The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

Green tapped the table several times with his slender fingers and said: "Sir, what is your identity at this moment? The envoy of Lannister, or the Kingsguard?"

Balon Swann was slightly startled and said: "Duke Greene, my identity is always the Kingsguard."

After a pause, he added: "I am here on the orders of Ser Jaime, Captain of the Kingsguard."

"Good answer."

After speaking, Green left his chair, came to the wine cabinet, poured wine, and said casually: "So, what is the purpose of Lannister inviting me to participate in the war meeting this time?"

One in each hand, Green picked up the two poured glasses of wine, moved forward, came to Baron, and said as if joking: "Tell me, what conspiracy do they have?"

Ser Balon is a strong man, he is young, brave, and polite... Many people whisper that he is one of the few knights who has not tarnished the honor of the Kingsguard.

Sir Baron blankly took the wine glass from Green and said: "I think... there is no conspiracy."

Green's face turned serious instantly: "You promise?"

"I..." Sir Balon moved his lips, not knowing how to answer.

Green made a gesture, and Ser Brienne immediately left with her guards, leaving only him and Ser Balon in the tent.

At this time, Sir Balon finally thought of a decent reply: "Dear Duke, you may not trust me, but you can trust Sir James' honor, and please rest assured about this invitation."

Green's eyes moved slightly. He stared at Baron for a while and sneered: "You want me to believe in the honor of the 'Kingslayer'?"

An angry look appeared on Sir Balon's face, but he did not dare to get angry in front of the famous generals of the Seven Kingdoms. He responded in a stiff voice: "I am not qualified to evaluate Lord Jaime's honor, but I admit that he is one of the most outstanding knights in the Seven Kingdoms. ”

"Another good answer." Green sighed, a smile appeared on his lips, and then said: "It seems you like James very much."

Sir Balon puffed out his chest: "He taught me sword skills and taught me how to lead an army in battle. He is like my teacher... I respect him and I admire him."

Green laughed, paused, and then suddenly looked directly at Baron: "Then, you must be willing to die for James, Sir?"

Sir Balon only hesitated for a moment and responded loudly: "If it doesn't violate my honor, of course I am willing!"

He also looked directly at Green: "Your Excellency, the moment I put on my white robe, I was determined to sacrifice for honor."

Green rubbed his head as if he had a headache and sighed: "Sir James, as the captain of the Kingsguard, keeps people like you in the Kingsguard. If you answer like this, I can rest assured when I return to King's Landing." Let’s clear up some things... After all, James and I are good friends, so I don’t want to embarrass him too much.”

Sir Baron clenched his fists: "Duke Kleb, please forgive me for humiliating you. If there is nothing else, please allow me..."

Green interrupted Baron: "How could it be humiliating? I was just telling the truth."

"I definitely didn't..."

"Hear me out."

Green's voice was cold: "Your brother, the heir of Stonehelm City (Stormland), Donal Swann."

Upon hearing his brother's name, Sir Baron, who had been filled with anger just now, froze on the spot.

Green continued: "I heard that your brother swore allegiance to four kings successively, Renly, Stannis, Joffrey, Tommen... I admire him very much, because he is still alive, and the Swain family is safe and sound. ”

He stretched out his index finger and pointed at Balon: "And you, the younger brother of a man with no honor to speak of, actually put on a white robe and stood beside the king... I was thinking, what if your brother joins again one day? Rebels and storm the throne room with their troops, what will you do? As the Kingsguard, how will you choose between the king and your family? Will you become the second regicide?

After Green's words fell, Sir Baron couldn't help but take a step back and said loudly: "This kind of thing is too crazy, it is impossible to happen!"

Green stared at Balon and said: "But this kind of thing happened to Sir James, whom you admire, didn't it? And he chose regicide."

"No."

Sir Balon shook his head and said firmly: "I swear...on my sword, my honor and the name of my father, I will never betray my king!"

Step~step~

Green walked a few steps and came to Balon: "You are beautiful, but how can you make me believe you? Don't forget that your father... Count Gulian Swann once betrayed King Targaryen, and ...As far as I know, when Stannis and Renly rebelled, his Stonehelm chose to wait and see. Is this considered a betrayal of Joffrey?"

