Having secured the Ghost-Grass supply agreement, Samwell was in a great mood. He warmly invited Nara to stay for lunch, hoping to strengthen their rapport.
Nara didn't decline. After all, securing a powerful ally for the Crow Clan was something she couldn't ignore.
When the servant Katu set the food on the table, Nara removed her veil, revealing her elegant face. Though she was no longer in her youth, her charm remained undeniable.
No wonder she once caused a stir at Harrenhal, leaving noble men from all Seven Kingdoms mesmerized.
Noticing Samwell's gaze, Nara gave a soft smile and explained, "I wear the veil to avoid unnecessary trouble."
"Understandable," Samwell said, smiling and nodding.
In the harsh wilderness of the Red Mountains, a woman as beautiful as her was bound to attract trouble.
Now, her willingness to remove her veil was a clear sign of trust toward Samwell.
Pointing at the dishes, Samwell chuckled, "This is the 'chieftain's meal set' from the Blue-skin Clan. Why not give it a try?"
"Of course."
The "chieftain's meal set" wasn't exactly grand—just some roasted meat, wild vegetables, mushrooms, goat milk, and a plate of unfamiliar wild greens.
Samwell picked up the unfamiliar greens and took a bite—true to his goal of tasting every food in Westeros, he always tried the unknown first.
The taste was bitter, with a sharpness that burned his throat…
Just as Samwell was about to add these greens to his mental blacklist, he suddenly froze.
His attribute panel had responded! Strength had increased by 0.01!
Overjoyed, Samwell quickly stuffed the remaining greens into his mouth.
Watching him, Nara couldn't help but wonder at his enthusiasm for eating raw plants. Was this why he wanted to buy Ghost-Grass? Was it also to eat?
After noticing another increase in his strength attribute, Samwell turned excitedly to Katu and asked:
"What are these greens?"
"My lord, that's Silverleaf grass."
"Do we have more? Bring me as much as you can find!"
"Yes, my lord."
At that moment, Nara chimed in with a caution:
"Lord Samwell, it's best not to eat too much of this Silverleaf grass."
"Oh? Why not?"
"I suspect it may be toxic."
"Toxic?" Samwell was a bit startled, then frowned, "But the Blue-skin Clan chieftain eats it regularly, right?"
"Its toxicity seems mild, so small amounts might be harmless, but in excess, it could cause problems. You might notice that among Blue-skin Clan chieftains, those who frequently eat silverleaf grass rarely live past forty. They often suffer from bouts of erratic behavior, even becoming unstable."
"Then why are they so fond of it?"
"It has medicinal properties for certain ailments and even turns their skin blue. They see it as a gift from the gods."
Samwell's brow furrowed.
Blue skin, erratic behavior, but with some healing effects…
It reminded him of a certain substance.
In a sudden realization, he stood up and walked briskly outside.
"My apologies, Lady Nara. Something urgent has come up; please, enjoy the meal."
He passed Katu on his way out, grabbed all the silverleaf grass Katu had brought, and continued eating as he asked:
"Where does this Silverleaf grass grow?"
Katu hesitated briefly before answering:
"There's a small cave deep in the camp where it grows."
"Good. Bring ten Riverlands soldiers to meet me at the cave, and bring shovels."
"Yes, my lord."
When he reached the cave Katu mentioned, Samwell found the silverleaf grass growing there.
In the dim light, the plants' leaves seemed to shimmer with a faint silver glow.
After listening to Nara's story, Samwell quickly realized what was happening: the Blue-skin Clan's chieftains were likely suffering from chronic silver poisoning!
Silver had antimicrobial properties, so it could aid with infections, but too much consumption could lead to heavy metal poisoning, even turning skin—and, in severe cases, blood—blue.
But if that was the case, why did eating silverleaf grass increase his strength?
And considering that another substance that had boosted his strength, the gold-tail shrimp, might also hold clues, Samwell began to form a bold hypothesis.
By then, Katu had arrived with the soldiers.
"Clear out all the silverleaf grass here, then start digging below it!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The soldiers quickly went to work, clearing the plants and beginning to dig deeper.
Standing outside the cave, Samwell continued munching on the silverleaf grass, patiently waiting.
The commotion in the cave soon drew attention from the wildlings, especially those from the Blue-skin Clan.
This cave, home to their sacred silverleaf grass, had always been a place they held in reverence.
Seeing the Riverlands soldiers doing something in the cave made them nervous and uncertain.
Yet none dared to step forward to protest.
After all, the plants within the cave had always been a privilege of the Blue-skin Clan chieftains. Now that Samwell had conquered them, the cave was rightfully his.
As time passed, Samwell's constant munching on silverleaf grass became almost mechanical. Initially bitter, the taste had grown so familiar he barely noticed it anymore.
But just like with the gold-tail shrimp, the silverleaf grass's effects began to diminish with continued consumption.
Even so, after devouring over a hundred stalks, his strength had climbed to 2.13!
Now, however, he found that he needed five stalks just to get a 0.01 increase.
Feeling full and with a mouth coated in bitter plant juices, Samwell decided he'd had enough.
Besides, he'd exhausted most of the available silverleaf grass.
He decided it was best to leave some plants behind to regrow. If the Blue-skin Clan discovered their sacred plant had been depleted, they might make trouble.
By then, Nara had finished lunch and brought her freed clansmen to say goodbye.
"Farewell, Lady Nara. Safe travels. And please, I look forward to any ghost-grass you may find."
Nara glanced at Samwell's silver-stained teeth and, after a moment's hesitation, thought better of warning him again, choosing instead to politely take her leave.
Soon after the Crow Clan's departure, a soldier hurried over and reported:
"My lord, we've uncovered some minerals below."
Samwell quickly entered the cave, where a large pit had been dug. Within it were scattered clumps of dull, lead-grey crystals that glinted in the dim light.
Could this be silver ore?
Samwell wasn't certain; the color didn't quite match.
Still, it was possible that the ore wasn't pure silver, which would explain the unusual color and texture.
Turning to the soldiers, Samwell instructed:
"Go to Eagle Point and summon Vido and Busso here. Also, post guards to seal off this cave. No one is allowed to enter without my permission."
"Yes, my lord!"
(End of Chapter)