chapter 195 part 1
Chapter 195: Blood of My Blood 4
Jon Snow cracked a small smile and teased, "Young Griff, you seem quite shy?"
After a moment's thought, he figured he wasn't much better off himself and added, "At least, a little more than I am."
Young Griff laughed aloud, then paused and said, "Jon, when I first realized the difference between boys and girls, my father taught me that in this life, I am to love only my wife, with my body as well as my heart."
Jon's steps faltered. He deeply agreed with this sentiment; he had once secretly sworn that he would absolutely never have a bastard.
Jon was not one for praising others. "Young Griff, your father is a... a good father."
Young Griff smiled as he looked at the serious-faced Jon. "Aren't you curious how old I was then?"
"How old?"
Young Griff's tone sounded a little uncertain. "Seven, or maybe eight."
Young Griff had a very approachable charm. After this period of contact, Jon had long come to consider him a friend, so he spoke in a relaxed manner.
He grinned. "A little late, wasn't it?"
Young Griff first feigned a wounded sigh, then they both burst into laughter.
…
Leaving the docks, the tall Rolly surveyed the surroundings and said, "You two find a place to eat nearby. I'll go get the horses."
Jon reached out a hand to stop Rolly from leaving. "Let me handle it."
Young Griff shrugged slightly and pointed to a tavern not far away. "Rolly and I will wait for you there."
Jon glanced in the direction Young Griff indicated, nodded, and set off towards the horse traders.
Once Jon's figure had disappeared, Rolly spoke up, "Your Highness, do you like Jon very much?"
Young Griff's brow furrowed slightly. "Remember, my name is Young Griff."
Rolly scratched the back of his head. "I'll remember, hehe."
Young Griff reached out and patted Rolly's sturdy arm. As they walked, he said, "He is very pure. I had hoped he could become the next Orys, but who can guarantee how things will turn out..."
Orys was rumored to be the bastard brother of Aegon I. He was one of Aegon I's most formidable commanders, the founder of House Baratheon, and one of Aegon's few close personal friends.
He murmured, "Rolly, I came this time just to see my few relatives from afar. I have come only to observe this time."
…
The sun hung high in the sky as the three of them rode toward Pentos. The horses beneath them snorted from time to time, their hooves striking the hard, cracked earth with crisp sounds, kicking up clouds of dust.
As night fell, they set up a tent in an open space by the roadside and lit a campfire.
Jon wiped the hot sweat from his forehead and cheeks. At that moment, he greatly missed the cold winds of the North.
Jon took the wineskin that was tossed to him and took a long swig, letting out a satisfied breath. He glanced at Young Griff.
Despite having traveled for half a day, Young Griff showed no signs of being disheveled or weary. His bearing remained elegant and noble... A bastard must learn to read people. In truth, Jon had long sensed that this friend of his was a man of extraordinary birth.
Noble... Jon retracted his gaze. If Young Griff was unwilling to speak of it, he wouldn't deliberately pry or guess.
Rolly's rough voice rang out, "Damn it, I wish the days were as cool as the nights..."
Rolly's complaint felt familiar, and Jon couldn't help but smile... Every time there was a feast at Winterfell, Lord Eddard would specially permit each child to have one cup of wine, but no more. In contrast, when he was with the retainers and servants, no one cared how much he drank. They would sit at the end of the great hall, drinking cup after cup in high spirits, listening to each other's boasts about battles, hunts, and illicit affairs. At those times, he felt it was a special privilege reserved only for bastards.
Jon shook his head inwardly... How could a lowly bastard possibly understand what nobility was?
As the night deepened, the three of them sat around the campfire.
Young Griff glanced at the simple map in his hand and said, "In about three days, we should be able to enter the city."
Rolly nodded in agreement. "The heir of the true dragon..."
He looked at the smiling but silent Jon and added, "Jon, are you planning to participate in the tourney?"
Jon shook his head slightly. "I'll just be a spectator."
He asked in return, "Rolly, will you be participating?"
Rolly shook his head. "My duty is to protect Young Griff. And, while I'm at it, to see if the silver-haired princess of the true dragon's family is as beautiful as the rumors say."
A cold light flashed in the depths of Young Griff's eyes. He smiled and said, "I hope you find what you're looking for."
Jon hesitated for a moment, then said, "You will. It's said that all the Targaryens are very good-looking."
Young Griff's pupils trembled slightly. "Then I'm relieved. It won't be a wasted trip."
Rolly laughed heartily. "Getting to see the legendary Beggar King won't be a wasted trip either."
He then added mysteriously, "I heard the Beggar King sold his mother's crown to maintain appearances, and he even planned to sell the silver-haired princess to the Dothraki in exchange for an army."
Jon was stunned, saying in disbelief, "Rolly, I've heard the Dothraki are savages. He would really trade his own sister to savages for an army?"
Rolly stretched out a large hand and scratched his head. "Maybe the brother and sister don't have a good relationship?"
Young Griff chuckled softly. "To be precise, all he has left to sell is a sister."
Jon thought of Arya and Sansa. He had always been very close with the youngest, Arya. And although Sansa had never given him a kind look, he had never once thought of harming her.
Jon thought back to what he had seen and heard in the Red Keep. He said, "Perhaps to him, power is more important than his own family."
Jon added silently in his heart: *What a fool.*
Young Griff's pupils shifted slightly. "Jon, you seem to see this sort of thing as... rather commonplace?"
Jon was silent for a while before he answered honestly, "I took care of horses in the Red Keep... I heard many similar stories there."
Rolly leaned forward. "The Red Keep you speak of, is that the royal palace in Westeros?"
Jon gave a slight nod.
Rolly pressed, "Ha, Jon, I'm really curious. Tell us about it."
Young Griff's gaze also shifted to Jon. It seemed he was also very interested in hearing more.