From a hired knight to a master of Game of Thrones

Huiqiu Village is located near the gentle hills on the southern slope of Yangtou Mountain and is also adjacent to the Duanzhi River.

As for Sheephead Mountain, it is a series of mountains located in the eastern part of the North, situated south of the Tears River, east of the White Blade River, northwest of Gongyang Gate, and northeast of White Harbor.

The source of the Duanzhi River is Yangtou Mountain.

The Holwood family’s ancestral home, Holwood, is located near the northwestern edge of Sheephead Hill.

Don Quixote closed the parchment in his hand.

The parchment contained some basic information about Grayhill Village that he had asked Cole and the others to collect the day before.

Information about Gray Hill Village is scarce, and what exists is mostly fragmented and somewhat contradictory.

He only recorded a few geographical pieces of information that were likely accurate, to get a preliminary understanding of Greyhill Village and its surroundings.

"It seems that Grayhill Village is a remote little village. Even the merchants from White Harbor who often travel around don't know about this village."

"That's true. If it were a village in a good location or a wealthy village, how could I possibly be the one to receive the reward? I would have been granted it long ago."

Don Quixote recalled that Leviman Manderle in the original story had said to Davos Seaworth, the "Onion Knight" and a key advisor to Stannis Baratheon and the Hand of the King:

"From the Widow's Viewpoint to the Gongyang Gate, to Yangtou Mountain, and then to the upper reaches of the Broken Branch River, everyone obeys my commands."

"The Locke family of the Old City and the Flint family of Widow's Hope follow my lead."

"My vassals also include a dozen minor noble families and a hundred propertied knights."

This statement clearly demonstrates the high status and deep roots of the Mandalay family in the area surrounding Baigang.

This also suggests that the prime fiefdoms surrounding White Harbor should have been largely distributed as rewards.

"We should get things settled in White Harbor as soon as possible, then we can go and take over my fiefdom."

Just a few days ago, when the martial arts tournament was about to end, almost all the main retainers of the Mandalay family, all the vassals, and people of status and position around White Harbor were present.

Wiman Mandalay probably didn't want to go through the trouble of traveling to the Mermaid Palace in White Harbor New Fort for the investiture ceremony.

A formal investiture ceremony was then held at the arena.

The title, fiefdom boundaries, and hereditary ownership of the new propertied knight Don Quixote are clearly defined.

Of course, this was because the fiefdom Don Quixote received did not yet include a castle.

His title remains Sir Don Quixote.

Instead of using titles like Sir Simon Temperton, Knight of Nine Stars City; Sir Roland Clinton, Knight of Eagle's Nest; or Sir Denzel Dart, Knight of Lemongrove, which add the name of the castle as a supplement to the title.

Furthermore, most commoners in Westeros only have given names and no family surnames.

The lord's tax register usually only contains a brief name.

Of course, a small number of commoners also had surnames, either because they were bestowed by nobles or for other reasons.

If there are people with the same name in a village.

They then matched names with height, weight, features, village name, occupation, or age.

For example, Iron Man Pete (the blacksmith) and pig farmer Hank.

For example, Jenny the Cross-Eye, Robb the Demented, and Ego the Egg (Aegon Targaryen V's nickname).

For example, old Will and young Will.

And they became nobles, even if they were only the lowest-ranking noble class—property knights.

They should also have a surname.

Don Quixote had already decided on his surname:

Don Quixote Xia.

Don Quixote of the Xia Clan.

In addition to the formal investiture ceremony, a two-way oath of allegiance was also taken on the day the martial arts tournament ended.

Don Quixote, as a newly minted knight, publicly swore allegiance to his lord, Wiman Mandalay, promising to fulfill his obligations:

During wartime, a set number of soldiers, horses, and equipment will be provided, and the soldiers will be required to personally don armor and ride into battle to fight alongside Lord Wiman Mandalay, and will not be allowed to desert in the face of battle.

Pay taxes on time.

Obey the laws of Lord Wiman Mandel.

Attended the councils and courts of King Wiman Mandalay and made recommendations, and attended important occasions such as King Wiman Mandalay's tournaments, weddings, and funerals.

The land, honor, and family of Lord Wiman Mandalay must not be violated.

They received and sheltered Lord Wiman Mandalay and his entourage.

and many more.

Wiman Mandler also publicly pledged:

Protect the newly minted knight Don Quixote, his family, land, and property from enemies and bandits.

They sent troops to aid Don Quixote, the newly minted knight, when he was attacked.

The legitimate lands and rights of the newly propertied knight Don Quixote Shah shall not be deprived without cause.

Uphold the honor and status of the newly established knight Don Quixote Shah, and show him respect in public.

To uphold justice for the newly minted knight Don Quixote, and to adjudicate his disputes with others.

and many more.

Only when the two-way oath of allegiance is formally completed does the conferment of the title have full legal effect.

In short, Don Quixote, as a knight with property, had no judicial power except in his own territory.

He had no right to administer justice on his own land (usually for serious disputes or serious crimes), but should report to the lord he served, Wiman Mandalay, for a decision.

The rights they possessed were not much less than those of some minor lords.

Of course, their social status is still inferior.

On some important occasions, one can only sit in the next level seat.

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.

Lost in thought, Don Quixote looked around the empty room after regaining his composure:

"We still have too few trustworthy and capable people around us."

Adele, accompanied by Count Weyman's trusted aides, went ahead to his fiefdom to read the lord's decree of investiture, informing his people that the surrounding lands now belonged to him, Don Quixote.

Of course, there were also miscellaneous tasks such as taking stock of the property in the fiefdom, appeasing the villagers, and preparing his temporary residence.

Then all that remains is for him to personally go to his fiefdom and rightfully accept the allegiance of all his subjects.

This is also the practice of many new lords and nobles.

Accompanying them were two mercenary knights from the Bloodhand Mercenary Group who possessed some basic literacy skills.

Of course, these two were already loyal to him.

After thinking for a moment, Don Quixote got up and left the room, calling Cole and Alden over, and instructing them to summon the rest of the Bloodhand Mercenary Group.

Not long after.

People gradually entered the courtyard.

Don Quixote saw Warren's figure, nodded to him, and then looked at the seven Bloodhand mercenary members who had arrived and said:

"You guys chat and eat in this yard for a while. Cole, Alden, you go to the nearby pub and buy some food and beer."

After a pause, Don Quixote looked at Warren again and smiled:

"Warren, come with me for a bit. I want to discuss something with you."

"Yes, sir!" Warren replied respectfully, though he was puzzled.

Without realizing it, all the members of the mercenary group started calling Don Quixote "Sir".

"Yes, sir!"

Cole and Alden bowed in response and then ran outside to prepare food and drink.

The other members of the Bloodhand Mercenary Group were also somewhat puzzled and began to whisper among themselves:

"My lord, are you planning to take us with you to his fiefdom?"

"It's possible, but there are other possibilities. I asked the lord about this before, and it seems that not all of us will follow him to the fiefdom. Some of us will stay in White Harbor to maintain the existence of the Blood Hand Mercenary Group."

"Ah, then I don't want to stay. I want to be knighted by the master and become the master's sworn knight."

"Me too."

"Was it related to this matter that the master summoned Warren alone?"

"Maybe."

"Hmph, Warren might be given an important position by the master. After all, he has always been highly regarded by the master and was one of the first people to follow him."

……

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