Chapter 13: The Stables of Harrenhal
A young, blond nobleman walked out of the tailor's shop.
He was dressed in a dark purple hunting coat made of fine brocade and velvet, with a half-cape woven of silver and crimson thread hanging from his left shoulder. The fashionably bold collar on his chest displayed the distinct layers of the two fine fabrics—the lining and the outer layer.
Around his waist was a gilded belt with floral patterns, and an exquisite Lannister castle-forged sword hung from it.
This hunting coat was said to have once belonged to a sworn sword of House Whent of Harrenhal, but now it was being sold in this tailor's shop directly owned by Lady Whent. It could only be said that fortune is fickle.
Since House Whent was granted the title of Lord of Harrenhal in 281 AC, they were once one of the most prominent families in the Riverlands and the most powerful bannermen under House Tully.
In the same year they took possession of Harrenhal, Lord Walter Whent held a grand tourney there, where the Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen (Daenerys's eldest brother) won the joust.
However, he then rode past his wife, Princess Elia of House Martell of Dorne, and placed the crown of winter roses, symbolizing the "Queen of Love and Beauty," on the lap of Lyanna Stark—then betrothed to Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End (now King on the Iron Throne)—sparking a massive scandal.
Soon after, Lyanna was suspected of being abducted by Prince Rhaegar, and her father and brother, seeking answers, were murdered by the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen.
The following year, in 282 AC, Robert's Rebellion, which transformed the landscape of Westeros, erupted. Jon Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East, raised his banners in revolt, with Robert Baratheon as the rebellion's figurehead. He united with the Starks of the North, the Tullys of the Riverlands, and the Baratheons of the Stormlands, and within two years, they overthrew the Targaryen dynasty, which had ruled Westeros for nearly 300 years.
House Whent, having sided with the royalists, lost much of its power.
To this day, the ruler of Harrenhal, Lady Shella Whent, can only occupy a small portion of the castle's halls and command fewer than a hundred men.
The vast majority of weapons, armor, clothing, and jewelry once belonging to the knights and ladies of House Whent are now being sold at properties directly owned by Lady Whent to supplement the house's dwindling coffers.
Ian had spent five gold dragons and 180 silver stags on the well-fitted hunting coat and belt, silently thanking the old blacksmith for his generosity.
In short, Ian had already spent most of his funds to look like a true nobleman.
Therefore, he needed a good horse, which presented a problem.
Leading his horse to the stables at Harrenhal, Ian began to wonder if he could use his false identity as a Lannister bastard to trick Lady Whent's stablemaster into lending him a quality horse.
After all, the Lannisters were the wealthiest family in Westeros, and they had a saying: "A Lannister always pays his debts." If he offered a generous price, he might be able to borrow a fine mount.
After revealing his supposed Lannister blood to the stable guard, Ian was granted entry.
Entering the cavernous stables of Harrenhal, Ian felt a sudden pang of melancholy.
This building was enormous, and judging by its size and the number of stalls, it could easily house a thousand horses.
However, less than a tenth of it seemed to be in use today, with around thirty horses kept in one corner—the last remaining proof that House Whent still endured.
Ian had once visited the stables of a medieval castle during a trip to Europe. According to the tour guide, those stables once had rooms dedicated to specialized riding clothes, boots, fine wine, vinegar, oils, and salves. There were also rooms for barding, surcoats, hunting bows, and other weaponry.
In the area dedicated to the destriers, not only was there quality grain for feed, but there were also brackets for oil lamps, which the stablemaster would light every winter to keep the horses warm.
Those stables were more like small armories, where noble knights could arm themselves and rest at any time.
However, these functions had clearly been lost here.
Ian's arrival caught the attention of a stableboy pouring water into a trough. He quickly stopped what he was doing and hurried over to Ian.
"Hello, good ser—" he began, but recognizing Ian's distinguished status from his attire, he quickly corrected himself. "Pardon me, ser, but these are the private stables of Lady Whent. Outsiders are not permitted."
"Of course I know where this is, but I came in anyway, didn't I?" Ian deliberately turned sideways, seemingly observing a brown riding horse nearby, but in reality, he was displaying the side of his body where his sword hung, hoping the stableboy would get a better look.
"Oh, yes, ser," the stableboy replied, startled. He then remembered that there was a guard posted outside the stables, and yet this knight had still entered. Did this mean he had permission?
"I am Ser Ian Hill, natural son of..." Ian paused dramatically, then shook his head. "My father's name is not for common knowledge." He had fabricated an identity that allowed him greater freedom when dealing with natives who weren't players.
"May I ask what brings you here, ser?" the stableboy asked respectfully upon hearing Ian's introduction.
Though he had never heard of any Ser Ian Hill, that didn't stop him from showing proper deference to a bastard son of House Lannister.
"I'd like to stable my horse with you temporarily," Ian said, not directly revealing his true purpose. He gestured to the rounsey he was leading. "Of course, I'll pay for his keep."
"Of course, ser, it would be my honor. I promise to take good care of your horse," the stableboy quickly agreed. It was part of their duties to care for the horses of traveling knights, and the fees knights paid were usually more than the cost of the horse's upkeep.
"Also, I need to borrow a horse from you," Ian added.
"Of course, ser, please, this way." The stableboy gestured and led Ian deeper into the stables. He didn't suspect the knight was a fraud—after all, he was leaving his own horse as collateral, wasn't he?
"I'm riding to Maidenpool to join Lord William Mooton's hunt," Ian said, surveying the horses in the stables.
Most of the horses were ordinary riding horses; there were only a few truly impressive destriers.
He quickly settled on a white courser.
Ian estimated it to be over five and a half feet tall at the shoulder. Compared to it, the rounsey he was leading, barely four and a half feet at the shoulder, could only be described as small and unremarkable.
"This one. What do you think?"
(End of Chapter)
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