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Chapter 203: A Familiar Face in a Foreign Land - Borrowing Money
🕑 Added 2025-03-13 12:42:42 +0000 UTCThe news that Lynd Tarran, the Lord of Summerhall, had unified the Stepstones Islands spread swiftly across Westeros. However, it caused little stir among the common folk. After all, most had no idea where the Stepstones were, let alone their significance.
But for the lords and nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, this event carried ramifications as profound as Dorne’s submission to the Iron Throne.
The Iron Throne had always regarded the Stepstones as strategically important, frequently dispatching fleets to suppress the pirates there. The most recent such operation occurred after the rebellion in the Iron Islands was quelled, when Stannis Baratheon led the royal fleet on a supposed campaign to clear the waters.
Although the Iron Throne proclaimed it a great victory, those familiar with the region knew better. Stannis’s fleet had merely patrolled the waters of the Stepstones before sailing back, never engaging in a real battle with the pirates.
One reason for this was Stannis’s reluctance to risk his fleet in what he saw as a futile effort. He valued his ships and men too much to waste them on pirate suppression. More importantly, the pirate alliance in the Stepstones was formidable, boasting a greater number of ships and sailors than Stannis’s royal fleet. No matter the outcome of a direct confrontation, the royal fleet would suffer heavy losses.
Moreover, Stannis saw pirates as an unending problem—no matter how many were killed, more would always emerge. As long as the shipping lanes remained open and stable, there was no need for further intervention.
For this reason, when Lynd spent a fortune leasing several islands in the Stepstones from the Iron Throne, Stannis, as Master of Ships, only demanded that he maintain navigational stability. He did not oppose the agreement.
In Stannis’s mind, even Daemon Targaryen—who had ridden a dragon and led fellow dragonriders—had failed to unify the Stepstones. Lynd stood even less of a chance.
But the outcome defied all expectations. Not only did Lynd unify the Stepstones, but he did so with remarkable efficiency. At minimal cost, he annihilated the Pirate Alliance’s fleet, captured Tyrosh’s ships, and emerged stronger than before.
And this was not the kind of nominal unification that Prince Daemon had achieved after his conquests. Lynd had achieved complete control, with every island firmly in his grasp. He established towns, ports, and infrastructure across the archipelago, ensuring lasting order.
According to gathered reports, Lynd had stationed settlers on every island, constructed ports and villages, fortified settlements with defensive strongholds, built beacon towers, and deployed patrol fleets that constantly scoured the waters.
It was no exaggeration to say that Lynd had turned the Stepstones into an impenetrable stronghold. No pirate could find shelter or supplies within these waters. The moment they entered, the beacons would light up, and nearby armed fleets would respond immediately.
The fleets were fearsome enough, but the true terror lay in Lynd’s sea dragon, Cannibal. It prowled the Stepstones unpredictably, and any pirate unlucky enough to encounter it had only one fate—to be devoured.
As a result, within a few months of Lynd’s conquest, piracy in the Stepstones had all but vanished.
For those who relied on maritime trade, this was excellent news. At last, they could sail safely through what had once been the most dangerous waters. However, the downside was that Lynd imposed a passage fee based on the number and size of ships—unless one was a member of the Miracle Merchant Guild.
This led many merchant guilds that frequently traveled through the Stepstones to voluntarily join the guild. While membership required an annual fee, it was far more economical than repeatedly paying the passage tolls. The membership not only covered transit fees but also included cargo insurance, storage access, and discounts on goods.
In short, the benefits of joining the Miracle Merchant Guild were so enticing that many merchants actively sought membership, and soon, its offices and branch hubs began appearing in cities across Westeros.
Meanwhile, the nobility of Westeros slowly began to realize that Lynd’s domain had grown so vast that it rivaled the territories of the Wardens of the Seven Kingdoms.
Unlike the wardens, however, whose vast lands were often divided among numerous vassals, Lynd’s territories were firmly under his direct control. Whether it was Summerhall, the Marches, the Sea of Dorne, or the Stepstones, every region was fully governed by him.
Not only did he maintain an iron grip on his lands, but his influence also extended into neighboring regions, such as Blackhaven and Grassy Vale.
Throughout Westerosi history, no lord had ever wielded such absolute control over his own domain.
