AN :
Next goal for another extra chapter is 700 power stones.
In the Game of Stones, you either win or you wait. The more Power Stones you offer, the faster the chapters come.
...
( Lyman POV )
The boy's face tightened a bit, his lips in a forced-looking smile. "That is a picture of me, but I'm not and have never been a girl. I simply inherited my mother's features quite strongly." the boy leaned over, putting his finger on the page.
"It says right here, Callum Lannister, second son of Lord Tywin Lannister, whose vision and drive provided these books to the children of the Seven."
...
Lyman frowned, so the lordling's name was Callum. "Pardon me, milord, it's only that I'm learning my letters and I can't read so well yet, I did not mean to insult you."
"It's not an insult if you don't mean insult by it," Callum replied, matching Lyman's gaze with intense emerald eyes. "You say you're trying to learn to read? That's good, good for you, and good for your soul." Callum's tone softened. "God smiles upon a mind eager to learn. Is there any particular area you're having trouble with?"
"Er… well." Lyman scratched his cheek with his free hand. "I'm having trouble with the er… the letters and the sounds they make." This wasn't the direction he'd been expecting this conversation to go in at all. He'd been worried in fact that he insulted the Lannister Lordling and that in a few years, he'd find himself flayed for it or somesuch. Lords, he'd heard, could be like that at times. Then again, the boy in front of him looked like the type that wouldn't hurt a fly, even if he knew that the boy was also a squire training to kill, just like Lyman was.
"Hmm, phonics then, that makes sense." The boy said a word-probably a nobles term, that Lyman had never heard before. "Like how in the word cat the letter C makes a 'kh' sound, the letter a makes an 'aa' sound, and the letter t makes a 'tuh' sound? I should start a handbook about that." Callum frowned before shaking his head. "At any rate, Lyman, I've got an offer for you, if you'll hear it."
"An offer Milord?"
"Aye, it'll do you well also." Callum nodded. "I'll teach you your letters, I've done it before, and unlike my last student, you can actually talk, so it should be quicker than it was for him." the blond child spoke with such confidence that Lyman actually believed the claim, despite the boy not possibly being older than eleven or twelve. "In exchange, you'll work for me. When I tell you to get something done, you'll get to it. Of course, you'll still be riding in my Uncle's horse- but you'll answer to me personally."
Lyman scratched the back of his neck in thought. "It sounds like a good offer milord, but it feels a bit odd swearing to a… well someone your age."
"My age is precisely why I'm looking for hands here. I've got more than enough back at Casterly Rock, but I find myself severely understaffed here at Eagle's Nest. Qyburn's my only man in these walls, and he's unsuited for… just about anything that requires an ordinary person." Callum frowned. "Tell you what, work for me for… let's say three years, and on top of teaching you your letters, I'll pull some strings when I'm older to have you made a knight. You're already training as a horseman, aren't you? It shouldn't be too hard."
Lyman's thoughts ground to a stop. A knight? He could be a knight? He'd never even seen a knight before he came to Eagle's Nest, but the ones he had seen- Ser Klimmeth and the rest, even Lord Lannister himself, they all rode around on massive horses wearing armor of polished steel that gleamed in the sunlight.
He had seen them knock over other men-strong men with a single blow, and of course, he'd heard the stories as a child, about Dunk and Egg, and about all the other great and heroic knights of legend. "That… could you do that? You're only a squire yourself…" Lyman mumbled in disbelief, not a rejection though. He simply hadn't even dreamed of becoming a knight.
"I'm a squire aye, but I've got knights that work for me even today. Ser Ilyn at Casterly Rock, and a few others who work for him, and thus for me. If you agree I'll see to it that one of them squires you, and you end up knighted sooner than later." Callum replied calmly.
"I'm not going to pretend I'm some valiant pauper who pulled himself up to knighthood by his own two hands. I'm the son of the Most Powerful lord in the Seven Kingdoms, so even if Uncle Tygett works me half to death, or thinks I'm not good enough, in the end, it doesn't matter. I'll still end up a knight if my father thinks I should." Callum offered a hand up from the bench. "If you help me now while I need it, I'll put my thumb on the scales for you in a few years and see you helped in turn."
Lyman swallowed that information, then reached out and clasped the boy's hand. "I suppose I'd be a fool to turn you down milord, and mother didn't raise a fool. If you promise to do as you've just said, I'll be your man for three years at least, I swear it."
"Good man, I'll make sure you don't regret it." Callum smiled. "Your first task, follow me in while I talk to Qyburn. You're from the north coast yes?"
"Yes, Milord." Lyman nodded quickly, standing with his back straighter to hopefully impress the little lordling. "I'm from the Gold Gap, jus north of Yarrowston."
"Good, then you'll be able to provide local context on my plans." Callum smiled, heading ahead of him into the lair of the Black Maester. Lyman followed him inside quickly.
"Plans milord?"
"Aye, plans." Callum gestured at a roll of paper that was held under his left arm. Lyman hadn't noticed it before. "Qyburn, I'd like your advice on some things, come away from your notes for a moment."
"Ah!" the Black Maester certainly hadn't had such a friendly tone before, as he looked up from his books with an actual smile on his face. "Young Callum, and… I see you've found another dogsbody. Missing Ser Ilyn are we?"
"Did you just call me a-" Lyman felt his hackles rise as the Black Maester called him a dog, but Callum cut in before he could shout at the man.
"Qyburn don't insult Lyman please, and certainly don't insult Ilyn." Callum frowned. "Besides, you're one of my minions too you know. Just a different sort."
"I… meant it in all due respect." the Black Maester actually seemed a bit chastised, much to Lyman's surprise. "What do you want advice on?"
"I've got some plans. Longer term you understand that I want to review with you, Lyman will provide some feedback on how feasible it will be at a local level." Callum rolled out the sheet of paper, which contained a fairly intricate drawing of a house. The drawing had it made of stone, with thick walls and thin windows, the lower floor was a sort of barn, while all the living space was on the upper floor. Lyman scratched his cheek as he looked at it.
"A house?" Qyburn asked, looking at the picture. "Ah, I suppose it's a house to deal with raiding."
"Aye." Callum nodded. "Let me talk you through it."
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