Chương 105: Chapter 105: Power and freedom
Harry had managed to stay ahead in many wars simply because of his intuition. But that intuition could also become a cause of discomfort down the line.
This was one of such days where his intuition was correct, but he disliked his intuition had been right.
"Defodio." Harry muttered almost lazily.
The gouging spell struck true as it punched a hole through the screaming Dothraki warrior charging at him with a raised arakh in hand. The young warrior fell dead with a hole where his lungs were supposed to be. But that young Dothraki warrior was not the only one left guarding the war camp of the khalassar they killed off outside the village. More were taking up their weapons as the Dothraki defended their camp from falling into Harry's control.
"This is your opportunity. Kill these barbarians and capture the camp." Harry said to Robb, who looked reluctant.
But his brother didn't have much of an opportunity for second thought as more Dothraki warriors came at them with their arakh held him.
"Harrion!" Robb called aloud as a warning.
Harry didn't lift a finger this time to put down the hollering barbarians. He allowed them to reach closer, which forced Robb to act. His twin had his sword out and started defending himself, battling a Dothraki warrior. Harry kept a close eye on the battle unfolding but didn't interfere.
"A little help here." Robb shouted as he dodged and danced around the bulky Dothraki warrior.
"Today is our namesday. You should be happy I'm letting you enjoy a good fight." Harry said with a chuckle, watching his twin dance around with a sword in hand.
"Lettig me? I'm the older twin." Robb shouted as he deflected a strike.
"Then it must be your lucky day to defend your loving younger brother from harm's way." Harry drawled.
"I'm not so sure about the loving part." Robb shot back, making Harry shake his head.
Taking careful aim with his wand, Harry applied the body-bind charm on the opponent facing his twin. When the charm took effect, the Dothraki warrior lost his footing, and his hold on the arakh slipped. The Dothraki warrior found his limbs locked in place in an instant. That was all Robb needed to stab his sword through his opponent's stomach.
"See…" Harry made a sweeping gesture. "I'm a loving brother."
The shield around him fluttered to life as an arrow bounced off against the protective barrier protecting Harry. When he turned his eyes to the source, he found a horse-mounted archer riding towards him with another arrow on his bow.
"Tarantallegra."
The dancing jinx impacted the horse, forcing it to dance on its four legs, which threw the Dothraki archer forward. Harry unsheathed his sword and slashed straight through the unprotected neck of the archer within the blink of an eye. The blood that splattered on his body made Harry turn up his nose.
"This is why I dislike using swords. This is no civilised way of killing your enemies." Harry muttered reproachfully as he vanished the blood stains on his body and his blue doublet.
Another Dothraki warrior charged at him with two arakhs in hand while screaming the Dothraki war cry. It sounded like a horse was dying, and Harry got so annoyed. With a flick of his wand, a long red line cut through the neck of his opponent. This time, the shower of blood didn't hit him as he watched the man fall to his knees, losing blood from the wound. And the man stopped screaming, which was good in his book.
But screaming barbarians were not a rare breed where he was right now, and Harry could see more than a handful still standing after the attack on the camp.
"Let's speed it up, Robb. We've got our namesday to celebrate and some places to visit." Harry shouted at his twin, who was engaged in a bout with another Dothraki warrior.
"It's not as easy as you make it sound brother." Robb shouted back as he ducked under a wild swing of his opponent and cut a line straight through the enemy's belly.
Harry winced as he saw the contents of the Dothraki warrior's stomach spill onto the ground.
"Don't look back." Harry warned before Robb could turn around. "It's not a sight you'd want on your mind while fighting a dangerous enemy."
The fighting lasted for a few more minutes until all the Dothraki guards guarding their camp lay dead on the ground.
"What're we going to do with these women and children?" Robb asked, out of breath as he rested on the ground while cleaning all the blood off his sword.
"They'll have to be taken in by the village. If these people somehow make it back to other Dothraki khalassars roaming the plains of Essos, they'll end up in chains and the other Dothraki forces to attack the village in revenge for what happened here." said Harry.
"We could take them with us to the North." Robb suggested.
"Do you think our people will tolerate them?" Harry inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"No…" Robb reluctantly answered.
"They'll be in a land with different weather conditions and no knowledge of our language or customs. They'll be excluded from society and struggle for generations to get accepted among our people."
"So, what you're saying is we should leave them here?"
"Now we are getting somewhere. House Stark is responsible for the well-being of the North and its people. We are not the battered shelter of the world."
Robb took a deep breath before nodding in agreement. "I think I understand what you're saying."
But Harry was not willing to let Robb off the hook. Even though his twin had killed the enemy, the unnecessary compassion for enemies troubled him. He blamed the idiotic stories of Aemon the Dragonknight, Ser Ryam Redwyne and Ser Arthur Dayne for influencing his brother. Jon was comparatively less influenced by the fake construct of chivalry because of his influence.
