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40% Paladin of Old Gods / Chapter 4: And now it begins

บท 4: And now it begins

A pleasant, safe, silent and reassuring warmth.

These were my sensations as if I were at the bottom of an enthralling pool and could breathe slowly, while delicate hands caressed my skin gently.

'I am inside the womb of my second mother,' I thought, enjoying every moment in this different paradise.

'Correction: I was.'

I felt something break, and something else beginning to pull me elsewhere.

About three hours later, total frost, severe burning in my eyes, and a deafening noise.

'Argh! That was my umbilical cord. Whoever you are, I damn you, butcher!'

In my heart, I believe that cutting the cord was mostly a psychological deprivation than a physical one. Like the deprivation of a bond that, who knows the reason, had comforted me. I felt wounded in my soul.

'I don't understand what they're saying...', I thought, as someone pressed insistently on my chest.

I had no clue where I was, everything was a blur, voices were agitated, and it was hard to focus.

I realized I had to end the excruciating agony, so I began to cry and scream with all the energy I had.

'Damn it!' I cursed. 'Remember the first rule: [Show your skills, knowledge, and qualities in a gradual and justified manner, or else armies of people will come marching after you based on the hymn Let's Burn That Monster!]'

*****

POV Varra Tallhart

In the Northern Lands, Torrhen's Square.

Year 278, Fourth day of the First Moon…

'I did it! He was born healthy and strong!' thought Varra, happy and exhausted.

"You are beautiful, my son..." she said later, clutching a dirty, screaming bundle tightly to her. "Master, will my son be all right?"

His frown betrayed a certain anguish.

Maester Golbarth smiled thoughtfully at her, explaining it was not uncommon for an infant to cry immediately when pulled from its mother's womb. "I must attend to you now, however. You are bleeding, my Lady."

"Master!" Helman Tallhart, Torrhen's Square Master, burst into his lady's chambers and rushed to her bedside. "You must save her! You must save her now!"

"It's too late," Varra whispered, at the brink of her strength. "We knew this would happen. It was written. Let me be alone with you."

"Don't listen to her," Helman retorted. "Save her! Now!"

"Oh, my dear," whispered the woman in a caressing voice. "The gods predicted this. We knew this would happen..."

After a few seconds of the couple being left alone in the room with the newborn....

"You can't leave me!" exclaimed the other, in despair.

"No, no... You have to listen to me, Helman... anf...anf..." With her last remaining effort, Varra said:

"He will be the key... The key to a chance for peace between my people and yours. I have seen him in my dreams, Helman.

Protect him, help him grow, guide him, and when the time comes, tell him the truth... Swear to me that you will, that you will do all that you can. Swear to me, Helman!"

Helman bowed his head to his wife's chest. "I swear it by the Old and New gods. I swear it on my life and everything I hold dear. May the gods and men damn me for eternity if I should ever fail in my pledge!"

"I have thought... of a name..." gasped Varra finally. "That of the knight and his squire prince you were telling me about..."

"Duncan." A blissful sigh. "It is a perfect name, my love. Yes, our son will be named Duncan Tallhart."

This was how the new lord of Torrhen's Square was baptized.

And with one last smile on her face, Varra handed the child to her husband, who held the firstborn to himself. He kissed his forehead.

Then the light left the eyes of Varra Tallhart, daughter of the Free Folk and descendant of the ancient King-Behind-The-Wall Joramun.

*****

POV Duncan

Torrhen Square.

Year 278 BC, fifth day of the seventh moon.

About Six Months Later…

"Yes! I can finally more or less understand this sort of philo-Germanic language, whatever it is!"

Some of the terms were still unclear, and in itself, it was not at all simple. I mainly heard my "father" speak, sometimes maester Golbarth. Nanny, on the other hand, sang all the time.

Ah, Metatron had thrown me a curveball, there was no doubt about it!

I couldn't even apply my breathing techniques, I had only tried for a minute once and woke up in Maester Golbarth's room, with Helman slumped in the corner. He had dark circles under his eyes and the despairing expression of someone who couldn't bear to grieve again, which meant my body still couldn't handle the physical strain.

On a mental level, it was a different story.

I was basically caged. A microscopic cage that wouldn't even allow me to crawl. For the time being.

Humiliating, right? Did I mention that Metraton is an asshole?

Anyway, today was my debut day. I had been practicing and was ready for the big event.

Helman Tallhart arrived to say goodnight to me with the customary kiss on the forehead.

When he bent down towards me, in the arms of my wet nurse, Bicka, I moved mine towards him, smiling. My father greeted me, pulling me up.

"Good night, my little Ser Duncan," he said, and kissed my forehead.

'Houston!', I thought. 'Ready to go! Verbalization in three, two, one...'

"P... pp... pa-pa!"

My father stared at me with his mouth open and eyes wide.

"Bi-Bicka did you hear that too?" His astonishment even made him stammer.

Bicka the woman who served as my cow, cradle and caregiver, approached me with a trembling mouth.

"Oh, milord. The gods...this is the work of the gods!"

*****

Five months later…

Year 278 BC, eleventh day of the twelfth moon.

Bicka had left the room.

My jailer had let his guard down. I caught a glimpse of light through the crack in the door.

"This is my chance!", I thought as I slid down from the cradle.

I crawled quickly to cover the few steps that separated me from freedom.

I pushed the door ajar with my weight.

It was the second time this week that I managed to slip out of my nurse's loving grasp.

'I'll at least reach the stairs today! Come on, Duncan! One foot after the other!

Get up and walk, Lazarus! At least seven consecutive steps before you fall! You can do it, soldier!'

I managed to stand up and perform a barely passable stroll.

One after another.

On the fifth, I fell off balance to my left, but I didn't give up.

It was a rare moment to practice on a straight run and breathe new air.

My leg muscles were not yet fully developed, and my center of gravity was off balance.

Learning to walk and move independently was the first step to my goals.

Exercise was the key.

I knew Bicka would be back within minutes. The more distance I could leave behind, the more time I would have to perform my exercises in peace.

After my 32nd fall, I heard a voice come from the hallway.

"Tom! Tom! The little lord has run away again! Help me look for him!" It was my nurse.

Tom would come looking for me.

Thirty feet... twenty-five...twenty...fifteen...and game over.

Two hands grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. But to my surprise, they were neither Bicka's nor Tom's.

It was my new father Helman who had accomplished the capture of the fugitive. "You little brat! You already know what you're in for, don't you?"

"No! No! Good Duncan! Duncan good! Bad Papa!"

The punishment began.

Bicka arrived and amusedly watched a father continue to blow on the uncovered belly of a poor child innocent of all charges.

A minute later the torture ended... lucky for me.

"Milord, I am mortified... I..." Bicka was interrupted.

"Don't worry Bicka. I'll take care of Duncan for the rest of the morning. You go ahead and get some rest." Said Helman quietly taking away the servant's worries.

"Yes, milord. Thank you. If you need me, I will be in my chambers." Bicka left after bowing.

"Duncan today will be a special day. We are going together for the first time to the Godswood and we will meet two special people. Do you want to come with Papa!" asked a smiling man.

"Yeahh! Godswood!" I raised my arms like I was on a roller coaster and squealed my approval as loud as I could.

Outside...

Light at last! For the first time in twelve months, I was seeing something other than the stone, my crib, and a few tapestries and rugs decorated with the symbols of the Tallhart House.

I promised myself that as soon as I had the chance, I would burn every single piece of poorly crafted fabric that adorned that small room.

I was able to see the entire castle of Torrhen's Square: stone walls nearly a hundred feet high, with square towers at each corner and a fortress, also square within the walls.

