Chapter 46: The Blackwing Company's Camp
Night fell, and the waning moon began to rise.
Under the cold moonlight, Ser Harrison's manor stood unusually exposed.
Six guards stood at the manor gate, fully armed and ready for battle.
Dorian stepped forward and the guards let him pass easily. Ian and the others followed him through the gate.
They passed the brightly lit sellsword camp in the manor yard and headed straight for Ser Harrison's castle.
People who saw a minor knight's castle for the first time were often disappointed, and Ian was no exception.
Though he'd been mentally prepared for an ordinary knight's circumstances, Ian—who'd only seen castles in movies or at famous European tourist sites—couldn't help but smirk when he actually saw this small, quaint 'castle' in Ser Harrison's manor.
In the books, when Ygritte first comes south of the Wall, she points to a windmill and asks Jon Snow if it's a castle. Jon tells her it's just a mill—that castles are much larger.
Ian couldn't help but wonder if Jon would still tell Ygritte it was a large windmill if he'd seen Ser Harrison's castle.
"Tonight will be a long night, ser," Dorian whispered to Ian.
"Let's go in." Ian raised his chin, motioning for Dorian to knock.
Dorian spurred his horse forward, and the sharp-eyed castle guards immediately recognized him.
"Ah, young Dorian, what brings you back at this hour? Second-in-command Kelvin arrived nearly three hours ago and is conferring with Ser Harrison inside." The old guard deftly took Dorian's reins and called for a younger guard to help stable the horses.
"My adoptive father is dead," Dorian said quietly. He suddenly felt like crying before the old guard who'd watched him grow up. But he knew this wasn't the time.
He'd returned to compete for command.
If he cried here, even if he later became the new Blackwing with Lannister gold, he'd be a laughingstock among these sellswords.
"The second already brought back that news." The old guard looked at Dorian, who was fighting back tears, unsure how to comfort him.
"It's all right, Uncle Kerry. I'm fine." Dorian forced a smile. "I'll avenge my adoptive father with my own hands," he declared loudly. "I'll become the new Blackwing!"
"Oh, Dorian!" Even the old guard shook his head, clearly surprised by such presumption.
"Go inside and announce us." Dorian pointed to Ian behind him. "This is Ser Lucien Lannister, my friend. He wishes to see Ser Harrison and Club—" he paused, not finishing the unfriendly nickname, "—and Uncle Kelvin."
"A Lannister knight?" The old guard glanced at Ian, nodded, and quickly turned to head inside.
Ian and the others waited outside the castle for some time, but the old guard never returned.
"This is taking too long," Dorian complained. "Normally such announcements take no more than two minutes! Ser Harrison must not want to see me!"
"Could it be that Ser Harrison and Clubfoot are discussing something important and don't want to be disturbed?" Ser Grayson suggested.
"If that were the case, wouldn't the old guard at least come back out?" Ian shook his head, dismissing the idea. If they were just talking, why would they keep the announcement guard inside?
"Dorian, should I go in and check for you?" another guard asked hurriedly.
"Go ahead." Dorian nodded, suppressing his anger.
"Ser Lucien," Roll, who'd been silent the entire ride, suddenly spurred forward to Ian's side. "I just saw a head duck past the second-floor window. Only for a moment, but someone's watching us."
This gave Ian a bad feeling. He suddenly remembered an old question: the Blackwing Company never appeared in the original novels.
If the previous Blackwing commander didn't appear because he'd died at the Crossroads Inn, then why didn't the newly elected commander appear either? Why didn't the company itself ever show up?
Is it possible that in the original timeline, a new Blackwing was never chosen, and the company simply disbanded due to internal conflict?
"Dorian, Ser Lucien," the second guard emerged quickly, his expression uneasy. "Ser Harrison and Second Kelvin are discussing something very important right now, and it's getting late. They hope to meet with you formally tomorrow morning." The guard's last words were directed at Ian. "May I escort you to the guest quarters to rest?"
"How dare they! This is Ser Lucien—" Dorian was about to invoke Ser Lucien's reputation to intimidate the guard, but Ian cut him off.
"We'll follow Ser Harrison's arrangements. I'm rather tired, so tomorrow sounds fine."
"This way, ser." The guard looked visibly relieved. "Ser Harrison's castle is small and hasn't many rooms, but we have a decent guest room in the rear courtyard."
"Don't trouble yourself." Ian raised his chin and pointed at Dorian. "He knows the way, doesn't he?"
"Ah? Yes, yes, ser." The guard nodded quickly.
"Of course, Ser Lucien. I'll take you there myself." Dorian wasn't exactly brilliant, but he wasn't stupid either. Though he didn't understand Ser Lucien's reasoning, he knew the man wouldn't do anything without purpose.
After bypassing Ser Harrison's castle, Ian and the others reached the rear courtyard.
Unlike the brightly lit camp in the front yard, the rear courtyard—usually reserved for important guests—was exceptionally deserted tonight, without even a single guard.
"You said earlier you could guarantee two company captains were on your side," Ian whispered to Dorian after looking around to confirm no one had followed. "Are they in this manor now?"
"Yes, they're both companies that operate from the main base, which is why I have such good relationships with them." Dorian looked puzzled by the question.
"Find them. No—take us to them."
"Aren't you planning to persuade Ser Harrison and Clubfoot directly? Why do you need them?"
"I'm worried there may only be one left between Clubfoot and Ser Harrison." Ian sneered. "Whose man is that old guard who went in to announce us?"
"My adoptive father's. Now he should be considered Clubfoot's man, or mine." Hearing Ian's suddenly stern tone, Dorian began to realize something serious might have just happened inside Ser Harrison's castle.
"And the second guard who went in?"
"One of Harrison's men."
"There are rats." Roll suddenly interrupted their conversation.
(End of Chapter)
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