Dany knelt on the blanket before the Maiden's statue, fluently reciting the midday prayer from the passage dedicated to the Maiden in the Seven-Pointed Star.
The High Sparrow knelt beside her, echoing the prayer.
"Kaesha, where are you from, if I may ask? Producing twenty thousand gold dragons so suddenly—was that not a problem for you?" After their prayer concluded, the two remained kneeling beneath the statue and began to chat.
The deposit certificate for the twenty thousand gold dragons bore a unique serial number, from which the deposit's details could be traced. In other words, if the High Sparrow were to redeem the deposit, there was a high chance he could guess her identity.
Of course, he could also simply use the deposit slip to exchange it for grain across the Narrow Sea.
However, the Citadel would certainly inform the Iron Throne that the Dragon Queen had appeared in Oldtown. Therefore, Dany saw no reason to hide from the High Sparrow the fact that she had been to King's Landing.
"Your Holiness, I'm sure you noticed—I didn't kneel to kiss your hand when we first met. Do you know why that is?"
"I'd be curious to know," said the High Sparrow.
Even a figure as prominent as Queen Mother Cersei or King Tommen would be expected to kneel before the High Sparrow.
After all, the High Septon was the Seven's representative on earth.
"Because I am also a High Septon," Dany replied, a statement that utterly stunned the High Sparrow.
"You—you mean you were sent by the Starry Sept in Oldtown? No, wait—that's not possible. A woman has never been crowned High Septon."
"My position has nothing to do with those High Septons in Oldtown who live in fear of you. I come from Essos," Dany shook her head.
Naturally, the High Septons in Oldtown feared the High Sparrow.
The monks scrubbing the floors they'd passed earlier in the corridor were all once High Septons in King's Landing.
The High Sparrow had started as a wandering rural septon in the Riverlands. With a band of begging brothers, he forced the voting High Septons to elect him at axe-point.
Afterwards, he stripped them of their luxurious lives. If they didn't work, they didn't eat. A certain Septon Torbert, who was notoriously overweight, was condemned in a city starving from war. The High Sparrow judged him personally.
He was now locked away in a chamber for reflection, surviving only on meager bread and water.
—These details had been shared with her on the way by Ser Strick, the Han.
"Er, there's a Faith of the Seven in Essos too?" The High Sparrow's expression turned suspicious. Could this 'Kaesha' be a fraud?
True, both the Faith and the Andals originated from the upper Rhoyne River plains, but the competition among races in Essos was fierce.
In terms of technology, the Andals had stolen iron-forging techniques from the Rhoynar. As for magic, the Seven were entirely powerless—their priests lacked any supernatural abilities.
Thousands of years ago, the last Andal kingdom was burned to the ground by Valyrian Dragonlords and their hundred dragons.
"I founded the Faith myself. Aside from a few knights anointed with holy oil, I only have a little over a hundred novice septas in training."
The High Sparrow paused, then asked, "Where is your church built?"
"East of Volantis, in a remote region—a place untouched by the Red God's power."
Hearing it was just a small, remote church, the High Sparrow found himself surprisingly inclined to believe Kaesha's story. At the same time, he felt a vague sense of disappointment. A church that small would likely be overwhelmed by Red God followers before long.
"Kaesha Septon, if your church is struggling, why donate so much money to King's Landing?" the High Sparrow asked hesitantly.
"Heh. Our church may be small, but we are not short on money."
"Have you been to Oldtown, then?" the High Sparrow recalled the origin of the deposit slip.
"I have. But not as a foreign church leader. In fact, the Faith I founded is a 'Reformed Church.' If you were just like the usurious High Septons in Oldtown, I wouldn't have revealed my identity at all."
"Reformed Church?" the High Sparrow frowned, a trace of displeasure in his tone. "You've altered the doctrine of the Seven?"
"Sigh. The whole world is turning red with R'hllor's fire. I had to strengthen the church's survival." Dany said helplessly.
In terms of combat power, the Faith of the Seven couldn't even shine the Red Priests' boots.
"Even so, can a church that changes its doctrine still be called the Faith of the Seven?"
"Your Holiness, in truth, your actions are already in line with Reformed doctrine."
"Impossible! I follow the Seven-Pointed Star to the letter," the High Sparrow snapped.
"But your emphasis on chastity and frugality—that's a core tenet of the Reformed Church." Then Dany went on to explain the concept of Puritans.
Unlike the Presbyterians and the radical Republicans from British history, Dany's version incorporated many Confucian and Daoist ideas. It imposed limits on royal power, but strictly adhered to hierarchical principles like "Ruler and Subject, Father and Son."
"Puritans? This… this…" At first the High Sparrow looked indignant, but gradually, a thoughtful look spread across his face. Then realization struck, and finally his eyes widened in amazement, his expression both fervent and awestruck. "This is the ideal I've been chasing all my life! Septon Kaesha, you are the living embodiment of Saint Baelor himself. You will surely leave a glorious page in the holy scriptures of the Faith!"
"Heh, you flatter me."
Saint Baelor? Please. My brand of chastity isn't just about restricting carnal desires between men and women.
"Still," the High Sparrow smacked his lips, as if savoring the thought, "Septon Kaesha remains a bit too conservative. The Faith should not serve the monarchy. Beneath the Seven, all souls are equal."
