As soon as Lynd reacted abnormally, the crew aboard Arrowhead noticed. The moment he shouted his warning, the ship's horn player blasted an alert—before Hollis had even given the command.
Immediately, sailors and warriors across the fleet grabbed their weapons, their eyes locked on the dark, deceptively calm sea.
By now, Lynd had pinpointed the sea dragon's location and identified its intended target. Without hesitation, he drew the greatsword of the Banished Knight and, under the watchful gazes of the crew, leapt from Arrowhead's prow.
But instead of plummeting into the sea as one might expect, he soared like a sea eagle, streaking toward one of the warships on the fleet's perimeter. As he moved, countless silver-white shards of frost trailed from his body, scattering in the moonlight. In that instant, he looked like a shooting star—radiant and breathtaking.
"By the Seven!" Septon Joseth gasped in astonishment, his voice breaking with reverence. Witnessing what could only be described as a miracle, he began singing the Hymn of the Seven, a sacred song reserved for the grandest ceremonies of the Faith.
The other followers of the Seven, stunned by Lynd's display, quickly joined in. Their spontaneous prayers blended seamlessly with Joseth's hymn, creating a choral harmony that only deepened the song's solemnity and holiness.
Even those who did not follow the Seven found themselves swept up in the atmosphere, murmuring quiet prayers of their own, each according to their own faith.
Lynd, however, remained completely oblivious to the fervor on the ships. His focus was entirely on the beast surging up from the abyss.
...
He had timed his movement perfectly. Just as the sea dragon rushed toward its target, he descended rapidly from the sky. The moment his feet touched the ocean's surface, the water beneath him froze solid. A massive sheet of ice spread outward and downward, thickening across the sea.
The sudden ice barrier did nothing to slow the sea dragon's ascent. Instead, it churned the water violently with its massive wings, building even greater momentum. Then, with a thunderous impact, it smashed into the frozen layer, sending the entire ice sheet—along with the two warships trapped atop it—hurtling upward.
The moment the beast emerged, everyone on the surrounding ships got their first clear view of the legendary sea dragon.
The sheer size of it was staggering.
Even with only part of its body breaking the surface, it loomed like a mountain. Its enormous head was nearly the size of Arrowhead's reinforced prow, and its gaping maw looked large enough to bite an entire warship clean in half.
Faced with such a monstrous being, even the most hardened warriors felt a shiver of doubt. Hollis himself, normally unshaken, couldn't help but wonder—Can Lynd really kill something this massive?
Standing atop the ice, Lynd seemed impossibly small in comparison. One swipe of the sea dragon's massive claws could crush him instantly.
And yet, there wasn't a hint of fear in his posture.
He didn't glance back at the fleet. He didn't acknowledge the chaos unfolding behind him. His eyes never left the beast before him.
In his mind, he had already fought this battle countless times. Every possible scenario had played out in his head, rehearsed over and over.
Now, reality had aligned with one of those scenarios.
In an instant, he chose the best course of action.
Like an arrow released from a bowstring, he shot forward—straight for the sea dragon's head. As he moved, the icy aura that had surrounded him vanished, replaced by crackling arcs of lightning.
The greatsword of the Banished Knight in his hands shifted, splitting into two piercing lances of raw power.
Both were aimed directly at the sea dragon's right eye.
The sea dragon displayed an intelligence far beyond that of an ordinary beast. The moment it saw Lynd aiming for its eye, it immediately shut its right eye and twisted its massive head, opening its jaws wide to snap at the airborne warrior.
Lynd was fast—but more importantly, he was agile. With a subtle shift in the hurricane-like force propelling him, he veered away from the gaping maw, moving with the grace of a diving hawk. Skimming past the dragon's snout, he landed squarely atop its massive head. In the same motion, he drove the Banished Knight's greatsword down into the creature's forehead.
As he had anticipated, the dragon's hide was monstrously tough. Even with the immense sharpness of his blade, it took considerable effort to pierce through.
And even then, it wasn't enough.
The thick layer of skin and underlying fat formed a natural armor, absorbing much of the impact. Though the greatsword had punctured the surface, the wound was shallow, causing only a sharp sting rather than any serious injury.
But Lynd had never intended to kill it with the blade alone.
His true weapon was the power imbued within it—the Lightning Dragon Rune.
