~~ Fifteen days later ~~
~~ Valley of Arryn ~~
Artys Arryn POV
"My lord, these equipments of yours—will they even work?" Ser Nester Royce asked, his tone weighed down with doubt as he gestured toward the farmers in the fields.
"Ser Nester," I replied, keeping my voice steady, "have a little faith. You'll see the results soon enough."
He was in a very bad mood, considering I had just spent ten thousand gold dragons hiring blacksmiths across House Arryn lands and even employing more to train as blacksmiths.
"Perhaps," Soyrn stepped in smoothly, "it would be wiser to judge after results, rather than passing judgment before anything happens!"
"But, Master Soyrn, young Artys should not bother himself with such lowly affairs. You are the heir to the seat of the Eyrie; these peasant and merchant tasks don't suit you," Lord Corbray interjected.
I exhaled slowly.
I began thinking again whether asking the noble lords to stay back in the Eyrie was a good decision or a bad one. I had asked them to stay, and not surprisingly, most agreed, though Lord Royce was quite upset about it.
But now, instead of one lord being a pain, I have five.
I looked at Lord Royce, Lady Waynwood, Lord Corbray, Lord Grafton, and Lord Belmore.
Quite a lineup, if you ask me. I thought having them would be a good counter to Yohn Royce, but it backfired. Though Yohn, in their presence, doesn't do much.
Serves him right, coming to my cabin to remind me I am still a kid and inexperienced.
This man… back in my world I was among the top dogs on Wall Street, and he thinks I am inexperienced.
"Little Lord Artys, it's the Vale, not the Westerlands. There is no point in sending those men to mine the mountains. The only thing you are going to find is rocks. Our ancestors have tried and failed," Lord Corbray tried to reason with me.
He is talking about the mining expedition I sent to the nearby mountains under Lyn with a thousand men.
It will not fail because I know where the mines are, unlike your ancestors who did not have a detailed map of the resources of the Vale, I have it which was given by that celestial being.
"There is no harm in trying," Soyrn said calmly. "And not to mention, House Arryn's coffers are not being used."
That, at least, was true.
The Royces had locked me out of the treasury. Every coin here came from my own projects.
They argued it was a waste of money. I could make decisions, yes, but without both of their approvals, it could not pass.
That was my old man's order.
"Master Soyrn," Corbray sneered, "perhaps you should remain within your limits—managing coin, not advising nobles."
He looked down on Soyrn's merchant background.
"Look," I said, turning toward the fields, "they're beginning."
Lady Waynwood leaned forward slightly. "What is that?"
"A seed drill," I said, already walking toward it. "It plants seeds evenly and efficiently. Far better than scattering by hand."
"My lords," I called back, "come, see it closely."
POV ends
Yohn Royce POV
What kind of mess have you put me in, Jon?
No wonder that old man was so nice to me in King's Landing, offering such expensive wines.
A trap dressed as kindness.
His mind is like an endless sea of ideas. It is good for a child to have curiosity, but this curiosity is costing us gold.
"Father, what is on your mind that is worrying you so much? Could it be you have grown a liking to some man? I will immediately send a raven to Runestone informing mother about your ill actions," I heard my middle son's shouts, which brought me back to my thoughts.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"No, it's nothing and I will tell you again, for the Seven's sake, you have grown up. Start acting like one. You are immature get yourself together." I scolded my foolish son. He has always been like this .Which father would give their daughters hand to someone like him?
"Look at Artys," I continued, my tone hardening. "At his age, he carries more sense than you ever had in your life"
His expression faltered.
Good.
"Well, whatever. If you don't want to come, I will see these new inventions," with that, he ran toward the field where the lords had already gathered.
"I am not done with you!" I shouted.
"This child," I sighed while looking at the group of people gathered below.
Few lords have decided to stay in the Eyrie longer due to the young lord's inventions, which has put a lot of pressure on me.
I couldn't guide Artys properly in their presence.
"Brother," Nester said beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder, "there is no harm in having a look."
"Do we have any choice at all with Soyrn here? The young lord doesn't seem to be at a short of coins—somehow, whenever he needs it, Soyrn gets the gold," I replied as we walked.
"Do you think that expedition of sending miners to the mountains would work?" Nester asked.
"Is that even a question?" I replied.
"If there were riches in these mountains, we would have found them long ago," I added.
There is no wealth like the Westerlands in the Vale. If it had been there, we would have already found it long ago.
"I was just being optimistic," Nester argued back.
"Am I the only sensible one left here?" I muttered to myself.
No one is questioning how a child is able to invent all this. All they see is the results—but what sorcery is this?
Even Lord Arryn has lost his mind, giving Artys permission to rule the Vale, even with my oversight. Yet it's a huge responsibility for a child.
--- After some time ---
The field was… lively.
Lords stood watching. Farmers spoke with excitement.
Strange.
"My lord, they are… better. Much better. The seed sower makes the work easier."
He hesitated.
"But the Vale's land is not like the Riverlands. It may not reach full potential here."
I frowned slightly.
Still, improvement was improvement.
"Are you sure about that?" I asked.
How did a kid make it?
"These could benefit the entire realm," Maester Colemon said eagerly, leaning forward. "Perhaps the young lord would allow the Citadel to—"
He is right—we could do a lot of good for the realm. The Citadel can have these inventions and spread them.
"Give it to the Citadel?"
The voice cut through the air.
Every head turned.
Artys stood there, expression calm, but his eyes…
Those were not the eyes of a child.
"Give it to the Citadel? My ass. Those worthless old men will get nothing from me. And Maester Colemon, don't forget you serve House Arryn. If you do anything stupid like sending information about it to Citadel, I will have Kalen throw you from the Moon Door," young Artys said, his voice low, but the threat clear.
He should not do that. Threatening a maester is not noble behavior.
Before anyone could react—
Kalen moved.
The massive Essosi grabbed the maester by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Colemon's legs kicked helplessly.
"PUT HIM DOWN!" I shouted at the giant Essosi warrior who had come into the service of the young lord.
He is as big as the Mountain, though leaner more like the Hound but as tall as mountain but a giant nonetheless.
He only takes orders from Artys and would do anything he wishes.
The giant stared back at me. Colemon still hung in the air, his eyes desperate.
My eyes snapped to Artys.
"Artys, order him to release Maester Colemon," I requested hurriedly. The maester was choking from lack of breath.
"Manners, Lord Royce," Grafton said with a faint smirk. "You should address your liege lord's heir properly, not by name."
These footlickers would spoil Artys. From the day he came, they have been around him like bees around honey. He still holds hostility toward me and Lord Arryn even the king for his elder brother and father's death during the rebellion.
"My lord, please killing your own maester is not a good decision," I said calmly, as calm as I could, though my voice betrayed me. The hint of anger was still there.
"I was going to," he said mildly. "If you had all stopped arguing long enough."
I have a feeling he is lying.
"Kalen," he said.
"Thud."
I looked at the maester lying in the field, his clothes covered in dirt as Kalen dropped him into the ploughed fields.
"SILVER! SILVER! We have found silver!"
Shouts echoed across the valley.
We all turned.
Riders approached at speed, carrying the falcon banner, led by Lyn Corbray.
Did Artys send Lyn to oversee the mining expedition?
"YOUNG LORD! We have found silver!" Lyn Corbray shouted from afar.
What?
My hands trembled, and I looked at the small figure who had a smirk on his face.
This is no child. I should send some of my men King's Landing to get some information regarding Artys.
POV ends