Game of Thrones: Second Son of House Targaryen

The thought chilled Toland to the core. Not only would he become a slave, but his wife and daughter would also become property to settle the debt. In this world, that was how free men were turned into slaves.

“No, Windblown!”

Suddenly, Toland remembered that the people from Windblown had warned him before the battle about a possible trap. At the time, he dismissed it, never imagining it would lead to such a disastrous consequence.

As he stared at the map behind the tent, Toland realized his only hope lay with the Windblown. But would a mercenary group fight desperately in a battle they were certain to lose? What price would he have to pay?

In the end, he made up his mind. After all, no cost was greater than the price of becoming a slave, not only for himself but for his family as well.

He turned to a nearby attendant, a medium-sized man, and shouted, “Tell the Windblown that if they come to our aid, I will sign a long-term garrison contract with them for Tyrosh, plus 100,000—no, 150,000 gold dragons! Hurry!”

Toland was now like a drowning man, flailing helplessly and desperate for rescue. The terms he offered were indeed very tempting.

In the Free Cities, while mercenaries might be used in battle, securing one's home typically required one's own people. If the Unsullied were available, they would be the preferred choice. For sellswords, however, securing a garrison contract with a city-state was a prize. Such a contract provided stability—no need to fight, yet still get paid, and paid well.

For a mercenary leader, a contract like this would attract more skilled fighters to join their ranks. Usually, they were employed only during wartime, which made their upkeep more affordable. Toland was clearly desperate to make such a promise.

...

Meanwhile, the Tattered Prince, who had been considering a retreat, hesitated upon receiving Toland’s offer.

First, Tyrosh’s defeat seemed inevitable, making recovery difficult. Second, even if Tyrosh lost, it would still maintain some influence in the Two Lakes region, ensuring future cooperation. They now had a guaranteed minimum outcome, but taking a risk seemed too costly. Moreover, with his 2,000-odd men scattered, gathering them quickly would be challenging.

At this moment, Viserys spoke up. “Commander, we don’t have to succeed in saving Toland, but we could at least try.”

“Try?” the old commander asked.

Viserys had observed through the Golden Eagle’s eyes that Lys had not deployed troops to contain their forces. He suggested leading a small group to advance quickly and harass the enemy from the side. Even if they couldn’t change the battle's outcome, they might buy Toland and his men some time.

They could send a cavalry unit to test the situation. If an opportunity arose, they could commit more forces; if not, they could locate Toland and escort him to safety. For Viserys, who saw the battlefield clearly, rescuing a single person posed no challenge. Moreover, it could be quite profitable.

If the old commander’s plan to hold the line was a safe bet, taking a calculated risk could yield a higher return. The Windblown’s actions could become a hallmark of their reliability, much like the Golden Company’s reputation for keeping their word. This battle could serve as a “signboard” for future contracts. Even if Tyrosh lost, the Windblown’s reputation would grow, and they could demand higher prices in future negotiations.

The old commander considered this and agreed to Viserys’s plan. He trusted that Viserys would keep the losses within acceptable limits. After all, he had raised this unit himself, and if the losses were too great, Viserys would be the first to feel the pain.

The Tattered Prince then ordered Viserys to take the 7th Battalion, along with the cavalry from Webber’s 9th and Jorah’s 10th Battalions, to provide support. The combined cavalry battalion reached Toland’s crumbling defense line in less than 20 minutes.