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That night, Ser Edmund held another celebratory banquet in the camp, this time to honor House Cotstayne's triumph in the archery competition.
Although Gavin attended the feast, his mind was elsewhere, and his gaze frequently wandered toward the entrance.
It wasn't until he saw Tommen lift the curtain and wave to him that he hastily excused himself to Ser Edmund and hurried out.
The two of them hurried all the way back to Gavin's tent.
"Captain, we've hit the jackpot!" Tommen exclaimed, his excitement barely contained. As he spoke, he strained to pull a leather pouch out from beneath the bed.
Gavin quickly opened it. "How much is in here?"
"A total of 13,000 gold dragons. You bet 1,000, and the brothers pooled together another 300," Tommen said, his eyes sparkling with delight. "We've truly made a fortune this time!"
"Call the brothers over to collect their shares. Leave my portion, and divide the rest among yourselves," Gavin ordered. Seeing Tommen remain motionless, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Tommen hesitated before answering, "There's some bad news. The odds for the team tournament have dropped."
"How much?" Gavin felt an uneasy premonition.
"One to five. If you win the individual championship, then it's one to ten," Tommen quickly explained.
"That's still acceptable," Gavin thought to himself with some relief. He then turned to Tommen and said, "After the brothers take their gold, put all of my share, along with the winnings I just earned, into betting on me to win the individual championship. As for whether you want to follow suit, make your own decision."
"Captain, there's no need to divide it. The brothers have already decided—we'll all continue to bet alongside you," Tommen declared with determination.
Gavin patted Tommen on the shoulder and smiled. "Alright then, go take care of it. Trust me, I'll make sure everyone gets rich."
Tommen nodded firmly before turning and striding off to handle the matter. Gavin watched his departing figure and began calculating how much money he could make from the tournament.
At last, he had gathered the resources needed to bring his blood magic puppet to life. Yet, a heavy sigh escaped him—acquiring the suitable corpses had now become an even greater challenge.
He furrowed his brow and paced back and forth in the tent, his mind racing for a solution to the problem of obtaining corpses. The Reach had long enjoyed peace, so where could he find enough bodies without arousing suspicion?
Should he venture to the Narrow Sea or Essos to work as a mercenary for a time? If he did, there would be two clear advantages.
First, the source of corpses could be addressed. The Narrow Sea was filled with pirates, the city-states of Essos frequently stood at odds with one another, and the Dothraki's relentless raids only added to the chaos—providing ample opportunities to acquire what he needed.
Second, a successfully crafted blood magic puppet would not raise suspicion. It could easily be explained as a loyal guard brought back from the lands of Essos, sworn to serve him.
The more Gavin thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed, and he gradually made up his mind.
He also understood, however, that such a journey would undoubtedly come with risks. Yet, his overwhelming desire drove him to take the gamble.
Suppressing the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind, Gavin hurried back to the banquet. After all, he was the guest of honor tonight, and it would not be appropriate for him to be absent for too long.
Perhaps due to his great joy, Edmond was already drunkenly squinting his eyes. He had one arm around Instructor Ryan, laughing heartily, seemingly lost in some amusing conversation with him.
When Edmund saw Gavin reenter the tent, he waved him over and pulled him back into another round of drinking.
By the time the banquet ended, Ser Edmund was so drunk he could barely stand. Left with no choice, Gavin, along with a few attendants, helped him back to his tent.
After settling Edmund onto the bed, Gavin prepared to leave, only to feel his forearm tightly gripped by Edmund.
His eyes, now clearer than before, Edmund pushed himself up with some effort, took a glass of water handed to him by an attendant, and gestured towards a nearby chest. "I had planned to give this to you when you came of age," Edmund said, his voice steady, "but I believe you need it more now, and I feel it belongs to you."
Gavin, filled with confusion, looked at him with deep suspicion, struggling to grasp Edmund 's meaning.
Edmund nodded toward the chest, silently urging Gavin to open it.
With intense curiosity, Gavin approached the chest, bent down, and gently lifted the lid. Instantly, a suit of plate armor caught his eye, the metal gleaming brightly even in the dim light of the room.
This was a finely crafted suit of plate armor, with each smooth plate engraved with intricate patterns. The joints between the plates fit together seamlessly, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of its maker.
Alongside the armor lay a sword, its blade long and straight, the hilt adorned with a red gem that shimmered brilliantly.
The sword was sharp enough to slice through a hair, exuding an aura that was both chilling and awe-inspiring. Gavin found himself mesmerized by the sight, his eyes full of surprise and wonder.
"This was made for your father when we celebrated his coming-of-age ceremony." Edmund said softly, now standing behind Gavin. "And now, it's yours."
Gavin quickly closed the chest, his voice filled with urgency. "My lord, this is too precious..."
Edmund chuckled, waving it off. "Take it with you. I only hope it can protect you in the future. Now, go on. I need to rest, my child."
With Edmund lying back down, Gavin, with Toman's assistance, carefully donned the full suit of armor.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the design remarkably practical, featuring a hook on one side specifically for holding a spear. It was evident that this armor was of considerable worth.
Though Gavin was only fifteen, his tall frame filled the armor perfectly.
As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, a warm feeling swelled in his chest.
Ser Edmund was, in Gavin's heart, like a warm beacon of light. Aside from his mother, Ser Edmund was the person who had shown him the most kindness in this world.
The fact that he was a bastard had never been the reason Ser Edmund despised him. On the contrary, Ser Edmund had always treated him with immense care and attention, nurturing him without reservation.
This deep affection filled Gavin with warmth in a world that often seemed chaotic and cold.
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Soon, the time for the team tournament arrived, and once again, it was held in the open space before the castle. The House Tyrell had set up a circular area, 500 meters in diameter, enclosed by logs no higher than a meter, with more than twenty exits scattered around. This allowed any contestant who wished to leave the arena easily.
According to the rules of the group tournament, each team could have no more than five members. Instructor Ryan had considered adding another veteran to the team, but Gavin refused.
With his spear raised high, Gavin entered the arena, accompanied by three hired gladiators. The spear was adorned with the banner of the Cotstayne family.
Before long, the arena was packed with over 200 people. Everyone was clad in heavy armor, weapons in hand, standing closely with their teammates.
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[Chapter End's]
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