Chapter 108

Where is she? Brienne asked in surprise.

Translation: "Where is she?" Brienne asked in surprise.

But we need to keep the quote marks? The Chinese uses 「」 for quotes. We'll use English quotes. We'll keep the same punctuation? We'll output: 【1】 "Where is she?" Brienne asked in surprise.

Where is she? Brienne asked in surprise.

I need a horse. Tiemin covered his wound, gave a bitter smile, and said, "A strong horse."

Translation: "I need a horse." Tiemin covered his wound, gave a bitter smile, and said, "A strong horse."

I need a horse. Tiemin covered his wound, gave a bitter smile, and said, "A strong horse."

Oh, Sir, if you keep your composure like this, I think before long he'll become the son-in-law of the Earl of Morninghall. Bolong stood there chuckling, watching the excitement. Ha, look at you wielding your sword—you're not bad at it, but why don't you understand this principle? Or are you just relying on your name to wander Hebei? At this moment you should thrust your sword into his arm, go down under the leather armor on his shoulder, stab into his armpit, but it's best not to break the bone; that way he definitely won't die for ten or so days, but with such a wound he certainly won't survive either. Hey, if it were me, I'd do that.

Oh, Sir, if you keep your composure like this, I think before long he'll become the son-in-law of the Earl of Morninghall. Bolong stood there chuckling, watching the excitement. Ha, look at you wielding your sword—you're not bad at it, but why don't you understand this principle? Or are you just relying on your name to wander Hebei? At this moment you should thrust your sword into his arm, go down under the leather armor on his shoulder, stab into his armpit, but it's best not to break the bone; that way he definitely won't die for ten or so days, but with such a wound he certainly won't survive either. Hey, if it were me, I'd do that.

Translation: "Oh, Sir, if you keep your composure like this, I think before long he'll become the son-in-law of the Earl of Morninghall." Bolong stood there chuckling, watching the excitement, and said, "Ha, look at you wielding your sword—you're not bad at it, but why don't you understand this principle? Or are you just relying on your name to wander Hebei? At this moment you should thrust your sword into his arm, go down under the leather armor on his shoulder, stab into his armpit, but it's best not to break the bone; that way he definitely won't die for ten or so days, but with such a wound he certainly won't survive either. Hey, if it were me, I'd do that."

We need to keep it concise but not omit any info. Let's produce a single line.

We'll output: 【3】 "Oh, Sir, if you keep your composure like this, I think before long he'll become the son-in-law of the Earl of Morninghall." Bolong stood there chuckling, watching the excitement, and said, "Ha, look at you wielding your sword—you're not bad at it, but why don't you understand this principle? Or are you just relying on your name to wander Hebei? At this moment you should thrust your sword into his arm, go down under the leather armor on his shoulder, stab into his armpit, but it's best not to break the bone; that way he definitely won't die for ten or so days, but with such a wound he certainly won't survive either. Hey, if it were me, I'd do that."

Oh, Sir, if you keep your composure like this, I think before long he'll become the son-in-law of the Earl of Morninghall.

Bolong stood there chuckling, watching the excitement.

Ha, look at you wielding your sword—you're not bad at it, but why don't you understand this principle? Or are you just relying on your name to wander Hebei? At this moment you should thrust your sword into his arm, go down under the leather armor on his shoulder, stab into his armpit, but it's best not to break the bone; that way he definitely won't die for ten or so days, but with such a wound he certainly won't survive either. Hey, if it were me, I'd do that.

All good.

I'm not you. Brienne glanced at him.

Translation: "I'm not you." Brienne glanced at him.

If the prisoner decides to say nothing, she also has no good idea.

Translation: If the captive decides to say nothing, she also has no good ideas.

I need a definite location. Furthermore, to ensure your words are credible, you must tell me the source of the information. A horse is nothing, as long as the information is true. I guarantee you as a knight: if you tell the truth, I will release you safely, and also give you a horse, a strong horse.

Translation: "I need a definite location. Furthermore, to ensure your words are credible, you must tell me your source." A horse is nothing, as long as the information is true. "I guarantee you as a knight that if you tell the truth, I will let you leave safely, and give you a horse, a strong horse."

