After the music ended and the guests had departed, the next day brought calm back to Horn Hill.
A long convoy made its way along the main road from Horn Hill to Roseroad. Green flags with golden roses fluttered in the wind, and the cavalry escort was numerous, their armor shining—a clear display of the Lord of Highgarden's wealth and authority.
Margaery and her companions rode in the carriage, and the convoy included several supply wagons, making the pace slow. Though they had set out before sunrise, they would have to spend the night on the road, only returning to Highgarden the following day.
By mid-morning, the convoy moved in orderly fashion. Garlan rode alongside the carriage, whose windows were open, allowing him to chat occasionally with Margaery and her companions.
Suddenly, a clatter of hooves came from the rear. A scout called out, "Ser Garlan, Ser William Whent requests an audience."
Curious, Margaery leaned from the window and looked back. "What's going on?" she asked Garlan.
"Tell him to come forward," Garlan instructed the rider, then answered his sister's question, "He's just accompanying us part of the way."
"Accompanying?" Margaery's first instinct told her something was off. "Highgarden is north of Horn Hill, but the Old Town is south." She looked at Garlan with innocent eyes.
"Just to Roseroad."
"That's a whole extra day of riding—sure is convenient!" The ladies in the carriage laughed in unison.
Amid the chime-like laughter, William arrived at the carriage. "Hi, Garlan!" he greeted casually, then spurred his horse forward a few steps, forcing his way between Garlan and the carriage. The proximity was so close that he could even catch a faint hint of the young lady's fragrance. With his most charming smile and handsome posture, he bowed toward the girls in the carriage. "Good morning, Miss Margaery, ladies."
Garlan guided his horse aside to avoid a collision, and the girls returned the greeting politely.
"I imagine Ser William and my brother have much to discuss, so I won't disturb you," Margaery said with a smile, retreating back inside the carriage. One clever girl closed the window, leaving William at a loss for words.
Garlan shrugged; that was as much as he could do.
Though rebuffed, William sensed a difference in Margaery compared to the evening before. At the banquet, she had been polite but restrained; today, she was less formal yet imbued with something undefinable. That smile… that look… is it an illusion? No, it must be an illusion.
Setting the thought aside, William fell into step alongside Garlan.
"You said last night you'd travel together; I thought you'd set out with us," Garlan remarked, having almost thought he wouldn't show.
"I said goodbye to Sam. That little guy got up too late."
"Sam is a fine boy. Life would be easier if he weren't a Tarly."
"I disagree, Garlan. If he weren't a Tarly, how would he be just like Lord Randyll?"
"Just like him?"
"They both are people who see things through to the end, only with opposite goals."
Garlan thought for a moment and sighed. "Perhaps the Seven arranged it this way for a reason."
Hmm? From another perspective, Sam being born a Tarly is precisely why he ends up at the Wall… another plan of the gods? The water runs deep… William mused.
As they chatted, William observed the convoy. Garlan didn't give orders. "Why aren't you managing the convoy, Garlan?"
"Ser Osmund commands it; I need not interfere much."
What a careful man, William smiled, changing the topic. "When is your wedding with Leonettet?"
Mention of his love softened Garlan's expression. "At the earliest, early next year."
"You'll be apart for months. Will there be a tournament then?"
"Likely. Highgarden hasn't held one in a while. Father won't miss the opportunity."
"Perfect—I'm looking forward to settling a score!"
"Haha, if my grandmother heard that, she'd say, 'Are you foolish, boy?' I'm the groom—I can't compete."
Lady Olenna, the Queen of Thorns… I'm glad she isn't my grandmother. Thinking of the sharp-tongued old woman, William sympathized deeply with Garlan. In his eyes, Garlan was clever, skilled, learned, and kind—a perfect general in any strategic game, excelling in combat, intelligence, politics, and charisma. Yet to that old woman, he was merely a "fool." Most people would be called foolish too… I bet it was no easy feat for the three of them to grow up so well despite her.
"Alright, well, though it's bad news, there's a silver lining."
"Huh?"
"Isn't it nice to have an easy victory? Another eleven-round battle… that scene would be too intense—I can't even imagine it."
"Don't get overconfident, William. My brother Loras will surely compete as well. When it comes to spearsmanship, I fear I'd be outmatched by three points."
The Knight of Flowers? Hah! William smiled, saying nothing, and shifted the conversation to other topics with Garlan.
Since childhood, Garlan had an uncanny intuition about people—he could often tell at a glance whether someone's nature was good or bad, whether their words were sincere or deceitful. William genuinely admired him, and Garlan had sensed that early on. At first, he thought William's admiration was like his own—a mutual respect born from that remarkable contest of minds and skills—but William quickly became a trusted confidant.
Along the way, both men let down their guard, feeling unusually relaxed. They discussed combat and military matters at length, and also shared small anecdotes of daily life. By the time the convoy approached the small castle at sunset, the conversation still seemed endless.
The castle, called Rivershold, offered a view eastward toward Roseroad from its walls, and a turn of the head revealed the Mander River.
The Reach had invested heavily in outposts along the western coast to prevent large fleets from landing silently. But for the few daring outlaws who risked raiding the interior with one or two longships, the warning system was largely ineffective.
Not just the western coast—the Mander River west of Highgarden was another favorite route for these outlaws. Though the Reach boasted an army of a hundred thousand, they had no real solution for small raiding parties of a hundred or so, and could only respond defensively. Rivershold was built to guard the closest point between the Mander and Roseroad, preventing raiders from immediately threatening the main thoroughfare. The castle was small, usually housing fewer than a hundred soldiers; they would attack when possible, and otherwise light beacon fires.
At the speed of the carriage, Rivershold was less than a day from Highgarden—a distance too awkward for most merchants to stop overnight, so no town had developed. Outside the castle was a large flat area. Garlan pointed to it. "We'll camp here tonight."
"Not in the castle? At least Miss Margaery should rest inside, right?"
"This little castle isn't as comfortable as the carriage. Last time we camped here, we stayed the same way."
William and Garlan watched as servants skillfully unloaded parts from the wagons and quickly set up a circle of tents around the carriage. By nightfall, the camp was ready. Fires were lit, and soldiers and servants cooked soups and grilled food.
William had hoped to see Margaery during dinner, but she and her companions dined inside the carriage. After dinner, he accepted the setback and spent the rest of the night chatting happily with Garlan and a few other knights.
The next morning, William, Garlan, and several knights sat around a campfire for breakfast. Afterward, William looked around and noticed the scene resembled a scene from a TV show. Smiling, he said, "Since we're about to part, I'll sing a song for everyone as a farewell gift."
Amid applause, he began to sing The Golden Hand. Its melody was beautiful and catchy. After several repetitions, the knights hummed along, and some servants and soldiers paused to listen, creating a lively atmosphere.
Garlan couldn't help but admire, "I never expected you to sing so well."
Just as everyone was enjoying the performance, one of Margaery's companions approached. She first bowed to the group, then said to William, "Ser William, Miss Margaery loves this song, but she's never heard it before. Might we ask you to come over so she can hear it in person?"