The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

Under the dome of the hall made of crystal, glass and gold, dozens of archbishops in silver robes sat around.

After a long and intense "discussion" throughout the morning, Archbishop Olido, who was supported by the Queen Mother Regent and the Imperial Council, finally won the support of most archbishops.

So far, Olido has firmly secured victory. The next step... all that remains is the final vote, which is only symbolic.

Olido was still blushing and spitting at the competitors before, but now he finally regained his kind and gentle expression, and whispered a few words to the people around him from time to time.

Dong!

The sound of the wooden hammer rang out, and Brother Tobert, the host of the Archbishop election, slowly stood up and said loudly: "Everyone, please vote for the Archbishop under the gaze of the Seven Gods..."

At this moment, dense and hurried footsteps came from far away, and a group of people suddenly rushed into the venue. The one walking in front was a thin old man carried on the shoulders of two people, and the people behind him held up sharp axes.

Suddenly, an archbishop angrily rebuked: "How dare you disturb the election of the archbishop? Come!"

An archbishop shouted in horror: "There should be no weapons in the sacred church!"

The old man in a patched robe came to the archbishops: "...Brothers and sisters call me the Big Sparrow."

…………

In the afternoon, the Hall of Lights in the Baelor Cathedral.

More than 20 archbishops took off their gorgeous coats, put on rough coarse cloth robes and simple sandals, and were kneeling on the ground, scrubbing the floor with buckets and soap.

Many people's hands were worn out due to long-term friction, and blood was flowing, but no one stopped their actions. Next to them...watching them were brown-robed monks with seven-pointed stars on their foreheads and axes in their hands.

The High Sparrow, who was elected as the new Archbishop, was also there, brushing the floor, but he seemed to be praying devoutly.

"Archbishop."

Hearing the call, the High Sparrow stood up with a brush in his hand, and looked at the young visitors with his deep eyes gently: "Pious children, labor is also a form of prayer, especially pleasing to blacksmiths."

A big monk said: "Archbishop, those sinners who blasphemed the Seven Gods have been locked up, and the pious sparrows are watching them confess their sins to the Seven Gods."

The High Sparrow then took a step: "They are not sinners, their souls just temporarily went the wrong way. The Seven Gods are merciful, and the sparrows have the responsibility and obligation to get them back on the right path."

The High Sparrow led many sparrows through the inner door and walked towards the hall step by step. Their footsteps kept echoing on the smooth marble slabs.

In the hall of the sanctuary, colorful rainbow light slanted in from the leaded glass window on the dome, and countless dust danced in the beams.

A dozen raggedy-clad hedge knights knelt before the warriors’ altar, begging the gods to bless the long swords they placed at his feet.

In front of the Virgin’s altar, a monk led hundreds of brown-robed sparrows in prayer, their voices like the waves of the distant sea.

In front of the sculpture of an old woman holding a lantern, Lancel Lannister, with a seven-pointed star tattooed on his forehead, was kneeling on the ground and praying intently.

When the High Sparrow came to him, Lancel’s prayer seemed to have just ended.

Seeing Lancel was about to stand up and salute, the High Sparrow kindly pressed his hand and said affectionately: “When tears turn into faith, you are closest to the Seven Gods. Everyone is your brother or sister. Come, let’s be together, Brother Lancel.”

…………

The sun began to gradually set in the west, and the soft afterglow sprinkled on the Blackwater River Pier.

"The last 100 people today! Hurry up, no one will care if you fall into the water after dark!"

"Line up!"

"Remember, always remember the kindness of Lord Green, it is his incomparable kindness that saves you!"

"Get on board one by one, if you dare to move again, I will deprive you of the opportunity to enter the Kleber territory!"

A woman with hair like dry grass held her son who was almost skinny in her arms. She moved step by step numbly and uneasy. She dared not take her eyes off her husband who had boarded the ship. The same was true for her husband standing on the deck, looking at them anxiously.

"Women and children go over there!"

Before she could react, the woman was pushed hard by a woman who was much stronger than her husband. She staggered a few steps and fell heavily to the ground.

She couldn't help but scream in pain, and hurriedly looked at her child nervously. Fortunately... her body protected her son well and did not let the child get hurt.

She didn't get up by herself. Soon... an arm thicker than her husband's thigh lifted her up roughly and "threw" her back into the slowly queuing boarding line like throwing an object.

Surrounded by mothers with children like her, the straw-haired woman hugged her son tightly, who didn't even have the strength to cry.

"Tsk, what can these skinny women do for our lord? They waste food and are as cowardly as mice."

"Washing clothes and cooking?"

"They are only useful for this. Tsk, our lord has to help them raise children."

"Maybe the older ones can be sent to be blacksmith apprentices?"

"They are not as heavy as hammers."

"Don't think about it. That's what Lord Herschel needs to worry about."

These blue-robed women wearing exquisite chain mail and leather armor were full of disgust and disgust towards them, but the withered grass-headed woman was slightly relieved of the deepest uneasiness in her heart. ,

Previously, the withered grass-headed woman had heard from the old woman living in the tent next door... that the owner of the land she and her husband were going to had to eat a child every night, so people called him the Bloody Earl.

Last night, her husband suddenly told himself excitedly that he was chosen as the miner who ate the child count... Why would the noble lord allow her husband to take her and the child with him? She couldn't even sleep a wink all night.

Her husband has always had a bad temper, and her worries can only be buried deep in her heart. She can only pray helplessly to the gods. Her only comfort is that her son is very thin... If the rumors are true, maybe Will look down upon it.

"hurry up!"

The withered grass-headed woman stepped on the slightly shaky wooden planks tremblingly, and boarded the ship with difficulty.

…………

On the bow deck of the "Black Bess", Lord Davos Seaworth observed the people who were boarding the ship one after another with a serious expression. Their bodies were like dry branches, slender and fragile, and their expressions seemed to be lost. As numb as the soul.

The Onion Knight had seen many similar groups of people in his smuggling career, and he knew the reason: they were too hungry... The refugee situation in King's Landing was far more serious than he imagined.

Perhaps Lord Green hired miners here out of some selfish motives, but Earl Davos had to honestly admit... This was undoubtedly a good deed, and he saved countless lives that had lost hope.

He believed that Lord Green would be blessed by the gods in heaven.

"Father."

The voice of Ser Dale Seaworth, Davos's eldest son and heir, reached his ears, and he moved his eyes away.

His sons had long ago put on the blue robes that symbolized Kleb's courage. The day before yesterday...he also put on the blue robes, and continued to wear the black robes he had been accustomed to for a long time alone...so that Davos and other Klebs When Leb's vassals were together, he still felt like an incompatible outsider.

Also, traveling between King's Landing and Dragonstone these past few days always reminded him of the old craftsmanship that had been abandoned for more than ten years.

"Dale, are you ready paddlers?"

"Yes, they are on standby." As he said that, Sir Dale glanced at the direction of the dock, and then said: "The boarding speed is much slower than last time. This is something I didn't expect. I'm sorry, father."

"It's because the docks have become more crowded than last time. People in King's Landing like to chase new things."

Patting his eldest son on the shoulder, Davos said: "Sir Dale, the closer things get to the end, the less you can relax at all. Come with me to take a look."

As he walked, he continued: "My son, people who have been hungry for a long time still have madness hidden in their hearts, and madness often destroys everything. I hope you can always remember that honor and favor are not the same as the unlimited tolerance of the king, so …I would ask you to treat everything with caution.”

Sir Dale nodded solemnly: "Father, please rest assured that I will never bring shame to the honor of the Seaworth family."

Patting his eldest son's arm again, Davos said nothing. Maybe he was really old. He always wanted to "nag" his sons when he saw them recently. When he realized it... he was trying to correct it.

…………

Outside the dock, the High Sparrow and Brother Lancel were also observing the people lining up to board the ship.

The big sparrow came to the side in a hurry and said: "Your Highness, you have indeed separated them. The men are in one boat, and the women and children are in another boat. I also found that the women and children's boat is made of Female soldiers guard.”

The High Sparrow's face was sharp and angular. He looked kindly at the direction where the ship was docked and said: "This is an act of mercy. May the Seven Gods bless them."

