Year 109 A.C.
POV: Denovan
The ship had been cutting through the sea for a few days now. I didn't plan on meeting Viserys in person; my raven would do the honors for me. Although I was fighting in the Stepstones for resources, it was still part of the agreement I had stitched together with the Seven Kingdoms.
To my relief, the lords of the North had disbanded most of the troops they had summoned. The Night's Watch slowed their advances into the Far North, although, from time to time, my beasts and warriors spotted their men patrolling. As long as no reports of attacks occurred, I would continue to ignore them.
While my body remained on the ship, my mind traveled. Huginn was already at the Red Keep. I just needed to wait for Viserys to be alone to talk to him; I didn't want to cause an unnecessary scene at court.
At the moment, there was nothing to do but wait. The best warriors aboard had already received one or two runes as a reward. Huginn waited for the king, and I waited for our arrival at our destination in the Stepstones.
I couldn't stop planning. Before leaving, I left Sig and Melika in charge of sheltering the former slaves and integrating them into our population in Scalebay. Sig would also stop by Skagos with some men as soon as possible.
They would gather the obsidian stones and shards that Viggo had said he would prepare, and also check on the construction of the drakkars.
Furthermore, I left a crucial task for Fenrir and Nyx. Both were patrolling the North now. Fenrir was looking for specific beasts that could increase my strength, creatures that either possessed latent magic or would be useful in another way. Either way, they would cure my greatest deficiency, which is the amount of magic in my body. With more magic, runes would have a greater effect, and I could also make more of them in less time, and perhaps feed a rune for longer on a weapon when I develop a rune that remains infinitely functional on a weapon.
One of the animals Fenrir is looking for is the Giant Bear: The bear I killed a few years ago certainly had a drop of magic in its body. I wanted another of that species, if possible. A cub would be the best option, but, as always, it was a complicated task. As long as it wasn't a fully grown adult, it would do.
Another was the mammoths as well, but not just for physical strength. I planned to bring the giants into my sphere of influence. Since a direct approach was still difficult, I thought of a way to make them interact with us: by controlling their paths. If we could use them as transporters of items from Scalebay to the Thenn Valley and other outposts, and somehow have more contact with us, they would feel closer to us. According to the last giant I talked to, Trasg, they just follow the mammoths, using them for protection and guidance. By controlling a large alpha mammoth, I would control the herd and, consequently, the giants.
And finally, the shadowcats. They are silent and deadly creatures. I avoided catching them before because they were too skittish, and also not useful in the short term, but now things had changed. Sten's shadowcat managed to completely escape my senses, almost slitting my throat. They definitely have magic. Fenrir needed to find a cub or juvenile; that one will definitely be difficult.
Meanwhile, Nyx was searching for reptiles. She would first stop at Greywater Watch, where the Reeds rule, looking for crocodile eggs and lizard-lions. Then, she would head south in search of the southern shadowcats, which the records say are smaller and short-tailed.
The swamp crocodiles were an old project. Heimdall was a sea eagle on which I inscribed blood runes and fed with highly magical blood when he was still in the egg, becoming something entirely new. Now, with Orochi's blood at my disposal—and perhaps dragon blood in the future—I wondered what I could create from a crocodile egg. Maybe a drake. It is definitely something I will commit to.
Finally, I needed more eyes. My birds were few; I used to prioritize quality, but now I needed quantity. Nyx would locate nests of owls, falcons, and eagles so I could bond with them.
And she would also go to the Reach, looking for various types of reptiles. Lizards have high regeneration. I still don't know how I will bond with creatures of such fragile minds as theirs, especially now that my soul and mind are powerful, but it is something necessary. High regeneration would always be useful, not only for me, but for all the creatures I share a bond with.
If none of this worked, I still had an insane plan for Dragonstone. If I were seen, it would shake my relationship with Viserys, but the chance of getting a dragon... I remember the books that mentioned a character who tamed Sheepstealer just by feeding it for a long time. Maybe... that is something I should try, but I still don't have the confidence to escape a dragon without having to kill it with Orochi's help. So I would have to wait, maybe a few years, and try something like that.
An hour later.
Inside Viserys's chambers, Huginn swooped down and landed softly in front of the great model of Valyria.
"How have you been, Viserys? I see you still haven't finished assembling this great city," he said amusedly; my smile was visible even on the body of a raven.
Viserys didn't get as startled this time. Considering that Huginn was a common raven and his voice resembled mine—unlike Heimdall, who emanated discomfort and terror—the reception was milder. The king let out a long sigh.
"You should stop entering my chambers by surprise like this, Denovan."
"My apologies, King Viserys." The words might have seemed somewhat formal and respectful, but when spoken by the bird, they didn't seem so; they sounded amused.
"But I'm only here to ask about the ship with the supplies and also to thank you for fulfilling your part of the agreement, keeping the lords of the North from advancing on Scalebay."
