Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 282 The Iron Treasury Visits

The immense, almost absurd size of Harrenhal reveals its value at this moment.

After the allied forces completely occupied the giant fortress, all their troops were able to be stationed there.

Harrenhal was large enough to hold an army of 50,000, and its halls, barracks, and courtyards still seem more than adequate today.

The allied forces gathered here today:

The Northern army, led by Eddard Stark, brought ten thousand resolute Northerners.

The troops in the Riverlands, loyal to Duke Horst Tully, numbered a total of eight thousand.

The Vale Knights and infantry, under the banner of Lord Jon Arryn, numbered ten thousand.

The Ironborn of the Iron Islands, following Euron Greyjoy, number three thousand valiant men. The rest sail the high seas, using Ironborn longships to fight against the King's other naval forces.

The Dornish pikemen and cavalry, led by Prince Oberyn Martell, numbered six thousand.

Despite their defeats, the Legion of Stormlands has regrouped under Robert Baratheon and now boasts four thousand warriors.

The combined forces of six parties, numbering nearly 40,000, still failed to fill Harrenhal's capacity. The castle's courtyards, barracks, and even some halls were filled with soldiers, and the banners of various families flew on the walls and towers, announcing the change of ownership of this legendary fortress.

A solemn and dignified joint funeral was held in the courtyard of Harrenhal.

Flames engulfed rows of pyres, containing members of the He'an family and their loyal soldiers, as well as allied soldiers who had fallen in the siege.

Smoke and mourning rose together into the gloomy sky; war is equally cruel to everyone.

Robert Baratheon stood before the crowd, his towering figure appearing like a god of war in the firelight. His voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the silent square, recounting once again the atrocities of Aerys II—from the persecution of nobles to the massacre of the innocent, each crime igniting the fury in the eyes of the soldiers present.

In his impassioned accusations, one name and one tragedy were deliberately omitted. Robert made no mention of Ariane Heaney's ordeal, of the humiliation and hope she was forced to endure.

This is not forgetting, but a silent act of kindness.

He knew that if this matter were made public, it would be a greater humiliation than defeat and death for the He'an family, which had just lost its head and was on the verge of collapse.

Some wounds need to be buried beneath dignity.

Sheila Rivers, wife of the Earl of Walter, stood quietly at the head of the family procession. She had heard Robert's speech and understood the meaning behind the deliberately left blank spaces. She glanced in Robert's direction, her eyes devoid of hatred, filled only with endless weariness and a hint of indescribable gratitude.

As night fell, the ravens flapped their wings, bringing the latest news from King's Landing, stirring up a ripple of unease among the Allied high command in Harrenhal.

The news has been confirmed that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen has returned to the Red Keep, but none of the intelligence related to this has mentioned Lyanna Stark's whereabouts, because Lyanna has not appeared in King's Landing at all, there is no news about Lyanna's whereabouts, and even her fate is unknown.

What's even more thought-provoking is that the three Kingsguard members who had always been by Rhaegar's side—Captain Geralt Hightower, Ser Arthur Dayne, known as the "Sword of the Morning," and Ser Oswell Hoan—did not return to King's Landing with their prince.

With a great battle imminent, the simultaneous absence of these three of the kingdom's most elite knights was itself an extremely unusual sign.

Euron Greyjoy listened to this intelligence and knew perfectly well that Lyanna Stark was being hidden in the Tower of Joy on the frontier of Dorne, where the three missing Kingsguard were faithfully guarding her.

But Euron chose to remain silent. Now was not the time to reveal this secret. He simply could not explain to Robert, and especially to Eddard Stark, how he had learned of this secret that even Varys' intelligence network might not have been able to reach.

This intelligence was like a dangerous poison; it had to be held in his hands and used with the utmost precision at the most crucial moment. Euron could only allow suspicion and anxiety to spread among his allies, waiting for a better opportunity.

The news that "Rhaegar has returned to King's Landing, but Lady Lyanna's whereabouts are unknown and her fate is uncertain" instantly shattered the joy of victory.

Eddard Stark, upon hearing this, seemed frozen by the northern winds. He didn't roar, nor did he press for answers; he simply lowered his grey eyes, his knuckles white from clenching his fists. All his anxiety and fear were locked within his silent, restrained exterior, only the slightly trembling wine glass betraying the turbulent emotions within him.

Robert Baratheon's reaction was quite the opposite. He slammed his silver goblet against the wall, the precious wine splattering like blood onto the stone. "Rhaegar!!" he roared like a wounded stag, his fury nearly lifting the roof off, "Where has he hidden my Lyanna?! I'll skin him alive!"

This oppressive anxiety and burning anger, like heavy clouds, shrouded the banquet that should have been a celebration of victory. The long table was laden with fine food and wine, yet no one had a real appetite; the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive. Laughter vanished, leaving only the awkward clatter of cutlery and Robert's heavy breathing.

In the midst of this awkward silence, a soldier strode into the hall and broke the deadlock with a loud announcement: "My lords, the Iron Treasury's messenger, Tetsu Nestorth, is outside the fortress requesting a visit to the rebel leader, Robert."

Robert's roar had barely faded when the news of the Iron Bank's envoy requesting an audience came like a strange interlude, leaving him stunned.

He muttered gruffly, "Me? What does the Iron Treasury want with me? I've never dealt with those Braavos men who count copper coins!"

The seasoned Jon Arryn gently stroked his wine glass and explained, "Robert, as far as I know, this messenger went to King's Landing before coming here. He went to collect a debt, but Aerys's treasury is already empty."

Robert's brow furrowed even more, like a child bewildered by complicated accounts: "King's Landing has no money? What does that have to do with me?"

Euron Greyjoy, standing nearby, let out a low chuckle and said, "This is the law that has kept the Iron Bank standing for centuries, my dear Robert. When a king defaults on his debts, they immediately turn around and fund that king's enemies."

Robert's eyes lit up instantly, like a bear spotting fresh meat: "Oh? You mean, they're here to deliver a golden dragon to us?"

"Yes and no." Euron's smile was enigmatic, his words like a riddle.

At this point, Lord Jon Snow finally burst into laughter, his laughter laced with the scorn of someone who had seen it all: "Robert, Robert, all you think about is warhammers and wine! There's no such thing as a free gold dragon. It's a loan! Not just a loan, but with hefty interest, and you'll have to pay it back! And," he paused deliberately, emphasizing his words, "I'm afraid you'll also have to shoulder that rotten debt Aerys owes!"

Robert was completely bewildered by the string of "borrowing," "interest," and "billion-bearing." He waved his hand dismissively, saying with a mixture of impatience and pure curiosity, "Alright! Let the messenger in! I want to hear for myself what he has to say!"

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