Some even believed they had uncovered Lynd’s weakness. They assumed his reluctance to grant lands to loyal vassals would breed discontent among his nobles and knights. All it would take, they thought, was a little provocation to incite rebellion among his ranks.
Afterward, many people attempted to follow this strategy. The results had yet to materialize, but significant sums of money had already been spent. On the surface, it seemed as though every official and general under Lynd's command was insatiably greedy, demanding endless bribes. However, to those seeking to exploit this, it was actually a good sign—greed was far better than incorruptibility. In their eyes, this meant that Lynd's administration was not invulnerable.
What they did not expect, however, was that the bribes handed over to these officials and generals barely stayed in their hands before being promptly transferred to the financial department of Summerhall, meticulously recorded in ledgers. At the end of each month, half of these funds would be returned to the original payer as a "reward" for their contribution.
Before assuming office, every official and general was required to undergo the loyalty trials at the Redemption Sept. Unless some supernatural force completely rewired their minds, betrayal was nearly impossible.
Moreover, Lynd actively encouraged his people to accept bribery and attempts at persuasion from external forces—on the condition that they reported it afterward to the appropriate authorities, such as Balin’s intelligence department, Lothor’s Blood Armored Men, or the financial office.
Through these "baits," Lynd easily identified which lords and nobles harbored hostility toward him and could anticipate their next moves well in advance.
...
Following the unification of the Stepstones, many expected Lynd to make another major move. Yet, to everyone's surprise, months passed without any further action. It seemed as if he was content with the status quo. Summerhall thrived in peace and prosperity, and even the military saw little activity.
Apart from the standing forces responsible for maintaining order and conducting routine patrols, the bulk of the army had returned to their barracks. Only the navy remained active, continuously reinforcing the Stepstones with additional ships and sailors, strengthening its overall maritime power.
In fact, over the past two months, Lynd had rarely left his castle. On the rare occasions he did, he either ventured into the restricted mountain areas or spent time with his son at the horse ranch in the Town of Redemption.
As for the affairs of the territory, he had entrusted them entirely to his wife, Nymeria. The officials of Summerhall were already accustomed to this arrangement, and the governance of the realm continued smoothly without any disruption.
...
Just as everyone assumed that Lynd was merely resting and consolidating his strength in Summerhall Castle, an unremarkable sailing merchant ship docked at the port of Bello Town. From the vessel disembarked Lynd, dressed in the attire of a mercenary, leading a tall black warhorse and a pack horse.
Strapped to the pack horse were two large chests. One was long and narrow, resembling a container for a polearm or a long spear. The other was much larger, and as the horse moved, the chest emitted the telltale clinking of metal, indicating it contained numerous metal objects.
Bello Town was the most important—and only—port of Lys on the continent of Essos. From this port stretched a Valyrian road that ran through the Disputed Lands, crossing the Myr River and extending directly to Myr.
Goods from Lys were transported both by sea and overland. Many shipments departed from Bello Town, traveling along the Valyrian road to reach destinations across the continent.
However, the Valyrian road through the Disputed Lands had been rendered unusable—seven Dothraki khalasars now roamed the area, numbering over sixty thousand riders in total.
Three of these khalasars had initially been hired by the Free Cities to seize control of an open-air gemstone mine. However, the immense wealth of both the mine and the Free Cities soon drew the attention of four additional Dothraki khalasars.
For reasons unknown, tensions flared between the seven khalasars, igniting bitter hostilities among them.
What followed was complete chaos. The seven khalasars engaged in relentless infighting across the Disputed Lands, entirely forgetting their original objectives. Instead of securing wealth for their employers, their new priority became defeating rival khals and absorbing their khalasars into their own.
The Free Cities had not anticipated this turn of events. As a result, they were forced to postpone their contest over the gemstone mine. Instead, they scrambled to recruit mercenaries to defend their ports and settlements in the Disputed Lands. They knew that once a victor emerged among the seven khalasars, consolidating them into a single, massive force, the Dothraki would inevitably sack the Free Cities in celebration of their newfound power.
The mercenaries once hired as hunting hounds had now become ravenous wolves, turning on their masters. Realizing the imminent threat, the Free Cities rushed to fortify their most vital settlements, stationing large numbers of troops to protect their interests. Among the fortified locations was Bello Town, the crucial port of Lys.
