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"Alright, everyone," Lord Kermit tapped the stone wall. It wasn't that he didn't want to tap a table, but the original tables in the hall had rotted away. Still, the lords gave their lord face. When he spoke, they all looked at him.
They couldn't not give him face. Lord Kermit had truly fought alongside the great lords of the Riverlands on the battlefield, especially since he had forged good relations with Lord Benjicot Blackwood and Lord Forrest Frey, which made Kermit one of the few powerful governors of the Riverlands in Tully family history.
Kermit Tully looked at the lords present, secretly calculating the possible alignment of factions. Although the Varezes family had left King's Landing, Dragonzel was not Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra's biggest mistake back then was that as Crown Princess, she did not actively control the situation in King's Landing. She left King's Landing, but her residence was Dragonstone, an island that could be reached from King's Landing and back within a day by boat, let alone the fact that she had a dragon and her husband also had one. Yet, she allowed King's Landing to completely slip from her control. Ultimately, she didn't even know about Viserys's death immediately, which led to her falling behind at the start of the Dance of the Dragons.
In fact, what made these participating lords lament even more afterwards was not just these things.
The Gold Cloaks of King's Landing were Daemon's brainchild, but when the "disobedient" Alicent, the "kinslayer" Aemond, the "kingmaker" Cole, and the Usurper Aegon launched their coup, this force failed to play any role. Ministers loyal to Rhaenyra were purged, and Rhaenyra remained on that nearby small island until Prince Lucerys was killed in battle, the Usurper withdrew from King's Landing, and Dragonzel returned before she finally decided to occupy King's Landing.
One can only say that Rhaenyra's political acumen was simply too low. But Dragonzel and Rhaenyra had a crucial difference: Dragonzel was not the Crown Prince; he had no interest in the Iron Throne and did not need to deploy too many forces in King's Landing.
Dragonzel had the Borderland Principality; that was his foundation.
But Rhaenyra, aside from her status, had nothing.
This was the essential difference between the two of them. Dragonzel could quietly observe the game of power in Westeros from his vast territories. He could easily mobilize no less than fifteen thousand elites and possessed the most powerful fleet on the Narrow Sea. His wealth surpassed all other kingdoms.
This was also the fundamental reason why Kermit and others could openly express their closeness to the Varezes family.
The Varezes family was strong enough.
Kermit looked at everyone, and the other lords also looked at Lord Kermit himself. Everyone was mentally categorizing others' alliances. Kermit himself wasn't exactly a staunch supporter of the Varezes faction; the first lords to respond to the Black Party's call had secretly grumbled about the Tully family's early vacillation, but both Lord Elmond and Lord Kermit's steadfastness dispelled their early wavering. So, he was also considered part of the so-called "Silver Dragon Party."
This was the definition given by Grand Maester Martin, later known as the "Historian," in his work The History of the Targaryen Dynasty, and by Dr. Samwell in his work Secret History: The Reign of Aegon II to Baelor I, used to describe the noble lords who were close to the Varezes family during this period.
Many in the Riverlands belonged to the Silver Dragon Party: Lord Forrest Frey, Lord Petyr Piper and his son Ser Stanton Piper, Lord Benjicot Blackwood, Lord Mallister, Lord Bracken, Lord Morton, and Lord Kermit Tully were all considered members of the Silver Dragon Party by later generations.
Meanwhile, the Vance family, the Bigglesworth family, the Chambers family, and House Darry were considered by later generations to be more inclined towards the royal family.
However, the lords present probably didn't see it that way. For example, Lord Frey, Lord Piper, and Lord Benjicot always stood together, somewhat at odds with Lord Bracken and Lord Morton, while Lord Darry and the two Vance lords watched the recent senseless arguments with cold eyes.
"Gentlemen, what we need to do is organize this tourney well." Lord Kermit stopped their senseless bickering. "His King and His Prince wish to select the new Lord of Harrenhal through this tourney. That is the purpose of this tourney."
"Lord Kermit," the Lord of Vance from Wayfarer's Rest exchanged a glance with Lord Darry and spoke, "But what about the money Prince promised?"
He took a step forward: "I remember Prince promised ninety thousand kinmony for the organization of the tourney, but, Lord," the Lord of Vance looked around and sighed, "I only see stone, no gold."
"Prince promised to allocate funds from the Royal Treasury after the tourney concludes," Lord Kermit said helplessly.
He never intended to pay for it.
At least until his goal was achieved, he hoped that they would pay for it.
