"You have done well to show the others the strength of The Reach." Lord Mace gathered all the advisers of The Reach at the manor Tywin had arranged for House Tyrell.
The Lords and Knights of House Rowan, House Crane, House Fossoway of Cider Hall, House Fossoway of New Barrel, House Tarly, House Hightower, House Redwyne, and other prominent houses who had participated in the rebellion were all summoned to the manor's grand hall.
Lynd was naturally among those summoned. However, unlike the other knights, who had to wait in the courtyard outside the hall for an audience with Lord Mace, Lynd entered the hall alongside the patriarchs and Lords of the various houses. Apart from the attendants, he was the only knight present in the hall.
During the feasts over the past few days, Lynd had already become acquainted with the Lords and dignitaries of the assembled houses.
While he was slightly better acquainted with members of Houses Hightower and Redwyne, his relationships with the other families remained superficial. In contrast, the knights of these families had formed a camaraderie with him, likely due to a mixture of admiration and respect for his deeds.
It was no exaggeration to say that Lynd had become something of a spiritual leader for the knights of the Reach. His combat skills and leadership had left a lasting impression, and his willingness to teach and inspire had only elevated his stature among them. Many knights now held him in high regard, almost to the point of reverence.
Lynd had been seated in the middle of the hall, positioned next to Randyll Tarly.
Although Randyll Tarly had been the commander of the alliance in the Reach, his command had ended with the conclusion of the rebellion.
Now, he was simply the Lord of Horn Hill, and by the standards of territory size and power, he was considered to be of middling rank among the assembled Lords. Thus, his position in the hall's arrangement was not particularly remarkable.
After arriving in Lannisport, Lynd had sought out Randyll Tarly immediately, as Randyll was nominally his superior. Their meeting was a complex one. Randyll Tarly's initial impression of Lynd had been less than favorable. However, Lynd's subsequent actions—leading a thousand-mile raid with 2,000 cavalry, liberating five castles, defeating tens of thousands of enemies, and earning countless honors—had gradually altered Randyll's opinion. Moreover, reports of Lynd's disciplined management and upright character further impressed the Lord of Horn Hill.
When Randyll finally met Lynd in person, his demeanor was businesslike, though inwardly he could not help but admire the young knight. Privately, he even sighed at the thought that if only his own son had possessed even a fraction of Lynd's abilities.
When Lynd was assigned to sit beside him in the hall, Randyll Tarly leaned over and whispered, with a rare touch of kindness, "Be prepared, and don't make a fool of yourself."
"Huh?" Lynd froze at the remark and glanced at Randyll, confused, but Randyll said nothing further.
Just as Lynd was pondering the cryptic warning, Lord Mace began to announce the rewards for the Lords and knights who had contributed to the rebellion.
The rewards for military service in the rebellion were not distributed directly by King Robert to the subordinate Lords of the Seven Kingdoms. Instead, Robert rewarded the Lords of each region, who then distributed the rewards to their vassals in turn, all the way down to the knights.
Ordinary soldiers typically did not receive formal rewards, relying instead on loot gathered during campaigns. However, Lynd's strict prohibition of private plunder and his policy of pooling and redistributing spoils of war were uncommon practices, setting him apart from most commanders.
Lord Mace, confident in the generosity of the rewards King Robert had allocated to the Reach, had no reservations about distributing his own rewards to his vassals in advance.
When Mace announced that Randyll Tarly's reward would be a three-year exemption from all taxes and fees for Horn Hill, along with ten thousand golden dragons, the Lords and knights in the hall murmured their approval. Their attention, however, soon turned to Lynd, who was the last remaining figure in the hall yet to be rewarded.
"Lynd Tarran, come forward," Lord Mace commanded solemnly.
Lynd had already anticipated this moment. His heart steady, he stepped forward to stand at the head of the line.
"More than a year ago, when we were in King's Landing, I said that if anyone could clear the bandits north of Bitterbridge, I would reward them with a manor and a village. Now you have done it." Lord Mace looked at Lynd with a complex expression and continued, "However, you have far exceeded my expectations. Just a manor and a village are no longer enough as your reward."
His gaze swept over the crowd in the hall, eventually returning to Lynd. Then, with deliberate movements, he took a parchment scroll from his side and handed it to Lynd. "In the name of the Warden of the South, the Defender of the Marches, the Lord of Highgarden, and the High Marshal of the Reach, I hereby appoint Ser Lynd Tarran, as Lord of the Red Mountains. The lands around Red Watch in the Red Mountains are bestowed upon you as your territory, and your descendants will inherit this glory for generations. I hope that you will continue to work hard for the honor of The Reach."
