According to the traditions of the Reach, the bride and groom were not to see each other before the wedding. Therefore, Lady Leonette and her female guests were breakfasting in the ballroom, where they would later receive their gifts.
Meanwhile, Garlan was dining with the male guests in the Great Hall. The breakfast was sumptuous, with platters of exquisite pastries and various meats prepared by the castle kitchens piled high, accompanied by large pitchers of milk, mead, and wine.
Once the guests had eaten and drunk their fill, servants cleared away the food. It was now time for the gift-giving. The servants of the nobles, having finished their own breakfasts in the corridor outside the Great Hall, now stood at the entrance holding gift boxes of various sizes.
The non-relational guests presented their gifts first. They rose one by one, summoned their servants forward, walked over to Garlan to offer a few words of blessing, while their servants opened the boxes to display the gifts.
Those qualified to give gifts to Garlan were at least barons, so the presents were, of course, not shabby. In William's opinion, most gifts were quite practical. Among the non-relational guests, Renly's gift was probably the most valuable: a longsword forged by a famous master. The next most valuable was likely the large gem-encrusted pendant offered by the Red Viper, which also suited their respective statuses and positions.
When it was William's turn to present his gift, he approached Garlan's high table accompanied by two men: Master Tobho, the smith, and his apprentice, who was carrying a large chest. Seeing William approach, Garlan, who had been serious until now, relaxed and asked with a smile, "So, is this the mysterious gift you prepared for me?"
This attracted the attention of many. Alekyne couldn't help but laugh loudly. "A mysterious gift from the Magic Knight? It must be a magical item, of course!"
The other lords chuckled softly. Even Lord Mace Tyrell, who usually refused to look directly at William, seemed amused. The previously somewhat subdued atmosphere became livelier.
Tobho was quite famous in King's Landing. As soon as William approached Garlan with him, Renly recognized the smith immediately. Glancing at the large chest the apprentice was unfastening from his back, Renly seemed amused by the "mysterious gift" claim. He turned to the Red Viper beside him and said with a smile, "That's a famous smith from King's Landing, known for crafting armor. It seems the Magic Knight is giving the groom a suit of armor."
In Renly's view, the best armor Tobho could produce was worth a few gold dragons at most, roughly comparable in value to the sword he had given. If one wanted something more valuable, it would just mean adorning it with more jewels, but then one might as well give jewelry directly, like this Dornish prince had done.
"I'm afraid it's more than that," the Red Viper said leisurely, watching William's mysterious smile. "This Magic Knight isn't as simple as he appears."
Renly found the Red Viper's assessment of William somewhat strange. He glanced at him but ultimately just smiled lightly and didn't press further.
William took in everyone's expressions: there were kind smiles, but also malicious grins. He beamed at Alekyne and gave him a thumbs-up. "It seems Ser Alekyne is quite knowledgeable about magic! You actually guessed it's a suit of magical armor!"
The crowd erupted into even louder laughter. Only Alekyne's face darkened. William stepped aside so Garlan could see the chest and the smith behind him. "Master Tobho, if you would please introduce it to Ser Garlan."
For Tobho, having the opportunity to present his work before two High Lords, a Prince of Dorne, and a host of high lords was a rare occasion. He looked slightly excited as he said loudly, "Ser Garlan, this is an exceptionally valuable suit of armor. Ser William has named it 'Courage' to match your renowned valor."
The honest-looking apprentice opened the chest. Tobho went over and took out several components. "This armor is made of two materials. The shoulder guards, arm guards, and tassets are forged from fine steel. I used a secret technique to infuse black pigment deep into the steel, making its color consistent with the breastplate."
"Wait a moment, Ser William," Alekyne interjected, rapping the table, his tone sarcastic. "This armor may be quite valuable, but by the looks of it, it's just an ordinary suit of armor. We were waiting to see your 'magical' armor."
Some of the guests burst into loud laughter, while others looked at each other, sneaking glances at Lord Mace Tyrell. But Lord Mace's face was expressionless, giving no hint of his thoughts.
Seeing Garlan's face darken with anger, William quickly stopped him, shaking his head with a smile. Although puzzled, Garlan did not insist.
