The air at Riverrun is cold and humid.
The tributaries of Trident, Red Fork and Tumblestone meet here, and the water flows hit the foundation stone of the castle, making a never-ending roar.
This sound was a symbol of life and strength in the past, but today it seems like a mournful music played for the deceased.
The funeral of Hoster. Tully is about to begin.
The river bank was crowded with people. House Tully's servants and soldiers looked solemn. The wind blew their cloaks to keep out the cold, and also blew the lonely boat at the dock.
Lying on the boat was the previous owner of Riverrun, covered in a family flag with a silver figure jumping out of the water and red and blue ripples in the background.
Suleiman stood in the crowd, looking beyond the crowd and landing on Eddard. Stark.
There wasn't much expression on the northerner's face, but his frown and the sadness in his gray eyes betrayed his mood.
His wife, Catelyn. Tully, nestled beside him, her sadness palpable.
Eddard. Stark had obviously tried his best. He placed Hoster. Tully's body in an underground cold room, preserved it with ice, and waited for the return of Governor Trident's brother and little daughter.
He wanted them to see their brother and father one last time.
But one day, two days, three days passed, and no news came from Bloody Gate and the Eyrie.
Lysa. Tully, the hostess of Vale, seems to have forgotten the river where she was born.
This was expected by many people. Everyone knew that his father married her to a man who was old enough to be his grandfather, but it was still chilling.
However, the absence of another person surprised everyone.
Brynden. Tully, the legendary knight known as Blackfish, has not come back either.
Suleiman felt a little puzzled and confused. Others didn't know, but he knew.
Brynden. Tully and his brother Hoster. Tully had a falling out due to their marriage and had been at odds for many years, but this was only on the surface. In Blackfish's heart, the respect and love for his brother had never diminished.
There was no reason for him not to show up on such an important occasion.
Suleiman was thoughtful, unless he was caught up in something more important.
His thoughts were interrupted by a commotion.
Eddard. Stark walked to the front of the crowd. His voice was not high, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "It's time to send Governor Hoster off on his final journey."
His self-light swept across the noble knights present.
According to the ancient tradition of the Tully family, seven people will escort the boat carrying the remains and drift down the Red Fork family.
This symbolizes Seven's blessing and protects the souls of the deceased from returning to the embrace of Trident.
Being able to be selected as one of the seven people in House Tully's funeral group has always been regarded as an honor by Riverlands people.
Eddard. Stark begins roll call.
"Suleiman-sama."
Suleiman walked out of the crowd and stood beside him.
"Lymond. Master Lychester."
Suleiman felt Lymond. Lychester's eyes linger on him for a moment, with some kind of message in his eyes.
The old man tilted his head slightly, indicating that he would have something to say later.
Suleiman nodded imperceptibly.
"Jonos. House Bracken-sama."
"Tytos. Master Blackwood."
The two Riverlands lords, who had been enemies for generations, stood side by side silently at this moment, and their family feud was temporarily shelved in the face of death.
"Karyl. Vance-sama."
Finally, Eddard. Stark's eyes fell on the queue of House Frey who had invited the Twins.
There was a hint of regret in his voice. "Walder. Frey Master said that he is too old to travel far."
A fat man with one leg obviously shorter than the other came out. Suleiman remember him, lame Rosso. Frey.
The cripple Rosso. Frey spoke with a shrewd voice, "Father sent me here, Lord Stark."
"House Frey will not be absent."
Eddard. Stark glanced at him and nodded.
Counting himself, seven people were present.
They walked to the dock, and under the leadership of Edmure. Tully, they lifted the body covered with flags and carefully put it on the small boat.
Edmure. Tully's body was shaking, his eyes were red, and tears fell silently.
He wanted to say something, but he just opened his mouth and couldn't spit out a word.
Suleiman, together with six other people, put their hands on the side of the ship. Although Ironborn entered Riverlands, and Riverrun's sorrow of the siege was part of the reason, But Hoster. Tully might not scare him, and he might be able to survive for a few more years. Unexpectedly, he was invited by Eddard. Stark to become one of the seven.
This always gave him a weird feeling.
House Stark can always accurately find conspirators and careerists among a large group of people. It must be said that this is also an ability...
The hull is so light that it seems like a gust of wind can blow it away.
Edmure. Tully choked with sobs and said, "May Seven bless you, father."
The seven people worked hard together, and the boat slowly left the dock and slid into the rapid Red Fork.
The river surged, and the boat quickly drifted downstream. The Silver Trout Banner was fluttering on the boat, as if it was saying its final farewell.
The people on the shore were silent and watched the boat go away.
Trident The water seemed to be more turbulent than before. The absence of two close relatives made this funeral seem extremely desolate.
Eddard. Stark took a long bow and an arrow from the attendant. The strong wind made his gray cloak rustle.
The arrowhead was wrapped in linen cloth soaked in grease and had been lit, dancing with orange-red flames.
He drew the bowstring and aimed at the increasingly smaller black dot in the river.
The rocket left the string and drew a bright arc in the gray sky.
It landed on the boat accurately.
The flames ignited instantly, engulfing the dry wooden planks and the family flag.
A ball of fire burned on the surface of the river, moving away along the current, until it turned into a point of light at the end of the field of vision, and finally disappeared around the corner of the river.
Hoster. Tully, back home.
Catelyn. Tully Unable to restrain herself any longer, she hugged her husband's arm and buried her face in his cloak, her body shaking violently from crying.
Eddard. Stark didn't speak, but stretched out his other hand and gently patted his wife's back.
His eyes turned to Edmure. Tully beside him.
The Riverrun young new lord was staring blankly in the direction where his father disappeared, as if his soul had gone away with the flame.
Eddard. Stark put his hand on his shoulder and shook it hard.
Suleiman looked at the rushing river and felt inexplicably emotional. As the highest authority representative of Riverlands.
There was no grand ceremony, no mass mourning, only farewells from his family and six vassals who came over the past few days.
Hoster. Tully After many years at the top of power, when death came, he felt so lonely and desolate.
The crowd began to disperse slowly, each with their own thoughts. The nobles were chatting in low voices in twos and threes.
The sad atmosphere was quickly replaced by realistic interests and calculations.
Riverrun lost its owner, and Riverlands ushered in a young new owner, which means that the balance of power needs to be recalibrated.
Suleiman stood on the bank of the river, looking at Eddard. Stark. The northerners looked at the distance where the boat disappeared, their expressions still solemn.
A rush of footsteps interrupted this moment of tranquility.
Jonos. House Bracken separated from the crowd and walked directly towards Suleiman.
"Suleiman-sama."
His voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone around him to hear, and people looked over curiously.
Suleiman turned around and looked at him calmly.
Jonos. House Bracken first said something, "Hoster Governor's passing is sad. He was a good man, Riverlands the best Governor...
As soon as the compliments ended, the conversation suddenly changed, revealing the true purpose.
"But there are some things that we must explain clearly in front of Lord Eddard and Edmure, so that they can make a fair decision."
He took a step forward and stared at Suleiman with burning eyes.
"Ironborn robbed countless wealth from West Riverlands, a large part of which belongs to my Stone Hedge's House Bracken."
"I heard that you seized all their ill-gotten gains, totaling nearly two hundred thousand Gold Dragon."
The people around him immediately stopped talking and their ears stood up. This was a huge sum of money that would make any family, even the king, and the guardian jealous.
Jonos. House Bracken's voice was raised a little higher, with an undeniable accent.
"I ask you to return the part that belongs to House Bracken."
"Not much, five thousand Gold Dragon, that was stolen from my land by Ironborn."
Suleiman's face had no expression, as if Jonos. House Bracken was talking about today's weather.
"The army has been rewarded, Lord Jonos."
This answer was obviously expected by Jonos. House Bracken.
Suleiman's generous reward for the army has spread throughout Riverlands, and even the entire Seven Kingdoms, as if it has wings.
Now, from farmers to knights, everyone who doesn't want war to break out again can fight for the generous Lord Suleiman.
The income from one war may be more than they earn in a lifetime.
Jonos. House Bracken sneered, "I know you rewarded the army."
His accusations became sharper, as if he were trying a thief.
"But you are using the property of our Lord West Riverlands!"
"Those Gold Dragon are the blood scraped from us by Ironborn. They should be returned to their original owners, instead of being used by you to win people's hearts!"
Jonos. House Bracken's eyes narrowed. "I heard that you didn't give away all Gold Dragon, you still kept some."
"Give me back my share, and I will treat it as if nothing happened and will not interfere with your private distribution of the spoils."
Suleiman looked at him and spread his hands, his movements simple and direct.
"No."
One word, decisive.
No answer if asked.
Jonos. House Bracken's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and he felt that he had been greatly humiliated.
The whispers coming from around him sounded like they were humiliating him.
He clenched his fists and almost roared, "Then why does House Mallister have it!"
"Why do House Blackwood also have them? Don't tell me that you also rewarded them with their share!"
Jonos. House Bracken took a step forward, spittle almost spraying on Suleiman's face.
"Return to me the gold that Ironborn stole from my land! This is my bottom line! As long as you return it to me, I promise not to pursue you again!"
Suleiman looked over his shoulder and looked not far away.
His voice was still steady, but with a cold penetrating power. "House Blackwood, House Mallister, joined the Riverlands coalition."
