webnovel
avataravatar

Chapter 560: The Ambush

"Are you the High Sparrow?"

Upon hearing the calm voice emanate from close behind him, the High Sparrow, who was tilling the soil in his vegetable garden, paused momentarily.

Though he was advanced in age, he wasn't hard of hearing. He should have heard anyone approaching, yet...

Setting down his hoe, the elderly man garbed in a simple, earthen-colored robe turned around.

Standing behind him was a young man with silver-gold hair, a face of uncommon beauty, and an unflappable demeanor. He wore a black velvet robe adorned with gold-threaded embroidery and a belt studded with emeralds, the sun glinting off a dragonhead brooch on his chest.

The High Sparrow's pupils contracted instantly, his expression full of dread.

"You are..."

Upon seeing Viserys, he seemed to have guessed the young man's identity, but he couldn't fathom why Viserys would seek him out.

Since becoming a devout monk, the High Sparrow had committed himself entirely to the Faith of the Seven. Emotional upheavals like this were rare for him.

Yet the sudden appearance of Viserys unnerved him more than hearing about the Small Council's decision to purge the Sparrows within the city.

The High Sparrow was a shrewd man; he'd already guessed Viserys's identity. Not understanding how Viserys arrived, he fell silent briefly before speaking in his raspy voice.

"The most honored guest in the Seven Kingdoms graces this old man's door unannounced. I'm caught somewhat off guard."

Viserys's sudden appearance left the High Sparrow with no escape, so he gave up resisting.

"There's a cottage over there, Your Grace. Shall we sit and talk?"

The High Sparrow was now hiding in an estate outside of King's Landing. It was hard to rally Sparrows outside the city to resist the Iron Throne collectively.

"People have lands to tend to, and most of the landowners here are Targaryen knights and soldiers. If I go there to preach, I could well be sent packing."

"More surprising than my sudden appearance is the fact that you, the High Sparrow, who claims to serve the people, owns such an expansive estate outside the city."

After settling into the cottage, Viserys looked around before fixing his gaze back on the High Sparrow.

The High Sparrow's wrinkled cheeks relaxed a bit upon hearing Viserys's words. He poured a hot cup of tea for the king before shaking his head.

"Your Grace misunderstands. I swear by the Gods, I have no ulterior motives."

"Owning this estate merely serves the Gods and the impoverished better, Your Grace."

The elderly man in his simple, earthen-colored robe and gray hair spoke again in his raspy voice.

"If I didn't accept the estate, they wouldn't be at ease."

"We lowly tillers of the soil are the true majority."

"Who are 'they'?"

The silver-haired young man sat in the cottage, ignoring the hot tea the High Sparrow had poured. He asked with keen interest.

The High Sparrow only shook his head, unwilling to divulge the identities of those in King's Landing supporting them.

"I might believe you took this estate without any selfish reasons."

The High Sparrow didn't confess, and Viserys didn't press. Even if he didn't speak, finding out was only a matter of time.

After all, establishing a new dynasty often meant doing so atop the corpses of the old one. And Viserys had ruffled many feathers—some might feign submission but still sought to cause trouble. This was to be expected.

However, when Viserys agreed, the High Sparrow was somewhat stunned. He had thought someone as lofty as Viserys could never understand someone dedicating themselves entirely to others and their faith.

"You believe me?"

The elderly man with gray hair questioned skeptically.

"Everyone has a purpose in what they do."

"The purpose you speak of is one among them. Some people seek spiritual fulfillment; there's nothing incomprehensible about that."

"If everyone only loved gold and beauty, wouldn't the world be rather dull?"

Viserys, dressed in his black velvet robe, sat leisurely, a steaming cup of tea before him, speaking calmly.

He noticed that several Sparrows armed with swords were slowly approaching from outside, yet he remained utterly composed.

Viserys's words left the High Sparrow, a man well-versed in debates, momentarily at a loss for words.

Had all he had done been merely to satisfy his own spiritual needs?

"Your Grace, what are your views on the Gods?"

The High Sparrow felt a moment of confusion, but the followers he'd rallied acted on his behalf.

"He's the tyrant!"

"Kill him!"

"Overthrow the Targaryen rule!"

A group of ragged Sparrows suddenly burst in from outside, brandishing their swords, seeking to seize the opportunity to kill Viserys.

The High Sparrow, unlike Viserys, was merely a highly enlightened commoner. He hadn't even noticed these people encircling the cottage, suddenly launching an assault on the king. He was both shocked and angry.

"Stop!"

"Halt!"

Viserys had once faced the Night King alone—how could mere mortals kill him?

The High Sparrow had wanted to persuade the king of the Seven Kingdoms to accept his ideology through reasoned arguments.

But it was now too late to stop them.

Whooosh~

Viserys sat unmoving, and behind him, a dark mist suddenly materialized into two large hands that gripped the two leading rioters, lifting them high.

The dark mist hands clamped down, causing them to emit agonized screams. The mist sucked away their souls and lives, reducing them instantly to ash.

"Fools seeking death."

The young man's violet eyes flickered, turning to the others. The remaining rioters hesitated, not yet comprehending what had occurred.

However, at that moment, one of the rioters, as if mad, swung his axe at a companion, decapitating him.

The surrounding Sparrows also began attacking each other.

"Sandor!"

"What are you doing?"

Witnessing the scene, the High Sparrow was both shocked and furious. He didn't know what had happened—why had these devout followers suddenly begun killing each other?

Next chapter