The old knight's sincere words deeply moved Daenerys Targaryen.
Seeing this, Jorah Mormont said with a grim expression, "Give up your life? I might be able to help you with that."
"A traitor deserves to die..."
Barristan Selmy raised his head and continued, "But... Princess Daenerys, I am at least honest; I fought bravely at the Trident before I received Robert's forgiveness."
He turned to Jorah: "But you are an enemy of the Targaryen, aren't you, Mormont?"
Barristan looked at Daenerys again and continued, "Your Highness, I approached you concealing my identity because I knew there were eyes and ears around you. His King Viserys and you have been under surveillance by the Small Council."
"For many years, Varys Master of Whisperers, has reported His King Viserys ' every move to the Small Council. But since you left Pentos, you have had an informant by your side who betrays your secrets, trading intelligence for the Gold Dragon of the Spider and promises."
His finger pointed to the Bear Island Knight: "That informant was Jorah Mormont."
With a clang, Ser Jorah's longsword fell from his hand onto the stone slabs of the ground, as if confirming the old knight's accusations.
"Impossible..."
Daenerys murmured, looking incredulously at Jorah, who stood frozen in place. Why?!
Gryn reached out and put his arm around Daenerys's waist; he felt her body trembling.
Daenerys suddenly smiled and said to the old knight, "You're mistaken."
She looked at the Bear Island Knight and said, "Tell him he's wrong. Tell him you're not an informer. Tell him how terribly wrong he is."
Jorah Jorah's neck flushed red. "Let the White Walker take you away, Selmy!"
He turned to Daenerys, his face flushed, making it unclear whether he was angry or ashamed. "I tried to tell you the truth..."
Daenerys's body trembled... Why? From Pentos to Kantus, she had trusted him implicitly, entrusted him with great responsibilities, and yet his true identity was the eyes of the Usurper?! She had listened to every piece of Jorah Jorah's advice because she believed in him. The unexpected confession had caused her some worry, but she had never doubted Jorah Jorah's loyalty.
Why awaken her Dragon's Wrath?! A red light seemed to gleam in Daenerys's eyes, but her body paused. Gryn was patting her lower back gently.
Daenerys looked up and saw a gentle face; her icy body seemed to warm up instantly.
Gryn nodded slightly, silently comforting her; he was right beside her.
"That's wonderful..." Daenerys's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
Although Daenerys's Dragon's Wrath had subsided, her lingering anger remained. Her violet eyes flickered as she looked at Jorah, who seemed hesitant to speak, "Tell me, what did they promise you, Ser?"
Ser Jorah tried to explain, "Your Highness, that was only the beginning, before I knew you..."
That's enough.
Daenerys interrupted Jorah Jorah's explanation, repeating, "Tell me, what did they promise you?"
Ser Jorah's lips trembled, and he said with difficulty, " Varys said I could return to Bear Island."
After saying that, he lowered his head, unable to meet Daenerys's gaze.
Daenerys clenched her fists. She had promised... she would restore Jorah Jorah's honor—what a ridiculous promise.
She roared, "Ser Jorah, I promised you I would restore your lands and honors, yet you betrayed me! I will never forgive your betrayal!"
Ser Jorah shook his head frantically, saying, "No, no, you don't want to do this, you should forgive me..."
Daenerys's eyes flashed with rage. Why hadn't Ser Jorah realized his mistake by now? Why wouldn't he beg for her forgiveness? Didn't he know the fate of traitors?
She replied coldly, "No!"
Ser Jorah cried out mournfully, "Your Highness, I will protect you, I will fight for you, I will kill for you..."
Daenerys turned her face away... She couldn't cry; if she cried, she would soften her heart.
Daenerys didn't shed a tear, but her heart softened, and her voice trembled slightly. "Ser, you've been banished. Return to King's Landing's Landing and beg for your pardon."
Princess Daenerys, please, listen to me...
Daenerys ignored Jorah Jorah's pleas. She looked at the old knight kneeling there with his head bowed and said, " Ser Barristan Selmy, I've had enough of the hypocrisy of the Westeros knights. You... leave."
Ser Barristan Selmy rose stiffly and slowly, his movements befitting his age, appearing frail and weak.
The old knight's voice held a hint of sorrow. "Princess Daenerys, Barristan thanks you for listening."
Ser Jorah cried out in near despair, "Please..."
Her skirt swirled, and Daenerys turned her back to them. She asked herself, "They're the ones in the wrong, so why can't I face their pleading eyes?"
Gryn's voice rang out. " Dany, I think you need to rest. Leave the rest to me."
"I have Gryn..." Daenerys seemed to regain her composure instantly. She nodded silently to Gryn and left.
Once the princess had disappeared, Gryn waved for the servants and guards in the hall to leave, and soon only the three of them remained in the hall.
Gryn began as if reminiscing, " Ser Barristan Selmy, I heard that after you threw your sword at Joffrey's feet, you declared that you would serve the true king. Are you here for His King Viserys?"
Barristan turned his gaze away from the direction Daenerys had gone, took a deep breath, and replied, " Lord Gryn, I am still searching."
Gryn tapped the hilt of his longsword at his waist and said, "Sir, you are very frank, but your answer is contradictory."
Barristan looked puzzled. Gryn continued, "According to you, even if Princess Daenerys accepts you, once you find your true king, you will immediately break your oath and leave the princess... is that right?"
Barristan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter the right words.
Gryn shook his head slightly. " Ser Barristan Selmy, I can roughly guess what you're thinking; everyone knows it..."
Jorah, who had been frozen in place like a statue, suddenly moved, his movement interrupting Gryn's words.
Gryn blocked the Bear Island Knight's path. "Informant, where do you think you're going?"
Ser Jorah stared directly at Gryn, who was blocking his way, and said coldly, "I must explain to Her Highness the Princess, you better let me through..."
Before he could finish speaking, with a thud, he was struck hard in the abdomen by Gryn's fist. A sharp pain spread rapidly from his abdomen, and the burly man instinctively curled up, trying to relieve the pain.
Gryn said coldly, "Don't mistake the princess's kindness for weakness. Your behavior right now makes you look like a wicked person who only knows how to bully the weak."
Barristan's face flashed with shock. The power and speed that Lord Gryn displayed reminded him of the Mountain... He immediately shook his head inwardly. He was much stronger than the Mountain; this was a power that made it easy to lose the will to resist.
Ser Jorah was deathly pale, his face contorted in agony, his lips twitching painfully. "I... I'm not..."
"I hope so. Don't do anything rash, Bear Island."
Having said that, Gryn turned to Barristan and continued, "Old Ser, who is the true king? If you were referring to Stannis or Renly, I doubt you would be here, and... as everyone knows, Princess Daenerys is the last Targaryen."
A fleeting look of embarrassment crossed Barristan's face as the old knight reclaimed his last shred of pride, his chin slightly raised.
" Lord Gryn, I am grateful for your kindness, but... I would like to know, in what capacity do you ask me this question?"
Barristan Selmy was already a renowned White Cloak in the Seven Kingdoms, while Gryn... was merely a minor lord, and he intended to use this to refuse Gryn's question.
Your words are truly clumsy...
Gryn scoffed and continued, "Old Sir, don't you think I'm your only chance now? If you leave like this, your so-called path to redemption... will truly become a laughing stock known throughout the Seven Kingdoms."
After Gryn finished speaking, there was a moment of silence. Barristan sighed, and a new light appeared in his cloudy eyes.
Barristan shook his head slightly and muttered, "I'm really not cut out for this kind of thing."
He paused, then first patted Gryn's chest in apology before saying, " Lord Gryn, your insight is keen; you were right. I have indeed sworn that I will serve Princess Daenerys for the rest of my life."