"Their soldiers bled on the battlefield, and their knights charged forward and saved Riverlands."
He paused and refocused his eyes on Jonos. House Bracken's face.
"And your nephew, Sir Hendry. House Bracken, abandoned us after learning that Ironborn entered Riverlands."
These direct words were like a loud slap, hitting Jonos. House Bracken hard on the face.
The surrounding discussions stopped abruptly, and everyone's eyes became playful.
When Ironborn entered Riverlands, basically all the lords chose the same choice, to return to defend their territory. This was public and the choice of the vast majority of people.
But I didn't expect that someone would dare to mention it so frankly in front of Jonos. House Bracken.
Jonos. House Bracken opened his mouth. He wanted to explain that everyone was doing this, but he couldn't say a word. His face turned from red to white, and then from white to green, as if he had opened a dyeing workshop.
He subconsciously looked in the direction of Tytos. Blackwood. The guy who had been fighting with him all his life seemed to feel his sight and greeted him from afar.
There was no obvious smile on Tytos. Blackwood's face, but the mockery in those eyes pierced Jonos. House Bracken's chest like a sharp sword.
Anger completely swallowed up reason.
Jonos. House Bracken pointed at Suleiman, trembling all over. "You...
"This is an act of banditry! I want...
Before more heated words appeared, a calm voice intervened in the quarrel.
"House Bracken-sama."
Eddard. Stark walked up to Suleiman at some point. The tall figure brought an invisible sense of oppression.
His expression was serious, and there was no emotion or anger in his gray eyes. "In the North, the rules of war are very simple."
Eddard. Stark looked at Jonos. House Bracken, the voice was low and clear.
"Whoever captures the loot will belong to him. This is an ancient law and respect for the blood of warriors."
Suleiman glanced at the northerner. He was not afraid of Jonos. House Bracken, but he didn't expect that Eddard. Stark would come to his rescue.
Jonos. House Bracken doesn't appreciate it.
He is now in a difficult position. In front of so many people, especially in front of his old enemy House Blackwood, he cannot just retreat in despair.
Jonos. House Bracken pushed back unceremoniously. "This is Mr. Riverlands, Stark, not your the North!"
"Although Lord Edmure is still young, he is already Lord Riverrun. Riverlands matters are decided by him and you have no right to represent him."
Eddard. Stark was silent. He believed that what Jonos. House Bracken said was right. He really should not represent or interfere with House Tully's affairs.
Jonos. House Bracken looked at Suleiman.
"Besides, His Majesty the King is still here!"
Jonos. House Bracken The wolf is cruel, word for word.
"This matter is not over yet. The West Riverlands lords will go to Harrenhal in person."
"In front of the king, in front of all the nobles of Seven Kingdoms, please ask the king to make a decision in person."
In his opinion, what Suleiman offended was not him Jonos. House Bracken alone, but the entire West Riverlands lord. You know, that The pen Gold Dragon is the life-saving money for West Riverlands and all Lords. When the territory suffered serious damage and was in urgent need of reconstruction, the importance of that money is self-evident.
In the distance, the west Riverlords of the Riverlands of Edmure. Tully is being comforted. Karyl. Vance frowned when he heard this. He glanced at Suleiman and then at the excited Jonos. House Bracken. There was a troubled look on his face, but he also silently raised his ears, waiting for Suleiman's response.
Faced with this unabashed threat, Suleiman's expression did not change at all.
He calmly uttered two words: "Please."
He didn't even blink his eyelids, as if the threat of Jonos. House Bracken was just a breeze blowing across the lake without causing any ripples.
Jonos. House Bracken stared at him, as if trying to find any trace of fear or wavering on his face, but he failed. Suleiman's face was expressionless, as if he could not be shaken.
He snorted coldly, "I will definitely go to Harrenhal and ask the king to rule on this matter!"
Suleiman looked at him with calm eyes.
Jonos. House Bracken thought he was finally going to change his attitude, maybe he was going to say a few words and promised to discuss the distribution with everyone.
As a result, Suleiman just said, "Of course, Master Jonos."
His voice was not loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
"You can go to Harrenhal, you can go to King's Landing, you can go anywhere you want to complain to anyone."
After a pause, Suleiman's eyes became a little different, cold and emotionless.
"However, I have a suggestion for you."
Jonos. House Bracken was stunned, and the surrounding air seemed to solidify.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the next chapter of Suleiman.
"Get your armor and sword ready."
Give me a suggestion, prepare armor and sword, what do you mean, Jonos. House Bracken's brain didn't react for a moment.
He saw Suleiman's lips opening and closing again, and the cold words were spoken word by word.
"Me."
One word carries an irresistible weight.
"Trial by Combat."
Jonos. House Bracken's pupils shrank violently.
"Leave no one alive."