William remained completely unflappable. He waited for the laughter to subside a bit before saying, "There's no need for haste, Ser Alekyne. Master Tobho hasn't finished yet."
Tobho also appeared confident and assured. He unhurriedly placed the components back into the chest, then lifted a breastplate, holding it high. Tobho was a fairly burly man, but as the breastplate unfolded, it completely obscured him. It was clearly custom-made for someone of taller stature.
What was peculiar was that the breastplate was composed of countless scales, tightly and neatly arranged like fish scales. The whole piece had a smoky, black hue, giving it a dreamlike quality. Many who glanced at it found themselves deeply captivated.
Looking at the scales gleaming with a metallic sheen, those with more discerning minds sensed something unusual. If these scales were all forged from fine steel, the entire breastplate should be extremely heavy. Yet, the smith held it with an apparent lightness, leading to a budding suspicion in their hearts.
After holding the armor aloft and displaying it to all sides, Tobho finally faced Garlan. His expression was humble, but his voice was loud. "This breastplate is composed of sixteen rows, totaling four hundred and eighty-nine scales, forged from Valyrian steel and linked together. The scales are connected by rings also made of Valyrian steel. It will not rust, nor will it be damaged, completely eliminating the need for maintenance and repair. This armor is as light to wear as a silk shirt, yet incredibly sturdy. It offers excellent protection against stabs, slashes, and blunt force impacts. This is because these scales have a unique shape and are arranged in a special manner. Look, my lords..."
The moment the words "scales forged from Valyrian steel" left his mouth, the atmosphere in the hall froze into utter silence. Only after Tobho finished this explanation did the guests snap out of their stupor. The room erupted in an uproar. High-ranking figures like Lord Mace Tyrell, Renly, and the Red Viper showed expressions of astonishment. Knights with vast experience, like Barristan, likewise looked surprised. The other nobles couldn't help but whisper to each other; the seating area buzzed like a stirred hornet's nest.
Alekyne shot to his feet, his eyes wide. "Are those scales truly made of Valyrian steel?"
"If Ser Alekyne doesn't believe it, you are welcome to come and test it," William said, glancing at Randyll beside him. "Ah, what a pity. Lord Randyll doesn't seem to have brought Heartsbane with him. Otherwise, we could have tested its edge today."
Randyll patted Alekyne, his tone calm. "Today is Ser Garlan's wedding. It's not an appropriate time for brandishing swords. We can test it another time."
Only then did Alekyne sit down, his expression complex—a mix of shock, envy, and a degree of embarrassment.
Just as Tobho was preparing to continue explaining the unique design of the breastplate, Renly coughed twice and asked with a smile, "Master Tobho, was this armor forged by you?"
Seeing this important client, Tobho's eyes immediately lit up. He replied respectfully, "Indeed, Lord Renly. This armor was forged by me. I studied smithing in Qohor and learned the secret technique of reworking Valyrian steel. But I never thought of forging scales and linking them into armor. This time, Ser William provided the materials and the method, giving me the honor of creating such a rare treasure."
Renly nodded and fell silent, resting his chin on his hand, seemingly lost in thought.
The nobles, who had just quieted down, began whispering amongst themselves again. With a gift like this presented, how could the subsequent gift-giving possibly proceed?
Just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat awkward, Baelor laughed heartily again. "William, giving such an extravagant gift... do you have ulterior motives?"
William gave him a look of approval with his eyes, smiling without speaking.
Hearing this, many who knew a bit of gossip began to chuckle softly again. Lord Mace Tyrell shot a somewhat annoyed glance at his good-brother.
Beside the high table, Garlan shook his head, his expression complicated. "No. I cannot accept this gift. On the battlefield, this breastplate is like having several extra lives. You..."
William reached out, put an arm around Garlan's neck, and brought his head close to his ear, his voice barely audible. "What's the difference between me having a few extra lives and you having a few extra lives? Besides, you have to believe me. Since I managed to create this one, I can certainly create a second. I've even thought of a name for it: 'Honor'. How does that sound?"
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