Capítulo 180: Chapter 16 - Normal Life and a Visitor
Chapter 16 - Normal Life and a Visitor
-Middle of 273 A.C-
-12 years old-
I felt the sheer heat of the forge and the glowing hot steel as my hammer bent it under his blows. The sparks flew and I chuckled slightly as the sword's blade slowly took form.
Ever since I had returned home to Riverrun, I had begun to smith and forge and had doubled my efforts to finally bring the Wootz steel into good form. The first trouble I ran into was the extreme amount of hardness the steel possessed. The process of bringing it into form took much longer than with normal iron and steel. The next problem was the air bubbling within the steel that could arise. Air bubbles meant that something had gone wrong and the Crucible hadn't been completely shut.
But I had learned from my mistakes and smithing had improved considerably as a result. My speed and efficiency had gone through the roof and I could smith for hours without having to let go of the hammer. The first object that I had smithed out of Wootz steel, a mundane dagger, was still an absolute pain in the ass the first time around. But when the steel had finally taken its desired form the quenching, tempering, and grinding of the blade was child's play compared to the smithing process.
I had finally been able to show the fruits of my work to Hoster and Brynden and both were surprised and shocked by it. The Wootz steel outperformed even the best castle-forged steel we had on hand, while also being the same weight. Hoster and Brynden told me to not pass the secret on to someone else but to guard it for now. Their reason was that House Tully now had something that distinguished them among their vassal houses, something they could use.
Hoster deliberately spread the news through the Riverlands, to gain quick interest in the new steel. And not even two weeks after I had presented him the Wootz dagger, I had received various commissions for swords and other weapons. It was ridiculous how high I could set the prizes, especially when I made a "custom" order for the customer, akin to the one I had forged for the head of House Mooton. I had personally formed the swords knob like a salmon and then added some golden ornamentation to the blade itself. Was the sword worth the 50 golden dragons I got out of it? In my opinion, it wasn't, but everyone saw me as some kind of saint because of the price.
Soon enough I wasn't only receiving requests for Wootz steel, but also normal weapons and armor. It was a result of my renown as a blacksmith, that's something Brynden told me at least, so I just rolled with it. Over the next two months, new forges were built and put to good use. Garse would always help me with the heating and smithing process, and even though we still saw each other as rivals, our arguments got less violent.
"You still somewhere in the dreamland, Donar?" Garse's voice brought me back to reality and I chuckled.
"Even if I was, I still could smith better than you." I took the heated steel from the forge and once again started to give it its form. The blade itself was nearly done, as was the grip, but I still had to make the guard, sharpen the blade, and then fit the pommel to the sword.
"Well, just wanted to tell you that another order came, from the Freys this time." I stopped my work as I heard the name of the House I perhaps hated the most in the Riverlands.
"What do they want? Aren't they satisfied with the ornamented staff I made for old Lord Walder?" The staff in question had been ornamented by myself and in the most beautiful ways as well. I charged the Freys one heck of a prize though, even I had to admit that. 70 Golden Dragons was way too much, but they didn't have to know that.
"No, they are asking for a suit of armor this time, for Lord Walder's heir." I snorted and continued to work on the blade of the sword.
"Oh yeah? They should know that I normally make one piece of equipment at a time, especially if it's supposed to be of higher quality." I looked at the blade and then quenched it in a bucket of water before I pulled it out and repeated the heating process one more time to give the blade its desired hardness.
"You know them, they will pay well." Garse reminded me, and I sighed.
"I know, but I still don't trust them." Especially not after what I had seen of them. One month ago I had accompanied Hoster to the Freys to deliver Lord Walder's staff, and the man was intelligent, I had to admit that. The over sixty-year-old lord welcomed me into his house with a smile, treated me like one of his highest guests, and also gave me a few silver stags because of my "great services".
Hoster had me warned before we entered the Twins that Walder was not to be trusted, but if I hadn't known the scheming man that sat behind the mask of the old lord, I might have been fooled.
"But they pay for your wares Donar, very well too," Garse said and I sighed as I took the hot sword out once again and quenched it in water one last time. I looked at the blade and nodded, before tossing it to Garse.
"It needs sharpening. Do that while I make the guard and then attach the pommel." Garse nodded and went to work, but not without speaking up again.
"Donar, the amount of money you are making is a great thing for House Tully. The vassal Houses also appreciate the recognition they get with these weapons." He looked at me as I began to mark the guard with the symbol of a dragon, though not a three-headed one.
"Is that the sword that's supposed to be made for Lord Vance?" I nodded but didn't take my eyes off my work.
"Indeed, it's for Lord Norbert, the current head of the house. We've already given the other branch of House Vance their sword, but seen as they are technically two separate houses, they also will receive two separate swords." Garse nodded and then checked the blade of the sword before continuing to grind it.
"Will you smith the suit of armor for the Freys now?" I let out a loud sigh but then nodded.
"Seen as it's Stevron Frey, I guess I can make an exception." The man was his father's son, but at least you could reason with him, at least from what I had discovered.
"Good," Garse said and then continued to grind the blade of the sword while I finished the guard.
"This should do." I grabbed a larger punch from my tools and then drove it into the middle of the still-hot guard until I had driven it through.
"Now, help me with the blade." Garse nodded, and quickly walked over to me, the now sharpened blade in his hand. I carefully fixed the guard to the sword, making sure that it was perfectly balanced, and then heated the still gripless part of the sword just one bit. Then I turned around and pointed at the wooden handles that I had carved beforehand.
"Need one of those as well." Garse took one and then attached it to the still-hot sword. The heat inside of the sword burned a bit of the wood away, but in the end, it was the most efficient way to get a proper grip. I nodded before I heated a round, pre-made pommel that was nearly three inches wide and long. Normally it would mess up the balance of the sword, but in this case, I needed such a large pommel to carve something out of it.
"Alright, please hold the sword tight," I said as I took the pommel out and once again made a small hole inside, before I turned to Garse who still was holding the sword, and then attached the pommel with a few careful but strong strikes. I let the pommel cool down and then tested the swords with a few experimental swings. The blade cut through the air with a distinct sound and I nodded.
"Just need to finish the pommel later and the sword's done," I said as I looked at the sundial I had set up.
"Why not now?" Garse said as I handed him the sword.
"My training's going to start in an hour, and I have to take care of something else beforehand. Would you take care of the sharpness test?" Garse stared at me for a while and then nodded.
"Sure, just go already." I smiled and said a quick thanks before storming off to my room to retrieve two small things that I had forged for two of my family members.
*****
"Why do we have to learn this?" Catelyn asked as she stared at the blunted dagger in her hand, her eyes glaring at me.
"Because it calms my heart if I know that you at least know how to use a small weapon," I answered the question the same way I had done many times already.
"But why? We are never going to get into a situation where we need it." The older of the Tully sisters said and I sighed and nodded.
"I know, and I hope you never will. But I don't want to rely solely on luck to carry you through life. If push comes to shove, I want you to know where to hit your attacker at the very least." Lysa, who hadn't said anything until now, looked at the crude weapon in her hands.
"But most of the attackers are men, how should we even fight against them?" I smiled and nodded.
"You don't, at least not on an equal footing. Take me as an example." I opened my arms and slightly flexed my muscles, completely towering over the two girls.
"You won't be able to fight me, at least not in a normal way, which is why I want you to learn the weak points an attacker might have." I pumped my fist against my chest and smiled slightly.
"The chest might be the biggest target, and you will surely hurt your attacker, but it's questionable if you can kill him reliably." I then touched my face.
"The head is a good idea, but the chance that your attacker will let you get close enough to poke into his eye is pretty slim." I then touched my throat.
"But this thing here, it's an immensely important part of our body and one that can be easily struck if you can surprise an unarmored opponent. One proper slice or stab to the throat will take out even the strongest of normal men." I patted my leg and leaned against a nearby tree.
"The legs also certainly are weak points, but I'd advise against trying to stab them if the enemy isn't taken off guard." I looked at the two girls.
"I know that you don't want to spill blood, and believe me, I don't want to force you into such a situation as well. But it's better to be prepared for something that might happen than to be caught off-guard." I saw how Catelyn sighed, but then took a very awkward stance and nodded at me. Lysa did the same, though hers was even sloppier. Still, at least they wanted to learn.
"Good, you have the spirit at the very least." I took out my dagger, a sharpened one, and then executed a normal stabbing motion against a nearby tree. My strength was enough to drive the dagger into the tree for a few inches and I pointed at it.
"Repeat the motion I just made, I will correct you if needed." The girls nodded and started.
And they were terrible at it.
Their body strength was inferior to a normal twelve-year-old, let alone mine, but what truly made me cringe internally was the way they didn't throw their body into the blow. Lysa even fell to the ground, and I had to help her up.
"Alright, grip it like this," I changed Lysa's grip on the dagger, "and then move your hips as well, with the hand that is stabbing." My young cousin nodded and then tried again, and while the strike still lacked power behind it, at least its form wasn't bad. Catelyn, who had been watching me correct Lysa, too changed her form slightly and tried again.
After what was around fifteen minutes, both of the girls were lying on the forest ground, panting heavily. I sighed, but then took the daggers out of their hands.
"Let's call it a day for now, but we'll have to continue if we want to see true progress. But still, you did good." I smiled as I rubbed Lysa's and Catelyn's heads, which was a child's play with my height. Catelyn pouted slightly, but Lysa smiled and nodded.
"Will you give us something in exchange for our training?" I was silent and stared at Lysa for a while before I nodded.
"Sure, I'll smith something up for you. But I guess I can't give it to you until I'm sure what you're going to receive."
"Perhaps another iron rose? Mother loves them because they don't have to be tended to." Lysa said and I shrugged.
"Maybe." My thoughts wandered to my own mother. I always made sure to send some of the silver I earned to her and grandfather, but I hadn't had time to visit them yet. Hopefully, they were alright.
"Ah, before I forget, how is Lady Tully doing at the moment?" The happy news that the wife of Hoster was awaiting another child had quickly spread around the castle, but there also had been lots of worry because of her natural frailness.
"Mother is doing well, it's been quite some time since she's had any problems with her health," Catelyn answered my question and I nodded.
"Good, that's very good," I said and then looked at the castle before smiling slightly.
"Alright, I'll have to start training in the yard in a few minutes, so I'd say that we should make haste to return to Riverrun. Both Catelyn and Lysa nodded, and both girls got on their horses.
"What do you say about a race?" Catelyn asked us, and I could already see the smile on her face. She loved riding over everything else, and I couldn't blame her.
"Good, I'll give you two a head start," I said and the two nodded.
"One, two, and THREE!" I counted Lysa's and Catelyn's horses took off like the wind, and I could hear the laughter of the two girls. I patted the mane of my current horse and smiled slightly before I spurred it on, trying to catch up with my smaller family members.
*****
The sword in my hand quickly stabbed into three different areas of the straw practice dummy and then slashed across its "stomach", the force of the blow shaking it. My next stab would have connected with its brain, while the next strike should have been strong enough to sever the leg of my enemy if I had a sword made of Wootz steel in my hand.
"Good, keep your guard up just a bit more." Ser Desmond's voice rang out behind me, and I did as he instructed me. My guard was tenser and my strikes more measured. I thrust my sword into the ribcage of the straw puppet and then quickly turned it in my hands to bash the pommel against its head.
"That's enough, try the bows." When Ser Desmond's voice rang out once again, I turned around and walked back to the older man and took a longbow from the table. It was a longbow fashioned for a normal man, so it still fit me. I knocked on an arrow, aimed at my target, and released the bowstring. The arrow was embedded into the straw and I immediately took out another one and fired it too. My training had increased significantly these last few months, and it started to show.