"I merely fulfilled what I promised," Viserys replied, adjusting a stone piece on the model. "The first shipment left a few days ago and, according to your coordinates, it will be dropped off at Skagos... Why exactly Skagos?"
"Well, as I already told you, Skagos is mine. If the realm learns so soon of the agreements you've been making with the so-called 'wildlings', it wouldn't be in the best interest of either of us. I need time to develop Scalebay, at least until it can be called a city. Our arrival in King's Landing was not well received. A year from now, when the merchants notice the decrease in pirates in the Stepstones and the news spreads, and perhaps my fame increases, things will change."
I brought the raven a step forward.
"Perhaps by the masses and the merchants I will be seen well, which will decrease the prejudice against my people. That is why the ship will stop at Skagos. They are seen as part of the Seven Kingdoms. The king sending food there doesn't sound as bad as sending supplies Beyond the Wall."
Viserys let out a nasal chuckle, impressed.
"For a man who calls himself a wildling, you are much smarter and more cunning than many nobles in my court."
"No one leaves the Far North and gets a private audience with the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms inside his own chambers by being normal," I replied, witty.
"You have a point," Viserys sighed. "Is that all?"
"Just one more thing. Warn all the lords and merchants under your command to use a specific mark on their ships when passing through the Stepstones. It can be a pennant with the Targaryen dragon or a symbol that you yourself decide."
The king's gaze turned serious. "And why is that?"
"If three months from now my men and I see a ship that does not bear the declared mark, we will attack, with absolute certainty that it is a pirate."
Viserys stared into the raven's dark eyes, his voice adopting a tone of reproach.
"What you are doing is no different from what the pirates of the Triarchy do, Denovan."
"There is a crucial difference, Viserys: I do not rape, I do not enslave, and I do not steal the cargo of innocents. But think with me: the Stepstones are vast. If my men and I have to divert our route or hesitate every time we see a fleet, we will never put an end to piracy. I say this for my warriors. I can easily differentiate a merchant ship from a pirate through my eyes, but my men on the water do not have the same dexterity. Accidents will happen."
The raven tilted its head.
"So do me this favor. A week from now I will return, and you will show me the symbol I must look for to identify the realm's ships."
"I will think of something," the king conceded, massaging his temples.
"Be well, Viserys. And well... if your wife needs help because of your son, I can personally give her some assistance... with magic of course, something which she does not like, but... just send someone to Hardhome, and ask to find someone named Melika, she will inform me." Without waiting for a reply, the raven prepared to fly, hopping forward.
Viserys's countenance was somewhat surprised. Perhaps the queen still hadn't told the king? That would be annoying, but well, maybe just surprise at my availability.
Upon saying that, Huginn spread his wings and quickly flew out the open window. In the background, only the tired sound of the King of the Andals remained.
"Thank you.."
Three weeks passed since Huginn's meeting with Viserys. Now, the raven and Nyx continued the search for the beasts I requested.
A day ago, our fleet left the island of Thieves' Port. Perhaps I hadn't perfectly calculated the logistics: two ships packed with warriors were still not enough to efficiently maneuver the entire fleet we had captured. Currently, we had a little over four hundred warriors with us, and most barely knew how to steer a ship. We had to teach them from scratch.
On the one hand, not having brought more men resulted in inexperienced sailors navigating the open sea. On the other, leaving the ships empty would be a waste. In any case, after passing through Slaver's Bay, we would have to return to Scalebay. Perhaps I won't return personally this time, but others will make the route. By then, the men will have learned the basics of navigation and will be able to instruct the new recruits.
We divided our experienced sailors among the ships. We spent a week training the men in the basics and recently departed eastward.
Our total force was 15 ships: 6 drakkars and 9 galleons. We left a rearguard force in the Stepstones composed of 12 ships (6 drakkars and 6 galleons).
Towards Slaver's Bay, we advanced with two specifically separated galleons, whose holds were packed with pirates we had taken prisoner. Two ships would be more than enough; with Orochi by our side, the number of enemies would never be a problem.
Those filthy pirates would be our bargaining chip. Once we arrived in Essos, they would be handed over to the slave masters in exchange for workers. Those enslaved people would be infinitely more useful for the development of Scalebay than rapists and human traffickers.
To the hypocrites of Westeros, it might seem that what we were doing was no different from the flesh trade the pirates themselves practiced. But there was a clear line separating us from them: the slaves I was buying would be immediately freed. They would have opportunities, food, shelter, and would receive legitimate gold.
The gold I was collecting, besides keeping the North fed, served to start implementing our own monetary system. After all, how long would we rely on bartering?
The North was improving, and it would improve even more. I was certain that, in five years, we would be at least a few steps ahead of any major city in Westeros in terms of technology. But to build the future, I needed minds and arms. That was exactly why we were here.