If I die, it all ends. For me, for Lyanna, Elia, Rhaella, their kids, my kids. No Tyrant's Squire without me.
Wylis woke up that morning with that thought in his head. Bare, he got off the bed and walked over to the small window of the castle. It gave him a view of the Bay of Crabs. He had plenty of time last night to think and decide on his next steps.
The risk he'd taken yesterday, trying to bring down an entire fleet of pirates on his own, was unnecessary. Now that he knew who the pirate commander was, he was lucky to have come out alive. If he'd been unable to loosen the anchor tied to his ankle, he'd have drowned right there.
I better build a proper army and navy first.
In the end, the main conclusion he'd reached was that he lacked men to rely on. He couldn't do everything on his own, and he couldn't be everywhere at all times.
With a sigh, he looked back towards the bed and smiled at sleeping Ros, lying on her belly, half draped with a quilt, her red hair messily sprinkled around. He'd taken out a lot of his frustration on the bed last night, and Ros had moaned through all those hours.
Should get her a gift. Maybe a nice necklace?
He knew it was immoral to have so many partners, let alone those giving him children. But ignoring that, he wanted to treat every woman he slept with kindly and with warmth. It helped that Ros was going to live in his castle to begin with.
"Ummh… My lo—Wylis?"
He chuckled at her struggle to call him by his name in private. "Nothing calls for us today, Ros. Go on and sleep a while longer. We ride for home at first light tomorrow."
Walking closer, he fixed the quilt properly on her and headed to get dressed. He wiped his face and fixed a shortsword on his hip since his large one was lost at sea. One last time, he eyed Ros sleeping, hugging the pillow with absolute calm and peace on her face.
Kept her waiting too long.
Shaking his head, he walked out.
"My lord!"
"Chett." He gave his page a steady nod as he walked on. "Ready the men to march for home. We ride at first light."
There was no denying that his mood was sour, and it was likely going to stay that way for as long as he remained in Maidenpool. The entire town was decimated, and Lord Mooton was dead. William, Lord Mooton's son, was naturally very timid.
It felt wrong to leave a devastated town like that. Riverlands and Westeros at large lived by the survival of the fittest rule. Sensing weakness, the wolves would come out to tear apart whatever was left of Maidenpool.
At last, he arrived at the solar of the lord of the castle. It was housed in a high tower overlooking the port and the waters, a truly breathtaking view that was now spoiled by destruction. Upon entry, he found Lord Hoster Tully seated in the lord's seat, Ser Brynden standing behind him. The new Lord, William Mooton, was also there, meekly sitting on a chair without an arm, clearly still in pain. His mother, Lady Diana Mooton, was present in another chair, looking nervous.
"My lords." Wylis gave them a nod and stood against a nearby bookshelf, arms crossed, looking menacing without even trying, thanks to his size. The stubble beard didn't help either. "Any word from King's Landing?"
Lord Hoster gave a slow nod as he took up the parchment. "I sent word to them on all matters yesterday. The fault lies with the steward of Maidenpool, and with the Freys as well, yet we cannot accuse them without proof."
"W-What happens to… Maidenpool, my lord?" William Mooton asked after his mother nudged him.
"That choice belongs to Lord Kaiser," Lord Hoster said as he slowly rose. "The raven declared Lord Kaiser's words final on this matter. He was sent by the Crown to handle this duty in the first place."
"But you're the overlord of Riverlands."
Lord Hoster chuckled and shrugged.
"Ah, His Grace." Wylis realised why he was being given so much say in this.
"He trusts you, son." Lord Hoster came to his side and set a gentle hand on his shoulder, guiding him toward the chair. "Maidenpool has endured enough, as you said yesterday. You're a good man, and I trust your judgement."
Ting!
[Trueborns & Bastards Triggered!]
[Son(Bastard) - Lysa Arryn née Tully]
"..."
Talk about the timing.
[Strength - 1/10
Dexterity - 2/10
Intelligence - 2/10
Charisma - 3/10
Vitality - 1/10]
Blessed with dexterity and intelligence?
Wylis liked the numbers. Charisma was always high for his children, and three seemed like the starting value for all. Vitality was at one, and that meant the babe was born healthy and safe. But more were needed to be fully at peace.
[Strength - 1+2/10
Dexterity - 2+1/10
Intelligence - 2+2/10
Charisma - 3+2/10
Vitality - 1+3/10]
He still added two to Charisma because that was one effect that showed immediately. Knowing Lysa, she wouldn't have the patience to wait for strength and intelligence. Beauty, however, she'd be able to boast about right away.
Finally, returning to reality, he looked at the Mooton mother and son from his seat. He reckoned it must feel infuriating for them to see him sit where their lord did before.
"Before your steward's treachery came to light, I meant to take every ship in Maidenpool's fleet, and the law would have stood behind me. But seeing how matters truly fell out, I'll leave you half."
"No, my lord, I beg you," Lady Mooton cried. "To do this would cripple all trade in Maidenpool. Have mercy, I pray you. The town is gone already, burned to cinders."
"It's for that reason I'm leaving you half of them. I'll set up a trade post in Maidenpool too, and keep it free of taxes for the next ten years. Take this as a true gift if you've got the sense for it. It'll draw more merchants your way come next year. And I'll claim those eight pirate ships I took." Wylis stated as plainly as possible. He really needed those ships to make money.
"How a—"
"My lady." Wylis softened his voice as best he knew how, yet she still shrank back. "I near lost my life because your lord husband let that steward run wild. The first thing I did at Ramsgate was put the steward down. Took less than an hour to mark him rotten. This may seem cruel to you, I know, but one day you'll see it was a kindness I gave you."
Wylis genuinely meant that. With his trade post, Maidenpool was going to become a major hub for his goods in the future. At that time, House Mooton would benefit greatly. Of course, they were all simple ideas for now.
"Lady Mooton," Lord Hoster said as he stepped forward. "Lord Kaiser paid thousands of gold dragons for a fleet from Lord Manderly. He's a man of action, and the bards sing the truth of it. Take him at his word when he calls this kindness, for what I offered would have seemed cruel beside it."
Fists clenched on the hem of her gown, Lady Mooton nodded, her head low, feeling humiliated.
"My lord, will you aid the town?" Her gaze drifted toward Hoster. "They emptied the vaults with that rat's help. The people will starve, and I shall starve as well. Will the Crown offer help?"
"Don't look to the crown for aid. The King still holds your Targaryen loyalties against you. I have no coin to spare, yet I will send what food I am able."
Wylis didn't meddle there. That was how things went. Noble or smallfolk, they were both one crisis away from losing it all. In the noble's case, the crisis required a larger scale, but the end result was the same. The only way to mitigate such a crisis for a noble house was to have familial connections to other nobility.
But House Mooton's situation was troublesome. Because of their love for Targaryens during the rebellion, the other houses wouldn't be interested in helping. Perhaps Lady Mooton's side of the family would, but nobody else.
With some tears in her eyes, Lady Mooton left with her son after that. What she could do was gather the precious items left and sell them for some coin.
"What are you thinking, son?" Hoster eyed Wylis sitting still in the chair.
"Ah, nothing." Wylis jolted awake from his thoughts. "I think I'll hold off my leaving for a week. With Lord Mooton and the steward gone, I doubt Lady Mooton can make sense of the ledgers on her own."
Hoster let out a weary smile and a long breath. "Your heart is as large as your frame. Aye, she would bring ruin to the house without meaning to. I spoke of your ship purchases for that reason. She may not grasp the worth of vessels, but she knows well enough what a few thousand gold dragons mean. I'll send someone to aid her, and I would be thankful if you stayed until they arrive. Soon enough, the traders will gather like fishers to a wounded catch, each offering bargains that look generous but would cost her dearly."
"I expect that as well," Wylis said and rose to his feet with a purpose in mind. "I will go and see how the ships fare."
He left the solar, hearing Lord Hoster speak with his brother behind, all praises on how good a man he was.
I fucked your daughter, man.
______________________
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