Dany kept her face blank and gave no reply.
She should've known. Based on his actions—imprisoning both Cersei and Margaery—the High Sparrow was a full-blown Puritan radical!
"Your Holiness, I understand your beliefs and ambitions perfectly. But have you considered the backlash from the great noble houses?" Dany reminded him.
She had no intention of challenging the Iron Throne anytime soon. For now, she was content to let the High Sparrow deal with Cersei and the Tyrells.
"The Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows are the Faith's strongest shields," the High Sparrow said with confidence.
"This, to be honest, don't get mad at me," Dany grinned, "A Star Warrior is just a farmer who put down his hoe. Even if a thousand of them fought against two hundred fully armored knights, they wouldn't stand a chance."
"The Sons of War are all true knights, anointed with holy oil. We already have a hundred Sons of War." The High Sparrow said proudly.
"Not enough, far from it," Dany shook her head repeatedly, "Let's not even talk about whether the Sons of War, who hold both noble and apprentice titles, can be trusted. A hundred knights is far too few. You're challenging the authority of the Iron Throne!"
"There may be fewer of them, but why wouldn't they be trustworthy? They've all sworn oaths before the Seven."
If oaths were enough, Prince Rhaegar would not have broken the sacred marriage law, the War of the Usurper would never have happened, Robb Stark wouldn't have violated his sacred vows, and the Red Wedding would never have taken place.
And then there's Queen Cersei, Queen Margaery... But as the saying goes, "A gentleman knows when to speak lightly and when to refrain." They had just met, so some topics could only be hinted at.
Dany sighed inwardly, then continued digging the hole for Cersei, "Your Excellency, the High Septon, you have another fatal flaw."
"What flaw?" he asked.
"Your actions are not fully supported by all the archbishops. If the Iron Throne orders your execution, I'm afraid…"
When Dany watched Game of Thrones, she had found it illogical that Cersei blew up the Great Sept of Baelor. After all, the High Sparrow wasn't some "lone wolf"—one person dies, and their entire family is wiped out.
Apart from the North, all six other kingdoms had great cathedrals and archbishops.
Especially Oldtown. Before Aegon the Conqueror, the Starry Sept had always been the seat of the Faith, and the church there held power equal to King's Landing.
If you blew up the Great Sept in King's Landing, wouldn't the other archbishops avenge the High Sparrow?
Now, Dany understood—no, they wouldn't.
The High Sparrow's sudden appearance had caused a schism within the Faith of the Seven.
He and the other archbishops were completely at odds, otherwise, with the financial power of Oldtown's church, why would the High Sparrow need to sell crowns to buy bread?
The High Sparrow was aware that he wasn't liked by the other bishops. Of course, he despised those who only knew how to indulge in pleasures, gamble, and abduct beautiful young boys.
Still, he was confident in his safety. "There are thousands of Star Warriors here. No one can harm me."
"I've heard of something truly terrifying," Dany lowered her voice, speaking nervously. "There are secret passages beneath the three hills of King's Landing, even wildfire planted by the Targaryens. If someone ignites the wildfire beneath the Great Sept of Baelor…"
"That's impossible," the High Sparrow said, skeptical. "I've personally checked, there are no secret passages beneath the Sept."
"Hey, how did Duke Tywin die?"
"That…"
Suddenly, the quiet hall was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps. Both of them paused their conversation and turned to see the one-armed knight, Ser Lancel, rushing over.
"Your Excellency, the High Septon, Lord Mace Tyrell has entered the Great Sept Square with his army, declaring that if you don't release Queen Margaery immediately, he will wash the Great Sept in blood!"
Well, it seems that Samwell's father has some guts after all.
Dany suddenly had the urge to go out and meet this fourth-best general of Westeros.
"Just Queen Margaery?" The High Sparrow frowned.
"Yes, Lord Tyrell is a vassal of House Hightower and only demands the release of Queen Margaery."
The High Sparrow relaxed a little and nodded. "I'll go and meet Lord Tyrell."
"By the way, arrange for the faithful Kaesha…"
Dany quickly volunteered, "I'll come with you. I'm a knight, I can protect you."
"Well, that's fine." After a brief hesitation, the High Sparrow agreed.
The group quickly left the Sept hall. Outside on the stone steps, Dany took the sword from the White Knight, explained a few things quietly, and followed behind several Sons of War as they made their way to the square ahead.
Shields with the pattern of a swift hunter formed a wall, ignoring the tents, mud huts, and stables on the square, advancing steadily, with iron spears shining coldly through the gaps in the shields.
Lord Tyrell's soldiers weren't many—no more than a thousand—but their fierce demeanor and indomitable will immediately crushed the thousands of poor refugees assembled there.
The refugees and Star Warriors yelled and cursed, throwing bricks, mud, and wooden sticks at the soldiers behind the shields, but they couldn't stop the advance. All they could do was cry out in vain, "May the Seven punish the sinners!"
From the preaching stand, one could see the armored generals on horseback behind the shield wall, flanked by thirty or forty riders, with a standard bearing the swift hunter's blue banner held aloft by one of the riders.
When the High Sparrow arrived, the crowd parted like a wave.
The shield wall on the opposite side also parted, and Lord Tyrell dismounted, walking alone toward the High Sparrow, who was surrounded by the Sons of War.
(End of Chapter)
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