Chapter 53: Local Leader Wilder (Part I)
Led by a young squire, Ian and his companions entered the Wards' "castle hall"—a wood and mud-brick structure even shabbier than the Blackwing castle.
"Welcome, Ser Lucien Lannister." Before Ian entered the castle, Jeyne Hyde, niece of Masha the innkeeper of the Crossroads Inn, had already informed the castle's owner of his identity as "Ser Lucien."
"I am Ser Wilder Grey." But it wasn't the castle's owner who spoke first—it was Ser Wilder, the local knight alliance leader who'd reportedly seen the black three-headed dragon sigil on the bandits.
He was an older knight, his beard already graying, but he looked as vigorous as a man in his twenties. At a single glance, Ian knew he wasn't to be underestimated.
After Ser Wilder finished introducing himself, he gestured to the stern middle-aged man beside him. "This is Ser Willy Ward, lord of this castle."
Willy Ward, seeing Ian's gaze, gave a curt nod without saying anything else.
Just as taciturn as in the novels, Ian thought.
"A pleasure to meet you." Since Jeyne had already announced his name, Ian skipped introducing himself and simply introduced his retainers. "These two are Old Dog and Mute," he pointed at Roll and Keith. "Both are commoners from the Westerlands, my squires."
"And the two outside are my squires' squires," naturally referring to Bronn and Chiggen.
Hiss!
As soon as Ian finished speaking, he heard both knights before him draw sharp breaths.
"I assume Jeyne has already told you my purpose in coming?" Ian asked without giving them time to marvel.
"Of course, ser," Ser Wilder's manner was enthusiastic, but his words weren't quite so welcoming. "But I'm afraid your journey may have been wasted—our operation has already concluded."
Ian had previously sent Jeyne to inform them he'd come to help after hearing about their 'recruitment of foreign knights within a week,' so Ser Wilder began explaining immediately.
Ian looked around. Indeed, only Ser Wilder and Ser Willy stood in the hall. Earlier at Willy Ward's manor, he'd seen no signs of military buildup, save for the two knights' squires and fewer than twenty guards.
This made Ser Wilder's claim particularly convincing. But if they'd undertaken some large-scale operation, how could he have received no word of it at all?
"So what operation did you undertake?" Ian chose to ask Ser Wilder directly.
"My apologies, that involves our private business." Wilder shook his head, refusing to answer.
Private business? Ian narrowed his eyes.
"You've made me ride all this way for nothing, and you won't even give me an explanation?" Ian's face flushed with the arrogance expected of a young Lannister. "Should I consider this an insult?"
Ser Wilder frowned. Damn it, how did I provoke such a spoiled lordling? Just as he contemplated how to placate Ser Lucien, Ian spoke again.
"I've heard that a bandit company called the 'Whitewalls Ghosts' appeared nearby, searching for a restoration treasure left by the former Lord of Whitewalls for Blackfyre descendants." Ian stiffened his neck, his flushed face showing uncontrollable anger.
"I thought that since you've been searching so long, I might as well cooperate with you, but you dare to insult me!"
"We meant no insult, Ser Lucien. I made that request to Masha several days ago, and the operation concluded today. This can hardly be considered us deceiving you, can it?" Ser Wilder forced a tight smile, resisting the urge to throw the man out, and explained patiently.
"Since you don't welcome me, I'll have no choice but to ride to Harrenhal and send word to King's Landing." Ian turned as if to leave. "A raven will deliver my letter to Uncle Jaime in King's Landing in less than a day, and Lannister forces will arrive within five days. If you can't find this so-called Blackfyre treasure by then, this treasure will have nothing to do with you."
Ser Wilder's face darkened instantly.
"Wait, ser." Wilder stopped Ian as he turned to leave. "Forgive us—we misunderstood your intentions initially. The operation I asked Masha to help recruit for has indeed ended, but if you wish to join our alliance to search for the Blackfyre treasure, you're most welcome."
"Oh?" Ian finally stopped and turned around. "Then what's my share?"
"If we eventually find the Blackfyre treasure, you'll receive ten to twenty percent of the findings." Wilder gritted his teeth and stated his bottom line figure directly.
"This is robbery!" Ser Willy looked at the alliance leader beside him in shock. "When we worked with the Blackwing Company before, we only offered them fifty percent, and they had two hundred men! These five are taking twenty percent?"
Ser Willy had always had a sharp temper. To avoid offending guests, Ser Wilder had deliberately told him to stay quiet, and he usually did—but this time, he couldn't contain himself.
Ser Wilder shook his head slightly at Ser Willy, then forced a smile at Ian. "As you can see, this is the maximum concession we can offer."
"Twenty percent? If I report this to the family, I'd probably receive no more than that anyway." Ian nodded with satisfaction.
This made Ser Wilder breathe easier, but Ian's next words immediately raised his hackles again.
"But ser, you're not being honest with me, and I'm displeased."
"What do you mean?" Ser Wilder forced another smile.
"If I'm correct, the operation you asked Masha to help recruit foreign knights for hasn't actually begun yet, has it? Furthermore, this operation already involves key clues to the treasure."
"Why would you think that?" Wilder couldn't even manage a false smile.
"Because of your manner."
"My manner?"
"The Blackfyre treasure is no secret in these parts. All the sellswords around here know of it. But when I asked about your previous operation to recruit 'foreign knights,' you told me it was private business. If that operation didn't involve key clues to the treasure, there'd be no need for such secrecy, would there?"
"This..." Ser Wilder swallowed. "That's quite a leap in logic, isn't it?"
(End of Chapter)
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