Game of Thrones: Oath of Iron and Fire-Chapter 55: The Golden Wine’s Voyage

The Golden Wine, a large merchant ship from the Arbor with a banner of purple and blue grapes, sailed across the sea, its bow slicing through the waves like a giant's finger.

"Ever since the Greyjoy Rebellion was quelled, the seas have been much calmer!" said a Redwyne sailor. "The Ironborn are keeping to themselves, and there's no strong pirate king in the Stepstones."

"That fool King Balon is ancient history! The Narrow Sea now belongs to the Powdergrass King and his slave brats!" another sailor jeered, opening another bottle of firewine. "But none of that matters as long as I've got firewine and pear brandy to drink."

Balon Greyjoy's rebellion had become a laughingstock. Balon had intended to restore the Ironborn's glory, but ended up making a fool of himself. His eldest and second sons died in the war, his youngest son, Theon, was sent to the North as a ward, and Balon himself swore fealty to the Iron Throne once more.

"The other side of the Narrow Sea always comes up with something new!" Garlan Tyrell had shed his green robe and golden rose badge. Garlan was tall and more muscular, with a beard now. He had donned a purple cloak and blue armor, the colors of House Redwyne. The Highgarden guards accompanying him had also changed their livery.

Garlan couldn't ignore the changes across the Narrow Sea. The reshuffling of the Three Daughters' power would inevitably impact Westeros. Back in the day, after the Three Cities' alliance fought the Targaryens, the Penny Prince took the Disputed Lands and then attacked the Stepstones.

"The Spider's spies are everywhere, and his people are bound to be in the halls of Highgarden and the Arbor. But the Spider is an inscrutable man, and there's no need to be overly anxious," Garlan thought.

The Spider, Varys, had a mind as deep as the sea, but fortunately, not all his schemes were for the Iron Throne. The friendship between Highgarden and Renly, the Spider, was wisely never tried to dissuade or warn the king about.

"Is the Powdergrass King a devil?" Margery asked curiously. Margery had also changed into a beautiful blue dress, her face hidden behind a mask. But one could still see her slender figure and gentle eyes.

"To the slavemasters and governors, he certainly is. But to the slaves, he's a savior!"

"What kind of man is the commander of the Wolfpack?"

"I know his story and the Wolfpack's. The desire for revenge drives them to fight in the Disputed Lands. He must be powerful; mercenaries worship strength. He must be ruthless; otherwise, he couldn't trample the cities of the slavemasters underfoot," Garlan said.

"Should we go and talk about cooperation with him now?"

"It's not about cooperation, but I must meet the Powdergrass King and his army. No matter where the Wolfpack goes, meeting him gives us a better grasp," Garlan said. "The Disputed Lands are also a good granary. The Powdergrass King controls those manors, the powdergrass, orchards, wheat farms, and so on. That's wealth."

"But what about Highgarden's army?"

"Highgarden's army has an advantage in numbers and equipment. But war isn't just about these things," Garlan said. "Highgarden has missed many opportunities."

War depends on many factors: equipment, numbers, courage, logistics, and command. The North's army is weaker in equipment than the Reach and the Westerlands, but during the Dance of the Dragons, the Winter Wolves were still formidable.

The Reach is rich and fertile, but somewhat fragmented. In wars, the Tyrells always seem to be late to the party. During the Dance of the Dragons, the Tyrells were neutral. In the Blackfyre Rebellion, Longthorn missed the Battle of Redgrass Field. In the War of the Usurper, they also missed the big picture, obsessed with besieging Storm's End.

Margery understood a bit. The Tyrells felt their strength and position at court were mismatched, which is why they were determined to prove themselves.

"I want to meet this commander and see if he's a conqueror, a Copper King, or a man of pleasure," Garlan said with ambition.

In the Disputed Lands, the Wolfpack controlled the newly opened port, a free port. The grey-and-white Wolfpack banner flew high, marking their territory.

Ships from all over the world docked here, with sea vessels crowding the large and small docks, busy loading and unloading goods. After the Wolfpack took control of the Disputed Lands, a new port emerged to facilitate trade with the Wolfpack's commander.

Garlan saw various ships: warships, whalers, trading vessels, from Lys, Tyrosh, Pentos, and even Qarth. Although the numbers were not as vast as in giant ports like Valyria and Qarth, it was thriving. The Wolfpack had taken over part of Tyrosh and Myr's port functions.

Garlan Tyrell watched with interest the Free Army's customs officers and garrison. The liberated slaves passing through were full of life and vigor; they were the loyal warriors of the Liberator.

The garrison of the free port wore lighter chainmail, responsible for maintaining order in the port. Their shields and short spears reminded one of the Unsullied's style, but those Myrish crossbows had a strong Free Cities flair. Regardless, the garrison looked spirited and dedicated. If this were the case for a regular army, not to mention the elite Wolfpack.

Gendry had appointed Captain Harris, a Valyrian escapee, to oversee customs and the navy in the Disputed Lands, while Jorah was in charge of the port garrison.

"Please, my lords!" When the Redwyne fleet's merchant ship docked, a clever but plain dockhand guided them to a special inn, the House of Freedom. This was the most bustling and lively inn in the free port, and the real owners were the Free Army.

The Highgarden demand for powdergrass quickly caught Gendry's attention, and he was happy to receive envoys from the Reach, all done in secret.

Garlan and Margery entered the House of Freedom with curiosity, making their way to the top of the inn. The two were curious to see which high-ranking officer of the Wolfpack would greet them.

Outside the room, Jorah and Grey Wolf were both on guard.

Grey Wolf made a gesture of invitation. Garlan deduced from his cheekbones and build that this was an Unsullied. In the Wolfpack's realm, a bigwig guarded by Unsullied could only be one person. Garlan felt a surge of joy and pushed open the door with Margery.

Silent Jorah saw Garlan and Margery and wished they hadn't recognized him. Jorah's expression was complicated. In a way, Jorah and the Tyrells were somewhat related. Fortunately, when Jorah got married, these two were still young and hadn't recognized their down-and-out uncle.

Jorah's wife and Mace Tyrell's wife were sisters, both from the Hightower family. Lady Alerie was the second daughter of Lord Leyton Hightower of Oldtown and the wife of Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. Jorah's second wife, Lynesse Hightower, was the youngest daughter of Lord Leyton Hightower.

Garlan pushed open the door and saw the young man bathed in sunlight. He was tall and slender, with short, onyx-like hair and deep blue eyes, wearing a grey-and-white woolen tunic, the colors of the Wolfpack. The young man also wore a dark, coarse iron mask, obscuring his features.

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"Welcome, envoys of Highgarden!" Gendry said, his voice like steel.