10 The moment Humphrey’s words left his mouth, the two squires behind him immediately swung down from their horses.
Both wore mail and kept their hands on their sword hilts as they strode toward Brienne.
“Lady Brienne, please obey the ser’s command.” The lead squire reached for Brienne’s arm.
Brienne’s eyes sank.
She did not step back.
Rek’Sai’s earlier teaching flashed through her mind.
Inhale.
Tighten the abdomen.
She did not draw her sword.
Instead she met the man’s hand head-on, twisted her waist hard, and drove her right fist forward.
The heavy sound of bone and flesh colliding rang out.
The squire never even had the chance to draw his sword.
The punch landed solidly on his chest.
His feet left the ground.
His whole body flew backward and crashed hard onto the stone road.
He clutched his chest and coughed violently, unable to get up for a long time.
The other squire saw this and sharply drew his longsword.
Brienne sidestepped, took a step forward, and her right hand closed around her own sword hilt in the same motion.
The longsword left the scabbard with a sharp whistle of wind.
Clang!
The two swords met.
Brienne pressed the full strength of her body into the clash.
The squire only felt a sharp pain in the web of his hand.
His longsword flew from his grip.
Brienne stepped forward and rested the tip of her sword steadily against his throat.
The entire area fell silent.
Ser Goodwin’s mouth hung open.
Rek’Sai sat on the Boar King’s back and took a bite of dried meat.
“Barely passing.” Brienne withdrew her longsword, did not even glance at the squire on the ground, and walked straight toward Humphrey.
The warhorse sensed the killing intent on Brienne and stamped its hooves restlessly.
Humphrey tightened the reins, his face iron-gray.
“What do you think you’re doing?
Attacking your betrothed’s guards—is this the upbringing of House Tarth?” “I already said it.
I will not marry you.” Brienne’s voice was loud and clear as she looked straight at the old knight on horseback.
“Ser Humphrey, since you feel I am not worthy to be your wife, then let us settle it the way warriors do.” Humphrey narrowed his eyes.
“A duel.” Brienne raised her longsword and pointed it directly at Humphrey.
“If you win, I will take off this armor, put on a silk gown, and obediently be your lady.
If you lose, cancel the betrothal, take your men, and get off the island of Tarth.” Sea wind blew past.
The Tarth guards looked at one another.
Humphrey stared at Brienne.
This girl was nearly six feet tall.
The strength with which she had just sent a squire flying was frightening.
He himself was already sixty-five.
His bones grew more brittle by the day.
If he truly fought a mad she-bear on this muddy road, he had no chance of winning at all.
But he could not back down in front of so many people.
The face of Fullview could not be lost.
Humphrey gave a cold snort and pulled on the reins.
“I am a true knight.
I will not fight a woman on the roadside like a pair of wild dogs.
That would disgrace my honor.” Brienne tightened her grip on the sword hilt.
“You’re afraid.” “Three days from now.” Humphrey looked down at her from high above.
“On the training ground of Evenfall Hall.
I will let your father see with his own eyes how his daughter loses all face in front of everyone.” He turned his horse and roared at the two squires still on the ground: “You useless trash, get up and mount already!” The Wagstaff cavalry sped up in shame and galloped hard toward Evenfall Hall.
Brienne stood in place and slowly exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
“Not bad.” Rek’Sai urged Pig forward.
Brienne lifted her head, eyes firm.
“Master, can I master the breathing method in three days?” “Impossible.” Rek’Sai was completely blunt.
“But beating an old man who’s already halfway into the grave—you can’t lack confidence for even that, can you?
Come on, let’s go collect my gold dragons.” Evenfall Hall was a solid fortress.
Its high towers overlooked Shipbreaker Bay.
When Pig’s massive body stepped into the castle courtyard, the entire Evenfall Hall fell into brief chaos.
Warhorses screamed in fright.
Servants scrambled to hide behind stone pillars.
Lord Selwyn Tarth stood on the steps of the main keep.
He was already fifty years old, hair gray, face mild.
Time had left deep marks on his features.
He first saw the body of squire Roland and sighed.
Then his gaze fell on Brienne’s deformed armor and mud-streaked face.
“Father.” Brienne walked forward and dropped to one knee.
Selwyn came down the steps and raised his daughter up with his hands.
He did not scold her.
He only patted her solid shoulder.
“As long as you’re safe.
Roland was a brave boy.
I will give him an honorable burial and provide enough compensation for his family.” Then Selwyn’s gaze moved past his daughter toward the center of the courtyard.
There was a boar far larger than any warhorse.
And the man sitting on the boar’s back was even more terrifying.
Muscle rose across his body in hard, rock-like slabs.
Dark-green vertical pupils held open, unfiltered wildness.
Simply sitting there, the air around him seemed to grow heavier.
Selwyn had lived fifty years, taken part in wars, and seen countless strong men, but he had never seen violence given such concrete form.
“You must be Master Rek’Sai Storm.” Selwyn’s tone was calm, showing the breeding of an old noble house.
Rek’Sai swung down from the boar.
His heavy leather boots struck the stone, producing dull impacts.
He walked to the foot of the steps and looked down at Selwyn from above.
“Your daughter’s life-saver.” Rek’Sai’s voice was rough.
“Fifty gold dragons.
Plus five gold dragons for tuition.” Selwyn nodded.
“As is proper.
Brienne, go wash and rest.
Master Rek’Sai, please come with me to the study.” Brienne wanted to say something, but Selwyn raised a hand and stopped her.
“I have already been informed of the duel three days from now.
Go prepare first.” The study was on the second floor of the tower.
Rek’Sai bent his head and forced his large body through the oak door.
The study was not small, yet the moment he entered, the entire room suddenly felt cramped.
Selwyn pointed to the chair opposite the desk.
Rek’Sai walked over, glanced at the delicate high-backed chair, then simply reached out and pulled another chair beside it.
He dropped his weight onto both chairs side by side.
The wood gave a dangerous creak.
Then he stood up again and sat on the carpet.
Selwyn sat behind the desk, took a heavy leather pouch from a drawer, and tossed it onto the table.
The collision of gold coins produced a pleasant sound.
“Fifty-five gold dragons.
All of it is here,” Selwyn said.
Rek’Sai leaned forward, snatched the pouch in one grab, loosened the cord, and glanced at the glittering gold inside.
Satisfied, he hung the money pouch at his waist.
Rek’Sai was just about to stand and leave.
“Please wait a moment, Master Rek’Sai.” Selwyn crossed his hands on the tabletop.
“Do you think Brienne can win three days from now?” Rek’Sai stopped and turned his head to look at the old count.
“That old bone named Humphrey?” Rek’Sai gave a short laugh.
“As long as Brienne doesn’t do something stupid, twisting his head off shouldn’t be much of a problem.” A complicated emotion flashed through Selwyn’s eyes.
For the past fifteen years he had always tried to package Brienne into a proper highborn lady and find her a matching marriage partner.
He knew Humphrey wanted the inheritance of House Tarth, and he also knew the other man despised Brienne’s appearance.
But he had no other choice.
House Tarth had only this one bloodline left.
But today he suddenly realized that perhaps he had chosen the wrong road.
Selwyn’s thoughts turned quickly.
If Brienne truly defeated Humphrey, the betrothal would naturally become void.
Selwyn looked at Rek’Sai.
If he could bring this man into House Tarth as a son-in-law, that martial strength would be enough to cow the small threats around them.
Moreover, he could leave Brienne sufficiently strong descendants.
“Master Storm.” Selwyn’s tone softened.
“Brienne is a stubborn child.
She has wanted to be a knight since she was small.
I am willing to formally recognize you as her master.” As Selwyn’s words fell, a system notification sounded in Rek’Sai’s mind.
[Bond Quest: Take Brienne as disciple and gain House Tarth’s recognition — Completed.
Reward: Arcanite Reaper (stored in inventory).] The corner of Rek’Sai’s mouth lifted.
Quest complete.
This trip had not been wasted.
In a good mood, he sat down again.
“Noble lords do not give benefits for free.” Selwyn did not mind the other man’s lack of courtesy.
He leaned forward and laid out his chips.
“The island of Tarth is large.
Near the eastern coast there is a piece of land that includes a village of two hundred households, as well as a stretch of woodland that can be cleared.” Rek’Sai’s vertical pupils contracted.
“If Brienne wins the duel three days from now and thoroughly settles the Humphrey problem,” Selwyn looked into Rek’Sai’s eyes, “I will, in the name of the Evenstar, knight you and grant you that land.
You will become a landed knight of House Tarth.”