Chapter 212: The White Walkers' Message
"Ser Barristan, I'm afraid you have a new boy to instruct!" Rhaegar Targaryen said to Ser Barristan Selmy.
Since Lord Hoster Tully had such intentions, Rhaegar was happy to see it happen. It was merely one more mouth to feed at the Royal Military Academy.
Petyr Baelish not remaining at Riverrun would be beneficial for everyone's future.
Many meetings and partings stemmed from love and hate. Yet when people were separated by great distances, what love and hate could truly remain?
Rhaegar did not harbor much hatred toward Petyr.
Littlefinger had originally been nothing more than an ambitious and diligent low-ranking financial administrator.
The eventual separation between Petyr and House Tully could not be blamed entirely on Lord Hoster's kindness. Everyone involved had played a role.
They had loved too deeply and too foolishly.
Especially the younger daughter of House Tully.
"Is he another child as talented with a sword as Jaime Lannister?" Barristan asked curiously.
The milk-white cloak of the Lord Commander seemed to reflect the purity and honor of the White Knight.
"No. The person I've arranged for you this time is someone whose mind is sharper than any sword. A young man recommended by Lord Hoster."
Rhaegar smiled.
Petyr Baelish's martial abilities could only be described as average.
However, his mind was exceptionally sharp.
He excelled at painting grand visions, manipulating finances, and managing wealth.
Littlefinger also possessed his own natural support base among merchants and lower-ranking financial officials.
However, many of the policies Rhaegar had implemented through Gulltown had already absorbed and replaced much of that influence.
In the future, Petyr's political foundation would gradually disappear, leaving him no choice but to work honestly.
"A recommendation from Lord Hoster? That truly is rare."
Barristan spoke with some emotion.
Truthfully, Barristan had never thought particularly highly of Lord Hoster.
Hoster Tully appeared energetic and commanding on the surface, but in reality, he seemed rather ordinary.
Still, as long as the alliance between House Tully and House Hoare remained intact, it would continue to be one of the greatest powers in the Riverlands.
"Ser Barristan, I'll have to trouble you with the enrollment process for the Royal Military Academy and the education of its students."
"As you command, Prince Rhaegar."
Barristan immediately bowed.
"We create frameworks, like constructing a carriage. But every carriage still requires suitable people to drive it."
Rhaegar felt inspired as he spoke.
Every new institution and every new system required talented individuals to help sustain it.
At present, most of the people around him were military talents.
What he needed now were experts in other fields as well.
Finance.
Academics.
Administration.
And many more.
"It has always been this way throughout history. No person can be omniscient or omnipotent. Even the Seven-Who-Are-One possess different aspects. One person may embody only one aspect of the divine, which is why careful selection is necessary."
Barristan nodded thoughtfully.
After leaving the Royal Military Academy of King's Landing, Rhaegar headed toward another destination.
The Great Sept of Baelor.
He intended to visit the High Septon.
As always, Ser Barristan followed at his side.
The High Septon and the Most Devout gathered within the Great Sept of Baelor, the magnificent marble structure that dominated Visenya's Hill.
Constructed from white marble and crowned with crystal spires, the Great Sept was named after King Baelor I Targaryen, remembered throughout history as Baelor the Blessed.
The sept stood at the center of a vast white marble plaza.
In the middle of that plaza rose an enormous statue of Baelor himself.
The king stood serenely upon his pedestal, his expression peaceful and compassionate.
"Prince Rhaegar, please come this way."
The arrival of the Crown Prince naturally caused the High Septon to feel both honored and nervous.
He personally escorted Rhaegar into a quiet and elegantly decorated council chamber.
"He's certainly fat enough. No wonder the mob will tear him apart during the riots in King's Landing one day."
Rhaegar silently evaluated the man before him.
The High Septon wore flowing white robes and a crown crafted from crystal and gilded metal.
At present, he was not excessively obese.
Bloated was perhaps a better description.
The crystal crown upon his head sparkled brilliantly.
Yet his appearance naturally evoked thoughts of gluttony and greed.
Most lords and princes throughout the Seven Kingdoms paid close attention to their physical condition.
Maintaining a dignified appearance mattered on both the battlefield and in court.
The High Septon, however, had no such concerns.
He was a corrupt and greedy High Septon.
Many lords privately speculated about how many Gold Dragons he had embezzled over the years.
Still, one fact was universally acknowledged.
The Faith of the Seven was extraordinarily wealthy.
In the future, the Faith would be capable of lending nearly a million Gold Dragons to the Iron Throne.
That alone demonstrated the vast resources under its control.
"Prince, your honored presence brings glory to this holy sept."
