Bab 55: They are back
The day was sunny even with the lingering snow on the ground it painted a mesmerizing picture with the orange and red leaves of the weirwood trees as a background.
Unfortunately for Lady Dustin, the days became so busy that the momentary stops she took to admire the view had to suffice to calm her down.
It's been so many moons since the last falcon came from her son and she was starting to get worried, if not for the request one of their merchant fleet captains brought from her baby boy she would probably be already on her way to Essos by now.
Lady Dustin didn't know what happened exactly, but even when she had to mobilize most of their merchant fleet based on just the trust that she had for her only son, without hesitation she did so, and a convoy of 320 available at the moment new, and free carracks left the North seas on the journey to Essos.
The Lady of the house knew that a show of such wealth could be detrimental for them, yet aware that they can not hide their power forever she decided to let go of the worry and just support her son to the best of her abilities like she always did.
Looking outside the comfortable, stable carriage that moved on the paved road outside of Neverwinter surrounded by her personal guards retinue she thought about so many things that she wanted to tell her boy about.
Many times, while missing him she would grab a quill and start writing, only for her to stop later and hold the finished parchment above a flame.
So many things happened making her miss her only child dearly.
The first expedition beyond the wall was a staggering success, catching a glimpse of one of the men riding outside her carriage, again straightened her believe in how special her child was.
Wolffang was the man that led the tribes in the Milkwater river area where Ser Mycah took the first expedition, the beginning of the "Ringing" was just like they expected and more the once the 2000 men of Dustin Legion were having face offs with the natives.
Even the few skirmishes that took place allowing the already hardened troops to show their superiority in all but the knowledge of the terrain were just there to cement their superior position in the Free Folk hearts.
Then came the surprise, the leader of the united tribes, that was now riding on the side and was a part of her trusted men made his move to start the negotiations.
Finding out the purpose of the new arrivals he silently thanked the idiots that attacked them making his rule in the area even stronger after they were killed off.
Hearing the proposal that was presented to him by Ser Mycah he swiftly made the decision to gather all the orphans from his and neighboring tribes and send them down south to Dustin lands.
What might seem heartless from others point of view was in fact his attempt to save the children's life as most of them would die soon.
Still, not trusting his new guests enough he, without hesitation left his brother in charge and with the food from trade, to travel back with the first shipment to check the validity of their claims, and to meet the Lady Dustin that they spoke about.
Everything turned out as promised and with after giving his word to follow the laws or the land he decided to move most of his tribe surprising the woman as well.
"I thought the Free folk don't bend the knee." Lady Barbrey asked curiously.
"We do not... and where did it get us? Besides, you didn't ask us for that, just to follow the rules of the land and that's something I am willing to do to save my people. In time we will change, I'm not naive not to know that... we will probably bend as nothing is eternal, but so what? We just wanted normal life, the ones that want to hold to their ways can do so without us there. At least we will have a chance to survive what's about to come." Wolffang grew out of the mirage that you can take all and not pay the price for it. The world didn't work like that.
Seeing his people warm, fed and smiling on their new lands he felt happy and the regular "Ringing" beyond the wall now had his tribe people accompanying the fleet every time in small groups.
As the tribes were quietly relocated in small numbers every time to different parts of the Dustin land or to Ser Davos the population increased again.
The miracles of the new world that they saw slowly started to change the perception of not only the Free folk, but the people already living there as well.
Of course there were problems and fights, yet the swift reaction of the garrisons solved it all.
How much Lady Dustin wanted to boast to her son how the warg population with the influx of new blood from beyond the wall increased to unimaginable size solving so many issues that hunted her and were the reason for so many sleepless nights.
Every merchant vessel of the Carrack type now posting a warg, the security network inside the lands gaining from them as well, and all that thanks to the former tribe leader and now the commander of all the wargs registered in their lands in "the light".
The trip continued and the matured woman felt more uncomfortable with each passing moment, even if the carriage was the latest one with all the additions making it as stable and comfortable as possible it was not her favorite as she preferred to feel the wind on her face while riding.
She wanted to get this over with and get back to the hot springs that were finished in their new castle to take a deep.
The public baths opened in the city as per the projects her son left another change making them different from the usual Northmen, but not smelling someone before seeing them... what a welcoming change it was.
"We're here my Lady." Ser Hadrian the Master-at-arms in Neverwinter and the head of her guards knocked on the carriage door and slowly opened them after.
Lady Dustin left the warm interior of it just to be welcomed by two enthusiastic faces smiling at her.
She placed her Ladylike smile and greeted the two old cots.
"Wisdom Belis, Wisdom Garigus... what was so important that it needed my personal supervision?" She asked looking at the old men while fighting her disgust for them.
Even now she didn't understand why her son saved them from the Kingslayer's wrath and bringing them here, even building a research center just for the crazy men and a "village" close by to guard the secret.
"My Lady! We made it! We finally made it!" The excited bold man said.
The group moved through the guarded corridors moving down and walking underground where the actual facility was.
"So it's done?" Lady Dustin welcomed the news as well. Finally the operation that lasted few years finished.
"Yes! The last transport arrived at night!" Wisdom Belis and three other men placed their keys in the lock with the fifth already inside and opened the door to a grand warehouse filled with half men size jars filled with green liquid.
"We emptied all the locations we knew about, only Rossart's personal stock was left." Wisdom Garigus waived to the acolytes next to him and they closed the door and handed the lady the last key that was in the lock while bowing his head. "The lock can be opened by your key only or by four of ours for security measures as requested my Lady. We will have two keys and the guards will have two." he humbly lowered his head to show his respect.
Even if he didn't like it, he had to admit that if not for the timely offer from House Dustin promising everything they wanted and needed for their research and wild fire production they would probably be already dead for plotting to burn King's Landing by Jamie Lanisters hand.
They continued the conversation for some time about the copied library of the Pyromacer Alchemist Guild until Ser Hadrian came inside and whispered something to Lady Dustin ear making the woman's smile freeze and look back directly at him only for him to nod.
The shift in the atmosphere was felt by everyone.
"Is everything alright my Lady?" Wisdom Belis asked slowly.
"Oh I apologize. Wisdom Belis, Wisdom Garigus. We will have to continue our conversation at another time, my responsibilities are calling." Barbrey smiled and in her usual graceful manner left after saying her farewells.
Now speeding on horseback that she took from one of her guards she galloped as swiftly as she could in her guards escort back to the castle.
"Are you sure they are back?" she still couldn't believe the news.
"Yes my Lady, we received the news from our men in The Fingers. It's our convoy that was sent to young Lord." he was a man of few words and relayed the most important information.
"My son..." Lady Dustin whispered and kicking her heels making the mount move even faster.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone