Game Of Thrones : Merchant of Two Worlds

Jason Liu placed a firm hand on Jon Snow's shoulder, addressing not only him but everyone present. "Let me say this clearly—I never break my promises! Let the old gods and the new witness my words!" His voice carried conviction, and the room seemed to still as his declaration echoed.

"Thank you, my lord!" 

"We swear to fight for your honor, even at the cost of our lives!"

"For the East family! For Lord Jason East!"

McCann, Bud, dicken, Marb, Rubin, and Kent sprang to their feet with fervor. They drew their swords and knelt on one knee, gripping their blades in both hands. Their heads bowed as they pledged loyalty to Jason, their voices ringing with sincerity.

Nearby, Lina and the others exchanged looks. They seemed uncertain but couldn't tear their eyes away from the powerful display. Slowly, they rose from their seats, standing off to the side, observing with a mixture of curiosity and reverence.

Jon Snow, sitting among them, watched the scene unfold. His chest tightened with emotion, and he felt his heart pound. A fire seemed to awaken inside him as he observed the men's passionate oaths. Jon hesitated for a moment, but the determination in his gaze grew stronger.

Rising from his seat, Jon unsheathed the sword at his waist and walked forward. He knelt before Jason Liu, holding his sword in both hands. Bowing his head, he declared in a strong voice, "Jon Snow pledges his life to serve Lord Jason East and the East family. I will fight for your honor. Please, my lord, accept my loyalty!"

Jason felt his heart swell with emotion. He hadn't expected his speech, crafted mainly to gain their trust, to have such a powerful effect. The sight of Jon Snow kneeling before him, offering his allegiance, was an unexpected but welcome surprise.

Jason knew how deeply Westeros valued loyalty and tradition. He straightened his back and set his expression into one of solemnity. Drawing his sword, Stormsong, he stepped closer to Jon. Carefully, he touched the flat of the blade to Jon's shoulders and neck, one after the other. His voice rang with authority as he spoke, "In the name of Jason of House East, I accept your pledge. From this day forward, I name you a knight. May you live by the virtues of bravery, integrity, kindness, and honor. Fight for me and my family, upholding these values in all you do."

He then turned to the others—Bud, dicken, McCann, Marb, Rubin, and Kent—and repeated the ceremony for each of them. One by one, he touched their shoulders with the sword, naming them knights of the East family.

By the end of the ceremony, Jason had officially knighted seven men, including Jon Snow. However, a lingering thought nagged at him. His title is not yet been recognized by the king. This meant that while these knights were bound by their oaths, their titles wouldn't hold much weight in the eyes of other nobles.

Jason sighed inwardly. He needed to secure official recognition for his title. King Robert himself would have to issue a formal decree and have the Grand Maester of King's Landing send ravens to every noble house in Westeros. Only then would his title, and the knights he had created, be seen as legitimate.

"When is King Robert coming to the North again?" Jason muttered to himself, making a mental note to address the matter soon.

Meanwhile, Boris, the family's medic and assistant maester, returned with five of his apprentices. They had been traveling through the northern villages and towns to provide medical care and had just made their way back to Winterfell's region.

Elsewhere in the North, Winterfell soldiers had captured a deserter from the Night's Watch.

The man, bound tightly with rope, looked pitiful. His clothes were filthy, his hair was gray and matted, and his teeth were yellowed and decayed. Fear clouded his eyes as the soldiers hauled him through the wilderness.

"No, no! Let me go!" the man cried out in desperation. "I'm not a deserter! The white ghosts—they're real! They're coming!"

"Shut his mouth," the lead soldier barked. "This coward deserted the Night's Watch. Looks like the cold beyond the Wall froze his brain. Listen to the nonsense he's spouting!"

One of the soldiers chuckled and pulled a dirty rag from his boot. With a sneer, he gagged the man. "Maybe he really did see ghosts. Or maybe he just drank too much and had a bad dream."

The others laughed heartily.

"What if he dreamed he was with a woman?" a younger soldier with freckles quipped. "Would he have crawled into his brothers' beds too?"

The soldiers erupted in laughter, some wiping tears from their eyes.

"Hey! What's going on here?" a voice called out.

The soldiers turned to see Boris approaching with his apprentices. Boris recognized the lead soldier, Hayden, from his time in Winterfell.

"Boris?" squinted. "What are you doing out here?"

"I've been practicing medicine in the villages," Boris replied. "We were passing through when we saw you lot. I thought it might be a robber."

Walking closer, Boris noticed the man on the ground. "Who's this?"

"A deserter from the Night's Watch," soldier explained. "Castle Black sent word to Winterfell about him. Lord Stark ordered us to track him down. We found him hiding in the woods."

Boris frowned at the bound man. "A deserter? That's a death sentence. In the North, there's nowhere to run. The wilds will kill you if the soldiers don't."

soldier nodded grimly. "And now he'll face Lord Stark's justice."

The soldiers readied their prisoner, tightening his bonds and preparing to bring him back to Winterfell. The night was growing colder, and the wind carried an eerie chill that made even the soldiers uneasy.

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