Chapter 154: The Burned Men Tribe
The Vale, Mountains of the Moon
The Mountains of the Moon are the primary mountain range of the Vale. Not only do they separate the Vale from several neighboring kingdoms, but they also serve as chains restricting the Vale's contact with the outside world.
After the Andal invasion, the descendants of the defeated First Men gradually merged into the mountains or fled deeper into them. From that point onward, these tribes—called the Mountain Clans by the people of the Vale—began to exist like a mixture of mountain raiders and primitive tribes.
After leaving Gulltown, Aegon Targaryen refused Countess Jeyne Grafton's offer to send knights as protection. Although the Countess was surprised that Aegon intended to travel toward the Redfort, she still sent a raven there to ensure that such a wealthy benefactor would encounter no trouble.
Redfort was roughly two hundred leagues from Gulltown, but because the roads here were difficult to travel, Aegon and his group still spent around twenty days on the journey.
Jeyne Arryn had once lived on the continent of Sothoryos, a land resembling a tropical rainforest, for three years. Thus, she often became the one teaching Aegon and the others how to deal with the wilderness. After frequently stopping to map the region during their travels, Aegon and his group finally arrived near Redfort.
Redfort was the ancestral seat of House Redfort. Like several ancient noble houses of the Vale, this family had endured since the age of the First Men.
Redfort was a blood-red castle built halfway up a mountainside. Rumor claimed that the walls had once been dyed red using the blood of enemies, while another story suggested the walls had been stained with weirwood sap, which explained why Redfort had remained crimson throughout history.
At this time, Aegon's party consisted of roughly thirty people. Besides Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry, the remainder were elite knights chosen from The Chainbreakers.
Except for a handful of individuals, most had already been promoted into Paladins, making them strong enough to contend against nearly any knight in battle.
"Mmm! This soup tastes incredible. My dear, your cooking skills are truly amazing!"
The bear meat soup Jeyne Arryn had prepared with mountain mushrooms and unknown herbs was exceptionally delicious. If water had not been scarce in this region, Aegon suspected he would have asked her to cook a bear paw as well.
Ever since leaving the North, Aegon had not had another chance to eat bear meat. In his previous life, such things had never been available to someone like him. Thus, after tasting the delicious soup, he praised it enthusiastically.
"Eh!? Oh! It seems we have guests!"
Just as Jeyne Arryn was about to calmly accept Aegon's praise, the animals under her control suddenly delivered a warning. Enemies were approaching.
Timett was a Red Hand of the Burned Men tribe. Today he had led his followers on patrol along the narrow paths near Redfort, hoping to discover a few unfortunate merchants from the Vale.
After receiving reports from his scouts, Timett learned that a group of around thirty people had arrived nearby. According to the scouts, their weapons and armor were exceptionally fine, immediately attracting Timett's interest.
Because of constant suppression by the Vale nobility, the Mountain Clans had long relied on theft and plunder to acquire weapons and equipment. Although thirty fully armed knights appeared difficult to deal with, Timett knew that if they defeated them, the strength of his warriors would increase dramatically.
Although Timett currently had only around one hundred men with him, he believed that if he called more over, they could bring these people down.
The Burned Men possessed nearly a thousand warriors. If he brought another two hundred fighters, Timett could guarantee success with absolute confidence.
"I see them too. Are these people trying to surround us?"
After hearing Jeyne Arryn's words, Aegon also shifted his awareness into several animals positioned in the distance.
Normally, Aegon's animals remained stationed within one hundred meters, usually the ideal distance for archers preparing an ambush. However, these Burned Men scouts had retreated from much farther away, which explained why Aegon had failed to discover them earlier.
"Dragon King, do you need us to deal with them?"
After hearing Aegon's words, Frodo immediately spoke up.
"No need. Let me go have some fun with them myself."
After hearing Aegon's response, Frodo said nothing further because he knew better than anyone how terrifying Aegon's strength truly was.
Soon, Aegon finished everything in his silver bowl. After handing the utensils to Jeyne Arryn, he picked up Dark Sister and walked toward Timett's position.
