Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

Although Lady Alerie Hightower didn't feature prominently in the book, Lynd was deeply impressed by her character. This woman had lived with her sharp-tongued mother-in-law, the Queen of Thorns, for decades, yet her demeanor and character remained unaffected. Truly, her resilience and temperament were beyond imagination.

House Hightower stood as one of the most powerful families in The Reach. Its lineage wasn't just the oldest in the region but among the oldest in all of Westeros. Their ancestors had begun settling the land ages ago, and to some degree, nearly all the prominent lords and nobles of The Reach carried Hightower blood in their veins.

When the Queen of Thorns arranged for Lord Mace to marry a lady of House Hightower, it was undoubtedly one of her wisest decisions. This alliance with House Hightower ensured that ambitious Reach lords, like House Florent, were forced to suppress their schemes.

"Lynd? You're Lynd the Bearhunter!" Loras exclaimed in surprise when he heard the Lady address Lynd.

"Loras, you should address him as Ser Lynd," the Lady gently corrected, patting Loras on the head.

"I'm sorry, Ser Lynd," Loras quickly apologized.

"It's alright," Lynd replied nonchalantly.

At that moment, Vortimer emerged from the castle's inner ring. He paused when he noticed the garden pavilion bustling with people and, after spotting the Lady standing beside Lynd, quickly approached to pay his respects.

"Lord Vortimer, weren't you supposed to escort Ser Lynd to meet the Lord? Why have you left him here alone?" the Lady inquired with a hint of suspicion.

Vortimer explained the situation and then addressed Lynd directly. "The Lord felt it was inconvenient to meet, but he's already arranged your accommodations. I'll take you there now. Also, the reason you've been called back temporarily is that you're needed for guard duty. I'll explain more on the way."

Lynd remained unfazed by Vortimer's words. To him, avoiding Lord Mace meant he wouldn't have to deal with the envious courtiers surrounding the Lord.

However, the Lady frowned, clearly displeased with her husband's treatment of Lynd. Despite her dissatisfaction, she refrained from openly challenging the Lord's decision. Instead, she turned to Vortimer. "Where has the Lord arranged for Ser Lynd to stay?"

"The garrison barracks in the outer city," Vortimer replied.

The Lady frowned again, contemplating the matter. "I recall the Goldenrose Courtyard outside the castle has been vacant for some time. Ser Lynd can stay there for now."

"But…" Vortimer hesitated, clearly uneasy.

"If anyone questions it, say it was my decision," the Lady asserted firmly. She then turned to her head maid. "Send someone to escort Ser Lynd to the Goldenrose Courtyard and instruct the staff there not to neglect him."

Smiling at Lynd, she added, "I hope you find the Goldenrose Courtyard to your liking. I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me."

Taking a child by the hand, she departed from the pavilion, leading her entourage away.

As she left, Vortimer remarked enviously, "You're a lucky man, getting to stay in the Goldenrose Courtyard."

"Is the Goldenrose Courtyard special?" Lynd asked, puzzled.

Vortimer provided a brief explanation. "It was built by House Tyrell as a summer residence."

At that moment, a maid arrived in a hurry, bowed, and informed them that she had been instructed by the Lady to escort Lynd to the Goldenrose Courtyard.

Before departing, Vortimer summoned a guard and headed to the outer wall's guardroom, where he fetched Jon, who was waiting there. The group then exited through the east city gate, requested horses from the gate guards, and began their journey.

The road to the Goldenrose Courtyard was quiet, likely because it was nearing evening. Only a few farmers and farm women could be seen tending to the farmlands and orchards on either side of the path.

It was already evening when the group arrived at the Goldenrose Courtyard, the perfect time for the estate to reveal its full splendor. The setting sun cast its golden light on the clusters of golden roses both inside and outside the manor, making each bloom gleam as though crafted from gold.

Goldenrose Courtyard, situated at the foot of a hill on Highgarden's outskirts, owes much of its charm to the natural springs on the hill. These springs feed into water channels that merge into a stream, which flows into an artificial lake excavated at the hill's base. The heart of Goldenrose Courtyard lies beside this tranquil lake.

