From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

The mouth of the Bai Ren River, near Yao Ren Bay.

White Harbor is the only city in the North and one of the five major cities of Westeros, although it is the smallest of them.

However, the population flow was far greater than that of the castle-type cities in the northern inland areas, which served almost entirely the lord's family.

White Harbour Outer Harbour

The water was packed with boats of all sizes.

A foreign merchant ship is anchored, and the sailors are shouting to lower the mooring lines from the mast.

The local fishing boats, on the other hand, are short and sturdy, with thin ice still clinging to their decks.

The fish market was always bustling with people.

The canvas of the stall fluttered loudly in the cold wind.

The wooden barrel was piled high with shimmering herring and plump cod.

The fisherwoman, dressed in a thick woolen coat, called out her wares in a deep, northern voice, a skinning knife tucked into her waistband, her fingertips red with cold.

The porters carried heavy burlap sacks, their footsteps making muffled sounds as they walked on the cobblestone path, which was covered with mud, water stains, and fish scales.

The bags contained spices and fine linen transported from the south, or furs and minerals destined for the south.

If Don Quixote and his party of seven, along with their twelve horses, were to venture into other parts of the North, they would certainly attract the attention of the locals.

But in this bustling fish market of Baigang, only a few bored people would give it a second glance.

Most people don't care about Don Quixote and his companions.

"This place is so different from other parts of the North! There are so many people, it's so bustling!"

Cole exclaimed in surprise as he stayed close to his companion, afraid that he would lose him if he wasn't careful.

Alden suddenly pointed to the side and shouted:

"Cole, look, what's that?"

Upon hearing this, Cole looked over.

Three fishermen were working together to lift a fish basket containing five or six giant lobsters.

Cole thought for a while, but still couldn't recognize it.

Warren suddenly sighed:

"That must be a lobster. I once saw one at a banquet of a nobleman in the North, but it was nowhere near as big as this!"

Cole looked at the enormous, strange creature, which was comparable to his own size, and said doubtfully:

"That really is a lobster. I've seen lobsters in bars, but wasn't this one only the size of two fingers?"

"These are giant lobsters specially prepared for noble lords. How can they be compared to the crayfish we commoners eat?" Warren sneered.

The group then began discussing the giant lobster they had never seen before.

Adele also curiously surveyed the unfamiliar landscape around her, while asking Don Quixote beside her:

"Sir, are we going to settle down here from now on?"

"I'll be staying here for now," Don Quixote said with a smile, while also looking around at the various novel things with curiosity.

He wasn't curious about the unusually bustling fish market, of course.

He had seen countless shopping malls and tourist attractions far more bustling than this in his previous life.

But he thoroughly enjoyed watching those strange fish that were different from those in his previous life.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Because of the crowds of people coming and going on the road ahead, which slowed Don Quixote and his companions down, and because they weren't in a hurry, they decided to travel.

Don Quixote and his companions looked around as they slowly moved with the flow of people.

After passing the fish market, you will arrive at the main gate of White Harbor facing the outer harbor – Seal Gate!

This main city gate is named after Seal Rock, which guards the entrance to the outer harbor of White Harbor.

That is, a gray-green giant rock that rises fifty feet above the sea.

There are remnants of the ancient fortress above, now armed by the Mandalay family, equipped with crossbows, flamethrowers, and crossbowmen.

Seal Rock is a natural barrier and landmark of White Harbor.

At the massive city gate on the thick white city wall, the gate opening is spacious enough to allow packhorses and wagons to pass through.

Even so, Don Quixote glanced at it.

Countless people and goods were crowded outside the Seal Gate.

And at the forefront of these people and goods.

Many White Harbor guards, dressed in chainmail and wearing short grey-green wool cloaks, were inspecting people and goods entering and leaving Seal Gate, armed with iron spears, long-handled battle axes, and iron swords.

In addition, several knights dressed in full steel plate armor rode majestically on tall horses, surveying the crowd.

Don Quixote slowly queued up while glancing around.

His gaze soon fell on the flagpoles on the towers on both sides of the city gate and the flags hanging on the lintel of the double iron-and-wood doors.

The flag features a white mermaid with a beard and tail embroidered on a blue-green background.

The white mermaid was wielding a black trident.

Don Quixote gazed at the mermaid emblem, and the information about the Mandalay family gradually became clearer in his mind:

"The Mandalay family originated in the Bend River region."

"He was expelled from the Reach after losing a battle with the Tyrells and the Barks."

"After nearly a century of exile in the North, they were taken in by the Stark family."

"They eventually moved to White Harbor in the north."

"They are one of the few families in the North that believe in the Seven Gods and retain the traditions of the Andal Knights."

"The Mandalay family controls the trade routes between the North and the South, as well as the continent of Essos, by controlling White Harbor, the only city in the North."

"Thus, he became one of the wealthiest vassals of House Stark."

"And also its most loyal supporter."

Thanks to his strong spirit, as long as he thinks carefully, those vague memories from his previous life will quickly surface.

A while later.

Don Quixote and his party finally arrived at the Seal Gate.

A knight seated on his warhorse looked at Don Quixote, who was walking at the head of the group, and said coldly:

"Who are you! Where are you from! What are you doing in White Harbor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two White Harbor guards wearing short gray-green wool cloaks immediately stepped forward.

Their spears pointed diagonally at the ground, and their sharp gazes swept over Don Quixote and his seven companions and twelve horses, lingering particularly on the longswords at their waists.

Don Quixote smiled wryly:

"My lord, we are a group of hired knights from different places."

"Because I couldn't find any employment opportunities elsewhere in the North, I thought I'd come to White Harbor, the most bustling city in the North, to look for some!"

The knight gestured to the two White Harbor guards and said:

"Compared to other parts of the North, it is indeed much easier for you mercenary knights to find employers in White Harbor."

"But remember! This is White Harbor! It is the territory of Earl Wyman!"

"If you dare cause trouble! If you dare trespass into the noble area! I've personally imprisoned quite a few free knights and mercenary knights in those wolf dens!"

Wolf's Lair is an old castle in White Harbor, built by Jon Stark the Shipbuilder to defend against pirates.

The Mandalay family was granted this land and later established the new city of Baigang, while the Wolf's Lair was converted into a prison.

Meanwhile, two guards from White Harbor continued to approach Don Quixote and his party:

"We need to check everyone's luggage!"

Don Quixote nodded and smiled:

"Of course."

After saying this, Don Quixote gestured to his companions behind him not to obstruct the two guards of White Harbor from conducting their inspection.

Not long after.

The two White Harbor guards turned and reported to the knight:

"Sir, the inspection is complete. These people's luggage contains only clothing, dry food, and a small amount of fur. There are no prohibited or unusual items."

"The weapons are all conventional weapons."

Upon hearing this, the knight nodded and said to Don Quixote:

"White Harbor welcomes you outsiders. Go over there for a quick registration and then you can enter the city."

……

PS: (Please recommend and read this!)