. Asgard Winterfell
-Room of the King of Asgard-
Hariric felt his head hurt. It was hard for him to think about that moment. But I end up opening my eyes. What was good was in his room. What he didn't expect was to have two women in his bed. One was his wife with which he would always agree since only an idiot cheats on a woman (especially one who knows how to kill with magic).
It was the other woman who surprised him. His olive skin. Brown hair. I didn't have to be a genius to know who I was. Elia, what the hell was she doing in her bed? Trying to remember, he got into his occlumence. Despite what many could believe with the occlumance you had access to every memory you have and you forget nothing.
With sovereign effort he began to catalogue his memories. It was not too difficult to get to Eia's memories and find out what was going on. Last night I was explaining to both of them that there was someone with magic out there who was dedicated to possessing people. Elia had immediately been scared and Ashara had responded by taking out the Whiskey.
After that, the questions and contributions began. Ashara made it clear that if it was possession magic, the best way to prevent it would be through enchanted magical artefacts to avoid that. Obviously Elia had agreed to the danger of a person being so not to be properly attended to.
After that things went wild. Ashara began by telling Harry that the Dornian women were not like those of the other kingdoms. Where the women of Asgard were hard as the earth, fierce as a wolf and resistant beyond all doubt the women of Dorne were hot and passionate. And I end up demonstrating that by kissing Elia in front of her nose.
Despite the magical resistance he had, he had taken a fire whiskey by himself, which had him more than affected. Needless to say, it has to see his wife kissing her best friend and that the other did not reject her and in fact began to get her hands on it was another thing he had not expected (When she was a nymphadora it was the same, the number of lovers she brought home was surprising).
Then Elia got up and started dancing. A slow and sensual dance. He couldn't take his eyes off his actions. I end up on his lap rubbing himself and giving him a little warmth. And then she kissed him in front of Ashara's gaze. And well, the rest was history. Drunk adults who were very tense sex is a great stress reliever.
The grunt. He should have known that his life was not simple. However, a look at Elia was enough to tell her that she was happy. Fuck, what kind of life had she had to not have a damn smile behind a night of sex? Was sex with the dragon bastard so fucking bad?
Ashara felt her husband wake up and smiled. For a while he had wanted Elia to join them in bed, his reason? Spiss a little more on Rhaegar's grave and at the same time make her best friend happy. In addition to that, she had always liked a good fuck with an attractive woman and having her husband running it was quite good in her mind.
I knew that he wasn't exactly upset about what had ended up happening. In fact, I was happy. From the look he was giving Elia, he knew he cared about her. I couldn't say I blamed him. Her husband had a very complete gift for being attracted to unique women. And Elia was unique.
She didn't have to be a genius to know that her husband was giving her a very bad perception of what Elia's life had to be. Wasn't even sex good enough for her? Fuck, what a shitty life that had to be. For her, she knew that her husband saw an intimate situation as something that should brighten your life.
While looking at her friend she realised that what her husband thought was true. Only judging by Elia's look of peace, did he know that she must not have had a good time at all. That bastard didn't even give his wife a dignified life before thinking about her great plans. Idiots like him deserved something much worse than death for their actions.
She felt her husband's power in Elia. I wouldn't be surprised if he left her pregnant. And knowing Elia she wouldn't be unhappy either. That he made sure to cure her three years ago. Of his poor condition because of what was his premature birth. From the poisons of Pycelle. Yes. Harry had been a better lover and much more than he could aspire to be Rhaegar's bastard.
She also had to admit that seeing her friend so fucking happy brought a smile to her face. It was quite obvious if you stop to think that Elia would not be missing the opportunity to maintain this. Loneliness is shit. Feeling lonely because you don't know if you will be loved is even worse. Her friend really had her trust issues.
Looking at her husband, she began to place kisses on his neck. He didn't feel him tense up which meant that he already knew that she was awake. Damn his ability to feel was still terrifying. Seeing him looking at her with the same love as always made him know that he was happy with how things were for the two of them.
"She looks very happy. I never thought I would have a life so bad as to think that being with a person who almost cost her and her daughter's life would be a great thing.'' Harry looked at the sleeping woman and thought about how bad her life had to be just to be happy by her side. He had illusions. He almost killed her and that should be in her head.
