Gendry put down the map of the Stepstones he was holding to greet two distinguished guests: the second son and youngest daughter of House Tyrell of The Reach.
Gendry stepped away from his desk and moved to the dining table.
"It is an honor to have the golden rose of the green fields grace my humble abode!" Gendry said, then gestured to the chairs in his room, inviting the two guests to sit at the dining table.
"I had expected someone from House Redwyne to arrive as an envoy, not the children of the lord of highgarden."
"It seems the Commander-in-Chief has already guessed our identities! I just didn't expect the Commander-in-Chief to be so young and wise!" Garlan replied.
Although Garlan was pleased that the Wolf Pack Commander-in-Chief had personally received him, he was still curious.
Rumor had it that the Wolf Pack Company had already surrounded Myr; was cooperation with The Reach more important than occupying Myr?
"Thank you for your hospitality, Commander-in-Chief! We should have met you with the traditional colors of The Reach, green and gold, but time was pressing!" Margaery's laughter faded, and then she removed her veil.
Gendry saw Margaery: long, brown curly hair, gentle, deer-like eyes, and a shy yet sweet smile.
She was indeed a stunning young woman, and even more so, she could secure support from the wealthy The Reach.
"This is thanks to my master of whisperers; he is a wise man." Gendry introduced Qyburn to Garlan.
Garlan and Margaery only then noticed the old man in the corner; he was very amiable and not young.
But as the master of whisperers, he must have many methods.
Qyburn bowed to the son and daughter of House Tyrell, expressing his welcome.
"Mace is a good-for-nothing, but his children are really well-raised.
Setting aside their affection for each other, their abilities are also good.
The eldest son has wisdom, the second son is skilled in both civil and military arts, and even the flamboyant third son has deepened his relationship with Renly.
As for Little Rose, she understands her responsibilities as a noble girl."
Gendry looked at the brother and sister; it was rare to see children taught as poorly as those of the Lannister or Tully families.
Garlan and Margaery observed the furnishings in the room: Myr tapestries, books, campaign maps, weapons, and chairs.
The Commander-in-Chief's armor was probably the most conspicuous item in the room, but this black scale plate armor showed signs of damage and repair, and was not adorned with gold or jewels.
There were also weapons: a Morningstar, a yew longbow, an arakh.
The valyrian steel scimitar was still sheathed, and Garlan did not perceive its value.
"This is a disciplined man!" Garlan thought.
The Free Cities are not short of money, and for a person with vast territories and wealth not to indulge in luxury could only mean his ambition was even greater than he imagined.
"To make a long story short, Commander-in-Chief, we want to obtain some gunpowder herb from you!" Garlan Tyrell said earnestly.
Garlan did not mention a price, but the wealthy The Reach would certainly not disappoint Gendry.
"The gold and grain of The Reach certainly gladden me, but I also desire another kind of help." Gendry looked at the two.
"The Stepstones, this is a nest of slavers and pirates; these pirates always come out to harm decent people.
Rather than that, it would be better for someone to manage it."
"You want the Stepstones!" Garlan thought for a moment; taking the Stepstones was indeed a ruthless move, blocking Tyrosh and Myr from both sea and land.
The Wolf Pack Company's Commander-in-Chief was indeed a ruthless person.
"If it's gold, grain, House Tyrell can provide all of that, but the Stepstones, these islands belong to Westeros and should be under the jurisdiction of the iron throne."
"The iron throne, the King doesn't even care about King's Landing, let alone those godforsaken islands!
The Reach and House Redwyne are in-laws; I want to take the Stepstones, and I hope the Redwyne Fleet will operate as usual."
"What about the Royal Fleet?"
"The Royal Fleet is not something you need to worry about, Ser Garlan." Qyburn replied confidently.
Stannis has more important matters and no time to concern himself with here.
"I will convey your wishes to my father." Garlan promised.
House Redwyne and House Tyrell are in-laws; in reality, House Tyrell has more sway over the Redwyne Fleet.
"There will be many opportunities for us to cooperate in the future, before the Long Winter."
"Long Winter!" Garlan's eyes widened as he looked at Gendry; the man before him had a deeper understanding of the changing situation in Westeros than he had imagined.
"winter is coming! We, the Wolf Pack Company, come from the North, and we remember winter most vividly." Gendry smiled.
"And the Golden Company! How does the Commander-in-Chief view the Golden Company?" Garlan asked.
"They are a group of exiles, but also a powerful army."
"Among the Golden Company, many are exiled nobles from The Reach." Garlan said cautiously.
"The Golden Company wishes to return home, and they cannot do so without your help!"
"I understand all that you've said!" Gendry said with a smile.
Both the Golden Company and House Tyrell would try to win him over, but the situation should remain in his own hands.
Garlan breathed a sigh of relief; this was just a precaution...
Under the clear sky, Garlan and his sister stayed in the Disputed Lands for a while.
Gendry invited Garlan to drink, hunt, and practice sword fighting.
Both had the same understanding of the battlefield, enjoying war simulations of one against many.
As for Margaery, Margaery had considerable interest in Gendry.
Margaery looked into Gendry's eyes; she could not see his face, only imagine what he looked like.
The man behind the mask was probably like a newly forged longsword, sharp and bright.
Because she rarely saw her brother admire a young man.
On the training ground, beneath the gray and white Wolf Pack banners and the Free Army banners, the Wolf Pack Company taxi soldiers practiced their advance.
The Knights were like a raging wind, while the infantry were like steady mountains.
"What a powerful army!" Garlan exclaimed.
Longspear led the Wolf Pack Company's cavalry; the cavalry rode horses, their weapons including longswords, Longspears, Morningstars, and great axes.
Also, the eight hundred Knights of the Spear Company, led by their Commander-in-Chief, had already surrendered to the Wolf Pack Company, greatly increasing the number of Wolf Pack cavalry.
Steel Fist led the Wolf Pack Company's infantry, the soldiers...
Garlan watched this scene, paying particular attention to the Wolf Pack Company's equipment; the most elite soldiers were already in plate armor and scale plate armor.
The Wolf Pack Company's style was Northern: brave in fierce battles, full of spirit.
But their equipment was the most luxurious armor.
Garlan saw the Wolf Pack Company's cavalry and infantry surge forward like an iron fist, brave and fearless.
And the Free Army, Garlan felt that as retainers and vassals, the Free Army had also undergone considerable training; they knew Westeros' tactical system and had learned some of the Unsullied's formations.
"The threat of the Wolf Pack might be even greater than the Golden Company!" Garlan pondered.
"Their numbers are not small, and their morale and equipment are also good.
The number of Golden Company soldiers is, after all, limited, while the number of the Free Army is like an avalanche, only growing larger and larger.
In any case, such a large armed force always requires preparation in advance..."
The time for gathering was brief; Gendry did not enjoy much of his days with the Rose before bidding farewell to the Rose siblings.
"He's a bit like someone! Brother!" Margaery whispered on the ship.
"Are you saying, Renly?"
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