Now, Bello Town's bustling caravans had vanished, replaced by mercenaries from all corners of Essos and Unsullied warriors purchased from Slaver's Bay.
Lynd’s mercenary disguise made him blend in well. Although there weren’t many Westerosi in Bello Town, there were enough that his presence didn’t stand out.
No one in the town recognized him as the newly crowned king of the Stepstones—no one, except for a single man: Jorah Mormont, the former Lord of Bear Island, who had abandoned his title and fled his death sentence nearly a year ago.
"I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you, Lord Lynd."
As Lynd was preparing to leave Bello Town, Jorah Mormont, who had been trailing behind him, quickly stepped forward and came to his side, his expression exaggeratedly surprised.
Compared to the proud and spirited warrior who had once distinguished himself in the rebellion, Jorah Mormont now looked far more haggard. The already thinning hair on his head had vanished completely, his unkempt beard had grown in a tangled mess, and his worn-out clothes and battered leather armor made him look more like a wildling from Beyond the Wall than a former noble lord.
"Lord Jorah, it's been a long time," Lynd said, showing little surprise. When he had disembarked and passed through the town square, he had already spotted Jorah negotiating wages with a recruiter. He had also noticed that Jorah recognized him and had started following him.
However, Jorah had hesitated, seemingly unsure of whether to approach him directly. It was only after gathering his courage that he finally caught up.
"I assume Lord Lynd has already heard about my situation?" Jorah asked, his tone tinged with discomfort.
By nature, he would have preferred to avoid familiar faces in his current state. He felt a deep sense of embarrassment whenever he encountered someone who had once known him in better days. Yet, harsh reality had left him no choice but to suppress his shame and take the initiative to speak to Lynd, hoping to gain something from the encounter.
"Yes, I’ve heard," Lynd replied, scrutinizing Jorah. "And I remember it quite clearly. Your downfall ended up costing me an important subordinate—I don’t think I could forget that."
"Huh?" Jorah was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp what Lynd meant.
Lynd offered a brief explanation. "Dacey was summoned back to Bear Island by Lady Maege to inherit the title of Lord of Bear Island."
Jorah's expression darkened with guilt. But it was not guilt over having cost Lynd a valuable subordinate—it was the realization that Bear Island had been left in the hands of women alone that filled him with shame.
"If you're here to ask me to plead with Lord Eddard on your behalf, hoping he’ll lift your death sentence, then you’ve overestimated my influence," Lynd said, watching Jorah's face carefully. "You should know Lord Eddard's character better than anyone. Even His Grace, who was as close to him as a brother, couldn’t sway his judgment."
"I know," Jorah said with a bitter smile. "Eddard Stark's sense of justice is as unyielding as the ice of the Wall. He has no mercy for those who break the law. I never expected to return home. I only wanted to..."
He trailed off, struggling to find the right words, his expression twisted in hesitation.
Lynd frowned slightly. From what he remembered, Jorah was not the type to hesitate like this.
Then, as he took in Jorah’s ragged clothing and unkempt appearance, the reason for his unease became clear. The once-proud lord had forced himself to swallow his pride and seek help.
Without waiting for Jorah to speak further, Lynd reached into his belongings and retrieved a golden promissory note issued by the Miracle Merchant Guild. He tore off a piece, pressed it into Jorah’s hand, and said, "This note can be redeemed at any Miracle Merchant Guild for two thousand gold dragons. That should ease your current difficulties."
Before Jorah could even process what had happened, let alone express gratitude, Lynd turned away and led his horse toward the outskirts of town.
Jorah stood frozen in place, gripping the promissory note tightly. His face flushed with shame and embarrassment, as though he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
He remained there for a long moment, his expression eventually returning to normal. With a careful motion, he tucked the note securely into his pocket, lowered his head, and turned toward the docks.
Though the weight of his circumstances still pressed heavily on his heart, the money meant that he and his wife could live comfortably in Lys for a while. More importantly, it meant he would not have to risk his life fighting the Dothraki for a meager commission.
However, as he pondered how best to use the gold, he remained oblivious to the fact that several groups had already set their sights on his purse. Quietly, they began trailing behind him, following him toward the docks.