After a pause, he turned to look at the person beside him and said in a gentle voice: "Brother Lancel, you and Duke Kleb were once good friends. Will he treat them well?"

The seven-pointed star on Lancel's forehead was still faintly bright red. After thinking for a moment, he replied: "He will, Greene has the compassion that a knight should have."

The High Sparrow nodded slightly: "It seems that the world does have many misunderstandings about him."

Lancel hesitated for a moment, then continued: "But he will be very cruel to those who do evil."

The eyes of the High Sparrow seemed to be shining with wisdom: "The seven gods in the sky guide mortals on earth to do good, but the evil thoughts of mortals are often accompanied by good intentions. A good person today may be a bad person tomorrow. Only devout prayers can strengthen our possibility Towards the Heart of Darkness.”

"Yes, we will remember your teachings." Everyone responded in unison.

After a pause, the big sparrow suddenly said: "Your Highness, the brothers and sisters who are suffering need your guidance, but they are all leaving here..."

The High Sparrow looked at the distance, took steps forward, and said: "Let's talk as we walk... Before coming to King's Landing, I was responsible for taking care of fifty or sixty small villages in the south of the Trident River. Those villages were too small. I had no monks of my own. I went from village to village, officiating at weddings, absolving sins, and naming children. Today, all these villages are gone, and the beautiful gardens of the past are overgrown with weeds and thorns, and bones are scattered here and there. On the roadside...most of them who came here have no homes.”

"The sparrows have the responsibility to save them from sorrow and death, not to extinguish the hope in their hearts. As long as there is suffering in the Seven Kingdoms, the sparrows have the obligation to save those people's bodies and souls."

…………

Davros happened to meet the High Sparrow on his way to do the last inspection with his son. Out of respect for the Seven Gods, he patted the chest of the monks wearing brown patched robes.

When he saw the seven-pointed star tattooed on the foreheads of many of them, he was instinctively alert... He had learned enough lessons from the fanatical believers.

"Kind noble, thank you for your contribution to the poor, may the gods bless you."

Davros was about to turn around naturally, and the owner of the voice was a barefoot spirited old man. Out of courtesy, he stopped.

The sunlight was orange-red, he raised his eyebrows slightly, and said: "I am just following the orders of our Lord Duke, I don't have the ability to save them."

The High Sparrow smiled slightly: "You are already involved in a good deed, which is a commendable good deed. I came here to disturb you because I want to ask... ... whether their journey requires monks to comfort these displaced people?"

Davos glanced at a familiar face next to the spirited old man and said: "Please forgive my late self-introduction. I am Seaworth Davos. I am only responsible for transporting the miners and their families employed by Duke Crabbe."

The High Sparrow was like an ordinary old man: "I just suggested that if you need help, you can always ask us to serve them."

"I will convey your good intentions to the Lord Duke on your behalf." Earl Davos shrugged and said: "What should I call you?"

The High Sparrow smiled gently and said: "Brothers and sisters call me the High Sparrow."

The High Sparrow?

"Please allow me to say goodbye." Davos nodded slightly and walked away.

Davos and the others gradually went away, and Brother Lancel looked over: "Master Archbishop, don't we need to send someone to check it out?"

"Under the light of the Seven Gods, darkness cannot hide."

…………

…………

Towards dusk, Green camped beside the King's Road, and more than a hundred tents were set up along the nearby stream.

Dick Crabbe entered Green's tent with a smile on his face. On his left chest was a four-part emblem composed of Crabbe's marigold and Mooton's red salmon.

He joined Green's team at noon. He brought more than fifty sworn knights and hundreds of knight attendants from Maiden Spring.

Hearing the noise, Green slowly raised his eyes from the table covered with maps, raised a smile, and said: "Dick, what good thing happened?"

Dick's expression was more solemn than before as the governor of Maiden Spring, but his eyes still moved around like a novice thief.

He sat down opposite Green and chuckled, "The knights I brought with me never believed that the people of Crab Claw Peninsula could beat ten people at once. Just now, your guard, Sir Monton, proved this fact to them."