Gulltown's True Dragon

Gryn's gaze lingered over the location of the Bite for a moment. "Leyton, is there a way to catch up with Lancel before he reaches Eastwatch-by-the-Sea—the port of the Wall?"

Leyton usually kept a low profile. He followed at Gryn's side inconspicuously, seeming like nothing more than an ordinary young attendant, but in Gryn's secret arrangements, he was the most crucial intelligence chief. Most covert missions were carried out by him personally.

That included Lancel's expedition with the followers of the Seven.

Although Leyton felt that his lord's prior arrangements had already been thorough enough, he did not voice his doubts. "We know Lancel's route very well. If we immediately send a raven to Gulltown and arrange for a fast ship there to pursue them at full speed, we should be able to catch them unless something unexpected happens."

After a pause, he continued, "Your Highness, since you specifically wish to catch up with Lancel, I assume you have other instructions for him?"

Candlelight flickered, making their cast shadows sway faintly, and Gryn's voice rang out. "To be safe, I need his sword to be sharper."

At roughly the same time, several hundred men rode out from the Stormlands camp beyond King's Gate and headed south. At their head were twenty-three Stormlands lords, along with their Sworn Knights, attendants, and cavalry.

Rumor had it that during what had originally been a cheerful feast, the ever-good-natured Lord Selwyn Tarth had suddenly gotten into a verbal dispute with them. In the end... he had even joined forces with more than a hundred other Stormlands lords to forcibly drive them out.

Their noble honor had been insulted. In fury, they had taken their own men and left the camp overnight in a rage.

However.

The following morning, devastating news exploded through King's