"You might be surprised how bad life is in that hole of snakes. How could a mother willingly send her daughter to be raised and marry there? Just imagining what could happen to anyone who has no control over their life is horrible. From Ashara's point of view, the very idea of having to go to the capital was complete shit
"Everyone is impatient fighting over who is placed where and everything. Frankly, I've always found it stupid. Their main concern should be their kingdoms. Their families. You'll tell me how they can think that playing it in that well is worth it''. The mere idea of imagining what it would be like to be with the politics of the southerners made him want to vomit.
''It's what is expected of us, my love. Let's just be pieces on a big board. The truth is that if you stop to think about it, the Northerners were the smart ones. You had more shit to worry about than the stupidity and waste of time in politics''. Before Hariric arrived, the northerners had so much concerns to attend to that politics.
''Ha. Possibly that shit will no longer be in the possibilities. Now the lords of the North will be happy and capable and will think that anything to increase the prestige of their homes will possibly come in their way''. I didn't give it one hundred percent since all the gentlemen had a lot to do but I could see the mentality grow over time.
"Maybe. However, it's hard for me to see the things that happen just like that. Especially when you have the army on your part. No gentleman will want to start problems. And unlike the dragon lords, you do have power''. Ashara sneered. The dragon lords were weak and useless while hariric was anything but that.
"I'm not attracted to headaches and I prefer to leave it to others. However, I will be the first to say that if someone plans to turn my kingdom into one of vipers like the south, I will have their fucking heads on a stake''. Hariric growled. The mere idea that his precious kingdom became shit as the south infuriated him.
"You've always had things clear. But tell me, what do you think of Elia? I know you have your mind going a thousand per hour thinking about what to say about her. In trying to come to conclusions. And I ask you, don't think anything less than pleasant about her''. Ashara didn't want her friend to be unhappy demons. And Harry had been an excellent example of a father to little Rhaenys.
"Ashara was almost responsible for the death of her daughter and hers. If I had done it better I could have recovered Lyanna and we wouldn't have this fucking problem. Instead I thought that since they had fucked me they must have suffered for their actions too''. There were times when I hated the blood of nemesis. Yes. It gave him great power. But the consequences worried him from time to time.
"What happened was not your fault at all, husband. If Rhaegar hadn't been an idiot, this wouldn't have happened. If the imbecile priests of fire had not committed themselves, that would not have happened. In the end, what matters most, my love, is that you were not to blame in any way. She sighed. She knew that her husband could have a time to consider himself guilty. The funny thing is that he blamed himself more for what almost happened to his friend than for what he did to others.
"It wouldn't be anyone's fault. But the truth is that things could have been resolved in many more ways. Fuck, I'm sure I could have seen more than one fucking solution in this regard more than simply trying to have their heads on the dicks.'' He would never let himself be dominated again by the blood of Nemesis. Letting himself be dominated by it was so bad that it wasn't worth it in his mind.
"Well, at least you have things clear. Anyway, do you see her unhappy? Yes. I was close to death. It was close. But you didn't allow it. Instead of letting her die, you saved her. I can almost call you his knight in shining armour, my love.'' Ashara laughed amused and smiled even more when she felt the anger in her husband obviously annoyed by it.
"I'm not the hero of anything or anyone. But I will always be a person who takes seriously what he does, let something happen to Elia when only her damn husband was responsible? Let something happen to Rhaenys? Fuck, it's not going to happen in any way.'' Harry refused. Not after he found out about Tywin's intentions and what he had planned. There were monsters. He was possibly the worst type.
"And that's why she's madly in love with you, my black wolf. How can you not fall in love with a person who is responsible for what he does, eh? How can you not fall in love with a person who makes decisions according to how things really are?''. She smiled at her husband. It was just too funny to see him trying to say that things weren't one way.
"You, my wife, can be a true lady of conscience. Well, I won't deny that she is attractive and if I have to be honest, the truth is that she is very nice. I just hope nothing bad comes out of all this''. Harry smiled at the happy woman knowing that things were far from being bad for her. If I had to say it, Elia would have a better life even than she could imagine herself.
"And that's what I wanted to hear. Besides, you can't deny in the least that it's fun. I also think you love his daughter as much as if she were your own. Don't try to deny it, my husband.'' Ashara laughed at the annoyed look her husband gave her. It was quite obvious that he hated when people reminded him of a great truth beyond annoying.