From up there you could see a landscape that stretched for many miles. The fortress was situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a fairly deep lake. Beyond it stretched snow-covered mountain ranges that foretold the coming of winter. On the opposite side, you could see white valleys accompanied by small meadows of trees. It was breathtaking.

Upon reaching the forest, my father introduced me to my aunt and uncle.

"Brother, Lady Berena... I present Duncan Tallhart, my son and heir."

A man in his late teens and a woman in her early fifties stared at me curiously. Though it was I who felt the most.

Something unexpected stood out in front of me.

As soon as I entered the park, I felt a refreshing and satisfying feeling inside. The air filled my lungs and I felt myself getting calmer and more relaxed and then I saw them. Two numbers made of glowing green smoke floated above the heads of those two individuals. I turned around and noticed the same peculiarity on Helman's head.

Leobald Tallhart (Helman's brother): [4];

Berena (Hornwood future wife of Leobald): [1]

Helman Tallhart: [6]

'That number should be the level, but why am I only seeing it now! It never activated before, I thought it was due to age,' I pondered for a moment. 'Godswood! Here's the answer. I must have made contact with the divine energy that activated my first ability!'

"My nephew has a piercing gaze! I've never seen a child who hasn't even turned one yet stare at someone like that!" my supposed uncle exclaimed laughing.

"Do you want to hold him?" Helman asked.

"Of course, I do! Let me take a look at this supposed genius little demon you've been bragging about so much!"

'Oh yeah? Who did you call a demon, you redneck!' I thought irritated. As soon as Leobald took me in his arms and brought his face closer to mine, I cleaved the first open-handed blow toward his forehead.

*Smack!* and I continued repeatedly hitting (as hard as I could) that face that was crying out for slaps

"Bad Uncle! Bad Uncle!" *Smack!, Smack!* Two minute slaps had hit the target before Leobald pulled me away to a safe distance.

Helman keeled over in laughter, Berena trying with much effort to maintain the composure and dignity of a future Lady wife. My uncle, startled by the blows, stood still and stared at me for a moment before joining in the laughter.

"A true knight! Fully prepared to defend his honor and that of his lord! " roared Leobald in a proud tone between laughs.

An hour of praise and talk later...

It was just me, my uncle, and Helman. Sitting on the moss and fallen red leaves of the carved Tree-Heart in the center of the Godswood. I had curled up between my father's legs as I pretended to sleep peacefully while keeping my ears wide open. The young bride-to-be had gone to her chambers to prepare for the welcoming banquet.

The Master of Torrhen's Square and his brother took the opportunity to discuss matters that required greater seriousness and attention.

"So brother have you decided whether to accept Lord Cerwyn's marriage proposal?" Leobald asked in a less playful tone.

"Lady Myra Cerwyn is seventeen years old. A young woman, beautiful and pure. She is Lord Medger's only direct cousin and one of the few Cerwyns left in this generation." Helman sighed in a surrendered tone.

"I don't know if I can make it, Leobald, you know I haven't gotten over Varra's grief yet," Helman replied.

"Brother, winter is coming... The peasants will suffer without the Cerwyn's grain supply, and as you know the seat of House Hornwood is hundreds of leagues away. Soon the roads will be blocked. We cannot risk being isolated here without allies," my uncle replied immediately afterwards and continued, "Lord Cerwyn has already accepted my proposal to postpone the wedding, but within a year at the very least we must accommodate lady Myra.

I would not insist if we were not in such a precarious situation." Helman took a good minute of careful consideration before answering:

"I will send a raven to lord Medger Cerwyn... I will accept the proposal." Said the lord of Torrhen's Square.

'Well well, it looks like I'll have a stepmother soon,' I thought, still pretending to be asleep.

'I'll have to give her a warm welcome. After all, Winter is Coming.'

*****

POV Myra Cerwyn

Near the road to Torrhen's Square.

Year 279 AC thirteenth day of the tenth moon.

About eleven months after Helman accepted the proposal....

Myra couldn't stop thinking about the words of her cousin, lord Medger Cerwyn.

By now she was almost at Torrhen's Square to meet her future husband and stepchild...

'That child... could I really do that?' the young bride-to-be thought with concern and disquiet.

She remembered her cousin's words, [Remember, this is a great opportunity for our family. The alliance between our two Houses will make us stronger. With this union, we will be able to root even deeper and firmer roots. Who knows, your children in the future might even become the new lords of Torrhen's Square. After all, the rumors about the 'bastard son of Wildling' might be true, or maybe... the boy might even have 'an accident' in the future.] The word 'accident' hid several meanings, she knew. Her cousin, the Lord of House Cerwyn, was not an evil person, but over the years several 'accidents' occurred in Cerwyn lands in various disputes with tax-evading lesser lords or dishonest merchants. Medger had no qualms about doing whatever needed to be done to safeguard his family.

The cousin hoped that Myra, too, would in the future have the 'moral elasticity' to act on behalf of the future of House Cerwyn.

'Would I be capable of doing that?' she wondered for the umpteenth time.

'In the future, I might have a son and his half-brother might see him as a threat and so getting rid of him would be...' she interrupted this forced thought as the carriage had stopped.

It had finally arrived at its destination. A Cerwyn soldier opened the door.

Myra stepped out of the carriage in her expensive and elegant fur coat lined with the finest wool. Straight light brown hair finely braided down to her chest. The girl, who had recently turned eighteen was a true Nordic beauty.

The daylight blinded her for a few moments making it difficult for her to perceive her surroundings at that moment.

A few uncertain steps later, Myra caught sight of a small procession of guards forming a path for two individuals in the center: a man about half her age, about six feet tall, with dark brown hair, pleasant looking and well-groomed, and a beautiful child with silvery hair, piercing green eyes and dressed in finely woven clothes.

Myra was mesmerized by the child and continued to advance, staring at him involuntarily.

"Lady Cerwyn, Torrhen's Square welcomes you. I am Helman Tallhart and this here is my son Dunc..." An innocent voice interrupted Helman.

"Papa! Papa! Who is that beautiful princess? Is she that fairy tale princess you were telling me about last night?"

Slight nods of laughter echoed through the castle.

"Duncan!!! I beg your pardon, my lady… emm… No, she is the special maiden we spoke of this morning. My future wife and your future stepmother." Said Helman holding back the child.

"Really?!!! Papa, you are the luckiest man in the world! She is beautiful!!!"

This time even the ceremonial guards in all their composure couldn't hold back their laughter. Helman blushed embarrassed not knowing what to do.

Duncan slipped from his father's grasp and hurried a few steps closer to lady Cerwyn.

"So, you are my new Mama, Lady Princess?!" asked the child with a look that pleaded hope and expectation.

Myra Cerwyn collapsed to her knees hugging the baby in tears.

'I AM A MONSTER!!! A MONSTER!!! A monster who deserves to rot in the seven hells just for thinking she could hurt a child!!!' Shrieked the woman inwardly, holding the little gentleman Lord firmly in her arms.

At that moment Myra regretted every single bad thought she had ever had for the tender creature she held in her arms.

"Yes...yes little one...I'll be your new Mama!" Myra managed to say with a small smile between sobs.

"Why are you crying Mama?! Did someone hurt you? Tell me who it was, I'll protect you!" said the child pulling out his wooden sword. The little aspiring knight and sworn protector of Myra cleaved three imprecise blows wide open to demonstrate his fighting skills.

"I... sigh... Ugh... Aargh!!! Thank you, my baby!"

Squealed Lady Cerwyn in pain and tears as she tried to hug her new protector.


บท 5: A dangerously sharp mind

POV Duncan

Torrhen Square.

Year 280 A.C.; the eighteenth day of the eighth moon...

Practically a year had passed since Lady Myra's arrival. The Citadel's white raven, heralding the beginning of winter, arrived three days after her coming.

It was difficult to distance myself from the woman who, for all intents and purposes, became my mother. I was taken care of with the utmost love and care.

The announcement of a pregnancy also followed. Four months after her arrival, Myra told her new family the sweet news.

My father threw a big party, sparing no expense, and everyone in the castle was invited. During the banquet, I showed everyone my abilities as a protective and loving older brother-to-be. I was genuinely happy with the news. I quickly became attached to my new family, and Myra, was part of it. I was apparently too young to show any signs of comprehension, but my performance convinced them just enough.

I still had no clear idea of my abilities.

According to the contract, I was supposed to be able to gauge the level of any person within thirty feet of me and use a trick among the Druid class spells. Nothing, however, seemed to blossom from my abilities. I was able to catch a glimpse of my father's level and that of my uncles, by accident near to the Heart Tree, and then nothing more.

One day, before nightfall, I managed to sneak outside the walls to try to reach the Godswood. It was not an easy task. Apparently, I was three years old, and I was guarded to the fullest.

Winter was in full swing. The ground crackled under the frost, my breath condensed into little clouds outside my mouth, I was fully bundled up I could barely move. The wool, which was so thick as to be heavy, stiffened my joints.

By chance, though I was caught by the captain of the Guard watch, Tom, I managed to convince him and have him escort me in his arms. I had pointed out the forest with some persistence and the man had gone soft. He knew how much I enjoyed walking through the woods.

I was finally alone inside the Godswood. I couldn't waste this opportunity that was more unique than rare.

Standing in front of the majestic Heart Tree with a sculpted face, I began to breathe slowly and closed my eyes.

The strange calming energy began to flow through me. I inhaled and exhaled for minutes on end. Nothing seemed to change when I felt a small, unnatural impulse: I wanted to touch the tree.

I was attracted to it, but the closer I reached out my hand, the more my instinct for danger grew.

Alas, curiosity kills a man...

I touched the tree and a tidal wave of information seemed to sweep over me: design, testing of boats and ships, knowledge of crops and all the trees known to us, plus a myriad of other details.

The speed at which it was flowing was worrying, my head was beginning to boil from the overload, and at the limit of pain, I abruptly broke the connection.

My temples hurt like hell, and I felt rivulets of blood coming out of my nose and ears. Now it was clear...

My mind still couldn't assimilate all that knowledge! Thinking back I still couldn't remember all the information I had learned from Seraphinus!

I hadn't noticed it at first because the information left behind was nonetheless gargantuan.

"You idiot, you could have blown your head off!", I scolded myself. 'I still have a child's body with undeveloped organs, it's normal that I can't remember everything. I guess that's also why I can't use magic yet! Damn it, this isn't a game where you have an indestructible virtual body! You're made of flesh, bones, and blood!'

I cleaned the blood as much as I could with mossy, leaves, and snow.

'If my father or Lady Myra saw a single drop, they would lock me in a room with twenty men guarding the door until I came of age,' I thought terrified.

I came out of the little forest; there was Captain Tom waiting for me. I noticed him immediately, clear as day. The number [7] floated above his head.

'After all the risk and pain I've gained something!' I thought excitedly.

It took me a few days to get used to it. Now I could turn the ability on and off at any time.

I analyzed almost every person in the castle and got more or less an idea by asking around and learning about 'life experiences'.

In a situation of neutral terrain, equal weapons, and equipment:

Level [0] = Zero fighting ability. The person has neither the ability nor the will to defend themselves.

Level [1] = Peasant who is brandishing a weapon for the first time and fighting.

Level [2] = Peasant who has been trained superficially for a month, with few resources.

Level [3] = Soldier with no experience, trained for three months, poor results.

Level [4] = Soldier who received training, has decent talent with a type of weapon and has faced danger at least once.

