Ice and Fire: Reign of the Dragon.

Chapter 197: Ringol's Expedition (XIX) Rewards and Punishments
"Your Highness Lingol, calm down. Your friend will not die."

As soon as Lingol finished speaking, a strange voice gurgled out from the mud beside him, as if it was a little anxious, fearing that Lingol would act impulsively.

After all, Ringol was not as experienced as his father, Longzel, who could remain calm and rational most of the time. So much so that sometimes the children felt that Longzel was not quite like a human being.

Lingol looked up in the direction where the sound came from. A short young man with an anxious look on his face jumped down from the tree without stopping.

He was a short man whose height only reached Ringol's chest, with long arms and legs, like four bamboo poles, and a slender body like a thin bamboo pole. This short young man wore armor made of lizard skin with iron plates in key parts. He carried a basket of javelins and a blowgun on his back, a frog net in one hand and a fishing fork in the other.

The little man jumped and dodged the danger in the mud and ran to "Kane", whose face had completely melted and was being reorganized into a handsome young man's face.

"Who are you?" Ringol raised the Star Singer cautiously: "You..."

He swallowed the words "How do you know me?" and cast his eyes behind the little man. The faceless "boy" Sage, who had returned to his original appearance, pursed his lips and stood up, but Ringol could feel the smile of his faceless guard.

He is an apprentice of Kungur Potter, the Faceless Guard of Dragonzel. After being adopted by the Thousand-Faced God's priest "The Indifferent Man" at the age of two, he studied in the House of Black and White in Braavos for thirteen years. After being ordered to bring death to a warlord of Andalos, he received the oracle of the Thousand-Faced God and came to Westeros to serve as a Faceless Guard for Dragonzel's children.

"Your Highness, let me introduce myself. I am Jiujian Kare, Chief of the Lizard Lions. Chief Brandon Reed is my feudal lord." Jiujian Kare bowed slightly and said in the etiquette of the Swamp People: "Chief Brandon has the talent flowing in the blood of the ancestors. The ancient gods gave him the green vision. He saw the real dragon flying in the swamp, so he sent me to greet him. I didn't expect to meet this first..."

He complained a little, but looked at Sage with more caution: "The agent of death, Your Highness, he asked us to help him complete the test that Prince Silver Dragon had put on you, so we provided the venue and poison."

Jiujian Kalei looked at Lingol's gradually calming green eyes with a guilty look, took a deep breath, and continued, "This is not a deadly poison, but the sap of the sleepy tree. Compared with the sweet sleep flower, the sap of the sleepy tree is more suitable for making a hypnotic drug because it is less toxic and not addictive. Unfortunately, this plant only grows deep in the neck swamp. We usually use it to prepare anesthetics or to help sleep."

"Are you sure?" Ringol confirmed again, and after receiving a positive answer, Alarion beside him also breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was not as careful and clever as Regen, his intuition about many things was much more accurate than Regen. For example, in this attack, he almost confirmed that Kane was most likely sent by Longzel the moment he saw Kane suddenly betray them, but he did not expect that Kane was actually the Faceless Man Sage.

He saw Ringol picking up Regen without saying a word, and hurried forward to lend a hand, but Ringol gestured to take old Jaime, who was killed by Regen, with him.

Several people moved to a relatively dry open space. Lingol carefully let Lei Geng lean against a tree. Now they did not have enough medicine, and he did not dare to touch the bone arrows in Lei Geng's body. He could only let Lei Geng have a good sleep first.

The Faceless Man Sage stood aside with his lips pursed. He didn't know when he picked up the arm that was cut off by the Star Singer and pressed it back onto the smooth broken end. He didn't know what he put on the broken end, but he saw that the broken end, which had been motionless all the time, suddenly began to grow slowly. Soon, the broken arm was reconnected, but it still lay limply to the side.

The sword of dragon steel is also a magic sword.

The Faceless Man Sage said in his heart.

