When Rhaegar was about to ask more, he heard a loud sound similar to a sharp crack, and a figure appeared in the middle of the throne room. It was a young man in his twenties with black hair and dark green eyes; a beautiful bird sat on his shoulder, looking proudly at everyone. Curiously, he was holding a man in black robes by the collar.
Cadmus didn't mind being the center of attention and walked forward under the curious, shocked, and confused gazes of everyone present.
"My King, I have completed the mission in Duskendale; I burned the entire army of Ghouls and Zombies," Cadmus spoke, looking at Rhaegar seated on the Iron Throne with a touch of curiosity.
He had to admit that, although it didn't look comfortable, the throne was truly imposing, making anyone who saw it feel frightened and small before the aberration of blackened and twisted steel.
Tossing the Shadowbinder onto the floor like a piece of trash, Cadmus spoke in a calm tone. "The culprit is this man, a Shadowbinder from Asshai. He killed Renfred Rykker and all members of House Rykker, as well as all one thousand city guards."
Rhaegar's eyes grew terribly cold at Cadmus's words; he looked at the unconscious man with a murderous gaze. At the same time, he feared this power more than ever. For one man to be capable of so many murders was insane. He asked himself how the continent of Essos remained in order with so many mages and other mystical things.
Looking at his court, Rhaegar noticed that everyone who hadn't been at Harrenhal was staring at Cadmus with curiosity and confusion.
"This is Cadmus Peverell, Lord of Harrenhal and the Court Mage; he will be responsible for the court's magical affairs," Rhaegar introduced Cadmus to the entire court. At this point, there was no turning back; once the Faith and the Order of Maesters learned of this, there would be even more chaos.
Cadmus couldn't help but be surprised by Rhaegar's introduction; he thought it would take some time for the King to present him, but it seemed that with so much happening, the King no longer cared about the repercussions.
Many men frowned upon hearing the King's introduction. Aside from the title of Court Mage, the title of Lord of Harrenhal was simply insane in their eyes, especially for a mage. A mage had just created an army of ghouls and zombies, and the King was welcoming one into the Court!?
There were many who followed the Faith of the Seven; they looked at Cadmus with gazes full of disgust and anger.
As if anticipating the words of the lords present, Rhaegar spoke in a calm yet powerful and regal tone. "I am not informing you; I am telling you that Lord Peverell is part of the Small Council."
The words that were about to leave these men's mouths could no longer be uttered. They looked at the King in disbelief, but faced with his cold and deep gaze, they chose to hold their tongues and did not dare to cross him.
Cadmus looked at these men with a cold stare. Aside from the members of the Small Council, the rest were Ladies and Lords living in King's Landing—leeches who had no real power and lived at Court simply to flaunt their noble status.
"Lord Peverell, did you extract any important information from this Shadowbinder?" Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Rhaegar looked back at Cadmus and asked in a deep tone.
Cadmus didn't answer immediately; he kicked the Shadowbinder, waking the mage instantly. "He is under the effect of a Truth Serum; he will answer anything the King asks without hesitation."
He lied; the Shadowbinder was not under the effect of any potion, but he would not reveal the Three Unforgivable Curses to outsiders. That knowledge belonged to him and no one else. After all, it would only cause unnecessary chaos.
Rhaegar's eyes lit up at Cadmus's words; he truly wanted a few vials of that potion. However, he set those thoughts aside and looked at the Shadowbinder, whose features were hidden by black robes and a hood, with only his eyes visible.
"Are you and Balon Greyjoy working together?" Rhaegar asked in a cold, deep tone.
"Yes," the Shadowbinder replied without any hesitation. Under the Imperius Curse, he had received orders from Cadmus to answer any question from the Targaryen King.
Whispers echoed in the throne room; everyone looked at the Shadowbinder with incredulity and at Cadmus with genuine fear.
"Why?" Rhaegar couldn't help but ask, confused. Whether it was House Greyjoy or the Iron Islands, both were poor in resources, people, and money—how could such a powerful mage ally himself with Balon?
"That stupid mortal has a finger of a True God, the Drowned God. He traded that finger for me to cause chaos in the Crownlands. Since the Targaryens are weak without blood magic, fire, and especially without dragons, I accepted without hesitation." The Shadowbinder's words made Rhaegar's face turn livid with rage.
Clenching his fists tightly, Rhaegar controlled the urge to cut off the Shadowbinder's head. He had never felt such humiliation in his life as he did at this moment, being called weak in front of his entire court.
Cadmus didn't seem surprised by the Shadowbinder's words, though he had also been surprised when he first heard that Balon actually had a Sacred Relic in his vaults. Cadmus had already interrogated the Shadowbinder, so he already knew about the Sacred Relic.
However, the Shadowbinder's words made many eyes widen—not because of the disrespectful words toward the King, but because of the news that House Greyjoy actually possessed a Sacred Relic. One of the reasons the Faith of the Seven was so powerful was that they held Sacred Relic of Saints from the Andal heroes.
These Relics gave extraordinary power to those who held them; everyone wanted that kind of power, but no one imagined that poor House Greyjoy had such a powerful item. They also never imagined that Balon would actually use something so precious as payment.
Rhaegar smiled sarcastically, knowing why the Shadowbinder hadn't simply stolen the Sacred Relic and preferred to make a deal instead.
"It seems Balon is truly prepared," Rhaegar said in a cold tone. He smiled and looked at everyone present. "Jon, from this moment on, the city is under martial law. Everyone entering must be interrogated and searched; no carriage may enter without being inspected."
"Raymun, prepare the logistics; House Tyrell will assist with food during this war."
"Monford, I want you to lead part of the Royal Fleet to attack the Iron Islands; I don't want Balon getting too comfortable. The rest of the Royal Fleet must join the Redwyne Fleet and protect the entire coast from any suspicious vessels."
Rhaegar began giving orders with speed and efficiency; he had already fought and commanded in two rebellions and was no novice.
"Cadmus, what shall we do with this Shadowbinder?" Rhaegar asked for Cadmus's advice regarding the Shadowbinder, who hadn't even moved; he seemed strangely happy and at peace to the King.
"We can use him like a dog; I know how to train a dog well," Cadmus said with a cold smile on his lips. "He will obey my orders without hesitation, even if I ask him to kill himself before the King."
Cadmus's words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, including Rhaegar. However, the King looked at the Shadowbinder with a glint in his eye. This was no novice mage, but a truly experienced and powerful one who had killed thousands personally and tens of thousands indirectly; he was an extremely potent weapon.
"I will leave that matter to you, my dear lord." Rhaegar gave all the power to Cadmus. He treated Cadmus with respect and even spoke to him as an equal, rather than the tone he used for his vassals and subordinates.
After all, Cadmus had destroyed an army of tens of thousands of monsters; if Rhaegar were to treat Cadmus as a subordinate after learning that fact, he would be a fool. He knew better than anyone that if Cadmus wanted to, he could have taken King's Landing easily.
Cadmus nodded and smiled at the Shadowbinder.
"My King, let me know when the materials for the ritual are ready so I can begin the next session," Cadmus spoke in a calm tone while grabbing the Shadowbinder by the collar. He had to perform the ritual on more members of House Targaryen.
Rhaegar nodded and did not forget that fact; his family was still poisoned, and he needed more animal blood for the ritual.
Cadmus didn't linger and Apparated away before the still-shocked and fear-filled eyes of the entire Court of King's Landing. The mage knew it wouldn't be long before everyone knew of his existence and his deeds.
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard