Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Beric Dondarrion," said Lynd, setting down the goblet in his hand and looking at the Lightning Lord, who was not much older than himself and still had a slightly immature appearance. "I think we should get down to business."

At Lynd's words, Beric's hand trembled slightly, and instinctively, he glanced at the Maester sitting nearby, as if seeking his advice.

During the banquet, Beric Dondarrion, with his reddish-gold hair, did his best to present himself as a mature lord. He carefully chose his words when speaking with Lynd and Nymeria, trying not to offend either while also ensuring he did not appear weak. As a result, he spoke very slowly, unintentionally giving the impression that he was not particularly intelligent.

The Maester, speaking on Beric's behalf, said, "Lord Lynd, for hundreds of years, our Blackhaven Castle has been a key point of defense against invasion from Dorne and has also maintained law and order in the borderlands. Dozens of surrounding villages are under our protection…"

"Maester Creighton, you're simply stating that Blackhaven Castle is important," Lynd interrupted directly. He then turned his gaze to Beric Dondarrion and said, "But that is not a justification for invading another's territory."

The once lively hall fell into sudden silence. All eyes turned toward the chief's table, particularly those from Blackhaven, who understood that the decision about their future was unfolding at this very moment. Everyone waited quietly for the outcome, except for Lynd and Nymeria's subordinates, who continued eating without concern.

"Ser Lynd, you misunderstand. We are not taking your land," Beric Dondarrion explained anxiously. "We began cultivating the land before you arrived, and at the time, Highgarden did not object—on the contrary, they tacitly approved. When Lord Leo Tyrell came to Blackhaven for the tournament, he visited the land we cultivated and even praised how well we had used it. Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan, was also aware of it."

Lynd went straight to the heart of the matter. "So, Lord Leo Tyrell has officially included this land within the territory of Blackhaven?"

Beric fell silent.

As Lynd had pointed out, unless the land was legally part of Blackhaven, no amount of praise from the previous landowner could change the fact that House Dondarrion had encroached upon another lord's territory. And that land no longer belonged to House Tyrell—it now belonged to Lynd.

With a serious expression, Lynd continued, "During the banquet, I listened to your introduction to Blackhaven and understand how important this land—cultivated over many years—is to you. But I must still say, I'm sorry. A lord's duty to maintain the integrity of his territory is absolute. I have no choice but to reclaim that land. Otherwise, I would be granting an exception to you, and then what of the other lords? Should Wyl, Stonehelm, and Crow's Nest also be allowed to keep the lands they've seized? How much land would that leave me? And how would I be able to hold my own in the Seven Kingdoms?"

Though Lynd's voice was not loud, the silence in the hall ensured that everyone heard him clearly.

The nobles and knights of Blackhaven, though unwilling to part with the fertile land they had cultivated, could not deny that Lynd's stance was justified. Any lord, faced with the same situation, would make the same decision. It was not just about land—it was about survival and standing in the Seven Kingdoms.

Realizing that the land was lost, the nobles and knights of Blackhaven looked visibly dejected. Some, more astute than others, had already begun contemplating the broader implications—food supplies, garrison troops, and stability.

Once the land was reclaimed by Lynd, Blackhaven would inevitably face a food shortage, forcing them to rely on costly imports. At the same time, they would no longer be able to sustain a standing army of a thousand men. A sharp reduction in troops was unavoidable, weakening their ability to protect the surrounding villages. Bandit activity in the mountains would inevitably surge, leading to a rapid decline in law and order across the territory.

A worsening security situation would, in turn, lead to population decline. Blackhaven, which already struggled with a limited population, would fall into a demographic crisis with no apparent solution.

Among those who grasped the full consequences, some nobles and knights—lacking deep loyalty to House Dondarrion—had already begun considering their exit.

Beric Dondarrion, now fully aware that the situation was beyond saving, looked utterly dejected. He picked up his wine goblet and drained it in one gulp. But he drank too fast, choking in the process and coughing violently, spitting wine onto the table.