The High Septon spoke with obvious flattery.
Rhaegar felt that the man resembled a merchant or a glutton far more than a sincere believer.
"My humble gift."
Rhaegar placed a necklace made of multicolored gemstones before the High Septon.
The man's eyes immediately became fixed upon the beautiful and valuable jewelry.
"This gift is far too precious, Prince. I really cannot accept it."
The High Septon pretended to refuse while desperately suppressing the greed in his heart.
"Your Holiness, spreading the teachings of the Seven throughout the realm is a great and noble deed. This is merely a small token of my respect. Please accept it."
Rhaegar smiled.
How could he fail to understand the High Septon's thoughts?
The man had always been greedy.
Fortunately, he possessed no real political ambition.
That made him an excellent religious puppet.
"Then I shall not stand on ceremony."
The High Septon happily accepted the gift.
"Look at this craftsmanship. It appears to come from Myr across the Narrow Sea. The artisans there truly deserve their reputation.
"Under the blessings of the Seven, after the Bloodstone War, Prince Rhaegar will surely become the wealthiest man in all the Seven Kingdoms."
"But Prince, surely there is an important reason for your visit?"
The High Septon might have been greedy, but he was not stupid.
He naturally understood that Rhaegar had not come merely to present a gift.
"As you know," Rhaegar began, "I have established the Royal Military Academy on the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush.
"However, while considering the education of soldiers, I also realized that we cannot neglect the blessings of the Seven.
"Therefore, I intend to establish another school not far from the Military Academy.
"Among its various departments will be a faculty dedicated to theology.
"I hope to receive the support of the Faith and Your Holiness's blessing for what may otherwise seem an arrogant undertaking."
"Such a thing is naturally possible."
The High Septon nodded immediately.
"This demonstrates your devotion and love for the Seven, Prince Rhaegar. Men and women throughout the Seven Kingdoms will surely admire such piety."
He had already heard about the Military Academy.
The institution established by Prince Rhaegar was reportedly a magnificent complex of pink stone buildings capable of housing and training large numbers of soldiers.
What surprised him was that Rhaegar's ambitions extended beyond a military academy.
The prince now intended to establish a university as well.
This was an unmistakable challenge to the influence of the Citadel.
"However," the High Septon continued deliberately, "the Faith does not consist solely of myself. The Most Devout must also be consulted. I cannot simply ignore their opinions and act alone."
He deliberately adopted a troubled expression.
"I possess shipping routes through the Stepstones, as Your Holiness well knows. The customs duties collected on Bloodstone generate enormous profits every day.
"Furthermore, I will soon establish additional trade routes across the Narrow Sea.
"Through our cooperation, everyone can benefit."
Rhaegar spoke calmly.
A university required expertise from many disciplines.
The endorsement of the Faith of the Seven was naturally among the necessary components.
"Your word alone is sufficient, Prince. We place great trust in our sincere friendship."
The High Septon smiled broadly.
"It seems he wants more than money. He probably also expects favors for the relatives and bastards of various septons."
Rhaegar silently observed the man's expression and quickly understood the situation.
The Faith could not possibly remain entirely detached from politics.
Before the center of the Faith moved to King's Landing, many younger sons and bastards of House Hightower had entered its ranks.
How could such an organization remain completely free of worldly interests?
"Since the Citadel will not come to me, then I shall establish another Citadel."
Rhaegar had already made up his mind.
What he intended to accomplish would happen regardless.
House Hightower currently possessed advantages in manpower, wealth, and academic influence.
The Faith had already shifted toward King's Landing.
Eventually, the Citadel's monopoly would have to be challenged as well.
House Hightower had financed, protected, and supported the Citadel for centuries.
As master planners, they had long served as the greatest patrons of both the maesters and the Faith.
Rumors even claimed that certain members of House Hightower secretly studied alchemy, necromancy, and other forms of sorcery.
"Everything must move faster."
Rhaegar recalled the recent message sent by Maester Aemon at Castle Black.
"I've already received warnings concerning the return of the White Walkers."
That thought strengthened his resolve to accelerate every one of his plans.
According to reports from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, fishermen had spotted White Walkers moving along the frozen shore.
Maester Aemon's letter expressed considerable concern.
As magic gradually returned to the world, the White Walkers also appeared to be growing stronger.
At the same time, increasing numbers of wildlings would inevitably begin moving south.
Another problem weighed heavily upon Rhaegar's mind.
After generations of peace, the Night's Watch had deteriorated dramatically.
Its ranks now numbered only around a thousand men.
The once-proud order that had defended the Wall with more than ten thousand brothers had become little more than a shadow of its former self.
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