The scent of old parchment and the subtle hum of the System filled Maegor's solar. He was poring over the intelligence reports, planning the next phase of Myrosh's consolidation. His mind, sharpened by Valyrian Insight (Tier 3) and the cunning of Maegor the Cruel, was already laying out strategies for pacification and resource management.
A light rap came at the door, and Ser Kaeto entered, a bemused grin on his face. In his arms, he cradled a creature that looked utterly out of place in the warm Essosi castle: a direwolf pup, impossibly large for its apparent age, with piercing, intelligent eyes the color of molten gold. It was a beautiful, powerful creature, utterly unafraid, its tail giving a slow, deliberate wag.
"My lord," Kaeto chuckled, a rare, genuine laugh escaping him. "I believe this fellow belongs to you. I found him wandering the castle, bold as you please, sniffing at the kitchens as if he owned the place. He practically followed me here."
Maegor's eyes fixed on the pup. He felt the immediate, strong bond, the psychic link the System had described. This was his Companion Beast (Uncommon). He reached out, and the direwolf pup, with a soft whimper of acknowledgment, struggled free of Kaeto's arms and padded confidently towards Maegor, rubbing its large head against his leg.
"Thank you, Ser Kaeto," Maegor said, a faint smile touching his lips as he stroked the pup's thick fur. He felt its raw power, its fierce loyalty already fully formed. "He is… an unexpected companion. And a welcome one. He shall be called Ghost." The name came to him instinctively, a nod to his hidden nature and the silent terror he intended to evoke.
Ghost settled down at Maegor's feet, a loyal shadow, its golden eyes fixed on its new master. Maegor then reached under his desk, pulling out the Uncommon Longsword he had recently acquired from the Game of Chance. Its blade gleamed, subtly superior to common steel.
"This is for you, Ser Kaeto," Maegor said, presenting the sword hilt-first. "A blade worthy of the Deputy Captain of my Royal Guard, and a Targaryen by blood. Wield it in service to our House."
Kaeto's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine appreciation in them as he took the weapon. He tested its balance, his fingers tracing the fine craftsmanship. "My lord," he said, "this is a fine blade. Thank you. I will honor it, and you."
Before Kaeto could sheathe his new sword, another knock echoed at the solar door, more urgent this time. A castle guard, one of the newly recruited Myrosh men, burst in, his face pale, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"My lord!" the guard stammered, bowing quickly. "There are… there are men at the main gate! They demand to see you! They are… unusual. Fifty of them, my lord. They just… appeared."
Maegor's eyes met Kaeto's. "Appeared," he repeated, a knowing glint in his purple eyes. This was no surprise. This was the System at work.
"Their appearance, guard?" Maegor prompted, his voice calm, suppressing the thrill that coursed through him. "Describe them."
"They are tall, my lord," the guard reported, clearly rattled. "And fierce-looking. They wear strange, light scale armor, the color of old silver. And they carry short, curved swords, gleaming. They speak in… in a strange tongue, but their leader spoke a few words in the Common Tongue, demanding to see 'King Maegor'."
"And their demeanor?" Maegor pressed.
"Disciplined, my lord," the guard admitted, despite his fear. "Very disciplined. They stand as one. Like statues. They… they seem to glow, my lord."
Maegor allowed a subtle smile. Valyrian Swordsmen. Fifty of them. Veteran skill, Valyrian steel, and an Aura of Discipline. Summoned directly to his location. Epic. The System delivered.
He rose from his seat, the subtle Commander's Presence (Uncommon) already beginning to assert itself, radiating a quiet authority that calmed the trembling guard. Ghost, the direwolf pup, rose with him, his golden eyes fixed on the door, a low, inquisitive rumble emanating from his chest.
"Ser Kaeto," Maegor commanded, his voice filled with a cold satisfaction, "accompany me. Inform Ser Barristan immediately. Tell him to gather the rest of the Royal Guard at the gate. And prepare to welcome our newest recruits."
He strode from the solar, the guard scrambling to open the door. Kaeto followed, a knowing smirk touching his lips as he saw the grim determination in Maegor's eyes.
They descended the winding stone steps of the castle, their footsteps echoing. As they approached the main courtyard, the Myrosh Castle Guards were already forming up, their faces pale but holding firm under the leadership of Barristan's lieutenants. Ser Barristan himself stood at the inner gate, his hand on his sword, his aged eyes narrowed in suspicion at the extraordinary visitors.
As Maegor stepped into the courtyard, he saw them. Fifty men, standing in perfect, silent formation beyond the outer gate. Their scale armor, shimmering with an unearthly sheen, seemed to be made of solidified moonlight. Their Valyrian steel short swords, tucked into scabbards, hummed with a subtle power. Their faces were lean, hard, and their eyes, though varied in color, held a common intensity, a fierce loyalty already imprinted upon their very beings. They were not from Westeros, nor truly from Essos. They were from the System.
Their leader, a tall, imposing man with piercing grey eyes, stepped forward. He spoke in flawless, ancient High Valyrian, a language Maegor now understood with masterful ease. "King Maegor," the leader intoned, his voice deep and resonant. "We answer your summons. We are the Blades of Valyria. We are yours. To fire and blood."
Maegor felt an immense surge of power and satisfaction. This was beyond anything he could have recruited or trained. This was raw, untamed strength, ancient skill resurrected, and absolute loyalty.
"Welcome, Blades of Valyria," Maegor replied, his voice ringing with power, his Draconic Persuasion cementing their connection. "You have arrived. Your loyalty is accepted. And your blades will write history."
He turned to Ser Barristan, a rare, cold smile on his face. "Ser Barristan, Ser Kaeto. These men are the vanguard. They are the true Steel. Integrate them into our forces. We have a region to secure. And now, we have the means to do so with terrifying efficiency."
The Castle Guards, the Dothraki, and now the Valyrian Swordsmen. Maegor's power was growing exponentially. Myrosh would not just be consolidated; it would be brought under his iron will, a stark demonstration of what happened when the Dragon truly returned.