CHP 48: Old Acquaintances (Patreon)

"Been a while, boy." I stroked Roach's neck as he ran, leaving dust and smoke in his wake as it carved a path through the grassy plains around Harrenhal.

The horse neighed, loud as a beast before picking up the pace and galloping even faster. Lightning arched from his feet. It seared the ground under his hooves, leaving a trail of burnt grass and the unfortunate insect that lived in it.

I'd left Riverrun as quickly as possible, bidding a small farewell to those I knew because I wanted to take back my words to Addam, and ask him to accompany me. But, I understood I couldn't do that, for his sake, for mine.

But, not wanting to dwell on what I felt, I stol-... er, appropriated a beautiful cloak made of raven feathers from the pavilion of House Blackwood, and Lord Clement Piper gave me The Mountain's longsword before I left. Apparently, Lewys had preserved the cunt's armour and weaponry, and sent it to Riverrun as a trophy.

The memory of men in leathers and mail marching down the River Road as I bolted off was still fresh in my mind... and so was the task Robb had requested of me.

So, we cut past the plains around Harrenhal as the ancient fortress frowned from beyond the mist, accompanied by the welcome scent of wet earth and a crow in the grey sky above.

As nostalgic as wars and camps were, they couldn't possibly beat the beauty nature so idly offered, not for me, at least.

Soon, we came upon the Kingsroad that I'd used some time ago to escort the Stark sisters back to Winterfell. Little had changed save for some damage to the wooden fence around it and an increase in the patrols.

It was mostly rivermen, some of whom I could recognise from the camps of Lords Vance and Piper against Jaime Lannister. They didn't give me any trouble as I made a cut southward, along the Kingsroad.

From there, it didn't take long to arrive to the familiar sight of an ivy-covered inn beside the road. The stables looked far better than last I'd seen them, and a number of Lannister men, with their red gilded armour over thick undershirts, stood guard near the gates.

Smiling amusedly, I slowly rode up to them, "Hail, fellows."

"Hai-...!!"

Though their faces were masked by helms, I noted the tremble in their form as soon as they laid eyes on me. The two men nearest me looked at each other, then cast a glance at man with a lion helm standing a few steps away. He quietly shook his head and they stepped aside to make way.

I just laughed as I rode past them.

Either they'd recognised me and decided I was way above their pay grade or they refused to believe the fact that I'd be here. 

Dismounting Roach, I stroked my loyal stallion's neck, "Behave, I'll be back before you know it."

The stupid animal had the gall to snort at me and kick at the air with his hind feet. Perhaps my treatment of Roach had been a tad too nice but, in all fairness, he deserved it as my sole, loyal companion.

Shaking my head, I went for the front door but my ears caught a grunt. I followed it around the ivy covered wooden wall of the main inn to the sight of an older man trying to, but failing at fixing the fence behind the inn.

He wore a vest over a simple cloth tunic, tied at the waist.

"Whatcha up to?" I called out as I approached.

He answered without looking. "Nothing. Damned critters keep gettin' in the cellar." Rising to his full height, he cracked his back and let out a groan. "I'm gettin' too old for this."

"Nah. You're still spry. If I can be running around, why can't you?"

"You don't sound that ol-..." He choked on his words, "I-It's been a while, ser."

I smiled.

"I see you tossed those bodies like I said."

It was the old innkeep who'd fed me and shared rations in exchange for me slaughtering a couple of Lannisters. His beard was a bit longer, and the few hairs on his head had fallen away from age.

"Did you get uglier or something?" I questioned as I hoisted the wooden picket he was struggling with and buried it in the soil with one hand, "Could've sworn you were more handsome."

He laughed awkwardly, uncertainty and surprise writ all over his wrinkled face, "And you haven't aged a day... ser?"

"Well, yeah. I've looked like this for maybe thousands of years." I tapped a finger against the buzzed side of my head,  "Used to have longer hair though. Started cutting it after Lord Godfrey used it to hammer the ground... with my face."

"That couldn't have been pleasant." He spoke cautiously but confirmed for me that word had spread, in the Crownlands at least.

I dragged a finger along the rough wood of the picket fence, "...It wasn't."

But, at least it wasn't as bad as Radahn calling down a meteorite and bombing me from orbit when I interrupted his fight with Malenia.

