Chapter 57: Drinking from the Golden Goblet Together!
At the Grafton family training ground in Gulltown, a wooden platform was erected. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Ser Barristan Selmy, Cesar, Ser Brynden Tully, Lord Jon Arryn, and Joffrey Arryn stood upon it, facing the crowd below.
The three major Lords of Gulltown, the Bishop, and representatives of the wealthy merchants clustered behind the six men.
A dense crowd of youths stood across the training ground.
Rhaegar had already put on a silver brocade robe, adorned with crystal dragons. The tailors of Gulltown truly lived up to their reputation.
Rhaegar stood in the center of the crowd, looking even more radiant and vibrant, shining like the proud sun.
"This is a children's game. Real war is not like this. Real war is slaughter, sorrow, ruin, and darkness. Even if Prince Rhaegar defeats those knights, at his age, he prefers chasing fashionable honors, fancy clothes, or even girls in early spring. The battlefield is no joke," Lord Jon thought, watching Rhaegar; this was just a prince playing house.
Lord Jon had shed his image as a kind and amiable mentor, adopting the cold demeanor of the Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East. He wore blue and white garments, with a crescent falcon gem pinned to his chest.
Beside the training grounds, many dignitaries and wealthy merchants from Gulltown had come to cheer, many of whom were the parents of the guards.
The Bishop of Gulltown was also shouting enthusiastically; he had rushed a boy born to his cousin into the ranks overnight. As Rhaegar knew, this boy was highly likely the result of the Bishop's adultery. Although the Faith of the Seven is glorious, the priests are not necessarily pious. Ser Joffrey Arryn, as a local power broker of the Vale, provided Rhaegar with a lot of intelligence.
Rhaegar looked at the guards below. After Cesar, Ser Barristan, Ser Brynden, and Ser Joffrey screened the profiles overnight, and then organized personnel early this morning for physical tests, infectious disease checks, self-care ability checks, and age verification, a hundred guards were selected through layers of screening.
Rhaegar did not want slackers, sick people, those whose growth was already fixed, and certainly not gamblers, drunkards, or old whoremongers. The guard unit temporarily had no stable boys or cooks, and camp followers were out of the question; everyone had to be self-sufficient.
"Prince, honestly, your requirements are truly strict. By your standards, the Gold Cloaks would disband immediately," Ser Brynden joked with a laugh.
Ser Barristan and Ser Brynden, along with the third person, had screened people all night and then followed up with on-site testing this morning. It was truly hard work staying up late.
Our hard work today is so that a second batch of Gold Cloaks won't appear, Rhaegar thought.
Lord Jon quickly realized that Rhaegar and his companions' standards were much higher than he had anticipated. From screening personnel to inspecting the ranks, everything was done properly.
"I didn't expect the great reputation of the Gold Cloaks to have reached even the people of the Riverlands," Rhaegar replied to Ser Brynden with a smile. Ser Brynden had good judgment and martial skills. If it weren't for his poor relationship with his elder brother, Lord Hoster Tully, he wouldn't be following Rhaegar.
The incompetence and disgrace of the Gold Cloaks were famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms; they excelled at collecting phantom salaries, gambling, and whoring, but perhaps not at fighting. They were no match for the garrisons of Lannisport or Oldtown. This guard unit indeed had limited combat power and couldn't fully suppress King's Landing. The Gold Cloaks were somewhat rotten, and starting anew might be a better choice.
Rhaegar looked at his young guards. They varied in age, skin color, and background, ranging from eleven or twelve to fourteen or fifteen years old. But with rigorous training, this army would be unlike any before.
This is my Iron Legion. My legend begins now.
Rhaegar decided to name this guard unit the Eagle Squad. The flag colors must be consistent with House Targaryen's black field and red dragon banner, making the black field and red eagle symmetrical with the black field and red dragon. Today it was the Eagle Squad; tomorrow it would be the Eagle Legion.
The Eagle Army had officially set sail. Rhaegar tallied the numbers; the origins of these guards were truly diverse.
The powerful and influential of the Vale—such as Lord Jon Arryn, the Vale knights, the Lords of Gulltown, and the scions pushed in by other Lords of the Vale—as well as the children of wealthy Gulltown merchants. There were also some impoverished nobles, second sons seeking a livelihood, and even occasional children of farmers and artisans with exceptional talent.