The magic of the Thousand-Faced God allows its wielders to transform into a myriad of forms, and even alter their bodies and reshape broken limbs, but it is powerless against bodies damaged by Valyrian steel weapons. However, for this mission, Longzel gives him a potion.

It's just that the recovery time will be much slower.

"Captain Jiujian, are there any scholars in the swamp?" Lingol asked.

"Captain Brandon is coming here with his scholars." Jiujian Kalei said apologetically, "It is the snowmelt period now. The Neck Swamp is constantly changing, and the Grey Water Watch is also constantly moving. If nothing unexpected happens, it is now deep in the swamp. Sorry, Your Highness, we can't provide you with a warm bed."

"It's okay." Ringol tried to force a smile. He knew that Leaders Jiujian Kare and Brandon Reed were all well-intentioned and wanted to help him. Even though they did hurt his friend Reagan, he couldn't convince himself to punish them.

"Regon needs medicine. I hope Chief Reed has enough."

"Of course, please rest assured, Your Highness. Chief Li De's bachelor is from Silver Crown City. He is very good at surgery and the use of external medicines including fire milk." Jiujian Kalei said respectfully.

This made Lingol sigh in his heart.

I can't punish them.

Because they have made contributions.

He suddenly understood completely the purpose of his father's arrangement. It was not to remind him that the people around him might betray him at any time, but to tell himself.

Rewards and punishments are clear, and it is not wrong to follow the rules.

The mistake is being too rigid and inflexible.

He did have the urge to draw his sword and kill everyone just now, but after the impulse, he felt extremely regretful towards the ignorant Lingol.

He was a monarch who made the laws, not just someone who followed them.

"Brother Sage." He walked helplessly to Sage the Faceless. Sage the Faceless was a short, handsome Braavos man. He had Valyrian ancestry and his hair was light blonde, but half of his hair was dyed blue, which made it very easy to recognize him if he met people with his original appearance.

"I know you attacked us for my sake, following my father's orders." The young man said softly, "But Lei Geng doesn't know this. He only wants to protect me. So, Brother Saiqi, do you understand what I mean?"

"His Royal Highness will be very satisfied with your performance." The Faceless One Sage finally stopped pursing his lips and smiled with relief: "I was waiting for you to say this. His Royal Highness has already promised, Regon Kaon." His green eyes looked at Alarion and Albin who were still frightened. "Alarion Hoss and Albin Rivers will both receive the rewards they deserve. And my reward will also be given to them."

Ringol nodded, and Sage understood what he meant. He would reward the Faceless Man for helping him, but would also punish the Faceless Man for his plan that hurt his friends.

"I am also wrong, Brother Sage. Please tell father that I hope to compensate Lei Geng with my annuity this year after I return." He paused. For him who lived purely on the annuity, it was actually a bit sad to live without it for a year. However, his current small treasury was still quite fat and enough for him to live.

Alarion was not very excited. He knew that when Regen woke up and learned that Ringol was fine, he would be much more excited than when he received the reward medicine. After all, the two of them followed Ringol not for rewards or anything else.

Just because they are friends.

That's it.

Elarion squatted beside Reagon, and seeing that his breathing was still steady, he felt relieved. Although Reagon did not have time to put on armor, he was wearing very thick clothes, so the wildling's bone arrow did not penetrate very deeply.

It just sent the sleepy sap into his body.

Lingol also knew this. He also knew that although his father Longzel was not as rational as a human being, in front of his family and old friends, he was a normal person who laughed when he should laugh, drank when he should drink, and joked and boasted when he should joke.

He also longs for friends who are like family.

The Faceless Man nodded and looked at Albin, who had a bewildered look on his face. The kid had just been frightened by the ferocity of Alarion and Ringol, but he had also bravely rushed forward. In short, he was indeed quite capable.

"Albin Hewen" The Faceless Man was interrupted by Ringol before he could finish his words.

