Chapter 17: The Ruler of Stormnds

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  The journey from Dorne was mrueling than I’d anticipated. God’s Grace y far behind us, a few hundred kilometers away, so the journey was getting a bit better. The harshness of the Dornish sun was repced by the cooler winds as we trudged through Prince’s Pass. The nd shifted around us—a pce where sand and rock gave way ty hills and pine needles underfoot.

  The pass was both a natural marvel and a reminder of just how far the borders of Dorretched. We rode in silence, with only the sound of horse hooves apanying us. I’d almost grown fond of that sound.

  The path curved between steep cliffs, shadowed by jagged peaks that seemed to pierce the sky. Around Kinvara and I, the Sand Snakes rode with ease, their eyes always sing the trail, watchful for threats. It was Tyene who broke the quiet, her eyes half-lidded in boredom as she gnced my way.

  “What do you think of this, Pri- er, Yrace?” she stammered and asked.

  “I like the gentler wind. Though I have to admit, I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate it this much if I hadn’t experiehe harshness of the Dornish Sun. Anyways, how long do you think we o travel from here?” I asked in casual i. I already khe answer. I had naturally done my research before on such a long journey, but it was worth stirring up some versation with these dour-faced warriors.

  “Another month, maybe less,” Nymeria replied, her voice as dry as the nd we left behind. It had already been about ten days since we left. “If the gods are kind, Yrace. Which they usually aren’t.”

  A chuckle slipped from Kinvara’s lips. “Not a true statement, Lady Nymeria.”

  “Let’s nue about ious views, girls,” I put a stop to them. “By the way, just call me Vis si’d be troublesome if people heard you call me Yrace,” I said, and the Sand Snakes nodded.

  Kinvara shrugged, her gaze moving back to the cliffs above us, uned. runted something indistinct, the words lost to the steady sound of our horses’ hooves against stone, and the versation died again, as fleeting as the whisper of wind through the peaks.

  ****

  Two weeks ter, we were passing through Summerhall, the nd softening into rolling fields dotted with green and gold. We avoided the main roads whenever possible, opting for old trails that twisted through the hills, away fr eyes.

  Viserion had been hunting wild buffalos and other animals whenever she was hungry, and although that didn’t give me much experience, I still mao level up a little. I liked how I could receive levels even when she was the one doing the killing.

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  Viserys Targaryen

  The Dragon King

  22 Years Old

  Level 14

  -

  17 STR

  22 END

  17 DEX

  19 INT

  19 LUC

  20 AUTH

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  I was feeling more powerful than ever. It was a good feeling. Soon, I should bee the stro human in the world. But until then, I had to remain cautious and careful. Super skilled warriors like Oberyn Martell still posed a threat to me, enough to perhaps kill me.

  Thankfully, nobody would reize me even if they saw me, but Kinvara was another question. She had her hair red right now, so they wouldn’t realize that this Red Priestess was the Red Priestess, but still. It was better to be careful sihese nds worshiped the Seven.

  Tension y heavy on our small pany noere passing through the Stormnds, after all. The territory of one of the Five Kings, who was just nearby. So the Sand Snakes were ever alert while Kinvara smiled to herself as though she were above it all, and as for me... well, I kept my posure. Each passing day brought us closer to the lion’s mace where allegiances were as solid as smoke and just as reliable.

  It was far ahead of Summerhall when the enter happehe sudden sound of horse hooves—many, many hooves—echoed across the rolling hills. A heraldihat pulled our attention in unison.

  “Horses,” Kinvara said softly, her tone a straune of curiosity. The Sand Snakes were already moving, hands resting on the hilts of ons, expressions darkening.

  I pulled my horse to a stop, eyes narrowing, as I positioned myself in front of Kinvara as if to protect her. The banners came into view before the horses did—the golden rose of House Tyrell beside the stag ed in gold, the banner of House Baratheon.

  “Stay alert,” I said to the girls, although that wasn’t hey already were, as the riders spread out as they drew nearer, a formation too o be anything but military. They circled us smoothly, irely hostile but certainly not friendly.

  Renly Baratheon sat astride a massive warhorse at the head of the pany, wearing a of golden antlers upon his head, his easy smile a mask of charm. Beside him, on a slimmer palfrey, rode a beautiful woman. I reized her as Margaery Tyrell, and like Renly, she was a more attractive mirror of her TV Show terpart. Her gaze was sharp beh the pretense of politeness. The knights fanned out around them, each of them in glittering armor, the sheen of polished steel almost blinding uhe sun.

  “Curious, what have we here?” Renly called out, his voice carrying over the distance. He didn’t sound like he inteo harm us. He urged his horse forward, closing the space between us. “Iing travelers through my nds. Don’t be startled; I simply want to know who exactly crossed my path today.”

  Renly Baratheon, one of the Five Kings, the King of the Stormnds, swept his eyes across us, lingering on the crimson robes and hair of Kinvara and then the dark-haired Sand Snakes. He barely shot me a look, which I was thankful for. I had my hair bck from Kinvara’s magic, so it wasn’t as if he could reize me anyway.

  However, it wasn’t as if we were totally safe either. This Kinvara refused to ge her robes, so it was hard to hide her status as a Red Priestess. Stannis Baratheon was being helped by a Red Priestess, and if Renly knew about it, he’d automatically view us as enemies.

  The Sand Siffened, fiightening on their ons. I held up a hand, a signal to keep their bdes sheathed—for now. “Just travelers, my lord,” I replied, keeping my tone smooth, almost bored. “Passing through, on our way to the capital.”

  “It’s Yrace,” said a Knight who was riding too close to Renly. Although he wore a helmet, I reized him as the Knight of Flowers.

