The mountain roads were rugged and uneven, and William and Erren rode cautiously. In the distance, wisps of milky white mist floated over the mountaintops, and beneath the fog, the dense forests resembled felt caps clinging to the cliffs.
Rounding a towering stone wall that looked as if it might collapse at any moment, Erren shouted excitedly, "William, look—Skyreach!"
William rode a mountain horse, leading his treasured warhorse behind him, not far from Erren. Naturally, he too saw the castle built against the mountainside, imposing and magnificent. True to its name, Skyreach stood atop the Red Mountains, with clouds like cotton candy seeming to weave through the structure, and the deep blue sky within reach.
The roads they had traveled over the past days had mostly skirted sheer cliffs, keeping their hearts on edge. Even though fragrant scents drifted in the air and birds sang in the woods, this was hardly a journey for enjoyment.
"We've finally arrived!" William said, genuinely pleased. Gazing at the magnificent castle, he felt the joy of reaching the end of a long journey, and even the lingering unease caused by Malora's ominous changes seemed to dissipate somewhat, leaving his spirits lifted.
"Ah-ha! I can't wait to enter the tournament!" Erren said confidently. Since William had returned from Harrenhal, the two had already attended two competitions together, each time at William's invitation.
William smiled. "You'd better hope you face me in the tournament. At least then you won't have to worry about redeeming your gear or your horse."
Erren gave him a disdainful look. "Not everyone's like you." Then she laughed mischievously. "By the way, if you hadn't gone mad collecting ransom back then, they wouldn't have given you that nickname. Ha! Now everyone in the Riverlands knows it—Magic Knight William!"
Perhaps deliberately fueled by House Tyrell, the tale of the Four Knights of Ten-Mile Town had even been turned into songs sung by minstrels across the Riverlands. Among the surviving two of the Four Knights, the brave Garlan had already become a legend, and as the second son of the Lord of Highgarden, his story could not be exaggerated too much. But William, the newly risen Magic Knight, not only wielded magic but also carried a story full of intrigue and scandal.
Noble in status, the undisputed heir of Harrenhal; born under mysterious circumstances in the infamous Harrenhal; raised in Oldtown though his family was from the distant Riverlands; skilled in both intellect and combat, able to craft chains in the Citadel and claim victories in tournaments; romantic, gallant, and fearless—so moved by Lady Margaery's tears that he had risked his life to follow Ser Garlan into Ten-Mile Town. And on top of that, he could sing. If you still had no idea who he was, just listen to The Gold Hand, and you'd understand!
Although "Magic Knight" had originally been a malicious joke, it had gradually acquired a legendary aura among common folk, though among the nobility it still carried a hint of derision.
Thus, William became a sensation across the Riverlands, experiencing firsthand the life of a popular celebrity. Upon returning to Oldtown, he began receiving invitations to tournaments. Money could sway anyone, and William happily accepted—but he quickly realized the competitions were no easy feat. Team matches were especially difficult; almost every opponent would unite to eliminate him first. While he could confidently defeat dozens of opponents one by one, facing them together left him no choice but to withdraw. Once he was forced back, the other competitors would celebrate loudly, as if they had all won the championship. Even jousting matches required extra effort; each opponent seemed supercharged, attacking with unnatural intensity.
William finally understood why many famous knights avoided tournaments.
So when he received an invitation from House Fowler, even knowing the road from Oldtown to Skyreach was difficult—though only slightly farther than the road to Highgarden—it was far from a smooth journey. From Highkeep through Highhill to Skyreach, the path was entirely rugged mountain terrain, making the journey no easy feat.
Yet he was tempted. "I'm already well-known in the Riverlands, but Dornish lords probably won't care as much. Maybe the tournament will be easier there?"
Erren, upon seeing the invitation, was equally excited. The Fowler family had a pair of stunning twins, famous not only in Dorne but throughout the Riverlands.
One motivated by the tournament prize, the other by the legendary beauty of the Fowler twins, the two quickly teamed up and set off.
