After my first real display of power, I understand why people would get addicted to this feeling. The rush I felt as I looked at hundreds of people on their knees, looking at me in awe and fear, was something I would not forget anytime soon. And knowing that what I had used was barely a fraction of my power did not slip my mind either.
I was already close to being at the top of the food chain in this world, it would only take me a thought to start the end of all life in this world. But that would be pretty pointless, so I was going to slowly escalate my show of power to make the players of this game feel like they had some hope before I showed that this was not a game they could ever win.
I initially did have some thoughts of taking the iron throne for myself, but that would be only fun until I got it, and actually taking care of the kingdom was going to get boring very fast. So my plan was to let the war that was going to start eventually start, or maybe start it myself if it was taking too long. Then I would just help whoever I liked get the throne and keep doing my own thing.
I hadn't even planned on staying in Winterfell as long as I had, but living there was oddly peaceful. I had grown to like the cold. Nobody bothered me much and I had delegated most of my tasks to Freya.
Now that I had a whole new direction of knowledge to explore, I couldn't wait to leave the capital and start to integrate magic into my body. I knew that after my latest display of power, a lot of people would be happy to have me leave the city as soon as possible.
However, I had unfinished business in the city. I knew that someone high up in power probably enticed the High Septon to act, as he wouldn't have done so when he clearly knew I had the King's blessing in setting up the pyre.
The only people who came to mind were Varys, Baelish, or Cersei. Now, for some reason, this didn't seem like Varys' method of operation. It was done very sloppily, so it was probably the other two. And among them, I was leaning more towards Cersei.
I wonder why the queen bitch herself would want me mobbed. I hadn't done anything against her. In fact, I thought that the vain cunt would actually appreciate not having to smell the city's waste all the time. Maybe I should kick the hornet's nest a bit more before leaving.
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Jon Arryn was frustrated and disturbed by the schemes he had been hearing about. Despite his efforts to stay informed, he often found out about them too late to take action. When he first heard about the healer's plan to set up a pyre, he was skeptical and even a little scared. But after seeing the results the next day, he couldn't deny the effectiveness of the healer's methods.
The high septon's stunt had caught Arryn off guard; he had expected some problems from the faith but nothing so brazen, and he realized that he needed to re-evaluate what he knew about the healer. He was no longer the simple healer that everyone had expected him to be, and he couldn't help but shudder as he remembered the primal terror he had felt even though he was deep in the heart of the red keep.
Initially, Jon had planned to give the healer a prominent position in the capital as a healer, knowing that the smallfolk would be overjoyed to have someone who could heal all ailments in the city. But after witnessing the healer's recent display of power, that idea was quickly scrapped. Instead, Jon knew that they needed to send the healer out of the capital as soon as possible, and as politely as possible. Not only for the sake of his own fear, but also in hope that none of the other so-called "players" in the game would become too antsy with bruised egos and do something stupid that would anger the healer again.
He hoped that Ned could keep the healer loyal to the crown while he was in the North. He wondered if Ned knew about the healer's true power, or if he had been kept in the dark as well.
One good thing he had managed to figure out was that the healer, or rather, the mage, didn't seem prone to violence. Based on the fact that it was the first time he had used such power and that too only when he was confronted, He genuinely believed that the mage could have killed everyone in that mob if he had wanted to. But he was relieved that the mage had shown restraint and didn't resort to violence.
Now Robert's suggestion of giving him a lordship didn't sound so absurd. It would still be better to ask the healer himself what he wanted. Hopefully he wouldn't ask for something too outlandish.
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I find one of the balconies with a better view of the bay and sit on the edge, admiring the view. As I take in the peaceful scenery, I feel the hand of the king approach me. I look back to him, nodding my head in greeting.
"Lord Hand, what brings you here this fine evening?" I ask, keeping my tone casual.
He nods his head at me, a hint of a smile on his face. "We haven't really talked to each other properly, Ser Healer. I thought I'd come by and get a good measure of the man who had all of King's Landing singing his praises one day and shaking in fear at the mere mention of his name the next."
I let out a snort, my smirk starting to show through. "So what's the latest rumor going around? I'm sure since it's been a few hours, you've come across at least ten by now."
The hand chuckles "You undersell yourself again. I've heard more than ten just on my way here from my solar. Last I heard, you were the Stranger's son who rebelled against the Seven and came down to the mortal plane to kill the devoted."
I whistle in surprise. "That sure escalated fast."
The hand's smile fades and he looks at me seriously. "They do that most of the time, healer. Although I can't call you that anymore, can I?"
I shrug, still keeping my tone very casual. "You can call me whatever you want, Lord Hand, but I prefer to be called El."