"You can really be a pain in the ass, honey. Anyway, I'd better stand up. A very hectic morning awaits me. I have to attend to the complaints and comments of people from the different production areas. And then I have a meeting with the iron bank representative and with Asshai''. No. It was not a morning with which he felt precisely very comfortable if he had to be frank.
"A very fucked up and hellish morning awaits you. One with many people waiting to get your approval and much more. Frankly, I feel nothing more than sorry for you. You'd better get ready for the day.'' She didn't feel so sorry for him since she had her own job. She was also in charge of what the Asgard bank was and had a lot of work to do. And if the deal with the iron bank was done well, it meant that the work would be later for her.
"You don't seem too happy. Well, I'll leave you. Frankly, having to attend to those bank idiots who think they can come to our kingdom after the monumental shit they did makes me not want to deal with them.'' Harry growled. After the betrayal, he wanted nothing more than to tell them to fuck off. Was that bad for him? Fuck, he didn't care.
''Don't kill him for the moment. Maybe being able to see them squirm could be the most fun. Just remember that they are not beyond all kinds of dishonest tactics for getting away with it in some way''. No. You didn't have to be a genius about it. If the bank didn't leave happy, there was a good chance that they would deal with anything.
"If I got out with mine, those bastards would know my intention. If they had gotten away with it, you would be dead. Our children would be dead. Everything I have built swept by the earth and destroyed. No. I'm not exactly in the mood to apologise to them.'' And it wasn't just his Nemesis blood that screamed for revenge. As a father, he knew that his family had been in danger just for that very reason.
''You will not see me against you. In fact I can assure you that you would have all my support to see them reduced to ashes. To see his so-called fabulous bank turned into less than nothing. But you have to be patient. Let them believe that we are still not furious enough my love''. Yes. That was his patient and expected nature. Because if I were Nymphadora completely I would have said to eradicate the whole city.
"Good. I'm leaving. Enjoy your time in bed before you leave.'' With a final kiss Harry stood up showing his physique before putting on some clothes and leaving his wife calm on the couch.
Ashara smiled with love at her husband. This is what he liked most about him. He took his words seriously and what is more important he tried to do things in a smart way. In addition to that, he was not blind at all and knew how to see the consequences of his actions, which was much more than most noble idiots.
While thinking about it she realised that things were going to change a lot although she would not deny that she was happy with the changes. If things went well for his family, they would soon begin to expand. This would also be good since although Asgard had a lot of land to cover, they still had to create more and more cities that were responsible for more and more businesses.
While she thought about it, she smiled feeling her stomach. She didn't know if it was possible but she thought it was possible that she would be pregnant again. You could imagine her husband's look for it. He loved babies and loved his children. The idea of raising his children was possibly one of the things he liked the most and made him smile in his life.
But while he was watching that he thought that things would also be difficult for them. Where did this magic practitioner come from? The older the magician is, the more powerful he becomes but at the same time his resistance is more impoverished. This person was able to make this possession which was not a joke. They couldn't trust him and leave him to their own devices.
He would have to put his own skill into it. She was a very good practitioner of rune-based magic so she boasted of being the most capable of screwing up the day of her enemies. He had an idea of how his magic could be more effective and he had a lot of knowledge of magic modified by his father since although a doctor was always interested in improving himself magically.
With a final sigh I was smiling more than anything thinking about how happy I was. True, she didn't have a television and she fucking thanked the gods that her husband reinvented plumbing and hot water. But here I had opportunities to learn magic and much more. Frankly, he only felt that life had given him a wonderful opportunity to be happy.
While thinking about that, he realised that Elia hadn't moved at any time. She considered it for a moment before approaching her. The answer was immediate because Elia almost stood up and gave him a slight look of shock at what he had done while Ashara only laughed amused by the look he was giving him.
Elia had woken up a while ago but the feeling of the warmth of a human body was something she couldn't escape from. Could someone fucking blame her? Even when Rhaegar got married, he preferred to be away from her while in his own room. He had not satisfied his needs that at that time were still nothing compared to now.
