The Trial of Seven.
An ancient custom born from the Andal people and the Faith of the Seven, it was another form of trial by combat.
Like a traditional trial by combat, it was used to resolve disputes or judge the guilt of the accused.
Under its rules, each side was required to gather seven champions. The matter would then be settled through battle, with victory determining justice.
If either side failed to assemble seven participants, that side was automatically judged guilty, and the trial ended without a fight.
The last Trial of Seven recorded in the histories had taken place at the Tourney of Ashford Meadow in 209 AC.
That legendary trial had ended with the victory of Ser Duncan the Tall.
Now...
When Galon proposed a Trial of Seven, the council hall of the Gates of the Moon first fell into stunned silence.
The next instant, however, the knights of the Vale, who revered honor and martial prowess above all else, erupted as though the stars themselves had fallen from the heavens.
"A Trial of Seven?"
"What a splendid idea! Is there any fairer way to settle this?"
"By the Seven, I'll fight Lord Glover!"
"Out of the way! You're just an ordinary knight!"
"You move aside! At your age, can you even lift a sword anymore?"
Arguments, cheers, and protests rose one after another.
The entire hall roared with excitement.
Whether they approved or objected, every man argued until his face turned red.
The uproar became so loud that Mya Stone, who happened to be passing outside the hall with a basket of bread for the midday meal, heard every word.
Curiosity got the better of her.
Holding the basket in her arms, she quietly stopped and listened.
Moments later, her expression changed dramatically.
'Lord Glover... Lord Glover is going to take part in a Trial of Seven?!'
Shock flooded her face.
Her hands loosened instinctively.
The basket slipped to the ground, and loaves of bread rolled into the dirt.
But she paid them no attention.
'Oh, gods... Why would he do something like this? It's far too dangerous...'
Having grown up in the Vale, where knights and honor were held sacred, Mya knew exactly what a Trial of Seven meant.
Once, she had even dreamed of donning light armor herself and fighting in such a trial for some great lord, winning glory with her own hands.
She had never imagined that before her own dream could come true, her newest friend would be the one stepping into such a battle.
Anxiety settled heavily over her heart.
During the past few days, she had often met Galon while caring for Lady Catelyn.
Through those conversations, she had discovered that he was an unusually good listener.
Whether she complained about the frustrations of her work or shared bits of gossip she'd overheard, he always responded with patience and warmth.
Little by little...
The cheerful young woman had begun to think more and more highly of him.
In her heart, she had already begun to consider him a true friend.
'Is he doing this for his fiancée?'
The thought slipped into her mind.
She sighed softly.
'If someone were willing to fight a Trial of Seven for me... I could die without regrets.'
'I really envy Lord Glover's fiancée...'
Thinking of the love that had never come to fruition in her own life, her bright eyes dimmed slightly.
She bent down, gathered the bread back into the basket, and started walking toward the kitchens.
After only a few steps, however, worry for her new friend overcame her.
After hesitating for a moment, she quietly made her way to a hidden corner outside the council hall, pressed her ear against the wall, and continued listening.
Inside, the arguments still showed no sign of ending.
Lord Royce finally recovered from his astonishment.
"Silence!"
"All of you, silence!"
He clapped his hands forcefully, suppressing the uproar.
Reluctantly, the lords of the Vale quieted down.
Though their voices ceased, the excitement on their faces only grew stronger.
Lord Royce felt a headache coming on.
Frowning, he looked at Galon with unmistakable dissatisfaction.
He assumed the young lord simply didn't understand the gravity of what he had proposed.
Believing Galon had spoken recklessly after being cornered, he tried to offer him a way out.
"Lord Glover, a Trial of Seven is no trivial matter. Once it begins, it cannot be stopped halfway.
If you withdraw your challenge now, I will pretend none of this ever happened."
Catelyn looked equally alarmed.
Well versed in history, she knew how bloody such trials had always been.
Princes had died in them.
Many more had survived only to be crippled for life.
She certainly did not want her daughter to marry a cripple.
Following Lord Royce's lead, she quickly urged him:
"He's right.
A Trial of Seven has always been used to judge guilt.
You haven't committed any crime. There's no reason for you to take part in one."
Galon, of course, understood all of this.
But his mind was already made up.
'I'll use this Trial of Seven to completely break the pride of the knights of the Vale.'
'I'll make them acknowledge me willingly.'
He nodded reassuringly to Catelyn, letting her know he had everything under control.
Then he looked around the hall and spoke calmly.
"Lady Catelyn is correct. Since ancient times, a Trial of Seven has been used to judge the guilty.
And I have committed no crime..."
Before he could finish, many of the Vale lords assumed he had lost his nerve.
Expressions of contempt immediately spread across their faces.
Then Galon continued.
"So..."
"Let us simply change the rules."
Taking a slow breath, he declared proudly, "I alone shall face the seven champions of the Vale."
Silence.
The hall once again fell into absolute stillness.
Lord Royce stared blankly.
For a long moment, he could hardly believe what he had heard.
His lips moved several times before he finally managed to ask, "Lord Glover... You mean... you intend to fight all seven of them by yourself?"
Standing tall and perfectly composed, Galon simply nodded.
Instantly, fury swept through the assembled lords.
"Arrogance!"
"He's gone completely mad!"
"Glover! What do you take the knights of the Vale for?"
"Damn you! Better to die than suffer such an insult!"
Even Andar, who had admired Galon until now, could no longer contain himself.
"Lord Glover! Your victories may be glorious, but that doesn't give you the right to look down on us!
The knights of the Vale are not the weaklings you've slain elsewhere!"
"I know full well how formidable the knights of the Vale are," Galon replied evenly. "That is precisely why I've chosen to fight all seven."
The crowd stirred uneasily.
"My lords. The man standing before you is not some third-rate sellsword.
I am Glover of the Wolfswood."
His voice remained calm.
His icy eyes betrayed no emotion.
"A year ago, at Winterfell, I fought Joffrey in trial by combat and slew a knight of the Kingsguard.
While hunting in the Wolfswood, I killed a giant bear alone with nothing but my sword, earning the title Bearslayer.
Amid thousands of warriors, I met Victarion Greyjoy in single combat and killed him.
On Pyke, I fought Euron Greyjoy to the death while he wore Valyrian steel scale armor."
He lightly touched the dark armor covering his body.
"That armor now belongs to me."
His tone never rose.
He spoke as though none of these feats deserved special mention.
Yet everyone listening could vividly imagine the deadly struggles behind each achievement.
By the end of his speech, every eye in the hall had fixed itself upon the smoke-black Valyrian scale armor he wore.
Shock filled their faces.
Even their breathing grew heavier.
"In single combat, throughout all Seven Kingdoms...
If I rank second... Who dares claim to be first?
If the knights of the Vale fought me one against one... That would be the truly unfair contest."
The assembled knights stood there in bewilderment.
A single thought echoed through their minds. 'Since when did one-on-one combat become unfair?'
Galon paid them no attention.
He drew the greatsword from his waist.
Gripping it with both hands, he drove its point into the stone floor with tremendous force.
"Today, before both the Old Gods and the New... I swear this oath.
Whatever the outcome, I shall accept this as an honorable contest.
If I die in this Trial of Seven... Then it will only prove that I was no greater man than fate allowed.
The Vale shall bear no blame."
He slowly looked around the hall. "Now... Give me your answer."
Silence lingered.
The lords of the Vale remained too stunned to respond.
Seeing their hesitation, Galon chuckled softly.
"So..."
"Has the Vale, famed for its honor and its knights... Lost even the courage to send seven men against one?"
Those words ignited the room.
"I'll fight!"
"Count me in!"
"Lord Royce! Let the North's Glover witness the valor of the knights of the Vale!"
Hearing the eager cries surrounding him, Lord Royce looked long and hard at Galon.
At last, he drew a deep breath.
"So be it."
He swept his gaze across the entire hall.
"I, Yohn Royce, Protector of the Vale, hereby accept Protector Galon Glover's challenge to a Trial of Seven.
If the Vale is defeated...
Then the armies of the Vale shall follow Glover's command without objection."
A satisfied smile spread across Galon's face.
"Excellent."
"We'll settle this this afternoon."
With that, he slid the greatsword back into its scabbard and strode confidently out of the hall.
Behind him, the council chamber erupted once more.
Outside the hall, Mya remained leaning against the wall.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson. She clutched the little basket tightly against her chest.
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath