Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

Standfast lies on the eastern edge of the Red Lake Forest, once belonging to House Osgrey. With the decline and eventual extinction of the house following the death of its last heir due to illness, the castle passed into the hands of House Rowan. However, its considerable distance from House Rowan's seat at Goldengrove led to its stewardship being entrusted to House Webber of Coldmoat.

House Webber, preferring to focus on their own stronghold, Coldmoat Castle, largely neglected the Standfast Stronghold.

Over the years, the castle fell into disrepair and became a refuge for drifters. Despite its abandonment, Standfast's strategic location at the terminus of the Westerlands mountain range gave it value to smugglers. A secret mountain path near the castle allowed bypassing the border patrols of The Reach, providing a hidden route to Cornfield in the Westerlands.

Experienced smugglers guarded the secret of this path fiercely. To maintain its obscurity, they even stationed people disguised as refugees within Standfast. However, these smugglers now hang lifeless from stakes in the castle, and a force of 300 soldiers has occupied the dilapidated fortress.

The garrison includes 100 regular troops and 200 irregulars, evident from their equipment. The regular soldiers are relatively well-armed, clad in leather armor, and equipped with various weapons. They even have a dedicated logistics team to ensure steady supplies of food and drink. In contrast, the irregular forces wear a patchwork of garments, with some improvising armor from padded clothing or wooden planks. Their weapons are equally diverse, ranging from makeshift spears fashioned from wooden poles to tools like pitchforks and sickles. Only a handful of leaders among them carry swords, marking them as a hastily recruited force of farmers.

Although the soldiers avoid displaying banners, the crests on some knights' armor betray their allegiance to House Crane of Red Lake.

Emerging from the castle's sole intact hall is a group of knights, distinguished by their fine plate armor and proud demeanors. Most walk with heads held high, exuding the confidence of seasoned warriors. Two figures stand out: one, the tallest among them, is clearly their leader, encircled protectively by the others. The second, following behind, is notable for his lack of armor and striking appearance—marred by three deep claw marks running from his forehead through his brow and down to his cheek, lending a ruthless edge to his otherwise handsome face.

This group, organized by House Crane, is tasked with rooting out bandits in the Red Lake Forest. Their leader is none other than the renowned Ser Joel Flowers of House Crane. Their original mission was to join forces with House Rowan of Goldengrove and House Oakheart of Old Oak to purge the forest of brigands. Yet, inexplicably, they have established a camp at Standfast, on the forest's outskirts.

This unusual decision has raised questions among outsiders and Joel Flowers' entourage alike. Despite their trust in their leader, murmurs of confusion have grown during their two-day stay. Finally, one knight's squire dared to voice his concern.

"Lord, how long are we to remain here?" he asked tentatively. "Shouldn't we be deep in the Red Lake Forest by now, dealing with the remnants of the Targaryens?"

At the mention of "remnants of the Targaryens," Lynd, one of Joel's men, cast a knowing glance at the squire. The words carried more weight than a mere label for the bandits; they hinted at ambition. Associating their mission with the remnants of House Targaryen, rather than common brigands, would attract greater attention and favor from the new king, Robert Baratheon. Success in such a venture would undoubtedly yield significant rewards and recognition.

Joel Flowers, however, saw through this ploy. From the start, he had harbored doubts about the bandits' purported ties to the Targaryens. Still, he understood the political game at play. Aligning their mission with the king's interests was a necessary move—not only to curry favor but also to avoid inciting royal scrutiny.

Ser Joel addressed his squires with a curt response, "Our purpose here is to suppress the bandits." His calm words left the group puzzled, as the connection between their garrison at Standfast and the mission to suppress the bandits remained unclear.

Noticing their confusion, Joel sighed softly. With measured patience, he elaborated, "Imagine you are surrounded by the enemy. If you suddenly discover a gap in their encirclement, what would you do?"

The attendants exchanged uncertain glances. Finally, one ventured an answer. "I would send someone to scout the gap to ensure it's safe. If it is, I'd lead the people out through it. Is that right, my lord?"

Joel didn't directly answer but nodded slightly, encouraging the squire to continue thinking. "Now," he said, "if all but one of the escape routes prove perilous, and that one route is secret and almost entirely unknown, yet offers a safe way past the enemy's blockade—what then?"

"We would, of course..." one began eagerly but trailed off mid-sentence, a realization dawning on him. "You mean... the remnants of the Targaryens will break out through Standfast?"

Joel nodded, finally revealing his thoughts. "There's a hidden smuggling trail near Standfast. It passes through the Westerlands Mountains, bypassing the areas around Red Lake City, and leads directly to the mountains outside Cornfield. Smugglers among the bandits must know of this path, and they will almost certainly use it to escape."

The knights' faces lit up with excitement at the opportunity for glory. This was more than just suppressing bandits—it was a chance to earn significant merit. However, one knight quickly tempered the enthusiasm. "But there are hundreds of bandits. Even if they lose some in their flight, they'll still outnumber us. Many are seasoned fighters—remnants of the Targaryens' forces. They have combat experience. Can our small force hold them?"

The knights' excitement gave way to somber contemplation. Earning recognition was desirable, but survival on the battlefield was paramount. After a brief silence, one knight proposed a solution. "This castle isn't far from House Webber's Coldmoat. Should we request reinforcements from them?"

The suggestion was met with nods of agreement, and all eyes turned to Joel, waiting for his decision. Joel, however, said nothing. Instead, he silently gestured for them to follow as he continued his inspection of the castle's various units, seemingly ignoring the proposal entirely. His unspoken reaction left the knights baffled, but they didn't dare press him further.

After completing their inspection, Joel issued instructions for each knight to lead a team to survey the surrounding terrain, identifying positions suitable for intercepting the fleeing bandits. Before dismissing his attendants, however, Joel stopped Lynd, signaling for him to stay behind. Once the two were alone in the hall, Joel leaned back in his chair and asked, "What do you think?"

Lynd, caught off guard, hesitated. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

"The suggestion to request help from House Webber," Joel clarified.

Lynd paused briefly before replying, "Shouldn't a matter this important be decided by you, my lord?"

Joel's expression didn't waver. "I want your opinion."

Unperturbed, Lynd offered his thoughts without hesitation. "I don't think we need to ask for help. House Webber will likely send support on their own before the day is out."

Intrigued, Joel straightened in his chair. "Explain. Why would House Webber act on their own initiative?"

"It's simple—they need to clear their name," Lynd replied. Seeing Joel's interest, he elaborated. "When the bandits looted a caravan belonging to House Rowan, they passed through House Webber's territory. Yet, House Webber did nothing to stop them. They let the bandits slip into the Red Lake Forest unchallenged. That has understandably raised suspicions. House Rowan didn't invite House Webber to join this campaign, which speaks volumes—Goldengrove no longer trusts them."

Lynd leaned forward slightly, emphasizing his point. "If House Webber wants to avoid retribution after the harvest, they have no choice but to demonstrate their loyalty. They must actively participate in this campaign, contributing manpower and resources to eradicate the bandits. They'll need to be so thorough that no one can accuse them of negligence. That's why I believe we don't need to ask—they'll come to us."

Joel was taken aback by Lynd's detailed and insightful response, though he concealed his surprise expertly. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he probed further, "Is that all?"

After a brief pause, Lynd continued, "Your stationing at Standfast serves not just to block the bandits' escape route but also to give the impression that House Rowan has deployed you to monitor House Webber. This illusion will push them to work harder in assisting us with eliminating the bandits, out of fear of suspicion."

At this, Joel could no longer mask his astonishment. He regarded Lynd with a peculiar expression, as if assessing a phenomenon rather than a young man barely fifteen or sixteen years of age. Lynd's analysis had far surpassed expectations—not just for a hunter from White Holdfast but for even the most seasoned maesters or knights. His insight rivaled, if not exceeded, that of individuals trained in the Citadel or forged in the fires of countless battles.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Joel posed another question. "Do you think House Webber is connected to these bandits?"

Lynd shook his head thoughtfully. "Whether they are or not doesn't matter at this point. What matters is that they must prove they aren't."

Joel pressed further, "But I want to know if such a connection exists."

After a moment's consideration, Lynd replied, "Personally, I believe the bandits were secretly supported by House Webber. However, I doubt the Webbers anticipated the bandits would go so far as to rob a Rowan caravan and kill a prominent member of House Rowan. When the bandits moved through House Webber's territory as usual, they likely avoided revealing the full extent of their actions, hoping to drag House Webber into their mess. By the time House Webber realized the situation, it was already too late to distance themselves."

Joel scrutinized Lynd, his gaze sharp. "Who taught you all this?" he asked. "This isn't knowledge a hunter could stumble upon."

Lynd smiled faintly. "Thanks to Old Baine," he said simply, though he concealed the truth of his origins and the vast knowledge he carried from another world. Revealing such details to someone like Joel Flowers would be met with disbelief, if not outright suspicion. Instead, Lynd attributed his insight to Old Baine, with whom he had often discussed such matters.

Joel appeared to accept the explanation. "It seems he holds you in high regard," Joel said. "Not only did he find you an exceptional swordsmanship instructor, but he also ensured you received a scholar's teachings. He must have invested all the dreams he couldn't achieve into you."

"Dreams?" Lynd echoed curiously. "Lord, could you tell me more about Old Baine?"

Joel's expression turned reflective. "He's never told you?"

Lynd shook his head.

Joel leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as he began, "I don't know much myself—just bits and pieces I've heard. Back when the Kingswood Brotherhood terrorized the land, Baine and I both participated in the campaign to crush them. I served under Lord Barristan, so I didn't interact with Baine directly. But I saw him on the battlefield. He led his spear team straight through the Brotherhood's defensive line, breaking their formation and forcing their retreat. That moment was pivotal—it ultimately led to their downfall. While the renowned knights got the glory, I've always believed Baine's spear team played a decisive role in that victory."

Lynd listened intently, surprised by this revelation. His impression of Old Baine, though respectful, had been of an ordinary, if competent, mentor. To learn that Baine had participated in the fabled campaign against the Kingswood Brotherhood—and not merely participated but achieved pivotal feats—cast him in a far more legendary light.

"I never imagined Old Baine had such a distinguished past," Lynd admitted, a touch of awe in his voice. "I thought his skill was impressive, but this... This is something else entirely."

Lynd was a little surprised. After spending so much time together, he had come to see Old Baine as far from ordinary, yet still falling short of truly legendary status. However, it now seemed he had underestimated the old man's past. Simply participating in the campaign to quell the Kingswood Brotherhood was already a feat worthy of legend—let alone achieving remarkable deeds in the heat of battle.