Gryn glanced at Jorah, who was gradually straightening up, and said, "Old Ser, whatever the reason, the facts remain the facts. You can't rely on Princess Daenerys's softening heart one day; prayers won't bring back the lost honor."
Barristan's eyes trembled... Robert was an excellent knight. Back then, he was grateful for his forgiveness and captivated by his charm... Now, thinking back, these were all excuses he used to convince himself. Perhaps... the real reason was that Prince Rhaegar had died in battle, and Prince Viserys in his childhood had made him realize that he was the Mad King's son, a little boy completely different from Rhaegar.
That's the truth!
Barristan's face was bitter... What a foolish and self-righteous man he was! Had he presumptuously made a choice for the entire kingdom while breaking his oath?
So, is he finally going to face the punishment he deserves for breaking his sacred oath? The Gods have been too lenient with him.
Gryn patted Barristan on the arm and said, "Old Sir, a knight's glory comes from the sword in his hand; that's what you excel at."
He waved to stop Barristan from speaking, and continued, "According to my investigation, there is a threat within Essos that concerns Princess Daenerys ' safety, as well as the true cause of His King Viserys ' death."
Gryn's gaze shifted to the old knight's white hair, his brow furrowing slightly, before he continued, "I cannot hide it; this mission is extremely dangerous. I think only a fearless person could shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
The old knight sensed a kind of contempt mixed with pity from Gryn... Did this young man not know his reputation in the Seven Kingdoms? His words were truly clumsy.
The old knight straightened his still-strong chest and said, " Earl, a knight is fearless."
Upon hearing his heroic "declaration," Lord Gryn showed a hint of reluctance. Although he had guessed that this was an intentional act, the old knight still couldn't help but feel angry.
Gryn seemed oblivious to the glint of fire in the old knight's eyes. He sighed softly and said, "Old Sir, let me finish speaking before you make a decision."
The old knight slowly repeated, "A knight is fearless."
After a moment's hesitation, Gryn said, " The Golden Company."
As Gryn finished speaking, the old knight's gaze narrowed slightly, and he said, " The Golden Company, whose words are as good as gold?"
Gryn replied, "Gold above, Bittersteel below."
Not long after, Barristan's lips curled slightly, and he said, " Lord Gryn, as you said, I haven't touched a sword since I threw it at Joffrey's feet. I only took it from Princess Daenerys and was willing to carry it again."
The old knight seemed to be sighing, then paused and asked Gryn directly, "Tell me, what do I need to do?"
Jorah Mormont rubbed his stomach, coughed lightly, and said, "Old informer, you seem to lack a strong accomplice."
Barristan gave a cold snort; the old knight had no intention of paying attention to the despicable Bear Island Knight.
Gryn nodded in agreement, which was precisely why he allowed the Bear Island Knight to remain in the hall to "listen in" on the secrets... Mutton and Anguy were Gryn's hidden cards, while Barristan and Jorah would be the revealed cards.
Gryn slowly began, "There's a name you should be very familiar with, that's Jon Clinton, Hand of the King for Aerys II..."
The Magister's Palace, the room of the three little dragons.
Gryn pushed open the door and entered, where he saw Daenerys feeding three baby dragons.
Daenerys looked up, a gentle smile on her face. When she saw Gryn, her smile deepened.
" Gryn," Daenerys beckoned.
Gryn sat down next to Daenerys, and she said, "The maids told me that they can eat several times their own weight in food every day."
She pointed to a plate of raw, bloody meat and continued, "When I was little, Viserys told me that only dragons and humans enjoy cooked food; they certainly don't eat raw meat."
She paused, then asked with some confusion, "They seem to have suddenly become quiet... um... well-behaved?!"
Gryn chuckled softly, paused, and said, " Dany, I've assigned them both a very dangerous mission; they could very well lose their lives as a result."
Daenerys nodded silently and leaned against Gryn's arm. Gryn reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
The two remained silent for a while, then Gryn suddenly asked, "Have you thought of names for them yet?"