Game of Thrones: I am Dothraki, not a barbarian

Chapter 168 Quarrel
It was a huge Baratheon House crowned stag banner, nearly half a foot thick when folded up, and capable of covering the entire castle hall when unfolded.

On a golden background, a black crowned stag stands proudly, its head held high. The embroidery is exquisite, with even the downy hair on the antlers depicted with lifelike detail.

This is the very banner that Renly raised when he declared himself king, the banner that flew high on the siege tower when he commanded an army of 80,000, but now it has fallen into the hands of Rahalo after the defeat of Summerhall.

Heraldic banners are the soul of a family, carrying its honor and beliefs. Renly's royal banners, needless to say, are the symbol of divine right of kings, representing not only the power of the monarchy but also the proof of the legitimacy of his ascension to the throne.

To put it bluntly, if this crowned stag banner were lost, local lords and chieftains would likely believe that the gods had abandoned Renly, and might even believe that Renly was about to face divine punishment.

“This negotiation is about offering a price for this flag.” Rajalo’s leather boots stepped on the flag, leaving a black footprint.

Lan Li's eyes twitched violently, and his face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

“You wouldn’t want to see this flag trampled underfoot by the Dothraki, or even defecate and urinate on it, would you?” Rahalo’s words were like a sharp blade, piercing deep into Renly’s heart. “Just imagine, thousands upon thousands of Dothraki taking turns taking out their tools to relieve themselves, tsk tsk.”

Lan Li felt a pang of heartache at the thought of the scene before him and hurriedly said, "Five thousand golden dragons! I'll offer five thousand golden dragons!"

“Five thousand?” Rahalo stretched out his foot, leaving another footprint on the flag. “Do you think I’m a beggar?”

The negotiations lasted for an hour. Lan Li gritted his teeth and gradually raised the price, finally saying, "Fifty thousand gold dragons, that's the most I can offer."

Laharlo shrugged. "Well, given how unconvinced you are, I'm sure Stannis Baratheon and Tywin Lannister will be quite interested in this banner." He added meaningfully, "Wouldn't it be interesting if King Renly's banner were mixed with excrement and displayed in King's Landing or Dragonstone?"

Lan Li's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and he remained silent for a moment.

"One hundred thousand gold dragons," Renly's voice was hoarse, "I'll give you one hundred thousand gold dragons. On the condition that you withdraw your troops from Stormlands!"

"Heh, using the money to buy a queen to buy a flag, I think you're getting a good deal." Lahalo couldn't resist adding a sarcastic remark to Renly's last sentence. "However, withdrawing troops and buying a flag are two different things; you'll have to pay extra!"

At that moment, Zheko suddenly leaned over, stared at Brienne, and whispered a few words in Rahalo's ear.

Now it was Rahalo's turn to have his eye twitch, while Lazar had a look on his face that said, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"What did he say?" Lan Li noticed the strange expressions on the three people's faces and his alarm bells went off.

Although Lahalo was speechless at Zheko's taste, he still relayed Zheko's words truthfully, "He said he's willing to pay for it for you, as long as it's someone else." He pointed to Brienne, "It's her. As long as she goes back to Grass Sea with my Blood Guard, this flag will be returned to you."

Suddenly, the tent fell into a deathly silence.

All eyes were on Brienne, whose face had turned as red as an eggplant, and countless curses were running through her mind.

For a fleeting moment, Renly considered agreeing, but he quickly regained his composure and resolutely refused, saying, "Impossible! Absolutely not! Brienne is my Rainbow Guard, and I will never abandon my most loyal protector!"

Brienne may have a rugged appearance, but she is an extremely sensitive and thoughtful girl.

She keenly caught the fleeting moment of hesitation Lan Li hesitated, and her heart leaped into her throat. Only after hearing Lan Li's refusal did she finally relax, but a slight rift remained in her impression of him.

“Then we’ll see on the battlefield,” Zheko stared at Brienne, pouted and blew her a kiss, “I won’t spend a penny, I’ll just steal it myself!”

Lahalo sighed helplessly, then changed the subject: "Now that the price is set, let's talk about the delivery location." He still didn't mention anything about redeeming Margaret.

Garan sensed something was amiss and probed in Dothraki, "Rahalo, why are you so insistent on making Renly kneel?"

Lahalo glanced at Renly: "Are you stupid? Renly bullies your sister every day, don't you know?"

Garland was taken aback and stammered, "You, you and my sister, could it be...?" His expression suddenly became incredibly interesting. "You two are impossible, do you know that?"

“I don’t want her to leave,” Rahalo readily admitted. “I want to see Margaret!” Garland exclaimed urgently, standing up abruptly.

“Sure.” Rahalo gestured for her to leave. “If she wants to leave, I won’t stop her. I respect her decision.”

Renly, who couldn't understand Dothraki, grabbed Garan and asked urgently, "What are you saying?"

Garland broke free from Renly and walked straight outside without saying a word.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Go see my sister."

“I’ll go too!” Lan Li stood up as well.

"You, sit down!" Rahalo roared, and Renly collapsed to the ground as if struck by lightning. By then, Garan had already disappeared outside the door.

At the entrance to the cave on the mountainside, Garland watched Margaret's slender figure from behind. "Margaret," Garland stepped forward, hugged his sister, and kissed her cheek, "Father and Grandmother are so worried they can't eat."

The two sat down on the ground and reminisced for a while before Garland finally got to the point: "Rahalo doesn't want you to leave, you know that?"

Margaret nodded gently: "I don't want to leave either."

“Although Rahalo and I are as close as brothers,” Garan hesitated, “he is, after all, a heretic, and you believe in the Seven Gods; it’s impossible for you two.”

“Didn’t you fall in love with Vera too?” Margaret countered.

Garland was speechless. After hesitating for a long time, he sighed.

People are always like this: they give eloquent advice to others, but when it comes to themselves, they act without any regard for the consequences. He was willing to give up everything for love, yet he demanded that his sister choose the interests of the family.

But what could he do?
Torn between his parents' and grandmother's wishes and his sister's happiness, he didn't know how to broach the subject, especially since his sister had previously promised to help him and Vera escape.

“Rahaloth already has a Khaleesi, Daenerys,” Garland tried one last time. “Does the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms have to compete with Daenerys for his favor?”

He wasn't just thinking of his sister, but also of Daenerys. As Daenerys's friend, he didn't want to see her get hurt.

If he knew that Laharo not only took concubines but also had an affair with the illegitimate daughter of the Martell family, and that the three of them got along very well, he probably wouldn't have said that.

Unfortunately, neither he nor Vera knew this.

“I don’t want to compete with anyone. I’m content as long as I can stay by Rahalo’s side.” A hint of pain flashed in Margaery’s eyes. “You know, Renly often beats me. And Renly deliberately distances himself from Loras to avoid revealing the truth about beating me. He’s a heartless scoundrel. I will never love him. I hate him.”

"Renly will do everything in his power to stop you. Do you understand?"

“I don’t care.” Margaret’s doe-like eyes were surprisingly firm.

“Your father, mother, and even grandmother will do everything they can to stop you,” Garland raised his voice. “You might even lose your family because of it!”

"I will have a new family!"

"How could you be so willful! Your parents and grandmother will not only prevent you from being with Rahalo, but they will also incite war between the Reach and the Dothraki! Can you bear to watch the one you love die in the war because of this?"

Margaret turned around and gestured for Garland to leave.

(End of this chapter)