Kermit Tully understood Viserys's thoughts clearly. They were all young men skilled in noble power plays; who wouldn't do such things? Of course, during periods when the Tully family, like the Tyrell family, had little control over their vassals, the Tully family couldn't do this. But now, Kermit could also experience the feeling of powerful lords conscripting their vassals.
However, he wouldn't go too far, as he knew very well that his current standing largely stemmed from camaraderie forged in battle, not from his family's power.
"So that means we have to pay for this?" The Lord of Vance from Atranta picked up the conversation: "Lord, that's ninety thousand kinmony! Moreover, given the current state of Harrenhal, ninety thousand kinmony is simply not enough."
"I know," Kermit took a deep breath. "That's why I came to you all, to explain this situation. The Harrenhal tourney requires us to contribute money and men." He looked at the nobles present.
The three staunch members of the Silver Dragon Party looked as if it had nothing to do with them, and the other lords also averted Kermit's gaze, but Kermit felt a bit relieved.
Even House Darry, the most loyal to the Prince, did not actively step forward, indicating that Viserys's obvious plan to weaken the Riverlands lords was already very clear.
Everyone could see what was going on.
Then there was no need to hide it. "The Tully family will bear these kinmony," Kermit continued.
He had the means to do so, because after he conveyed this intelligence to the Varezes family, the Silver Blood Bank agreed to lend the Tully family one hundred and fifty thousand kinmony at a very low interest rate, to prepare for the Harrenhal tourney.
The few who were privy to these matters exchanged knowing glances, continuing to quietly watch Lord Kermit detail their tasks to the lords of the Riverlands.
The moon chased away the sun, and the wind of the Riverlands whistled past the huge, ruined towers, echoing through the empty, vast castle like the sharp cries of demons from a wet nurse's lullaby.
Beneath the massive weirwood, Benjicot had just finished his prayers when he saw Lord Forrest Frey standing behind him.
"Ben, I've come to ask for your advice."
Benjicot suddenly raised his hand, gesturing for Lord Frey to let him guess: "If I'm not mistaken, Lady Sabitha hopes you'll contend for Harrenhal?"
"I know there's a curse there," Lord Frey sighed deeply, walked over to Benjicot, and sat down cross-legged. Benjicot looked at Forrest, then knelt and sat as well, patiently listening to Lord Frey ramble on about the Frey family's predicament.
Although in the Dance of the Dragons, House Frey successfully earned the respect of the lords of the Reach through their no-holds-barred support for the Black Party and Forrest's bravery on the battlefield.
But only the seven gods knew if this respect would fade with time; House Frey needed more.
Thus, the true helmswoman of House Frey, the fiery Lady Sabitha, set her sights on Harrenhal, but she also knew that Viserys's actions were certainly not simple, so she had been hesitant to make a decision.
Even though House Frey had already prepared its participating knights.
"I understand what you mean, Forrest." Benjicot also sighed inwardly.
Among the ancient nobles who insulted House Frey as "upstarts," my family was also included. I'm sorry, Forrest.
Benjicot thought to himself.
"I believe you've realized the true intention of this tourney. Prince Viserys wants the Riverlands to be more subservient to the King. After all, among the great nobles of the current Realm, the Martell family is close to the Royal Family, but the bond is maintained by the marriage of Lord Joffrey and Princess Alysanne, and has little to do with the Royal Family itself. House Dayne is too weak, and Prince Quinlan is closely related to Prince Dragonzel. The Stark family, House Lannister, and Arryn family are ancient and powerful, holding supreme status in their own territories, as does Prince Dragonzel."
He whispered, "Only the Riverlands and the Reach, because the Tully family and the Tyrell family were not formerly royal families, so they relied more on the Royal Family's recognition. But now it's different. The Tyrell family has leaned on Prince Dragonzel and formed an alliance through marriage with House Rowan."
Lord Forrest Frey nodded in agreement.
"The Royal Family needs to re-establish ties with the lords of various regions," Lord Frey said in a deep voice. "So Harrenhal is for someone sent by the Royal Family?"
Benjicot nodded: "Unless something unexpected happens, that's the case."
Frey accepted the answer with a hint of reluctance. He didn't linger, and after thanking Benjicot, he left the vicinity of the weirwood. Only Benjicot remained seated under the tree, lost in thought.
Your Highness, thank you for your teachings.
Benjicot thanked Dragonzel in his heart. During Dragonzel's years in King's Landing, he frequently visited King's Landing to pay his respects to Dragonzel and indeed learned a great deal.
For example, this intelligence. The title that the person ultimately selected in the tourney would hold.
Lord of Harrenhal. Commander of Gods Eye.
Prince Viserys, you seem a little too eager.
Benjicot looked at the weeping face on the weirwood and fell into thought.
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