An unexpected choice

To be honest, Guncer was feeling a little panicked.

He was not much older than Darean, but his physical condition was fast approaching that of their eldest brother Baelor, who was already in his forties or fifties.

It was not his fault. House Hightower itself had no martial tradition.

As effectively the richest family in the Seven Kingdoms now, they stayed away from the kingdom's politics and focused only on their own little patch of land.

So a head for business that could bring in more gold dragons was enough.

Occasionally following their father Earl Leyton's example and dabbling in magical research as a hobby was fine; there really were no other requirements.

Apart from Garth, who had earned the nickname "Greyiron" in his youth, none of the brothers were much of a fighter.

Only Darean, the fifth son, was an exception.

And now this brat had come straight up and pointed a sword at him, giving him no way to back down gracefully.

Guncer had thought that, with the guard assigned to him, these men were his from now on.

He had deliberately made a show of training them as a reminder to Darean.

But he had forgotten that the brat simply did not have the brains for that.

Your men, my men-none of that mattered. If he was annoyed, he would grab a sword and give you a lesson!

Knowing Darean's skill with a sword very well, Guncer wanted to throw down his own and leave.

Yet a whole crowd of soldiers was watching. If he really did that, the loyalty he believed he had worked so hard to win would fall apart.

Damn it, this brat has put me on the spot again.

Sincerity was always the ultimate weapon. After dealing with Garth and Baelor every day, he had forgotten that Darean paid no attention to his little games.

Fortunately, Darean had not come specifically to beat him up.

"Leave us for now. I have something to discuss with Guncer."

He had never served a single day as commander of the guard, but his personal interests had earned him considerable standing among these rank-and-file soldiers.

Sure enough, the soldiers grew solemn, putting away their amused grins.

"Yes, Lord Darean."

Having clearly seen the apprehension and envy flash through Guncer's eyes, Darean quietly waited for the soldiers to disappear.

But he did not let go of the sword in his hand.

"They don't like you."

Turning to look at Guncer, he spoke without much inflection, merely stating a simple fact.

"But I am their commander."

Guncer shot back without mercy.

"Is that so... Commander?"

Darean offered that mocking remark, then moved on from the subject.

When trading barbs, getting the upper hand was enough. Quitting while ahead was the best strategy.

"I'm not interested in knocking you flat right now, and you know perfectly well why I came to see you."

"And a reminder: your wife came to see me. I suggest you stop telling her so much."

"Outsiders have no place interfering in our family's affairs!"

Guncer clearly had not known about his wife's visit. He froze for a moment, and his expression darkened.

"I'll warn her. You don't need to concern yourself with it."

Darean nodded, toying with the wooden sword in his hand as he turned to the main subject.

"Baelor supports me fully, while Garth is the opposite. Now I need to know where you stand."

He had originally thought this fellow would stick to his usual middle course of helping neither side.

Darean had only asked out of courtesy, already knowing the answer.

Yet the fellow's reply was completely beyond his expectations.

"My advice?"

"Hah! If you ask me, either don't do it, or go all the way."

His courage seemed to return all at once. Guncer pulled off his gloves, tossed them aside, and patted Darean on the shoulder.

"You can have all five hundred guards under my command. I suggest you ask Baelor for his as well."

"Send a thousand elite troops. Show House Hightower's resolve and courage, and make everyone eyeing us weigh their options carefully."

Darean was stunned.

Wait... why aren't you following the script?

Never mind whether you're only spouting this nonsense because you've had too much to drink.

Wouldn't doing this put Baelor in the hot seat?

Even I, the moderate, have decided to go all in. As the strongest supporter, shouldn't you, Baelor, be proposing something even better?

The classic conservative thinks the radical is too conservative, is that it?

Darean's head was full of questions.

"No... you... this..."

Unable to understand Guncer's train of thought at all, he actually found himself at a loss for words.

Sending a thousand men over was easy, but this was not an outing where they could simply make a circuit and come back.

Caring for the warhorses, providing training and living areas for the soldiers, maintaining their equipment, and so on would all require a great deal of labor.

With the current level of productivity, even ten people might not be able to support a single soldier like that.

And that was assuming the most important part, the equipment, was already available.

So that meant they would have to relocate at least ten thousand people there as well, or the whole thing simply would not work.

Oh, by the Seven, Guncer, what are you trying to do?

"What?! Send all thousand men? Have you gone mad?"

Looking at the dumbfounded Baelor Hightower, Darean was not surprised in the slightest.

"Guncer, think before you speak!"

Garth was, of course, utterly opposed, and he too frowned as he rebuked him.

Yet to everyone's surprise, the usually cautious Guncer chose to take a hands-off stance this time.

"I don't care. That's where I stand. What you choose is your business."

He looked at Darean and chuckled.

"Those five hundred men would be more useful in your hands than mine anyway. Wouldn't you agree?"

Darean turned a deaf ear.

Agreeing would only make Baelor and Garth more wary.

"Have you thought this through? Once those thousand men go over, what will that bastard Paxter think? What will the Dornish think? What will Highgarden think?"

As a staunch opponent, Garth had never wanted House Hightower to pour all its efforts into that place at once.

He did not know why Guncer's attitude had changed so drastically.

But this was a formal House Hightower council, and even the elusive Earl Leyton had sent his most trusted old steward to attend.

"Why should I care what they think?"

"Garth, and you too, Baelor-can't you see?"

"They already reacted the moment Darean began establishing himself on that land."

"Do you think that if we cover our ears and imagine we've been discreet, they won't know?"

"Listen! If House Hightower is determined to break through the Redwyne blockade, then ignore all that noise."

"The Ancient Pact still stands. On House Hightower's lands, no one can obstruct our will."

"If it's the opposite, if you're afraid, if House Hightower is afraid, then recall Darean before it's too late."

"House Hightower may allow its own to die in Hightower's cells, but it will never allow filth from outside to sully this noble bloodline!"

His final words rang out with force.

This matter, fraught with contradictions from the very beginning, finally had its shell ripped away at this decisive moment today, exposing the truth within.

A long time passed.

The old steward, who had not spoken since the council began, said softly:

"House Hightower's will must not be defied."

"All darkness will be dispelled in the flames high above."

"House Hightower will light your path ahead."