Aside from those who were hopeless or those whose eldest sons were too old, most were young eldest sons. For the noble Lords, the opportunity to follow the Prince far outweighed the danger, especially since risk is always present.
Even in House Lannister, it took the deaths of two or three heirs before Tywin's father, the third son, could ascend.
Rhaegar examined the guards' muscles, complexion, and teeth; they were well-nourished, unlike the children of farmers. There was no helping it; this era was still so cruel.
Essentially, they were all powerful, influential, and high-status, well-nourished, and reasonably educated. Quality over quantity in soldiers—this was a fist force.
Rhaegar looked at these young men, feeling immense joy. Starting from nothing, he was beginning to possess his own army.
Rhaegar cleared his throat and began:
"Gentlemen, today marks the formation of our small guard unit. I will first state a few rules.
First, obey command; obedience is your sacred duty. Currently, this means obeying me, Ser Barristan, Ser Brynden, Master Cesar, and Ser Joffrey.
Second, care for your comrades; no discrimination or bullying.
Third, care for the common people; no bullying the populace or harassing women.
Fourth, rewards and punishments must be clear; merits and faults must be recorded."
As Rhaegar's words left his mouth, everyone felt a tightening in their hearts.
Rhaegar's unit was clearly not a game of playing house; their rules were even stricter than those of a regular army.
Truly a Targaryen. Is greatness perhaps written on this coin?
Lord Jon felt deeply moved. Those who were proud toward the high-born yet compassionate toward the common people were truly rare.
Ser Barristan, Ser Brynden, Cesar, and Joffrey Arryn also felt honored. This would be a true dragon.
These guards came from different classes and backgrounds. It would take tremendous effort for Rhaegar to temper them into true steel, but he felt it was worth it. Only one flame can ignite more flames.
Everyone was silent. Prince Rhaegar's voice was hard as steel, and no one dared to object. If the Prince's words were true, this really would be an Iron Legion.
"Bring the wine!" Rhaegar shouted.
The servants came forward and presented each guard with a cup of Gulltown golden wine.
Rhaegar, Cesar, Ser Barristan, and the others also raised their golden goblets, engraved with soaring eagles flying above white clouds.
The golden goblet's eagle was lifelike, its eyes made of sapphire. This golden wine cup was a gift from House Arryn of Gulltown.
From this day forward, I will also become a Striving Eagle. I will write my own history.
"You have voluntarily become my guards without the consent of the Iron Throne in King's Landing. Your deep commitment is hard to repay, and Rhaegar thanks each of you."
Rhaegar raised his cup, bowed, and then raised it toward everyone.
The youthful guards' faces flushed red as they drank this wine of honor together.
The noble ladies and young girls felt intoxicated just seeing this scene. Prince Rhaegar was truly the prince of dreams.
Although the guards were young and inexperienced, it felt as though countless honors were being poured into them. A great future lay right before their eyes.
The first cup was drained, followed by the second.
Everyone continued drinking together. Though the wine was light, it made people pleasantly tipsy.
"Gentlemen, we have a third cup of wine—but this cup will be drunk differently. I will toast you all with this cup first!"
Rhaegar drew a bright longsword, its edge seemingly indestructible, and walked down the platform.
His expression was stern, devoid of smiles.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Lord Jon widened his eyes.
"Place the goblets on the sword's edge. I am going to toast my brothers."
Cesar stepped forward to assist.
One by one, the guards placed their goblets on the sword as Cesar filled them.
"Drink this cup!"
One by one, Rhaegar toasted every guard.
The training ground fell silent.
Rhaegar repeated the motion a hundred times—steady, precise, unyielding.
After finishing, Rhaegar drank his own wine and returned to the platform.
"Gentlemen, having drunk this wine, we are now sworn brothers. We drink from the golden goblet together—but if you retreat, bully comrades, harass the common people, or deceive your superiors, my sword will show no mercy."
Rhaegar swung his blade, slicing a shield clean in half.
We drink from the golden goblet together, but the white blade will show no mercy.
Lord Jon was deeply shaken.
Rhaegar's Eagle Army was officially launched.
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