Harras. Harlaw knelt on the cold mud, where blood spurted out from where his wrist was broken, constantly sucking out his life.
His vision went black for a while, and he saw the young man picking up his "Nightfall" with his own blood dripping from the sword's edge. He watched him raise his sword toward the city wall, declaring victory, and listened to the thunderous cheers erupting from the city. The noise in his ears seemed to be separated by a layer of water.
Then, there was no more, he was defeated, completely defeated, even the Valyrian Steel Sword passed down by the family became someone else's trophy.
As a Ironborn, a Ironborn "knight" who prides himself on honor, he knows his fate very well. His head will be cut off and hung on a spear, paraded around the city, and become a joke at the Riverlands people's dinner table.
However, the young man named Suleiman did not come over, put the tip of the sword against his throat, and did not condescendingly pronounce his death. He just stood there, as if thinking about something...
This silent waiting was more torturous than immediate death. Harras struggled to raise his head, and the sound in his throat was like the pulling of a broken bellows.
He coughed out a breath. "The sword... is yours."
"Give me... a happy one."
Suleiman put away Nightfall with smooth and natural movements, as if the sword was born to belong to him. He did not look at Harras on the ground, but waved to the knights behind him, signaling them to gather here, and the knights rode their horses in response to the order.
According to everything in the preview, Rosso rode his horse and rushed to Suleiman, lowered his voice, and his tone was full of urgency. "Sir, Master Grell's team is already waiting for us at the Westerlands border."
"We should finish him off as soon as possible and leave for the Westerlands immediately!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he was pinned to the spot by a stern look from Bryn beside him. Rosso shut up instantly and turned pale, as if he realized that he had leaked important trends in this situation.
The consciousness of Harras. Harlaw on the ground was on the verge of collapse, but the two words the Westerlands and House Grell were deeply engraved in his mind.
At this moment, Suleiman finally turned his attention to him, his eyes were calm, without the joy of victory or pity for the loser.
He finally spoke, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone present. "I will not kill you."
Won't kill me, Harras was stunned. He thought he had lost too much blood and was hearing hallucinations.
Suleiman ignored his surprise and continued, "I want the body of Lord Jason. Mallister in exchange for your life."
The name Jason. Mallister caused the knights' bodies to tremble violently, especially the knight House Mallister's body trembled, Seaguard After was breached, they escorted Master Young Mallister out of the siege, and later reluctantly joined Suleiman's team to return to West Riverlands.
They never thought that they would have a chance to take back the lord's body. The humiliating body hung on the city gate by Ironborn was a scar in their hearts that would never heal.
Suleiman glanced at their faces that were flushed with excitement and their eyes that were moist at that moment, and said to them, "Go."
"Tell them my terms."
Several Mallister knights immediately rode out and rushed to the Seaguard moat. They tightened their reins, suppressed the sobs in their throats, and roared at the city wall with all their strength, "Ironborn on the city, listen!"
"Our commander! Master Suleiman! I am willing to use the life of your commander! Harras. Harlaw! in exchange for the remains of our lord! Master Jason. Mallister!"
House Mallister The voices of the knights echoed in the empty battlefield, with grief, anger and a hint of pleading.
"A living commander! In exchange for a dead body! This is the best deal you can get!"
There was an eerie silence on the city wall, and the Ironborns were whispering to each other. Obviously, this proposal caused them to get into a fierce debate. Using a rotten corpse to exchange for their still living commander, House Harlaw, this deal was ridiculously cost-effective no matter how you calculated it.
But handing over the enemy's corpse is undoubtedly a sign of weakness...
After a brief silence, a hoarse response came from the city wall. "We... agree to the exchange!"
Seaguard's suspension bridge made an overwhelmed creaking sound and was lowered slowly. Several Ironborn carried something wrapped in burlap and carefully walked out and carried it to the competition venue.
When the linen cloth was uncovered, all the Mallister knights let out painful wails. The body of Lord Jason. Mallister had been severely decomposed, and it was obvious that he had suffered inhuman treatment and humiliation after his death.
His armor had been stripped away completely, and his rotten and naked torso was covered with holes from spears and scars from swords.
"Jason-sama!!!"
House Mallister The knights could no longer suppress it. They dismounted, rushed forward, knelt down in front of the broken body, pressed their foreheads against the cold soil, and cried bitterly. Their cries were suppressed and desperate, like the whine of injured beasts.
On the other side, the Ironborns also carried the seriously injured and comatose Harras. Harlaw back with all their might. Their movements were rough, but they also carried a trace of happiness about surviving the disaster. The worthless corpse was exchanged for the House Harlaw adults. This deal was a good deal no matter how you calculate it.
The suspension bridge slowly rises, separating the two worlds.
Under the gaze of hundreds of Riverlands knights, the Mallister knights stood up. They used the water bags they carried with them to wet the cloth and wiped the dirt on the remains bit by bit.
They used their fingers to comb through his long-dried hair and tidy up his torn clothes. Every movement was full of infinite respect and sadness. Finally, they took off their cloaks and solemnly wrapped their lord's body layer by layer.
This tragic and solemn scene moved everyone present. When everything was settled, the leading knight Mallister led all his comrades to the front of Suleiman.
Without any hesitation, they knelt down on one knee. The leading knight raised his head, his voice trembling violently with excitement. "Master Suleiman!"
"We sincerely apologize for any offense we caused to you at Oldstones!"
There was a cry in his voice, but it was extremely firm.
"You saved Lord Young Mallister from Oldstones, and today, you regained the last dignity for our lord Jason. Mallister!"
"House Mallister, I will always remember your kindness!"
Suleiman stepped forward, helped the knight up, looked at the red-eyed knights in front of him, and said in an unprecedented solemn tone, "You knights shed your last drop of blood for Riverlands. Your bravery, Riverlands will never forget it."
"Riverlands will never forget your achievements."
"Master Mallister is the hero of Riverlands. It is my duty as a noble Riverlands to restore dignity to the hero of Riverlands."
His eyes swept across the knights of Mallister, and then slowly moved to everyone present. After a pause, his voice became louder and full of power.
"You too!"
Riverlands remembers that Suleiman's words were like a ball of flame, instantly igniting the passion and emotion in the hearts of all the knights present.
They looked at Suleiman, at his young but extremely determined face, at the Valyrian Steel Sword in his hand that had just won glory for Riverlands, and an indescribable emotion stirred in their chests.
Raymun. Darry lowered their heads and prayed silently to Seven. I don't know who took the lead. Hundreds of knights spontaneously and silently took off their helmets and held them in their arms. They straightened their chests and paid the most noble knightly courtesy to Suleiman.
No slogans, no cheers.
There was only the hunting sound of the morning wind blowing through the cloak, and the violent beating of hundreds of hot hearts.