章 729: Chapter 729: Prince Rys
"Because the one who will become the Prince of Lys is me," said Trystane Uller, who was seated next to the white-haired governor of Lys.
Whoosh—
In a swift motion, Trystane drew the dagger from his belt and plunged it into the governor's chest. He pulled it out, and blood spurted forth, staining the old man's beard and garments.
"What?!"
The sudden turn of events caught the other nine governors of Lys completely off guard. They had never suspected that besides Humphrey Hightower, the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, there was another traitor among them. The relationship between Humphrey and Trystane had gone unnoticed.
While the remaining governors of Lys were stunned by the sudden upheaval, Humphrey Hightower remained unfazed. His swordsmanship was decent; after all, the Hightower family was among the most powerful in Westeros, and their children were trained in both arts and arms.
"Die!"
Seizing the opportunity, the golden-haired young man thrust his sword into the chest of one of the governor's guards. The blade pierced through the man's back, and blood flowed, signaling the start of this internal strife.
"Kill!"
"Attack!"
"Slay them all!"
Humphrey Hightower roared, and the Hightower guards behind him snapped to attention, drawing their swords and charging at the guards surrounding them.
On the other side, because Humphrey had suddenly stepped forward and drawn a great deal of animosity, the remaining guards had abandoned their masters and completely encircled this young governor of Lys and his protective detail.
(to be continued)
The governors of Lys found themselves lacking in protective forces. Unlike the nobles of Westeros, who are trained in both arts and arms, these governors had long forgotten the feel of a sword in their hands.
Thus, when Trystane Uller's guards and the soldiers he had bribed suddenly attacked, it was nothing short of a one-sided massacre.
"Kill!"
The grand tent of the governors of Lys erupted in cries of battle. Several governors were caught off guard and slain on the spot. Their guards, lost in the chaos and lacking orders, engaged in aimless combat.
"My Lord!"
"My Lord!"
Just then, a messenger burst into the tent. The pirates and mercenary bands outside were pressing hard, and the commander in charge of the Lyseni forces was calling for reinforcements. The messenger had not expected to lift the tent flap and find such a gruesome scene.
Humphrey Hightower wielded his blood-stained longsword, slashing left and right. Beside Trystane Uller stood a mysterious swordsman.
Cloaked in black, he wielded a slender sword common in Braavos, his movements elusive as a shadow. His blade flickered, piercing the throats or hearts of one governor's guard after another. Few could last more than two rounds against him; his sword was both swift and ruthless, and the bodies that fell beside him were numerous.
Trystane Uller was a man who valued his life; he had no intention of sacrificing it for his ambitions. Especially when he had yet to spend all his gold and when he thought of Humphrey Hightower's sister, his most cherished concubine—a woman soft as a pillow and radiant with smiles.
He had no doubt that if he died here, Lynesse would remarry without shedding a tear, and Humphrey would gladly marry off his beautiful sister to another noble in exchange for more political resources.
So, he had prepared thoroughly for this operation, hiring a top-tier swordsman for protection. Rumor had it that he was a former First Sword of Braavos, and Trystane had paid a hefty price for his services.
And the former First Sword of Braavos was worth every penny. He killed swiftly, ensuring that his employer faced no danger.
Whoosh—
In the blink of an eye, all the guards in the tent were slain. The hired swordsman pulled his blade from the heart of the last guard, and a thin stream of blood spurted out like a fountain.
"Spare us!"
"Spare us!"
The surviving governors of Lys were nearly wetting themselves in terror. Seeing their guards slaughtered, they had no choice but to kneel and incessantly beg for mercy.
In the Free Cities, treachery and betrayal are often more blatant than in Westeros, where a strong culture of nobility and lordship prevails. Captured enemies in Westeros are usually ransomed rather than killed, but in the Free Cities, the preference is to cut the grass and remove the roots.
"I pledge my support for you as the Prince of Lys, Lord Trystane Uller!"
One of them kept kowtowing as he spoke.
Trystane Uller glanced at his former colleagues kneeling before him, his eyes flickering momentarily. He then turned to look at his brother-in-law, Humphrey Hightower.
Humphrey, still catching his breath after the intense battle and holding his blood-stained sword, met Trystane's gaze and gave a slight nod.
It would be easy to kill all the governors of Lys, but Trystane Uller needed their support to secure his position as the Prince of Lys. Therefore, sparing a few lives as hostages was clearly more advantageous.
Just then, due to the lack of reinforcements, the pirates and mercenaries outside finally broke through.
Trystane Uller and his brother-in-law exchanged glances once more. The portly governor of Lys wiped the blood from his hands and stepped outside.
By now, all the governors of Lys were either dead or captured, and the morale of the Lyseni forces had plummeted. They had no choice but to follow Governor Trystane Uller.
Salladhor Saan, the great pirate who had led the assault, saw Trystane Uller and Humphrey Hightower emerge and burst into hearty laughter.
"I knew you guys could do it, my friends!"
Salladhor Saan had long ago struck a deal with Humphrey Hightower and Trystane Uller. They would help Salladhor prevent Lys from sending troops to attack Myr, and in return, Salladhor would help them seize Lys.
Furthermore, they would form a mutual defense pact, recognizing each other's rule—Lys acknowledging Myr's de facto control, and Myr acknowledging Trystane as the governor of Lys.
They had set a trap long ago, ensnaring the rulers of the Three Daughters and essentially gaining control of two Free Cities without lifting a finger.
And the one who had facilitated this alliance was none other than a spy from the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs. They used the pretext of the Imperial Fleet's visit, claiming that the Empire was planning to expand its influence on the eastern continent, to lure them into joining.
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