Chapter 78: The Secrets of Highgarden

After nightfall, Vortimer left the Goldenrose Courtyard. Lynd instructed Jon to find some friends in Highgarden and wait around for further instructions.

Once Jon had left, Lynd instructed the guards not to disturb him, closed the door, and lay down on the bed, settling into a comfortable sleeping position. As always, he connected with Glory through their mental bond, entering a state of shared vision and merging his consciousness with the creature.

Glory, receiving Lynd's orders, silently slipped into the shadows, avoiding the guards as it left the Goldenrose Courtyard and galloped toward Highgarden. Perhaps due to being confined on the ship for several days, Glory seemed especially energetic, even trying to run toward nearby farms to tease the farmers. Lynd quickly stopped it, and Glory diverted to a flower field, rolling around playfully. Though the rose thorns posed no harm to its tough hide, they became entangled in its fur, reducing its ability to remain concealed. Fortunately, the field was deserted at night, so no one witnessed the peculiar sight of a creature tangled in roses, preventing the emergence of legends about a rose-covered monster in Highgarden.

Lynd allowed Glory to release some of its pent-up energy but guided it to avoid indulging its wild nature and attacking the nearby farms. After venting its energy, Glory became more obedient. Following Lynd's orders, it rubbed against trees and rocks to remove the flowers and branches stuck in its fur. Then, it stealthily approached the outer walls of Highgarden.

The outer wall of Highgarden was constructed entirely of marble, with a smooth, polished surface that provided no natural footholds. Unlike the inner walls, it was free of vines. Round towers jutted outward at regular intervals, equipped with arrow slits for defense during sieges and serving as lookouts during peace.

Reaching the foot of the wall, Glory did not pause. Its hidden talons extended, digging into the marble with ease. Using its claws, it climbed the seemingly impassable wall as effortlessly as if it were flat ground. Soon, it reached the top and slipped into the shadows of the castle's maze of trees, heading toward the inner city.

Though patrolling soldiers roamed the grounds, they were of no consequence to Glory. Its jet-black fur melded perfectly with the darkness, and as long as it remained still, even a guard passing nearby would fail to notice it. Glory's exceptional stealth allowed it to move freely through the various sections of Highgarden, and through their shared vision, Lynd observed the layout, defenses, and positions of the castle guards. He mentally noted several potential plans for infiltrating the castle if necessary.

Glory refrained from entering important buildings. Its large size, while an asset elsewhere, made it impossible to move undetected in smaller spaces. Even its impressive concealment abilities could not render it entirely invisible in such confines. However, Glory's special vision, akin to thermal imaging, enabled it to identify the locations of House Tyrell's residences and other influential households within Highgarden.

While Lynd harbored no current hostility toward House Tyrell, he habitually prepared for any eventuality. Observing Highgarden's layout ensured he would not be caught off guard if circumstances changed.

After gathering sufficient information, Lynd prepared to recall Glory, but the creature appeared distracted. Its focus repeatedly shifted toward the Godswood within the castle grounds, as though drawn by something. Despite refraining from moving toward it, Glory lingered, awaiting Lynd's command. Curious, Lynd recalled the rumors surrounding Highgarden's Godswood and deduced that Glory had likely sensed an extraordinary presence there. Intrigued, Lynd gave the order to investigate.

Eagerly, Glory rushed toward the Godswood, arriving at its edge in no time. Without waiting for further instructions, it plunged into the forest and reached the three Heart Trees said to have been planted by Garth Greenhand himself.

Through Glory's eyes, Lynd observed something extraordinary. The three Heart Trees seemed to vanish, replaced by the image of a giant with antlers and green skin. The being lay as if asleep, its massive form breathing deeply. With each breath, green winds emanated from its mouth, spreading through the air and nourishing the surrounding lands.

Lynd realized this was likely the source of Highgarden's prosperity. The avatar of Garth Greenhand appeared to be constantly rejuvenating the land, ensuring good weather and abundant harvests. To Lynd, this avatar bore a resemblance to Spark, the of the Child of the Forest in Kingswood, though there were differences.

Spark was a solid entity of concentrated power, while the Greenhand avatar seemed more ethereal, a manifestation of pure energy.

At that moment, Glory transmitted an overwhelming desire to devour the energy before it. The intensity of the urge was tens of times greater than when it had encountered the vengeful spirits infused with a dragon soul. It was as though the avatar of Garth Greenhand was an irresistible feast.

After sensing Glory's desire to devour, Lynd immediately issued a firm order to stop it from consuming the Garth Greenhand's avatar.

However, Glory's instinctual craving was so overpowering that it repeatedly broke free of Lynd's control, attempting to defy his command.

Fortunately, through repeated, extremely firm orders and by using his spiritual bond with Glory to calm its emotions, Lynd managed to suppress its hunger and bring it back under control. To prevent further incidents, he instructed Glory to leave Highgarden and return to the Goldenrose Courtyard immediately.

Lynd understood that if Glory were to devour the Garth Greenhand's avatar, it could achieve another remarkable evolution. However, the act would cause irreversible damage to Highgarden.

The land's fertility, which ensured year-round abundant harvests, would deteriorate, drastically weakening House Tyrell's power. This would embolden the ancient nobles and lords of The Reach, who already held House Tyrell in contempt, likely plunging the region into prolonged civil unrest.

Though chaos could sometimes serve as a ladder to power, it depended on one's position. For someone like Littlefinger, who had minimal military strength and whose rise was nearing its peak, chaos could elevate him further. But for Lynd, with ample room for advancement still ahead, stability was crucial. His growth relied on the strong foundation of House Tyrell, and chaos would only benefit the older noble families, like the Fossoways. Lynd knew he wouldn't gain enough from such upheaval to justify the risk.

Moreover, Lynd feared that Garth Greenhand might still be alive.

Allowing Glory to consume the avatar could draw the attention of this legendary figure, the ancestral founder of The Reach. In the tales, there was no clear account of Garth Greenhand's death; instead, he appeared in different eras, such as during the time of Brandon the Builder, spanning millennia.

Considering the near-immortal nature of the Children of the Forest, it was plausible that Garth also possessed a similar lifespan. If he had gone unseen, it might be due to the diminished power of magic in the world.

While Garth's current strength might not rival his ancient legend, he was still a near-divine being compared to Lynd. Facing such a figure was something Lynd would rather avoid.

Glory returned to the Goldenrose Courtyard, clearly displeased with Lynd for denying its feast.

Instead of seeking attention as usual, it lay in front of his door in silent protest. Lynd didn't mind. He knew Glory's temper was fleeting and that it would soon forget its frustration. Sure enough, after a while, it slammed the door open, approached Lynd, lay under his bed, and rested its head on his arm. It only stirred when he stroked its head.

The next day, Lynd left Glory on the hill behind the courtyard. Dressed without armor, his sword at his side, he planned to explore the Outer City of Highgarden with Jon. The previous day, the crowded main street had kept him from fully appreciating the city's vibrancy, so today, he aimed to study its structure and prepare ideas for his future castle.

However, plans changed. Just as Lynd and Jon were about to leave, Vortimer arrived at the Goldenrose Courtyard with the three Tyrell siblings. They met outside the main gate, and Vortimer introduced Lynd to Willas Tyrell. The two exchanged a look.

Vortimer had often spoken of Willas, praising his exceptional talent with the lance. If not for his age and status, Willas might have already become an undefeated champion in The Reach's jousting tournaments. Despite being only thirteen, Willas had the frame of an adult, though his lean build and studious demeanor gave him the appearance of a Maester rather than a knight skilled in swordsmanship and lances.

Perhaps influenced by the events in the Godswood the night before, Lynd felt a faint resemblance between Willas and Garth Greenhand. It wasn't in appearance but in temperament—a sense of connection to something ancient and enduring.

Willas, too, observed Lynd with interest. He had been in the Council Chamber the previous day when Vortimer informed Lord Mace that Lynd had arrived at Highgarden and awaited at the inner ring's gate. Eager to meet the famed swordsman, heralded as extraordinary by his younger brother Garlan, Willas had been anticipating this encounter.

Later, Vortimer explained that Lynd had been stopped because his pet Shadowcat was so enormous, so he couldn't resist asking just how large it was. In the council chamber, Vortimer made a gesture to demonstrate its size, leaving everyone shocked and deepening his curiosity about the animal.

He had loved animals since childhood and seemed to possess an extraordinary affinity for them. Creatures that typically avoided human contact would willingly stay close to him. This talent made him the best dog trainer, falconer, and horse trainer in Highgarden. By the age of ten, he had already begun improving the Highgarden horse breed, and the exceptional quality of Highgarden's warhorses could largely be attributed to his efforts.

However, he did have some regrets. Despite his talents, he had never been able to tame extraordinary creatures like Shadowcats or Direwolves.

A year ago, a merchant captured a Shadowcat and sold it to him. He attempted to tame the creature but failed. The Shadowcat neither attacked him nor showed any signs of affection. It refused to eat and eventually starved to death in its cage.

He had the Shadowcat taxidermied by a knight skilled in taxidermy. The preserved Shadowcat remains in his study to this day. This incident left him deeply depressed for a long time, and only recently has he begun to recover.

Now, someone else has successfully tamed a Shadowcat, and it is just as extraordinary as ever. This piques his curiosity about Lynd, and he has a vague sense that he and Lynd share certain similarities.

Unfortunately, despite being the Lord's son, his influence in the council chamber is limited, and he cannot sway the decisions of the officials and the powerful. He missed the chance to meet Lynd initially. Later, at the Lady's request, he was instructed to meet Lynd the following day and apologize on behalf of his father for his rude behavior. He agreed without hesitation.

When Willas finally met Lynd, the famed protagonist of The Song of the Bear Hunter and the so-called legendary swordsman of the Seven Kingdoms, he found himself unsurprised by Lynd's appearance. In fact, he was quite pleased—Lynd matched both his expectations and Garlan's detailed descriptions perfectly.

As Lynd and Willas observed each other, Margaery grew impatient. She approached Lynd, tugged on his clothing, and said, "Ser Lynd, where is your cat?"

"The cat is playing in the mountains," Lynd replied with a smile. "If you'd like to see it, Lady Margaery, I can call it back."

"Good, good! I want to see the big cat!" Margaery exclaimed, jumping with excitement.

Loras, though tempted to mimic his sister's enthusiasm, glanced at Willas nervously and restrained himself, standing dutifully by her side.

"Ser Lynd, where are you going?" Willas asked, joining the conversation.

Lynd replied honestly, "I want to go to the Castle and take a look. Yesterday, we were in such a hurry that I didn't get to properly see the outer districts of Highgarden."

"Let him be your guide to the outer districts?" Vortimer interjected, pointing at Jon with disdain. "And show you the brothels? When he was the garrison captain in the outer districts, he spent more time in the beds of prostitutes than in his own bed at home."

"Lord Vortimer, I have grown up," Jon sighed wryly, regretting his youthful indiscretions.

Willas suggested, "The outer city is very chaotic in the morning. If we go now, we might be disappointed when we return. Let's wait until noon and go together! It's been a long time since I last walked around the outer city."

Lynd did not object and nodded. "As you command, Lord Willas."