Sir Baron's forehead was covered with cold sweat: "Duke Greene, my brother is my brother, and I am my... my father... He is not waiting and watching, he is sick, that's why..."

He barely held up his chest, his voice unable to contain his panic: "Furthermore, the Kingsguard swore no fiefdoms, no wives, no children, and only loyalty to the king."

"I want to believe you."

Before Balon's tension eased, Green continued: "But how can I trust the safety of the king to you...who comes from such a family? Sir, this is the fact. I hope you can understand my dilemma. "

Sir Balon couldn't help but argue: "But...but...Lord Tywin has forgiven my family, Duke Green, and King Joffrey has also forgiven my father and my brother!"

"But they have fallen into the arms of the gods."

Green returned to the table, picked up the wine glass, took a sip of Summer Red, and continued: "In the past, Duke Tywin protected the king. Although I sometimes don't understand some of his actions, he is the king's grandfather. I believe he will Protect his king."

He sighed softly: "As we all know, a tragic accident happened in the Red Keep, which allowed the young Tommen to sit on the Iron Throne. As his former teacher, I have the responsibility to protect him, at least... ... Eliminate the unreliable people around him. Also, as one of the Dukes of the Seven Kingdoms, I have the obligation to punish those families who have committed betrayal in order to maintain the prestige of the Iron Throne."

Green raised his glass to the pale Sir Baron and added: "Deprive of titles, lands and castles, or behead people, or wear black clothes... Only those who have betrayed the kingdom should be punished as they deserve. , Only then can the turbulent Seven Kingdoms usher in true peace, White Knight."

Sir Balon couldn't help but staggered and said: "No, no, your actions will only make the Seven Kingdoms more chaotic... Stonehelm City has been pardoned, I... I will petition the king..."

Green's chuckle made people tremble with fear: "Balon Swann, I don't think you are naive enough to think that you can stop me, or rather... I want to execute the traitor, what does it have to do with you?"

Sir Balon took a step forward and wailed: "No, please believe me. My lord, my father is loyal, I promise. My brother... He also regrets his past mistakes every day, and he will never do it again. Betrayal, I can swear on his behalf.”

In the solemn silence, Green looked at him, a trace of unbearability flashed across his face.

"Sir, I have witnessed your heroic appearance on the tourney with my own eyes, and I have also heard of your heroic performance in the Battle of King's Landing. If it were not for the Iron Throne..."

After a pause, he sighed again, his tone full of sincerity: "I am honest with you, and I hope you can understand the true situation of your family and yourself as soon as possible. Only in this way can you have a chance to save Stonehelm City and Your family."

Desperate Sir Baron seemed to have caught the only light: "You mean..."

Tread~tap~tap~

Slowly walking over, Green reached out and grabbed Baron's shoulder: "Everything has a price. If you want to protect your cherished family, can you do it without fear of sacrifice? Between honor and family, you can only choose When you are alone, how would you choose?”

…………

…………

The Reach, the Shield Islands, and the town of Lord Hewett on Oakshield.

Hewett Castle is located on the harbor of the town of Earl of Hewett. It is small but very strong. The thick walls and the iron nails on the oak door are reminiscent of the ancient coat of arms of the family: nailed oak on one side with blue and white diagonal stripes. shield.

At this time, the gates of Hewett Castle were chopped down and burned, the Greyjoy family's sea monster flag was flying high on the green tower, and the ironborn walking on the city walls were holding spears and axes.

"We won rocks, trees, and junk, plus the hostility of the Roses!"

"The ones who are scared should be the Rose family! Can they defeat the sea monsters in the deep sea? We took their shields and smashed them into pieces."

"But I hear the Rose Lord's sons are preparing for war, and soon all of the Reach will be gathering against us."

"The army of roses? Maybe they can show off some power on land, but in the sea, sea monsters are supreme!"

"Yes, it is His Majesty Euron's intention to gather the Rose Army. Otherwise, how could he order us to let go of the messenger crows in Hewett Castle?"

