Game of Thrones: Knight's Honor-Chapter 343: Pentos and Lorath

As the next phase of the siege on King's Landing unfolded, Lynd's attention had already shifted elsewhere. Compared to a power struggle that had little to do with him, what was happening on the continent of Essos demanded far more of his focus and intervention.

First came Pentos and then Lorath, both submitting formal petitions to the Kingdom of Lorne, seeking to abandon their autonomous status and fully join the kingdom as subordinate city-states.

Pentos's request had long been expected by Lynd. Rumors of such a move had already circulated for some time—rumors deliberately spread by pro-annexation princely houses and magistrates, hoping to attract the attention of Lynd and Nymeria.

Eventually, both Lynd and Nymeria acted, helping the annexation faction purge the city's independent magistrates. From there, Pentos's formal submission became only a matter of time.

The internal strife in Pentos drew as much attention as the war raging across Westeros. As one of the most important Free Cities, Pentos's trade volume nearly equaled the combined output of the two cities in the Disputed Lands, and it had extensive economic ties with cities across Westeros. This civil struggle not only captivated many throughout Essos, but also drew the gaze of some in Westeros, momentarily pulling their focus from the Iron Throne to the far side of the Narrow Sea.

Most of those watching, however, couldn't make sense of the annexationists' motives. Pentos, after all, had already joined the Kingdom of Lorne alongside Norvos under the status of an autonomous city-state. While defense and public security were managed by Lorne's military, all governance, trade, and finance remained in the hands of local magistrates and nobles. To outsiders, this arrangement seemed ideal—a balance between sovereignty and protection. Why, then, would anyone give that up and opt for direct rule?

To many, the decision seemed irrational—something no sensible leader would do.

But, as the saying goes, only the one drinking the water knows if it's warm or cold. Those outside Pentos had no real sense of the city's current reality, and therefore couldn't grasp why its princely houses and magistrates were now willing to surrender power voluntarily.

In truth, after joining the Kingdom of Lorne alongside Norvos, many in Pentos began to regret the decision. The reality of life as an autonomous city-state under Lorne's rule wasn't what they had anticipated.

Unlike coastal cities, Norvos and Qohor are landlocked. All their goods must be transported either by river or overland. But the Kingdom of Lorne now controlled the Rhoyne River, and the Valyrian Road was blocked at a key point by Ghoyan Drohe. That left only one alternative: shipping goods north through Lorath and across the Shivering Sea. This route was far longer and more expensive, requiring more time, labor, and resources—more than double, in fact. And returning to the old Rhoyne and Valyrian Road meant paying taxes to Lorne.

Whichever path they chose, both cities faced significant new costs, which in turn drove up the prices of their goods. The result: their exports lost all competitive edge, and their economies suffered.

In the past, such restrictions might have provoked military conflict—an attempt to force Lorne to open its trade routes and drop tariffs. But now, even putting aside the strength of Summerhall, Lorne alone was powerful enough to crush both cities outright.

So when fighting was no longer an option, joining became the only viable path.

Qohor, feeling the pressure first, submitted to Lorne as an autonomous Free City. In exchange for giving up control over its military and public order, it received tax exemptions and a flood of new trade orders. Far from declining, Qohor thrived.

Norvos, seeing Qohor's rapid prosperity, couldn't sit idle. It voluntarily submitted its request to join, gained the same tax privileges, and saw its goods flowing smoothly across the world. At the same time, it benefited from an influx of cheaper tax-free goods. The residents of Norvos gained, and the city profited massively through trade—a win-win for all involved.

However, the situation in Pentos was entirely different. Its decision to join the Kingdom of Lorne had less to do with necessity and more to do with fear—fear stirred by Norvos's actions and its own overactive imagination.

Unlike Norvos, Pentos had no real need to submit to Lorne. It was already a major shipping hub, and its primary trade partners were across the Narrow Sea in Westeros.

Although Lynd's growing influence and support of the three major city-states in the Disputed Lands had redirected a portion of Pentos's trade, this shift wouldn't significantly impact Pentos in the short term. The city could continue to enjoy its prosperity, and maintaining the status quo would have been the smarter choice.

But Norvos's sudden submission created a false impression—that anyone who didn't join Lorne would soon be suppressed. Spurred on by fear of Summerhall and the Kingdom of Lorne, the Magisters and princely families of Pentos made a poor judgment call. They submitted their petition alongside Norvos, becoming an autonomous city-state under Lorne.

However, reality quickly diverged from their expectations. Instead of boosting trade, the change led to a sharp drop in income, largely due to the loss of tariff revenue.

It's important to understand: the mutual tax exemptions applied only to trade with the Kingdom of Lorne—not with Westeros. And since Westeros was Pentos's main trading partner, the exemptions did little to benefit the city. On the contrary, they enabled goods from Norvos, Qohor, and even farther regions to flow into Pentos tax-free via Lorne's trade routes. The biggest blow landed squarely on Pentos's spice trade.

And it wasn't just spices—grain took a hit too. The fertile flatlands surrounding Pentos had always produced grain that sold at a premium, easily doubling in value once it reached Westeros.

But with Westeros engulfed in war, those lucrative routes were blocked. Even though demand for food was high, shipments couldn't get through. Royal fleets loyal to Stannis intercepted cargo mid-journey, confiscating the grain and converting the transport ships into war galleys for the crown.

Grain that couldn't reach Westeros also had no place in Essos. Other cities were already being supplied by Lorne.

Since Lorne had converted the Golden Wilds, the Disputed Lands, and the lands along the Rhoyne near Myr into sprawling farmlands, it had all but monopolized the grain trade in Essos. Faced with Lorne's cheap, abundant food, Pentos's grain couldn't compete. It sat and rotted in warehouses, and the Magisters and noble houses that had built their fortunes on grain suffered devastating losses.

It was for all these reasons that Pentos quickly came to regret its decision to become an autonomous city-state of Lorne.

Joining had been easy—but breaking away was another matter entirely. The Miracle Fleet stationed in Pentos and Lorne's garrison forces bound the city like shackles. The local security offices functioned like blades at the throat. Any sign of disobedience would be labeled treason—and punished as such.

...

Realizing there was no way out, some of the Magisters and princely houses in Pentos went to the other extreme. If they couldn't leave, they would fully submit—petitioning to become a directly governed city of Lorne, just like Ghoyan Drohe.

This wasn't a rash move. It was a calculated one. They understood that while direct rule would mean giving up certain powers, it also came with significant advantages. For example, it granted access to previously restricted goods from Summerhall: the mysterious alchemical potions from the Black Cave, or the high-quality weapons and armor forged in Summerhall's smithies.

Trading these goods could bring in enormous profits. It would also allow them to integrate into Lorne's political elite, rather than remain perpetual outsiders.

Of course, not everyone was ready to surrender the little power they still held. Some believed that semi-independence was more valuable than new trade opportunities—holding onto political control was, to them, a better long-term strategy.

At first, the two factions within Pentos were evenly matched, neither side able to overpower the other. But when the Kingdom of Lorne publicly revealed it now possessed five dragons, the balance of power began to shift rapidly in favor of the annexationists.

And not long after, when Lorne signed a full alliance agreement with Daenerys, who had taken control of Qarth, annexation became the dominant trend. The situation unfolding within the Kingdom of Lorne reminded many of something they had only read about in histories: the rise of the Valyrian Freehold.

With Daenerys joining the Kingdom of Lorne, the realm now held command over eight dragons—not even counting the three kept at Summerhall. That kind of power was already comparable to the dragonlord houses of the Valyrian Freehold. And it was clear to all that the number of dragons under Lorne's control would only continue to grow. It wasn't unthinkable that one day they might command hundreds of dragons, just as Valyria once had.

In this climate, the earlier and more willingly one submitted, the greater the rewards. Far better to align yourself now than to be forced into surrender later, with armies at your gates.

That was what led Pentos to submit a request for full annexation, transitioning from an autonomous city-state into a directly governed city of the Kingdom of Lorne.

While this move from Pentos surprised many, it wasn't entirely without precedent. Anyone who had followed the long-standing power struggle between the annexationists and the independence faction in Pentos could have seen it coming.

But Lorath's request to join Lorne at the same time came completely out of the blue. There hadn't been the slightest hint beforehand.

Lorath's envoy delegation even merged with Pentos's, traveling together to Nasa Star.

Lorath sits at the far northern edge of Essos, bordering the Shivering Sea. Other than fish, it has virtually no natural resources of value and is almost invisible among the Free Cities. If not for the fact that Lorathian sailors are scattered across the known world, most people wouldn't even know such a city existed.

What sets Lorath apart is its sailors. They are considered the best in the world. Perhaps it's because they're raised facing the brutal climate and violent waters of the Shivering Sea, but their seamanship is unrivaled. Most ship captains, when hiring, prioritize Lorathians, and some desperate sailors even dye their hair to mimic Lorathian features just to get hired.

Lynd's Miracle Fleet even includes a patrol squad made up entirely of Lorathians, tasked with guarding the seas near Braavos.

Because Lorath is so poor and Lorne had no immediate use for their sailors, Nymeria sent only a token diplomatic team—a mere ten people—to establish formal relations after founding the Kingdom of Lorne. That team remained in Lorath, maintaining symbolic trade ties on Lorne's behalf.

But in truth, only two trades had ever taken place between Lorne and Lorath in all that time. Nymeria hadn't even bothered to include Lorath in her list of targeted conquests.

So, when Lorath's annexation request suddenly arrived, it caught everyone off guard. Still, Nymeria had no choice but to accept. After all, Lorath was volunteering to become a directly governed city—refusing them would send the wrong message to other Free Cities still considering submission. Even if it meant a heavy financial burden, she had no real alternative.

However, Nymeria was clever enough not to handle the annexation herself. Instead, she passed the news to Lynd—letting him deal with taking over Lorath while she remained focused elsewhere.

Lynd, for his part, had no objection. In fact, he welcomed the opportunity. He'd long wanted to explore the Shivering Sea and uncover the secrets of the polar ice fields to the north—perhaps even to learn more about the White Walkers.

He was also intrigued by the northernmost reaches of Essos, lands untouched by Westerosi explorers. Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, had once reached the legendary Thousand Islands and made contact with the distant kingdom of N'Ghai. Lynd found that idea deeply fascinating and had been considering organizing an expedition to venture into the unknown.

The timing of Lorath's submission solved one major problem: manpower. With the world's most capable sailors now under his command—men accustomed to the freezing, storm-wracked Shivering Sea—Lynd wouldn't need to worry about navigating its dangers.

So, upon receiving the message from Nasa Star, Lynd immediately assembled a fleet of envoys and dispatched them to Lorath to assume control of the city's defenses. As for civilian administration, that would have to wait until the military had fully established control and secured the city. Only then would clerks and officials be sent in.

Unlike with Pentos, neither Lynd nor Nymeria knew much about Lorath's inner workings. So, they opted not to take over local governance immediately. Instead, Lorath's original three princes would continue managing the city's affairs for the time being. Once the officials from Lorne had familiarized themselves with the situation, they would gradually take over the administration.