It was late February in the Reach, and the scorching sun made the air distort with heat.
This long summer had lasted for seven years, long enough that all memories and vigilance regarding the cold winter had gradually faded from people's minds.
Traveling south along the scenic Roseroad to its intersection with the Ocean Road, one could see the most beautiful city in Westeros upon a hill by the Mander River.
Highgarden.
Inside the castle built of white marble, exquisite sculptures, unique fountains, and blooming flowers could be seen everywhere. Of course, golden roses were indispensable among them.
They were the masters of this castle and the symbol of House Tyrell.
Clang, clang, clang...
Accompanied by the melodious bells, three figures walked through the winding corridor and entered the Knight's Hall.
The sigil on their chests was not a golden rose but a striding huntsman drawing a bow.
This was the sigil of House Tarly.
The man in the lead appeared to be in his forties. He had a stern face and did not smile. He sported a short, stiff beard and wore a dark green silk tunic trimmed with white fur. A heavy greatsword hung at his waist.
This man was the Lord of Horn Hill, Earl Randyll Tarly.
Following behind him were his two sons.
The eldest son Samwell Tarly and the second son Dickon Tarly.
Both inherited their father's dark hair, grey eyes, and tall stature, but Samwell was too fat. On his fleshy face, the correct and tough features of House Tarly possessed no dignity at all.
Due to the hot weather, the noble attire nearly strangled Samwell to the point of breathlessness.
Yet he dared not unbutton his collar and could only suffer through it.
The three stood in the center of the Knight's Hall, waiting quietly.
Time passed bit by bit. Dickon seemed somewhat impatient. He looked at his brother who was staring blankly and could not help but ask in a whisper.
"What are you looking at?"
Samwell answered casually. "The stone pillar."
"Why are you looking at a stone pillar?"
"This is no ordinary stone pillar." The corners of Samwell's mouth tilted upward slightly, and a look of reminiscence flashed in his eyes. "This is the stone pillar from the songs of the bards."
"Bards? Did you sneak out to drink last night..."
"Quiet!" Lord Randyll turned his head and glared at the two brothers.
Dickon finally shut his mouth.
Samwell also lowered his head, but a trace of loneliness and melancholy flashed in his eyes.
Having come to this world three months ago, his sense of isolation grew day by day.
However, after realizing this was Westeros and that he had actually become the eldest son of House Tarly, he was in no mood for self pity.
Because although Samwell Tarly was the eldest son of the Earl, he was loathed by his own biological father.
As one of the most excellent generals in Westeros, Lord Randyll had countless brilliant military achievements. The most famous battle was during the War of the Usurper. He had defeated the founder of the Baratheon Dynasty, Robert I, at Ashford, making that brave and warlike king taste the only defeat of his campaigning life.
Such a proud and martial lord naturally could not tolerate his heir being a cowardly fat man.
Although Samwell was not devoid of merit, for he was actually very smart, knowledgeable, and compassionate, in the eyes of Lord Randyll, the heir of the family must be a brave warrior and not a wise maester.
Samwell knew very well that according to the original plot, he would soon be forced by Lord Randyll to go to the Wall to become a man of the Night's Watch. A man who would take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children. This would yield the family inheritance rights to his younger brother who was more favored by their father.
He certainly did not want to go to that place.
When he first crossed over, Samwell had tried to change all this.
He began to control his eating, exercised hard, and seriously studied swordsmanship and horsemanship. He wanted to use this to redeem his image in his father's heart.
Of course, just as his fat could not be lost in a short time, reversing the deep rooted image in Lord Randyll's heart was not something that could be achieved overnight.
Before Samwell made progress, his efforts were interrupted by a fall from a horse.
Fortunately, Samwell was not riding fast at the time, and he had a layer of fat as a cushion. This accident did not take his little life but merely left him lying in bed for over a month.
The family riding master said it was an accident.
Samwell, however, believed that someone had likely tampered with his saddle.
Obviously, someone did not wish to see the waste of House Tarly pull himself together.
Samwell did not know who had acted against him this time, but he had a general guess.
Lord Randyll disdained using such shady means. Even if he wanted to force his son to give up the right of inheritance, he would say it directly.
His brother Dickon was just a thirteen year old brat. If he had such dark schemes, ruthless means, and superb acting skills at this age, he would likely have a chance to compete for the Iron Throne in the future instead of being as obscure as he was in the show.
However, although it was unlikely to be his brother, it should have been the people around his brother.
Samwell had been a waste for too long. Not only had Lord Randyll given up on him long ago, but many people in the family had also long regarded Dickon as the future lord.
Therefore, unlike Samwell who was ignored and isolated, Dickon involved too many interests, and a group of loyal subordinates had long gathered around him.
If Samwell continued to be a waste, he could still live until the day his father forced him to be a Night's Watchman. But if he wanted to pull himself together and fight for the inheritance of Horn Hill, he would immediately face continuous blows and even assassination!
After experiencing this matter, Samwell finally realized that he had completely lost the initiative in this battle for inheritance rights. It was too late to turn the tide now, and he would face great risks.
Under such circumstances, giving up was the wisest choice.
Moreover, relying on his familiarity with the plot, he already held the greatest bargaining chips in the game of thrones that was about to begin. Why trap himself in the battlefield of Horn Hill where he was completely at a disadvantage and fight a battle with no chance of winning?
Of course, even if he gave up, he had to take the initiative and seize reasonable benefits instead of continuing to pretend to be cowardly and foolishly waiting for the day his father forced him to the Wall.
So after recovering from his injury, Samwell took the initiative to find his father and asked him to request a Pioneering Order from the Warden of the South, Duke Mace Tyrell.
When Lord Randyll first heard his eldest son's request, he thought he had misheard.
He never expected that his cowardly son would have such guts and courage.
However, after thinking for a moment, Lord Randyll agreed.
Because if Samwell went to pioneer a new territory, he would voluntarily give up the inheritance rights of Horn Hill. This was what Lord Randyll had always hoped to see.
Of course, he did not think his wasteful eldest son really had the ability to open up a new territory.
But this was not important.
Even if this son died on the way to pioneer, he would not feel heartache but would feel relieved. This was the destiny a man of House Tarly should have.
Thus, the trip of the father and two sons to Highgarden came to be.
Clack, clack, clack...
Crisp footsteps sounded.
Samwell turned his head and saw a fiery red figure stepping into the Knight's Hall.
That was a lovely young girl with brown eyes like a deer in the forest.
A red silk corset dress highlighted her well proportioned and tall body curves. Soft brown curly hair draped over her smooth shoulders, making her skin, already white as snow, look even more translucent. Combined with her exquisite and charming features, she possessed a unique charm that was unforgettable at first sight.
She was the daughter of Duke Mace Tyrell, the Rose of Highgarden, Margaery Tyrell.
...
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!