iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 412 The High Sparrow
Under the dome of the hall made of crystal, glass and gold, dozens of archbishops dressed in gorgeous silver robes sat.

After a long and intense "discussion" throughout the morning, Archbishop Olido, who had the support of the Queen Mother Regent and the Imperial Council, finally won the support of the majority of archbishops.

At this point, Ollido has already secured victory. The next step... all that remains is the final vote, which is merely symbolic.

Olido, who had been blushing and spitting at his competitors before, finally regained his usual kind and gentle expression, and occasionally whispered a few words to the people around him.

Boom!
The sound of the hammer rang out, and Brother Tolbert, the host of the Archbishop election, slowly stood up and said loudly: "Everyone, please vote for the Archbishop under the watchful eyes of the Seven Gods..."

At this moment, the sound of dense and rapid footsteps came from far away, and a group of people suddenly rushed into the venue. The one walking in front was a thin old man who was carried on the shoulders of two people, and the people behind him were holding sharp axes high.

Suddenly, an archbishop angrily rebuked: "How dare you disturb the election of the archbishop? Come here!"

An archbishop shouted in horror: "Weapons should not appear in the holy church!"

The old man in the patched robe came before the archbishops: "...Brothers and sisters, call me the High Sparrow."

…………

Afternoon, the Hall of Lights in the Great Sept of Baelor.

More than twenty archbishops took off their gorgeous outer garments, put on rough coarse cloth robes and simple sandals, and were kneeling on the ground, scrubbing the floor with buckets of water and soap.

Many people's hands were worn out due to prolonged friction and bleeding, but no one stopped what they were doing. Next to them... watching them were brown-robed monks with seven-pointed stars tattooed on their foreheads and axes in their hands.

The High Sparrow, who was elected as the new archbishop by everyone, was also there, also scrubbing the floor, but he seemed to be praying devoutly.

"The High Bishop."

Hearing the call, the Big Sparrow stood up with a brush in his hand. His deep-set eyes looked at the young visitors gently: "Dear children, labor is also a form of prayer, especially pleasing to blacksmiths."

A big monk said, "My Lord Archbishop, those sinners who blasphemed the Seven Gods have been locked up, and the pious sparrows are watching them confess their sins to the Seven Gods."

The High Sparrow then took a step forward: "They are not sinners, their souls have just temporarily gone astray. The Seven Gods are merciful, and it is the responsibility and obligation of the Sparrows to get them back on the right path."

The Big Sparrow led many other sparrows through the inner door and walked towards the hall step by step. Their footsteps kept echoing on the smooth marble slabs.

In the cathedral hall, colorful rainbow lights slanted in from the leaded glass windows on the great dome, and countless dust particles danced in the beams of light.

A dozen ragged hedge knights knelt before the warrior's altar, imploring the gods to bless the swords they laid at his feet.

In front of the altar of the Virgin Mary, a monk led hundreds of brown-robed sparrows in prayer, and their voices were like waves in the distant sea.

In front of the sculpture of an old woman holding a lantern, Lancel Lannister, with a seven-pointed star tattooed on his forehead, was kneeling on the ground and praying attentively.

Lancel seemed to have just finished praying when the High Sparrow came up to him.

Seeing Lancel was about to stand up and salute, the High Sparrow pressed his hand amiably and said kindly: "When your tears turn into faith, you are closest to the Seven Gods. Everyone is your brother or sister. Come, let's do it together, Brother Lancel."

…………

The sun began to set, and the soft afterglow sprinkled on the Blackwater River Pier.

"The last 100 people today! Hurry up, if you fall into the water after dark, no one will care for you!"

"Get in line!"

"Remember, always remember Lord Green's kindness. It is his immense mercy that saved you!"

"Get on board one by one. If you dare to move again, I will deprive you of the opportunity to enter Kleber's territory!"

A woman with hair like dead grass held her son, who was almost skin and bones, in her arms. She moved step by step numbly and uneasily, not daring to take her eyes off her husband who had already boarded the ship. The same went for her husband standing on the deck, who looked anxiously at them and their son.

"Women and children go over there!"

Before she could react, the woman was pushed hard by a woman who was much stronger than her husband. She staggered a few steps and fell heavily to the ground.

She couldn't help but scream in pain and looked at her child nervously. Fortunately... her body protected her son well and he was not hurt.

She didn't get up by herself. Soon... an arm thicker than her husband's thigh roughly picked her up and "threw" her back into the slowly queuing queue to board the ship like an object.

Surrounded by mothers with children like her, the woman with straw hair tightly hugged her son who didn't even have the strength to cry.

"Tsk, what can these skinny women do for our lord? They waste food and are as cowardly as mice."

"Doing laundry and cooking?"

"That's all they are good for. Tsk, our lord has to help them raise their children."

"Maybe the older ones can be sent to be blacksmith apprentices?"

"None of them are as heavy as a hammer."

"Don't think about it. That's something Lord Hershel needs to worry about."

The blue-robed women wearing exquisite chain mail and leather armor were full of disgust and disdain for them, but the straw-haired woman slightly relaxed her deepest anxiety.

Before this, the woman with the straw head had heard from the old woman living in the tent next door that the landowner she and her husband were going to visit ate a child every night, so people called him the Bloody Count.

Last night, her husband suddenly told her excitedly that he was chosen as the miner of the earl who ate children... Why did the noble lord allow her husband to take her and the child with him? She even didn't sleep all night.

Her husband always had a bad temper, so she could only bury her worries deep in her heart. She could only pray helplessly to the gods. Her only consolation was that her son was very thin... If the rumors were true, he might even look down on her.

"hurry up!"

The woman with the straw-haired head stepped tremblingly on the shaky wooden planks and boarded the boat with difficulty.

…………

On the bow deck of the Black Bess, Lord Davos Seaworth observed the people who came on board one after another with a serious and cautious expression. Their bodies were like dry branches, slender and fragile, and their expressions were numb and dull as if they had lost their souls.

The Onion Knight had seen many similar people in his smuggling career, and he knew the reason in his heart. They were too hungry... The refugee situation in King's Landing was much more serious than he had imagined. Perhaps Lord Green hired miners here out of selfishness, but Lord Davos had to honestly admit that it was undoubtedly a good deed, and he saved countless lives that had already lost hope.

He believed that Lord Green would be blessed by the gods in heaven.

"Father."

The voice of Davos' eldest son and heir, Ser Dale Seaworth, reached his ears and he shifted his gaze over.

His sons had long ago put on the blue robes that represented Crabbe's courage, and the day before yesterday... he also put on them, continuing to wear the black clothes he had been accustomed to for a long time... making Davos feel like an outsider when he was with other Crabbe's vassals.

Also, traveling back and forth between King's Landing and Dragonstone these days always made him think of his old craft that he had abandoned for more than ten years.

"Dale, are the rowers ready?"

"Yes, they are on standby." Sir Dale glanced at the direction of the dock and continued, "The speed of boarding the ship is much slower than last time. I didn't expect this. I'm sorry, father."

"It's because the docks are more crowded than last time, and people in King's Landing like to chase after new things."

Patting his eldest son on the shoulder, Davos said, "Sir Dale, the closer things get to the end, the less we can relax. Come with me and take a look."

As they walked, he continued, "My son, people who have been hungry for a long time still have madness hidden in their hearts, and madness often destroys everything. I hope you can always remember that honor and favor are not equivalent to the unlimited tolerance of a feudal lord, so... I will ask you to treat everything with caution."

Sir Dale nodded solemnly: "Father, please rest assured that I will never bring disgrace to the honor of the Seaworth family."

Patting his eldest son's arm again, Davos said nothing more. Perhaps he was really old. Recently, whenever he saw his sons, he always wanted to "nag" for a while. When he realized it... he was trying to correct it.

…………

Outside the dock, the High Sparrow, Brother Lancel and a few others were also observing the people queuing to board the ship.

The big Sparrow hurried over and said, "Your Excellency the Archbishop, they were indeed separated. The men were on one ship, and the women and children were on another. I also found that the women and children's ship was guarded by female soldiers."