We need to keep the quotes and structure. Let's produce: 【6】 "I need a definite location. Furthermore, to ensure your words are credible, you must tell me your source." A horse is nothing, as long as the information is true. "I guarantee you as a knight that if you tell the truth, I will let you leave safely, and give you a horse, a strong horse."

Wow, what a generous girl! Bolong exclaimed.

Translation: "Wow, what a generous girl!" Bolong exclaimed.

Stark's daughter is in the Misty Islands. Tiemin lifted his head, stared hard at Brienne's face, and finally spoke after confirming the person before him was trustworthy.

Translation: "The Stark girl is in the Misty Islands." Tiemin raised his head, stared fixedly at Brienne's face, and only after confirming the person before him was trustworthy did he speak.

Where? She confirmed she had never heard that name.

Translation: "Where?" She made sure she had never heard that name.

The people of the Green Lands call them the Shield Islands. Tiemin said disdainfully, "The islands have already been conquered by King Euron."

Translation: "The people of the Verdant Lands call them the Shield Islands." Tiemin said disdainfully, "The archipelago has already been conquered by King Balon."

So, how could Sansa be there? Brienne wondered, "Is Euron Greyjoy crazy?" How did he capture Sansa in such a short time, cross half the ocean, lead a fleet to occupy the Shield Islands? And is he planning to completely provoke House Tyrell?

Translation: "So how could Sansa be there?" Brienne exclaimed in surprise, "Has Balon Greyjoy gone mad?" How could he have captured Sansa in such a short time, crossed half the ocean, and led a fleet to occupy the Shield Islands? And is he planning to utterly provoke House Tyrell?

You think a little lackey would know all that? he glared at everyone angrily, "As long as he can bring us victory, grab gold and women, who cares if he's a madman or a whore!"

Translation: "Do you think a petty lackey would know all this?" He glared at everyone angrily, "As long as he can bring us victory, seize gold and women, who cares whether he's a madman or a whore!"

The shameless clan and their shameless appearance speak shameless words.

Translation: Shameless tribes and shameless appearances utter shameless words.

The last question. She stared at him, "How did you come to know this information?"

Translation: "The last question." She stared at him and asked, "How did you come to know this information?"

The king wants to marry his niece in the Land of Victory, demanding all lords and renowned captains attend the celebration; heh, our captain naturally received the news. At the same time, the news also included Stark's daughter, who is the king's gift to his brother, so he wants his brother to rule the North with Stark's daughter, while he himself will sweep across the South.

Translation: "The king wants to marry his niece in Victory Land, demanding all lords and renowned captains attend the celebration—our captain naturally received the news. At the same time, the news also included the Stark girl, who is the king's gift to his brother; he intends to let his brother rule the North with the Stark girl's aid, while he himself will sweep across the entire South."

Brienne didn't know who the niece and nephew he mentioned were.

Translation: Brienne did not know who the nephew and brother he mentioned were.

The niece of Crow's Eye is Asha Greyjoy, she is King Balon's daughter, damn, also a pirate whore; by rights, the Iron Islands should be inherited by her; the last time I heard of her, she was defeated by the she-wolf and taken captive; as for the king's brother, that's Victarion Greyjoy, heh, these two brothers became famous when Balon rose in rebellion, and for all these years they've neither married nor had children, waiting until the mainland is left with a bunch of widows to each find a woman. Bolong stood aside mocking, "Damn, that's a good calculation; maybe I should also wait a bit longer, see if there's a beautiful virgin widow for me—priority to those with castles."

Translation: "The niece of Yaying is Asha Greyjoy; she is King Balon's daughter, damn it, also a pirate slut—by rights the Iron Islands should be inherited by her; the last I heard of her, she had been defeated by the she-wolf and taken captive. As for the king's brother, he is Victarion Greyjoy; ha, these two brothers became famous when Balon Greyjoy rose in rebellion, and all these years they have avoided marriage and children, waiting until the continent is left with a surplus of widows to each find a wife." Bolong sneered on the side, "Damn, that's a shrewd calculation; maybe I should also wait a bit longer, see if there are any beautiful virgin widows for me—those with castles get priority."

