Your comnts, reviews, and votes really help out so much and they make super motivated to keep working on this story! Thank you! Pat*eon : CaveLeather
Pat*eon : Belamy20
Pat*eon : ilham20
After months of relentless work, Harrenhal's production lines were finally running smoothly. Roman finally had a rare stretch of free ti.
One afternoon he and Lady Shella strolled along the main road with his personal guard. Every person they passed greeted them with genuine warmth. The sight of so many happy faces moved Lady Shella deeply. She grabbed Roman's hand and pulled him up a gentle rise.
From the high ground they could see everything.
What had once been empty wilderness now held neat villages and sturdy earthen strongholds. After Roman brought in those first thousands of settlers, they had cleared the land, dug irrigation channels, and built the new forts. House Whent supplied livestock and tools; the people supplied the labor. The new strongholds served as local administrative and market centers in peaceti and as fortified refuges in war. Roman had even created roving inspection teams to keep the appointed officials honest.
The only problem was the roads.
With the new "highways," smallfolk from every corner of the lands could now reach Harrenhal in five days or less to bring their disputes directly to the lord. The sudden flood of civil cases had Roman and Maester Tom working until they dropped.
"Maester Tom, why can't we just appoint local judges? We can't keep holding court at Harrenhal every single day."
"My lord, only maesters truly understand the law. Where am I supposed to find enough of them?"
Roman had no answer. Westeros was short on everything except suffering and backwardness. He couldn't simply abandon the smallfolk to play the ga of thrones. The people were the foundation. Even with dragon blood in his veins, he still needed them—otherwise who would mine the ore and till the fields?
"Maester Tom, I want to build a school. Teach the children to read and train a new generation of educated people. Do you know anyone suitable?"
Tom's face flickered through a dozen expressions. As a Citadel maester he was sworn to serve his lord without political ambition, yet every maester knew that rule was more suggestion than law. The Citadel still held power over its own, and helping Roman build an independent school would look dangerously close to rebellion.
At the sa ti, Roman's talent was undeniable. If Tom tied his fate to this rising star, he might finally achieve the recognition he had always craved.
After a fierce internal battle, Tom made his choice.
He seized Roman's hand. "My lord, I will find you the best people I can. Just don't forget when your na echoes through history!"
Roman blinked at the sudden intensity but nodded. "Of course. Your loyalty will be rewarded."
They began quietly recruiting failed maester candidates—n and won who had studied at the Citadel but never earned even a single link. These people had education but no future. Roman didn't need brilliant scholars yet; he needed people who could teach basic reading and writing. The Citadel would probably dismiss the whole project as another rich lord's foolish charity.
They were still discussing how to lure more scholars when a large black raven landed on the table and spoke in a clear human voice.
"Gah! Roman, Fili says co to the storeroom right now. She has urgent business."
Both n froze. Tom let out a strangled shriek and began frantically praying to every god except the Stranger. Roman stayed calr. He knew Fili was no ordinary girl. This had to be her doing.
He dragged the trembling maester after the raven. When they reached the storeroom a golden-haired blur shot out and slamd into Roman's chest.
"My lord, help! I made a ss of everything!"
Roman looked past her. Supplies lay scattered across the floor. Dozens of ravens perched on crates and barrels. So cawed normally. Others were loudly arguing in perfect Common Tongue.
Tom dropped to his knees and started praying again. Roman rubbed his forehead.
"Everyone shut up!"
The dragon-roar that followed silenced the entire room instantly.
He pulled Fili outside. "Explain. Now."
"I… I just woke up and heard voices calling . I followed them here and… it was already like this."
Fili was still trembling from the shout. Roman steadied her with both hands.
An ancient raven hopped forward. Its feathers were dull and ragged, its eyes cloudy. Even its voice sounded tired.
"Don't bla the girl, Roman. We ca looking for her."
Roman glanced at Fili. Her wide blue eyes were full of innocent confusion, flicking between him and the bird.
"So why did you co to her? What do you want?"
The old raven gave him a flat, exasperated look.
"Stop pretending. You kept Fili around because she's an Apostle, didn't you? Now you're going to act surprised?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers