We Bleed Silver(GOT/ASOIAF Fanfic)

The Orange Coast.

This vast land remained under the dominion of Volantis. Despite the defeat in the Century of Blood wars, Volantis retained significant strength, holding firm to its vast territories.

The Silver Blood Estate was located here, the largest estate of the Vaelarys family. Its fertile lands generously supported the six thousand fierce warriors of the Silver Blood Army, thanks to the reforms and vision of Claelorius Vaelarys.

Of course, it wasn't just this estate's yield that sustained them, but it contributed the lion's share. The warriors' families also resided here, with homes built for them by the Vaelarys family, along with regular wages and benefits.

This was one of the reasons the Silver Blood Army maintained such formidable combat prowess.

At the estate's central courtyard, several boys were training vigorously under the sharp commands of a eunuch warrior with a piercing voice.

In addition to the Silver Blood Army, the Vaelarys family also boasted a significant number of Unsullied warriors—eunuch soldiers forged in the slave cities of New Ghis. These warriors were renowned for their absolute discipline and loyalty, touted as the finest heavy infantry in the known world.

Under Claelorius's reforms, even the Unsullied had been freed from the shackles of slavery and stripped of the degrading names given by their former masters.

The most exceptional among them were even elevated to roles as spear instructors for the Silver Blood Army and the retainers of Draezell.

The young eunuch warrior at the courtyard's center was one such individual.

Known as Silver Scorpion, he hailed from Astapor, a city famed throughout the known world for producing and training Unsullied. Slave masters would select robust boys and subject them to brutal training, completely castrating them and administering toxic courage drinks. Over years of relentless conditioning, these boys were stripped of their individuality, becoming human "steel."

The result was an army of soldiers who, if equipped with heavy armor and spears by a wealthy buyer, could go toe-to-toe with heavy cavalry until the last man fell, regardless of the outcome.

Dressed in a silver breastplate and wearing a silver spiked helm, Silver Scorpion stood with a six-foot-long iron spear, silently watching the boys in the courtyard practice their spear techniques. They were drenched in sweat as they swung wooden spears with determination.

The lead boy was about the same age as Draezell, and bore an uncanny resemblance to him. However, unlike Draezell, this boy sported neat silver short hair and violet eyes tinged with blue.

Compared to his twin brother Draezell, Valar Vaelarys was slightly taller and more robust. Despite his youth, his bare torso already displayed considerable muscle definition.

With a swift thrust, the iron spear pierced through the straw training dummy like lightning. Retracting the spear, Valar accepted a silk cloth handed to him by a black-haired boy who had just sheathed his own spear. Valar wiped the sweat from his body with ease.

"Hoffa, any news from home?"

The black-haired boy, Hoffa, had unique golden eyes. He and his younger brother, Adams, hailed from distant Westeros. They were captured by Lysene pirate ships during raids but were later rescued by Draezell's warships.

In fact, during that period, Draezell had rescued thousands of young men and women from Lysene pirate ships. Some were sent back to their homelands, while others stayed with the Vaelarys family.

Hoffa, Adams, Sebastian Pyrebane, and Amos Fezer were among those who had remained with the family.

"The Lord has returned," Hoffa said, carefully wiping the grime and sweat from his own skin. " And Amos, Sebastian, and Argo have already arrived at the estate. They're organizing the Silver Blood Army's regrouping with the commanders."

"Regrouping?" Valar thought back to his brother's parting words before he was sent to the Silver Blood Estate. "So, my brother has finally made up his mind to venture into Valyria." The boy couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Hoffa nodded.

"Adams has already joined Lord Aslan Rondell, leading 1,200 Silver Blood soldiers to the ports and shipyards. The next group will include Sebastian and Lord Gonzo Pyrebane, who will lead 3,000 Silver Blood soldiers and 1,500 Unsullied to reinforce Lord Aslan's forces."

"What about us?"

"We're in the third wave."

"What?"

Valar seemed dissatisfied. "I thought we'd be in the first wave."

Hoffa shook his head. "Our role is to lead the final group of elites and to mislead the schemers in Volantis."

Valar frowned in confusion, not fully grasping Hoffa's meaning.

"Young master, as the Lord's twin brother, your presence here ensures that neither the Tiger Party nor the Elephant Party will realize what the Lord truly intends to do."

"Got it." Valar didn't dwell on whether he understood the nuances of his brother's plans. He only knew that if he stayed put and refrained from causing trouble, he wouldn't interfere. "Hoffa, spar with me in lance training."

Hoffa glanced at Silver Scorpion, who had remained silent throughout.

The eunuch warrior nodded, signaling a nearby stablehand to prepare the horses.

The courtyard was spacious enough to accommodate a full cavalry charge.

Young attendants helped Valar and Hoffa protective gear and handed them lances.

"I must admit, the Andals' heavy knights are truly formidable," Silver Scorpion remarked, watching as Hoffa and Valar, fully armored and armed with lances, began trotting toward each other.

"Against a charge of 1,000 Andal knights, it would take several times as many heavily armored Unsullied to hold the line."

The warhorses picked up speed.

Thud!

The lances shattered.

Valar, with a swift movement, spurred his horse forward and picked up a new lance. Hoffa wobbled slightly but managed to stay in the saddle, taking another lance from an attendant.

The second charge.

This time, Hoffa's lance struck Valar squarely in the chest.

The lance splintered, but Valar barely flinched, his body absorbing the impact as though it were nothing.

The third charge.

Now it was Hoffa's turn to take a direct hit to the chest and abdomen. The black-haired boy nearly tumbled from the saddle but held on, managing to stay mounted.

"Well done." Valar's strength was impressive; the twelve-foot lance felt like a toy in his hands.

The fourth charge.

Both riders struck each other squarely in the chest simultaneously.

Their lances snapped.

This time, only one boy remained in the saddle.

Valar circled the courtyard atop his warhorse, smirking as he watched Hoffa sprawled ungracefully on the ground. Dismounting with a grin, Valar extended a hand and effortlessly pulled Hoffa to his feet.

"I hear the nobles in your homeland are quite fond of this game?"

Hoffa spat out the dirt he had accidentally swallowed.

"Yeah." Hoffa seemed to recall something unpleasant. "In my village back home, the knights would force the villagers to pay so they could enter the lord's tournaments. The knight from our village loved to gamble, but he'd always lose his horse and armor. Then he'd come back and demand money from everyone. Oh, and when the Lyseni raided, he forced the villagers to fight. My father died because of them."

"Adams mentioned it before," Valar said, his teeth clenched as he patted his friend's shoulder. "But every time I hear about it, I can't help thinking that guy is the worst."

"That's why we're all grateful to the Lord and the old master," Hoffa said. "They've given us a life where we don't have to worry about going hungry, being kidnapped by Lyseni or Ironborn, or struggling to buy salt and medicine."

Valar suddenly had an idea. "Hoffa, if you returned to your village now, would you still fear that knight?"

Hoffa laughed.

"Not a chance. I could take on ten of those fools now. On horseback, I'd even challenge one of the Stag knights."

"The Stag knights?"

"They're knights who serve the lord of the lord of the lord of that guy's lord. I heard their family lives in a great castle with a massive round tower taller than a mountain." Hoffa gestured enthusiastically, trying to convey the image from his memories. "Their knights carry banners with a crowned stag on them."

Valar searched his memory briefly, then gave up.

"Ha! Hoffa, I'm sure one day you'll be able to take on ten of those Stag knights, maybe even fight that Lord you're talking about."

Hoffa scratched his head sheepishly.

At that moment, a man dressed in Silver Blood attire ran into the courtyard. He glanced around quickly before rushing to Valar, giving him a precise military salute.

"Sir, I have a letter for you."

Valar looked at the man, puzzled.

"A letter for me? From the Black Wall Vaelarys estate?"

Silver Scorpion, observing nearby, suddenly shouted.

"Who are you? Stay away from the young master!"