Level [5] = A Soldier trained for at least three years, with high means and resources, who has faced danger multiple times.

Level [6] = The skill similar to that of a knight-errant serving in small and large conflicts.

Level [7] = Knight with years of hard training and fighting behind him, a high level of talent in the use of multiple weapons.

Level [8] = Fighter who has lived between life and death several times and shows natural talent in hand-to-hand combat, excellent survival techniques.

Level [9] = I have no idea yet and don't want to find out.

Level [10] = I hope to never face him in battle, in fact, I hope to make an ally out of him.

Most of the castle's militia was level [4].

Oddly enough, the blacksmith Will in my dad's service was level [7]!

Take note: never piss off that nice guy Will.

'Useful,' I realized. 'All this is highly useful.'

As more time passed, I showed more vigor in my verbal skills and made it clear to my father that I wanted to 'learn to read'. He was reluctant at first, and I didn't blame him - I wasn't even four years old!

He gave in after an artful pout.

I took lessons with maester Golbarth, level [0], and began my fictitious learning. For three whole months, I had to simulate basic errors. Despite my carefulness, Golbarth informed my father of my thirst for learning and reassured him of my promising future.

Trickery, harmless childishness and well-timed questions led me to discover more about the Maester at Torrhen's Square service.

Golbarth Hill was his real name; he was the bastard son of a cousin of Tytos Lannister, Tywin's father. From there I forced myself to be careful, he could very well have confirmed himself as a Lannister spy.

When I wanted to validate some of my suspicions, I waited for a window of opportunity to inspect the maester's office. After all, I was still strong in my 'I'm only a child and I don't know what I'm doing' armor. Maester Golbarth came out of his office to give his usual monthly report to my father on the general situation in the Tallhart lands. I already knew where to check.

I climbed onto my chair to reach his desk drawer and found it. Golbarth would open and close the drawer several times. As I approached it in his presence, I noticed an abnormal sense of unease and worry plastered on the man's face. An imperceptible double-bottom that opened by pressing at a lever point. There were two rolls.

I quickly opened the unsealed documents and scrutinized two reports. Both reported in detail everything that had happened over the past month in the Tallhart lands.

'The bastard also reported my success in my studies and that I had a 'dangerously' sharp mind!', I thought angrily. "Oh, oh maester, you don't know how right you are!"

I searched to the end for every possible clue on the two recipients and found them.

On one a more detailed and precise report, Golbarth had written the word 'Archmaester'. On the other report despite not mentioning anyone, I sensed less formal and more familiar language.

'The citadel and the Lannisters...' I clenched my small fist tightly. 'Golbarth is a bloody triple agent! Lady Barbrey Dustin was right.' Most masters are probably filthy gray rats.

The Lannisters aren't a threat yet and I feel pretty confident about the future. Tywin is cunning, wealthy, and ruthless and should not be underestimated, of course, but he is also an intelligent, reasonable, and predictable person. He's not someone who would seek out unnecessary conflict that he's not sure he can prevail in.

Cersei is literally the malignant tumor of the house and kingdom. A woman who has succeeded in almost every move to weaken the Lannisters. For goodness's sake, I don't doubt that blowing up the Temple of Baelor was a good move, but she created this whole mess! She practically put a loaded gun in the High Sparrow's hand, drew a target on her chest, and screamed: 'Shoot, if you dare! A lion can't be hurt by a bullet!''

But the Citadel… if my assumptions were correct, would have represented one of the most dangerous.

The wise maesters pretended to be weak and helpless without any power in their hands, but this was not the case. They were almost certainly the main cause of the fall of the Targaryens, trying to prevent the return of magic by any means and guarding its secrets; most importantly, they had direct control over untold numbers of people. The Citadel was almost certainly the reason why research and progress would remain in the muck.

I put everything back in order and returned to my reading, 'Dance of the Dragons'.

It was not yet time to act...

"War is won before it is fought."

----------------

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