**
"We are but hedge knights, three Sers."
Rhaegor looked into their eyes, saying emotionlessly, "It's not impossible to take you along, but what can you offer us?"
He raised his arm, gesturing to Legan and Ailarion: "I have my two squires; I am not lacking for swords or warhorses."
"And we can only provide swords and warhorses." Albin the Handsome lowered his head in frustration. But at that moment, "Hyena" Kane spoke.
"Ser Legan," he said, looking at Rhaegor. "I am a Riverlander; my father and grandfather were both Mudds. My grandfather and father both served the Strong family, but after Earl Leonno's unexpected death, Ser Simon dismissed my father and me. We traveled all over the Riverlands, and after my father passed, I also went to the Vale and the North."
He pointed to "Scarface" Jaime: "Old Scarface is a Westerman; he knows the mountains of the West as well as he knows every link in his chainmail, every copper coin in his purse."
"And all the heads I've cut off and women I've slept with, Ser Legan." Old James chuckled, revealing his broken, yellowed teeth: "I know every mountain, every tree stump in the West, Ser. If you're going to the West, I'm the best guide." He pointed to Kane: "If you're going to the North, the Riverlands, or the Vale, he's a very good guide, Ser. I can guarantee you he'll do better than anyone."
Rhaegor considered this. He did indeed need guides, especially those familiar with the various regions. Originally, they had planned to find guides on the spot, but two old mercenaries like these were not a bad option.
Albin was a bit disheartened; he wasn't particularly good at anything, neither as a guide nor as a fighter. Just as he thought Rhaegor wouldn't accept him, Rhaegor spoke.
"I can allow you to accompany us," he said, "but there is one condition."
All three perked up their ears.
"You must obey my commands."
"Of course."
"Very well." Rhaegor didn't say the next sentence.
You must also abide by my rewards and punishments.
He tossed a wineskin filled with decent quality wine to the three wandering knights. "Follow us."
Old James opened the wineskin, took a deep sniff, and sighed with a look of pure enjoyment.
It was indeed fine wine.
The kind he could only afford a single cup of when he was at his wealthiest.
Now there was a whole wineskin.
Before Old James could even take a sip, the wineskin was snatched away by Legan. The silver-haired youth gave him a wary glance, thinking to himself, Giving fine wine to a drunkard, is His Highness testing our resolve? Then he tossed the wineskin to Albin.
"This is to refresh you on the road," Ailarion said gruffly. "Our Borderlands horses are fast, don't get lost." He glanced at the three: "If you get lost, we won't look for you."
"Understood, understood."
The three hurriedly caught up with Rhaegor and his companions.
After crossing the Kings Road, they could look down upon King's Landing.
King's Landing in the 141st year of the Conquest Era had changed dramatically. The Red Keep still stood proudly in the center of Aegon's High Hill, but it was no longer the cramped castle it once was. Thanks to the efforts of Prince Daemon and Dragonzel, the Red Keep had more than doubled in size, with more spacious interiors and many new buildings.
Above the Dragonpit, two young dragons were playing and frolicking, but they did not leave the confines of the Dragonpit, nor did they disturb the normal lives of the citizens of King's Landing.
The dome of the Jacaris Grand Cathedral shimmered under the sun, and even from afar, one could still see the worshipping commoners surrounding it.
Flea Bottom in King's Landing was no longer the squalid place it once was, but had become a neighborhood that, though still somewhat messy, was quite decent.
The entire city of King's Landing was much cleaner.
They did not enter the city, but instead crossed the Blackwater River directly and headed towards the Riverlands.
Meanwhile, at Harrenhal.
This charred, massive castle had been without a master for over a decade, and the halls of its once well-maintained towers were now on the verge of collapse.
Ravens nested on the castle's stone walls, mushrooms sprouted in the dark corners, and countless plants had reclaimed the vast castle after its inhabitants left. Every night, eerie sounds emanated from within, and the locals claimed the castle was haunted, with the legend of Harrenhal's curse growing more exaggerated with each telling.
Yet, people still couldn't resist their desires.
The lords of the Riverlands had gathered at Harrenhal in advance to discuss a major matter.
Prince Viserys had provided the funds to host a tourney at Harrenhal.
Harrenhal needed a new lord, and this lord had to be a loyal dog of the royal family.
Therefore, he intended to select the suitable person on the battlefield.
Of course, Viserys didn't have time to personally organize this tourney, so he entrusted the matter to Duke Kermit Tully of the Riverlands.
These were the people now gathered in a relatively clean hall.
Lord Petyr Piper was still alive, though he was an old man nearing his end, but he personally attended to do one last thing for House Piper.
Lord Banji Cow Blackwood had grown into a tall, slender young man. At 23 years old, he was still young, but his chilling demeanor still made everyone who approached him feel cold. He had not yet married, and no one knew why.
Earl Bracken stood in the corner, looking at Banji Cow with resentment. After the Dance of the Dragons, the Bracken family was severely weakened, while Blackwood family, despite losing its head, prospered greatly due to its excellent performance in the war. Banji Cow became a renowned knight, his aunt Alysanne became the Madam of the Duke of Winterfell and had already borne an heir for Duke Cregan, and his young uncle William Blackwood was now a Kingsguard for King Aegon. Blackwood family also annexed many of the former Borderlands between the two families.
But Earl Bracken could only accept it, for it was indeed something Blackwood family had earned with blood.
But Bracken had also bled!
Although the Bracken family also received land grants, those were not areas contested with Blackwood family, and taking them felt somewhat strange.
In short, Earl Bracken felt it was very abnormal.
Earl Darry and Earl Mallister were busy lighting the fireplace, bringing some warmth back to the chilly hall.
"My Lords," Duke Kermit Tully said, looking at his vassals and breaking their silence and conversation. "Prince Viserys wishes to appoint a new Lord of Harrenhal."
He looked at everyone.
"Does anyone among you have an interest?"
But in his heart, Kermit Tully was thinking:
What is the Dragon doing?
Harrenhal was the true center of the Riverlands, even arguably the center of the Seven Kingdoms. If the royal family controlled it, it would be like holding the Riverlands by the throat.
Even though the royal family had only appointed stewards to manage it for many years, and these stewards preferred villas and estates outside the city to staying in this eerie, massive castle.
So Harrenhal continued to be abandoned.
Now Viserys wanted to re-grant Harrenhal, and even find a suitable lord through a tourney.
This was too strange.
It wasn't wartime. What exactly did the Dragon want? Was there anything in the Riverlands worth their attention?
Kermit Tully fell into thought.
But Banji Cow Blackwood thought of something else.
Harrenhal was indeed important, but now it was a time of peace, and the royal family managing Harrenhal didn't require massive investment. Yet now they wanted to re-grant Harrenhal...
Harrenhal could monitor all the lords of the Riverlands; it was also the heartland of Westeros. After the Dance of the Dragons, all the lords of the Riverlands were close to the Varezes family.
After all, they had personally witnessed Vhagar's fall and knew Dragonzel's strength.
Moreover, Dragonzel had several powerful supporters, such as Lord Petyr Piper and his son, Marquis Forrest Frey, and Banji Cow himself, as well as Duke Kermit Tully.
Together, they formed the new order of the Riverlands after the war, and it was through their maintenance that the decrees from King's Landing flowed unimpeded through the Riverlands during Dragonzel's regency.
Was Prince Viserys planning to intervene in the Riverlands' order after the Dance of the Dragons?
Banji considered this implication.
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