บท 22: 'Good' Decision
"What did you do?" Jason Mallister asked me calmly, both hands on the wooden table between us... He studied my expression with narrowed grey eyes, as a lord would.
He'd called me to his solar as soon as I returned to Seagard, having made landfall at the Cape of Eagles where I'd dumped my clothes on the off chance that assuming Bayle's form ended up tearing them to shreds.
I shrugged, warming my hands before the fireplace across the room, "You didn't see?"
"There was a storm." He pointed out blankly, "I must admit I was curious enough to ride out as you requested but... there was naught to see but rain and thunder so we returned."
"You missed the best part then." I let out a small sigh.
Jason narrowed his eyes further, "What best part?"
"I told you the Iron Islands weren't going to be a problem for anyone anymore." I glanced over my shoulder, only to be confused by his stoic demeanour.
He didn't believe me, of course he didn't.
"You mean to say you talked them into peace? I find that rather hard to believe." Jason said in disbelief and rose from his wooden chair. He walked to a table under the window, picked up a silver jug before pouring himself some mead in a cup that lay by its side, "The other possibility is one even harder to accept."
I flashed him a small smile, "That other possibility is exactly what happened man."
"I must express my doubts, friend." He swallowed some of his drink, "It is simply too far-fetched."
"Send a scout ship or something then." I shrugged my hands.
I had no reason to prove myself, it wasn't like I'd done it for someone, or for some great ambition... I simply couldn't allow the existence of something like that.
"But what would even drive a stranger from a different land to such action?" Jason inquired neutrally, "Are you perhaps some Lord from Essos?"
I let out a small chuckle at his words before taking a seat across from him, "A people like the ironborn, much worse actually, tortured the folks who offered me solace in a land that wanted to tear me apart. Grinded them into meat even, for being born, can you believe that?"
I wasn't going to destroy everything that didn't sit right with me, it was never my way, it never would be my way of doing things... but, certain exceptions had to be made.
Jason considered my words calmly, then took a sip from his drink, "I understand."
"You don't."
"True." Jason admitted quickly, "But I understand why something like that could make you do what you claim to."
I cocked my head, "You can check, you know? I'll be gone by then though... Robb did NOT tell me the Wall was seven hundred fucking feet tall."
"Robb... Stark?" Jason spoke with a startled voice, eyes slightly widening, "I thought yo-... How fare the Stark children? Is there news of Catelyn Stark?"
Jason Mallister was a calm man, stern but honourable and amiable, he took most things in stride and considered them from multiple angles... but the animated way he asked me these questions led me to conclude something else.
I confusedly scratched my chin, "Robb's taking it well, all things considered. The kid was practically born to be a lord... Arya and Sansa are safe, I saw to that myself."
"Yourself? What do you mean by that?" He cut in, raising his head to stare directly into my eyes.
"I escorted them to Winterfell myself..." I explained briefly, amused with the look that came over his face, "Anyway, I don't know much about Catelyn other than she's their mother. I figure she'd be on her way to Winterfell?"
Jason considered my words with furrowed brows, hands locked together.
I took that time to stand up and make my way to the window.
The sky was a clear blue, and birds chirped freely, while the smallfolk of Seagard went about their days not knowing that the Iron Islands had stopped existing as of last night.
I wondered how the news would be received... At the same time, some small part of me wondered what Theon Greyjoy would think once he received the news.
I had nothing against the boy save for him being ironborn, and I understood that my little joke was needlessly cruel but what was done was done, I'd deal with him accordingly when we next met.
"Lord Vance and Lord Clement Piper hold the pass below the Golden Tooth by order of Lord Edmure Tully." Jason started, making me raise a brow, "If the Lannister host is truly marching for the Riverlands, they will not amount to much."
Hmm... if I remembered correctly, the Golden Tooth, that pass specifically, connected the Westerlands of the Lannisters with the Riverlands, functioning as a natural choke point of no small significance.
"Huh." I pondered, a hand on my chin, "It's gonna happen like I thought then."
They'd divide their forces and preemptively strike the Riverlands while the rest moved to defend King's Landing... But at the same time, the whole force might be moving here.
The Baratheon brothers would clash amongst themselves first by virtue of both lack of distance separating them and the nature of their claims.
"If you truly possess the strength you boast, then help my fellow rivermen hold the Lannisters. At least until Robb Stark arrives." Jason spoke calmly, "Stand with justice, friend."
"I thought you didn't believe me."
"I find it difficult to... but the possibility of your words being true is one I can not ignore. I would greatly regret my actions if it were to be true." He admitted with a small sigh, gulping down his whole cup before taking a long look at my eyes, "Gods be good."
Oh... he was getting it.
I mused over his request in silence.
It wouldn't be the first time I'd done something like this.
It cost me nothing... and I did tell myself I would try to gain companions, to be a better friend, "Will you let me call you friend then?"
Maybe I'd try to do something that could be called 'good' by people after so long.
Honor and Justice were supposed to be good.
Lies and Deceit were supposed to be evil.
I chuckled at my thoughts... unable to really see the point in them.
"..." Jason seemed stumped by my words.
"Nevermind." I waved my hand in dismissal, "Get me your best tailors. If I'm routing armies again, I'm doing it in style. And send a raven to Robb Stark, tell him I'll take up his offer."
The Lannisters were standing on lies and betrayal.
The only other person I could see as 'right' was Stannis, Renly had no claim and his idea of one was going against a man that practically raised him by teaming up with people that tried to starve him to death.
Besides... Robb didn't seem the conquering type.
At the end though, the truth was it'd be amusing enough to see where he went with this war, for a while at least.
Maybe if the Lannisters had approached me first, I'd be thinking the same of them... no, I most certainly would.
"I will do so at once." Jason accepted without hesitation.
He was good like that.
-
I approached Roach in the stables and put my hands on either side of his head.
The rest of the horses neighed and jumped about, extremely frightened by my presence for some odd reason.
The stableboys tried to calm them with words but to no real effect as the animals desperately tried to escape their individual stalls, kicking up straw and hay.
"This is why you're the superior horse, Roach." I patted my loyal steed with a smile, who was possibly too terrified to do something else... Though, I was inclined to believe it had judged that I was of no threat to it and that it was the safest in my presence.
Pursing my lips, I stared into the animal's dark eyes, "I'm going to give you a blessing... and we're gonna ride faster than anything on the planet till this so-called Golden Tooth."
The Blessings of the Ancient Dragons improved the prowess of the Dragon Cult Knights by such massive margins that a handful of them quashed a whole invasion... If the Blessing of one of them could achieve that effect, what would mine do for Roach?
"Though, sorry in advance if you blow up or something."
Roach neighed in response as I straddled it.
Acting on arbitrary decisions and whims was the best I could do.
Otherwise, I'd be forced to accept just how aimless I was now that I'd found myself in a world where I didn't have to struggle every day.
-
Hope you enjoyed.
Comment your thoughts/suggestions for the story.
Might quit writing fam.
Nah, just fucking with ya, we still going strong.
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