Amid the various voices, Aeron Greyjoy (Crow's Eye's younger brother) and Captain Newt, who were walking in front, paused. In front of them was the castle hall...a noisy banquet was being held inside.

Captain Newt was a stout man with bow legs and long arms. He looked ahead and said with a gloomy face: "Crow's Eye sent us to deal with the fleet on Oakshield Island, while his people occupied the castle and village and took away all the property and goods there. Women, and we didn’t even get a decent trophy!”

Aeron Greyjoy was thin and tall. He wore a black robe made of coarse linen, and his long hair and beard were decorated with seaweed.

He spoke slowly: "Newt, if you don't want to have your tongue cut off, you should learn to be silent."

Captain Newt scoffed: "Then I will become the crew of the Serenity?"

Aeron turned his head and glanced at the captains behind him, and said: "Your Majesty promised me that in the next battle, his people will deal with the enemy's fleet, and we will plunder the castle."

Captain Newt shrugged: "Then the next enemy's castle must be well-defended. I can't believe Crow's Eye would be so kind. What about you? Lord Aeron, do you believe him?"

The sea breeze blew by, revealing Aeron's dark eyes and aquiline nose under his long hair: "I only believe in the Drowned God."

"Actually, I'm very curious about what choice the iron type would make when the Drowned God and Gold are the same."

Everyone laughed, but under Aeron's indifferent gaze, they immediately became quiet.

"Let's go, Euron is not a patient man, don't keep him waiting too long."

The hall of Hewett Castle was filled with leaders and captains loyal to Euron. They had new decorations such as gemstone rings, pearl agate necklaces, and swords.

They were showing off to each other how many enemies they had killed and how much trophies they had won... drinking, shouting, pushing and shoving.

"Stop looking, you can find a place to sit down by yourselves." After saying that, Aeron casually found a place under the high platform and sat down.

According to Aeron's status, he could sit on the high platform, but he didn't want to be too close to the Crow's Eye.

The food at the banquet was sumptuous, including fine wine from Oakshield Island, bloody half-cooked roast beef, stuffed duck, and buckets of fresh crabs.

The maids who poured the wine were all dressed in fine woolens and rich velvets. They were the wives, daughters and daughters-in-law of the Earl of Hewett. ,

Hotho Harlaw (the leader of Harlaw Island and the Shining Tower, a branch of Asha's uncle's family) was sucking a bone. When he saw Aeron sitting next to him, he spit out the bone in his mouth. Said: "Lord Ellen, you have finally arrived, look..."

He stretched out his finger and pointed to one place: "That is the wife of Earl Humphry Hewitt. Although she is a bit older and a little fatter, she is quite charming. The man who should protect them followed the Duke of Rose to attack in the Stormlands. Storm's End Castle, if the news here spreads and it is known that the women of the Hewett family are serving the ironborn, I am really worried that he will be angry to death on the spot. "

Aeron glanced at leader Hosuo and said, "This is Crow's Eye's arrangement."

Leader He Suo grinned: "He knows that the Ironborn have not snatched noble women from the green land to be salt concubines for many years."

A salt concubine is a mistress in the tradition of the Iron Islands. An iron type can have multiple salt concubines at the same time, but only one iron type wife born and raised in the Iron Islands is allowed, called a "rock wife (not a typo)".

Aeron looked away and said: "The Crow's Eye may be hoping that the rose will grow more iron thorns so that the sea monster will bleed more."

Leader He Suo leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said: "Before setting off with Crow's Eye... Chief Rodrik (Uncle Asha, Chapter 413) specifically asked me to keep it in the green land. He You are the only one who allows me to rob the gold. This is really an embarrassing order.”

Aeron's dark eyes moved slightly: "Are you going to betray Chief Rodrik?"

Leader He Suo spread his hands and said, "Let me tell you another secret. Your niece doesn't know that her uncle ordered me to follow Crow's Eye."

After a pause, Aeron spoke calmly: "He made this arrangement to protect Asha. Hosho Harlaw, is there anything else you want to reveal to me?"