Rhaegar was the worst type of husband. He wasn't a good father. And she had learned that she intended to put her as annulled her marriage and snatch her daughter while making her kill her and then force Lyanna Stark to be with him. Through it he intended to recreate the Targaryen dynasty. He kept talking that from them would come the great power of ice and fire.
She felt disgusted with the man in question and there was nothing she wanted more than to break him into pieces. But what could she do, huh? She was a woman in the south. The level of power that women had in the south was at least insignificant. At best, a woman in the south could act as regent and that's it.
His mother had thought she could coax the prince. Turn it into an important piece of power expansion of the Martells. His poor mother. If only she had known how fake that was. The prince was a bastard who only thought about himself. I had no sexual appetite. I only did what I did to have an heir.
Once the teachers told him that he could not have more children at least he had the decency not to tell his father but he was already thinking about killing her so he didn't see why he should care. At least she knew with joy that this man who had saved her valued her more than that bastard could have come to do, which was to say it softly.
And then he cured her. I didn't know how he did it but healed his body. If only I knew. Elia Martell didn't know it but hariric had used dragon blood that the masters had stored in Oldtown as well as other medical magical elements to cure her of everything. And the result is the splendid woman you had here lying in bed.
Elia felt surprised. Hariric didn't mind having killed so many people in the war. He hadn't cared about the merciless massacre of several houses, including some in the north. No. The only thing that had mattered to him was that because of the war she could have died. It was just stone. He never liked to think about what could have been.
Many in the south may think that Hariric Stark had no conscience but she knew better. If I had a conscience. If he had an ability to know when he had done something that he thought was wrong, how did he feel about that? Well, she could say that it was a pleasant feeling that made her think that there was more in a being like hariric than even in her so-called mother.
"You're a very naughty girl. Listen secretly while your lovers talk. You should be punished. What could I do with you? There is so much I could do to you and I would have you begging for much more''. Ashara laughed amused. If she had to be honest, sexual magic had always been a good taste she had and she knew that Elia would go crazy for her.
"I was just listening a little. Waking up in the arms of a man is something I have to admit is a more than satisfying feeling. I have never been able to say that I shared the true warmth of the bed with anyone''. Elia smiled at her friend. The night had been really crazy if I had to be honest. Who knew that her friend was so skilful or of the power of her lover.
"Just enjoy this luck for a while. I guess that can be done. But just so you know, Harry is really worried about you. I guess he still has some feeling in that heart of stone of his''. She knew that Elia was possibly affected by what was essentially her husband to admit that he was worried.
How am I supposed to feel Ash? The number of men who would care about a person in our situation is low. Either we are a relief for them or we are just the mother of their children and a way to satisfy them.'' Elia was surprised that Harry admitted that he was interested in her and it was very good since it made her feel happy.
''Yes. Most idiots are raised with that. In the north, most marriages are for love. His parents got married for love and believe me when I say that Hariric married me both out of duty and out of love. If he cares about someone, he will do it and nothing will stop him.'' Ashara laughed amused just at her friend's look. Who was going to tell her? Elia was affected by her husband's feelings.
"I just think it's incredible. It's just difficult to understand, don't you care about killing thousands and yet you care about anything? Let me be the one who says that it is a rarity that makes me question the same reality''. Yes. She didn't know what to think about it. What could she say about it? There were so many things that she didn't know how to express them.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, my husband is not only soft because you are a friend of mine. He was telling the truth when he admitted that he feels responsible for your situation. He thinks he's guilty of your daughter and you almost dying. I think that should tell you something.'' If there was something for which he would always be remembered, it is that he was and felt responsible for his actions and no one would blame him for it.
"You know what that says, right? A man who knew me for less than my blood brother cared more about me. Doran didn't listen to my requests to leave the capital. I asked him for help, do you know what he said? That it would look bad if the future queen and mother of the princess left her kingdom.'' Elia didn't know what else to say about his brother.
"Doran was always an idiot who didn't know how to value human life. For him, all things are seen in a game and he thought he was in control. He hell thought it was a great idea to keep Lyanna kidnapped in the tower of joy where he thought he could use her to blackmail my husband in case he won''. Talk about stupid. Frankly, he found such an idiotic way of thinking.