"Respected Red Hand, one of them is walking toward us. Should we have our men take him down?"
While Timett anxiously waited for information from his tribesmen, a scout suddenly delivered this report.
"What?!"
After confirming that someone was indeed approaching, Timett immediately shouted orders to the men around him.
"Quickly! Send people to close in and capture him! This man might be a scout. Catch him immediately, or we'll be in serious trouble!"
Timett was a capable hunter. He knew that once prey separated from the herd, the encirclement they had carefully arranged might already have been discovered.
"Yes, Great Red Hand!"
After receiving Timett's command, several warriors around him immediately rushed toward Aegon's location.
"Lord Timett, our men have been knocked down. That man is charging straight toward us!"
Less than a minute later, the scout's panicked voice rang out. Before Timett could react, Aegon had already rushed directly into their midst.
Whistle...
Amid a series of sharp whistles, the Burned Men warriors around Timett all closed in. Upon seeing the massive and extravagant sword in Aegon's hand, Timett subconsciously swallowed.
"Are you the leader of this group?"
"I... what happened to my men?"
Hearing Aegon's question, Timett ignored it and instead asked his own with obvious fear in his voice.
This was not because Timett was cowardly, but because the men he had sent out were among the tribe's finest warriors. He simply could not understand how such elite fighters had failed to last even a single minute.
"They're only sleeping. Tell your people to carry them back."
Aegon deliberately emphasized the word "sleeping." After learning that no one had died, Timett finally relaxed.
"Outsider, don't be too arrogant. Our tribe's warriors are already on their way. You may be powerful, but if enough of us arrive, I fear your ending will not be pleasant."
As he spoke, Timett specifically glanced toward the scout from before. The scout gave no signal, meaning Aegon had truly come alone.
"You're from the Burned Men tribe, aren't you?"
After seeing the scars on Timett's eyes and chest, Aegon identified his tribe immediately.
"Who... who exactly are you?"
"I have come to help you obtain treasure and reclaim your Promised Land."
Aegon did not answer directly and instead spoke these words.
"The Vale lords treat you like rats and vermin. In their eyes, you're nothing more than people hiding in the shadows. But do you truly think that's fair?"
Aegon's voice carried deep regret and sorrow, causing several clansmen warriors to involuntarily think of painful memories they wished to forget.
"The plains and rivers were born from agreements between the Children of the Forest and your ancestors. You could even say all the lands occupied by those Vale nobles originally belonged to you. I can see that you are brave warriors. You are no weaker than armored knights."
"Who... who are you really, and why have you come here?"
"I already said it. I have come to help you. Right now, what you lack are simply weapons and armor. Once you possess those things, you can reclaim lands that rightfully belong to you."
Aegon's words ignited a flame inside many clansmen hearts. These mountain clans had always maintained a distant relationship with the Vale nobility. During times without conflict, they occasionally traded with commoners living near castles and towns.
Because of this, they understood very well what kinds of lives those noble lords enjoyed. Precisely because they understood, they yearned even more desperately for change.
"You only have thirty people. Even if you gave us all your weapons, nothing would change!"
Timett became extremely excited after hearing Aegon's words, but he did not know him and could not determine whether this black-haired man wielding a giant sword was deceiving him.
Clang...
Just as Timett was feeling uncertain, a familiar sound of metal rang out in his ears. Immediately afterward, it was as though he had witnessed a miracle.
Within only a few moments, a mountain of weapons suddenly appeared beside Aegon. Greatswords, one-handed swords, maces, flails, and countless other weapons instantly dazzled Timett and his tribesmen.
But that was not all. Beside these weapons also appeared piles of armor, leather armor, grain, helmets, boots, and countless supplies.
"Are... are you a Divine Envoy sent by the gods to help us?"
Timett now spoke with complete respect. He had been utterly conquered by Aegon's display. In all his memories, no First Men king or witch had ever demonstrated such a miracle.
"Your era has arrived. Begin your conquest! The gods themselves are watching you from the heavens!"
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