In contrast to the opulent marble grandeur of Highgarden's castle, the Goldenrose Courtyard is a study in simplicity. Constructed entirely of wood, it avoids excessive decoration or elaborate carvings. Instead, its beauty lies in its naturally growing gardens and modestly furnished rooms, creating an atmosphere where anyone, from noble lords to humble beggars, could feel at ease.

The Lady had arranged for Lynd to stay in the Mirror Lake Hall Lake within the Goldenrose Courtyard, rather than the Torch Tower where most guests were accommodated. This choice subtly signaled that Lynd was regarded as a valued adviser to the house.

After the maid departed, Lynd instructed the servants to prepare fresh meat for Glory. He then removed his weapons and armor, carefully placing them on the armor stand and weapon rack in his room.

"Those two swords…" Vortimer's sharp eyes caught something unusual about Lynd's swords. He gestured toward them, silently asking for permission to inspect them.

Lynd nodded. "These two swords are a bit special, so handle them carefully."

Though Vortimer did not yet know what made the swords unique, he heeded Lynd's warning. As soon as he gripped the hilt of one, a sharp, biting cold surged through his palm, spreading up his arm until it felt nearly frozen and numb. Startled, he instinctively released the sword. The moment he let go, the cold dissipated, but the lingering chill in his arm made it clear how potent the effect had been.

Rolling up his sleeve, Vortimer examined his arm and noticed faint signs of frostbite. "What's going on?" he asked, still in shock.

"That sword carries magical properties," Jon interjected with a smirk. He had once made the same mistake of touching the Banished Knight's great sword out of curiosity, and seeing Vortimer now suffer a similar fate brought him a degree of satisfaction.

"A magical sword?" Vortimer's expression shifted to one of bewilderment as he tried to comprehend.

Lynd observed the scene and realized that the Dragon Rune Magic imbued in the Banished Knight's great sword affected individuals differently. For instance, Nymeria had experienced only a mild chill and had even managed to lift and swing the sword without difficulty. In contrast, Vortimer and Jon had felt the freezing cold spread so intensely that prolonged contact might have caused serious harm.

As the numbness in Vortimer's arm finally subsided, he eyed the great sword with lingering apprehension. Yet his curiosity about the weapon only grew stronger, now coupled with a desire to see the blade unsheathed.

Lynd seemed to understand Vortimer's thoughts. Without a word, he drew one of the Banished Knight's swords and placed it before him.

"Is this Valyrian steel?" Vortimer exclaimed, immediately recognizing the unmistakable rippled patterns of the blade.

As a seasoned master-at-arms from a lineage steeped in the tradition of swordsmanship, Vortimer knew the significance of a Valyrian steel blade. Such weapons were coveted treasures for any warrior or knight. Even noble lords longed to acquire one, often spending their lives searching in vain.

For example, the Lords of House Tyrell had scoured the world for a Valyrian steel sword to add to their armory, yet their efforts remained fruitless.

However, Lynd now possessed a knight's greatsword made of Valyrian steel, leaving Vortimer momentarily speechless. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, Vortimer pointed to the other greatsword of the Banished Knight and asked, "That one isn't also made of Valyrian steel, is it?"

"Yes, my lord," Lynd confirmed with a nod.

Hearing this, Vortimer's mind went completely blank. He briefly wondered if he was dreaming, so surreal was the revelation.

"Have you found Valyrian treasure?" he finally managed to ask, the question reflecting the only plausible explanation he could think of.

"No," Lynd replied, shaking his head. "These two knightly swords and this armor were all gifts from friends."

Vortimer found Lynd's answer almost absurd. In the Seven Kingdoms, even a lord as wealthy and powerful as Tywin, the Warden of the West, wouldn't simply gift away a Valyrian steel sword. It sounded like a casual deflection, almost too implausible to take seriously. Yet, contradicting his rational judgment, Vortimer's intuition suggested that Lynd might indeed be telling the truth, that these treasures really had been given to him by friends.

Unable to suppress a pang of envy, Vortimer muttered, "Introduce me to your friends as well?"

Lynd shook his head lightly and replied, "You wouldn't like my friends. No, actually, you definitely wouldn't like them. You're too different from them."

