Early in the morning, in a field north of Seagull Town.
The sky was a clear blue, and the distant mountains were shrouded in morning mist, appearing faintly.
The dew on the grass was crystal clear, and the sunlight, filtering through the thin morning mist, sparkled with brilliant light, like a golden ocean.
Greene Kleber paced back and forth on his horse, behind him was a rectangular military formation of 1000 Kleber spearmen, dressed in uniform blue battle robes, wearing silver pointed feathered helmets, and silver breastplates. The tips of a thousand spears pointed to the sky, gleaming coldly, and the neat formation exuded strict military might.
Greene wore silver armor with exquisite carvings, and beneath him was a magnificent white warhorse. The ruby on the hilt of his 'lady forlorn' sword at his waist shone brightly, and his blue cloak embroidered with swamp marigold fluttered in the wind.
The sunlight was dazzling, and Greene at this moment was like a knight stepped out of a song.
Greene gazed ahead; a few hundred meters away, hundreds of cavalrymen with the Alliance of the Righteous banner fluttering were visible.
After a pause, Greene lightly kicked his horse's belly, and the warhorse beneath him began to pace forward. Seeing this, the standard-bearer, holding high the Kleber banner, followed closely behind.
...
Earl Yohn Royce looked serious. His deep eyes swept over the other members of the Alliance of the Righteous, then he kicked his horse's belly and rode towards Greene's direction with his standard-bearer.
...
Facing the refreshing breeze, Greene held his head slightly high, silently repeating in his mind: High as Honor… High as Honor… High as Honor…
In an open space between the Alliance of the Righteous and Kleber, Bronze Yohn met the young knight whose eyes were clear yet held a firm resolve.
Yorn Royce wore bronze armor inscribed with magical runes. Although his hair was gray and his face weathered, his gaze remained sharp.
At this moment, Greene, whether in his attire or his demeanor, was demonstrating that he was a knight of honor.
Bronze Yohn's grey eyes trembled slightly. He even sighed inwardly, wondering how such an outstanding knight could be born in the barbaric Crab Claw Peninsula?! This thought appeared for only a moment before he suppressed it. He hadn't forgotten that the person before him was an invader of the Vale, a revenger known as the Blood Earl.
But… the aging Bronze Yohn had to admit that, compared to before their meeting, he felt a little more favorably towards the young knight before him.
Greene first humbly saluted, then declared loudly: "Earl Royce, I, Greene Kleber, Earl of Crab Claw Peninsula and Guardian of Crab Claw Peninsula, in the name of King Joffrey, am here to apprehend the murderer of Duke Jon Arryn—Lysa Tully."
Holding up a parchment sealed with the King's seal, he continued: "By order of King Joffrey, anyone who obstructs the apprehension of Lysa Tully shall be considered a rebel of the Kingdom. King Joffrey shall, in accordance with the laws of the Kingdom, strip such rebels of their titles and lands."
He added: "His Majesty Joffrey I of House Baratheon and Lannister, in the name of the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, grants me the power to execute rebels in His Majesty's name."
Bronze Yohn: "..."
Greene urged his horse forward, handing the King's decree to Bronze Yohn, saying: "Earl Royce, forgive my presumption, but I need to know your choice and that of the Alliance of the Righteous."
Bronze Yohn glanced at the 'lady forlorn' at Greene's waist, and with a somewhat complex expression, took the King's decree from Greene's hand. He lowered his eyes to examine the written content.
...
"Earl Kleber, the objective of the Alliance of the Righteous does not conflict with the King's command…"
Bronze Yohn, while handing the King's decree back to Greene, began: "But as an envoy entrusted with a great mission by the King, you have not only committed the crime of invading the Vale…"
He sternly rebuked in a loud voice: "You even caused the demise of the Grafson family! Your evil deeds have exposed your selfish motives, and you have committed an unforgivable grave sin!"
"Selfish motives…"
Greene retorted: "Earl Royce, if I were driven by selfish motives, do you think only the Grafson family would have disappeared?"
He continued: "You should be well aware of the Crab Claw Peninsula's hatred for the Vale. If I were driven by selfish motives, why are other families still doing well?"
Bronze Yohn was momentarily at a loss for a suitable reason, but Greene continued: "Without my forceful restraint, how would the people of Crab Claw Peninsula, whose fires of hatred have been ignited, retaliate? Normally, what you would see now is a desolate hell turned to scorched earth."