A surge of electricity, crackling with thousands of volts, coursed from the greatsword straight into the sea dragon's skull. Instantly, the beast convulsed, its massive body seizing up as a wave of paralysis took hold. Dazed and momentarily helpless, it plunged back into the depths.
...
The moment it was fully submerged, however, the ocean dispersed the residual electricity. Jolted back to its senses, the sea dragon thrashed in renewed panic. The taste of death had brushed against it, and raw fear consumed its mind.
Its instincts screamed at it to flee.
Without hesitation, the beast turned tail, diving deeper—seeking the safety of its lair at the bottom of the sea.
And yet, it was not alone.
Lynd still stood atop its massive head, gripping the greatsword embedded in its flesh. He had ceased channeling the power of the Lightning Dragon Rune, replacing it with the Frozen Dragon Rune.
A shimmering aura of ice spread from his body, forming a protective barrier that isolated him from the crushing seawater and preserved a pocket of air around him. In this cocoon of frost and magic, he followed the sea dragon down into the abyss.
...
On the surface, the battle's witnesses stood frozen, stunned into silence.
Then, chaos erupted.
Sailors and warriors alike rushed to the ship rails, their hands igniting every lantern and torch they could find, casting light across the restless sea. Desperate eyes scoured the waters, searching for any sign of Lynd.
They had seen it all.
How he had danced through the air, dodging the beast's deadly jaws. How he had landed atop its skull, driving his blade home. How a bolt of divine lightning had struck the dragon down, sending its titanic form crashing beneath the waves.
By all logic, Lynd had emerged unscathed. Under normal circumstances, he should have resurfaced by now.
But the longer they searched, the more unease crept into their hearts.
Minutes turned to hours.
And still, Lynd did not return.
For the first time, doubt took root in the minds of the men. Had something gone wrong? Had he—?
Only Septon Joseth remained unshaken. With unwavering faith, he declared, "The Chosen of the Seven will not fall."
...
The search lasted through the night, expanding far beyond the original battle site. By dawn, they had scoured the surrounding waters, even reaching the coastline.
Still, there was no sign of Lynd.
And the sea dragon did not return.
...
"What now?" Hollis, his face lined with exhaustion, called a meeting of the fleet's captains at first light.
One man spoke bluntly. "We keep searching. Even if… even if the lord is gone, we should have seen something—"
"Shut your mouth!" Hollis's second-in-command snapped, eyes burning with fury. "If you can't speak with faith, then don't speak at all! The lord is the Chosen of the Seven Gods. We all saw it—the great sea dragon was nothing more than a lamb before him! A godlike being such as him cannot fall."
It was clear that the man was more than just a follower of the Seven—he was a fanatic. A true believer.
"I was just making a comparison," the captain muttered, curling his lip.
"Enough. I'm asking what we should do next, not here to listen to your arguments," Hollis said in a firm tone.
At that moment, Septon Joseth spoke with composed authority. "No ships are allowed to dock or make contact with any other vessels. All invited guild leaders and their guards are to be placed under house arrest—no information must be leaked. Lord Hollis, send the Red Kite to report directly to Summerhall about what has happened here. Summerhall must begin making preparations."
His expression grew even more solemn as he scanned the faces in the room. "I believe the Chosen One will be fine, but he disappeared beneath the sea along with the Sea Dragon. Something must have gone wrong. If he remains missing for too long, it will undoubtedly cause unrest. The longer we linger here, the more time we give Summerhall and Tumbleton to prepare for any unforeseen developments. I hope you all understand the gravity of the situation and refrain from doing anything that would disappoint the Chosen One."
The people in the room immediately responded in unison. "Understood, Your Holiness. We will keep this matter strictly confidential."
Hollis said nothing further and immediately carried out Septon Joseth's instructions.
The guild leaders were naturally reluctant to be placed under house arrest, but they could see that any attempt at resistance would only lead to death. There would be no chance of escape.
One by one, they complied, laying down their weapons, stripping off their clothing, and changing into the garments prepared for them. They were then confined to the lower deck cabins, which had only a single exit. Septon Joseth personally delivered their meals each day, ensuring they had no opportunity to pass messages beyond their confinement.
Meanwhile, Hollis relayed the news of Lynd's disappearance—along with the Sea Dragon's—back to Summerhall via the Red Kite.
Like Septon Joseth, those who knew of Lynd's immense power were certain that he would survive. However, they could not ignore the risks posed by his prolonged absence—the potential turmoil and the schemes of those who sought to exploit the situation.
Messenger ravens were dispatched from the rookery of the Redemption Town Hall, carrying urgent orders to the various commanders, garrison leaders, and military officials across Summerhall. Troop movements increased, and even the Stone Giants stationed at the Miracle Sept were recalled to the Redemption Sept.
Keen political observers quickly sensed that something was amiss, though they did not associate it with Lynd's expedition against the Sea Dragon. Instead, they suspected he was preparing for a major move in the southwestern section of the Red Mountains. Rumors had long suggested that Lynd intended to bring that region under his control, completing the unification of the Dornish Marches east of the Prince's Pass.
...
Half a month later, the troop mobilization across Summerhall's territory was complete. Nymeria Footly, the Lady of Tumbleton, led Summerhall's vassals to the Redemption Sept, where she publicly announced that she was carrying Lynd's child. This child would be the future heir to both Summerhall and Tumbleton.
In the sept, Septon Hullen formally declared the child's legitimacy and divine blessing.
The news sent waves of excitement throughout Summerhall and Tumbleton. Joy spread like wildfire, and celebrations erupted in towns and villages across the land.
Lords from across Westeros sent envoys bearing their congratulations. From the Westerlands came Kevan Lannister; from the Reach, Garlan Tyrell; from Dorne, Princess Arianne. Lord Renly of Storm's End attended in person, while Edmure Tully represented the Riverlands. Bronze Yohn Royce, Lord of Runestone, came on behalf of the Vale. The North did not send a representative, but they did offer a rare and ancient First Men stone tablet as a gift.
However, what stood out most was the absence of a gesture from King Robert himself. Despite his close relationship with Lynd, Robert sent neither a gift nor a high-ranking emissary—only Ser Petyr Baelish, the newly appointed Master of Coin. Compared to the prestigious representatives from other regions, Baelish's presence seemed almost insulting.
Beyond the noble lords, the Septs of the Seven Kingdoms also sent their representatives with gifts. The High Septon of the Great Sept and the Septon of the Starry Sept personally attended, both affirming the legitimacy and sacredness of Nymeria's unborn child, just as Septon Hullen had done.
With so many of Westeros's most powerful figures gathered for the banquet honoring Nymeria's pregnancy, one absence was glaring—Lynd, the man at the center of it all, was nowhere to be seen.
Yet when they remembered that he was still at sea, hunting the Sea Dragon, they accepted it without question.
"Nymeria, are you sure you want to announce this now?" Malora asked seriously.
She had been by Nymeria's side this entire time. Though their relationship had neither improved nor worsened, her primary role was to guard against anyone attempting to poison Nymeria.
"They'll find out sooner or later," Nymeria replied calmly. "It's better to announce it now rather than let them discover something on their own and use it to spread rumors."
Malora hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you ever considered that Lynd might really…"
"No," Nymeria said firmly, without a hint of doubt.
She then turned to look at Malora. "What about you?"
"No," Malora shook her head. "Even if every other person in this world perished, he wouldn't."
Nymeria smiled at her words, but the seven Sisters of Redemption standing guard nearby frowned slightly. Though Malora's statement seemed to imply that Lynd was strong enough to endure anything, something about it felt strangely unsettling to them.
However, they had no time to dwell on it. Nymeria, now clad in full armor, stepped out of the room and headed toward the banquet hall. The Sisters of Redemption followed immediately, joining the seven Silent Men stationed outside to form a protective escort around her.
From somewhere unseen, Glory also appeared, silently following behind, just as Lynd had ordered before his departure—to remain at Nymeria's side and protect her at all costs.
...
When Nymeria entered the banquet hall, murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd. People exchanged glances, puzzled as to why she had come dressed in armor.
Amidst their questioning stares, Nymeria raised her voice. "Everyone, I have some unfortunate news to share. My beloved, the Lord of Summerhall and the Chosen of the Gods, Lynd Tenell, disappeared a month ago while hunting a Sea Dragon. He and the creature vanished together."
The moment her words fell, the entire hall was engulfed in silence. All eyes locked onto Nymeria, their expressions frozen in shock and disbelief.