Realizing there was no point in pushing further, Vortimer let the matter drop. His gaze shifted back to the greatsword, and he asked what material the hilt was made from.

"Dragonbone," Lynd answered.

Vortimer fell silent again. While the revelation wasn't as earth-shattering as before, it still struck him like being hit with a bag of golden dragons. He took a deep breath to steady his emotions and gestured for Lynd to put the sword back on the rack. Feeling that even this wasn't enough, he instructed Jon to fetch a cloth to cover the weapon, thoroughly adhering to the principle of "out of sight, out of mind."

Once his composure returned, Vortimer gave a stern reminder. "Try not to let anyone know you have two Valyrian steel swords, or you'll be inviting trouble."

"It's fine. I'm not afraid of trouble anymore," Lynd replied with a faint smile.

Vortimer was taken aback by Lynd's calm confidence but decided not to press further. Instead, he shifted the conversation back to the pressing matters at hand.

Turning to Jon, who had remained nearby, Vortimer continued, "Earlier, the Lord wanted you to bring Glory to the council hall, but some people stopped you. While they claimed their concern was that Glory posed a danger and that the Lord couldn't be risked, their real motive was jealousy—jealousy that you're on the cusp of becoming a knight with property."

Lynd's smile turned wry. "I didn't realize I'd become so unpopular already. I haven't even set foot in Highgarden, and I've somehow managed to make enemies there."

"Enemies? Don't flatter yourself," Vortimer said with a faint smirk. "Your achievements in Tumbleton have gone to your head. To them, you're not an enemy—just a minor annoyance. They might dislike you, but it's not worth their effort to plot against you. You're not important enough to be invited to their games, let alone to sit at their table."

"You're really hurting my feelings here," Lynd said dryly, though his face betrayed no sign of offense. It was clear he wasn't taking Vortimer's remarks to heart.

Vortimer fixed Lynd with a cold stare and continued, "The main reason for bringing you from Tumbleton to Highgarden this time is for Lord Willas's upcoming trip to Dorne in a few days. You will serve as his escort to ensure his safety along the way."

"Is it the tournament in Godsgrace?" Lynd asked, seeking confirmation.

Vortimer paused, momentarily stunned, before narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "How do you know?"

"A friend guessed it while we were traveling," Lynd replied casually.

"You seem to have plenty of friends," Vortimer said, his tone carrying a slightly pointed undertone as he gave Lynd a meaningful look. He continued, "Originally, this had nothing to do with you. I am responsible for Lord Willas's safety, and several knights from noble houses in The Reach will also accompany us. These knights are all well-known and have proven themselves in tournaments across the region. However, your reputation as the so-called 'number one swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms' doesn't sit well with some people. Combined with how smoothly things went for you in Tumbleton, there are concerns you might complete the anti-bandit mission too quickly and claim the rewards. To delay you, they recommended you for the position of captain of the guard for this trip, effectively stalling your mission."

As Vortimer finished, Lynd couldn't help but smile faintly. Those envious of him had no idea that delaying the anti-bandit mission was exactly what he wanted. Extending the mission's duration gave him the opportunity to reap greater rewards and build a more secure foundation for himself. While these actions were intended to inconvenience him, the outcome was favorable, and Lynd found no reason to feel angered.

Vortimer went on, "There is one more thing I need to warn you about. On the journey to Dorne, you're likely to face provocations from the knights traveling with us. No matter how insulted or angry you may feel, you must not respond with excessive force. These knights are not like the ones sworn to House Tyrell under oath. They come from the service of various Lords, and some might even be heirs to noble houses. Striking too hard could cause significant trouble."

Hearing this, Lynd's expression shifted subtly. A faint frown appeared, and a look of unease crossed his face.

Vortimer leaned in slightly, his tone dropping as he added, "There's something else you should be aware of. Lord Willas's main objective in visiting Godsgrace Castle is to negotiate peace with Dorne. This mission is controversial. Many in The Reach oppose it, and plenty in Dorne do as well. You should expect attacks and assassinations along the way. Casualties are... inevitable."

"I understand, my lord," Lynd replied with a composed smile.

Vortimer gave him another sharp look. "I didn't say anything. So, what exactly do you understand?"