Greene's voice carried a hint of anger: "Earl Royce, I am acting in the King's name. As a knight renowned throughout the Seven Kingdoms, you should not groundlessly question a knight's honor."
Bronze Yohn remained silent, not just because Greene's words left him without rebuttal. Bronze Yohn was thinking about their current liege… This was the trouble caused by the young and weak Duke of Eyrie… If the Vale's liege were strong… If Lysa Tully hadn't caused chaos in the Vale… Would the Vale's vassals still need to heed the child King's commands without the Vale's liege's approval?
Bronze Yohn had to admit that, given the current situation in the Vale, whether the Alliance of the Righteous wanted to restore order in the Vale as quickly as possible, or to maintain the Arryn Family's rule over the Vale, at least until the Duke of Eyrie came of age, the Vale could not do without the support of the Red Keep.
...
The wrinkles on Bronze Yohn's forehead deepened, and he said coldly: "Earl Kleber, Ser Lynn Corbray was ordered by the Alliance of the Righteous to scout the situation in Seagull Town in advance."
He glanced at the 'lady forlorn' at Greene's waist, then continued: "Did they also commit an act of rebellion…"
Greene interrupted: "Respected Earl Yohn Royce, the scouts you speak of suddenly attacked the King's army."
Bronze Yohn opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Greene spoke first: "Please do not groundlessly question a knight's honor. Do I need to swear before the Gods to prove it?"
Bronze Yohn understood Ser Lynn's temperament very well, or rather, he already knew the content of Greene's narrative.
Bronze Yohn was a proud Lord, and the continuous 'failures' in their verbal exchange made him slightly annoyed. He said directly: "Earl Kleber, no matter how eloquent your words, they cannot change the fact that you have occupied Seagull Town."
After a pause, he continued: "On behalf of the Alliance of the Righteous, I demand that your army immediately withdraw from Seagull Town in the Vale, otherwise…"
Greene's eyebrow twitched slightly, and he interjected: "Will the Vale's army personally escort me away, Earl Royce?"
Bronze Yohn's gaze sharpened: "Earl Kleber, you may execute so-called guilty individuals by the King's command and the laws of the Kingdom, but you have no right to continue occupying the lands of the Vale! The tens of thousands of knights of the Vale will never tolerate invaders!"
After a moment of silence, Greene spoke: "Earl Royce, as the ruler of Crab Claw Peninsula, what I worry about more is the hundred thousand hunters of Crab Claw Peninsula turning the Vale into their hunting ground for revenge."
He sighed lightly with a helpless expression, then looked at the stern-faced Bronze Yohn: "Although Kleber is the ruler of Crab Claw Peninsula, do you think I alone can continue to suppress the fires of hatred that have accumulated for over a decade in Crab Claw Peninsula? Am I… for the peace of the Vale, to seal off my own territory? If I truly did that… would the Kleber Family still be the ruling family of Crab Claw Peninsula?"
Greene shrugged: "Besides, with the suppression by the Vale Nobles for over a decade, Kleber is one of the biggest victims."
He spread his hand: "As the Earl of Crab Claw Peninsula, I have ordered my soldiers not to burn or kill in Seagull Town, nor even in the villages near Seagull Town. This is the greatest mercy I can show."
An undisguised cold glint flashed in Greene's eyes: "Earl Royce, I do these things not because Kleber has forgotten its hatred for the Vale, but because I am merely adhering to the justice and compassion of a knight's character."
The two gazed at each other. After a pause, Bronze Yohn solemnly placed his right hand on his chest and said: "Earl Greene Kleber, you are a knight of excellent character. I apologize for my earlier presumptuous suspicion."
Having said that, he nodded slightly towards Greene.
Greene took a deep breath, his voice slightly trembling, and bowed with his hand on his chest: "Earl Yohn Royce, to receive your praise is the honor of my life."
...
As the sun rose, the mist gradually dissipated, and the view became clearer.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass, making one feel refreshed.
Greene and Bronze Yohn both gazed at the enchanting mountains in the morning light.
After a good while, Greene withdrew his gaze and suddenly said: "Earl Yohn, the Red Keep hopes I can stay in the Vale. I believe, with your wisdom, you can guess the Red Keep's purpose in doing so."
His tone was sincere: "Therefore, I need a good reason that allows me to leave here and also convinces the Red Keep."