You, why are you here? Podrick asked the prisoner.

Translation: "You, why are you here?" Bodeke asked the captive.

Pah! Tiemin replied contemptuously, "I don't want to answer a stupid question from a little catamite."

Translation: "Pah!" Tiemin replied contemptuously, "I don't want to answer a foolish question from a young page."

At least the little boy asked a good question. Bolong sneered, "I was just about to ask that, so you'd better answer properly."

Translation: "At least the boy asked a good question." Bolong gave a grim smile and said, "I was just about to ask that, so you'd better answer properly."

Get lost, mercenary! I'm not your prisoner. He wiped the blood from his hands on his ragged clothes, looked at Bolong contemptuously.

Translation: "Get lost, mercenary! I'm not your prisoner." He wiped the blood from his hands on his torn clothes, looked at Bolong with contempt.

He is my squire, I hope he gets a response. Brienne's final question has already been asked; she does not intend to go back on her word.

Translation: "He is my attendant; I want him to get a response." Brienne's final question had been asked, and she did not intend to go back on her word.

Damn, of course we came to loot. Are you satisfied? Seeing Brienne's dissatisfied look, he continued, "Yes! We were slaughtered by the she-wolf, fled from Seagard, then along the coast we looked for a ship to return; damn, for so long we haven't seen a few Iron Islands ships, or if we saw them they ignored us, so we're going to get two horses here, along the coast, aiming for Haka, intending to return to the Iron Islands from there. Little catamite, are you satisfied? Damn, don't ask me about the she-wolf; once the battle started we knew nothing and just scattered."

Translation: "Damn, of course we came to rob. Are you satisfied?" Seeing Brienne's dissatisfied gaze, he chose to continue, "Yes! We were soundly defeated by the she-wolf, fled from Harbord City, then searched the coast for a return ship. Damn, for this long we haven't seen a single Iron Islands ship, or if we did, they ignored us completely, so we plan to seize two horses here, head along the coast to Havoc Fort, and return to the Iron Islands from there. Young page, are you satisfied? Damn, don't ask me about the she-wolf—once the battle started we knew nothing and just scattered."

Looks like you've been on the run for a long time! Damn, that's plenty of time to swim to the Iron Islands, yet you're still looting near Seagard; you're so lazy and stupid and still want to go home, what a joke! Bolong mocked.

Translation: "Looks like you've been on the run for a long time! Damn, this long you could have swum to the Iron Islands, yet you're still looting near Harbord City—you're so lazy and stupid and still want to go home, what a joke!" Bolong sneered.

Mercenary Bolong, I remember you! Tiemin said with a crooked, evil smile.

Translation: "Mercenary Bolong, I remember you!" Tiemin gave a crooked, evil smile.

Take the horse and leave. Brienne led her own horse over and said to the prisoner.

Translation: "Take the horse and leave." Brienne led her own horse over and said to the captive.

Knowing somewhat certain information, she felt the direction had become clear.

Translation: Having learned somewhat definite information, she felt the direction was now clear.

Tiemin got up from the ground, laughing, and reached out his hand.

Translation: Tiemin climbed up from the ground, laughing, and reached out his hand.

Before his hand could touch the reins, Bolong's sword stabbed in from the back of his head and protruded from his face.

Translation: Before his hand could touch the reins, Bolong's sword thrust in from the back of his head and protruded from his face.

Podrick recoiled in fright half a step.

Translation: Bodeke startled and stepped back half a step.

Why would you do that? Brienne demanded, drawing her sword.

Translation: "Why would you do that?" Brienne drew her sword and demanded an answer.

Bolong, calm and composed, drew his sword from the prisoner's head, watching the prisoner slump limp to the ground.

Translation: Bolong leisurely pulled his sword from the captive's head, watching him slump limply to the ground.

He's a pirate. I've heard the she-wolf never leaves pirates alive. Heh, since I'm now heading north to serve her, I naturally ought to learn the exemplary conduct of the Queen of Love and Beauty. He used the pirate's torn clothes to wipe the blood from his sword, completely ignoring Brienne's raised sword. "Damn, what's more, he threatened me, I don't like being threatened—I'm just a little mercenary, I don't want that little lackey to go back and tell his master that the mercenary named Bolong killed all their foolish comrades, damn, everyone on the Iron Islands is a madman, I don't want to provoke those people at all."

Translation: "He's a pirate. I've heard the she-wolf never leaves pirates alive. Ha, since I'm now heading north to serve under her, I naturally ought to learn the exemplary conduct of the Queen of Love and Beauty." He wiped the blood from his sword with the pirate's torn clothes, completely ignoring Brienne's raised sword. "Damn, what's more, he threatened me—I don't like being threatened—I'm just a lowly mercenary; I don't want that little lackey to go back and tell his master that the mercenary named Bolong killed all their useless comrades. Damn, everyone on the Iron Islands is a lunatic; I have no desire to provoke such people."

He said this while wiping his sword.

Translation: He said this while wiping his sword.

I promised him! Brienne exclaimed. What she disliked was his lazy attitude.

Translation: "I promised him!" Brienne exclaimed. What she disliked was his lazy attitude.

Good, you're a good knight, you haven't broken your promise. He stood up, slowly sheathed his long sword, then looked at the item Brienne was preparing to offer in trade, "Damn, this really is a fine horse!"

Translation: "Good, you're a fine knight and you haven't broken your promise." He rose, slowly sheathed his longsword, then looked at the horse Brienne was preparing to offer in trade, and said, "Damn, this really is a fine horse!"

But you killed him!

Translation: "But you killed him!"

But she sensed a strange hint of familiarity from the mercenary's demeanor.

Translation: But she sensed a strange familiarity in the mercenary's demeanor.

I know. He finally looked up at Brienne, "But I never made any promise; even before you arrived, I had decided to kill those two fools."

Translation: "I know." He finally looked up at Brienne, "But I never made any promise; long before you arrived, I had already decided to kill these two idiots."

Hmph! Brienne was angry, but felt his reasoning wasn't wrong.

Translation: "Hmph!" Brienne was angry, but felt his reasoning was not wrong.

Bolong's remaining actions were unfamiliar to her.

Translation: Bolong's remaining actions were unfamiliar to her.

Then Bolong slightly tidied up, slowly took off Tiemin's boot, drew a dagger from his waist, and stabbed into the boot's toe; two silver coins popped out from the boot's sole. He repeated the process, removing the other boot, this time reaping a gold dragon.

Translation: Only saw Bolong tidy up a bit, then leisurely pull off Tiemin's boot, take a dagger from his waist, and stab it into the boot's toe; two silver coins popped out from the boot's sole. He repeated the process, removing the other boot, and this time he reaped a gold dragon.

After dealing with the boots, he turned to the hem of the jacket, gritted his teeth, gazed into the distance, felt around inside, only found a few copper plates, he scoffed, and tossed the ragged clothing aside.

Translation: After dealing with the boots, he turned to the cuffs of his upper garment, gritted his eyes, looked into the distance, and kept feeling inside; he found only a few copper plates, curled his lip, and tossed the ragged clothing aside.

Podrick was shocked by his haul, and hurriedly looked at the other corpse.

Translation: Bodeke was shocked by his haul and hurried to look at another corpse.

Hehe, that corpse is mine too! Bolong leered at Podrick with an evil grin.

Translation: "Hehe, that corpse is also mine!" Bolong gave Bodeke an evil leer as he moved closer.

We're leaving! Brienne heard herself say.

Translation: "We're leaving!" Brienne heard herself say.

Where are we going, ser? Podrick hurriedly mounted his horse and caught up.

Translation: "Where are we going, Sir?" Bodeke hurriedly mounted his horse and followed.

Where Sansa is. The Shield Islands lie far to the south; given the current situation, if we travel overland, by the time we arrive, Miss Sansa may already have borne several children for Victarion. She must hurry.

Translation: The place where Sansa is. The Shield Islands lie far in the South; given the current situation, if we set out by land, by the time we arrive, Miss Sansa may already have borne several children for Victarion. She must hurry.

