Post by The Smith on Oct 7, 2009 22:37:28 GMT -5
Talyn stood on the Curtain wall, overlooking the field of men below. Five-hundred young men, standing as straight as pikes, looking like a row of metal statues in their black mail, helms, and greaves. These were his children, of a sort. His Sons. He was beaming with pride, feeling almost the same as he had the day that Tomas was born.
Behind them, were the young women. Trained in all the proper arts and bearing of young women. They would make good wives, and mothers, and help raise loyal subjects one day, Talyn felt sure.
Before them, stood the one-hundred and ninety-two men of the Traitor’s Sons, led by The Old Dog, who had primarily overseen the recruits’ training, and with Alister, Jax, Lysa and the other commanders standing at the ready as well.
I cannot begin to tell you, how proud I am today,” Talyn began, “You came to us as children, young boys and girls. You struggled, you grew strong, you learned. Standing before you, are the men of the Traitors’ Sons. Men who marched beyond the Wall with King Selwyn and Queen Saella. Men who had the courage to stand against death itself. And today, you will join that rare company. You are, each of you, noble men. You have lost much already. And we ask for more. Twenty years. That’s what it means to be a Traitor’s Sons. Twenty years of service, to a standard. A warrior’s standard, of right behavior and service. Follow your captain’s orders. Serve your lord and your Gods, and do nothing that would bring them shame. That is our duty, and our code. Can you swear to that?”
“We swear it!” was the unanimous cry.
There was clapping from the ramparts, where the young children of the next grade, who would in a year’s time be graduating themselves to join their compatriots, stood watching.
Talyn walked down the stairs, to walk among the ranks, clasping hands, and patting backs. He knew the names of almost all of them; as well he ought, since he spent many sleepless nights looking at them in the rolls. Many of them he had named himself, for those who had no names, or who could not remember the ones their dead parents had given them. Tonight he would have to note each man as having completed the training, and gone from young boys orphaned in the world, to grown men.
He watched as young men went to speak to young women, sweethearts probably. They were encouraged to mingle, although strict standards of behavior had been kept, of course. Talyn didn’t doubt that Harrenhal’s septon would be busy in the next week, with a flurry of marriages.
And a good thing it would be too. For some of these young men, Talyn knew, may not come home again. That was always the danger. They knew it, they’d been taught to accept it, not to fear it. And in his talks with them, Talyn could tell they didn’t fear it. So Talyn feared it for them.
When the ceremony was done, Talyn had another small ceremony. A mixed group, of both young men and women. Special children, who’d shown keen intelligence. They were taught a different science, from the science of war. Talyn spoke to them of their duties, and provided them with the funds they would use to become established in their towns and cities. They would become merchants, bankers, tradesmen. The money they earned would further their efforts and the remaining funds return back to Harrenhal to help train their fellows. And they would keep their eyes and ears open, and their mouths shut.
When the day had come to an end, Talyn reflected on its meaning. He'd waited five long years for this, since the day when he'd first began gathering the orphan children. Orphans created by his father. It was only right that He'd seen to their welfare. And now they could see to the welfare of the realm.
Results:
Talyn’s Traitors’ Sons increases by 500 well-trained soldiers. In the future, The Traitors’ Sons will graduate 500 men every year until reaching a standing size of 6,000.
The Traitors’ Sons intelligence network grows and expands with additional agents in all seven kingdoms.
Behind them, were the young women. Trained in all the proper arts and bearing of young women. They would make good wives, and mothers, and help raise loyal subjects one day, Talyn felt sure.
Before them, stood the one-hundred and ninety-two men of the Traitor’s Sons, led by The Old Dog, who had primarily overseen the recruits’ training, and with Alister, Jax, Lysa and the other commanders standing at the ready as well.
I cannot begin to tell you, how proud I am today,” Talyn began, “You came to us as children, young boys and girls. You struggled, you grew strong, you learned. Standing before you, are the men of the Traitors’ Sons. Men who marched beyond the Wall with King Selwyn and Queen Saella. Men who had the courage to stand against death itself. And today, you will join that rare company. You are, each of you, noble men. You have lost much already. And we ask for more. Twenty years. That’s what it means to be a Traitor’s Sons. Twenty years of service, to a standard. A warrior’s standard, of right behavior and service. Follow your captain’s orders. Serve your lord and your Gods, and do nothing that would bring them shame. That is our duty, and our code. Can you swear to that?”
“We swear it!” was the unanimous cry.
There was clapping from the ramparts, where the young children of the next grade, who would in a year’s time be graduating themselves to join their compatriots, stood watching.
Talyn walked down the stairs, to walk among the ranks, clasping hands, and patting backs. He knew the names of almost all of them; as well he ought, since he spent many sleepless nights looking at them in the rolls. Many of them he had named himself, for those who had no names, or who could not remember the ones their dead parents had given them. Tonight he would have to note each man as having completed the training, and gone from young boys orphaned in the world, to grown men.
He watched as young men went to speak to young women, sweethearts probably. They were encouraged to mingle, although strict standards of behavior had been kept, of course. Talyn didn’t doubt that Harrenhal’s septon would be busy in the next week, with a flurry of marriages.
And a good thing it would be too. For some of these young men, Talyn knew, may not come home again. That was always the danger. They knew it, they’d been taught to accept it, not to fear it. And in his talks with them, Talyn could tell they didn’t fear it. So Talyn feared it for them.
When the ceremony was done, Talyn had another small ceremony. A mixed group, of both young men and women. Special children, who’d shown keen intelligence. They were taught a different science, from the science of war. Talyn spoke to them of their duties, and provided them with the funds they would use to become established in their towns and cities. They would become merchants, bankers, tradesmen. The money they earned would further their efforts and the remaining funds return back to Harrenhal to help train their fellows. And they would keep their eyes and ears open, and their mouths shut.
When the day had come to an end, Talyn reflected on its meaning. He'd waited five long years for this, since the day when he'd first began gathering the orphan children. Orphans created by his father. It was only right that He'd seen to their welfare. And now they could see to the welfare of the realm.
Results:
Talyn’s Traitors’ Sons increases by 500 well-trained soldiers. In the future, The Traitors’ Sons will graduate 500 men every year until reaching a standing size of 6,000.
The Traitors’ Sons intelligence network grows and expands with additional agents in all seven kingdoms.