Chapter 134: Candidates for the Kingsguard
The list was long, and it was clear that Sebastian and Aslan had put in a lot of effort.
The two Kingsguard in King's Landing were obviously very dedicated and responsible, but as Aegon's adoptive father, Dragonzel had a responsibility to guard this pass for his adopted son and King.
Dragonzel carefully sorted out the current court situation.
Aegon, fostered with him, had the Five-Finger Court of Dragon's Nest City by his side, while King's Landing had the Small Council managed by the Regent without a Hand of the King.
After the Dance of the Dragons, Daemon reorganized the Small Council in King's Landing.
Lord Bartimos Celtigar continued to serve as Master of Coin.
Although his "Taxes of the Crab" was widely criticized by the common people of King's Landing, when money was not particularly scarce, Bartimos was at least incorruptible, fair, and meticulous.
In the two years after the Dance of the Dragons, he managed to replenish the treasury, not only providing enough funds for the renovation of King's Landing but also leaving some surplus.
Tyland Lannister, who had turned against the Queen in time, continued to serve as Master of Ships.
Before him, Corlys Velaryon had held this position, and Tyland had served as Master of Laws until Corlys left King's Landing in disgrace, at which point Tyland took over as Master of Ships, responsible for establishing a royal fleet belonging to House Targaryen.
His position as Master of Laws was taken over by Ser Medrick Manderly, the heir to House Manderly, who had traveled south with Lord Cregan Stark.
Although he did not participate in the war, he became an important symbol of peace between the North and the Iron Throne.
The Citadel conclave remaining in King's Landing selected Grand Maester Munkun as the new Grand Maester.
This Grand Maester was one of the few in decades who did not serve by the King's side.
As for the Kingsguard, to be honest, Dragon's Nest City did not need this small team, but this team was a symbol of royal power and an indispensable entity.
Therefore, after two years of procrastination, the King's Kingsguard had to be formed.
Thinking of this, Dragonzel once again lamented fate and the gods.
The ships of Lord Commander Ser Steffon Darklyn and Ser Arryk Cargyll were currently at Tarth.
If they had been a few days later, they might have run into the dragon thieves' ship, and he wouldn't have had to bother himself with it.
His thoughts returned, and Dragonzel began to read the list of Kingsguard candidates compiled by everyone.
Sebastian had very simply and crudely divided the list into three categories: those with prominent family backgrounds, political significance, and strong martial prowess; those with strong martial prowess but low status; and those with great military achievements but who were actually just for show.
Sebastian had carefully distinguished between the first and third types, making the difference clear at a glance.
As a result, Dragonzel directly threw the third category aside.
He would let them stand before the King, but he would never let them wear the white cloak.
There were seventeen knight candidates in the first and second categories.
They were Ser Torrhen Manderly from the North, the second son of House Manderly, a strong warrior.
He traveled south with Lord Cregan Stark, and although he did not directly participate in the war, people witnessed his bravery when wielding a long-handled battle-axe and a trident.
The Vale selected five knight candidates, namely:
Ser William Royce of Runestone, a branch of House Royce.
To support this young and brave knight, Lord Royce gifted him a set of bronze rune armor and lent him the family's Valyrian steel sword, Lamentation.
Ser Adrian Redfort of Redfort, who had once been summoned by Queen Rhaenyra to serve as her Queensguard, but due to the long journey and the sudden plague in King's Landing, Ser Adrian was forced to stay in Gulltown until now.
He had once again boarded a merchant ship, preparing to travel south to fulfill his duty.
Ser Symond Templeton of Ninestars, an energetic old man and the previous Knight of Ninestars.
This old man, during the Dance of the Dragons, led two thousand mounted warriors to join the army that Ser Artys Royce brought out of the Vale.
This time, he traveled to Dragon's Nest City as a knight, bringing the Templeton family's ancestral Valyrian steel sword, "Star Mirror," vowing to uphold the highest honor of Westerosi knights.
Ser Garon Belmore of Strongsong and Ser Will Hunter of Longbow Hall.
These two young knights were both only seventeen years old but had both participated in the Dance of the Dragons, serving as advance cavalry sent by Artys Royce to scout and patrol outside the Bloody Gate.
Ser Garon was skilled in lances, while Ser Will was unusually skilled in mounted archery, so much so that even Red Robb had praised this young knight's archery skills.
The Riverlands selected two knights, namely Ser William Blackwood of House Blackwood and Ser Cole Darry of House Darry.
Both of these knights had directly participated in the Battle of the Red Fork, proving their valor on the battlefield and achieving great military feats.
The Reach sent three knights, namely Ser Tom Flowers, the bastard of House Caswell of Bitterbridge; Ser Rickard Florent, the second son of House Florent of Brightwater Keep; and Ser Ranly Rowan of Goldengrove.
These three knights had all participated in various major battles in the Reach, performing bravely on the battlefield, and thus earned their eligibility.
Three knights from the Crownlands were selected.
Ser Harold Darke from Duskendale of House Darke.
House Darke was a branch of House Darklyn.
This brave knight participated in many battles during the Dance of the Dragons.
He was once Ser Steffon Darklyn's squire.
After fleeing to Dragonstone with Steffon, he was dispatched by the Queen to Duskendale to assist in defense.
When Ser Criston Cole led his army to break through Duskendale, he did not surrender but led the remaining forces in guerrilla warfare until Criston was defeated and the dragons fell.
Only then did he join the armies of the Riverlands, and thus was granted a piece of land near Harrenhal.
However, this knight valued the honor of a knight more.
He sold the land and submitted an application to the White Sword Tower, hoping to serve the King.
Ser Robin Massey from Stonedance and Ser Robert Darklyn from Duskendale.
Although these two did not have as many military achievements as Harold Darke, they were also famous knights in the Crownlands, and now they were placed on Dragonzel's desk as candidates.
Ser Gaelin Dinnwater from House Dinnwater of Dorne, Ser Allan Santagar, and Ser Dickon Blaymont.
These three knights all came from noble Dornish families and had all traveled north with Daolang Gogenles Earl, guarding against the Stormlands with Aslan Rondell.
Although they did not see blood, they were considered excellent knights with war experience.
Dragonzel looked at the list, thought for a moment, and then opened another list.
The King could not be without his own trusted people, so among the five Kingsguard selected for Aegon, there must also be Dragonzel's people.
Tigaro Dagareon had selected several candidates for Dragonzel.
Dragonzel flipped through their information.
Joffrey Kavron, the second son of the Caffuren Family, hmm, a brave boy, but too young, without many advantages compared to other knights, but he could be left for Lingor.
It just so happened that he was cultivating the next generation of Bloodsworn Brothers, and Joffrey Kavron, although a bit older, was also quite suitable.
Dragonzel tore off Joffrey Kavron's information and put it aside.
Next was Ser Brandon Tarly, a branch of House Tarly.
Dragonzel carefully recalled this Brandon.
He seemed to have some impression.
At his and Diana's wedding, he had seen this taciturn knight.
If he remembered correctly, Brandon Tarly had also participated in the Battle of Flowers Valley and the Battle of Oldtown, making him a good candidate.
He heard that that boy Allan had even given him the Valyrian steel sword Orphan-Maker so that he could compete for the Kingsguard.
"Allan is a smart boy," Dragonzel circled Brandon Tarly's name.
"Don't disappoint me."
Tigaro provided many names, but most of them could not pass, including Dorco, a brave Dothraki screaming warrior provided by Ago.
Ago said in the information that if Dragonzel hadn't needed him, he would have already made this warrior his "Ko," which showed how much his Bloodsworn Brothers valued this warrior.
Unfortunately, the traditions of Westeros would not accept a Dothraki wearing a white cloak.
Dragonzel put down his personal list and picked up the list of knights with low status but strong martial prowess, scanning it.
He found that it was similar to the list selected by Sebastian, so he put it down with relief.
In other words, there were a total of eighteen knights competing for five Kingsguard positions.
No, it should be seventeen knights competing for four Kingsguard positions.
Thinking of this, Dragonzel suddenly had an impulse.
Should he hold a grand tourney, and let the results of the tourney determine the Kingsguard candidates?
Dragonzel rubbed the table, thinking of a good idea.
Perhaps, letting Aegon make the decision himself, with Aegon's youthful temperament, he would surely choose to let the knights resolve the problem by fighting to the death.
Just as Dragonzel was thinking, there was a knock on the door.
Dragonzel looked up and recognized who it was.
His Faceless Man attendant, Qungul Potter.
"Come in," Dragonzel said.
The Faceless Man pushed open the door and walked in: "Your Highness, news from the House of Black and White, a Faceless Man has arrived in Westeros.
He has already boarded a ship in Braavos.
That merchant ship named 'Pearl Maiden' will stop at ports including Sisterton, White Harbor, Gulltown, Spicetown, King's Landing, Tarth, Silver Crown City, and Oldtown.
Do we need to monitor the whereabouts of that Faceless Man?"
Dragonzel frowned.
At this time, who would hire a Faceless Man?
Although the kingdom's situation had minor turbulences, it was definitely not to the point of life and death.
"Monitor the whereabouts of that Faceless Man you mentioned," Dragonzel said.
"If there is anything unusual, or if he disembarks somewhere, tell me immediately."
"As you wish," Qungul Potter bowed slightly and slowly retreated from the room, leaving Dragonzel alone to ponder the possible targets of the Faceless Man.
