Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 338 Imperial Guards - Five New Members

Barristan Selmy, captain of the Kingsguard, stepped forward, his snow-white armor appearing particularly solemn in the light.

His voice was steady, carrying an undeniable solemnity: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards suffered heavy losses in the War of the Usurper."

Currently, only Ser Jaime Lannister and I remain as White Knights in service. There are still five vacancies that urgently need to be filled.

Upon hearing this, a heavy shadow crossed Robert's rugged face. He sighed deeply, a sigh tinged with complex respect for his former adversaries, and a sobering resignation to reality: "Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, Ser Geralt Hightower, the White Bull—they were both paragons of chivalry, unparalleled in their time, exemplary in both martial skill and character." He shook his head, his tone somewhat desolate, "Such figures, I fear, could be found nowhere in the Seven Kingdoms today."

Arthur Dayne and Gerald Hightower, now clad in black robes, stand guard at the Wall, spending the rest of their lives atoning for their sins.

In a letter to Ashara a few days ago, I mentioned that Arthur Dayne is now the commander of the Rangers, and Gerald Hightower is the head instructor. Because of their presence, the Night's Watch has suddenly seen a surge in knights from various regions volunteering to join, fully demonstrating their status among the knights of the Seven Kingdoms.

Prince Oberyn Martell, the "Red Viper," also abandoned his usual languid demeanor and nodded earnestly in agreement. He mentioned, "Levin Martell, Jon Darryl, Oswell Hoan—they were all exceptionally capable, not only in their individual bravery but also in their leadership skills. Their departure is a loss to the entire kingdom."

Levin Martell, his uncle, was captured during the war and sent back to Dorne. Now, he is the head instructor of Sunspear, enjoying his retirement in his hometown. Jon Darryl died at the Battle of the Trident, killed by Euron himself. Oswell Heaney has returned to Harrenhal to care for the few remaining members of his bloodline.

Amidst an atmosphere of reminiscence and regret, Eddard Stark's calm voice rang out, steer the conversation back to the most practical needs: "While the past glories are certainly fondly remembered, what the King needs now is the loyal and reliable Kingsguard. The selection of such a person must be carefully considered."

His words set the tone for the discussion: while remembering the legend, we must also look to the future and find a new guardian for the Iron Throne.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment, until the Queen, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that had arisen from the discussion.

Cersei Lannister's voice was clear and calm, uttering five names in one swift motion with an unquestionable tone: "Ser Alex Oakhurst, Ser Boros Braun, Ser Manden Moore, Ser Maryn Tran, Ser Preston Greenfield." She slightly raised her chin, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd, and said, "They performed admirably at the tournament held to celebrate His Majesty's coronation and wedding. I believe they are worthy of being promoted to fill vacancies in the Kingsguard."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present became quite interesting, ranging from surprise and speculation to indifference, unease, doubt, and disdain, all of which were silently conveyed in their exchanged glances.

Robert frowned, struggling to recall his hazy, drunken memory. He had no recollection of the five names, nor any recollection of their "outstanding" performance. He turned impatiently to the blond white knight and gruffly asked, "Kingslayers! You fought alongside them, tell me, do these fellows deserve to wear the white robes?"

Jaime Lannister's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. A cruel judgment flashed through his mind: Them?

Hmph, if Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Dawn, were here, he could probably piss on that thing with one hand and easily knock all five of them to the ground with the other.

But when he looked up and met his sister Cersei's calm yet meaningful emerald eyes, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat. He lowered his eyes and replied in an emotionless tone, "Compared to the legends Your Majesty just mentioned, they are naturally far inferior. But—in the Seven Kingdoms today, they are still considered rare and quite outstanding warriors."

Robert was clearly dissatisfied with this ambiguous answer, and he turned his gaze to another true legend: "Barristan, what do you think?"

The old knight Barristan Selmy's eyes dimmed for a moment, as if he could see the supreme honor represented by that snow-white armor slowly fading into dust. He remained silent for a moment, finally letting out a heavy sigh, filled with endless helplessness, and said, "Something is better than nothing. Most importantly, loyalty!"

Robert scoffed at this near-utter abandon of principles. He waved his thick arm as if shooing away flies, and said with drunkenness and undisguised contempt, "These guys who can't even beat a Kingslayer, you expect them to protect me?! Don't expect me to protect them later!"

He was clearly uninterested in this and too lazy to delve any further. He casually waved his hand and made his decision: "Forget it! When have I, Robert Baratheon, ever needed anyone to protect me! Since my queen thinks they're capable, let them take on the role for now." He paused, then added dismissively, "Anyway, they're just useless decorations."

Jon Arryn surveyed the newly selected members of the Imperial Council and said in a deep voice, "Now that the candidates have been chosen, let's have our first brief Imperial Council meeting today." He paused slightly, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen, "I just received some not-so-good news—"

He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "The Iron Treasury originally intended to lend the royal family two million gold dragons, but four days ago, on the night of His Majesty's wedding, the entire fleet, along with the ships, encountered a storm near Giant Reef Bay. It has been confirmed—all two million gold dragons sank into the sea!"

"Two million gold dragons?! They've sunk to the bottom of the sea!?" Duke Mace Tyrell exclaimed in shock.

This news was like a boulder thrown into calm water. All eyes in the meeting, filled with surprise, speculation, and even a hint of unspoken understanding, involuntarily and unanimously turned to Euron, who sat calmly to the side.

Greyjoy.

After all, the vast ocean and the word "storm" inevitably evoke images of the "Lord of the Sea Monsters," who was recently granted the title of Duke of Harrenhal.

Feeling the gazes closing in, Euron cleared his throat twice, a mixture of innocence and offense on his face. He shrugged and asked casually, "Why are you all looking at me? Weren't we drinking together all night? His Majesty was completely drunk, and it was Lord Eddard and I who carried him back to the bridal chamber. Barristan and Ser Jaime can testify to that. Did you expect me to be in two places at Great Reef Bay, stirring up trouble?"