Bronze Yohn's eyes moved slightly, his gaze still fixed on the distance, and he murmured: "The Lannister's Red Keep…"
Greene looked at Bronze Yohn and said solemnly: "Earl Yohn, I confess to you, due to prolonged blockades and suppression, Crab Claw Peninsula is actually very poor now. I am well aware that Crab Claw Peninsula needs rest and recuperation, not to live in hatred… I want to take this opportunity to eliminate the hatred of Crab Claw Peninsula towards the Vale, but I need your help."
Bronze Yohn pulled on the reins, and his deep eyes shifted to Greene, saying: "Earl Greene, do you have a plan?"
Greene nodded slightly and said: "I confess to you, I actually had this idea before entering the Vale…"
After a pause, he continued: "We can use the tradition of knights to resolve the hatred."
A hint of doubt appeared in Bronze Yohn's eyes. Greene continued: "Let's set a time for a duel between the hunters of Crab Claw Peninsula and the knights of the Vale, using a righteous, knightly war to eliminate the hatred."
After hearing Greene's words, the first thing Bronze Yohn thought of was a tourney. He frowned and said: "Duel? What kind of duel?"
Before Greene could speak, Bronze Yohn added: "War… you mean…"
Greene nodded slightly. He first explained the Crab Claw Peninsula's tradition of 'challenging to a fight' (Chapter 5), then continued: "…Through such a great battle, no matter who wins or loses, the hatred will vanish into thin air."
The savages of Crab Claw Peninsula want to challenge the knights of the Vale on flat ground? With those spears? How is that different from seeking death?! The Vale Nobles have a deep-seated 'contempt' for Crab Claw Peninsula; strictly speaking, this is also a kind of tradition.
Upon hearing Greene's words, Bronze Yohn instinctively showed a look of disdain, though it was fleeting, it did not escape Lord Green's eyes.
Bronze Yohn cleared his throat and asked: "What about the numbers?"
Greene shook his head slightly and said: "There is no limit to the number. As the Guardian of Crab Claw Peninsula, I will inform every one of my subjects that anyone who seeks revenge can participate. I will not restrict them, because only this way can the fire of hatred truly be extinguished."
Bronze Yohn gazed at the clear-eyed Greene for a moment, then mused: "Earl Greene, the Red Keep might misunderstand this arranged battle between the Vale and Crab Claw Peninsula."
Although Bronze Yohn felt a hint of goodwill towards Greene's knightly heart, he remained wary of Greene, and he also did not trust the Red Keep, which was in the hands of Lannister.
Given Lannister's cunning, once the Vale knights defeated the people of Crab Claw Peninsula, they could easily use it to slander them.
As for… could Crab Claw Peninsula possibly win? How could that be!
Therefore, Bronze Yohn only considered what would happen after the Vale knights won.
...
Greene pulled out a parchment from a bag hanging on his saddle. As he handed it to Bronze Yohn, he said: "Ser Yorn, please look at this… This is my reason for convincing the Red Keep."
This was a challenge written in the name of resolving the hatred between the Vale and Crab Claw Peninsula… As he read on… Bronze Yohn's brows gradually relaxed.
After reading it, the perceptive Greene felt a hint of offense in Bronze Yohn's gaze towards him. Was he looking at an idiot?!
Greene showed a gentle smile. The broad-minded Lord Green was not angry at all!
Bronze Yohn nodded slightly towards Greene. He hadn't seen such a pure knight in a long time!
Greene tilted his chin, displaying the youthful exuberance: "Earl Yohn, if Crab Claw Peninsula is defeated, my soldiers will immediately withdraw from Seagull Town."
Bronze Yohn spoke as if he had already won: "Earl Greene, after the battle, I will hand Lysa Tully over to you to take back to the Red Keep."
...
First Greene stamped it, then Yorn Royce, the leader of the Alliance of the Righteous, representing the Vale Knights, stamped the challenge written by Greene.
Thus, under the witness of the Gods above, the duel between the two sides was set.
Fifty days later, right here, Crab Claw Peninsula and the Vale would decide their fate.
...
Greene and Bronze Yohn nodded goodbye. He pulled the reins, turned his horse around, and walked towards Kleber's formation.
High as Honor… High as Honor… High as Honor… Hmm, this can stop now.
Sitting on his horse, Greene looked up at the sky… Next, he also had to help the Alliance of the Righteous spread today's news, ensuring that every Valley Knight knew that Crab Claw Peninsula had challenged them to a duel.
Greene tugged the reins, adjusting the horse's direction.
Against his will, Lord Green had to break the spine of the Valley Knight in one battle.
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