Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

"You should loosen the reins a bit and trust your mount as you would trust your weapon," Lynd shouted, giving Nymeria instructions on riding the King of Wild Horses. He watched as Nymeria rode Noen past him like a gust of wind, her form sharp and confident.

Nymeria had chosen the larger of the two King of Wild Horses and named it Moonmaid, after the Moonmaid constellation in the sky. Despite this, it was Lynd who had tamed the King of Wild Horses. If Nymeria wanted to ride Moonmaid, she would need to tame it herself. Over the following months, she became adept at riding Moonmaid, but it was clear that mastering full control would take more time.

As Lynd observed Nymeria adjusting her horsemanship in line with the techniques he had taught her, a sudden caw drew his attention skyward. He spotted a crow flying overhead, heading north. The sight stirred something in him—it had been over six months since his return from Highgarden to Tumbleton, a place now brimming with change and progress.

Tumbleton had evolved rapidly, becoming more fittingly called Tumbleton Castle. The castle itself, fully repaired and renovated more than a month ago, stood as a testament to Malora's leadership. Lynd had originally estimated that the repairs would take one to two years. However, under Malora's guidance, the chaotic construction site was streamlined. With simplified divisions of responsibility and the elimination of unnecessary processes, the pace of work had doubled, accelerating the transformation of old Tumbleton Castle.

The restoration wasn't limited to the castle. The ruins beneath had been repaired and seamlessly reintegrated into the growing town. Lynd's barracks had also been relocated across the Mander River. Though still crude, Malora had designed them to fortress specifications, capable of evolving into a second town for Tumbleton. To support this expansion, she had selected a suitable location to construct a sturdier stone bridge.

The simultaneous execution of these ambitious projects required immense resources—both financial and human. Fortunately, over the past six months, Tumbleton's reputation had drawn a significant influx of displaced people. Lynd's growing renown among the Faith of the Seven had also attracted many free folk. The population had surged from a few thousand to over 30,000, excluding the transient workers who came seeking employment. As a result, there was no shortage of labor to fuel the town's expansion.

The transformation of Tumbleton wasn't solely due to Malora's expertise. Financial stability played a key role. On the third day after Lynd's return, a letter of appointment had arrived from Highgarden. As Willas had foretold, this letter was addressed to Nymeria, naming her Warden of the Mander River. While the title was largely ceremonial, its authority on paper was immense, placing almost the entire Mander River within her jurisdiction.

The position of Warden of the Mander had a long and storied history, though it was often regarded as a thankless role. Accepting it risked incurring the hostility of the Lords along the Mander, leading to its neglect by the Reach's major houses. Typically, the position was assigned to a court noble of Highgarden, such as the previous Warden, who had also served as Highgarden's Steward during the tenure of Lord Leo Tyrell.

Accompanying the title was an interest-free loan of 100,000 golden dragons from the Rose Bank and the right to mint coins. This generous loan played a crucial role in the accelerated construction of Tumbleton, transforming it into a substantial castle within just half a year. The right to mint Silver Stag coins also ensured there were no financial pressures for Tumbleton's subsequent projects.

Malora's re-exploration of the silver mine revealed that it was not only vast but also accompanied by a slightly smaller gold mine. These two precious resources ensured Tumbleton's financial security for centuries to come. When the gold mine was discovered, Nymeria proposed mining it immediately to repay the 100,000 golden dragons borrowed from House Tyrell. However, Lynd advised against this. Instead, he suggested borrowing an additional 100,000 golden dragons from the Rose Bank.

Nymeria didn't fully understand Lynd's reasoning but trusted him and complied without question. Following Lynd's advice, she successfully secured another loan of 100,000 golden dragons without any difficulty arising from the prior loan.

Malora, on the other hand, immediately grasped Lynd's strategy. She recognized that he aimed to strengthen the bond between Nymeria's Tumbleton and Highgarden. Debt, unlike many relationships that weaken over time, can often grow stronger and more binding. When the debt reaches a certain level, it acts as a form of protection, ensuring deeper cooperation between parties.

While Nymeria's appointment as Warden of the Mander was implemented smoothly, the appointment of an overall leader for the anti-bandit forces in the river region faced delays.

Without an official title, Lynd could not justify a significant expansion of the army. For the time being, he expanded the cavalry patrols to their limit of 1,000 men and temporarily placed other soldiers under Nymeria's name.

Back in Tumbleton, Lynd prioritized the expansion of the cavalry patrols. His Guard's Unit grew to 500 men, composed of 100 hedge knights and 400 freeriders. Though the hedge knights were considered the lowest rank of the knightly class, their abilities were far from ordinary. Their survival and success under various noble lords were testaments to their skill.

Maintaining a significant number of hedge knights was a luxury not afforded to most lords. For a lord like Nymeria, even after Tumbleton's full development, maintaining 400 to 500 hedge knights would be exceptional, thanks primarily to the support of the gold and silver mines. Most lords could retain only a handful of hedge knights and relied on temporary recruitment during times of need. Only a house as powerful as House Tyrell could sustain a standing force of 2,000 to 3,000 hedge knights and recruit additional forces when necessary.

Lynd's ability to recruit such numbers stemmed from his success in Dorne, which had provided him with considerable wealth. Furthermore, he saved money by not needing to arm the knights, as House Tyrell covered the military expenses in full, giving him ample resources to bolster his forces.

In addition to expanding the Guard's Unit, Lynd increased the size of the five cavalry patrols, each consisting of ten knights and ninety riders. Bryn Rivers and Scar-Eyed Mitt retained their positions as captains of the first and second patrols, while the captains of the third, fourth, and fifth patrols were sworn knights Lynd recruited after his return to Tumbleton.

Lynd's reputation, bolstered by tales of his victories and status as a chosen one, attracted many hedge knights eager to join his service. Although Lynd remained an ordinary retainer knight of House Tyrell, many believed his leadership held great promise. Among the arrivals were several powerful and capable individuals, from whom Lynd selected three to captain the new patrols.

The captain of the third cavalry patrol was a familiar face to Lynd—Balin, a knight from Across the Narrow Sea. Balin had achieved fame by winning the jousting lance championship at the King's Landing Tournament a year prior, earning a prize of 50,000 golden dragons. After the tournament, he had disappeared, leading many to believe he had been murdered for his prize money. The truth was far grimmer. Balin had been ambushed by enemies from Essos who robbed him of the gold and abandoned him on a deserted island to perish.

Not long ago, Balin had been fortunate enough to encounter a ship returning from Essos to King's Landing after being blown off course by a storm. Upon his arrival in King's Landing, penniless and seeking opportunities, he stumbled across a recruiter from Tumbleton who was gathering drifters for work. Seeing this as a chance to rebuild his life, Balin traveled to Tumbleton.

Upon arriving, he learned of Lynd's recruitment efforts for cavalry troops and decided to enlist. During the recruitment process, he participated in a competition to showcase his horsemanship and combat skills on horseback, impressing Lynd enough to pass the final interview. This secured his position as the captain of the third cavalry patrol.

The other two captains of the cavalry patrols also had notable backgrounds. One was Dacey Mormont, a warrior from Bear Island, and the other was Lothor Brune, a formidable fighter who earned his position through sheer strength and skill.

Lynd was surprised when he first heard Dacey Mormont's name. In his previous life, he had read about this remarkable female warrior from the North, whose tall stature and exceptional combat abilities made her stand out. Despite her brief appearances in the annals of history, her distinct personality left an impression. Lynd reflected that had she not perished at the Red Wedding, she might have achieved fame comparable to Brienne of Tarth.

Dacey's arrival in Tumbleton was accidental. Following Bear Island tradition, she had embarked on a journey across the Seven Kingdoms to gain experience and broaden her horizons after coming of age. Along the way, she took on tasks like escorting caravans to fund her travels. One such task brought her to Tumbleton.

Upon reaching Tumbleton, Dacey sought an audience with Nymeria. Having heard of Nymeria's reputation as a formidable warrior and the Lord of Tumbleton, Dacey wished to meet her and test her skills. Their meeting led to a quick contest of arms, after which the two women bonded over their shared respect for each other's abilities and swiftly became friends.