"Well then, El, I can tell from what I have observed that you are a straightforward person, so I will ask you this directly: what is your objective?"
I hum and give the question some thought, "I'll answer your question truthfully, if you tell me what it is that you think I want."
"My first guess was the Iron Throne, but your actions have not been in that direction, so I genuinely do not know," the Lord Hand said, his tone curious.
I chuckled softly before responding, "To be honest, the idea did cross my mind. There's no denying that the throne is a sight to behold, and it would be exhilarating to claim it through force. However, the truth is that once I sat on that throne, my life would become a never-ending cycle of monotony and frustration. The grandeur of the throne would be nothing more than a gilded cage, and I treasure my freedom far too much to be confined in such a way."
"So there is your answer, Lord Hand. My goal is to be free and I came here in King's Landing to show all these so-called 'players of the great game' that you call them that I don't really care much for their games. And whatever illusion of power they think they hold is nothing in front of true power. I wanted to show them a mere glimpse into what was waiting for them should they ever try to play their games on me"
He looks like he had expected that answer which somehow surprised me "I see. No wonder you have lived peacefully in Winterfell. Does Ned know how powerful you are?"
"I haven't told him, but I'm sure he suspects. He doesn't like playing games, and he doesn't bother me much. He doesn't give me any orders that he knows I will not follow." I said with a hint of amusement.
"I see… Robert wanted to give you a Lordship for your work in the capital, but judging by your answer, it is not something you would care for. So, what do you think would be a fair payment for your work in the city?" he asked, his tone becoming more serious.
"You are right in assuming that I wouldn't care for an existing lordship, but there is something I want, similar to that. It's something I haven't discussed with Lord Stark yet, but there is an uninhabited forest located in the northern mountains that I would like to claim. My aim is to acquire the entirety of the forest along with the surrounding mountains. I had been planning to approach Lord Stark about this matter, and having the approval of the King would undoubtedly expedite the process," I replied.
"An odd request, but one that can be easily granted," he said, nodding in agreement.
"To be honest, Lord Hand, this is not how I had expected our talk to go," I admitted, a hint of surprise in my voice.
He laughed, "I'm sure you expected me to call you a heretic for harming the High Septon of my faith and banish you from the kingdom under the threat of execution."
"Frankly, yes," I replied, a hint of amusement in my voice.
"I'd like to think that I'm old and wise enough to recognize a fool's errand when I see one. Now, if you would like to satisfy the curiosity of an old man, how powerful are you?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
I contemplated the question and thought of a way to answer it. "I do not think King's Landing is ready for another show of my power, Lord Hand, so if you would humor me, let me show you a different form of power, one that you are intimately familiar with," I suggested, a hint of a challenge in my voice.
"Go on," he says, intrigued by my proposition.
"It's simple. I will ask you some questions pertaining to the realm. Please give them some thought," I explained.
"Before the rebellion happened, you and I both know that the Targaryen's lived quite a lavish lifestyle with no shortages of tourneys and celebrations, and still had overflowing treasuries," I begin.
He nods, "Yes, that would be a fair assumption."
"So my question to you is why is it that after the new king took the throne, the kingdom is suddenly in serious debt? While I don't doubt the new royal family lives more lavishly than the last, it is quite an achievement to completely empty a 300-year-old dynasty's treasury in less than a decade on just ale, whores, and tourneys," I say, my voice carrying a hint of sarcasm.
He frowns as he considers my words. "While I'm not going to ask you how you know of the kingdom's finances, are you telling me that there is foul play at hand?"
"I'm not telling you anything, Lord Hand. I'm just asking you some questions. After all, coin does not just disappear. It has to go somewhere," I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral.
"Now, let us assume for a moment that there is some foul play at hand. If so, then who would be the first person to find out about such an issue?"
"The Master of Coin," he says, his expression serious.
I smirk. "Yes, the Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish, or Littlefinger, or the man who can rub two coppers together to make a gold coin. Now, if someone's been stealing from the crown and the man responsible for the coin doesn't know anything about it, then there are only two conclusions that I can come to. One is that Petyr Baelish is very incompetent, or..." I trail off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
"That is a serious implication," he said, his frown deepening.
"I'm not implying anything, Lord Hand. I'm just sharing some thoughts that I had in exchange for the wonderful conversation that you have provided me with," I say with a wide smile on my face.
Before he can ask me any more questions, I get off the ledge and make my way into the keep. "Have a good day, Lord Hand. You don't have to worry about me causing any more problems in the city. I'll be leaving tomorrow," I say, trying to sound nonchalant but inside I was giggling like a kid who had just thrown a rock at a beehive.