My sword skills were improving gradually but steadily and my shooting skills with a bow had also started to show themselves. I could now shoot a man-sized target that was around 90 yards away, though it was a different matter entirely if the thing could move fast enough. Desmond had said that my arrows might have been one of the most powerful in the Seven Kingdoms, but I knew that I wasn't the best, not by a long shot. The Kingswood Brotherhood, of whom rumors began to slowly arise, had two exceptional archers among them, who were rumored to be good enough to shoot through a man's ear while he was 80 yards away.
I gripped for the next arrow, but came up empty and realized that all twenty of them now were stuck in the straw doll, which looked more akin to a pincushion at the moment.
"Good, you know what's last, right?" I nodded at Desmond's words and grabbed the last practice weapon I would use for today. It was the huge, padded mace from the melee in King's Landing. Ever since I bought it, it has been used as my practice weapon. I made a few experimental swings with the weapon and then walked over to a thick wooden log that was already showing great signs of damage.
My first hit slammed against the wood and I felt how the entire log shook from the force that had been suddenly applied. The second hit wasn't as wound up but was much faster and still ripped some wood off. The third hit crashed into the other side and sent splinters of wood flying. My fourth hit nearly toppled the log and when the next strike landed, I saw how a hand-sized piece of the wood was ripped out by the force behind it. Before I could wind up my sixth attack, however, Brynden's voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Donar, that's enough for now." I turned around and nodded.
"Yes, Ser." Brynden just chuckled and then looked at the sword next to him with a slight smile.
"Lord Hoster is waiting for you in the hall, you should go see him there." I nodded at my father's words and walked back to Ser Desmond to lean the mace against a nearby wall.
"I shall go immediately," I said and quickly made my way out of the training yard before I rounded the corner to enter the castle. The guards knew me by now and gave me quick nods before letting me in. I entered the castle and made my way to the hall, where Hoster Tully was already waiting for me, the new Wootz sword I had made for him at his side.
"Donar, I've wanted to talk with you about your investments." My uncle said, and I nodded.
"Of course, lord Tully." The older man straightened himself and then looked me in the eye.
"Your way of breeding and combining the boars have yielded some children, though it remains to be seen how many of them will truly survive. As for the seeds of the grapes you have given me, I have to admit that they grow very well in our climate and if everything continues as it does right now, we can start harvesting a good amount of grapes soon enough and make wine out of them." The older lord cleared his throat and continued to speak.
"However, I've also noticed how you have imported various other plants and fruits into the Riverlands. May I question you why? We can't sell them nearly as well as some Kingdoms like the Reach do." I nodded at my uncle's words and then spoke up.
"I know that we may not have such a great reputation as a true seller of goods, except for fish, but we can change that, my lord. The Riverlands is a good piece of land for all kinds of seeds and plants, nearly everything grows here. We can also sell the plants at a lower price than the other kingdoms and still make money from it." I raised my head slightly and looked at the older man.
"Do you remember the concept of crop rotation uncle? It's a perfect way to not only have different kinds of products in our hands but also improve the quality of our soil." Hoster's eyes narrowed at the mention of the crop rotation and I nearly sighed out loud. He had refused it the first time around, saying that the risk of losing a harvest was too large.
"I can come up for any damage the crops have taken uncle, but think of the possibilities that could be opened if it works," I said, trying to convince the head of House Tully of my idea.
"You would truly throw your winnings of the tourney in King's Landing out, just for the chance of the crop rotation?" I hadn't touched a single golden dragon I had won yet, and I planned on saving up as much money as I could, but I had to take this risk.
"Yes, I would my lord. If any damage is done to the crop and harvest in general, I will pay for it." Hoster was silent, and I saw how his eyes drifted down to the sword at his side before a sigh left his mouth.
"Very well, I shall grant you your request, but the crop rotation will only be practiced in the region our House governs over, and not the entirety of the Riverlands, do I make myself clear?" I nodded at Hoster's words and bowed.
"Of course, my lord. Shall I be the one that sends out the messengers?" Hoster shook his head and then rose from his chair, while he mentioned me to follow him.
