Kinvara. Volantis.
The morning sun was just showing in the sky, and I was running into the main hall of the temple, ignoring my clothes and unkept hair. I felt a rush of heat coming from the main hall of the temple, where there was a huge brazier with the ever-burning flame of the Lord of Light.
Bursting in, my eyes saw that the flame, which was not even half the height of the hall, now reached the ceiling. It took up a third of the entire room, and red priests and priestesses from all over Volantis were kneeling and praying as they gazed upon it.
And when I came close to the flame, my vision went dark for a moment, and the next moment I was in a void of fire and smoke. Before me was a human silhouette made entirely of flame. Huge. Strong. Magnificent. I couldn't make out any features, but I knew it was him. The Lord of Light, R'Glor.
I just couldn't believe it. He was standing before me in person. In all of history, the Lord of Light had never appeared in person and carried someone into his domain. My body instantly went to a kneeling posture, and my head bowed in anticipation.
- Kinvara," I heard the deep and strong voice of the Lord of Light, bowing my head even lower. - You have an assignment.
- Yes, Lord of Light. Kinvara listens attentively.
- Find... someone," he said in a majestic tone. But I could detect a tiny note of doubt.
Our god... doubted? H-how is that possible? What could cause him to doubt?
- Who, my lord?
- Solomon. The Magician," he declared while his burning eyes were directed directly at me. - He is in the North. Find him. He is the one who will bring salvation to these lands.
And as soon as those words were spoken, the picture in front of me changed. I saw the main hall of the temple and the brazier again, and the flames that reached the ceiling of the room returned to their normal state.
S-salvation? Is he Azor Ahai? Was Melisandre wrong when she went to Dragonstone? Or is this "Solomon" someone else? Someone more important? And the Lord of Light called him a "Magician"...
I... I must go myself. I must see him with my own eyes.
- High Priestess? What did our Lord tell you? - One of the priestesses asked.
I turned and looked at those present and took a very serious look.
- Prepare the ship as soon as possible. I have to go to the North," I said and went to my room.
- As you wish, High Priestess," came the reply.
But I paid no attention. I needed to prepare. I needed to find "Solomon."
-0-
Varis. King's Landing.
- Your Majesty, are you listening?
- Yes, yes, eunuch," the king grumbled irritably. - There's a wizard in Winterfell, so what? Essos is full of them, isn't it? Or do you just want revenge on all the wizards for burning your cock?
- My personal dislike of magic has nothing to do with it, my lord," I shook my head. - The North started making and selling paper and glass.
- And? Didn't that mean Ned finally had money?
I sighed tiredly and adjusted my robe.
Ah. Robert Baratheon really leaves a lot to be desired as King of the Seven Kingdoms. When I had asked him to call a Small Council, arguing the news of the North, I had hoped he might connect the dots, or at least consider my words. But apparently my hopes were not realized. Again.
- My lord," Littlefinger spoke up. - Varys meant to say that the North is beginning to gain strength. And that Eddard Stark might try to separate his holdings from the Seven Kingdoms.
Ah. The sly snake is trying to grease himself again. And the crown's debt just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
I'm perplexed. In the sincerest possible way. Why didn't anyone on the Small Council even think about where the debt of nearly six million gold dragons came from? Didn't anyone want to check on Littlefinger's affairs, given the fact that he was the Master over Coin?
That said... they clearly don't care about such a thing as the crown's debt.
Renly is a child in an adult body. He's too ambitious and frivolous. He's impulsive, too. He cares little where the money comes from, as long as it's there. And I doubt he's studied a single financial report. He's more interested in talking. Though I admit he's charismatic enough to listen to what comes out of his mouth.
Stannis Baratheon is a typical warlord. He doesn't really care about financial matters - just the navy and the soldiers. Though he does have a strong sense of duty and justice. There have been no large-scale battles in these years, which has discouraged him from diving into the study of papers. In addition, the red priestess on Dragonstone whispers words of salvation to him and has already converted him to her faith. But Stanis is a hard man who can't stand change, and I don't think he seriously believes in the Red God.
Pycelle is an actor who thinks he's fooled everyone. But my birds know everything. He's cowardly and helpless. He's willing to buckle under anyone if it keeps him alive. Although the number of chains on him exceeds one, I wouldn't call him a competent doctor. The position he holds, however, opens him up to a pretty wide range of possibilities. And Pycelle clearly doesn't know how to use it.
The only people on the Small Council I don't dislike are Barristan Selmy and Jon Arryn.
Sir Barristan has too much faith in the small council. He thinks everyone here is working for the good of the Seven Kingdoms. Unless he's rubbed in the dark, he'll remain an errand boy. I've given him a few hints, but they've all passed his ears. He's too blind to the darkness that dwells in King's Landing.
Ah. Jon Arryn. Prudent and trusting. So much so that he took my hints about the current king's children to heart. But unlike Sir Barristan, he listened to me and started digging. And he was even starting to get somewhere. As Hand of the King, he has to dig into the intricacies of the Seven Kingdoms. And now, he's delving into the dark side of the kingdom's capital. And it's not my clues that are leading him there, but his own prudence.
- Bullshit! There's no way Ned would do that. Not even if that wizard in his castle whispered something to him," the king argued vehemently.
