Brotherhood Without Banners

Perhaps because of the Mountain, the Brotherhood Without Banners specifically requested to Jon Snow's army after arriving at Harrenhal.

Upon learning this news, Jon had no choice but to leave Hundred Hearth Hall amidst the envious or disdainful gazes of the Dreadfort nobles, and personally go to receive them.

When Roose Bolton learned that this Brotherhood Without Banners the remnant of the force Eddard had sent to wipe out the Mountain, he was even more embarrassed.

Those were men sent out by Eddard, their significance was immense! He, the commander-in-chief of the "East Road Army," was once again sidelined.

Especially when Roose Bolton saw the ambiguous glances from the mercenary group's Vargo Hoat and the others, he felt his face burning.

They were clearly aware of the Brotherhood Without Banners, an army that primarily fought guerrilla warfare. Although this army wasn't very powerful, it was an insignificant force among the tens of thousands of troops fighting in the Riverlands.

But their choice exposed the true nature of Roose Bolton as "Commander-in-Chief of the East Road Army," revealing that he was nothing more than a figurehead.

Jon had no idea that Roose Bolton was having such a complex inner monologue; he was simply thinking about the Lightning Lord, a Brotherhood Without Banners who possessed the ability to "resurrect."

It's a real resurrection technique; as long as the corpse is intact, it can bring a person back to life.

His name was Thoros, and because he was from Myr and had a good relationship with Robert, he was also known as "Thoros of Myr".

Like the Red Priestess, he was a devout follower of the Lord of Light.

However, Jon's impression of him was limited to "enchanting weapons" and resurrection spells.

After the Red Wedding, he also seemed to have resurrected Catelyn, whose throat had been slit, turning her into "Lady Stoneheart consumed by revenge.

Overall, however, the Red Priestess's "magic power" seemed to be superior to his, but Jon was still very willing to meet this Lightning Lord.

Ask him about the "Shadow Assassin" later and see how much he knows.

If possible, just use the Shadow Assassin to take down Roose Bolton.

As for saying that he hasn't yet harbored any thoughts of betrayal, or that actions speak louder than intentions, Jon didn't care at all. He was more concerned with the fate of his friend than himself; at this point, he couldn't care less about such things.

Soon Jon met a group of Brotherhood Without Banners representatives led by Beric Dondarrion, but these people did not look very impressive.

They were all emaciated and pale, their armor was incomplete, and because of their thinness, the armor could barely hold up.

Because of their poor equipment, these people's main combat objective was to disrupt food transport in the Westerlands.

Because they often fought guerrilla warfare, their supplies were frequently unreliable, and their clothes, while not exactly tattered, were always filthy.

The collar and cuffs, in particular, were covered with dark brown oil stains and frayed edges.

However, Jon did not underestimate these people because of this. Their eyes were sharp, like the cold glint reflected from arrows and blades.

One of them was a young man in his early twenties with thick calluses on his thumbs, clearly a skilled archer.

However, before Jon could identify who was who, one of them recognized Jon first.

"You must be Jon, right?"

The person speaking covered his left eye with a headscarf, suggesting he had lost an eye in battle.

The man who approached them was none other than "Earl Beric Dondarrion Beric of Blackhaven," who had been ordered by Eddard to go to the Riverlands to capture the Mountain.

Unexpectedly, he was ambushed by the Mountain in the Mummer's Ford and died in that battle.

Thoros unexpectedly resurrected him during his funeral.

It's said that Beric Dondarrion has died several times by now; he's a somewhat pitiful person, but also brave enough.

For Jon, because he killed the Mountain, Beric Dondarrion did not put on airs because of Jon's status as a bastard son. Instead, he took the initiative to bow to him. In his view, no matter who it was, as long as they could kill the Mountain, he was willing to express the highest respect.

"May I see that devil's corpse?" Beric Dondarrion pleaded again.

"Of course, I've also heard about your exploits in Riverlands. His head is hanging on my banner; you can see it anytime, and you can even use it as a chamber pot." Jon joked casually, eliciting light laughter from the crowd and easing the tension.

As Jon spoke, he glanced at the other members of the Brotherhood Without Banners out of the corner of his eye.

One of the bald men, who clearly had a missionary air about him, caught Jon's attention.

His face looked somewhat weathered, with white streaks mixed in with his messy reddish-brown beard.

There's no mistake, he is indeed the Lightning King!

Instead of immediately befriending him, Jon addressed all the representatives of the Brotherhood Without Banners with a string of words of respect.

There were other people, but Jon didn't recognize them. He'd get to know them later.

The Brotherhood Without Banners were impressed by Jon's lack of arrogance after killing the Mountain and his continued sense of humor, which increased their goodwill towards him.

Jon invited them to join him at the Tower of Dread for some food, and they happily went along.

"Sir Beric Dondarrion, I wonder how many men you have brought this time, so I can have my men arrange your food and weapons," Jon asked.

"Not many, less than two hundred people," Beric Dondarrion replied.

This Beric Dondarrion was resurrected seven times; he was truly a tragic figure, having died and been reborn so many times.

Moreover, it is said that those resurrected by Thoros lose some memories each time they are resurrected, so it's unknown what Beric Dondarrion's current situation is.

Jon chatted with Beric Dondarrion for a few more minutes before preparing to ask Thoros about magic.

But Beric Dondarrion asked a new question:

When does Jon plan to attack King's Landing?

The Brotherhood Without Banners absorbed many Riverlands, which made Jon realize that the Riverlands nobles were more driven by a desire for revenge than those in the North.

What Beric Dondarrion said next made Jon think even more highly of him.

"Jon, I've heard about Robb becoming king, which is very bad for us in the short term."

"Renly is dead. If he had become king, perhaps there would have been room for maneuver, but now Stannis is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, and he will not stand idly by and watch the North become independent," Beric Dondarrion expressed his opinion.

As a nobleman who had spent many years in King's Landing's Landing, he possessed a keen political sense.

"Of course I know that, and I tried to stop it, but it was no use. It's the collective will of the North nobles."

"I know, word has been circulating for a while that when the King in the North was crowned, he was opposed only by his own bastard brothers," Beric Dondarrion said, personally pouring Jon a glass of wine. "That's the real reason I decided to join you, not because you killed the Mountain."

Looking at the Earl Blackhaven, Jon felt a sudden sense of having found a kindred spirit.