Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 189: The Ringol Expedition (XI) Undercurrents in the Riverlands

"We are only Hedge Knights, three lords."

Lingol looked into the eyes of the three people and said without showing any emotion: "It's not impossible to bring you along, but what can you bring to us?"

He raised his arms and showed Rhaegon and Elarion. "I have my two squires, and am not short of sword or steed."

We can only provide swords and war horses. "Handsome Man" Albin lowered his head in frustration. But at this time, "Hyena" Kane spoke.

"Ser Regen." He looked at Ringol. "I am from the Riverlands. My father and grandfather were both Mudd. My grandfather and father once served the Strong family, but after Count Lyonel died unexpectedly, Ser Simon dismissed my father and me. We traveled all over the Riverlands. After my father died, I also went to the Vale and the North."

He pointed at Scar Jaime and said, "Old Scar is from the Westerlands. He is familiar with the mountains in the Westerlands, just like he is familiar with every ring on his mail and every copper coin in his purse."

"And the heads I've chopped off and the women I've slept with over the years, Ser Regan." Old Jaime chuckled, revealing his broken and yellowed teeth: "I'm familiar with every mountain and every tree stump in the Westerlands, ser. If you're going to the Westerlands, I'm the best guide." He pointed at Cain: "If you're going to the North, the Riverlands, or the Valley, he's a very good guide, ser. I can assure you that he'll do better than anyone else."

Lingol thought about it and decided that he really needed a guide, especially one who was familiar with the conditions in each area. Originally, they planned to find a guide locally, but two old mercenaries would not be a problem.

Albin was a little depressed. He was nothing. He was not very good as a guide or a thug. Just when he thought that Ringol would not accept him, Ringol spoke.

"I can allow you to follow us," he said, "but there is one condition."

All three of them pricked up their ears.

"You must obey my orders."

"That's natural."

"Very good." Lingol did not say the next sentence.

You must also observe my rewards and punishments.

He threw a wine bag filled with good quality wine to the three wandering knights. "Follow us."

Old James opened the wine bag and took a deep breath, then sighed with enjoyment on his face.

It is indeed a fine wine.

The kind that he could only buy a cup of when he was the richest.

Now there is a whole bag.

Before old James could enjoy a sip, the wine bag was snatched away by Regen. The silver-haired boy looked at him warily and said in his heart, "Giving the good wine to a drunkard, is Your Highness testing people's hearts?" Then he threw the wine bag to Albin.

"This is to refresh you on the way." Alarion said gruffly, "Our horses in the borderland are fast, don't lose them." He glanced at the three people and said, "If you lose them, we won't look for them."

"understand."

The three of them hurriedly caught up with Ringol and the others.

Crossing the Kingsroad, they could overlook King's Landing.

King's Landing in 141 AD has changed a lot. The Red Keep still stands proudly in the center of Aegon's High Hill, but it is no longer the cramped castle it once was. Thanks to the efforts of Prince Daemon and Dragonzel, the Red Keep has more than doubled in size, with a wider space inside and many new buildings added.

Above the dragon's lair, two young dragons were playing and fighting there, but they did not leave the scope of the dragon's lair, nor did they interfere with the normal lives of the citizens of King's Landing.

The dome of the Jacaris Cathedral sparkled brightly under the sun. Even if one looked at it from a distance, one could still see the people worshipping around it.

Today, the Flea Bottom in King's Landing is no longer the filthy place it once was, but has become a neighborhood that is still messy but still pretty good.

The whole King's Landing is much cleaner now.

Instead of entering the city, they crossed the Blackwater River directly and headed towards the riverlands.

Harrenhal at this time.

This huge, charred castle has been without an owner for more than ten years, and the halls of the several towers that were once well-maintained are now in danger of collapse.

Ravens built nests on the castle's stone walls, mushrooms grew in dark corners, and countless plants reoccupied the huge castle after people left. There were creepy noises every night, and locals said that the castle was haunted. The legend of the curse of Harrenhal also became more and more exaggerated by people.

But people still can't resist the desire.

The lords of the riverlands gathered at Harrenhal in advance to discuss an important matter.

Prince Viserys is funding a tourney at Harrenhal.

Harrenhal needs a new master, and this master must be a loyal dog of the royal family.

So he has to select the right person on the battlefield.

Of course, Viserys didn't have the time to organize the tourney himself, so he delegated the task to Lord Tully of the Riverlands.

These people are now gathered in a relatively clean hall.

Lord Petyr Piper was still alive, but he was already an old man on his deathbed, but he was still there in person to do one last thing for the Piper family.

Benjico Blackwood has grown into a tall and thin young man. At the age of 23, he is still young, but his intimidating temperament still makes everyone who approaches him feel cold. He has not married yet, and no one knows why.

Lord Bracken stood in the corner, looking at Benjicourt unwillingly. After the Dance of the Dragons, the Bracken family was badly hurt, while the Blackwood family made a fortune due to their outstanding performance in the war, despite losing their patriarch. Benjicourt became a world-famous knight, his aunt Alysanne became the wife of the Duke of Winterfell, and now she has given birth to an heir for the Duke of Creggan, and his little uncle William Blackwood is now King Aegon's Kingsguard. The Blackwood family also annexed many of the borders between the two families.

But Earl Bracken had no choice but to accept the fact, because this was indeed earned by the Blackwood family with blood.

But Bracken is bleeding too.
Although the Bracken family also received land rewards, it was not the area they fought over with the Blackwood family, so it always felt weird to eat it.

In short, Lord Bracken felt it was very abnormal.

Lord Darry and Lord Mallister busied themselves lighting the fireplaces, bringing some warmth back to the chilly hall.

"Everyone." Lord Kermit Tully looked at his bannermen, interrupting the silence and conversation between them. "Prince Viserys wishes to appoint a new Lord of Harrenhal."

He looked at everyone.

"Are any of you willing?"

But that's what Kermit Tully was thinking.

What is the real dragon doing?
Harrenhal is the true center of the Riverlands, and it can even be said to be the center of the Seven Kingdoms. If the royal family controls this place, it is equivalent to strangling the throat of the Riverlands.

Even though the royal family has only sent stewards to manage this place for so many years, the stewards prefer villas and manors outside the city rather than staying in this strange and huge castle.

And so Harrenhal remained abandoned.

Now Viserys wants to redistribute Harrenhal, or to find a suitable lord in the form of a tourney?
It's so weird.

It's not war time. What do the dragons want to do? Is there anything in the riverlands that deserves their attention?

Kermit Tully was lost in thought.

But Benjiko Blackwood thought of something else.

Harrenhal is indeed important, but now is a peaceful era, and the royal family does not need to invest a lot of money to manage Harrenhal, but now they want to divide Harrenhal again.
Harrenhal can monitor all the lords in the Three Rivers, and it is also the heart of Westeros. After the Dance of the Dragons, all the lords in the riverlands are close to the Varese family.

After all, they witnessed Vhagar's fall and knew of Longzel's strength.

Moreover, Longzier has several powerful supporters, such as Lord Petyr Piper and his son, Lord Forester Frey, Benji Cole himself, and Lord Kermit Tully.

Together, they formed a new order in the Riverlands after the war, and it was also under their maintenance that the decrees of King's Landing were implemented unimpeded in the Riverlands during the regency of Longzel.

Does Prince Viserys intend to interfere with order in the Riverlands after the Dance of the Dragons?

Benji Kou thought of this.

(End of this chapter)