In the distant city of Qarth, a young girl with silver-gold hair and violet eyes rode on the same horse as a Dothraki warrior. They stood outside the crowd, watching a so-called magic trick unfold.
A red-robed sorcerer gestured dramatically with his arms, and suddenly, a staircase made entirely of flames rose higher and higher, reaching dozens of meters into the sky. The sorcerer climbed this fiery ladder with ease until both he and the ladder vanished into thin air.
The young girl's exquisite face showed unease, as if she sensed something amiss. From behind a curtain on a bullock cart, three heads emerged—those of dragons. Though still young, they exuded an air of power: one jet black, one shimmering platinum, and one a deep bronze-green. Their mouths opened, revealing tiny, sharp teeth, as they let out hissing sounds.
---
**Twin River City**
The heavy rain had poured for three days before finally showing signs of stopping. The guest room House Frey had arranged for Eddard Karstark was lavishly furnished, with the finest velvet and soft feather duvets. However, the incessant dampness of living by the river made everything feel clammy and uncomfortable, requiring daily changes of bedding.
Early that morning, Eddard awoke to a series of intriguing notifications from his magical system:
- "Detected that the concentration of the magic tide has reached a critical point."
- "All magic casting counts +1."
- "Novice magic exchange list added."
The system introduced new magical abilities, including "Animal Friend" and "Magic Arrow," alongside intermediate spells like "Weakness" and "Thunderbolt." These changes hinted at rising magical activity across Westeros and Essos.
Eddard reflected on these developments, aware of the stark contrast between Westeros's backwardness in metallurgy and magic compared to Essos. He donned his armor, checked the loyalty of his subordinates, and ensured they hadn't been swayed by House Frey's temptations.
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**A Visitor Arrives**
A knock interrupted his thoughts. It was Dita Kalander, who reported, "My Lord, as you instructed, I took a few brothers and went around the area. Most of the villages' grain has already been plundered by House Frey; it's impossible for them to sell to us. We'll have to go further."
Eddard smiled, "That's fine. Take ten brothers, and we'll go around to purchase some supplies. Eating things we bought ourselves here feels more reassuring."
These "brothers" were Eddard's personal guard, skilled cavalrymen with exceptional horsemanship. Each was a brave and skilled warrior, and Earl Rickard had spared no expense in supporting his promising son.
As Dita Kalander prepared to gather the cavalry, Eddard stepped out of the house and encountered Sir Lyman Walder, who had an agenda of his own. Sir Lyman was an interesting character—a round, plump man with little loyalty to House Frey.
"Eddard, I was just about to look for you. The weather's nice; let's go out and have some fun," Lyman suggested, his voice tinged with the faint scent of alcohol.
Eddard nodded, "Sure, I was just planning to buy some supplies. With Sir Lyman leading the way, I'm sure it'll be twice as effective."
A smile spread across Sir Lyman's face as he secretly rejoiced. His grandfather had urged him to get close to Eddard Karstark, and now he had his chance.
---
**Exploring the Region**
War, regardless of its cause, always benefited the ruling class while the common people suffered. Eddard led his contingent, exploring the surrounding villages for an entire morning. Though they moved slowly, they visited several settlements, eventually arriving at Water Mill Town.
Twin River City, with its proximity to the river and southern location, was a fertile and resource-rich region. Fishing and shrimping enriched the dinner tables, and a large forest lay to the west, supporting a thriving population. The dust-covered farmers in the village looked healthy, and children played happily in the streets.
No wonder House Frey could field over four thousand soldiers. Their territory was populous, their bridge was a lucrative gold mine, and they lacked nothing in terms of weapons and equipment.
Compared to Twin River City, Golden Tooth had far less arable land and a smaller population, relying solely on its gold mine. In times of war, young men were scarce in the surrounding villages.
Unfortunately, Old Frey was unlikely to rebel. Otherwise, Eddard mused, he might have considered leading his troops to take the city and discussing with Robb about granting Twin River City to himself.
As he pondered, the contingent rounded a hill, revealing the outline of a village in the distance. Several large water wheels creaked on the Green Fork River, drawing water for irrigation.
This was Water Mill Town.
However, a thick plume of smoke billowed from the village, and faint cries drifted over the fields.
Eddard halted his mount, his instincts warning him that something was amiss.
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