The child in sky-blue and cream was tossed into the air, cheering happily again and again, until the lords could barely follow him. Yet when the little lord came down, he landed as lightly as a feather upon Gendry.
Ser Lyn, Bronze Yohn, and the others all watched Gendry's game with wide eyes. Gendry wore black scale armor, yet he was tossing this half-grown child into the air. That alone was astonishing.
Lyn watched Gendry's movements closely. More frightening still was his steadiness. Again and again, Gendry's breathing remained perfectly composed, his movements as precise as ever, like an unruffled pool. He had clearly reached the level of Effortless Mastery.
Tossing something was not difficult for a knight. Tossing a living creature while wearing armor was considerably harder. Hardest of all was repeating the game so many times with such effortless ease and free-flowing movements. That was truly difficult to achieve.
"Big brother, can you make me fly like this again?" Robert asked excitedly. The boy had thoroughly enjoyed himself without suffering a seizure, and the assembled lords relaxed.
"Yes, if you listen to the maester and these people." Gendry lowered Robert Arryn, setting the boy firmly on the ground.
Perhaps I could take you flying someday, too? Not by my own strength, though, but on a dragon. The first Lord Arryn to submit had enjoyed that privilege, though his own younger brother had later sent him straight through the Moon Door.
Gendry thought of his dragon, Balerion. He wondered how Balerion the Black Dread was doing and missed him dearly. Perhaps in one, two, or three years, he would be able to carry a rider.
Gendry watched the laughing Sweetrobin. The foolish boy was happy, but could he truly be free of worries?
Chapter 212: Blood and Family
In