"Mother, everything here has changed so much!"
Natalie clung to her mother, Nara's arm, her lively violet eyes scanning the surroundings before finally voicing her amazement.
"Yes, it really has."
The mother and daughter walked along the even stone-paved paths of Eagle's Nest, watching the bustling wildlings passing by, the neatly built wooden houses, watchtowers, and the castle rising in the distance. It almost felt as though they had arrived in a lively city.
It was hard to imagine that only a few months ago, this place had been a desolate, uninhabited valley.
Natalie wanted to go over and see the castle, its foundation already laid and outer walls reaching about three feet high. But her mother led her instead toward the orphanage.
The orphanage was simple, surrounded by a low wooden fence, with a dozen or so wooden cabins inside. In the open courtyard at its center gathered hundreds of children, the oldest around eleven or twelve, the youngest no more than three or four.
They wore tattered fur clothes, singing cheerfully as they swayed in time to the music:
"Father above, strong and just,
Ruling truth and fairness,
Setting the span of life and fate,
Loving and guarding children small;
Mother brings life's blessings here,
Watching over every wife,
Her smile brings peace to all,
Gently shielding children small;
The Warrior stands before the foe…"
Nara recognized it as the Song of the Seven.
She wasn't surprised. After all, the lord was a knight of the Seven and would naturally promote their worship within his lands. But he wasn't forcing his people to convert, which she found rather merciful.
Around the singing children were several elderly people; some sang along, others basked in the sun with eyes closed, while some worked on small crafts. They all wore smiles, clearly satisfied with their lives here.
When the Song of the Seven finished, the children smoothly transitioned into another tune.
Nara didn't recognize this one, but after listening for a while, she realized it was a song praising their young lord, with lyrics that were quite direct: thanking the lord for giving them food, for providing protection, vowing eternal gratitude…
"Mother, that lord has no shame! Making people write a song all about him." Natalie whispered into her mother's ear.
Nara felt a chuckle rising but defended him gently, "Well, he's hardly exaggerating. These elders and children have been well cared for."
Under her veil, Natalie pursed her lips, not arguing further.
After watching for a while, the two left the orphanage and headed to the lord's cabin.
"My lord Caesar."
"Haha, Lady Nara, I've been hoping you'd arrive soon!" Samwell rose to welcome her warmly.
He glanced at the young girl by her side, almost a mirror image of her mother, and surmised,
"And this must be your daughter?"
"Yes, this is my daughter, Natalie."
Natalie curtsied briefly, then ducked behind her mother, her curious violet eyes peeking out as she examined the young lord from the Reach.
Samwell offered her a friendly smile, then turned to Nara and asked,
"Lady Nara, did you manage to find the Ghostgrass I asked for?"
Nara nodded, handing over a hide bag. "We gathered fifty-four stalks."
Samwell quickly accepted it and, upon seeing the Ghostgrass he recognized for boosting his mental abilities, nodded in satisfaction. Without counting them, he handed Nara the corresponding silver stags.
Nara thanked him, then hesitated before asking,
"My lord, I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Please, go ahead."
"I'd like to have the elders and children of the Crow Tribe stay at your orphanage. I wonder what cost that would incur?"
Samwell chuckled, "The orphanage is there for my people. As long as you all become my subjects, that's all it takes."
Nara hesitated, looking troubled. "Forgive me, my lord; it's not that we refuse to pledge our loyalty. The Crow Tribe has always worshipped the Old Gods, so… However, we could offer payment in coin, Ghostgrass, hides, dried meat…"
Samwell interrupted, "Swearing loyalty to me wouldn't prevent you from worshipping the Old Gods. You know I've never forced my subjects to convert to the Faith of the Seven. You could even keep your customs—just pay taxes regularly."
Conflict flashed in Nara's eyes.
Seeing this, Samwell added,
"If pledging loyalty is too difficult, there is another way."
"What would that be?"
Samwell nodded toward the young girl clinging to her mother's sleeve, "Let your daughter stay at Eagle's Nest. That way, I can welcome the elders and children of the Crow Tribe to the orphanage with peace of mind. Rest assured, I'll treat her as I would my own sister."
Natalie's eyes widened in alarm as she clutched her mother's sleeve tighter, looking like a startled fawn.
Nara hesitated before replying, "My lord, I need some time to think about this."
"Of course." Samwell nodded. "I plan to set out for Starfall in three days. Just give me an answer before then."
As he mentioned Starfall, Samwell watched Nara's face closely and noted the slight, well-hidden reaction in her eyes.
It seemed his suspicions were right—Nara was likely Ashara Dayne, and her so-called memory loss was probably just a ruse.
But this brought up another question: if Ashara hadn't truly lost her memory, why hadn't she returned to Starfall?
Could it be that she preferred the wilderness over a castle?
"Very well, my lord. I'll give you my answer soon." Nara maintained a calm demeanor, then left the cabin with her daughter.
Once outside, Natalie clung to her mother's arm and wailed,
"Mother, I don't want to stay here! I want to be with you!"
"Sweet child. You can't stay with me forever." A tinge of sadness crept into Nara's eyes as she pointed to the castle under construction in the distance. "Didn't you always want to live in a grand castle? You can't do that if you're with me."
"Then I'll stay with you, even in the castle!"
"Natalie, listen to me." Nara's expression turned stern. "The Crow Tribe has cared for us for over ten years. It's time we gave something back. Besides, you'll have a much better life here at Eagle's Nest than wandering the woods with me…"
"No! I want to be with you!" Natalie's voice was thick with tears.
Nara wiped away her daughter's tears, only to find they kept flowing.
Her tone stayed firm, though. "Natalie, you and I are not the same. You don't belong to these mountains; you're meant to soar in a much broader world. I heard whispers from the gods at the heart tree, telling me there's a different path for you."
Natalie buried her face in her mother's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
[Eagle's Nest, Eagle's Eyrie, Eagle's point. They're all the same]
As Nara stroked her daughter's hair, she lifted her gaze to the northeast—
As if she could see through the vast bay to that castle flying the purple banner.
A surge of conflicting emotions welled up in her heart, leaving her momentarily speechless.
She silently murmured to herself—
I can't go back, but I hope…
you will.
(End of chapter)