"You're a celebrity now, Gendry!" Maester Qyburn quipped in the cabin. The Boy, wielding his mace, had earned immense respect for his performance during the battle on the telescope.
He was wild and unrestrained, saving the telescope.
"The pirates told us to surrender, how could I dare to surrender! You would be thrown into the sea, and I would be sold to the Perfumed Gardens," Gendry said, shrugging helplessly. His left arm was still simply bandaged, but he was strong and healthy, and the wound would heal quickly.
Most pirates came from the Three Daughters. For the Free Folk of the Three Daughters, it meant a hefty ransom and no threat to life. But for Westerosi, there was no such kindness; being sold into slavery was the most common outcome.
"That's true, Child, but victory has brought you a lot," Qyburn smiled.
Qyburn knew that Captain Dunster, the Myr sailors, and the Westeros passengers had all given Gendry many gifts, as it was the Child's bravery that saved them from physical pain and financial ruin.
"The battle wasn't what I imagined. If Golden Tooth hadn't been so overconfident and spread his men thin, I would have had little chance to turn it around. If twenty men had attacked at once, we definitely wouldn't have stood a chance," Gendry reminisced about the battle, which was still very dangerous. He needed thick armor and a helmet to protect himself before attacking. He was forced by circumstances and didn't wear armor. "If all the pirates had armor, we would have been dead for sure."
"That's true, Gendry, war is a dangerous game, but luck is also part of strength! War is not a Tourney surrounded by flowers; a puddle of water, a pile of mud, dirt at dinner time, and a bad mood can all affect the outcome of a war! As long as they are human, there are always limits!" Qyburn looked at Gendry, very interested in the face behind the iron mask. "In history books, there are god-tier warriors who transcend humans, but that was at least several centuries ago. The Valyrian Dragonlords, the princes and princesses of the Rhoyne River, they were all skilled in combat and magic. Now, all there is, is the war of mortals."
"I originally planned for you to become my apprentice. Although medicine is not as glorious as knighthood, it is at least safe and provides a living. But looking at it now, you, Boy, seem to be born for the battlefield; this talent is very rare," Qyburn mused after a moment of thought.
"Being a warrior is good, but I want to live longer, and learning medicine is also good."
"My pleasure! But I not only understand medicine and poisons, but also history, law, poetry, faith, and Old Valyria language."
"I imagine those are much more complicated than blacksmithing!" Gendry felt good. An all-around Maester like Qyburn, if not for being expelled from The Citadel, he would rarely have the opportunity to meet. Another advantage was that Qyburn was a lone minister; he could only attach himself to power, to himself.
"And more interesting than blacksmithing. I'm very happy to shape a warrior! When we reach Myr, you might also need a weapons master, as knightly weapon training is specialized," Qyburn continued. "Many people think fighting is just for brutes, but that's not right. Warriors can also be versatile, like Prince Rhaegar."
"Rhaegar!" Gendry immediately became interested. "I know he was a prince who died at the Trident River." Although Rhaegar had died, his ghost seemed to linger in the sky, deeply tearing the country apart.
"I'm also very interested in that period of history, but unfortunately, I'm just a Maester, powerless. I can only imagine the heroes of that time from the battle reports in The Citadel. Our fat King, when he was young, was also unstoppable."
Maester Qyburn continued his narration. "In those days, Prince Rhaegar and King Robert were the brightest stars, along with the Sword of the Morning, the direwolf, the darling of the Vale, and Barristan, but they were two different kinds of people. Prince Rhaegar was melancholic, preferring books to swords, and loved playing the silver-stringed harp. Women would weep for his beauty and melancholy. King Robert was different; he was the mad storm reborn. Robert always craved joy and laughter, hunting, drinking, womanizing, and participating in Tourneys. In his youth, he was tall, generous, and known for his bravery and skill in battle."
"What happened then?" Gendry pressed on.
"What happened later, all Westerosi know. Two proud warriors became entangled over a woman, a woman of the blood of the direwolf, causing the entire country to pay for a mistaken love! But what exactly happened between Lady Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar, that's hard to say clearly!" Qyburn mused.