"Thank you, my lord." Lynd, having prepared himself for this moment, maintained a calm demeanor, but as he accepted the scroll of appointment, his hand trembled slightly, betraying the unease within him.
In truth, Lynd was not the only one feeling unsettled. Many of the Lords present were far from composed. Whether they had known in advance about Lynd's impending ennoblement or not, the announcement elicited a chorus of surprised exclamations.
To fully grasp the magnitude of the situation, one had to consider the leap Lynd had just made. With this ennoblement, he had ascended two entire social classes: from a knight to a landed knight, and finally to a titled Lord with his own territory. For most knightly houses, this progression could take a century, or even several centuries, to achieve. Yet, Lynd had risen from a humble hunter to a Lord in less than two years. It was no wonder that shock rippled through the hall.
As news of Lynd's promotion spread from the hall to the courtyard, the gathered knights of the Reach reacted with complex expressions. Envy, admiration, shock, and jealousy all mingled on their faces. Though many had guessed Lynd would receive a significant reward when he was called into the hall, none had imagined it would be this extraordinary. Becoming a Lord was far beyond their expectations. Even without knowing the specifics of Lynd's newly bestowed lands, the very title was enough to astonish them.
However, some observant individuals began to notice peculiarities. Upon learning that the merit cited for Lynd's promotion to lord was not his role in the rebellion but his earlier task of clearing bandits north of Bitterbridge, confusion deepened.
The promised reward for that task had originally been a manor and a village. Now, it had evolved into a full territory and a noble title. This discrepancy left many baffled, as they found it hard to believe that such merit alone could justify such a reward.
Then came a revelation that changed their perspective. Some who were well-versed in geography pointed out that Lynd's new lands were not in the Reach. Instead, they lay in the Dornish Marches, on the border of Dorne and the Stormlands, separated from the Reach by the Red Mountains. The region was currently dominated by Lords from the Stormlands and Dorne, making it a volatile and precarious place. Establishing control over such a land, let alone building a castle and governing it, seemed an almost impossible task.
When the true nature of Lynd's territory came to light, the doubts that had filled the hearts of many were dispelled. The envy and jealousy that had initially gripped the knights and Lords diminished. For many, the realization dawned: a modest manor and village in a stable region might be preferable to a troublesome territory that could not easily be controlled.
Among the Lords in the hall who had not been informed of Lynd's reward beforehand, a sense of sympathy even emerged. While Lynd's combat prowess was beyond question, governing a territory required far more than skill on the battlefield. Most of them doubted that even Lynd could establish a foothold in such a chaotic and contested land.
At this point, Lord Mace addressed Lynd once more. "This is only a reward for your task of suppressing the bandits. As for the military merit reward for this rebellion, I will not be the one to give it to you. His Grace will present it to you in person. I don't know the specifics of the reward either; I won't know until the victory celebration banquet tonight."
The other Lords in the hall were visibly stunned by this announcement. King Robert's direct involvement in rewarding Lynd's military merit was an overstep of his authority. Even as king, he should not have bypassed Lord Mace in acknowledging the military accomplishments of his vassals. Normally, such a move would have warranted a strong objection from Lord Mace.
However, Lord Mace showed no sign of anger or dissatisfaction. Instead, his expression remained composed, even indifferent. Observing this, the gathered Lords began to suspect that King Robert must have offered House Tyrell significant benefits to smooth over this breach of protocol. Otherwise, even someone as pliable and self-serving as Lord Mace would not have agreed to such an affront to his authority.
Lynd was equally surprised by Lord Mace's revelation. He had assumed that his elevation to Lordship and the granting of territory were the final recognition of his achievements. It had never occurred to him that there might be additional rewards forthcoming. The prospect of further honors from the king himself was entirely unexpected.
Just then, a maidservant entered the hall through a side door. She was a personal attendant of the former Olenna Redwyne, now the Lady of House Tyrell. Bowing to the gathered Lords, she addressed Lord Mace directly. "My lord, Lady Olenna wishes to see Ser Lynd."
Lord Mace nodded slightly, clearly already aware of this summons. He turned to Lynd and said, "Ser Lynd, you may go now! Do not keep my mother waiting."
"Yes, my lord." Lynd bowed respectfully before following the maid toward the women's courtyard at the back of the manor.
As Lynd entered the courtyard, Garlan Tyrell approached him from the entrance. More than a year had passed since Lynd last saw him, and Garlan had grown taller in that time. The youthful roundness of his face had faded, replaced by sharper features and a budding manly temperament.
