Beside him, Gendry also looked at Davion curiously at those words, his eyes full of questions.
To him, Barristan Selmy was a living legend.
And knighthood was the highest honor. He truly could not understand why his lord had refused to be knighted by Loras.
Davion scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery:
"My character and standing need no empty title to prove them."
"Besides, don't you think the title of knight has long since become utterly rotten?"
As he spoke, he raised his chin and nodded toward the Mountain:
"I trust you've heard of the atrocities committed by that Ser Mountain, Ser Barristan Selmy? His indiscriminate slaughter of innocents, his abuse of common folk?"
"Besides him, there's Jaime Lannister, that oathbreaking Kingslayer who stabbed his king in the back."
"And worse still, there are those who repeatedly break their own oaths, betraying the monarchs and houses they swore to serve. Can such men be called knights?"
"So I'm better off without this knighthood!"
"Look at the people of the North. Hardly any of them are knighted, and don't they live perfectly well?"
Following his gaze, Barristan turned toward the Mountain.
At that moment, the Mountain was gnawing on a bone while a servant respectfully offered him a cup of ale.
Somehow, this sent the Mountain into a fury. He abruptly raised his hand, knocked the ale away, and cursed viciously at the servant before kicking him to the ground, his expression savage, without a trace of knightly grace.
Barristan watched the Mountain's brutality without the slightest change in expression, as though he had long since grown accustomed to it.
But when he heard Davion mention "betraying those they swore to serve," his body suddenly stiffened. He quickly turned back, his eyes fixed on Davion.
He kept feeling that there was something behind Davion's words, as though he were hinting at something.
An inscrutable smile lingered on Davion's face as he met Barristan's gaze calmly.
Barristan scrutinized Davion's young face, studying him over and over, before finally dismissing his suspicions.
He did not believe that this obscure, down-on-his-luck lord of only eighteen would dare mock him, a legendary knight who had served three kings.
He had absolute confidence in his current reputation throughout the Seven Kingdoms!
Who had not heard of Barristan the Bold?
Such a reputation was enough to earn him the respect of every noble and commoner. How could anyone accuse him of betrayal?
Moreover, the sturdy, black-haired lad beside Davion looked at him with eyes full of admiration and reverence, further strengthening his conviction.
Though he knew in his heart that what he had done went very much against his former oaths.
He shook his head gently.
"Earl Davion, not all knights slaughter innocents and break their oaths. The Mountain and Jaime are merely exceptions."
"If you wish to be knighted, I would be happy to oblige!"
"Your uncle, Oswell Whent, and I were once brothers in the Kingsguard who fought side by side!"
"There's no need, Ser Barristan Selmy."
Davion interrupted him, extending a hand in a gesture of dismissal.
"Your match is about to begin. I won't take up any more of the time you need to rest and gather your strength."
Barristan's expression darkened at once.
He stared hard at Davion's face, a flicker of anger crossing his eyes.
He had not expected this young lord to show him so little regard, not only rejecting his kindness but outright dismissing him.
Countless people throughout the Seven Kingdoms begged him to knight them, yet Davion had refused him so lightly.
Barristan drew a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and slowly nodded:
"Sorry for the intrusion, Earl Davion."
As he turned to leave, he snorted inwardly:
Boy, pray to the Seven that I don't make it to the final. Otherwise, I'll make sure you get a proper taste of the price of looking down on me!
After Barristan left the canopy, Gendry could no longer contain his confusion and asked impatiently:
"My lord, how could you refuse Ser Barristan Selmy?"
"Do you know who he is?"
"He's Barristan Selmy! He's 'Barristan the Bold'!"
"He's served three kings and spent his whole life in the Kingsguard!"
"He once fought his way into Duskendale alone and rescued the Mad King Aerys!"
"A whole book couldn't hold all his heroic deeds! Being knighted by him is an honor countless knights dream of!"
At this, Davion glanced at him:
"The Kingsguard? Served three kings?"
"Gendry, don't you think those two statements are especially ironic when you put them together?"
Gendry froze, looking utterly bewildered:
"My lord, what's wrong with that? Serving three kings proves his loyalty. Isn't that something glorious?"
"Wrong. It's very fucking wrong!"
Davion patted Gendry's shoulder, his tone growing more serious.
"Young man, do you know the Kingsguard's oath?"
Gendry thought carefully for a moment before slowly saying:
"The Kingsguard's oath seems pretty similar to the Night's Watch's. They hold no lands, take no wives, father no children, and serve their monarch for life."
"Except the Kingsguard have an additional vow: to remain loyal to their monarch and faithfully fulfill their duty until death."
Davion nodded and gave him an approving look:
"As expected of someone who grew up in King's Landing. You do know quite a bit."
"Then explain this to me: what exactly does 'remain loyal to their monarch until death' mean?"
Gendry scratched his head:
"Well... it means being loyal to the king all your life, until you die, without any betrayal."
Davion smiled slightly and lowered his voice:
"Then let me ask you another question. The one Barristan Selmy originally swore allegiance to was the Mad King Aerys, the Targaryen Dynasty, wasn't it?"
"Now the Mad King is dead, and the Targaryen Dynasty has fallen. Why is he still alive and well?!"
"And why is he even still serving in the Kingsguard, pledging loyalty to Robert the Usurper?"
With that, Davion said no more. He found a chair, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest, preparing for the coming final.
Gendry alone was left rooted to the spot, his face blank with bewilderment.
Like a pebble, Davion's words sent ripples through his heart.
For the first time, he began to suspect that the legendary knights he admired might not be as perfect as he had imagined.
The intermission's juggling and minstrel performances ended, and the clamor of the arena rose once more.
The Mountain, Gregor Clegane, and Barristan Selmy slowly rode into the arena on their warhorses.
Under the canopy outside the arena, Davion still reclined lazily in his chair with his eyes closed, resting. Even the spectators' deafening roars of excitement from inside the arena failed to stir his eyelids.
He did not care in the slightest about the outcome of their duel.
Whether the Mountain or Barristan ultimately reached the final, he was absolutely certain he could defeat his opponent and claim the championship.
Beside him, Gendry had still been pondering Davion's words only moments before, but now he could no longer contain his excitement. He leaned against the railing of the canopy, craning his neck to look into the arena, his eyes filled with fervor.
Before you continue