Just as the atmosphere in this small area of the tavern became uneasy, the tavern door was pushed open heavily from the outside. Immediately after, a tall figure, rubbing the back of his head, stumbled in, cursing continuously as he walked. This person was none other than Joel Flower, who had just been attacked and robbed of his valuables.
On the other side, Linde also saw Joel enter from outside the tavern, and his tense expression relaxed slightly. However, his hand did not leave his sword hilt, maintaining the standoff with the knight.
Then, Joel walked to their table, not even glancing at the young noble and the knight escort. Instead, he angrily yelled at Linde, "Didn't you notice I was gone for a while?"
"I just did, but I thought after you peed, you might also need to defecate, so I didn't pay attention," Linde was not intimidated by Joel's anger. He looked the disheveled man up and down and said, "Were you robbed?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Joel spread his hands, retorting irritably.
Linde was quite speechless and said, "You're a famous sword master in The Reach?"
Joel's face also showed an embarrassed expression, then he stubbornly said, "Can't a sword master be robbed after getting drunk?"
Linde didn't argue with him and asked, "What now?"
"What do you mean, what now?" Joel retorted.
"All your valuables must have been stolen, right?" Linde pointed to the empty wine glass and plate on the table and said, "What are we going to pay with?"
Joel was stunned. He pointed at Linde and said, "What about you? You can pay, right? You got a lot of rewards from this battle; isn't that enough to pay?"
Linde said expressionlessly, "All my money was sent to my father. I don't have a single copper coin on me now."
Joel looked at Linde in shock and said, "You came south with me without bringing any money?"
Linde also looked at Joel and said, "Don't we have you? I thought with you by my side, we wouldn't lack expenses. Besides, in Golden Tree City, didn't you say you would cover all expenses on the road?"
"I..." Joel remembered saying that and was at a loss for words.
At this moment, Linde suddenly sniffed, as if he smelled something unusual. Then, with a slightly strange expression, he looked at Joel and said, "Did you just pee yourself?"
At this moment, Joel was extremely mortified, instantly feeling the urge to draw his sword and cut down Linde, and then all other knowing parties. Unfortunately, his sword, along with his other valuables, had been taken. In the end, he could only point at Linde, unable to say anything, his slightly trembling hand already showing his current mood.
"Haha! This is too funny, too funny!" Just as the atmosphere became extremely awkward, a laugh broke the tension in the area. The young noble laughed heartily, without any regard for his image, and addressed Joel as if they were old friends, saying, "I never thought our Reach Sword Master, Lord Joel Flower, had such a humorous side. No one would believe this even if it were told."
With the young noble's laughter and words, Joel finally noticed that two more people were at his table. He used the dim light from the tavern wall to make out their faces, and an expression of surprise involuntarily appeared on his face. At the same time, he exclaimed, "Young Master Garlan, Lord Fotimo, why are you here?"
Hearing Joel's words, Linde immediately realized that the young noble and the knight escort in front of him were Garlan Tyrell and Fortimo Klenne, the targets of his and Joel's journey.
Joel and Garlan Tyrell were quite familiar. After Joel received praise from Barristan, Duke Tyrell had invited Joel to be Velas Tyrell's sword master for a short period. Although it was only for a month, Garlan Tyrell often followed his elder brother during that time, so he was not unfamiliar with Joel.
As for Fortimo Klenne, there was even less to say. As the two greatest sword masters of House Crane, they had sparred many times. Although their allegiances differed, their relationship was not bad.
Joel's identity also caused Fortimo Klenne to drop his guard against Linde. He then tilted his head slightly, looking at the disheveled Joel. Being very familiar with him, he spoke casually: "Shouldn't you be celebrating your victory in Red Lake City? Why did you come to New Barrel City? Is it to sell war trophies? It doesn't seem like such a task would require a Great Knight like you."
"No, I came to New Barrel City to find you," Joel explained.
"Find me?" Fortimo looked puzzled. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he looked at Linde and said, "You're not here to show off a squire you found after seeing how excellent my squire was during our last spar, are you?" Saying this, he added very straightforwardly, "I have to say, your squire is very good. Although I don't know his swordsmanship, at least in courage and demeanor, he is already a true knight."
Upon hearing this, Joel looked at Linde with some surprise, because he knew Fortimo's character very well and how difficult it was to gain Fortimo's approval. Yet, he had only been gone for a short while, and Linde had already received Fortimo's praise. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened during that time.
However, he quickly snapped out of his wild thoughts and said, "You're mistaken, he's not my squire. He's the squire I'm preparing to recommend to you."
"A squire you're recommending to me?" Fortimo was stunned, looking puzzled.
"Let me introduce you," Joel pointed at Linde and said, "Linde, Bear Hunter Linde."
"Ah?" When Joel introduced Linde's identity, Garlan Tyrell immediately let out a gasp of surprise. Then, thinking of what he had just said, an awkward expression involuntarily appeared on his face.
Fortimo also looked at Linde with surprise. After all, he had heard many rumors about Bear Hunter recently. Like Garlan, he also thought the rumors were exaggerated and unbelievable, but now his thoughts had changed, because the aura Linde had displayed earlier could already contend with his own. If the other's swordsmanship could match this aura, then Linde might indeed be capable of the various exaggerated feats mentioned in the rumors.
As Fortimo was observing Linde, Garlan Tyrell had already composed himself and then asked with a hint of curiosity, "Lord Linde, is it true that you are rumored to possess the most magnificent dual-wielding swordsmanship in The Reach?"
"No!" Linde shook his head. Just as Garlan Tyrell showed disappointment, he changed the subject and said with great confidence, "It's the most magnificent dual-wielding swordsmanship in all of Westeros!"