"We'll go to Pachei Island, then to the Shield Islands and Oakshield Island." She crossed the river bridge and sprinted north, with Podrick shouting loudly behind her.

They ran all the way from the headwaters of the Blue Fork River to Sea Border City, passing through the city gate tower and heading straight for the seaside. The two searched along the coast for a long time before finding a tiny fishing dock; the dock's fishy smell reminded her of the fish-eating street on Tasi Island, which was almost the same.

There were no passenger ships departing from here, so according to the old man at the fish market, they rode forward for a while, then saw a larger dock in a place embraced by green water; the dock was sparsely populated, with only a few broken boats moored, looking desolate.

"Boatman, is your ship going to the Iron Islands?" she asked a nearby captain. His ship was larger than the others here, seeming more likely to cross the ocean safely and reach the Iron Islands.

"My ship goes anywhere, but I don't take women!" the captain stared at her, sitting on the shore-side chair without moving a muscle.

"I am a warrior, and also a knight."

"But you're still a woman." He showed contempt, then gave a crooked smile, "Or, tell me, is your nickname Blood Wolf Woman?"

"I don't have that nickname." Her nickname is "Beauty" Brienne.

"So, this ship doesn't accept you!" he chuckled.

Then why is the Blood Wolf Woman allowed? Because of her successful voyage?

She didn't want to ask such a boring question, nor did she want to know why the captain looked favorably upon the wolf woman.

She fixed her gaze on a slightly smaller flat-bottomed sailboat. The captain listened to her request with a smile, then politely refused for other reasons. But Brienne felt his actual reason for refusing was exactly the same as the previous captain's.

She and Bodeke had to continue searching for a ship willing to take them to the Iron Islands.

They crossed some stone steps and, on the other side of the high ground, saw a sailboat with a dilapidated canopy; the boat's canvas had been bleached gray by seawater and sunlight, whatever its original color, now faded beyond discernment.

Buleini anxiously watched the wind strike the tattered canvas; the canvas flapped in the wind, slapping the mast, making a pap-pap-pap sound.

If she were refused by this ship, she might have to enter the castle, reveal her identity, and ask the Earl of Haijiangcheng for assistance.

This would undoubtedly be embarrassing.

If the Meilisite family were truly as proud as the rumors say, then the Earl of Haijiangcheng would likely refuse her outright and mock her without restraint. Even if she miraculously succeeded, this would undoubtedly give the Earl fodder for gossip—he might even boast to others that he had once financed the ugly daughter of the Earl of Tasi in doing a colossal foolish act.

After tossing the horse's reins to Bodeke, she plucked up courage and walked over there.

Just as she drew near, she heard an infant's wail, then saw a woman holding a baby emerge from the cabin, cheerfully comforting the child.

"My lady!" Buleini shouted, "My lady, is your ship bound for the Iron Islands? Pike Island?"

"Pike Island?" the woman hesitated, looking at Buleini, "My boat is too small, ser, it cannot accommodate your retinue and horse. Besides, I have a child, and I fear he would disturb you."

"No, he won't disturb." Buleini, never having seen such a scene before, felt a bit awkward, "Where is the child's father? Are you alone on the ship?"

"The child is a bastard; I heard his father is dead." She withdrew her smile, spoke in a clear voice, then shouted into the cabin, and a noticeably thin youth ran out from inside.

"Ser, there are just the two of us on board. He is a child I took in at Haijiangcheng; although we only have two people, making a trip to the Iron Islands is no problem, heh, as long as your horse doesn't come aboard."

"You are truly kind, my lady." Buleini nodded, looking at the infant who had stopped crying, "What about your parents?"

"My mother died long ago. My father was a merchant from the old town; because I was pregnant with a bastard, he abandoned me in Haijiangcheng, leaving me some money before returning to the old town. I used that money to buy a small boat, making a living here while raising my child."

"The child is truly adorable." Buleini didn't know what to say.

"Really? You don't know, but he still looks very much like his father—dark brown hair, light blue eyes. Ah, what a pity; he isn't smiling now, but if he were, he'd resemble him even more."