"It's been a long time, Lord Garlan!" Lynd greeted him warmly. He was deeply grateful to Garlan, the second son of Lord Mace, who had first brought him into House Tyrell's fold. Lynd knew that had it not been for Garlan's intervention that day, he might have ended up joining House Crane in Vortimer, as originally planned. Such a path would not have led to his current successes or the rapid growth of the power he now wielded.
Garlan's face lit up with a satisfied smile when he saw that Lynd's attitude toward him had not changed despite his newfound title and status. He affectionately tapped Lynd's breastplate and then eyed the greatsword hanging at Lynd's waist—the weapon of the Banished Knight. "You really are something. I haven't seen you for over a year, and you've managed to acquire such a fine suit of armor and a greatsword. If you hadn't taken off your helmet, I might not have recognized you at all."
Lynd smiled in return. "If you'd like a suit of armor like this, I can give you the design."
Garlan chuckled and shook his head. "Forget it. That armor looks heavy enough just seeing it, let alone wearing it. Even if I had one made, it'd just sit in a hall as decoration. I'm not that extravagant."
Shrugging, Garlan turned to the waiting maidservant and said, "You can leave now. I'll take Ser Lynd to see my grandmother."
"Yes, Lord Garlan." The maid bowed slightly and departed.
Garlan then led Lynd further into the courtyard. Along the way, the noble ladies and women of the various Lords and dignitaries attending the banquet, many of whom were gathered in the courtyard, glanced curiously at Lynd.
Garlan reminded Lynd in a low voice as they made their way toward the terrace, "My grandmother can be a bit harsh sometimes, so just bear with her for a while."
"I know," Lynd replied with a smile. He didn't need Garlan's reminder to be prepared for the Queen of Thorns' famously sharp tongue.
"Look who's here! Our chosen one!" The moment the two stepped onto the large terrace overlooking the bay of Lannisport, a sharp, commanding voice rose from the crowd of noble ladies gathered there.
The ladies, who were chatting and mingling, immediately parted, making way for the Queen of Thorns, who had been the center of their attention. Despite her advanced age and frail appearance, her presence demanded respect and deference.
Lynd had never met the Queen of Thorns in person before. Although he had passed through Highgarden twice when sending Willas to Dorne, it had been unthinkable for a mere knight to meet such an exalted member of House Tyrell. Now, even with his newly gained title, Lynd knew that if Olenna Redwyne had not summoned him specifically, he would still not have been afforded the chance to meet her.
The Queen of Thorns was even more frail than Lynd had anticipated. It seemed as though a strong gust of wind from the bay could carry her away. Yet her eyes, sharp and piercing, betrayed her frailty. They gleamed with a keen, almost unsettling intelligence that seemed to strip away any pretense or façade. Even Lynd, despite his confidence, found himself unable to hold her gaze for long.
"Good afternoon, Lady Olenna," Lynd said as he approached her, bowing respectfully.
The Queen of Thorns' eyes swept over him, pausing briefly on the dragon crest of his helmet before she spoke. "Good afternoon, Ser Lynd Tarran. Oh, no, that's not right. Now I suppose you must be addressed as Lord Lynd Tarran."
Lynd smiled, his tone light yet respectful. "In your presence, it's just a title. I imagine it's all the same to you whether it's Ser or Lord."
For a moment, the Queen of Thorns seemed taken aback by his reply, and then she laughed, a genuine and unexpected sound. Garlan, standing nearby, looked at Lynd in surprise, while the surrounding noblewomen turned their attention fully to him. It was clear that few dared to speak so openly in front of Olenna Redwyne, and even fewer managed to earn her laughter.
"Come here, child, let me have a proper look at you. As one grows older, one's eyesight begins to fail. From a distance, I can't see anything clearly," the Queen of Thorns muttered, her tone more reminiscent of a doting grandmother than the sharp-witted matriarch she was known to be. "They all like to stand so far away, thinking I can't see them, but they forget something important: people who can't see well often hear even better. Just from their voices, I know who they are—none of them can hide from me."
Lynd listened quietly as the Queen of Thorns rambled, walking closer to her as she instructed. Once he stood before her, she tilted her head, scrutinizing him with a critical eye.
"Ordinary-looking," she remarked bluntly, her lips pursing as she gestured toward him with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Much worse than my grandchildren." She reached out and patted his leg with surprising firmness for someone so frail. "But at least you're strong. That's something. Strong enough to get a woman pregnant and give her plenty of children. Lord Tarran, you're not engaged to anyone yet, are you?"