Nefis. King's Landing.
I walked down one of the corridors of the Red Castle until I stopped in front of the doors I needed, which were guarded by two golden cloaks. They looked at my face and, with a brief nod, let me inside, where the person I needed was already waiting for me.
It was another of the hundreds of rooms in the Red Castle that were reserved for meals, meetings, or private conversations of the highest nobles of the Seven Kingdoms, and the woman I had come to see was one of them.
- "Your Majesty," I bowed as soon as I entered the room.
- "It's good to see you, Malloyna," the queen said with a slight smile, "Do you have something to tell me?"
- "Yes," I nodded, "It's about that sorcerer."
- "Oh? What about him?"
- "He was here two months ago."
- "Here?" she wondered, and the smile slowly fell off her face, "And why are you only talking about this now?"
- "You yourself had scheduled our meetings only once every three months out of precaution. I couldn't go against your orders."
- "Don't be conceited, Malloyna. Or have you forgotten who is the reason you are still alive and well?" the queen said in a harsh tone, then softened, "Sorry about that. These days bring me nothing but disappointment."
Yes, it was this woman who once found me on the street and set me up as a septa. She had recognized my Baratheon traits, which she had ordered me to hide afterwards, but she still chose to take me under her wing, and I understood why. It wasn't hard to guess, knowing her situation.
As for her attitude towards me, she was good at hiding the true emotions she felt towards my person, and only at times like this did she show her true face. But I didn't care, as long as I could act as I wanted to.
- "Please accept my apologies. May I ask what it was that upset you? I could do something about it."
- "It's okay, there's nothing you can do about it. Just the serpent and his Dornish whore," she shook her head, "And what was that sorcerer doing here?"
- "We had a conversation. The sorcerer found me on his own, and we talked without being seen or heard," I said, "He asked a few questions, mostly about my identity and purpose, but nothing more. I don't think he knows about the connection between me and you, but I'm not sure about that. And he also knew of my origins, which he directly told me himself."
- "I see. And Spider was never able to find anything about his origins or any other information before he met with the Starks. He probably wanted to talk to you because of your duties to the Stark daughters," the queen said seriously, "And what is this sorcerer like? What can you tell me about him?"
- "He's handsome, but his golden eyes frightened me a little."
- "Scared? As I recall, you didn't show fear even when you were younger, even though he could crush your head like a nut," she marveled, "And what was it that frightened you so, Malloyna?"
- "He had a sort of... inhuman look in his eyes, as if he didn't care a bit about worldly matters. And that's what frightened me. I couldn't read or understand or even try to anticipate his motives. And throughout the entire conversation, it seemed to me that he was a more... higher being than I was," I replied, "It's... difficult to explain, Your Majesty, and I apologize for that."
- "It's all right, I believe you, even if I don't quite know what you're talking about," the queen shook her head, "Do you think he will visit you again?"
- "I daresay he will."
- "Good. When he does, send him to me. I have something to discuss with him," she smirked, "As 'inhuman' as he is, I'm sure I can offer him something that will be hard to refuse."
- "As you command," I bowed.
- "Then did he leave?"
- "No. He also spoke to Lord Stark's daughters, and I managed to overhear them," I began, "Arya Stark showed nothing out of place in her demeanor or manner of speech, unlike her eldest daughter."
- "Yes?" the queen was interested.
- "She was more cunning than we thought. Instead of a frightened girl, she turned out to be an intelligent and observant woman who was well aware of the circumstances around her and was able to adapt to them. As it turns out, even for you, Your Majesty." I said.
- "Oh, now I'm really curious. Tell me more about what she was hiding from me..."
-0-
Jon Snow. The Enchanted Forest.
Another morning had come, and now, leaving Ghost behind, I was heading for the tent of the Elder, Mara's grandmother, who had asked me to stop by to see her today. At the same time, my eyes were once again inspecting the decoration of the clan, which indeed appeared to be well structured and cohesive.
The way of life of the clan was roughly what I had imagined when I thought of the Free Folks, but more civilized, you might say. Still the same wood-framed tents and clad in hides along with most of the open-air activities, but the village set-up was another matter entirely.
On the outskirts, near where I was lodged because I was a stranger, young men and women were training. The instructors were the "Heads", already mature hunters with scars on their bodies and a stern look, and they were supervised by the "Arrows", as in this case this activity was performed by the old man who had met our group two months ago.
Here, on the outer circle, there were also the tents of the "Heads" and "Arrows", meaning that this area acted as a protective dome through which the enemy would have to pass anyway to reach the rest of the village.
The next circle of the village was reserved for the "Shafts" and the "Nocks". And they were engaged there in cooking food, removing animal skins, sewing clothes from the same skins, extracting and procuring firewood, building tents, creating weapons, mainly daggers, small axes and tools, and arrows, including their repair, and other vital processes for the daily functioning of the village.
And last of all was the very center of the village, which, of course, was reserved for the "Plumage," that is, the tents of the elders, arranged in a semicircle. In its center stood one large tent with Weirwood inside, for meetings or other important gatherings. And that is where I was taken on my first day here.
I must say, the village's defenses were impressive. Using my Origin, I was able to recognize several hidden hideouts, both in the trees and in the ground, as well as hidden patrols every five hundred meters from the settlement. Well, the village itself was surrounded by mountains on two sides and was located on a small rise, not visible among the tall crowns of trees and landscape.
Given all this, I suppose that was why Mara was so confident and proud when separating the clan from the rest of the Free Folks. The enviable location for defense, the natural resources due to the fresh water river nearby, and the elaborate structure of the village itself.