"The rights and wrongs are unclear now!" Gendry said. "But the Mad King and his son indeed lost the throne."
"That's right. The key was the battle at the Trident River, the blow with which King Robert smashed Rhaegar. Military failure makes all this meaningless! However, it was already remarkable that Prince Rhaegar could severely wound Robert. His status was too high, his hobbies too many; he wasn't a born warrior."
Gendry pondered for a moment; it was indeed true. A Longspear Tourney was completely different from a real battlefield, and Rhaegar hadn't dedicated all his thoughts to combat.
"Whether it was Robert or Rhaegar, it doesn't matter. Aesthetics, music, dancing, medicine are all just embellishments for a knight; the key is to win the war, to win everything! To be tougher, more fearless, and more cunning than the enemy. Prince Rhaegar forgot this, which is why he lost to Robert." Flames seemed to burn in Qyburn's eyes.
"Hmm!"
"So now, an impertinent request from an Old Man! Would you please take off your mask? If you don't want to, then never mind!" Maester Qyburn asked.
Gendry took off his mask. Short black hair, deep blue eyes, and the shape of his mouth, chin, and cheekbones.
"My heavens!" Qyburn exclaimed, pointing at Gendry's face, his mouth agape. "I should have known, I should have known." He had seen Robert, and he had seen Renly. This face was practically a miniature Renly, but this Child was destined to be stronger than Renly.
"Perhaps it's a bit obvious, but I don't have any good solutions!" Gendry said politely.
"Please forgive my slander of the King; your temperament is quite different from the King's. The King is irritable and proud. If not for that, I would have made a guess earlier, given the strong lineage!"
"It doesn't matter, after all, the King has forgotten me!" Gendry waved his hand. He was temporarily uninterested in meddling in Westeros; his claim was too low. It was better to develop secretly.
"Then that's even better. In another corner of the world, a bastard and a disgraced Maester, we will eventually bring some new excitement to the world! And those damned Lannister!" Qyburn became somewhat excited. In times without dragons, valor and charisma were very important, such as during the War of the Usurper, Robert became King not only because of his lineage but also because of his charisma and military achievements.
"Lannister, do you also have some connection with House Lannister?" Gendry asked, puzzled.
"Indeed, there was such a period. After The Citadel expelled me, I wanted to seek refuge with Tywin, but unfortunately, I was turned away!" Qyburn said awkwardly, very uncomfortable. "Lord Tywin is very powerful and wealthy, and he is a cold and realistic man, capable of Child abuse and sacking King's Landing. I thought, perhaps he could fund my research. Unfortunately, he is also a stubborn man, with an aristocratic demeanor, disliking a disgraced Maester like me."
"But none of that matters anymore. Compared to those researches, participating in the guidance of an invincible warrior is more fulfilling!" Qyburn looked at Gendry. Gendry had no power, but he had potential. "You have the blood of the Dragon, the Stag, the first men, and the Great River."
"But why are the King's legitimate children..." Qyburn thought for a moment, speaking with trepidation. He had seen the King's eldest son, blond and blue-eyed, a fair and proud Boy, but without any House Baratheon features. The King also had a bastard at Storm's End.
But this was not uncommon; rumors of the King being cuckolded were not unheard of. During the time of The Usurper, The Usurper himself fabricated lies about his wife and his Dragonrider brother having an affair.
"Oh! I haven't seen them, and I don't know!" Gendry said coldly. If the secret was to be revealed sooner or later, it was best not to be by himself; that would attract too much attention.
Seeing Gendry's attitude, Qyburn understood a few things.
"It is an honor to be your subordinate and mentor. Let us strive for your cause, Your Highness!" Qyburn said respectfully. Now, he had completely broken ties with House Lannister.
"It is my honor too, Master Qyburn!"
Gendry thought for a moment. He had just gathered the third force in Essos, though it was a bit small. The other two were the Dragon family siblings, the hidden Jon and "Aegon"!