Bear School Astartes

Chapter 167: 167. The Knight’s Morality

When Edd and Lann returned to the Prime Minister’s Tower, the once solemn and orderly tower entrance had already become a chaotic mess.

Not to mention riding horses, even walking was a bit difficult here.

Needless to say, this was Jorri Kaiso’s doing.

After Edd returned to the Prime Minister’s Tower, he rewarded and praised the Guard Captain’s effort and loyalty, explaining the current situation. He planned to take them back to Winterfell in the North to summon vassals and prepare for war.

By rights, Robert, as the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, should be more than capable of handling a Westerlands issue with Lannister.

But war is not something that can be resolved just by showing one’s hand.

How many families has Tywin Lannister, over the years, befriended and controlled through his family’s gold mines? Nobody knows.

How many people secretly miss the days of being ruled by House Targaryen? No one knows that either.

But everyone knows one thing, when Robert wants to defeat Lannister, he will face much more than just a Duke of the Westerlands, Lannister.

Therefore, Edd Stark must urgently return to the North to gather an army in preparation for a great war that is likely to sweep across the entire kingdom.

”Sansa, you and Alia stay in King’s Landing, this is not a sightseeing trip, we have to march quickly... There will be war soon.”

Edd instructed his panicked eldest daughter while organizing scrolls, documents, and seals on his desk.

The dragonbone dagger was tucked into his belt.

Sansa was not one to be assertive; usually, when Edd gave an order, she would hardly object.

She timidly began to agree.

But Edd didn’t have just one obedient daughter; he also had an adventurous and bold daughter.

”There’s going to be war?!”

Alia’s face first showed worry, different from the concern for herself that Sansa showed. She had truly seen blood and cruelty near Lann.

She was worried about the world turning into a chaotic and violent place.

Yet, at the same time, the little girl’s eyes also showed a desire to venture. She was naturally drawn to adventure like the ’Blood of the Running Wolf’.

”Can I go with you? Quick march is fine! I can handle it! Please, Dad! Let me see!”

Alia clutched Edd’s pants, pleading persistently.

But Edd had long anticipated the difficulty of dealing with this younger daughter.

”Don’t even think about it, Alia. I know exactly how much hardship you can endure, whether it’s a quick march or any potential ambush and danger on the way. I cannot take you with me.”

After finishing, Edd turned to leave. Though it was a quick march, his high status did require him to carry many necessary items closely.

Taking the stairs down from the study, Edd found it slightly curious that Alia seemed unusually easy to handle today; usually, such requests dragged on for at least half an hour.

However, the situation was urgent, and the Prime Minister couldn’t overly ponder his daughter’s peculiarity, only hastening his preparations.

”Jorri, go to the royal cellar and help Lann box up the dragon bone to take away. That’s the King’s recompense for him. Be quick; we leave in one hour!”

”Yes, my lord.”

When Edd followed Robert from the North to King’s Landing, their lengthy convoy stretched several miles.

Now, traveling light, the group of twenty or so was equipped with double horses per person and a large wagon for transporting items, primarily a massive dragon jawbone.

The jawbone was jagged and fierce, so much so that its edges almost drooped to the ground, mounted on the wagon.

Fortunately, the dragon skeletons were relatively light due to their flight nature; otherwise, they might have hindered forward progress.

The ’Black Death God’ Balerion’s bones, just that jawbone filled more than half the wagon’s space.

The royal cellar actually housed the entire skull of Balerion, but the mammoth-eating head was exaggeratedly huge.

To ensure speed of action and Lann’s own estimated carrying capacity, this jawbone was the limit.

Over twenty people and forty horses stood ready before the Prime Minister’s Tower.

”Sansa, where’s Alia?”

Mounted on his horse, Edd asked his daughter, who was sending him off outside the Prime Minister’s Tower.

”I don’t know.” The red-haired lady was still immersed in unease. ”You wouldn’t let Alia go with you; she must be angry and hiding somewhere.”

Edd shook his head helplessly.

”I’m not in King’s Landing, so you need to take care of your sister... We leave now!”

With this final instruction, the convoy set off immediately.

The thunderous sounds of hooves pounded, rushing past the Red Castle.

The ordinary residents of King’s Landing had vaguely sensed the unusual atmosphere in the capital. A fight near the Mud Gate had already spread.

Those high-status lords had started killing each other; no frightened civilians or those with ambition could ignore the current situation.

At this moment in King’s Landing, eyes peered through various window crevices, observing this group of people and horses leaving the city.

Lann could sharply perceive these investigative gazes, and he also understood, with this...

The journey to the North, back to the crack at the meeting of globes, would not be easy.

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The King’s Road is a high-quality road that almost spans the Westeros Continent.

Lann and the others took this road when they arrived in King’s Landing.

In ancient times without cement asphalt roads, well-made, load-bearing roads were a luxury.

The quality of the road largely determined travel speed.

Edd knew that taking the King’s Road would expose them to spies, but for the sake of time, they had to take this road.

”Traveling from King’s Landing via the King’s Road to the North will first take us through the Royal Territory, then into the Riverlands, and after passing Jingze, we’ll reach the North.”

Edd explained his plan to Lann by his side, hoping he could help fill in any gaps.

”These lands are not under Lannister’s influence, the North is under the Starks, and the Royal Territory directly pledges allegiance to Robert. The Riverlands, as I’ve mentioned, is my wife’s motherland.”

Lann nodded gently.

”So we won’t encounter Lannister’s large forces unless they have already begun a full-scale invasion of other territories, declaring war on local lords.”

”But you’ve surely prepared for that, haven’t you? The enemy will definitely send out small groups specifically to assassinate you.”

”Yes.” Edd sighed deeply.

”I’ve fought wars all my life, and I know this journey won’t be easy. But I also know how defiant the Northern lords are. My eldest son is quite capable, but he is still very young. Compared to you, he has a significant gap, and I must admit that, Lann. I can’t trust him alone with the responsibility of summoning the Northern vassals.”

”Understood. The place where we initially met was near Jingze, I’ll ensure you get there safely. Until then, I remain your guard, fulfilling the duties of a guard.”

Edd looked at Lann, his lips moved a few times, appearing a bit conflicted.

”Actually, Lann... If you don’t seek a title or land, with your abilities, the best option is to remain uninvolved in this war. This war will be chaotic.”

Lann regarded Edd as one would a peculiar beast, then suddenly smiled brightly.

”You’re in this situation, and yet you speak honestly with me?”

”I must clarify the risks and benefits of the task to you, allowing you to decide whether to accept; that’s basic ethical obligation as an employer,” Edd earnestly met Lann’s gaze.

”It’s also the knight’s code. Perhaps very few knights you’ve met still abide by this code, but the Starks do!”

Lann smiled with the delight of encountering something interesting, nodding slightly. This expression even left Edd a bit at a loss.

”I’ve determined you’re a knight worthy of my admiration, Lord Stark. For this...”

”Even without considering Alia, I would help you return to the North.”

The Duke of the North looked puzzled at these words: ”Hmm? What does that have to do with Alia?”

Lann smiled silently.