Read my new story (CaveLeather)
Game of Thrones: The Sword King
Game of Thrones: From Deserter to Power
Game of Thrones: King of Harrenhal— Garth Greenhand Stat Panel
"With this many Gold Dragons, we can hold out for a long time!"
Don Quixote smiled with satisfaction.
Alden noticed the smile on Don Quixote's face and asked curiously:
"Lord Don Quixote, are you thinking about something happy?"
Don Quixote snapped back to reality, looking down at the child who was about to leave his family and hometown behind.
Just like he had, all those years ago.
Don Quixote nodded and smiled earnestly:
"Kid, do you know what a true knight is?"
Alden thought Don Quixote was testing him, so he immediately stood up straight and declared loudly:
"A sworn knight like Ser Kyle is a true knight! One day, I will swear loyalty to a lord and become a true knight too!"
Hearing this, Don Quixote's face darkened:
"Kid, you'd better think long and hard about that question.
"Until you give me a satisfactory answer, you are not allowed to train!"
"Yes, My Lord!" Alden replied, crestfallen.
Before long.
Cole ran back.
His expression was a mix of reluctance to leave and hidden excitement.
"My Lord, I've said goodbye to my grandmother!" Cole stood beside Don Quixote and said respectfully:
"Grandmother wanted me to tell you that she is very grateful to you! And...
"And that she hopes you won't go easy on me!
"You can make me do all the hard work!"
Don Quixote smiled:
"Cole, Lady Nadine loves you very much.
"Remember! Do not forget her!
"When we have the chance, we will come back so you can spend more time with her."
"Yes, My Lord!" Cole said in a low voice:
"Grandmother has always been good to me. I'll miss her terribly after I leave!"
Don Quixote ordered:
"Go on, Cole, Alden. Pack your things properly.
"We leave in an hour."
Hearing this, Cole pushed down the complex emotions he didn't quite understand and asked with excited anticipation:
"My Lord! Where are we going?
"King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms? Or Oldtown, the most ancient city?"
Cole had spent years hanging around the Iron Axe Tavern.
Listening to guests from all corners of the world tell legendary stories colored by their own experiences.
He had longed to see the world beyond Castle Cerwyn for a long time.
Don Quixote shook his head:
"We're going to White Harbor."
"Ah..." Cole was a bit surprised and uncertain:
"White Harbor... isn't that still in the North?"
Don Quixote glanced at Cole and said:
"Why? Are you that eager to leave the North, Cole?"
"No, My Lord!" Cole blinked and responded immediately:
"It's just that the guests always talk about King's Landing and Oldtown and those Southern cities, so I was a little curious."
"Don't worry, we'll have chances to see those prosperous Southern cities," Don Quixote smiled.
The hour passed quickly.
Don Quixote and his group of seven, with twelve horses in tow, stood silently for a moment after securing their luggage.
Cole, Alden, and Adele were riding garrons—sturdy little horses of the North.
In Westeros, riding was a basic skill that most people needed to master.
Take noble children, for example.
They started interacting with ponies and learning to ride between the ages of four and six.
By ten, they could independently control a full-grown horse, mastering trotting, galloping, turning, and stopping, and could ride freely across plains, forests, and hills.
Many noble children would even combine riding with practice in lance and sword techniques, participating in family hunts, and could even handle a destrier for short sprints.
As for commoner children.
As long as they were in an environment with horses, they could generally master riding by ten as well.
In a continent where horse culture was so prevalent, horses were categorized into four main types based on their use: draft horses (including garrons and pack horses), destriers (warhorses), palfreys (riding horses), and rounceys (general-purpose horses).
"Draft horse" or "pack horse" wasn't a specific breed, but a general term for any horse suitable for carrying loads, with good endurance and a docile temperament.
They were ubiquitous in the villages, caravans, castle logistics, and daily lives of commoners in Westeros.
As for many hedge knights and freelance knights.
They had no logistical support and had to carry their own tents, bedding, weapons, rations, and even meager spoils of war.
So most hedge knights or freelance knights usually had two horses.
One strong, well-trained destrier or charger for combat and tourneys.
And one docile, steady pack horse with good endurance for daily travel and carrying gear.
Aside from that, a few well-off freelance knights who had earned handsome rewards might own three horses.
In addition to the warhorse and pack horse, they would have a spare horse, usually a palfrey for comfortable riding.
Tom and the other two, for instance, each had a pack horse in addition to their warhorses.
Don Quixote had started out dirt poor, owning only a Northern garron.
But as his conditions improved, he naturally got himself a warhorse and a palfrey specifically for long-distance travel.
The group looked at the ruins of Cerwyn Market nearby and Castle Cerwyn in the distance.
Complex emotions welled up in their hearts.
"Plans really can't keep up with changes. I didn't expect to be leaving here so soon."
Don Quixote sighed inwardly, then looked around at the others and said in a low voice:
"Let's go. We need to find an inn or tavern to settle in before noon, or we'll go hungry!"
The group responded quickly:
"Yes, Lord Don Quixote!"
"Yes, Captain!"
————
The silhouette of Castle Cerwyn faded into the distance behind them.
Cole couldn't help but look back multiple times, only snapping out of it when Alden rode up close and asked him something quietly.
Cole turned to look at Alden and smiled:
"Alden, I didn't catch what you just said. Could you say it again?"
Because Alden was still dwelling on Lord Don Quixote's earlier question, the sadness of leaving his family and hometown had actually lessened a bit.
Alden sneaked a glance at Lord Don Quixote ahead, and seeing that he wasn't paying attention to the rear, whispered again:
"Cole, do you know what a true knight is?"
Hearing this, Cole immediately said seriously:
"At first, I thought a knight was someone like Lord Don Quixote, or like Lord Tom and the others.
"Relying entirely on the sword in their hand and the horse beneath them to roam far and wide, chasing all sorts of honors!"
He paused, then added:
"Later, Lord Don Quixote told me! The true knight he believes in is the hedge knight, unbound by noble status, lands, or titles!
"Just like a saying he once heard: 'Other knights serve a lord or a land, but we hedge knights serve our hearts and hold fast to our beliefs.'
"We hedge knights prove our vows through real, unfeigned action and the choices we make in hard times!
"Not through hypocritical shows put on with the backing of privilege!"
Cole finished by saying:
"Even though I can't fully understand Lord Don Quixote's words yet, I feel like what he said is very true!"
Alden tried hard to understand Cole's words, but asked in confusion:
"Why?"
Cole glanced at Alden and said earnestly:
"I don't know, I just feel like it's right!
"Maybe it's because I really admire Lord Don Quixote."
...