A small, weary contingent slowly approached the Lions Den.
Their clothes were tattered, and a drained, haggard look hung on every face.
Lucien, on horseback, narrowed his eyes. He initially thought they were just more refugees who had somehow ended up here and was about to question them when he saw the figure at the front of the group stumble, almost falling.
He lifted his head, a face etched with fatigue and exhaustion exposed to the sunlight.
Lucien's pupils contracted sharply, and he cried out in alarm, his voice a mix of shock and wild joy: "Barna?!"
He then dismounted, rushed forward, and firmly supported the tottering Bethen.
Inside the Lions Den's council hall, Arthur was using a thin wooden stick to outline town plans on a sandbox, while Evelyn stood to one side, listening intently.
Just then, the main doors were pushed open from outside by a guard.
Lucien entered, half-supporting someone, and began speaking: "Lord Arthur!"
Arthur looked up, his gaze falling upon the man who exuded an air of decline, a mere skeleton of his former self.
He paused slightly, then put down the wooden stick. He had already considered the worst-case scenario for Bethen.
Encountering natural disasters on the road, being robbed by bandits—the possibility of him returning alive was almost nil in his mind.
Arthur didn't ask about the mission first but turned to Evelyn beside him: "Go, fetch water, food, and clothes for my treasurer. Make sure they are warm."
Evelyn said nothing, bowing respectfully before leaving.
Arthur walked up to Barna, looking at his cracked lips and sunken eyes, and slowly said: "Welcome home, Barna."
"First, drink some water, eat something, change into clean clothes, and then tell me everything slowly."
These simple words were like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of Barna's emotions, which had been tightly constrained for months. His eyes reddened instantly, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word to such a benevolent lord.
Food and water were quickly brought. Barna, like a starved ghost reborn, ravenously devoured a large piece of bread and a bowl of hot soup. Only when a long-absent warmth spread through his stomach did he finally catch his breath.
Barna suddenly pulled out something tightly wrapped in cloth from his bosom and presented it with both hands. Arthur took it, puzzled, not knowing its meaning.
His eyes instantly turned red, his voice hoarse, as he slowly spoke: "I have failed you, Lord Arthur!"
"The mission... the mission went a little wrong, but this is the letter from the Frey Family!"
Barna lowered his head, his voice filled with remorse.
"I was captured by the Frey Family."
"They kept me in a dungeon until they released me not long ago."
Arthur asked: "What did they want?"
From his experience in Willow Wood City, he, like a black fish, had stirred up their interests along the Kings Road's supply chain. The Frey Family had been involved and instigated it from behind the scenes. However, the Frey Family was no easy opponent in the Riverlands, whether in economic or military strength.
But what no one expected was that he would be able to establish a firm foothold on the Kings Road.
The hall was silent, with only the crackling of burning wood in the fireplace. No one urged him, quietly waiting for Barna's account. Barna looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present with complex emotions, finally settling on Arthur's face.
He swallowed with difficulty: "They said... they want to offer you a great opportunity, my Lord."
"Lord Wade Frey of Li River City is willing to marry one of his daughters, or granddaughters, to you, to intertwine your family's bloodline with the Frey Family's."
At these words, Evelyn's face, standing nearby, changed, and she looked at Arthur.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing gravity in the other's eyes. It was undoubtedly a political marriage, and one that would be very difficult to refuse.
Arthur fell silent. He controlled the Kings Road, the main artery for north-south trade, and the Frey Family had prospered by collecting tolls. They were the ones who most desired the safety and stability of the road, free from disruption. From all angles, this marriage was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
However, once he accepted this marriage, it would mean binding his interests with the Frey Family. Knowing the subsequent historical developments, would he lose more than he gained? The House Tully certainly wouldn't want the Kings Road, this major trade route, to become a monolithic entity. And how the Daedings Family would view it was also hard to say.
Most importantly, the women of the Frey Family were truly ugly. He had never seen a face that could be described as resembling a weasel.
Seeing Lord Arthur lost in thought, Barna swallowed and continued: "Lord Wade Frey also said..."
"Soon, they will send an official delegation to the Lions Den to discuss the specific details of this wedding with you."
Arthur's expression remained unchanged, ready to meet whatever came his way.
He simply listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the Frey Family's letter, which made it impossible for anyone present to guess his thoughts:
"And what else?"
Barna's expression became a bit strange. He instinctively lowered his voice, as if revealing a great secret:
"Lord Arthur, on the road, I met a mercenary who claimed to be hired by you."
"His name is Bronn."
Arthur looked at Lucien: "I almost forgot that bastard who ran off with the money. Issue a warrant for his arrest, a hundred gold dragons."
Barna quickly waved his hand: "No, no, my Lord."
"Lord Arthur, Bronn... he didn't not want to come back. He got into a huge mess."
He sighed. Although Barna had abandoned them in Li River City, he had indeed saved their lives outside Seaguard.
"When I was on the road, I overheard his mercenary friends inadvertently mention it while chatting..."
Barna leaned in closer, his voice low and hoarse.
"He seems to have... ambushed a caravan on the road."
Arthur was stunned. This certainly fit Bronn's style; he probably wanted to earn extra money: "But what does that have to do with him not being able to return?"
Barna's voice dropped even lower: "My Lord, the people who died were different..."
"In the caravan, a great noble from the Westerlands died! The Lannister Family has sent people secretly hunting him everywhere!"
"They originally had over a hundred mercenaries, but by the time they met us, they had been hunted down until only a few people were left."
Arthur: "
The word 'Lannister Family' made Evelyn involuntarily tremble, and even Lucien felt a bit unsteady. The Lannister Family's vengeful nature was known throughout the Seven Kingdoms. From nobles to commoners, everyone in every corner of the streets and alleys eagerly recounted their tales of revenge.
Compared to their house words, "Hear Me Roar," "A Lannister always pays his debts" was even more famous among the common people.
Arthur's brow finally furrowed slightly, no longer calm. Damn it, this shouldn't get him involved, should it?
Did the Lannister Family know he was Bronn's employer? If they knew, should he now issue a warrant for Bronn's arrest to distance himself? Or maybe they didn't know, and wouldn't that be an admission of guilt then...?
That bastard! You better not let me catch you!
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