Hearing Erren tease him about his nickname, William winked. "It's a good nickname—mysterious. Maybe the Fowler twins will like it."
"Hey! Don't be greedy—you've got to leave one for me. Now, which one? I need to think…"
Seeing Erren seriously pondering, William laughed heartily. "Give it up, Erren—you don't stand a chance!" The Fowler twins were close friends of Nymeria, the second Sand Snake. No man had a chance.
Joking and laughing, they soon arrived at Skyreach. Near the gate, a high platform had been set up, draped with silver-and-blue Fowler banners. In front of the platform, a huge arena was fenced in. Across from the arena were tents of all kinds, with what appeared to be a bustling market at the center, filled with noise and excitement.
Unlike the Riverlands and Reach, where tournaments were frequent, other regions held them rarely, making each event even more spectacular. Competitions included traditional jousting, team matches, archery, and even wrestling, often lasting four to five days.
However, only the most prominent families in the Seven Kingdoms could be hosted within Skyreach. Other spectators—commoners, merchants, or minor nobles—had to camp outside with their own tents. With so many people, merchants naturally gathered, forming a lively market.
William and Erren were seeing a tournament like this for the first time. Excited, they wandered through the market before heading toward the castle. Seeing the many yellowed patches on the walls, William couldn't help but think of the castle's long history and the storms it had endured. The gates were wide open, flanked by soldiers wearing the typical armor of Dorne.
William had been specially invited by House Fowler to participate in the tournament. Although Erren had not been invited, the Fowlers were a powerful, historic family, and Erren was also the brother-in-law of Stannins. After giving their names, the Fowlers warmly welcomed them. Soon, a steward came out to escort the two into the castle.
Inside, the central courtyard was already filled with carriages bearing the crests of various noble houses. Most prominent, of course, was the Martell crest—a golden spear piercing a red sun.
Erren clicked her tongue in admiration. "It's so lively! So many nobles have come."
"No kidding. I'd say half of Dorne's noble houses are here."
"How do you know half are here?"
"Because the other half are with the Yronwood family," William replied.
Erren pointed at him, laughing and shaking her head. Even as a poor scholar, she knew that joke. The steward leading them chuckled and couldn't resist adding, "Ser, you're absolutely right."
During Queen Nymeria's campaign to unify Dorne, House Fowler had chosen to side with House Martell instead of the Yronwood, creating a long-standing feud. These two of Dorne's largest noble houses, second only to House Martell, had become bitter rivals, further stabilizing Martell's rule.
The steward first took them to the stables to settle their four horses—each riding a pack horse with a warhorse in tow—and then led them to guest rooms to rest, apologizing for any shortcomings due to the sheer number of visitors.
Before the sun had fully set, the two were escorted by a servant to the banquet hall, which was already nearly full. Spotting two empty seats at a long table near the high platform, Erren tapped William's shoulder. "Come on, there are two seats there."
Seeing that the table seemed to be full of girls, William hesitated. "Is it really appropriate for us to sit so close to the platform?"
Erren tugged him along. "We're from House Whent and House Florent—perfectly appropriate!"
William laughed wryly. With her eagerness, he knew he'd probably forget his own name if a beauty caught his eye. Seeing that the servants weren't stopping them, he let Erren pull him along. As they neared the platform, he glanced over the assembled nobles. Though he didn't know most of them, he immediately recognized Oberyn Martell.
Actors in television shows could rely on acting to convey arrogance, but the real Red Snake exuded a natural, untamed aura just by sitting there. Leaning comfortably back in his chair, he swirled his wine gently and scanned the crowd like a predator observing its prey, ready to strike at any moment. Perhaps sensing the gaze upon him, the Red Snake's sharp, dangerous eyes suddenly locked onto William, giving the unmistakable impression of a wild beast fixing its sights.
"This is a true venomous snake!"
Though William was not afraid, there was no need to provoke him unnecessarily. He met the gaze for a brief moment before looking away, and in doing so, he did not notice the strange smile gradually forming on the Red Snake's face.
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