to lose.
A complex emotion flashed in Robin Lygg's eyes. He served Riverrun and would serve for life. If he had to choose between his family and the House Tully, he would choose the House Tully, and there wasn't much to criticize about the young man in front of him.
Robin Lygg looked at Blackfish and whispered: "He is too young, he hasn't even received formal Knight training."
"Although Roger is old, he has, after all, undergone combat training from squire to Knight. This trial by combat cannot happen."
Brynden nodded, his gaze scrutinizing Arthur's slender figure, not strong, not tall, never having been a squire. No matter how he looked at him, he didn't resemble a warrior.
A Knight from Riverrun seemed to recall something and whispered into Brynden and Robin's ears.
"Lord Blackfish, when I was in Seaguard, I heard from Dairycaster soldiers that…:
Brynden and Robin's eyes widened, and they shifted their gaze, trying to re-examine Arthur.
Arthur drew his sword, looked at the soldiers surrounding him, and gave orders: "Prepare the best armor and weapons for our Lord Roger Lygg."
"Let him rest well for a night and eat a full meal."
This order left both Brynden and Robin Lygg in silence, such grace.
The soldiers in the inner keep were also discussing animatedly.
"Is our Lord really going to fight himself?"
"Too risky!"
"Yeah, our Lord doesn't look like he can fight at all."
"I've never seen our Lord practice swordsmanship."
"Can our Lord even wear armor?"
Those veterans who had followed Arthur all the way from the battlefield, however, merely quietly wiped their weapons, then put them away,
with a mysterious smile on their faces.
They said nothing, letting Lord Arthur give these youngsters a taste of Lord Arthur's shock.
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