Chapter 278
"Broken Men are not bandits in the usual sense." Septon Meribald looks mixed when Dany asks what 'Broken Men' means, seeming to sink into deep memories.
After a while, he sighed: "They were all simple commoners, they never left their thatched huts even three kilometers away, until one day, the lord's summon came.
They say goodbye to their wives and children, wear tattered shoes and tattered clothes, and set off under the lord's gorgeous banner.
They have scythes, hoes, maybe a hatchet, or more Tragic, only a simple hammer made by tying stones to a stick with a peso.
brother, father and son, and friends set out on the journey together.
Although they are in the countryside Wild, they have also heard the songs and stories of Legendary heroes. When they set off, they were all in a hurry, dreaming of witnessing wonders, winning wealth and glory, and even fantasizing that oneself will one day become the protagonist in the story.
Unfortunately, war is a noble game that looks great but is extremely cruel. The overwhelming majority woke up from their dreams on the first day they set foot on the battlefield, their dreams were broken, and they didn't even have the chance to wake up.
Those who survived by chance, some had a nervous breakdown, but more persisted in numbness, day after day, year after year, I can't count how many battles I have participated in, young brother watched big brother die, father lost his son, friend His belly was slashed by an axe, and he was trying to stuff oneself's intestines...
Scenes like that, even the one who survived the hundredth battle, may have the first Collapsed in one hundred and one battles.
They saw the lord who had led oneself into battle cut down, and another lord shouted that they belonged to him now.
Their wounds had just been Half-healed, they took on new wounds.
They never had enough to eat, their shoes disintegrated in the endless march, their clothes rotted into strips of cloth, and many got sick from drinking dirty water , shit and pee in their trousers.
They wanted new boots, a warmer cloak, and a rusted iron half-helmet would be safer. These things the lord would not provide, so, They go pick up dead bodies.
It won't be long before they get used to stealing from the living - in the lands where the war is going, there are the same people as they used to be, and they steal from these people, limitate the dog and steal chicken, slaughtering cattle and slaughtering sheep, and robbing the daughters of the commoners. They are not afraid of being discovered, they are soldiers, and they even hold the notices of the lord's requisition for food, and the other side is just ordinary people.
One day, they looked all around and woke up from the daze - all the friends and relatives had passed away, the oneself was surrounded by strangers, and the flags on their heads were difficult to identify.
They were terrified of where they were, how to get home, and even forgot their home, thinking it was someone else's memory...
They fought for their lords, The lord didn't know their names, so he only shouted loudly and commanded them to form a good formation, pick up lances, sickles and hoes, and stick to their positions.
Then, the Knights attacked. Those Knights who were fully armored and could not see their faces, filled the whole world with the rumbling sound of steel when they charged...
Finally, they collapsed, They planned to run away, crawling away with dead bodies after the battle, and sneaking out of the camp in the dark night to find a place to hide.
They deserted and became the Broken Men.
By that time, all traditions and glory are gone, and Kings, lords, and gods are not as good as a piece of rancid meat to them, at least the meat will give him another day; not as much as a bag Bad wine can temporarily drown their fears.
The life of a deserter is like a wild beast, not like a human being. "
The cabin was silent, only the sound of the river flowing outside the boat was heard. Finally, the old Septon took a few breaths and said sadly: "There are many Broken Men in the Three Rivers at this time, and we should be wary of them." , you can also put them to death after they have committed a crime, but it is better to give them understanding and sympathy first. "
"Broken Men is indeed sympathetic," Dany looked complicated. "The farmers in Westeros seem to be worse off than slaves. This reform is very powerful. I have to think about it-"
“bang! "
The pock-faced guy knocked her head again, and before Dany summon dragon sprayed him in the face, he sternly said: "What sympathy? Three North people entered my manor, my father thought they were allies, so I brought out bread to entertain them.
But after they have eaten and drank enough, they will be beasts|sexualized, hacked to death my father and big brother, raped and killed my ten-year-old little sister, is that what people do? Broken Men should be killed! "
Forget it, Big Black, you don't have to come down...
The ferry boat twists and turns in the river, and finally swings into a dense reed, brother He would take out the leather hoods and blindfold Dany and the others, one foot deep and one foot shallow, to the shore, where a few horses were waiting, they were supported on their horses, and wandered in the wet and cold woods for more than an hour.
Finally, the headgear was taken off, and they came to a low cave, all around was a forest, Leaf fell, bare, leaving only a thin finger-like trunk.
The air in the cave was cold and gloomy, smelled of dirt, insects and mold, with rocks on the head and tree roots emerging from the gaps, and gravel and yellow mud underfoot.
It seemed to be everywhere. There are caves, cracks and fissures, and the road extends in all directions, like cobwebs. The brother will lead the way with a torch, and there are many guards guarding the corner.
"Why come to such a place, The cave is narrow, not as safe as the wilderness. ' Archmaester Perestan complained.
His hip and thigh were injured, he struggled to move, and was carried behind Barristan's back.
His reminder Dany understood, but the old Archmaester even I have seen the process of "True Dragon Roar" killing wolves, and I don't fully understand her trump card.
dragon really can't get into the cave, but in a narrow space, her "True Dragon Roar" formidable power is even more powerful. Strong, with Valyria's steel armored Barristan as a meat shield, Dany is sure to keep oneself safe.
Well, if the worst happens, I'm afraid I won't have time to take care of old Archmaester, his concerns are in a way It's also reasonable.
Through a tunnel with a low entrance, they entered a huge hole, a wide space of four or five hundred square meters, full of bandits.
“cough cough cough cough..." Before entering the cave, Dany was coughing up by the curling green smoke.
The bandits dug a big Fire Pit in the middle of the mud, crowded by many people Heating by the fire to fight the cold in the cave, but in such a closed environment, the smoke is full, and it is too late to float out, and the air quality is too poor.
Dany and their arrival awakened the sleeping people on the grass mat, There were men, women, and even a few children, hiding in their mother's arms and looking around, all of them were yellow-faced, skinny and pitiful.
They didn't go down to disturb the refugees, and walked along the wall to a rock opposite. The fissure.
30 square meters of long and narrow space, a shelf table is set up, behind which sits a woman in gray, wearing a cloak and a hood, the light is too dim to see her face, her intuition pockets The eyes under the hat flashed with cold light, which seemed more terrifying than Dany dragon soul's combined state.
It was late at night, and she didn't rest, playing with a bronze crown with a black circle around it. The iron sword, she looked at it, her fingers fumbling for the blades, as if to test how sharp they were.
"Lady, I brought them here. shouted Lem in the dog's iron helmet.
The big man at the door glanced at Dany and them and pointed at Brienne: "Judge Kingslayer's bitch first. "
"What? what do you call me? Brienne said, startled.
"You're a lion!" "A young man with a northern accent came over with Brienne's Oathkeeper and placed it on the table in front of Lady Stoneheart, with a Golden Lion head at the back of the hilt and ruby eyes shining like two red stars.
"And this..." A grey-haired old man placed a parchment next to his sword, "with the seal of the little King on it, saying that the bearer was doing errands for him. ”
Dany paid special attention to him: an old tattered robe, pale red and white, gray hair long and messy, loose skin on cheeks and chin, rough beard all over his face, It's very unremarkable.
But the old man within both eyes has two huge flames like volcanic eruptions, which are only slightly inferior to her nine-color vortex, which is actually the strongest Grand Sorcerer she has ever seen so far. , is also the strongest Red God priest.
Well, except for Benerro, she doesn't know the details of High Priest.
This person should be Myr Thoros.
Lady Stoneheart put the sword aside and began to read the letter.
At this point Brienne also began to argue: "I am not a lion, I serve Lady Catelyn Stark, the sword was given to me by Ser Jaime, who swore-- "
"Three generations of Hound" Lem interrupted her, "Who else in Westeros doesn't know about Kingslayer and his oath?" "
"He promised Lady Catelyn to return her daughters, but by the time he got to King's Landing, they had passed away." Then Jaime sent me out to look for Miss Sansa..."
"If you find that girl," the North sneered, laughed, asked, "what would you do with her? "
"Protect her. Take her to a safe place. Brienne's tone affirmed.
The big man laughed heartily: "Where is that?" Cersei's Dungeon? Even we all know that Cersei wants that girl, one hundred Golden Dragon! "
"No, I'll take her to Riverrun, to Vale of Arryn, and even back to North, and I swear to keep her safe." ' Brienne hurriedly said.
"Liar! The big man scolded aloud: "You have Lannister's sword and little King's handwritten letter, and there are two lions by your side, how stupid are we to believe your nonsense?" "
"Bring them here," the big man pointed at Hyle Hunt and Podrick.
"This kid is Imp's squire," he sneered at Podrick, then at Scar Face Knight, "He's 'Bloody' Randyll's direct Knight, on the side of the lion. With blood on his hands, Tarly that bastard has hanged twenty of our brothers. "
"Will you admit the crime of oneself? "
"Yes, I'm Lord Tyrion squire," Podrick panicked, "but I have nothing against Brotherhood Without Banners." "
"Being a lion is a sin in itself. "
Hyle Hunt sighed then said, "This group of bandits did not keep the sacred oath at all, and Frey was still hanged after paying the ransom. My family was already poor, and I couldn't afford to waste it." "
The big man pronounced the sentence: "Two hangings! "
He walked to Meribald again, frowned and said in disgust, "Why did you arrest this old guy again?" Not too much trouble. Let him go with his donkey and dog. "
"You..." The big man looked at Dany for a long time, "You're shiny and fat-cheeked—"
"What?" "Dany was furious. "You're saying I'm fat?" ! ! "