"Doran really didn't even think about it. I don't even try to reason about it. He just believed that what he was doing was the best. And now a man arrives who makes me feel like a woman and what is more important is incredibly affectionate with my daughter as a father would be. No wonder you were loyal to him over Dorne''. Elia knew how loyal Ashara had been to his mother and said a lot to go to Hariric.
'It wasn't that simple, Elia. To tell the truth, things were rather complicated. When I married Hariric I had a plan. Move him slowly to convince him to support Dorne. Did you know that he wanted him to support a campaign for Dorne to conquer the Stesptones Islands? That was my plan''. Yes. It was a little true. Before recovering his memories, his plan was to manipulate only the man subtly.
''If that's the Ash that came to grow in Sunspear. The woman who was not afraid to manipulate, use and leave those who were inconvenient to her plans. And yet you turned your back on that''. Elia couldn't blame her friend. Frankly, Hariric did not present himself as a manipulable ruler. I had a partnership with his wife. I wish more husbands were like that with their wives.
''Yes. And then I realised that I was far from being a manipulable idiot, smart? Look at everything he has created, ruthless? No comments. But the most important thing is that when he committed to something he fulfilled it. And that won my heart with great ease''. It was the reality. Ashara had to admit that it was his dedication and work that made him become her sure husband.
''And then Doran demanded that you choose between remaining loyal to Dorne where you would have nothing or being loyal to a husband who had given you heaven itself if you had asked him. There was no point of comparison.'' Doran should have done her homework when she tried to use Ashara to kill her husband, the very idiot.
''Yes. But it wasn't just that. I thought about what it would mean to me a wife who kills her husband and then refuses to advance the military forces to end those who were against the interests of her house? No. My children and my lineage would never recover from that shit. There would be all kinds of problems''. It was just intelligent thinking if you stop to think about it.
"Doran put you in a situation where you had to choose and finally you chose what was most valuable to you. Hariric Stark gave you the world if you asked him. And instead Doran asked you to give up everything just for a valueless guarantee''. Yes. Doran had had no chance. The inability to understand the people of Doran was his undoing.
"If only it were that, my friend. No. What put me definitely against Doran was that basically he didn't care about the fate of my family. It was only a pawn to be used. With dead hariric, my family could be used as anyone wanted. And he was there like a shark about to sink his tooth''. Yes. That was also something else. She realised that she could only trust her husband and family.
"By the gods, what a fucking problem. Hariric at least knows how to win people over at least well enough to be able to make families grow strong and powerful, which is more than anyone can imagine. Elia laughed amused now. Where his brother made sure to break any possibility of emotional contact, the good Hariric was able to compete for him.
''Indeed, how was I supposed to compete between a man who prefixed me as one of the most valuable things in the world and a man who would discard me as if I were trash from another day? There was no fucking point of comparison.'' Yes. The difference between hariric and Doran. Doran would sacrifice his family without hesitation. Her husband would erase the world for his family. Big differences.
"Well, that's something decent. Anyway, we'd better leave that topic before something gets out of control. I think what I want most to know or at least think about is my new lover being so affectionate. What do you know about what we could do now with all this?''. Elia laughed at what it was like to have an affectionate lover for her who adored her. Fuck, if every night was like the previous one, it would be hell.
''Ah, for now I have work to do. Harry left me in charge of the Stark seat on the winter bench so it is logical that I check it to make sure there are no problems. If only you knew how much work there is'''. As Ashara had always been interested in the bank. When I was Nymphadora I had no interest in that. How things fucking change.
"Then you'd better look for a job. Search for a job. What a unique idea. Most of the ladies of the six kingdoms stay at home doing nothing and I'm thinking about getting a job. I wonder what would be the face that all of them would put on this action.'' Just imagine the look of most of the bitches stretched out shit who seemed to think they were above everyone just for being married to southern lords.
''Pffff please don't even say it, can you imagine the face of that stretched queen of the south? That Lannister is an idiot bitch who seems to think she's above the others just because she has blonde hair and green eyes''. Ashara just laughed amused. The idea that said woman even thought of comparing herself to them in some way was very funny if she had to be honest. Her friend looked at her for a moment before nodding.
''Yes. To be doing nothing. I don't feel like spending the morning conspiring trying to improve my political situation. Drinking all day would do little good. I won't say no to having sex but Harry has ruined other men. So I have to say that things are not easy''. Yes. Elia Martell was not afraid to say what he thought, was there a problem? Well, give it to the one who thinks it's a problem of some kind because she didn't care.
''Well then become whatever you want. I doubt very much that anyone will tell you shit about how things are. Hell, if a single person wants to tell you how things are just because you want to work, send them to hell yourself.'' Ashara sneered. I could remember Lord Karstark's complaint that she should not have a word in the bank since she was a woman. That they give him by the neil is his answer.
''Yes. It seems that despite your husband's attempts there are still those who are incredibly idiots who are unable to think of anything other than that they are men and therefore are above women. Frankly, it's annoying.'' He had once seen Harry put in his place a stretched noble boy saying that women had to stay at home. Said boy saw firsthand the opinion of his king in a cruel way.
''Yes. Most people ask us who do we plan to marry Belladonna to? And we have our difficulties. Because every man will treat it like a property and I honestly see my husband sticking a sword to the first imbecile who tries to think that they have authority over it''. If there was an absolute reality that Ashara could say, it is that anyone who treats his daughter like shit would come out badly.
"At least we can say that we are lucky. There is a person who doesn't treat us like prizes. I wonder what he will do to make sure that our girls are not treated as if they were glorified prizes once they get married.'' Elia could not see leaving that man to marry Rhaenys or his own daughter in the south knowing that they would be little more than hostages at best.
"Knowing my husband the way I do, I have the guarantee that any idiot who simply thinks that my daughter is a play or a toy, a slow and painful death awaits him at least." Ashara had to admit that the possibilities would not go well for any imbecile who somehow thought that they could use his daughter in such a way.
"Well, let's hope. Now I think you have to go to work. I will go elsewhere to look for any possible job. I wonder what I could have as an opportunity'''. Elia smiled amused at the possibility of being something more than a trophy wife or woman. If I had to be frank, the idea of not being any of those things was better than anyone could think.
''With the attitude you have and your kindness...doctor. You have that air of kindness. Doctors must be empathetic people and you are. You also have that good head so I can see you being able to take control of the hospital that is much more than anyone can expect.'' Yes. She could say that her friend had enough potential to reach high in her chosen career.
Elia smiled at her friend and felt good about herself. How else was she supposed to feel? The truth is that being a doctor seemed good to her. How many times I want help with her condition and they only said fuck you is what you have? Yes. Being a doctor sounded like a field in which she could see her time wisely invested.
In addition to that, if the idea of being able to tell all those narrow-sighted teachers that there is a woman much more capable and skilful than themselves had to be sincere, it is to say something. If I had to say it, things could get much better for how things were hers. Being able to help other people didn't seem like a bad thing so he decided to pay attention to Ashara.
Ashara saw her friend's intention and decided that it was perfectly fine in her mind what she was thinking. If she had to say it, knowing that Elia wanted to be something more and do many more things, it was perfectly fine in her mind. Why wouldn't she be? In his personal opinion, Elia would have to do more with his life than thinking about what it could have been.
Meanwhile, he sighed and stood up. I would have to go to work. His work in the bank and controlling the money of the Stark house and his investments. She had a very important job and fuck her if someone thought she would let anyone steal even a single copper. With that decided, she stood up and took one last look at her friend before going to the bathroom. He hoped that Harry had already left otherwise he would have a memorable moment and maybe even Elia would join him.
-Office of hariric-
Hariric was studying each of the claims that had been made courtesy of merchants and other people. Every day he allowed up to five claims to arrive to pay attention to him. They could even be more but today that couldn't be because I had two meetings. And no one would take away his time to spend with his fucking children.
The good news is that according to reports, things were more or less good. No one was going to complain that they were killed to work or anything like that. In addition to that, it had been shown that now thanks to the new Don that previously belonged to the Guard they had more farmland, which was good. The Cassel house conveyed nothing more than good news of what was happening up there.
The most surprising thing is that clans of women and children had been found who came from the north who wanted to go through the wall to make their lives. It was only after much caution that such a thing had been allowed and quickly the city of the cassels was filled with people. As usual, the odd problem was seen, but the women who were great fighters found it good to serve the city guard.
