It was only when Gendry stood with the Blue Knight that he could truly feel the pressure; their heights were similar, but the Blue Knight appeared stockier and more robust than Gendry. This was acceptable for a male, but quite difficult for a girl.
"Your Highness, what is this?" the Blue Knight asked softly. The taxi soldiers with white strips of cloth on their uniforms seemed very skilled, coming to check her injuries. Some of these soldiers were old, some too young, not like typical bloodthirsty taxi soldiers, but more like gentle Old Maesters.
"Medics, a special unit within the legion," Gendry replied to the Blue Knight. To be honest, these Medics might not have much advanced medical experience, but having them sterilize at high temperatures and strictly check hygiene in the barracks helped prevent blood plague and allowed the soldiers to survive better.
"Arrange a private room for my guest."
"Yes, Your Highness," the Medics replied.
"Many thanks, I appreciate your courtesy." The Blue Knight, very sincere, expressed her gratitude to Gendry, and was then led by a Medic to a private place to treat her wounds.
"Brienne of Tarth." Gendry had already guessed the Blue Knight's identity: the heir to Tarth, the only daughter of the "Evenstar," and an astonishing female knight. Gendry admired her talent; Brienne's noble character meant he could confidently arrange for her to protect Daenerys.
However, this was somewhat difficult now. Brienne would also consider her aging father on Tarth, so she wouldn't easily pledge allegiance to him. This matter could only be discussed later. Fortunately, more than one guest had arrived today.
Brienne did not want Gendry and the others to see her full face, not only because it was wrong to run Across the Narrow Sea to join the excitement, but more importantly, she was truly ugly beneath her visor. Her eyes might be the only beautiful part of Brienne; she could only let Gendry see her eyes. Her eyes were large and blue, pure and direct, shining with confidence in battle.
Gendry watched as the Blue Knight, Brienne, was helped away, still without removing her visor. Gendry then received another round of applause.
Everyone had a clear view of the entire battle. The powerful Blue Knight was a formidable opponent, but surprisingly, before the Magistrate, the gap was immense.
Gendry was confident he could recruit Second Sons, landless nobles, bastards, and farmers, but to recruit truly influential noble heirs, he might need to package himself better.
Gendry walked onto the high platform, where a hopeful Daenerys was waiting for him. The Unsullied guards and the high-ranking officials of the Two Cities saluted him. He greeted them one by one, then walked to the center position.
Gendry was resplendent, as if he was born to stand on high. Gendry still wore his black scale plate armor, without a mask, but his short hair was held back by a steel ring, a black band inlaid with red gems. This was Daenerys's special idea for him, just like Aegon the Conqueror's crown.
"This game is too dangerous," Daenerys said.
"Future battlefield games will be even more dangerous, but we are already involved, Dany. I am your shield, and your sword." Gendry ruffled Daenerys's hair.
Daenerys's face was filled with a proud laugh, "You are my knight. I will pray for your continued victories."
"I will."
"Oh, by the way, our guest has been waiting for you for a long time," Daenerys reminded him.
Gendry also noticed a certain guest on the high platform: the leader of the Windblown, the runaway Prince of Pentos.
"Your Grace the Magistrate, Your Royal Highness the Princess, it is an honor to meet you," the Ragged Prince bowed to him, looking very elegant.
The Ragged Prince spoke softly, with sorrowful eyes. He had large bags under his eyes. His hair and armor were silver-grey, but his cloak was sewn from different colored fabrics.
The Ragged Prince secretly observed Gendry's walk, breathing, and posture, and was startled. After the fierce confrontation just now, he appeared completely unharmed, still looking at ease in battle. The strength of this rising star was truly unfathomable. One had to know that a strong, stocky opponent like the Blue Knight was like a nightmare on the battlefield, but this young man's storm of attacks had completely overwhelmed her.
"Your Highness, when you meet Their Royal Highnesses, you should kneel before them," Ser Jorah said sharply, looking at the Ragged Prince.
"I apologize, but from the day I fled Pentos, I understood one truth. Mercenaries are not slaves; I cannot kneel," the Ragged Prince replied firmly.
"Enough, Jorah, why bother with an old man?" Gendry gestured to Ser Jorah not to press the matter.
"Welcome, Prince." Gendry smiled. The Prince of Pentos was declining year by year, a different concept from the powerful Prince of Dorne. Pentos was now in the hands of a fat Magistrate.
"I once wanted to send you a gift, but that gift might have long since decayed."
"You mean Bloodbeard's head, right? For that, I thank you, Your Highness." The Ragged Prince expressed his gratitude gently and politely. There had always been deep enmity between the Windblown and the Cat's Company.
"But my friend, you are rather late," Gendry asked the Ragged Prince. "Bloodbeard has been dead for so long, why have you only come to see me now?"
"Please forgive my tardiness; I had other duties in Volantis at the time," the Ragged Prince said apologetically.
"It's no matter; it's good that you've come to see me. I still consider you a distinguished guest," Gendry said sincerely. Aside from the Golden Company, the Cat's Company and the Brave Companions had been defeated by him, and the Second Sons and Spear Company had pledged allegiance to him. The only remaining mercenary company with some strength was the Windblown.
"I would like to discuss a business venture with you," the Ragged Prince said in a low voice.
"Please speak."
"Many years ago, some people offended me, and I was forced to flee my home, never to return. I would very much like to go back once and take revenge on those who drove me away."
"What you desire is rather expensive, Prince. Can a small company like the Windblown afford it?" Gendry asked the Ragged Prince.
Gendry understood that the Ragged Prince was referring to a tragic event many years ago. According to Pentos tradition, when times were bad, the Prince of Pentos would be executed to appease the gods' wrath. In 262 AC, the previous Prince of Pentos had just been beheaded by the Magistrates, and the twenty-three-year-old Ragged Prince was elected as the new Prince of Pentos by the Magistrates of that time. The Ragged Prince dared not accept the Magistrates' invitation, choosing instead to flee to the Disputed Lands, and had never returned to his homeland of Pentos since.
The Ragged Prince's expression was a little awkward. Two thousand men were indeed a small number in front of the newly risen liberator. However, the Ragged Prince was confident he still had a silver tongue.
"Your Highness, my two thousand men are indeed a small number before you, but my two thousand men are also well-trained, not novices or fools. Moreover, in Pentos, even though I have been away for a long time, I still have some old connections that I can use," the Ragged Prince mused.
"You want it, don't you? Pentos," Gendry asked the Ragged Prince.
"Yes," the Ragged Prince nodded.
"It's fraught with difficulties," Gendry replied. The difficulties lay not only with the Magistrates but also with the powers behind Pentos. Rushing into Pentos would mean offending Braavos, and also offending the Khals who came to Pentos begging every year.
"We'll discuss this later," Gendry said. "But at your age, Prince, do you still want to return to Pentos?"
"It is my home. If possible, I would most like to die of old age on the shores of Pentos."
"As for power, if you gain power, I only hope to gain some small redemption, to take revenge on those who harmed me back then," the Ragged Prince added. "I know that history has already shaped you into a great man, and I, old and weary, am no longer suitable to be a king."
The Ragged Prince painted a grand picture, but Gendry was not very interested.
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