  I smirked. “Ah, yes. I apologize, Yrace.”

  Renly’s eyes flicked from Kinvara to me, the fai quirk of his lips betraying his i. “Such brave people you are,” he said, his gaze returning to Kinvara. “A Red Priestess.” His eyes lingered on her. As did the eyes of many others. Nobody, not even Renly and Loras, could deny her beauty.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]Renly nodded his head in respect. “My dy, I am assuming when he said he’s going to the capital, he and the Daughters of Prince Oberyn are apanying you to the capital? Should I be worried about the Lord of Light setting his sights on my camp?”

  From the looks of it, news of Melisahe Priestess supp Stannis, hadn’t spread across the . Otherwise, he’d have been a lot mgressive to us. Or maybe it was the daughters of Oberyn Martell, as they somehhem, that secured safety for us just by being here.

  Kinvara revealed a soft, posed smile, the ohat spoke of secrets and power. “The Lord of Light seeks only t his warmth, my lord,” she said, her voice honeyed. “No harm shall e to those who respect his grace. Only those who disrespect the One God, no matter if King or peasant will be judged. I am Nyra, a close fidant of Kinvara, the Heart of Fire. So please rest assured, someone like me is not in allegiah any of the Five Kings,” she didn’t lie. I wasn’t one of the Five Kings. “I’m simply having a pilgrimage to King’s Landing in the hope of spreading the Lord’s name.”

  “Ah, grace,” Renly repeated, his tone ced with a teasing note. He gnced sideways at Margaery. “Grace is a currency we often run short of, isn’t it, my love?”

  Margaery gave a delicate ugh, her eyes sharp as they studied Kinvara. “Perhaps. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a priestess quite like you,” she said, her gaze dipping to the embroidered fmes on Kinvara’s robes. The geous Queen of Ashes smiled. “Such fervor even when you’re standing before the rightful King.”

  Spoiler

  [colpse]Kinvara bowed her head, her smile deepening. “Faith is powerful indeed, Yrace. It touches even those who resist it. Like this young man, for example,” she raised a hand at me. “One of the Sed Sons. Doesn’t believe in the Red God, even if he acts otherwise with me, a he’s stig with me. Isn’t that what faith is?”

  I winced, not that surprised that she knew my true feelings toward this so-called God. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to ge her goal with me. Margaery’s eyes met mihen, and I held her gaze—her smile was kind, almost too kind.

  I wondered if she could see through the guise, if she noticed the mask beh which y somethiirely different. Of course, that was impossible. If this greedy woman knew I was a Targaryen, she’d have run from Renly and jumped on my horse instead. There was a sharpness in her eyes, a calg look that reminded me of a cat toying with a bird. She kneere more than what we cimed, or at least suspected it.

  Renly turned his attention to me, his easy smile unwavering. “And you? You seem more than a simple bodyguard. What brings you to Westeros, my good man?”

  I returned his smile, careful not to let the annoyance show. I didn’t respect him—he was weak, a pretender with dreams beyond his reach. But he owerful enough, at this moment, to bee an obstacle. “The Red Priestess travels where she’s needed. I’m simply here to see her safely to her destination. Don’t ask me why I’m here. Ask my captain, Daario Naharis, why he wants me to protect this pretentious woman.”

  Kinvara raised an eyebrow at me, but I just ignored her. As far as she was ed, I was just pying a character.

  “A noble cause,” Renly mused, though his eyes said otherwise. “And a dangerous road. These nds aren’t as peaceful as they once were.”

  “We’re prepared for whatever may e,” I said, my gaze steady. Beside me, I could feel the quiet readiness of the Sand Sheir eyes locked on Renly’s knights.

  Margaery’s voice slipped into the versation, soft. “You should join us, if only for a night. We’re camped not far from here. I’m sure we could all be from a bit of pany. The roads are lonely, after all.”

  I smiled politely. “Gracious, but no. We’re on a tight schedule, I’m afraid.”

  Renly raised an eyebrow. “So quiove on, a you’ve nowhere pressing to be. Curious.”

  “The Lord’s work is ever pressing,” Kinvara interjected smoothly, her tone unwavering. “reciate the offer, my lord. But we must keep moving. Time is short, and the light must reach those who most.”

  Renly watched her for a moment, his smile remaining though the curiosity in his eyes sharpened. He nodded slowly. “Very well. I won’t hold you. But beware, the path ahead grows darker. Friends may turn into enemies whe expected.” His gaze held mihe words hanging in the air like a veiled warning.

  “Wise words, my lord,” I said. “Perhaps we’ll meet again under different circumstances,” I said, but my eyes were now on Margaery.

  “Perhaps,” Renly echoed before pulling the reins of his horse and turning back to his camp. “Safe travels, Priestess. And remember—King Renly always appreciates those whrue kingship when they see it. We shall meet again when I take King’s Landing.”

  He smiled, and then they were gohe thunder of hooves fading into the distance.

  I waited until they were well out of earshot befng toward Kinvara. “Take King’s Landing, he says,” I muttered, loosening the annoyed grip I hadn’t realized I still held on my horse’s reins.

  Kinvara’s smile was unfaltering. “An ambitious man, a kind ooo. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s powerful enough. But this enter did go better than expected. The Lord of Light guides us well, my prirust in his fme.”

  “Yes, yes,” I said dismissively, turning my horse toward the dire we were heading. North. Toward King’s Landing. “Let’s keep moving.”

  The Sand Snakes exged gyene scoffing softly under her breath. I didn’t bother asking what she thought. But as we rode on, the golden fields stretg before us, I felt the tension ease. We were close.

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  Author Note: Although the Ai Images rarely gets it right, but Kinvara always has a red jewel on the neckce around her neck.

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