The non-combatants of the true North appreciated the job possibilities. Thanks to the improvement of agricultural methods and much more it was easier. It was still hard work but it wasn't that bad. And thanks to medical care, people had a much better life, which in Stark's opinion was good news.
The arrival of the savages I miss him. But apparently the women who came were trying to escape from something which led him to believe that the spectres were becoming more active. Between living up there and dying with their children and the option of being downstairs and growing up and seeing their children live it was quite obvious what they preferred and what they decided something that he had to admit was good.
Of course, the presence of the savages was received in a mixed way. Some gentlemen were openly against it like Rickard who had declared that it was stupid to let them pass and that they should die of hunger in the paramo that was up there. Others commented that if it were possible to unite both populations it would be better because it would mean an increase in population.
With each passing day I felt that trusting Rickard was rather an exaggeration since he seemed to look for fights for the least. The man seemed to think that because he was familiar he would not punish him. Arthur Dayne was paying for what he did so in his opinion he could punish him in the same way and ruin his family which was much more than could be expected at least.
The situation in the North was not bad. He trusted Ashara to take care of economic affairs while he directed everything in the kingdom. It was certainly a headache that required dedication and time. What is more important could be a real headache dealing with some idiots.
Apparently some minor nobles of the north were of the belief that he should change certain things. For example, the first night. I had seriously had to ask if they had so little confidence in getting laid that they needed to ruin any man's wedding to be able to do it.
They had talked about the right of lord and more shit. Look how most of the gentlemen are who knew that there were things they didn't even touch. Then he decided to be simpler. He only answered if what they wanted was that when they were going to have a relationship their superiors made the same demand that they were making.
They shut up very quickly. And in case the flies had assigned guardians to make sure that no lord from the north thought about that shit. When he caught one, he made sure that the punishment was exemplary. And the reason why he was respected and feared is that with him no matter who you are you broke the law and you were screwed.
Anyway after leaving that absolute shit he got down to his own things like getting ready for an iron bank meeting. The bank seemed to think that going to him could be good news and that he would even give them good treatment. After the shit they did to him by conspiring with the Boltons, he was very tempted to fill all the braves with Valyrian fire and light a match.
I wait patiently when a few moments later a well-dressed man enters the door of his office. Obviously his suits were making a name for themselves since the man was wearing a suit. The guy had a dominant aprence. Obviously this was not a small fish. No. They had sent a fucking heavyweight from the bank with the aim of making the negotiations work effectively.
The man was obviously not an idiot. I had that look. The look of a person who was attending to another predator. Naturally it was not one of the idiots of the bank who seemed to think that just because they were from the bank they had an advantage of any kind and therefore they could do any shit. Well, that was good on his part.
The banker looked at the man in front of him and his assessment was adequate. He wondered what the hell the idiots were thinking when they did the shit. They had a good deal and they completely ruined it. It was natural that this man was furious so he was the one who had to soften things to try to fix the shit that everyone was in.
''It's a pleasure to meet you King Stark of Asgard. To begin with, let me say that I apologise for the serious mistake made by members of the bank. They were adequately punished for what was the loss of the contract''. A little-known fact of the bank is that the bankers were responsible for the loss of any contract. If it was for simple bad luck, nothing would happen. But if the reason was bad management, the punishment was exemplary.
''I'm sorry doesn't fix anything. My sister was kidnapped and raped by that bastard prince. My wife could almost have been killed if they had won. And my children would be dead. It doesn't matter how you look, things are not right.'' Making things very clear is what had to be done in this case yes or yes. There were no middle ground in this.
"Believe me, your majesty, if you could go back in time, you would have personally finished with the idiots who even suggested the idea of breaking an agreement. A word for a banker is the most important thing. His actions had more consequences than his majesty can imagine. Yes. If I could go back in time I would kill them. Where did they get their ideas that the North was fucking weak?
"I can imagine very well the consequences of what was the destruction of that contract. It was not only the monetary loss of what the contract itself is. People now look carefully at the bank fearing the consequences of making agreements with them fearing that they may break them. It was an idiotic move.'' He was just saying things as they were.
"We both have to agree on that. It was the poorest strategy. One would think that they were taught to see it. I'm afraid it was jealousy as well as trust born from the belief that numerical superiority would be the one that would triumph over your kingdom''. They should know better. After all, look at what the immaculate did against the Khalasares every time they fought.