"Albin, you know my identity now, right?" "His Royal Highness Prince Ringol Ringol Vareses?" Albin murmured, and suddenly he almost jumped up with excitement.

I'm rich!

This was the only thought in Albin's mind.

They actually traveled with a prince for so long, a dragon rider prince at that.

Young people always think a lot.

The excitement passed, and what remained was unspeakable fear.

The excitement on Albin's face gradually faded, and what crept up again was a trace of fear. He looked at the few people with some fear: "Your Highness, I... I admit that I did want to steal your money at first. I, I also wanted to..."

"I know." Ringol smiled. "Your eyes have never left my sword and armor since the beginning. How could I not know what you are thinking?"

Albin scratched his head a little embarrassedly: "But. I heard."

"Am I the kind of unreasonable person?" Ringol retracted his smile. "But, Albin, you said before when we were camping that when you were a child, you followed your Sir Robert from Hickory Village to rob a caravan. Is that true?"

Albin shook his head. "Sir Robert was a drunkard. Although he loved to beat me and call me a fool, he was a very upright knight. It was because he refused to make a lot of money like other wandering knights that he died so miserably."

The Faceless Man Sage nodded behind him and told Ringol that Albin had not lied to him.

"Didn't you realize Kane was fake?"

Albin continued to shake his head and said sincerely: "I was cheated by him and I had to count money for him, Your Highness. I really didn't recognize that guy was a fake." He glanced at the Faceless Man Sage with some dissatisfaction.

Seven levels of hell, the real Kane lied to me, and you lied to me too.

Ser Robert, I am still the same fool from Hickory Village.

Something bad has happened, something bad has happened. Could it be that His Highness Ringol is angry?

"That's good." Lingol breathed a sigh of relief. If Albin really did the things he boasted about, he would have to chop off a few of his fingers, or half of his palm, before he could feel at ease rewarding this relatively loyal young man.

But now, this boy with relatively good character has passed.

"Albin, I will reward you for your honesty, loyalty and service along the way." Ringol patted Albin's shoulder gently. "Are you interested in serving as the sworn knight of the Varese family? The Varese family will give you an annual salary, and you can choose one of your missions: guarding the cities and castles of the Varese family, or serving in the Silver Blood Army."

Albin didn't react to what Ringol was saying for a moment.

Sworn Knight?

Did he hear it right?

These were knights without lands, but their lords would support their families and grant them key positions.

"I do, I do."

Albin hastily knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to the gods old and new, and to Ser Robert of Hickory, and to Ringol.

"Very good, Albin." Ringol pulled out the Star Chanter and tapped Albin's shoulder.

"Now, you are a sworn knight of House Vareses."

"Your Highness, as my punishment." Faceless Sage suddenly said. He walked to Albin's side and slowly told him about his life. "I need to tell Sir Albin his last name."

"Ah?" Albin had no idea about this. He only knew that his father was a businessman who came from nowhere, and that his mother did not marry his father, but had him after a one-night stand.

The irresponsible man also disappeared after that night.

So he got the illegitimate son's surname "He Wen".

"Your father is a lost fair man, so, Albin, you can change your name." The Faceless Man Sage smiled and said, "Your name is Albin the Fair Man."

Albin didn't know the meaning of the name, he was just excited to have a last name again.

Alarion was poor at history, and he had no idea what this meant.

But Ringol knew exactly what it meant to be a fair man.

The royal family descended from the First Men and the Andals.

Even though it was impossible to tell how much of the blood of the Fair Men remained in Albin after hundreds of years of blood flow, he still had the blood of the King in his veins.

He couldn't help but look at the Faceless Man Sage.

This guy must be hiding something from me.

Just at this moment, a small boat slowly emerged from the woods.

A maester in gray stood on the boat, and next to him was a short man with dark green eyes and a gray beard.

Brandon Reed.

The lord of the Marshlanders, chief of the Greywater Watch, owner of the Green Vision.

(End of this chapter)