Just then, Dragonzel suddenly put his ear to the black stone wall and listened for a while, then suddenly stood up and rushed out.
At this time, the Dragonpit.
Vermax flew back to the Dragonpit in a rage, and as soon as it landed, it crawled towards Vermithor's lair, roaring a few times at it.
It was answered by Vermithor's long dragon roar.
Vermax called out a few more times.
This time, Vermithor's answering roar contained a hint of anger.
Vermax wanted to roar something else, but was roared at by Shadow Nightmare, who crawled out of the lair, and then heard Silverwing's peaceful roar.
Only then did it flick its tail and crawl back to its own lair.
After a while, Vermithor poked its head out of its lair and let out a roar that made the entire Dragonpit tremble.
The lift platform slowly settled, and Dragonzel hurriedly ran towards Vermithor's lair.
Vermithor stretched its neck and leaned close to Dragonzel, letting Dragonzel lean against its dragon head, emitting small dragon roars one after another.
"I know, I know, I've already sent people to investigate, don't worry, don't worry."
Dragonzel gently patted Vermithor's head, "When I find out who did it, I'll immediately take you to deal with them, don't worry, don't worry."
Only then did Vermithor slowly raise its head and roar again.
Vermax's roar followed, seemingly very satisfied with the "monarch's" fairness in the Dragonpit.
"I need to have Ray write this down," Dragonzel thought to himself.
"I didn't expect that in an orderly Dragonpit, the dragon holding the position of monarch would actually stand up for the younger dragons."
As Dragonzel was thinking, the children had already started happily soaking in the hot springs.
Several hot springs were opened on the ground floor of Laurel Leaf Tower, introducing natural hot spring water from beneath the Red Mountains, which was very suitable for bathing.
Aegon comfortably immersed himself in the hot spring, letting his thick silver hair spread out in the spring water.
He now only felt the muscle soreness from his dragon riding training slowly dissipate in the hot spring, along with the meals brought by the servants nearby: washed grapes, peeled blood oranges, and cut sweet melons were just part of the meal's embellishment.
There were also fried small meat patties and eggs, soft white bread drizzled with honey, and a cup of sweet lemonade.
Lingor had similar meals beside him.
However, Dragonzel's eldest son was no longer so prim and proper at this moment.
The little boy was soaking naked in the hot spring, enjoying the tranquility and the comfort of fatigue relief for a moment.
He would also occasionally dive into the water and blow a few bubbles.
"Where's Viserys?"
Only after waking up from a nap did Aegon realize that his younger brother, who had agreed to soak in the hot springs together, was gone.
Lingor kicked the water, sat up steadily, and replied: "I don't know, I haven't seen Viserys."
"This kid wouldn't have gone to squat and hatch dragons again, would he?"
Aegon rubbed his hairless chin, judging with feigned profundity.
"I don't know," Lingor forked a piece of fried egg into his mouth.
"Brother, you talk bad about me when I'm not here."
Viserys's aggrieved voice came from outside.
The boy, stripped of his clothes, jumped into the hot spring, almost splashing water onto the food nearby.
Fortunately, Aegon and Lingor reacted quickly, picking up the food at once, thus escaping Viserys's clutches.
"You almost wasted food," Aegon feigned anger and reached for his brother's armpit: "Don't run, pay me fifty gold dragons."
Viserys hurriedly hid behind Lingor.
"Lingor, look, the King is bullying me again."
What could Lingor do?
He was just a six-year-old child.
He couldn't do anything, nor did he want to cry, so he could only helplessly spread his hands.
"Viserys, you're nine years old, aren't you ashamed to let Lingor protect you?"
Aegon said, feigning anger.
Viserys stuck out his tongue at his brother, and like lightning, took a small meat patty from his brother's plate, threw it into his mouth, and chewed it.
He mumbled: "My dragon egg hatched."
"What?"
Aegon was so surprised he almost jumped up naked.
"What does your dragon look like?"
Lingor also asked curiously.
Then Viserys became withdrawn: "Don't even mention it."
The boy, on the verge of tears, described his Igaras to Aegon and Lingor.
"When it's with Sarafasas, it's like those knights pursuing noble ladies."
Viserys looked at the laughing King and the Lingor who was trying to hold back his laughter, and finally couldn't help but pounce on them.
"No laughing!"
As a "peaceful" day passed warmly in Dragon's Nest City.
Lys.
The flames left by the Ironborn in the harbor had not yet died out.
Lisandro Rogare looked at his brothers and children, and the large ship behind him, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, the survival of Lys depends on us."
Lisandro then turned his gaze to his daughter, Lady Lara Rogare, who was tall and graceful, with the characteristic Valyrian silver-gold hair and beautiful purple eyes, impossibly beautiful.
Perhaps the breakthrough for this trip would be through his beautiful daughter?
Lisandro suddenly had a strange premonition.
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