The High Sparrow had a sharp face. He looked kindly in the direction of the docked ship for a while and said, "This is an act of mercy. May the Seven Gods bless them."

After a pause, he turned to look at the person beside him and said gently, "Brother Lancel, you and Duke Kleber were once good friends. Will he treat them well?"

The seven-pointed star on Lancel's forehead was still faintly glowing red. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "He will. Green has the compassion that a knight should have."

The High Sparrow nodded slightly: "It seems that the world does have many misunderstandings about him."

Lancel hesitated, then continued, "But he will be cruel to those who do evil."

The High Sparrow's eyes seemed to be shining with wisdom: "The seven gods in heaven guide the mortals on earth to do good, but the evil thoughts of mortals are often born with good intentions. Today's good people may be evil people tomorrow. Only sincere prayers can strengthen our hearts that may go to darkness."

"Yes, we will remember your teachings." Everyone responded in unison.

After a pause, the big Sparrow suddenly said: "My Lord Archbishop, our suffering brothers and sisters need your guidance, but they are all leaving here..."

The High Sparrow looked into the distance, took a step forward, and said, "We'll talk as we walk... Before coming to King's Landing, I was responsible for taking care of fifty or sixty small villages in the south of the Trident. Because those villages were too small, they didn't have their own monks. I walked from one village to another, presided over weddings, absolved sins, and named children. Now, all these villages are gone, and the beautiful gardens of the past are overgrown with weeds and thorns, and bones are scattered on the roadside... Most of them who came here have no homes anymore."

"It is the sparrows' responsibility to save them from sorrow and death, not to extinguish hope in their hearts. As long as there is suffering in the Seven Kingdoms, the sparrows have the obligation to save those people's bodies and souls."

…………

Davos happened to meet the High Sparrow and his companions while he was making his final inspection with his son. Out of respect for the Seven Gods, he touched the chest of the monks in brown patched robes.

When he saw the seven-pointed star tattooed on the foreheads of many of them, he became instinctively alert... He had learned enough lessons from the fanatical believers.

"Thank you, kind nobleman, for your contribution to the poor. May the gods bless you."

Davos was about to turn around naturally, but the owner of the voice was a barefoot, spirited old man. Out of politeness, he stopped.

The sunlight radiated orange-red. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I am just following the orders of our Lord Duke. I don't have the ability to save them."

The High Sparrow smiled slightly. "You are already participating in a good deed, which is a commendable act. I am taking the liberty to come and disturb you because I want to ask... ... whether their journey requires the monks to comfort these displaced people?"

Davos glanced at a familiar face next to the spirited old man and said, "Please forgive my late introduction. I am Seaworth Davos. I am only responsible for transporting the miners and their families employed by Duke Crabbe."

The High Sparrow acted like an ordinary old man: "I just suggested that if you need help, you can always tell us to serve them."

"I will convey your good intentions to the Duke on your behalf." Lord Davos shrugged and said, "What should I call you?"

The High Sparrow smiled gently and said, "Brothers and sisters, call me the High Sparrow."

Big sparrow?

"Please allow me to take my leave." Davos nodded slightly and walked away.

Davos and the others gradually walked away. Brother Lancel looked over and said, "Master Archbishop, don't we need to send someone to take a look?"

"Under the light of the Seven, darkness cannot hide."

…………

…………

As evening approached, Green camped along the King's Road, with more than a hundred tents set up along a nearby stream.

Dick Crabb entered Green's tent with a big smile on his face. On his left chest was a four-part emblem made up of Crabb's marigold and Mutton's red salmon.

He joined Green's team at noon. He brought more than fifty sworn knights and hundreds of knight squires from Maiden Spring Town.

Hearing the noise, Green slowly raised his eyes from the table covered with maps, smiled, and said, "Dick, what good thing happened?"

Dick's expression was more solemn than before, as the governor of Maiden Spring Town, but his eyes still moved around habitually like a novice thief.

He sat down opposite Green and chuckled, "The knights I brought with me never believed that the people of Crab Claw Peninsula could beat ten people at once. Just now, your guard, Sir Monton, proved this fact to them."

(End of this chapter)