"Lancelot, let's not get involved with the Wildlings and the Ironborn. Strictly speaking, neither group belongs to the Seven Kingdoms," Tyrion advised.
"The Iron Islands don't belong to the Seven Kingdoms? Uncle, are you joking?" Lancelot looked at Tyrion in surprise.
Tyrion had finished wiping himself and approached Lancelot. Standing, he was taller than the seated Lancelot. Lancelot had to tilt his head slightly to look up into Tyrion's eyes.
"Ever since the Iron Islands lost all their mainland territories, they've effectively removed themselves from the ranks of the Seven Kingdoms," Tyrion explained.
Though the Ironborn were once powerful, controlling the entire western coast of Westeros from Bear Island to the Arbor—even the Riverlands were once theirs.
But all that glory vanished after Harren the Black died.
Their most recent uprising was nine years ago. Balon Greyjoy rebelled, with Euron planning the strategy and Victarion executing the burning of the Lannister fleet at Lannisport.
Ultimately, however, King Robert gathered a coalition, crushed the Iron Islands, and stormed Pyke.
"Alright, I'll listen to you this time. But the Ironborn engaging in slave trade needs to be addressed. Grandfather should send a singer to the Iron Islands to sing 'The Rains of Castamere'," Lancelot said.
"And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall, and not a soul to hear."
Lancelot had once heard a cello rendition of "The Rains of Castamere." How to describe it? Imposing. Yes, very imposing.
It felt like the destruction of one's enemies.
"Release these two wildlings!" Lancelot ordered.
Agoda untied the ropes around their wrists. However, instead of leaving, the two men prostrated themselves before Lancelot, speaking the Old Tongue which Lancelot didn't understand.
"What are they saying?" Lancelot asked.
"They say they don't plan to return beyond the Wall because a hidden danger has arrived. They also say that since I can follow you, they want to follow you too."
"Is that so? But what use do I have for them?" Lancelot scratched his head.
The two Hardfoot clansmen started babbling again.
"They say they can take you to an ancient tomb of a King-Beyond-the-Wall. There's treasure inside."
"A King-Beyond-the-Wall, huh!" Lancelot pondered for a moment.
The title "King-Beyond-the-Wall" held significant weight, equivalent to the King in the North.
"Alright! I doubt they dare set a trap for us. Let them lead the way."
After Agoda relayed the message, the two Hardfoot men kowtowed to Lancelot in gratitude.
"Aren't you supposed to be 'Free Folk'? Why are you kowtowing?" Lancelot asked.
"Get up, get up!" Lancelot immediately helped them to their feet.
After a full meal, the two Hardfoot men led the way. Lancelot and his group followed on Hrakkar into the lands beyond the Wall.
The land beyond the Wall was vast, with rich deposits of iron and coal buried beneath the earth.
However, the wildlings lacked the ability to mine them.
Lancelot's compass stopped working, and they lost their sense of direction.
Fortunately, the wildlings had an innate sense of navigation. They led Lancelot deep into a mountain range within the Frostfangs.
Looking at the cave entrance blocked by a giant boulder, Lancelot thought, Did this King-Beyond-the-Wall choose a bad spot? It's so obvious!
"Agoda, ask them if this is really the tomb of a King-Beyond-the-Wall," Lancelot said.
Shortly after, Agoda replied, "Yes, Lord Lancelot. They say that King-Beyond-the-Wall was from the Hardfoot clan, and the location of his tomb has been passed down in their tribe."
"Then let's go in and take a look!" Lancelot stepped forward and pushed the boulder. It didn't budge. He wasn't discouraged. He called Hrakkar over, tied one end of a rope to a protrusion on the boulder and the other around Hrakkar's neck.
Hrakkar pulled backward with all his might. The boulder at the entrance shifted, creating a gap wide enough for a person to squeeze through.
Lancelot immediately signaled Hrakkar to stop.
"That's enough, Hrakkar! You wait outside. We're going in. Let the two Hardfoot men lead the way. Agoda."
Agoda spoke to the two men, but they looked terrified and refused to enter.
"Lancelot, they say this is their ancestor's tomb, and descendants cannot enter. But since you are outsiders, you can," Agoda translated.
Lancelot didn't blame them. Perhaps that was their custom.
"Alright! Melisandre and I will go in. You guys stay outside," Lancelot decided.
This was also a precaution, as the behavior of the two Hardfoot men was indeed a bit unusual.
Lancelot and Melisandre squeezed through the gap. Lancelot held a torch.
Melisandre carried several pieces of wood.
"This cave is really strange. It's exceptionally large, not like a natural formation."
Lancelot noticed signs of artificial carving, though very rough, as if ground down bit by bit.
"Ser Lancelot, there's a fork ahead!" Melisandre suddenly announced.
"Eh? How did you know?"
Lancelot turned to look at her. Melisandre's eyes were burning like flames. In the firelight of her eyes, two diverging paths seemed visible.
"You?" Lancelot looked at her with suspicion and surprise.
"Recently, my magic has increased. I don't know why, but the tide of magic's return is accelerating! I can feel it is about to appear."
Lancelot understood that the "it" she referred to was the Red Comet.
That means Daenerys has already come into contact with the dragon eggs.
---
In Pentos, Daenerys still married Drogo. However, this time, Khal Drogo only had twenty thousand soldiers. He had been ambushed by several other Khals outside Vaes Dothrak.
He lost half his men. Yet, he remained the strongest among the current Dothraki Khals.
"His screamers seem fewer than I thought!" Viserys, having learned Drogo's troop count from Jorah Mormont, somewhat regretted marrying Daenerys to him.
"Your Grace! Khal Drogo is still the most powerful Khal. Look, even though he was ambushed, his braid remains uncut. That means he won," Illyrio said with a smile.
They were currently sitting at the wedding feast of Daenerys and Khal Drogo.
Daenerys received many gifts, but the dragon eggs from Illyrio were her favorite.
As a descendant of House Targaryen, it was impossible for her not to love dragon eggs.
Daenerys fondled the dragon eggs, unable to put them down. Suddenly, she thought of a magical orange cat.
"Blood and fire are of the same source. Blood for blood. Rebirth through fire."
Though she didn't yet know what that meant.