Tonight, I'd changed something. Maybe that was enough to change everything. We moved towards chamber of steward.
Prince Baelor Breakspear had placed an order — a thousand bottles of my wine. And now, it was time to put that order into ink and coin.
Egg walked beside me, with head held a little higher. He seemed proud, as if he too was part of the bargain. Maybe he was.
The steward of Ashford — a thin, neat man named Ser Hobber — was waiting for us in his chamber above the main hall.
He looked up as we entered. "Ser Duncan," he said quickly, standing. "And Prince Aegon. I'd been expecting you. Please, sit."
I inclined my head and took the offered chair. Egg wandered to the window, peering out toward the lists below.
Ser Hobber adjusted his spectacles and picked up a fresh sheet of parchment. "His Highness Prince Baelor has ordered—" he glanced down at his notes "—one thousand bottles of golden wine, at the agreed price of one hundred and seventy-five dragons as advance payment, to be followed by a remaining sum of one thousand five hundred and seventy-five dragons upon delivery at King's Landing."
"Aye," I said. "That matches our talk."
He dipped the quill, scratching neat, swift lines across the parchment. "Then we'll set it in writing."
While he worked, I kept my face calm, but my thoughts ran faster than a Dornish courier.
A thousand bottles. Gods. Even with the system's prices, it'd cost me only a few gold coins to buy them all. I could make a fortune before the first cork was pulled.
When he finished, Ser Hobber rolled the parchment carefully and pressed the wax seal of House Ashford upon it. Then he reached into a drawer and withdrew a small pouch, heavy with the sound of gold.
"Advance payment," he said, offering it to me.
I weighed the pouch in my hand. Heavy enough to make any hedge knight dream. I could feel Egg watching me from the window, his eyes curious.
"Thank you," I said, sliding the pouch into my belt. "The wine will be delivered to King's Landing within the moon's turn."
"I'll send word to the Red Keep that you hold the prince's favor," the steward added. "You'll have no trouble crossing the Crownlands."
"That's a kindness," I said. "My thanks, ser."
He bowed his head lightly. "It's not often we deal with a hedge knight who speaks of trade so well. You might've been born a merchant."
I smiled faintly. "Maybe I was, in another life."
...
Egg and I stepped out into the courtyard again.
"Ser Duncan the Merchant," Egg said with a grin. "I've never seen anyone talk business with a steward like that."
"It's called surviving, lad," I said, tightening the straps on my gauntlet. "If I can win gold with my tongue, I'd rather do that than break bones for it."
He laughed. "Aye, but you'll still need to fight tomorrow in tourny."
"I'll manage."
We turned toward the stables, but before we reached them, a ripple passed through the crowd in the yard — men stepping aside, bowing, lowering their heads.
Prince Aerion Targaryen, called Brightflame, walked toward us, flanked by two of the Kingsguard. His hair was silver-white. His mouth curled in a smirk even before his eyes met ours.
Egg stiffened beside me.
"Well, well," Aerion drawled, stopping a few paces away. "If it isn't my little brother… and his pet hedge knight."
I felt Egg tense, but I placed a hand on his shoulder before he could speak.
Aerion's pale eyes flicked over me, then down to my armor. "That's fine steel you wear, ser. No hammer marks, no rust, no dents. Strange to see such work on a man without a name."
"It's mine," I said evenly. "And well kept."
He tilted his head, his smile sharp as a dagger. "Bought, I imagine. Some merchant must've taken pity on you."
His gaze slid to the sword at my hip. "And that blade—tell me, do you even know how to use it? Or are you one of those sellswords who wins his fights with pretty words and tricked wine?"
The guards behind him snickered, cruel laughter echoing through the yard.
Egg took a step forward, face red with anger. "Ser Duncan can take all of you at once!" he shouted.
The laughter died as quick as it began.
Aerion turned his eyes toward Egg, a slow, wicked smile spreading across his lips. "Is that so, little brother?" he said softly. "You think your hedge knight is good enough to take on a real knight?"
Egg's jaw clenched. "He's more knight than you'll ever be."
Aerion's smile faltered for just a heartbeat — then returned, colder than before. He looked at me again, his tone dripping mockery. "Very well then, ser. Why not prove it? I'd hate to doubt my dear brother's faith."
I didn't move. "Prove what?"
"That you can fight," he said. He turned to the Kingsguard behind him — a broad-shouldered man with white hair and a scar along his cheek. "Ser Meryn here hasn't stretched his arms in days. Perhaps he'll do for a bit of practice."
The knight stepped forward, drawing his longsword.
"Your Highness," I said calmly, "this is no place for a duel."
Aerion's eyes glinted. "Oh, not a duel. Just a friendly show of skill. Unless, of course, you fear losing."
The guards laughed again. Egg looked up at me, eyes wide and burning with pride and worry all at once.
He'd spoken in my defense. Now, I couldn't turn tail without shaming him—and myself.
I took a breath. "Aye," I said at last. "I'll face your man."
Aerion's smile widened. "Excellent. Let's see if that armor's worth its polish."
That's when I realized — I'd been given a chance. Not just to fight, but to test something far more precious.
[System Shop Opened]
The familiar translucent screen blinked to life before my eyes, unseen by the rest. My heart quickened.
I searched for sword skill and found what I was looking for.
Sword Mastery – 5 gold dragons
Description: Grants user instinctive proficiency with bladed weapons. Integration will be painful.
Painful. That word made my gut tighten. But five gold was nothing for what it promised.
I pressed [Purchase].
A soft chime echoed in my head.
[Purchase Confirmed]
[Infusion process requires solitude. Begin infusion now?]
I glanced toward the watching crowd. Not yet.
"I'll return shortly," I said, forcing a casual tone. "Need to fetch something."
Aerion raised a brow but said nothing he gestured one of kingsguard to follow mc.
I slipped through a side door and found an empty chamber, I ignored kingsguard who was following me and entered inside it— dim, cold, and silent save for the drip of water from the ceiling. I knelt on the stone floor.
"Begin," I whispered.
[Infusion commencing. Warning: process will be extremely painful.]
Then the world became fire.
It started in my spine — a white-hot current that spread like molten steel poured through my veins.
Every muscle twisted, every bone ached as if being reforged by unseen hammers.
I bit down on a strip of cloth I'd torn from my cloak just in time to muffle the scream. The pain wasn't like being burned or cut — it was becoming. My body remembered what it never knew, every stroke, every parry, every thrust burned into the marrow.
Sweat poured down my face. I don't know how long it lasted — a minute, a lifetime.
[Sword Mastery successfully integrated.]
...