Chapter 6: The Young Men of the Silverblood Manor
Orange Coast.
This vast stretch of land remains territory of Volantis. Though Volantis suffered defeat in the War of the Bleeding Years, she remains a formidable power. At the very least, she still firmly controls an immense expanse of land and wealth.
The Silverblood Manor is located here. It is the Varezes Family's largest estate, and Lord Cleorius generously uses the harvest of these lands to support six thousand valiant Silverblood soldiers.
Of course, it is not solely the produce of this single estate that sustains them. Yet the Silverblood Manor provides the greater portion. The soldiers' families are settled here as well. The Varezes Family has built houses for them and distributes wages and provisions punctually.
This is also a crucial reason for the Silverblood soldiers' formidable strength in battle.
At this moment, within the central courtyard of the manor, several youths trained diligently beneath the sharp commands of a eunuch warrior.
In addition to the Silverblood soldiers, the Varezes Family also commands a considerable number of Unsullied. These eunuch warriors, bred and trained in the cities of New Ghis in Slaver's Bay, are utterly disciplined and loyal, renowned across the world as the most steadfast heavy infantry.
Within the Varezes Family, after Cleorius's reforms, these Unsullied were freed from their slave shackles and cast aside the degrading names once given by their former masters.
The finest among them became instructors of spear and discipline for the Silverblood soldiers and even for Dragonzel's retainers.
Just as the young eunuch warrior standing at the center of the courtyard.
Silver Scorpion hails from Astapor, the Ghiscari city famed throughout the known world for breeding and training the Unsullied. Slave masters selected strong young boys and subjected them to merciless training. The boys were fully gelded and forced to drink the wine of courage. Over long years, they were stripped of fear and individuality, forged into living steel.
Warriors shaped thus, provided the buyer is willing to purchase a complete unit and equip them with heavy armor and long spears, can stand firm even against charging heavy cavalry until the last man falls — though whether they prevail is another matter.
Silver Scorpion, clad in a silver-white breastplate and a helm crested with silver spikes, leaned upon a six-foot iron spear, silently observing the youths in the courtyard as they practiced with wooden spears, sweat pouring from their bodies.
The leading youth was near Dragonzel's age, and their appearances were eight or nine parts alike. The difference lay in the youth's neat silver short hair and his bluish-violet eyes.
Compared to his twin brother Dragonzel, Valarr Varezes stood slightly taller, his build more solid. Though still young, his bare upper body already bore well-defined muscle.
The cast-iron spear struck the training straw dummy like lightning. Valarr withdrew the weapon and accepted a silk cloth from the black-haired youth who had just finished his own drill, wiping the sweat from his body.
"Hofa, any news from home?"
The black-haired youth Hofa possessed striking golden eyes. He and his younger brother Adams came from distant Westeros. Lysene pirate ships captured the brothers during their raids, and Dragonzel's warship rescued them.
In truth, during that campaign, Dragonzel alone saved thousands of young men and women from Lysene slavers. Some were returned to their homes, while others remained under the protection of the Varezes Family.
Hofa, Adams, Sebastian Jieyan, and Amos Fezerel all remained with the family in this way.
"The Lord has returned to the family," Hofa said as he carefully wiped away dirt and sweat. "Amos, Sebastian, and Ago have already arrived at the manor and are organizing the Silverblood soldiers to regroup with several commanders."
"Regroup?" Valarr recalled the instructions Dragonzel had given before sending him to the Silverblood Manor. "Brother has finally decided to march toward Valyria." The youth's voice carried unmistakable excitement.
Hofa nodded.
"Adams has already led one thousand two hundred Silverblood soldiers with Aslan Longdel to the family's controlled harbor and shipyard. The next force will be Sebastian and Gonsor Fire-Bringer. They will lead three thousand Silverblood soldiers and one thousand five hundred Unsullied to follow Aslan's contingent."
"What about us?"
"We are the third force."
"Ah?"
Valarr showed a trace of displeasure. "I thought we would be the first."
Hofa shook his head. "We are responsible for the final contingent of elites, and for misleading those in Volantis who harbor ulterior motives."
Valarr frowned slightly, not fully grasping Hofa's meaning.
"Young Master, you are the Lord's twin brother. As long as you remain here, neither the Tiger Party nor the Elephant Party will suspect what the Lord truly intends."
"Understood." Valarr did not dwell overlong on the subtleties of politics. He only knew that if he remained here and caused no disturbance, he would not hinder his brother's design. "Hofa, spar with me on horseback."
Hofa glanced at Silver Scorpion, who had remained silent throughout.
The eunuch warrior gave a short nod, signaling for the grooms to bring the horses.
The courtyard was vast enough to allow a proper cavalry charge.
Attendants fitted Valarr and Hofa with protective gear and handed them lances.
"I must admit, Andal heavy cavalry is indeed formidable," Silver Scorpion observed as the two youths, fully armored and armed with lances, advanced toward one another at a measured pace.
"Facing a charge of one thousand Andal knights, perhaps only several times their number of heavily armored Unsullied could hope to withstand it."
The warhorses accelerated.
"Thud!"
The lance shattered.
Valarr pressed his heels into his horse's flank, seized a fresh lance, while Hofa swayed but did not fall, accepting another from an attendant.
Second charge.
Valarr was struck squarely in the chest by Hofa's lance.
The shaft splintered, yet Valarr merely rocked in the saddle.
Third charge.
This time Hofa was struck in the chest and abdomen. The black-haired youth nearly tumbled from his horse.
Barely, he remained mounted.
"Well struck." Valarr's strength was immense; a twelve-foot lance seemed little more than a toy in his hands.
Fourth charge.
Both youths struck each other in the chest almost simultaneously.
The lances shattered.
This time only one remained mounted.
Valarr guided his horse in two circles around Hofa, who lay sprawled upon the ground, then dismounted with a grin and pulled him upright with one hand.
"I have heard that in your homeland, the nobility delights greatly in such contests."
Hofa spat repeatedly, clearing dirt from his mouth.
"Mm." His gaze dimmed briefly. "In my village, the landed knight would even force villagers to pay coin to enter the great lord's tourney. He loved to gamble. He would lose his warhorse and armor, then return to demand more coin. And when the Lysenes attacked, he demanded men. My father died to Lysene blades."
"Adams told me," Valarr replied, clenching his jaw. "But each time I hear it, I think that knight from your homeland was worthless."
"That is why we are grateful to the Lord and to the Old Master," Hofa said. "Here, none fear hunger. None fear being seized by Lysenes or Ironborn. None fear lacking salt or medicine."
Valarr suddenly asked, "Hofa, if you returned to Westeros now, would you still fear that knight?"
Hofa smiled.
"How could I? I could defeat ten such men. On horseback, I would even dare challenge a crowned stag knight."
"Crowned stag?"
"The overlord of that knight's overlord bears a crowned stag upon his banners. They dwell in a great castle with a towering round keep." Hofa gestured broadly. "Their banners show a crowned stag."
Valarr searched his memory.
Then he abandoned the effort.
"Haha, Hofa, I believe one day you will defeat ten such knights — and even challenge that great lord."
Hofa scratched his head sheepishly.
At that moment, a man clad in Silverblood livery hurried into the courtyard. He glanced about, then advanced quickly and offered a formal salute before Valarr.
"My Lord, a letter has arrived for you."
Valarr regarded him in confusion.
"A letter for me? From the Black Wall Varezes residence?"
Silver Scorpion's gaze sharpened from the side.
Suddenly he barked, "State your name. Do not approach the Young Master."
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