Artys Arryn POV
The horses dashed along the narrow valley road towards the mountains. The leading men were carrying the falcon banner marking the authority of House Arryn, the lords of these lands.
"Who would have thought we would have silver?" Lord Grafton said, his voice almost gleeful.
He looked like he might start drooling.
Why is he so cheerful? It is my silver. I am not sharing it with you.
"There it is, my lord," Ser Jasper said, pointing toward a closed-off valley ahead.
"Horses cannot go further. We will have to walk," he added as he dismounted.
We followed, stepping down one by one.
"Are you sure there is silver?" Lord Royce asked again.
Again.
He had asked the same question the entire way.
"For the Seven's sake, father, you have asked that a dozen times already. Brother Lyn, lead the way, or he will ask it again," Ser Robar said, irritation clear in his voice.
"This way, my lords," Ser Lyn said, turning toward the path.
"I would love to see the faces of the Lannisters when they hear of this," Lord Grafton said with a laugh.
"The Lannisters will not care much," Lady Waynwood replied calmly. "They sit on a mountain of gold."
Grafton's smile faltered for a moment.
"This is only the beginning," he insisted. "Who knows what lies beneath these mountains? More silver, iron… or who knows, we might even find gold. Now we know there is wealth hidden below these lands."
"Or nothing," Lord Corbray said dryly. "Even this may prove to be a shallow vein."
What the hell is wrong with this man? Spreading negativity everywhere.
"Lord Corbray, you should think good things in life so good things happen to you. It's what I have experienced in my life," Lord Grafton preached like a bloody philosopher.
Now I am really regretting my decision to have them stay back.
"There we are, my lord," Ser Jasper said, spreading his arm toward a rocky tunnel.
At the entrance of the tunnel, around forty men sat around, spread across the nearby area, drinking water. Their clothes were thick with dust. Some had washed their faces, but dirt still clung to their hair.
"Toris, bring the silver ore here!" Ser Jasper shouted toward the miners.
"Yes, Ser!" replied an elderly man, walking toward us with two others behind him, carrying a large piece of rock.
"So it is true then. We have silver here," Lord Corbray spoke, finally believing it.
The rock looked ordinary at first, dark and rough, but dull metallic streaks ran through it, hinting at silver hidden within.
"Congratulations, my lord," Grafton said quickly. "A fine find. House Arryn will grow richer still."
"I need to send word to King's Landing. Lord Arryn must know about this," Lord Royce declared, his face concerned.
What is bothering him? Shouldn't he be celebrating as well?
"How rich is it? A thin vein, or something worth the digging?" he added.
The old man stepped forward, his eyes steady.
"My lord, I worked the mines of Casterly Rock in my youth," he said. "I know the look of it. This is no poor vein. There is plenty of silver here."
He paused, then added,
"That's not all. The other groups who went to different places also found it. Judging from that, I would say we are standing on a fountain of silver stags."
Worked in Casterly Rock in his younger days?
Then why is he here? Something is not right. Smallfolk do not travel much around Westeros, especially not between kingdoms.
I need to keep an eye on him.
"Many in the realm will not welcome this news," Ser Nester said quietly.
Several heads nodded in agreement.
Only time will tell. I need to keep my guard up. No one knows what that mad lion will do once he realizes the gold mountain, the foundation of Lannister power, is being rivaled.
POV ends
Olenna Tyrell POV
I once thought only my children were fools. But I guess Tywin has beaten me in this competition.
Sending assassins after Jon Arryn's son… what was she thinking?
Her husband's reign is not as stable as it appears. The web of alliances is strong only if there is trust. He came to power by killing the silver-haired fool. Yet she sends assassins after the Hand's son.
If it had come out, it would have been quite a scandal, perhaps even the beginning of another war.
"Aunt, you called for me?" a man's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
My nephew, Paxter, the current Lord of House Redwyne, was standing at the door. He was thin as a branch, and his head was as shiny as the deserts of Dorne.
"You are growing younger with each passing day, nephew. I saw you in the gardens; you looked like a literal son of summer," I said.
Paxter quickly put on his hat, trying to cover his baldness. He tried to hide his embarrassment behind a smile, but his expression betrayed him.
"May I?" Paxter asked, pointing at the chair in front of my table.
"No," I said seriously.
"My lady?" he asked, confused.
Men these days. If it were not for us women, they would have burned the realm from Dorne to the Wall in their folly.
"You may sit, Paxter. I was merely joking. How could I make the Lord of the Arbor stand? I am nothing but a minor lady," I said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"My lady, why have you called for me?" Paxter asked, getting straight to the point.
"Oh, I did not call you. Lord Tyrell did," I said lightly, pretending ignorance.
"My lady, please. I have come a long way. We both know it was you who called me," he sighed, his shoulders dropping with exhaustion.
"Fine, I will be direct. I need you to visit the Vale for me and use your networks in the Free Cities to investigate a merchant family linked to House Arryn. I want every detail you can find. I could not send a raven. I do not trust these maesters, but I can trust family, can I not?" I added.
I reminded him of our shared blood. I am a Redwyne too.
"You seem rather worried about it. The Arryns rarely leave their mountains," he replied.
"I have a feeling this young bird may spread his wings and try to claim greater heights. I need to know about him. And if he becomes a problem… we will cut his wings," I replied with a knowing smile.
Paxter did not answer immediately. He studied me for a moment, then rose.
"Consider it done, my lady," he replied, his eyes filled with determination.
POV ends
One-Eyed Crow POV
"Soldiers! Are you ready? CAW!"
I looked at the birds lined up before me.
"YES, SIR! CAW!" the birds shouted back in unison.
"We have a mission, something greater than our lives.
The greatest honor for us is to die in the open sky for our children,
so they may live, eat fruits and grains,
not hunt for insects or starve to death. CAW! CAW!"
I spread my wings as I spoke.
"This is our dream. This is what I will die for.
Will you join me on this path? CAW!"
I screamed, opening my beak as wide as I could.
"For our children, for our EMPEROR!
To the future!
Will you join me as we bring those ungrateful bastards of Oldtown to their knees? CAW! CAW!"
I cried again, trying to motivate the flock.
"YES, SIR! CAW! CAW!"
the ravens, crows, pigeons, and sparrows screamed with full force.
"Let the war begin!
Let the sky witness our might!
GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!"
"GLORY TO THE EMPEROR! CAW! CAW!"
thousands of birds screamed.
Their voices frightened even the beasts deep within the forest.
POV ends