After Roman's campaign, everyone on Whent lands knew about the new army—disciplined, loyal, and ruthless toward bandits. Word spread fast that House Whent had finally produced a wise and just lord.
Lady Shella read the reports with a smile that wouldn't leave her face.
Ever since she said goodbye to her family in the crypts, Roman had given her a second life. The old woman looked years younger, cheeks flushed with color as she chatted with Fili about the latest news.
Fili knew exactly what Roman was doing. She was the master of the ravens now. Through them she and Roman passed ssages across the entire territory in hours.
That was why every ti the bandits tried anything, Roman's n seed to appear out of nowhere and crush them.
Fili poured tea for Lady Shella while they talked.
"Fili, you and Roman are both good children. He's been working himself to the bone lately. When he finally rests, you take good care of him."
Fili thumped her chest and promised she wouldn't let either of them down.
Lady Shella was still speaking when her eyes suddenly focused on the girl.
She blinked in surprise. The thin, awkward orphan who had arrived months ago had blossod. Fili's figure was now soft and full, her golden hair shining, blue eyes bright, and her smile warm and genuine.
Good food and safety had done wonders. Even at the great tourneys Lady Shella had seen few won who matched Fili in looks, grace, and natural charm.
"Fili, have you had your first blood yet?"
The question hit like a slap. Fili nearly dropped the teapot.
"M-my lady?! What are you asking?!"
"I'm asking if you've started your courses. And more importantly—what do you think of Roman?" Lady Shella took a calm sip of tea.
Fili's face went scarlet. She hadn't expected Lady Shella to be this blunt.
"I… I had it a long ti ago. It's nothing special. Most people wouldn't even notice."
"Hmm. And Roman? How do you feel about him?"
"I… I… I…"
Lady Shella didn't need to hear the rest. The girl's face was redder than ripe apples in the orchard.
"Since you clearly have feelings for the boy, why not try your luck?"
Fili's shoulders sagged. "But I'm just a commoner, my lady. Lord Roman is—"
Lady Shella pulled Fili into a gentle hug and stroked her back.
"Listen to , child. Noble marriages are rarely about love. They're about power. And with the way Roman is moving, in a few years he'll be unstoppable. Plus, Maester Tom confird it—Roman has the blood of dragons in his veins. A wise, kind-hearted dragon in human form, paired with your own strange gifts… Harrenhal is already untouchable. The rest of the lords can co or stay away. It doesn't matter."
Fili stayed quiet for a long mont, then finally smiled through her tears.
She might be naïve, but Lady Shella had seen every kind of noble ga. She knew exactly what she was doing.
A month later the bandit threat inside Whent lands was all but finished.
The big bosses had been hunted down and beheaded. The rest were either executed or sent to the mines. For the first ti in living mory Harrenhal felt truly peaceful. People ate well, slept safely, and trade was booming.
But the rest of the Riverlands was suffering.
Roman had clean roads and fast response. Bandits who tried their luck near God's Eye got wiped out. The ones who survived simply moved on to easier targets—other lords' lands that had no highways, no trained militia, and no white-fla lord who could see them coming.
"Why rob the man who kills us when we can rob everyone else?"
Soon the lands around Harrenhal were drowning in bandit raids. The chaos spread like wildfire.
Roman didn't care. His part was done. His n and horses were exhausted.
When the three hundred riders finally rode back through Harrenhal's gates, Lady Shella stood at the head of the crowd to welco them.
The soldiers sat tall in their saddles even though their bodies scread for rest. They looked like heroes returning from legend—until their warhorses started shifting and snorting in protest.
Roman waved them off. "Go. Rest the horses and yourselves. That's an order."
Lady Shella took his arm the mont he dismounted, eyes sparkling.
"You've made quite a na for yourself, my boy. Everyone in the Riverlands is talking about how Lord Roman Whent swept the bandits from around God's Eye like chaff in the wind."
"Other houses weren't so lucky. Especially House Mooton. Maidenpool took a hard hit."
She didn't need to spell it out. Roman understood imdiately.
"You want to use this mont to reach out and make allies?"
Lady Shella nodded. "We'll talk more inside. Maester Tom's been looking for you too."
Back in his chambers, Fili launched herself at him the second the door closed, pressing her face into his chest.
"Lord Roman, you're finally ho!"
"We've been talking through the ravens every day. It's not like I disappeared."
Roman chuckled and ruffled her hair, then went to find Maester Tom.
The maester was waiting with three objects laid out like treasure: a gray brick, a small bottle of dark liquid, and a perfect clear glass sphere.
He said nothing. He just grinned so wide his face looked ready to split.
Roman's heart started pounding.
"Glass? Cent? And…"
"Quick-dry lacquer, my lord!" Tom picked up a short wooden pole wrapped in hemp cloth. "I got the binding right this ti. The shaft won't flex or snap under heavy cavalry use."
"You actually did it."
Tom bowed, still beaming. "I would never fail you, my lord."
The three breakthroughs were exactly what Roman needed.
The improved cent—made possible by dragonfla and waterwheel-powered grinding—was already being used in new buildings. People were living in stronger, drier hos.
Glass opened endless possibilities.
And the new lacquered lance shafts ant he could finally field proper heavy cavalry without bankrupting the treasury.
"My lord, the glass works, but we're short on the key ingredient—soda ash. Right now we can only get it from seaweed or a few natural deposits. Large-scale production will be difficult."
Roman smiled. "No problem, Maester Tom. Tell —have you forgotten about House Mooton of Maidenpool?"
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