"Even Braavos will feel the cold when winter comes," Noho said.
The banker was a little drunk. Recovering such a large sum had put him in a fine mood. For the lenders of the Iron Bank, lending and repayment were closely tied to their rank and returns.
Recovering the money and building a partnership with a powerful contender for the Iron Throne would raise Noho's standing step by step.
Gendry nodded as well. His expression seemed to hold a touch of intoxication and delight, at least on the surface.
"To the Iron Bank." Gendry raised his cup.
"To be honest, our relationship with House Lannister has never been especially warm," Noho said. "They have taken too large a share of the Seven Kingdoms' market."
Those in the same trade were natural enemies. Since the Lannisters lent gold to the Iron Throne and other noble lords, they inevitably squeezed the Iron Bank's market, leaving the bankers of the Iron Bank displeased. The Lannisters' actions had created a rift between the Iron Throne and the Iron Bank.
The Iron Bank lent not only to the Iron Throne, but also to other nobles and merchants. If the Braavosi demanded that the Seven Kingdoms immediately repay large sums and refused any new loans, all of Westeros would fall into economic chaos. So the Iron Bank had to be kept steady.
"I look forward to good news from you in King's Landing," Noho said. "After all, the performance of my remaining one million golden dragons depends on it."
"Rest assured," Gendry said. "I doubt you will have to wait long. I do not like being in debt." Once the Lannisters were destroyed, the crown's largest creditor would vanish into smoke, and those beautiful gold mines would fall into his hands.
"To our partnership."
"To our partnership."
Gendry and the Braavosi raised their cups together again, the atmosphere looking perfectly cordial.
The banker would take his ships back to Braavos, bringing good news of success and the payment he had secured.
Although using Littlefinger's five hundred thousand golden dragons to offset the interest did not sound perfect, it was the best result that could be won. As for the one million two hundred thousand in principal, every coin would be repaid, with three hundred thousand paid first.
The banker Noho left behind a copy of the agreement. Gendry read it over and over before handing it to Ser Barristan for safekeeping. This agreement concerned the remaining one million golden dragons.
It was not Gendry who lacked money, but most regions and lords of Westeros after winter came. The most troublesome places would be the North and the Wall.
The Braavosi might also feel winter's cold, but they would not know the horror of a long winter lasting more than ten years.
Speaking of the Others and wights beyond the Wall, they seemed to appear only in Westeros, the Land of the Gods. It was strange that Braavos had suffered no such troubles.
"Lady Melisandre." After the Braavosi left, Gendry called to the red priestess. "Why is it that we rarely hear news of wights and Others in other places?"
"Prince, Westeros is where the gods dwell, and that is why there are so many miracles here. The Lord of Winter and the Others occupy the North and have never left it. But as far as I know, similar tales have come from other regions as well," the red priestess said. "For instance, the cold sea north of Braavos, the Shivering Sea. And the White Waste, the snowy wasteland north of the Shivering Sea."
"Oh." Gendry was interested, and let the red priestess continue.
As far as Gendry knew, the Shivering Sea lay north of eastern Essos and east of the North of Westeros. According to sailors, farther north, in the White Waste, blizzards never ceased, and winds blowing down from the icebergs sounded like ghosts wailing. The coastline of the White Waste was forever changing, shrinking in summer and spreading again in winter. Strange lights flickered in the northern sky.
"The sailors of those distant waters have told terrible stories of the Shivering Sea. One speaks of pale blue ice mist. The mist drifts over the water, and every ship that meets it freezes solid. When night falls, drowned ghosts climb out of the sea and drag the living down into the ocean depths. There are also merfolk with pale skin and black-scaled tails, more evil than the merfolk of the south, who drag sailors to their deaths. Another myth speaks of ice dragons. Ice dragons are said to be far larger than the dragons of Valyria, with bodies made of living ice, pale blue crystal eyes, and enormous translucent wings. Even their breath is cold," the red priestess said. "These legends also carry the scent of the Lord of Winter."
It seems Braavos is still somewhat south compared with the North, Gendry thought. Braavos lay roughly level with the Fingers, still far from the true north. In those even more distant northern lands, perhaps the Others of the north were also gathering.
Could the Faceless Men have some connection to the Lord of Winter? Gendry had a bold guess. After all, the art of the Faceless Men was also tied to death. That matter would have to wait for another day.
"Ser Justin, Lord Duram..." Gendry addressed the lords of Sharp Point, Stonedance, and the Stormlands, issuing his orders. "To attack the Kingswood, we cannot do without the help of the local people and hunters. The later battle for King's Landing will be the knights' main battlefield. But when it comes to taking the Kingswood, there are clearly better people for the role."
"As you command!"
"As you command!"
...
Outside Bronzegate, tents and banners now covered the ground.
The Stormlands vanguard numbered about six thousand men. Guyard Morrigen commanded the five-thousand-strong vanguard from Storm's End, and with Gendry's five hundred golden-cloaked knights and the supporting forces from Sharp Point, Stonedance, and elsewhere, they were ready to give Gendry stronger support. These troops were now under Gendry's personal command.
Ser Guyard's banner was a raven spreading black wings across a storm-green sky. Guyard had once been one of Renly's Rainbow Guard, and now he had changed to a new lord. House Estermont's banner was the sea turtle. House Massey's banner was the triple spiral of red, green, and blue on white, while Sharp Point's was a leaping blue swordfish over silver fretty on white.
But the golden war banners were the most numerous, held high above all the rest. Their long streamers trailed behind them, swaying like flames. Where the house sigil should have been were four symbols: the leaping stag, the roaring dragon, the howling wolf pack, and the freed slave, representing the sources of the Breaker's power.
Gendry put on his black-scaled plate armor and yellow surcoat cloak. Orphan-Maker hung at his waist, while an arakh and warhammer rested on his saddle. His face was cleanly groomed, his eyes clear. With his double-pronged helm on, he looked like a towering fortress.
Gendry looked at the warriors of different colors and ages. They had sworn to fight for the Storm, and he would repay them with victory.
"March," Gendry said to the knights outside Bronzegate. The army stood like a forest, and horns sounded. Steel struck steel, and their steps were strong and steady.
Gendry had again chosen the best among the Stormlands knights, placing the most elite men under his direct command.
"Yes." The knights followed behind him, but the most important people were the hunters who had already slipped into the forest. These hunters were his trump card, serving as his scouts and guides.
Those hunters lived by the hunt and knew the terrain of the Kingswood like the backs of their hands.
They called themselves Deer-Catchers. Catching deer, chasing stags, and marching toward King's Landing.
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