Remembering all this, and ignoring all the suspicious, wary and disgruntled looks that hadn't disappeared after two months, I reached the center of the village and stood in front of the right tent, where Mara was waiting for me.
- "You're late, idiot," she said as soon as she saw me.
- "Well, they didn't tell me when to come, did they?" I grinned, "Yeah, and you could have come for me yourself so I wouldn't be late."
- "Hmph. Like I have nothing better to do," Mara said with a face of disgust, "Come on in. Grandma's waiting."
- "Okay," I nodded, and as soon as we were inside the tent, I started looking around.
It was quite a small but cozy tent with a place for a fire in the middle, animal skins spread on the floor, decorations with symbols of bow and arrow, several wooden boxes for storing things and a sleeping place on wooden logs.
An old woman was sitting on the hides by the fire, over which a cauldron of something hot hung. Small, almost toothless and wrinkled, but with a clear and wise look, that, seeing me, smiled and with her hand beckoned to me.
- "Come in, boy. I hope Mara did not disturb you too much?" She asked with an old laugh.
- "Grandma!" Mara was indignant.
- "I'm used to it," I let out a chuckle and sat down opposite the old woman, with Mara sitting between us on the side, "I somehow forgot to ask what your name is, Elder. May I recognize it?"
- "Vall, boy. You may address me either way," she introduced herself, "What do you think of the clan? You're inquisitive, and I'm sure you've had time to learn a lot just by observing everything."
- "Very impressive, Elder, and yes, you are right," I replied, "But may I ask a question?"
- "Of course."
- "Why... are you not leaving, even despite what Mara, Cid, and I saw on our way here? Don't the White Walkers and the Wights they create frighten you?"
Two months ago when I arrived here, we entered the main awning where a conversation took place between just our group, the three clan elders, and the five Arrows.
Back then, I had told everything I could, including my prank and the fight against the reanimated dead, without a secret. But, after all this time, that was the part that didn't make it beyond the tent, I realized. And it bothered me why the higher-ups chose to do nothing.
- "You're not one of us, boy, so it's hard for you to understand our customs," she said calmly, "But if I were to try to give you an answer, it would be the Old Gods."
- "The Old Gods?" I didn't understand, "What do they have to do with them?"
- "You're from the North, where the Old Gods are also worshipped, but not like here. We can't leave this place, because those are the ancient customs that are becoming or have become forgotten there, beyond the Wall. And we don't forget or break them, no matter what they are or how much time has passed. But if there's a sign... A sign that it's time to move, we'll move, and it doesn't matter where or how."
- "I... I still don't understand how ancient customs can defy common sense," I shook my head, and then a hunch occurred to me, "What if the sign was already there? What if the sign is Lord Solomon, who suddenly appeared in the North? He changed me, so I decided to come here, beyond the Wall, and he also gave me a sword that could kill Wights."
- "That's why I called you here, boy," the Elder replied, and I looked at her in surprise, "I had a command, and soon the King-beyond-the-Wall would be traveling south. You will go with him."
I froze.
Just arrived here and already back? Yes, I've seen a lot, but I've seen just as much as I haven't. I have yet to see the far North, where legends say the White Walkers came from. A land shrouded in mystery and mysticism that I still wanted to see, but...
But I also wanted to see them again. Robb and Sansa and Arya and everyone else. I wanted to see Lord Solomon and tell him what I had seen and experienced here.
And also, my Origin demanded an understanding of the situation in the Seven Kingdoms and its impact on the North just as much as it demanded moving further inland.
And, faced with a choice, I suppose I'd prefer a temporary return. After all, I've been gone for a long time, and a lot can change. And heading into the land of eternal winter, I had a pretty good chance of not returning, didn't I? But that wasn't what was important right now.
- "Why?" I asked, "Also, I don't even know who the King-beyond-the-Wall is, and how am I supposed to approach him if I'm not part of the Free Folks?"
- "Not yet," the Elder corrected me, not answering my first question, "You have a month or so to get to know us and become at least a little like us so you can go to the King-beyond-the-Wall's camp to meet him. And Mara and Cid will help you with that."
- "Huh?" Mara jumped up, "Cid, I see, but me? What's this about, Grandma?"
- "It's for the future of the clan, Mara," said the elder, "And since you've been traveling together for so long, the best choice would be you and Cid. He's been sitting idle for almost a month anyway, as have you, for that matter."
- "But.."
- "This time, Mara, I'm giving an order, not asking," the elder stated flatly, "You have a month, and then the boy will go to the Deer Horn. That will be all."
At this point, Mara and I had nothing left to do but leave the Elder's tent, and as soon as we did, Mara took a very long deep breath.
- "Okay, let's go find Cid. The sooner we complete Grandma's task, the sooner I can dedicate myself to training again," she said, "Hey, idiot, are you listening?"
- "Yes, yes," I sighed, "But I still don't understand why the elders don't do anything. What are these ancient customs you follow?"
- "I don't know. Only the elders usually do that, and we follow their orders," Mara shrugged and went off in search of Cid, and I followed her, "Don't hope to get answers from your grandmother, just do as she says. Once she's made up her mind about something, no one can change her mind. I know that."
- "And it doesn't bother you at all that she's hiding something?" I raised an eyebrow.
- "No, not really," Mara said, and I wondered.
What am I supposed to do? How do I get answers? I guess those questions will keep me busy for the rest of my life, won't they?
-0-
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