Harry was also aware that the arrival of Garlan Tyrell further influenced Robb. The idiotic notions of knightly honour mostly seen in the tourney grounds of the Reach were clouding Garlan, which was transferred to Robb. He had hoped the experiences of the war in the Westerlands would've removed such notions from Robb. But clearly, he was mistaken.
"Good. Now, there are a couple of prisoners we've captured that deserve a block and a sword to their necks. Are you up for it?" Harry asked, looking expectantly at his twin.
"That's…" Robb trailed off with an uncomfortable look.
"Our ancestors did not rule from Winterfell with hopes and dreams that everyone around us engages with good intentions. They showed no mercy to their enemies with one hand while with the other gave rewards to the loyal ones." said Harry, leading Robb towards the prisoners they captured after raiding the Dothraki war camp.
"Our people dream of freedom from the Iron Throne, and only House Stark can deliver that freedom. But freedom emerges only as a consequence of power, knowledge, wealth and resolve. You are the heir to Winterfell, and one day, you'd be crowned King in the North. But you must show resolve to look after the interests of the people of the North."
Robb looked hesitantly at the foreign people before him. They were strangers in a strange land of even stranger customs. But Robb could not forget the lessons of honour and the importance of laws his father instilled in him.
"If we're not holding our own laws to be sacred enough to judge these people, what is the point of freedom? If we're not holding ourselves to a higher standard, what gives us the right to govern the North?" Robb asked.
"Because freedom does not mean obedience to the laws of nature or the laws created by men. The trees never disobey a law. I never saw a mule steal. A wolf never lied to man about its nature. Yet, none of these creatures are greater than man. So, why do you assume men of honour and chivalry are greater compared to the rest?"
"Are you saying laws that govern us are to be discarded completely?" Robb asked with an incredulous look.
"No, Robb. But there are times and places one must abandon laws and codes of honour."
"Then tell me. When does one abandon law and honour, brother?"
Harry felt like this was a turning moment. Or maybe Robb was merely trying to slice into his convictions to see whether they could be reasonable. He didn't know what was going through Robb's mind, and that was the way he liked to keep it. Unlike everyone else, he had never used his skill in the mind arts against Robb. It was a line he drew because Robb was his twin.
It was a line he hoped never to cross. So, Harry gathered his thoughts before he answered.
"We'll be travelling to Volantis on our journey. You know this, yes."
"Yes." Robb nodded slowly.
"When you're in Volantis, you're lawfully allowed to own a slave. Will you buy one?"
"What? How could you ask me that!" Robb exploded with fury in his eyes.
"Just be calm and answer my question," Harry said patiently.
"No, I won't buy a slave." Robb answered with a frown.
"Good. In the North, slavery is punishable by death. So, will you kill the slavers of Volantis while we are in the city?"
"No." Robb answered. "But that doesn't mean I support slavery."
"Of course not. But where is your honour, chivalry and laws? Why are they not guiding you to act? Why did they become powerless in Volantis but have power in the North?"
"Because… because…"
"I'll tell you why. Somewhere deep in your mind, you realise laws and codes of honour have boundaries. The laws of the Seven Kingdoms are bound within the boundaries of Westeros."
"I guess so." Robb said reluctantly.
"Then you understand the very nature of laws is to bind society. It is a shackle upon which people are bound. When Jaehaerys Targaryen ordered the New Gift to be transferred to the Night's Watch, the North had to obey because House Targaryen made the laws, and we were forced to obey regardless of what our people thought on the matter. What does that tell you?"
"…" Robb shook his head and looked lost.
"Power, Robb. Those with power decide the meaning of words and what sort of words are to be put on laws. Those laws become shackles, and those shackles become the boundaries that distinguish kingdoms and empires. Those in power decide to derive morals from these laws and choose to apply them whenever it is convenient for them."
Harry placed his hands on his twin's shoulders.
"Don't you see? The Kings of Winter have played this same game in the past. We drew a border and made a kingdom for the First Men while the Andals were butchering their way through the south. At that time, a knight's chivalry was measured by the number of skulls of the First Men and the Children of the Forest they took. The chivalry and honour in the North were found in killing those who invaded our homes and killed our brethren."
"Our ancestors were strong enough to reject the fate that befell the south. The people of the North came together and crowned the wolves of Winterfell as their kings and fought against the Andals to protect our way of life. It has been nearly three centuries since we traded that freedom of the First Men before the dragons."
"But dragons no longer rule us." said Robb softly.
"No, they do not. But their laws still bind us, their oaths bind us, and the very concept of the Seven Kingdoms bind us." Harry nodded with a grin, leading Robb towards the bound prisoners.
Harry could see Jon and the others were also there, and they were eyeing them with concern. But he paid them no heed.
"Now, if the North is to be free, what should we do?" Harry asked, staring into Robb's blue eyes.
"The laws and oaths of the Seven Kingdoms must be discarded." Robb answered.
"Yes. Honour will be found in protecting the life and wealth of a Northerner. Your duty will be found in serving the needs of your fellow Northmen. Chivalry will be found among your fellow Northmen alone. This is how kingdoms are formed. And when this kingdom expands beyond the designated borders… an empire is born!"
"I think I understand." Robb said after a moment of self-reflection.
"Good. Now judge them," Harry nodded at the prisoners. "But judge them as a Stark, not as a knight of the Seven Kingdoms."
****
Ghoyan Drohe was a wasteland in all but name. The ancient city of the Rhoynar people lay in ruins despite centuries having passed since the Valyrians destroyed the once-thriving city.
Harry didn't know why the people in these lands didn't try their hands at reviving the city. Despite the destruction meted out by the Valyrian dragons on the city, the foundation was still there. There were grand canals, ponds, and aqueducts in the city, as did the base of the city. All anyone had to do was pull down the rotting structures and burnt stones of the buildings and fountains across the street and rebuild them anew.
Years of neglect had polluted the water with mud and reeds, but it wouldn't be an impossible job to dredge the streams. The waters of Little Rhoyne remained crystal clear like rainwater, and Harry was sure a new settlement could emerge at the river banks.
Unfortunately, the people in these lands feared the city was cursed. That superstition facilitated attracting all the wrong sort into the city, like sellswords, brigands, petty thieves, and slavers. The stolen wares of the travellers taking the Valyrian roads nearby were sold here. The Free Cities most likely knew what happened, but they were happy to look the other way because of their disputes.
Harry got the distinct feeling that the ruling class of the Free Cities were happy to keep vast tracts of land in utter chaos. Any sort of order outside their walls would deplete their hold on the populace they rule. The walls surrounding their city were not just to keep enemies out but to keep their people in perpetual bondage.
"The city is in a sorry state. I don't know why I expected more." Robb muttered as they walked on the streets where bandits sold their stolen loot to merchants as far as Norvos, Qohor and Volantis.
Harry was happy to see Robb acting normal after what happened. He knew it was cruel to force Robb into a situation where he had to choose to execute the Dothraki prisoners. But it was too good an opportunity to pass up in Harry's eyes to teach the cost of power and the weight of responsibility that comes with it. He had no illusions about what lay ahead in the future.
There were wars to come, and he'd rest easy if Robb and Jon were prepared to do whatever was necessary to win. Fickle things like the concept of honour and chivalry were good things during times of peace. But Harry only saw war in the days ahead.
"It's a shame what happened to the Rhoynar. It'd have been a sight to see the famed water mages at the height of their civilisation." Jon commented.
Harry grunted but otherwise remained silent as he shoved the thoughts in his kind away and studied the layout of the ruins of the ancient city. They were disguised as travellers while the airship was cloaked under the invisibility spell. He sent out a pulse of magic, taking the feel of the place, and he was surprised to see the area was nearly devoid of any magical energy.
"What's wrong?" Jon asked, noticing a change in Harry's expression.
"There is no magic here. I had never encountered a place without magic before. It's almost as if the land had been drained of the last embers of magical energy." said Harry.
"Maybe it's because the river is only a tributary of the Rhoyne." Robb said with a shrug.
Harry doubted that. A complete absence of magic in the land would not happen without external factors. The fact that he was not picking up any divine energy in the area was another indicator that the local gods had abandoned the people and the region. He had found the Velvet Hills in the same state. There were some scattered septs high in the hills, but they were devoid of any divine power or magical energy. It was as if the Seven enjoyed their exclusivity from the mortal realm.
'Either the Seven and Mother Rhoyne took matters into their own hands and cut their losses, or the Valyrians were messing with powers they shouldn't have.' Harry mused.
Considering the usual playbook of the gods and the Valyrians who aspired to be gods, he suspected the truth lay somewhere in between. Either way, Andalos and the old Rhoynar cities were a dead end.
"We should leave. There is nothing of worth here." Harry finally said.
"Are you sure?" Robb asked. "We could look for the remains of other cities near the Rhoyne."
"No. We're wasting our time here. This land is a wasteland." said Harry before turning away from the riverside.
"Wasteland?" Jon exchanged a bewildered look with Robb.
"Come. We should continue our journey. We'll follow the Valyrian road to Pentos." said Harry.
Despite Harry's wish, they didn't immediately depart Ghoyan Drohe. They spent some time in the bleak city at Jon's insistence. Most of their time was spent buying trinkets that took their fancy. Elephant tusks were the most valuable commodity in the place except for some stolen jewellery and high-quality Myrish carpets. Strangely enough, there were also some dragon bones available in the market. The merchants claimed the bones came from Norvos, but Harry doubted it. It was not as if Norvos was swimming in dragon skeletons.
"Did you find what you were looking for, my lord?" Anya asked once he returned to the airship.
"I found answers but none that I liked." Harry said with a sigh.
"That's unfortunate. But you can take comfort in knowing Elsera's wand is functioning properly. Her blood magic has become far more powerful with the new wand."
"Yes. This has not been a complete waste of time." said Harry with a thoughtful frown. "I suppose this is a good namesday gift as ever."
"Now, onwards to Pentos. We'll have a proper celebration of my fourteenth namesday in Pentos."
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