Though Dacey expressed her desire to join Nymeria's service, Nymeria declined her request—not because she doubted Dacey's strength, but because she believed Dacey's abilities would be underutilized in Tumbleton. With the town on the verge of settling into peace and stability, Nymeria felt there would be little opportunity for Dacey to use her talents in war. Knowing Lynd would continue to lead campaigns and seek new battles, Nymeria decided to wait for his return to recommend Dacey for a more fitting role.

When Lynd returned, Nymeria introduced him to Dacey, emphasizing her skills and potential. Lynd quickly recognized the warrior standing before him as the famed daughter of Bear Island. Without hesitation, he recruited her into his command, later appointing her as captain of the fifth cavalry patrol.

Dacey's rise was facilitated by Nymeria's recommendation and Lynd's prior knowledge of her reputation. In contrast, Lothor Brune earned his position as captain of the fourth cavalry patrol entirely on his own merit. His appointment was decided through a tournament where all of Lynd's sworn knights competed for the role.

In the final duel, Lothor faced Dacey. Despite her skill and power, the mace she wielded was not ideal for one-on-one combat of this nature. Lothor exploited this disadvantage, seizing an opportunity to defeat her and claim the position of captain of the fourth cavalry patrol.

Lynd initially thought that the name Lothor Brune sounded vaguely familiar but didn't dwell on it. Later, during a conversation, Lothor revealed that he hailed from the Crownlands and was distantly related to House Brune of Brownhollow in Crackclaw Point. He had approached the Brune family in hopes of being accepted back into the fold, but they dismissed him as a distant relative and cast him out.

Following this rejection, Lothor wandered to King's Landing as a freerider. There, he often heard tales of Lynd's exploits in the city's taverns. These stories ignited a sense of admiration in Lothor, and he resolved to follow Lynd, whom he came to regard as an ideal leader.

It was during this exchange that Lynd suddenly remembered who Lothor Brune really was. In another timeline, Lothor would go on to become the trusted right-hand man of Petyr Baelish, famously earning the nickname "Apple-Eater" at the Battle of the Blackwater. In that battle, he would have single-handedly broken through enemy lines, slaying Ser Edwyd Fossoway of House Redapple and Ser Bryan, while capturing Ser Jon Fossoway of House Greenapple alive. Lothor's martial prowess was undeniable; he was a ferocious warrior whose specialty was charging into battle and cutting down enemies.

Recognizing this potential, Lynd structured his cavalry patrols accordingly. The fourth and fifth patrols, led by Lothor Brune and Dacey Mormont, were designed as heavy cavalry units, relying on charges as their primary tactic. They trained extensively alongside Lynd, ensuring their cohesion and readiness for battle. In contrast, the Guard's Unit was converted into a light cavalry force armed with shortbows, and the other three cavalry patrols continued to emphasize archery tactics.

Beyond the cavalry, Lynd instructed Lothos to establish a 500-strong shield-and-spear infantry unit, with orphans from the Greenblood River as its core. This unit was temporarily assigned to Tumbleton's defense. Meanwhile, Wenda the White Fawn's rangers, who had been incorporating various bandit groups, had grown into a covert force of 500. Lynd deployed this secret unit to the northern edge of Tumbleton's territory, south of the Blackwater Rush, to gather intelligence and prepare for the eventual construction of a fortress in the region.

However, much of Lynd's broader plans depended on news from Highgarden, which seemed to have reached a frustrating standstill. There had been no official announcement regarding the marriage between Willas Tyrell and Princess Arianne Martell, nor had there been a rejection of the proposal. For the past half-year, the Red Viper and Princess Arianne had been leisurely touring The Reach, accompanied by Willas as their guide.

Their open displays of affection left no doubt among the nobles of The Reach about their growing closeness. During this time, Princess Arianne had managed to win over most of The Reach's noble lords. The initial resistance to the idea of a Dornish princess becoming the Lady of Highgarden had faded. It was now widely believed that the union between Sunspear and Highgarden would proceed without issue, with approval from the Iron Throne and the other Seven Kingdoms.