Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

After listening to Willas' words, Lynd couldn't help but sigh. He had anticipated trouble but hadn't expected Willas to be the one to bring it.

Lynd hesitated briefly, then said, "Lord Willas, I just turned sixteen last month, only a few years older than you."

Willas froze at this, his expression awkward. "Age is actually not a problem. You've seen Lady Malora too, and she looks more like my sister…"

"Wait!" Lynd cut in, his eyes narrowing. "Lord Willas, what makes you think Lady Malora wants to marry me?"

Willas answered earnestly, "After the banquet ended, she specifically sought out my grandfather to ask about you." He paused before adding, "My grandfather told me this was the first time in over ten years she had inquired about a man." Willas glanced at Lynd and continued, "In addition, some servants saw you and Lady Malora meeting in the small garden. When she left, she had a rosy complexion, like…"

Willas trailed off, but Lynd understood what he meant. He couldn't explain it either; Malora Hightower had left with an expression that could easily be misinterpreted.

"I didn't do anything," Lynd said defensively, his tone firm.

"I believe you. Lady Malora isn't that kind of person, and neither are you," Willas replied, his eyes filled with trust. Then, hesitantly, he added, "But the servants in the High Tower…"

Lynd cut him off sharply. "What's the point of keeping such nosy servants? Do you want them spreading their lord's private matters?"

Willas gave an awkward smile, already regretting his decision to visit Lynd.

Lynd's tone grew colder. "Lord Willas, did you decide to come see me on your own, or was this your grandfather's idea?"

Willas admitted, "My grandfather had it in mind, but he didn't say it outright. I thought it would be a good thing to become connected to Ser Lynd, so I took the initiative to speak with you. Better me than my grandfather; this way, there's still room for things to be resolved."

Lynd responded quietly, "I think you should speak with Lady Malora first. This is just a misunderstanding. Don't let it escalate unnecessarily."

"I understand," Willas said after a moment of thought. He apologized again, then rose and left Lynd's room.

The next morning, Lynd accompanied Willas on visits to several prominent nobles and sea merchants in Oldtown, eventually accompanying him to House Tyrell's Rose Bank. During this time, Willas did not bring up Malora Hightower again, as though the previous night's conversation had never happened. Malora herself did not appear before Lynd again.

When Lynd returned to the High Tower at noon, he overheard the guards discussing how several of the Hightower House's vassals had sent marriage proposals for Malora Hightower to Lord Leyton.

It had been over a decade since the Mad Maid's infamous reputation had taken root, and this was the first time in years that a noble had willingly proposed to her.

This didn't surprise Lynd. After Malora Hightower, who had stayed out of the public eye for over ten years, revealed her stunning beauty at the banquet, the marriage proposals were inevitable. So far, only nobles from Oldtown had proposed, but Lynd knew it wouldn't be long before those from the wider Reach followed suit.

For most ordinary nobles, marrying Malora Hightower would be an extraordinary stroke of luck.

First, there was the obvious allure of marrying a beautiful wife. Even if she was a little eccentric, that was a small price compared to the immense dowry she would bring.

Second, marrying her meant gaining the powerful support of House Hightower, which could elevate one's status significantly. Most importantly, such a union meant becoming in-laws with House Tyrell, the ruling family of The Reach—an invaluable connection for any noble in the region.

"Which do you think Lord Leyton will choose as my maternal aunt's husband?" Willas asked suddenly during lunch, his tone casual yet inexplicable.

Although he didn't directly indicate whom he was asking, Lynd had a strong sense the question was aimed at him. Deciding to avoid the topic altogether, he feigned ignorance and said nothing. Instead, the nobles around Willas eagerly took up the question, offering their own answers one after another.

Noticing Lynd's deliberate silence, Willas shrugged and responded half-heartedly to the other nobles' opinions. He didn't press the question further.

In the afternoon, Willas continued with his plans and visited the Citadel to meet with several Archmaesters.

The Citadel, situated along the Honeywine River, consisted of a collection of tall stone towers and domed buildings.

Each housed extensive libraries containing countless books. To protect against natural disasters such as high tides and tsunamis, the buildings were constructed on raised stone platforms about ten meters high. These elevated foundations also kept the ground dry, preventing moisture damage to the valuable tomes within.

Massive stone arch bridges connected the structures, with Maester dormitories built atop these bridges. The Citadel had only one entrance, located at the main gate. In times of war or danger, the Maesters could close the gates to keep the conflict outside. However, they occasionally allowed refugees to seek shelter in the open spaces beneath the Citadel's raised platforms.

Due to the Citadel's strict policies, Lynd and others bearing weapons were not permitted inside. While Willas held his private meeting with the Archmaesters, Lynd and others had to wait at the Scribe's Hearth, a nearby area outside the Citadel. Only nobles who had previously studied at the Citadel or advisors with Maester status could accompany Willas inside.

Lynd couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at being unable to explore the Citadel's library or see the renowned astrolabe crafted by the scholars of this world. However, his disappointment was short-lived as his attention shifted to the bookstalls at the Scribe's Hearth.

These stalls, run by assistant Maesters of the Citadel, offered books classified as publicly available. They also provided transcription services for texts housed within the Citadel's library that weren't available at the stalls. Most of the assistant Maesters operating these stalls were impoverished individuals. While education at the Citadel was free, living expenses were not, and the Citadel permitted them to earn income this way to prevent them from abandoning their studies due to financial hardship.

Browsing the stalls, Lynd quickly noted that most of the books were histories or biographies. There were accounts of the Seven Kingdoms, family histories of various lords, and trade chronicles. However, technical works on subjects like metallurgy or agriculture were noticeably absent.

While Lynd browsed the bookstalls, others in the Scribe's Hearth began to observe him and his companion, Glory. The morning's visits to Oldtown's nobles had already drawn significant attention to the mutant Shadowcat, and now the commotion continued. Many Maesters studying biology flocked over, eager to document the unique creature's features.

Despite their scholarly curiosity, these Maesters weren't reckless. When Glory began growling menacingly and adopting a threatening posture, they prudently backed away, retreating to a safe distance. The tense situation persisted until Willas emerged from the Citadel, putting an end to the spectacle.

Lynd had selected a few books to read on the voyage to Sunspear. After leaving Oldtown, they would spend a long time at sea, and it would be tedious without something to occupy their time. However, Lynd only chose a handful of books because of their high cost—just these few sets had cost him several golden dragons.

The Citadel had long been capable of producing paper, but the quality was poor. The brittle sheets crumbled in dry conditions and grew moldy in humid environments, making them unsuitable for books. Instead, this fragile paper was primarily used for raven letterheads. Formal books, on the other hand, were still written on parchment, which contributed to their exorbitant price.

Another reason for the high cost was that all books were painstakingly handwritten by Maesters. For example, it took over a month for a Maester to copy the Kings' Chronicle, which documented the early history of the Seven Kingdoms.

The process involved more than simply transcribing text; Maesters also had to replicate numerous illustrations, intricate arabesque patterns, and other decorations, as these might conceal hidden information. Every detail had to be duplicated with precision.

The steep cost of books led Lynd to briefly consider the potential of papermaking and printing. He imagined how these tools could generate wealth and attract talented individuals if he ever attained sufficient power. However, the idea was quickly dismissed. While the benefits were speculative, one certainty stood out: introducing printing and papermaking would enrage the Citadel.

The Citadel's unparalleled influence in Westeros was rooted in its control of knowledge. If affordable, mass-produced books flooded the Seven Kingdoms, the Citadel would be the primary casualty, likely making Lynd its sworn enemy. Offering the inventions to the Citadel as a gesture of goodwill was not a viable alternative either. Even if this gained their favor, the personal benefits would likely be minimal, and he might still face suspicion and restrictions to prevent the spread of these innovations.

Having abandoned the notion, Lynd left the Citadel with Willas. At the time, Willas's expression was less than pleased—likely because he hadn't achieved his objective there. His mood improved significantly later, however, when the Citadel presented him with three books as a parting gift.

The first book was Wonders by Lomas Longstrider, transcribed by a Tyrell ancestor who had once studied at the Citadel.

The second was The Nine Voyages by Maester Mathis, which chronicled the great voyages of Corlys Velaryon. The final book was a portion of Engines of War by Ayrmidon.

Among the three, Wonders held unique value due to its connection to the Tyrell copyist. The other two, however, were intrinsically valuable. For instance, The Nine Voyages was originally a private collection of House Velaryon. It described the customs of the Free Cities and coastal kingdoms of Essos and detailed several undiscovered trade routes, each promising untold wealth. Every merchant and navigator coveted a copy, but the original remained securely on the island of House Velaryon. The version gifted to Willas was a recent transcription, evident from the fresh ink.

As for Engines of War, it was arguably even more valuable, despite being incomplete. Ayrmidon, the author, was a Valyrian from the Freehold's zenith. Though his exact identity is lost to time, his surviving works—focused on war—indicate he was likely a Valyrian general. Engines of War provided a comprehensive manual of Valyrian military strategy, detailing the weapons, tactics, and strategies employed by their armies. Its contents made it an invaluable relic of Valyrian military history.

However, this book has been lost over time due to various changes, and it is now said that the only surviving original copy is hidden in Winterfell in the North.

The copy of Engines of War provided by the Citadel was reportedly transcribed by the Maester advising Winterfell. However, it only includes a portion of the sections on siege engines and some accounts of war. Even so, for Willas, this was already an invaluable treasure.

By the afternoon, some of the frustration Willas had felt at the Citadel had quickly faded, and his mood improved significantly. He was even in good spirits, chatting and laughing with members of House Hightower during dinner.

Since he needed to attend a day-and-night prayer ceremony at the Starry Sept the following day, Willas retired early to bed.

Lynd, however, remained awake. As he had done in Highgarden, he commanded Glory to leave the High Tower and roam Oldtown to gain a better understanding of the area.

Initially, Lynd intended for Glory to approach the Citadel, hoping it could sneak into the library and perhaps steal a rare, forbidden book or two. However, when Glory reached the main entrance of the Citadel, it refused to go any further, no matter how much Lynd urged it.

Through Glory's perspective, Lynd realized the reason for this hesitation was the two sphinx statues flanking the Citadel's gate. These statues emanated streams of deep green light, giving them an eerie appearance in the dark.

Lynd recalled that when he had visited the Citadel during the day, the sphinx statues had seemed like ordinary sculptures. At that time, Glory had been able to enter the Citadel and move through areas like the Scribe's Hearth without any trouble. He had noticed nothing unusual about the statues. Now, it was clear that the Citadel was even more intricate and mysterious than he had initially thought.

Although Lynd did not understand the nature of the power contained in the sphinx statues, Glory's reaction made it evident that it was something profoundly terrifying. Otherwise, Glory would not have been so reluctant to proceed.

Seeing that he was blocked, Lynd chose not to force Glory to enter the Citadel. Instead, he recalled it, deciding to wait for another opportunity in the future to explore the Citadel's interior.