''You have come here to negotiate. However, I warn you right now that I do not intend to return to the same agreement. Because of your actions we had to spend money and resources on rebuilding the eastern fleet to make it more capable of supporting the commercial weight as well. That's spent money that will take a while to be amortised''. Yes. It was money that would take a while to see again in their coffers.
"I don't blame you for what was the action of the members of my bank and believe me I don't come for that. I know that trying to recover the lost business is stupid. No. What I come to is to ask if the kingdom of Asgard would be willing to do business with the city of Braavos''. Yes. I knew at least that the monumental shit had to be softened somehow.
"Forgive me for saying it this way. What guarantees do I have that the iron bank did not attempt any play of any kind to fuck my kingdom? You've already done it once. You sided with my enemies. Once is enough from my point of view''. In his opinion, trusting someone who already betrayed you once is the stupidest idea you could have.
"I suppose suspicion is to be expected. I don't know if there's anything I can do besides telling him that the new administrator will make a contract in which he will specify that there will be severe consequences for anyone who even thinks about breaking the contract.'' He Cursed. He cursed the idiots who tarnished the bank's reputation. The damn greed had cost them a good amount of reputation.
"I can't make a decision like this lightly. Now I represent an entire kingdom that must be interested more than anything in the benefit of this one. Before I could more or less act. Now I'm afraid I'll have to discuss this very carefully.'' As far as he was concerned, I wanted to tell him to fuck off. If they had betrayed him once, they could do it again.
''I understand. And in fact he has my support. The attitude of the previous members of the bank was less than adequate. They acted by promises that even I consider impossible and their consequences would have been more than unpleasant''. If an offer is too good to come true, don't fuck it. You had to be an idiot to believe in the word of that prince.
"I'm glad we both agree on the same thing. I will agree to meet with you at a later date to agree on this. Tell me at least one week. I have to meet with several people and from there we will arrive at a plan''. He would have to meet with his wife who was one of the members of the Asgard bank and also meet with his economy minister. Talk about headaches.
''Is all his majesty could ask for. Have a nice day''. At the end the sigh. It was the best thing I could get out of all this and the bank representative knew it. Having been left as people who could break their word, they had destroyed much of their credibility. The previous members of the bank had lost everything but the bank lost even more.
Hariric sighed while considering things. I didn't know what else I could say about it. His instinct was shouting that he distrusted the bank. Contrary to what the banker thought, he knew more or less what happened that day. It was Prince Rhaegar who went to the bank and offered them new opportunities and advantages that would be clearly very favourable in exchange for support.
The reason why they acted? It could be surprising but the reason why they acted like this was more than anything that certain members of the bank bothered how their representative had grown in power. He managed one of the most efficient accounts and that he handled larger amounts of money. And they didn't like that so they wanted to get him out of business for being an adventure.
After the war ended, I explain things to his representative that I agree to leave the bank. The only reason the bank didn't kill him is the threat of being made known that they broke his word and tried to rob his kingdom's business. In the end, the bank knew that it had a lot to lose if its reputation was dragged through the mud. They were more or less intelligent.
Harry wanted to growl because of the situation he was in but he didn't have time to do anything else when the door to his office opened and he let someone in. He was dressed all the way up in robes which meant that you couldn't know who he was or what sex he had. However, Harry's magical senses were practically awake at that moment because of what he felt.
''Greetings, your majesty. I have to say... it's an honour to meet him. I have a lot to say but I guess the first thing is to say thank you for what it is to bring down the faith of the god of fire and shadow''. The stranger was a man and his voice was soft. The man was looking at the king of Asgard with interest under his cloak. What surprised him is that although he didn't seem like it, he was alert.
''So you are the representative of Asshai. The city that is where most magicians are going to see their arts have a chance. I have to admit that I'm curious about what you have for me. What exactly are you planning for me?'' Harry knew how to see a person with interest when he had him in front of him so he didn't need to be a genius to know that whoever was in front of him had his own plans in any case.
"It could be said that I have to come because my city wants to reach an alliance with the kingdom of Asgard. In return... the doors of the knowledge of eight thousand years of magic are open not only to you but to every practitioner of magic.'' And yes. That was a very generous offer.