Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

The continent of Westeros may appear small in the TV series, with cities seemingly close and journeys spanning only a few days, but in reality, the distances between the cities of the Seven Kingdoms are vast. Traveling between them often takes months or even years.

For instance, when Lynd traveled from Goldengrove to New Barrel, the journey was swift because they traveled downriver, taking only four or five days. However, had they gone by land, the trip would have likely taken over a month—assuming the roads were in good condition. Poor roads could have doubled that time.

After departing New Barrel, House Tyrell's procession continued northeast along The Roseroad. With frequent stops along the way, it took nearly a month to reach Bitterbridge.

Lord Armond Caswell, having received word of their arrival in advance, waited outside his castle to welcome Garlan Tyrell's procession. He announced that a feast had been prepared and invited Garlan to stay overnight, leaving the following day, as a gesture of hospitality. Lord Caswell, eager to curry favor with the House of the Golden Rose, was so humble in his demeanor that Garlan had no reason to decline. Consequently, the procession camped outside Bitterbridge, while Garlan, along with the knights and nobles, attended the banquet inside.

Though Lynd served as Vortimer Crane's squire, he was not eligible to attend such noble banquets. Instead, he remained in the camp with the other attendants, enjoying the provisions Ser Caswell had arranged.

Over the course of more than a month, Lynd learned little about combat from Vortimer. Vortimer bluntly told him he had nothing more to teach regarding swordsmanship and battle techniques, advising Lynd to continue practicing as before. Instead, Vortimer focused on teaching him the duties of a knight's squire. Lynd's daily tasks involved caring for Vortimer's horse, maintaining his armor and weapons, and learning basic knightly etiquette. The rest of his time was spent following his previous regimen of building strength and preparing for group combat.

What proved most valuable for Lynd, however, were the cultural lessons that had no direct connection to combat. Each evening, Vortimer had Maester Hawley teach Lynd about the history of the Seven Kingdoms, the family lineages of the great noble houses, and their crests and mottos.

Lynd's prior knowledge of the world of ice and fire came from watching past episodes, discussing theories on forums, and reading a setting book about the series' lore. Amusingly, Maester Hawley revealed that a similar book existed in the Citadel, but access was restricted to a select few maesters. Lynd's understanding of the real Westeros, however, had been limited. Systematically learning about the realm's history, while not directly enhancing his combat prowess, was pivotal for his aspirations of climbing the social ladder.

Maester Hawley hailed from a minor vassal family under House Tyrell. His expertise in history and culture was well-regarded, but he was not a permanent member of House Tyrell, merely accompanying the Tyrells on their journey to King's Landing.

Initially, Maester Hawley was reluctant to teach Lynd, not because of Lynd's background, but because it encroached on his personal time and responsibilities.

As the days passed, however, Hawley's attitude shifted from reluctance to enthusiasm. At times, he even summoned Lynd to his carriage while traveling to finish lessons left incomplete the night before. This change stemmed from the joy Hawley found in teaching someone as eager and appreciative as Lynd.

Hawley's own upbringing had been less encouraging. His family, situated at the border of The Reach and Dorne, frequently clashed with the Dornish and prioritized martial prowess over scholarly pursuits. Their children were expected to learn only the basics of noble etiquette and the history of local Reach families, rendering Hawley's extensive knowledge undervalued. For the first time, in teaching Lynd, Hawley felt his expertise truly appreciated.

This time, Maester Hawley traveled to King's Landing without protest, largely because a close friend from the Citadel had informed him of an opportunity. Grand Maester Pycelle planned to compile and write the history of House Targaryen and had requested the Citadel to send a Maester with a copper chain to assist. Given Hawley's renowned expertise in history, he was an ideal candidate. Knowing Hawley's dissatisfaction with his position in a noble family, his friend encouraged him to seize this chance.

The day he received the letter, Maester Hawley promptly resigned from the family he served and set off alone. His journey was fortunate, as he encountered several caravans traveling to Highgarden, allowing him to reach the city safely. Once there, he learned that House Tyrell was assembling a team to attend the Tournament of Champions in King's Landing. Eager to join, he became part of House Tyrell's entourage.

When Vortimer Crane requested Maester Hawley to tutor Lynd, the Maester reluctantly agreed, having little choice in the matter. However, he was already impressed by the swordsmanship competition at New Barrel and intrigued by Lynd's reputation as the Bear Hunter. Initially, Hawley assumed Lynd to be similar to the noble students he had previously taught.

It wasn't long before Hawley realized how different Lynd was. Lynd displayed an intense passion for learning, eagerly absorbing all the knowledge Hawley shared. He often asked questions beyond the prescribed lessons and even engaged in academic discussions, occasionally posing questions that Hawley struggled to answer.

What truly astonished Maester Hawley was Lynd's exceptional aptitude. Lynd mastered new concepts with a single explanation and could memorize entire texts after reading them once. This remarkable ability led Hawley to remark frequently, "You should go to the Citadel!"

Word of Lynd's brilliance soon reached Garlan Tyrell. Upon verifying Lynd's capabilities, Garlan permitted him to borrow books from the family's traveling library, though only one at a time. Lynd's intellectual prowess created a stir within the group, albeit less dramatic than the revelation of his identity as Lynd the Bear Hunter when they departed New Barrel.

At that time, following Lynd's swordsmanship match with Vortimer, speculation about his identity spread among the nobles, soldiers, servants, and stablehands. While some guessed Lynd might be the Bear Hunter due to his dual-sword technique, they dismissed the idea, as Lynd's age and physique didn't align with the popular image of the Bear Hunter.

The following day, before the group resumed their journey, Garlan Tyrell officially announced that Lynd the Bear Hunter had joined House Tyrell. This public declaration confirmed Lynd's identity and astonished everyone. Once the initial shock subsided, the group warmly accepted Lynd's presence, recognizing his skills as a valuable asset during the dangerous journey to King's Landing.

Over the next month, Lynd faced no challenges from the group, nor did anyone question his abilities. His swordsmanship match with Vortimer had already demonstrated his prowess, and it was clear to all that Garlan Tyrell held him in high regard. Consequently, nobles, guards, and servants alike treated Lynd with respect and even sought to befriend him.

Some members of the group displayed friendliness toward Lynd out of personal initiative, while others did so under orders. This prompted both Vortimer and Garlan to quietly observe Lynd's behavior, aiming to see if he might become complacent from the flattery. However, Lynd's performance was exemplary. He responded to deliberate acts of friendship with the natural poise of a noble, avoiding arrogance while maintaining humility. Instead, he eagerly embraced learning, acquiring new skills from anyone willing to teach him. He learned horse-feeding from stable boys, armor and weapon maintenance from soldiers, and etiquette for interacting with nobles of varying ranks from servants.

What most impressed Garlan and Vortimer was Lynd's unwavering discipline. Every day, his activities followed a clear, self-imposed schedule, executed with precise adherence. This quality reminded them of Lord Randyll Tarly, renowned for his strict and orderly nature. While Lynd's disciplined demeanor might not have endeared him to everyone in the group, it garnered significant respect. Yet, for most, his impressive combat abilities were far more captivating.

Since Vortimer largely allowed Lynd to manage his own training, Lynd adhered to his original plan to hone both his physical fitness and combat skills. While he could handle physical training alone, refining combat skills required sparring partners. Each day, his combat exercises became a form of entertainment for the group. Lynd didn't train one-on-one but instead engaged in combat against multiple opponents. Starting with four adversaries, he eventually faced five or six at once, mastering the art of fighting against overwhelming odds.

To further challenge himself, Lynd later asked the sparring soldiers to wear armor, wield shields, and form battle lines with spears. This shift reintroduced the element of pressure to his training, and on several occasions, he narrowly avoided defeat. For the others in the group, these dynamic battles became a highlight of the day, transforming the monotony of travel into a source of excitement. Soldiers, servants, and even maids often gathered to watch, cheering Lynd and his opponents. At the end of training sessions, some maids would toss wildflowers at their favorite fighters, with Lynd receiving the lion's share.

Lynd's intense training not only showcased his remarkable combat prowess but also inspired those around him. His growing reputation commanded respect among the soldiers, elevating his standing to that of a knight despite his role as a squire. This newfound influence sparked envy among some knights and nobles, who attempted to sway Garlan Tyrell's opinion of Lynd with disparaging remarks. However, these efforts proved fruitless. Nonetheless, their jealousy contributed to Lynd's exclusion from the banquet at Bitterbridge Castle. While a knight's squire might have otherwise been allowed to sit quietly in a corner of the hall, Lynd's absence avoided further friction.

Lynd, however, was unfazed by his exclusion. After dining in the camp, he ventured alone into the lands near the castle to practice his throwing skills.

Drawing on his Peacekeeper experience, Lynd had honed the art of throwing weapons—a technique effective in duels but initially deemed less practical for group combat. Still, he saw no harm in maintaining this skill. Over time, he realized its potential on the battlefield, particularly when using small, easily carried weapons such as daggers, short axes, or spears.

Unfortunately, the group lacked a blacksmith capable of forging custom throwing weapons. Lynd improvised by borrowing daggers and short axes from the soldiers for practice. Under the clear moonlight, he trained, hurling weapons at marked targets on trees. However, this static exercise soon felt insufficient. To further challenge himself, Lynd began contemplating techniques for targeting moving objects.

While absorbed in these thoughts, Lynd detected approaching footsteps. His recent efforts to enhance his bodily awareness, a skill inspired by his encounter with the Faceless Men, allowed him to discern the general build of the figures from the sound of their steps. Satisfied with his assessment, he turned to confirm his expectations.

Two individuals approached. The first was Raul, a House Tyrell soldier who often sparred with Lynd and had built a friendly rapport with him. The second was a young guard in Bitterbridge's livery. Standing half a head taller than Lynd, the guard was robust and muscular, his clothes stretched tight over his well-developed arms and torso. Though close to Lynd's age, he had attempted to grow a beard for maturity, but its sparse, patchy appearance betrayed his youth, resembling the fine hair of an infant.