- Pardon me, Your Majesty, but if the North continues at this rate, the balance of power in the Seven Kingdoms may be shaken," Pycelle interjected. - Glass is only made in Dorne and Essos. Both keep the method of making it secret. And paper, though common, the paper made in the North is whiter and less thick.
His Majesty hesitated and put his hand to his chin.
- What do you think, Jon? - He asked Jon Arryn, after a while.
- I suggest we wait it out. We know Ned well, and I doubt he'll do anything so drastic," he answered after a moment's thought and looked at me. - Varys, how many of your birds are in the North?
- Enough, Lord Hand," I bowed slightly.
- Keep an eye out for messages from them. I want to know what's going on there.
- Yes, my lord.
- Well, now that we've made up our minds. The small council is dismissed," the king said. - All of you, get out of here! I need a drink.
A drink? Robert Baratheon hasn't had a drink since Lyanna Stark died. I wonder how long before the Seven Kingdoms become Six.
I grinned and went to my chambers.
-0-
Robb Stark. Winterfell.
Lord Solomon was wise. So it seemed to me as he told his stories to me and my siblings.
First he would share stories from his lands and then he would ask us what we thought of them.
The tale of the "married" swords awakened in us a strong interest in the myths and legends from Lord Solomon's lands. So strong, in fact, that we asked Father to set aside one day of the week to listen to them.
Father agreed, setting aside the dining room for the purpose, and later joined us himself. As did Mother with Sir Rodrik and Maester Luwin. Septa Mordain tried to prevent us, saying that what Lord Solomon was saying was heresy, but Father simply brushed it aside. He said they were just myths and legends and there was nothing wrong with them. What surprised me was that even my mother agreed. To which I received a judgmental look from the septa.
Realizing there was nothing she could do, she threatened that Seven would see it and punish us. And then she ignored everything to do with Lord Solomon.
And so, every seventh day of the week became an event for us to look forward to. And today he told us about the man who had been named "King of the Conquerors".
- So, may I ask your opinion about the King of the Conquerors? - Lord Solomon asked with a soft smile.
There was silence in the hall for a while. As I pondered what I thought of the story, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that even little Arya was absorbed in my thoughts. And my father's smile stayed on his face until the end of the story. And he was the first to speak up.
- I really liked his words "To conquer without destroying, to command without humiliating - that is the essence of conquest." I'd even swear allegiance to him.
- What makes you think that...Ned? Doesn't conquest sound like evil? - Lord Solomon asked with some uncertainty?
Ned? Had he finally started addressing his father by his nickname?
I grinned.
Apparently Jon had lost me a few copper pennies.
- Yes, he had. But conquest, like war, is common and sometimes necessary. Lack of land for one's people or some other circumstance may force one to do just that if there is no other option. But I like the way this man feels about conquest. What do you think, Maester Luwin?
- You're right, Lord Stark. Circumstances can vary. Take the Greyjoys, for example. Though they're disliked for their activities, they have no other choice. The Iron Islands are not known for their fertility and mines. So they have to pillage and pirate," Maester Luwin nodded. - The man said that every land he conquered could assimilate into his empire and become part of it, preserving itself and its culture. Without any infringement of rights or the like. And that every warrior from that land could be the one to conquer the next. Warrior respect, I would say.
- And unfortunately, the people of the Iron Islands are not as wise as he is," Father sighed.
- Lord Solomon," the mother said. - You mentioned that there were women in his army, didn't you? Weren't his subjects against the idea?
- You're right, Lady Stark. Alexander believed that gender did not matter, only skill," Lord Solomon explained. - But there were very few of them, because someone had to give birth to new ones. And in his army he took only those who could not do it for one reason or another.
- You mean I could join?! - shrieked a surprised Arya. To which she received a hard stare from her mother.
- In theory.
- I see," she said in a calmer tone.
- Were there mages in his army? - Jon asked.
- There were. But you must realize that magic is a dangerous thing, and that the spells could affect their own. That's why Alexander used them with caution.
Jon nodded and fell silent, having gotten an answer to his question.
Magic. I saw Jon scream when Lord Solomon used the ritual. And I immediately felt uneasy. As it was explained to me, it was something everyone who wanted to practice magic went through. To be in so much pain that every time you make a mistake, you die? I wouldn't do that. Once, I even got to see Jon's hand almost turn to mush when he cast a spell incorrectly.
Of everyone present, only Sansa, Bran, and Sir Rodrik had not spoken.
Sansa's eyes never left Lord Solomon's face. Well, she's obviously in love. And I don't think she remembered anything.
Bran was more attracted to magic and mysticism, but he listened intently.
And Sir Rodrik was most likely interested in the armament of the Conqueror King's army and the skills of his warriors.
- Was the Conquest really necessary? - I asked, thinking over my question.
- Like your father said, sometimes circumstances force you to do just that. The Conqueror King began his journey as a boy. Childish and overconfident. But along the way, he learned about himself. He changed and became the man I have told you about today," Lord Solomon replied, and then turned his gaze to all those present. - What conclusion can be drawn from this story?
The whole room fell into silence. And so it went on for about three minutes. Until Jon spoke up.
- It's the journey that counts, right? Not just the end.
- That's right. What's the point of the end if you haven't grown along the way? - Lord Solomon replied, and a kind smile appeared on his face.
I... understand. Lord Solomon is wise. And he shares that wisdom with us. With me. For which I am grateful.
And I hope I can repay that debt in full. When I grow up, following his advice.
-0-
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