"No, I will be the one that informs them of your plans and also the one that will take care of the transportation of the various seeds to the villages. A child like you doesn't have to worry about it quite yet."
"Thank you, my lord," I said and inclined my head. Hoster just waved dismissively and chuckled.
"It's nothing child, but I have to admit that I called you to my side because of something else as well."
"What might that be, my lord? Perhaps another order for a tool made out of Wootz steel?" Hoster chuckled once again but shook his head.
"No, it concerns something different, something more personal." The head of House Tully had left the castle by now but still didn't seem to intend to stop.
"Then what is it?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"As you know, I too fought in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. And during my service in the war, I got to know a lord originating from the Vale." My eyes widened as I slowly began to realize what this situation might lead to.
'Oh no.'
"He and I quickly grew to be friends, and when we went separate ways, I thought that I would never hear of him again. But he wrote me a few months ago, and mentioned how he wanted his son to be fostered here, at Riverrun." Hoster now was in front of the gate and seemed as if he was waiting for someone. I could have sworn that I heard the galloping of horses in the distance. Indeed, soon enough I could already see the riders, though one of them was a child, judging by his small height.
"And well, I couldn't refuse his request. However, the boy must have someone who teaches him, not just me. And I entrust you with that task, Donar. You've proven yourself to be capable of accomplishing it." Before I could reply the riders had already passed through the gates, and the smaller one had dismounted. The taller rider nodded at Hoster and bowed slightly before he immediately took the reins of his horse and rode back in the direction he had come from.
'Damn, this guy was in a hurry.' I looked down at the small child in front of me and internally sighed as he greeted Lord Hoster with a deep bow.
"It is an honor, Lord Tully. I shall make my best out of the time here." The boy who couldn't have been older than five said and smiled. Hoster returned the friendly gesture and nodded.
"I appreciate the well-meaning words, Petyr. May I introduce you to the man that is going to watch over you in the future?" Petyr's eyes wandered to me and widened as if he had just seen me, which was ridiculous.
'I'm not that hard to miss.'
Nonetheless, I offered him one of my large hands and smiled.
"Well then Petyr, I hope that you will behave under me." The little boy took my hand and we shook them, though I had to be careful not to break anything.
"I hope so too, good man." He said, and I felt how my smile got a bit wider.
'Alright, let's see how much I can use your intelligence.'
*****
A few hours later I sat at the table in my room, unable to sleep or rest in any way. Petyr's arrival had come as a surprise, even to me, but I did remember another thing that would happen this year, and the thought didn't let me go. I sighed and stood up, took quill and ink with me, left my room, and went to the forge. I heated a few coals and then began to smith. It wasn't made of Wootz steel, but out of ordinary iron. I used a minimal amount of iron too, much less than I even needed for the pommel of an ornamented sword.
Soon enough the iron was hot enough and I began to bend it into form with my hammer, creating a simple, but still beautiful round ball that I heated once again and then began to grind and form until it had taken the form that I envisioned. When I was done, I was holding a small lion head in my hand. It was a basic form and not my best word, but it had to do.
The next thing I did was to fish out a golden dragon from my pocket and melt it in a small clay crucible. I then took a thin wooden stick and applied the still-hot gold on the lion, painting the only rune that I knew on its forehead. After I was done I quickly threw another piece of iron into the forge to start yet another pendant, and made a small hole through the two ears of the roaring beast, before I used a normal string as the chain. I quickly removed the second piece of iron from the forge and let it cool down while I wrote the letter that should soon reach a Lord Paramount.
Dear Lord Tywin, you might not even read this message, but I heard your wife Joanna Lannister is currently waiting for her second son, and because of such a joyous event, I have decided to smith her a little pendant that is supposed to bring her luck.
With the best of wishes,
Ser Donar Storm, knight of House Tully.
It was a hastily made letter, one that had been created out of my refusal to just let history unfold in front of my eyes. I didn't just want to watch, I wanted to shape it myself. I turned to the second piece of iron that still was cooling in the air grabbed it with a tong and lifted my hammer.
This one would take on the form of a bat.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder