Chapter 103

Miss, Sir, aren't we going to visit the castle lord?

The ferry dock on the Tengshi River is busier, with ships coming and going one after another along the banks, wider and better maintained than the Hongcha River dock, able to accommodate dozens of ships docking simultaneously.

They were not questioned, and after buying tickets from the official in charge of river traffic, they were smoothly allowed to pass.

If they're ready to lower the Ice Plains Wolf Banner at any moment, what's left to discuss? Better to take advantage of them not blocking the road and hurry to the North; perhaps the She-wolf knows more.

That's just the boatman's guess; at least for now the Ice Plains Wolf Banner still hangs properly on the castle.

Perhaps, but they don't know Miss Sansa's news; having gone there, what else can we do? Brienne gazed up at the towering Swiftflow City in the river, and after crossing the Tengshi River they went forward along the muddy road between Swiftflow City and Twinriver City.

Note: We have translated the names as Swiftflow City and Twinriver City.

Along the road on the north bank of the Tengshi River, a large crowd gathered, selling various goods on both sides of the road to passersby: water skins, dry rations, various wines, containers, as well as all kinds of armor and leather armor, piles of furs, and moreover various weapons and shields, with some spots equipped with awnings.

Brienne also saw dozens of soldiers bearing the Silver Trout Banner patrolling back and forth along the long road.

For months she had never seen such a prosperous trading scene; perhaps people in this harsh world need only a little peace to live.

Brienne noticed that most of the shields came from the West, featuring roaring lions, red oxen, yellow sun rays, green-and-white borders, and various other designs.

These were of course spoils captured in war. People buying these shields obviously couldn't just walk around the Riverlands with them, so an old man sat beside the shields, with a small wooden bucket of various paints at his side, specially for repainting and decorating the shields.

She had picked up a battered bat shield in King's Landing, but it was destroyed when she fought mercenaries wielding meteor hammers, and now she has no shield left.

At the stall she examined the shields, finally choosing the gold‑red shield painted with a roaring lion; the vendor kept praising her eye for quality, and Brienne spent thirty‑five copper coins on this shield, then chose a smaller one better suited to Podrick's build for him, spending another fifteen copper coins.

When choosing to repaint and decorate the shield, she hesitated. If the sigil of House Tarth of the Stormlands appeared in the Riverlands, it would only bring trouble to her and her family, so she spent almost as much as the shield itself, having the old man in charge of dyeing overlay the golden‑red roaring lion with orange, and on that orange background paint an elm tree.

"An elm tree?" the old man laughed and asked, "A green elm? Should we also paint a green shooting star on top?"

Hearing that, Brienne smiled. The story of Tall Duncan hasn't ended in the Riverlands.

"Sir, I've painted many shields for warriors; those knights with families usually paint their own family sigils, while those who don't want to reveal their identity or have no family opt for graffiti or the personal sigils of legendary knights from history. If it's graffiti, the knight usually does it himself and I only charge for materials, but if I paint it I charge a bit more. I've taken on many commissions, so I know the sigils of all the families and remember the personal sigils of some legendary knights from history—not because I have a hobby, but because I need to make a living!"

So, I'm not only familiar with Tall Duncan's, I can also paint the sigil of the mysterious knight—not only the one Ser Barristan used, nor the mysterious knight's sigil from the Harrenhal tourney, and yes, for a knight more suited to the old gods, I once painted a sigil for a boy of House Bracken… of course, it's all up to your wish, sir. The old man added with a smile, "I've heard that the She-wolf used just graffiti in the tourney, until the end she changed it to a bloody wolf head, the blood wolf, which eventually became her personal sigil. Sir, would you like to try a personal sigil?"

After the old man finished speaking, he examined the shield bearing the roaring lion, compared the sizes, and marked spots with his pen, saying, "If you've decided, I can paint it for you right away. Believe me, as long as you can imagine it, I can surely finish—whether animal, plant, scenery, or even a little comic strip—and if you're not satisfied, I can erase it and repaint it for you."

"All right, then paint a green elm tree, and on the elm paint two Ice Plains Wolves, one large and one small."

"Sir, are you sure about two wolves?" he raised his head to look at Brienne again, "Although painting two wolves doesn't cost extra, but should the Ice Plains Wolves go on the elm?"

"What do you mean?"

"How about letting the two Ice Plains Wolves run beneath the elm?"

"Good, since the wolves are under the elm, then the elm should likewise have a green shooting star." Brienne finally felt she could insist on that.

"Ah, all right, sir, I won't charge extra for an additional shooting star." He glanced at Podrick, "Would you like your attendant's shield painted too?"

The shield Podrick chose had a green background with white trim, also a Western shield, which naturally wouldn't do in the Riverlands.

"Also paint an elm and a shooting star, but put a male lion beneath the elm."

The old man made a strange face but didn't ask further, then sketched a rough outline of the key elements' relative positions and kept checking with Brienne.

"The paint will dry quickly; it's a mixture I made myself, protecting the shield from damage and from rain, so just wait a moment and you'll be able to use it." After covering the original colors with the pattern as requested, he repeatedly rinsed it clean with water and then handed it to Brienne and Podrick.

Brienne was very pleased with the old man's work; aside from the two wolves beneath the tree being lifelike, the other graphics matched exactly the shields she'd seen in her own storeroom, even the details were more vivid, the tree shape softer and full of life.

Note: I think there is a typo; it should read "full of vitality".

"The hide behind the shield, if you have time you could also replace it!" the old man reminded, "It's already quite old."

Brienne looked at the hide wrapping the oak and the straps, felt it was still serviceable, and politely declined.

She had originally wanted to add a sword as well, but the swords on display were all nicked and scarred, far inferior to her Oathkeeper, so she gave up, merely buying two leather waterskins by the roadside, filling them with wine, and then called it a day.

If clean water couldn't be found, the wine could also serve as drinking water.

These extras cost about ten copper pennies.

When they had finished preparing and set foot on the northern land, a mercenary‑type figure stepped out from the roadside and approached them.

He was lean, with black hair and black eyes, a scruffy beard, and dirty long mail from neck to thigh, looking both efficient and fierce.

As he drew near, Brienne's horse shied away to one side.

Brienne held the horse with one hand to calm it, and with the other hand touched the hilt of her Oathkeeper, staying on guard.

No one would choose to kill and rob in such a crowded place; although his appearance was unexpected, at least his timing could be called "generous".

"Who are you?" Brienne stared at him. If he made the slightest move, she would not hesitate to draw her sword.

"A destitute mercenary." He raised both hands to show he meant no harm.

"I'm asking for your name and your purpose." Brienne pressed.

"Bo Long. Lovely miss or sir, you wouldn't want to know my surname—it's truly lowly—as for my purpose, I naturally want to trade my sword for a surname, and if possible, for a castle, damn it, I like High Garden best." Bo Long gracefully stepped back to the roadside, crossed his arms, and placed a foot relaxed on a fallen tree by the road, striking a leisurely pose.

"High Garden belongs to the Tyrells. If you want to sell your sword, you can cross the river into the Tullys' castle, which doesn't look far." Brienne could see the longsword and dagger hanging from his waist, and also notice the brown leather gloves worn white from use on his hands.

He was also a swordsman.

"Only a few hundred years, anyway." He curled his lip, "I just came from across the river, damn it, the Tullys are so stingy that even if you served them a hundred years you couldn't get a single hair, let alone a castle."

If you're looking for a generous employer, you can go to King's Landing, High Garden, or Old Town.

"Frankly, I've had enough of southerners; no name, no money. And, sir, you aren't exactly a generous person, are you? Having someone paint that bizarre shield and actually paying…"

"Who exactly are you? This isn't meaningless…… why do you care about this…… are you following me?" Brienne demanded.

"Anyone who sees a lass, ah, sir," he spread his hands, "seeing a woman and a child on the road would also make them glance twice, wouldn't they?"

"I'm not a woman, I'm a warrior!" Brienne snapped angrily.

Although you look more like a warrior than a woman…… but I'm sure Lord Selwyn, when his child was born, didn't forget to check whether what grew between the child's legs was a slit or a sword—he wouldn't give a sword‑bearing son a girl's name, right?

"Do you know who I am?" The mention of her father's name let her forcefully block out the insulting words.

Of course, miss or sir, not only that, I also know your purpose. Coincidentally, I'm also preparing to go to the North, and I'm willing to sell you my sword for this leg of the journey.

What are you going to the North for? Brienne wondered.

When the She-wolf went south, the mercenaries who seized the chance made fortunes from the Lannisters and Freys; too bad, at that time I was still holed up in the Crab Peninsula, preparing to go to King's Landing to seek refuge…

I don't care about your past; why do you want to go to Winter Castle? He might have just been saying that on purpose.

I'm a lone mercenary; going there I'll naturally sell my sword, or what's between my legs, he covered his crotch and curled his lip, I've heard the She-wolf is now Lady of Winter Castle and still unmarried; damn it, although the North isn't as warm as the south, Winter Castle shouldn't be worse than High Garden, and besides, holding each other in bed feels just as warm.

"Hmph!" Bùléinī lost her patience, spurred her horse forward, preparing to shake off this shameless mercenary.

Hey! Bolong trotted up, "Sir, heading north we can travel together. Damn, with more people together we'll at least be a bit safer, right?"

I don't trust you! she said bluntly, speaking exactly what she thought.

That really hurts. But I am absolutely trustworthy. Bolong, facing Brienne, walked backward while following her, slightly blocking her path, showing a pleading expression; she found it hard to just step over him.

Lies! If you don't move aside, I have even more hurtful things to say.

Hey, those are at most hopes, not lies. Right now only the Northern Border still has some fighting; once the northern war ends, I expect many castles will become vacant in the Northern Border. If she's as generous as the rumors say, I might even get one—what do you think? And I don't disdain northern girls at all.

Brienne would never trust this ruthless mercenary because of his words.

I've turned down knights more honorable than you, and sirs as well. If you think I'd allow a shameless mercenary to travel with me, you're mistaken. Brienne might agree to travel with a noticeably weaker mercenary, but this sinister mercenary is absolutely out of the question.

The honorable knight you speak of surely has no designs on Twilight Hall, right? Bolong said with a smile.

What do you mean?

Compared to mindless fighting, what's the point of winning a castle by fighting while clutching your head to your chest? It's nowhere near as easy as simply marrying a woman who already owns a castle. It's easy for knights to step down to become commoners, but hard to cross that threshold to become true lords. So, those who travel with you surely share this intention. But I won't, and I assure you: I'm not a knight, and I don't think the daughter of Tas will take an interest in me, nor could I attract her. Of course, if you were actually interested in me, I would politely refuse. All I ask is to travel north with you. Heck, I'm so broke I can't even afford a warm cloak—riding in this weather would be deadly! And besides, the roads are so dangerous now—you wouldn't really rely on just a little boy to watch your back, would you? Bolong smiled, looking at Podrick and giving him a wink.

Podrick blushed.

I can't believe a mercenary like you would be penniless.

If you don't sell your sword for a good price, you'll end up broke. The key is not selling it to the right person." He curled his lip, "You don't think I'd steal or rob, do you? I may not be a knight, but I'm no bandit either—hell, knights aren't as clean as I am!

Maybe!" Brienne doubted.

So you really aren't going to buy my sword, then?" Bolong asked her.

Brienne lost all patience with him, flicked a silver coin at him, rode past him on her horse, and went on ahead with Podrick.

Not buying! You can go to the Northern Border yourself!" Brienne shouted as she mounted her horse, leaving Bolong alone in the road cursing loudly.

Hell! I'm talking about this sword at my waist!