Chapter 313 The Old Man in the Tower
On the top of the tower, green fire is dotted with snow pillars, and fire snakes spit out messages, as if they want to melt the white wax under their feet.
The base of the tower is a reef island, where Earl Hightower's flagship "Oldtown Glory" is docked, shaking violently with the waves.
Many people talked about this matter, secretly and openly accusing Oldtown old man Leighton Hightower of being foolish in leaving the largest ship in the Oldtown fleet to himself.
But now, most people have shut up.
Although news of the sea monster has also spread to Oldtown, not only are these rumors flying everywhere in the noble fortress, but even the common people on the streets of Old Town have learned that the Qingting Island fleet was attacked by a sea monster summoned by the Ironborn, and nearly the entire army was attacked. Sunk, only a few ships escaped.
On the contrary, now, the Old Town Old Man's "Oldtown Glory" has become the largest ship in the Reach.
The residents of Old Town looked up. The green fire had not dissipated, and the fear had not disappeared. The tower was like a white candle, burning with green flames symbolizing war and conflict. However, the owner of the towering tower, the old man of Old Town, and the guardian of the school city, was almost gone. The Earl of Leyton Hightower, who had been seen by everyone, was holding on to the desolate white city wall, watching the rough waves rushing to the reef over and over again, smashing, crashing, and smashing again.
"Sea monster?" Leyton Hightower threw the letter delivered by Baelor into the fire and burned it to ashes, not caring about the loss of soldiers and ships.
The crazy girl Moroya Hightower was holding her long hair in the room and dressing up in the mirror.
Leyton Hightower was unmoved when he saw his eldest daughter's abnormal behavior. There was no need to speculate on the meaning of any of Moroya's actions.
But today, Moroya was uncharacteristically straight to the point: "I want to welcome a king who can realize our ambitions."
Layton walked into the dark room, opened the window, and let the strong wind pour in.
With his thick and lush hair spinning messily in the wind, Layton picked up the ancient books on the table and opened the atlas inside.
"Someone has witnessed a large squid before. Such a sea monster can't survive for a while." Leyton Hightower said solemnly. He was not as crazy about magic as usual. At this moment, Moroya was actually Seeing a bit of what the real tower master once looked like.
Layton stroked his daughter's cheek, "You, after you freshen up and dress up, I'm afraid you will attract the hearts of many heroes walking in the Reach." There was suddenly more pity in his eyes, "This road has been known to the Earls of Hightower for generations. After painstaking efforts to summarize and study the laws of tides, we finally have hope, but the old town of Hightower is standing on the top of the tide, facing the risks of waves. ”
"They are not like you," Moroya said, with a smile on her lips, "They are lazy, only you are diligent."
Layton smiled, chuckled, and shook his head, "Who am I? I don't have a daughter who is a genius, and I don't have an old man from Old Town who neglects government affairs."
"The tide rises and falls, and not everyone can stand on the tide," Moroya said firmly, "Euron Greyjoy sat on the Iron Throne, even Attis Arryn at the height of his power, I will surrender. You have to believe me.”
Layton didn't answer. He looked at Moroya's obsessed look without any disturbance. He turned around, followed the steps around the tower, and walked down step by step.
His legs and feet were no longer convenient and he could only go down one step at a time.
Layton lowered his head and paused every seven steps. The seven statues of the Seven Gods stood in the niches on one side. Every step he took, he had to accept the Heavenly Father, the Virgin, the warrior, the girl, the blacksmith, and the old woman. and the scrutiny of strangers.
He can endure the severity and coercion of the Heavenly Father, he can accept the selfless love of the Virgin, he can avoid or even resist the threat of the warrior's sword, he accepts all the dedication of the blacksmith, he can ignore the nagging of the old woman, even the stranger. Even when the pale mare reaches him, he can safely climb over and onto the path beside the stream of death.
Only the girl's innocence made him lose his mind. Layton regretted a little. He regretted letting Moroya take this path. He still remembered Moroya's appearance and confidence when she was young.
Uneasiness and self-examination filled the entire staircase until we reached a small door.
Layton grabbed the bell hanging in the air and struck it gently.
"Earl!" An excited voice immediately came from behind the door.
The small door opened. Hightower's steward, his young friend, and his uncle Gerald Hightower had the same name as Gerald Weishui. The former was known as the "White Bull" and was famous in the Seven Kingdoms, while the latter called himself the "Black Bull". ", this title means that he will not marry anyone other than the girl from the Summer Islands whom he met when he was young.
So he never married and changed his position as steward of the Hightower family to commander of the Night's Watch.
"Black Bull," Layton looked at his gray-haired old friend, "I want to go down to the tower, as you wish."
"Seven Gods!" Jero held Layton's arm, only to feel it was soft, "Look, I can't go hunting, I can't go fishing in the sea, I can't go to a brothel to have fun, my arms are no longer heavy, and my body You’re not tough anymore, you’ve never been so weak, Layton! I can fuck you with just one hand when I hold my dick while I pee!”
Layton waved his hands in disgust, "Get me down quickly! It's very cold here."
“No matter how cold it is, it’s not as cold as above!”
The earl and the steward, supporting each other and speaking aggressively to each other, descended the tower together.
The bells rang, from the towering island reef, to the sentry building closest to the shore, then to the streets of the old town, and finally reached the ears of Baelor Hightower who was anxiously dealing with the war in Hightower Castle.
Baile hurriedly went out. Behind him were "Grey Iron" Garth, who was in charge of the mercenaries and the army, and Gunthor, who had just lost the entire navy.
He met Leyton Hightower in a small study. The other nobles of the old town gathered outside the meeting hall, but Earl Hightower did not choose to go to a crowded place. He sat in his favorite place before climbing the tower. Sitting on the sofa, he silently watched the rain falling outside the window, listening to the sound of the Ironborn longship being destroyed by the indestructible Old Town garrison behind the sound of raindrops.
"Father!" Belle shouted after seeing him. "Father" Gonsol and Gars were about to shout, but the butler Jero ruthlessly shut the door behind them and locked the bolt.
The two brothers looked at each other, not even seeing half of their father's face.
Belle looked at Jero's actions, sighed, and sat on the soft seat nearby.
"How are the government affairs handled?" Layton asked.
"With Garth and Gunthor helping me, everything is fine."
"How is she, madam?"
"Mrs. Leia is in good health and is accompanied by the women of Oldtown. She is not alone."
The father and son fell into a brief silence.
It was Baelor who broke the silence, "Father, Euron Greyjoy defeated the Redwyne fleet, and the Earl of the Arbor also disappeared without a trace, I'm afraid."
Layton snorted.
The two fell into silence again.
"Father," Belle took a breath and couldn't help but ask, "What are you going to do when you come down?"
"I'm not taking away your power, I'm just explaining some things. I will return to the tower in a few days."
"What?" Belle clenched her fists, her voice strong but not loud, "The Oldtown army has summoned nearly 40,000 people, don't you need to go and see?"
"There is also the finance of Old Town. Don't you need to take a look at the treasury that is facing paralysis in extraordinary times? I remember that no one can do arithmetic better than you."
"I heard that the Ironborn also have sea monsters. They have occupied the Shield Islands and the Arbor Island. The noble women of the Reach have become their salt concubines, and the children and youth have become the souls of the axe. Only the gods know when they will He will attack Oldtown with all his strength, and Highgarden may not be able to support him. His next target may be the Tyrell family.”
Layton listened to his eldest son's analysis of the current situation. Although it was a bit hysterical, he still silently agreed in his heart.
"It seems that you handled it well. Just do it as you wish. If you don't have an iron type, why are you worried?" Layton said.
Belle opened her mouth, but her words stopped abruptly.
"You are going up to the tower now," Baelor suppressed his anger. "Isn't it a little too irresponsible? You are Earl Hightower, the master of the towering tower, and the guardian of the academy!"
"In my opinion, you are the one." Leighton stayed calm before the battle and hit Baelor's lifeline methodically.
"Me!" Belle opened his mouth and couldn't help but close it. He stood up, "What do you want to explain when you come here? Since you want to explain something, say it quickly. After all, we are busy people, busy dealing with things that the head of the family doesn't want to face. When it comes to political, military and financial matters, there aren’t many people in this old town who are lazier and more irresponsible than you. In my opinion, the children who urinate by the mead river every day and discuss the iron invasion are more diligent than you!”
Leiton listened silently. This reprimand reminded him of Moroya's words, and his heart rippled slightly.
"Okay," Leighton whispered, "Then let you listen to what your crazy father said. Forty thousand troops are too many. We only need to keep 10,000. The rest will return to Nongsang when they should. Mercenaries Dismissal when necessary, don’t use too many people.”
"Why?"
"Don't show strength, show weakness, show inexperience, show lack of financial resources, just like Hightower has recruited so many people but cannot afford the financial support."
Belle frowned, "I didn't hear any reasonable reason."
"It stands to reason," said Layton, "that no amount of men can defeat Euron."
Belle narrowed her pupils and looked at Layton in disbelief.
"Our family is not good at expansion, and we don't like expansion," Layton said, sipping the tea on the table, "Our family has always been good at self-preservation."
"Are you so unsure of me and Gars?"
"If you are fighting Stannis, Tywin, or even Robert, I believe your ability is enough to put down all threats. But this is not an ordinary time. The tide of the times is moving forward, and you haven't seen it yet."
Layton seemed tired. "You go and send away those old friends who are waiting for me. I want to take a nap." He stood up. "When Euron's strength is revealed in front of you, I will tell you what's next. The plan.”
(End of chapter)