Beric's behavior was somewhat rude. The butler beside him attempted to assist him in descending but was stopped by Lynd. Instead, Lynd reached out and patted Beric's back to help ease his coughing, then waited for him to recover.

After a while, Beric's coughing gradually subsided, turning into heavy breathing. His face, reddened from the bout, looked somewhat comical.

Lynd picked up the kettle nearby and poured a glass of water into the empty wine glass in front of Beric. "Lord Beric, there's no need to rush. Have a glass of water to steady yourself," he said.

Beric Dondarrion, his voice still somewhat hoarse, thanked Lynd before taking the glass and sipping from it. The cool liquid soothed his throat slightly.

Seeing that Beric had regained some strength, Lynd continued, "Although I fully intend to reclaim that piece of land, it's not impossible for Blackhaven to continue using it."

Beric looked at him in surprise upon hearing this. It was clearly unexpected. The others in the hall also turned their attention to Lynd, their expressions tense. The previously restless atmosphere instantly quieted.

"I can lease the land to Blackhaven. All you need to do is pay a portion of the rent each year," Lynd stated, revealing his proposal before adding the specific amount.

Though the rent was not insignificant, it was undeniably a favorable deal considering the land's fertility and its ability to produce an abundant food supply.

Beric, his Maester, the steward, and the noble knights exchanged surprised smiles. The tense atmosphere in the hall began to ease, their emotions shifting with the unexpected offer.

However, before they could fully relax, Lynd's next words made them all grow serious once more.

"But there is one condition," Lynd said. "I will only lease the land to my allies."

"Allies?" Beric looked at Lynd with a puzzled expression, then turned to his Maester. The proposition clearly confused him. He wondered if Lynd, due to his background, might not fully grasp the fundamental rules governing noble relations.

After all, while Blackhaven was geographically closer to The Reach, it was officially part of the Stormlands. Beric's liege lord was Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, while Lynd owed allegiance to the Lord of Highgarden in The Reach.

In times of war, it was understandable for the lords of different fiefdoms to form temporary alliances. However, in a time of peace, forming an alliance with a noble from another region without the explicit approval of one's feudal lord was essentially an act of betrayal.

"You seem to have misunderstood me. The allies I refer to are not the kind you're thinking of," Lynd said, gesturing for Jon to bring forward a prepared document. Jon complied, handing over a parchment. Lynd then offered it to Beric, saying, "Read this first, then we can discuss."

Beric Dondarrion took the parchment and carefully examined its contents. As he read, his expression shifted from serious to surprised, then to puzzled. The terms of the agreement were unexpectedly generous—almost as if it were designed to help House Dondarrion break free from the longstanding constraints that had bound Blackhaven for years.

Even disregarding the other provisions, the primary terms regarding support alone were already an immense boon to Blackhaven.

Although Blackhaven Castle's primary purpose was to defend against potential incursions from Dorne, the reality was that Dorne posed little direct threat. Instead, the true danger came from the bandits and wildling tribes that roamed the surrounding mountains.

Blackhaven's territory was composed almost entirely of rugged, rocky mountains, with little arable land. The few farmable areas were scattered around the outskirts, forcing villages to be built far apart from one another. As a result, Blackhaven had to maintain a large military force to protect these isolated settlements.

Even with such efforts, the knights and soldiers stationed in the villages struggled to fend off the well-organized groups of bandits and raiders. Reports of villages being plundered were frequent, and this persistent instability severely hampered Blackhaven's development.

If Lynd signs this defensive alliance with Blackhaven now, then just as Blackhaven would be obligated to send reinforcements when Lynd's territory comes under attack, Lynd would also need to send reinforcements when Blackhaven faces attacks or invasions, assisting in resolving any threats. These threats include not only Dorne but also bandits and wildling tribes.

Once Lynd intervened in eradicating the bandits in Blackhaven and its surrounding areas, as well as clearing out the wildling tribes, the outcome was predictable—just as it had been in the surrounding areas of Tumbleton and The Roseroad. The bandits who had entrenched themselves there for decades, and the wildling tribes that had resided even longer, had all been wiped out.

The incident in Summerhall some time ago was further proof of this. The mere mention of Lynd's name had sent bandits in that area fleeing, while the wildling tribes were so frightened that they had to gather together just to stabilize themselves. This alone demonstrated the formidable deterrent Lynd posed to them.

Once the bandits and wildling tribes in Blackhaven were dealt with, the Boneway—the crucial route connecting to Dorne—could be reopened as a major trade passage, much like the Mander in Tumbleton. At that point, Blackhaven, positioned as a vital stronghold, would be able to sustain the castle's operations solely through taxation, without even considering additional benefits.

More importantly, without the threat of bandits and wildling tribes, maintaining a large standing military force would no longer be necessary. A regular army of just one hundred soldiers would suffice.

As for the security of the Boneway, the covenant stipulated that once the route was restored, Lynd would station troops in the watchtowers and fortresses on both sides of the pass to ensure its safety.

This was undoubtedly a great relief for Blackhaven. Even if it could not flourish as Tumbleton had, its situation would still improve dramatically—many times over its current state.

Given such favorable alliance terms, Lynd agreeing to lease the reclaimed land to Blackhaven seemed inevitable. In fact, even if Lynd did not allow Blackhaven to use the land, Beric Dondarrion would almost certainly still be willing to sign the alliance.

However, what puzzled them was that in this agreement, Lynd appeared to be giving everything. Whether it was helping Blackhaven suppress bandits, clear wildling tribes, or maintain the safety of the Boneway, all of these were burdensome tasks that required a significant investment of manpower and resources. They struggled to see what benefits Lynd would gain from this covenant.

"As long as the Boneway is open, I will benefit."

When Beric Dondarrion asked about Lynd's gains, Lynd took the covenant he had signed with Lord Elwood of Grassy Vale from Jon and handed it to Beric. With a solemn expression, he explained, "I already signed a similar agreement with Lord Elwood of Grassy Vale before this. I've explored the terrain around Summerhall and decided to build a castle near its ruins. The roads between Summerhall, Grassy Vale, and Tumbleton are now fully connected. Once the Boneway is restored, we will be able to trade directly with Dorne, and the profits from that trade will more than cover my expenses."

Beric quickly took the document and examined it. Its contents were largely the same as the one he had been presented, except that instead of maintaining the Boneway, the stationed army in the Grassy Vale agreement was assigned to secure trade routes, and the military expenses were not his responsibility.

"In addition to trade with Dorne, I also intend to use the Boneway to establish a trade route to the other side of the Narrow Sea," Lynd continued. "I plan to build a port city at a suitable location near the mouth of the Red Watch River. This city will engage in direct trade with the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea, allowing goods transported from there to be moved through the Boneway into the interior for trade."

Lynd deliberately announced this unfinished draft plan—one he had only briefly discussed with Nymeria and the others—in front of the gathered nobles and advisers. His goal was to assure Beric Dondarrion and his council that this agreement could yield substantial benefits without harming Blackhaven's interests.

At the same time, he wanted this information to reach the nobles and knights attending the banquet. He expected them to spread word of the plan, ensuring it would soon be known throughout the Stormlands, The Reach, and even Dorne. Once the news spread, Lynd was eager to observe how the various lords would react, using their responses as a reference to refine his strategy.

After hearing Lynd's explanation, Beric Dondarrion had the strong urge to sign the covenant immediately. However, he suppressed that impulse and said, "This matter is of great importance to Blackhaven. I need to discuss it with the Maesters and the Steward. I also need to inform Lord Renly of Storm's End before I can decide whether to sign this covenant with you. In the meantime, please remain in Blackhaven for a few days until we have reached a final decision."

Lynd had no objections to this and agreed to stay for four days, expressing his hope that House Dondarrion would come to a decision within that time.