Chapter 189: The Ringol Expedition (XI) Undercurrents in the Riverlands

"We are just three knights of the hedge, who are at home all over the world."

Lingol looked into the eyes of the three of them and said without any emotion: "It's not impossible to bring you with me, but what can you bring us?"

He raised his arm and showed off Rhaegon and Alarion: "I have my two attendants, and there is no shortage of swords and horses."

And we can only provide swords and war horses. "Beautiful Man" Albin lowered his head in frustration. But at this time, "Hyena" Kane spoke.

"Ser Regon." He looked at Ringol. "I am a native of the Riverlands. My father and grandfather are all Mulders. Both my grandfather and father once served the Strong family. However, after Earl Leonor died unexpectedly, Sir Simon dismissed my father and me. , we traveled all over the Riverlands, and after my father died, I also traveled to the Dales and the North."

He pointed at James "Scar": "Old Scar is from the Western Region. He is familiar with the mountains of the Western Region, just like he is familiar with every ring on his mail and every copper plate in his purse."

"And the heads I've chopped off and the women I've slept with over the years, Sir Lei Gen." Old James smiled, showing his broken and yellowed teeth: "I'm familiar with every mountain and every tree stump in the Western Territory. Sir, if you want to go to the West, I am the best guide." He pointed at Kane: "If you want to go to the North, the Riverlands or the Valley, he is a very good guide. Sir, I dare to ask you. You promise, he will do it better than anyone else."

Ringol thought for a while and realized that he really needed a guide, especially one who was familiar with the conditions in each area. Originally, they planned to find guides on the spot, but two old mercenaries were not impossible.

Albin was a little frustrated. He was nothing. Whether he was a guide or a thug, he was not very good. Just when he felt that Lingol would not accept him, Lingol spoke.

"I can allow you to follow us," he said, "but there is one condition."

All three of them pricked up their ears.

"You must obey my orders."

"That's natural."

"Very good." Ringol did not say the next word.

You also must keep my rewards and punishments.

He threw a wineskin to the three wandering knights, which was filled with wine of quite good quality. "Follow us."

Old James opened the wine bag, took a deep breath, and sighed with enjoyment on his face.

It is indeed a fine wine.

The kind that only he could buy a glass of when he was at his richest.

Now there is a whole bag.

Before Old James could enjoy a sip, the wine bag was snatched away by Lei Geng. The silver-haired boy looked at him warily and said to himself, "Giving the wine to a drunkard, is your Highness testing people's hearts?" He threw the wineskin to Albin.

"This is to refresh you on the way." Alarion said in a rough voice: "Our horses in the border area are fast, don't lose track of us." He glanced at the three of them: "Follow the lost horse or not."

"I understand, I understand."

The three of them hurriedly followed Lingol and the others.

Crossing the King's Road, they could overlook King's Landing.

King's Landing in the 141st year of the Conquest Calendar has changed greatly. The Red Keep still stands proudly in the center of Aegon's Hill, but the Red Keep is no longer the cramped castle it was back then. After the efforts of Prince Daemon and Ronzel, Today's Red Fort has more than doubled in size, the interior space is wider, and many new buildings have been added.

Over the dragon's lair, two young giant dragons were playing and fighting, but they did not leave the scope of the dragon's lair, nor did they interfere with the normal life of the citizens of King's Landing.

The dome of the Jakaris Cathedral shines brightly in the sun. Even if you look there from a distance, you can still see the people worshiping all around.

Today's Flea Bottom in King's Landing is no longer the filthy place it once was, but has become a pretty good neighborhood, although it is still messy.

The whole King's Landing is much tidier.

They did not enter the city, but directly crossed the Blackwater River and headed towards the Riverlands.

Harrenhal at this time.

This huge, charred castle has been without an owner for more than ten years, and the halls of several towers that were originally well-maintained are also in danger.

Ravens nested on the stone walls of the castle, mushrooms filled the dark corners, and countless plants reoccupied the huge castle after the people left. There are spooky sounds here every night. Locals say the castle is haunted, and the legend of the curse of Harrenhal is getting more and more intense as people add fuel to the fire.

But people still can't resist desire.

The princes of the Riverlands gathered at Harrenhal in advance, and what they wanted to discuss was a major event.

Prince Viserys financed a tourney at Harrenhal.

Harrenhal needs a new owner, and this owner must be a loyal dog of the royal family.

So he has to choose the right person on the battlefield.

Of course, Viserys didn't have time to organize the tourney himself, so he entrusted Lord Tully of the Riverlands to take care of it.

These are the same people who are now gathered in a relatively clean hall.

Lord Petyr Piper is still alive, but he is already a dying old man, but he is still there in person to do one last thing for the Piper family.

Earl Benjiko Blackwood has grown into a tall and thin young man. He is still young at the age of 23, but his terrifying temperament still makes everyone who approaches him feel cold. He has not married yet, and no one knows why.

Earl Bracken stood in the corner, looking at Benjiko unwillingly. After the Dance of the Dragons, the Bracken family was seriously injured, and the Blackwood family made a lot of money because of their excellent performance in the war, although they lost the patriarch. Benjiko became a world-famous knight, his aunt Alysanne became the wife of the Duke of Winterfell, and now she has given birth to an heir for the Duke of Cleggan, and his uncle William Blackwood is now King Aegon's Kingsguard. The Blackwood family also annexed a lot of the borders between the two families.

But Earl Bracken can only accept it, because this is indeed earned by the Blackwood family with blood.

But Bracken also bleeds

Although the Bracken family also received land rewards, it was not the area contested with the Blackwood family, and it always felt a bit strange to eat it.

In short, Lord Bracken felt it was very abnormal.

Lord Darry and Lord Mallister were busy lighting the fireplace, bringing some warmth back to the cold hall.

"Everyone." Lord Kermit Tully looked at his vassals, interrupting their silence and conversation. "Prince Viserys wants to appoint a new Lord of Harrenhal."

He looked at everyone.

"Does anyone of you have the will?"

But what Kermit Tully was thinking in his heart was.

What is the real dragon doing?

Harrenhal is the real center of the riverlands, and it can even be said to be the center of the seven kingdoms. The royal family controls this place, which is equivalent to strangling the throat of the riverlands.

Even though the royal family has only sent stewards to manage this place for so many years, the stewards prefer villas and manors outside the city to staying in this weird and huge castle.

So Harrenhal continued to be abandoned.

Now Viserys wants to redivide Harrenhal, or find a suitable lord in the form of a tournament

This is too strange.

It's not a war time. What do the real dragons want to do? Is there anything in the riverlands that deserves their attention?

Kermit Tully fell into thought.

But Benjiko Blackwood thought of another thing.

Harrenhal is indeed important, but now is a peaceful era. The royal family does not need to invest a lot of money to manage Harrenhal, but now they want to re-enfeoff Harrenhal.

Harrenhal can monitor all the princes in the three river basins, and it is also the heart of Westeros. After the Dance of the Dragons, the princes of the entire riverlands are close to the Varese family.

After all, they witnessed the fall of Vhagar with their own eyes and knew the strength of Dragonzir.

Moreover, Dragonzir has several powerful supporters. For example, Earl Petyr Piper and his son, Lord Forrest Frey, Benjiko himself, and Duke Kermit Tully.

Together, they formed a new order in the riverlands after the war. It was also under their maintenance that the decrees of King's Landing were carried out unimpeded in the riverlands during the regency of Dragonzel.

Did Prince Viserys intend to interfere with the order of the riverlands after the Dance of the Dragons?

Benji Ko thought of this.