"The Lannisters cause you any trouble?"

"Er-... No." He shook his head from side to side, "It's as if they're afraid of something. Been nary a summer and we've got a new war on our hands. I still remember the Ninepenny Kings and King Robert's rebellion."

I could only chuckle at that.

"Is this the last of it?" I patted the fence. He nodded so I backed away and pointed over my shoulder with my thumb to a wooden barrel, "Need any help with that?"

"No, no, ser. I couldn't..."

"It's adorable that you thought there was a choice." Easily, I hoisted the barrel of ale over my shoulder. The old innkeep could only sigh and lead me into the inn through the back.

I put it on the wooden counter top he showed me and walked to the other side before plopping down a stool.

The inn was largely empty, a pair of Lannister men sat beside the fireplace while a few peeked in from outside. A group of travellers in coloured cloaks and hooded faces were huddled together in a corner while a couple of men, merchants from the looks of their coats and the numerous rings on their fingers, drank amongst themselves, shouting and jeering.

The serving girl was one I couldn't recognise, but I did catch her scent.

Her dark hair reached her hips, and she'd grown into a woman. Though, I had reservations seeing her as such since she'd been a child last I'd seen her.

"Human age is so odd." I rested my chin on my hand, eying the girl as she poured drinks for the Lannisters. "I thought you'd have sent her away after what happened."

The innkeep rubbed the back of his balding scalp, averting his gaze, "The lass wouldn't leave, ser. I tried to marry her off but er..."

"But what?" I perked up.

"She hit him, ser."

"...Where?"

The where of the matter was paramount.

"Down there, ser."

Damn.

That was the only word I could come up with, "Poor dude."

"Aye..." The innkeep cleaned his wooden cups with a washcloth.

"Forget that, how's the war been going?"

"Well... They say a Devil pushed the Lannisters out of the Riverlands." He kept his words to a whisper, making sure the two men by the fireplace didn't catch his words, "There's been battles all round the Mander too, they say."

If my map was right, the Mander was a river running through the Reach.

"Tyrells?"

"Aye. House Rowan and Caswell with their bannermen. They say one of the Lannisters got killed there, ser."

House Lannister had been forced into a rather weak position courtesy of my actions, and circling around the hills separating them from the Riverlands had aggravated the Reach who probably thought they were going to be attacked.

"We only lost cause the river flooded, ya hear me?!" One of the Lannisters shouted, face flush from alcohol, "And cause that Devil cursed us! Fuck that bloody thing!"

I heard a distant scream from outside.

"Yeah, fuck that thing." I laughed, raising my cup.

"You get it! Good man! Innkeep! A drink for him! On me!"

His companion on the other hand was pale as a ghost, trembling and trying to discreetly silence his friend.

"What about Stannis?" I turned back to the innkeep.

He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought for a moment.

Drunken rambling filled the air, and long shadows laughed at the patrons from the corners, pushed away by the few slivers of sunlight that shone through gaps in the aged and mould-ridden wooden planks of the roof.

I drew in a deep breath and smiled.

It was almost nostalgic. I was reminded of simpler times, when I sat with those I could call friends in what was but a shambling hovel and still have a good time. Sadly, try as I did, I could not remember their names, or their faces.

It was infuriating.

I hoped Addam could forgive me.

"He's at Dragonstone." The innkeep pulled me from my musings. "Last I heard..." He cast a discreet glance at the Lannisters, "They were besieging Storm's End."

His inn was at a critical juncture, where travellers from all across the Seven Kingdoms would inevitably pass on their journey. It stood to reason he knew a lot more than he cared to share.

"And the shortest way to Dragonstone is through..." I grinned slightly.

"King's Landing."

I could feel my flair for the dramatic welling up.

"I always was interested in seeing those drake skeletons."

I reached into my trusty satchel and retrieved a silver stag which I tossed onto the table top. "What do you think? Was it a Devil that pushed them back?"

The old innkeep shook his head with a warm smile, "A Devil wouldn't put himself at no risk to protect my daughter, ser."

"Good man."

I stood up to leave, but halfway to the door, the serving girl bumped into me.

"Be careful, child."

Smiling at the sudden recognition and shock flashing through her eyes, I made my way back to Roach.

My destination, King's Landing.

-

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