"Next time I strike, I won't be gentle," Wylis said again, though her lips were already bloodied. "I'm not saying you poisoned me yourself. But someone put those plates and cups in your hands, didn't they? Someone told you they were meant for me."
"I–"
Wylis raised his right hand again.
"It was Ser… the Captain!"
Wylis frowned and turned on his heels and stormed towards the Captain of Castle Hornwood. The man was armed, dressed in chainmail and leather armor, but that didn't stop Wylis from grabbing him by the neck and lifting him in the air.
"You poisoned Ashara?"
"Ahh… m'lord, no! I… I wouldn't dare, I swear it. I admire you, m'lord, I do. You're what I see when I think on true knights. I'd never, I… ah! I didn't… I remember it clear. I was by the crockery cabinet, see, makin' sure only the proper pieces were set aside. Aye… it were Maester Medrick. He chose them. Pointed at the cleanest, brightest plate and cups, said they'd serve Lord Kaiser well. Gods… I swear it on me mother's name, m'lord!"
Wylis sighed and finally put the captain down and turned towards the Maester. "So it's as I feared. Not every man can brew a poison like that. You didn't see this turn, did you, Maester Medrick? Thought I'd weaken on the road and die in my own hall. No questions asked. No whispers of how Wylis Kaiser truly died."
"My lord, I would never do such a thing!"
"But you did," Wylis stated coldly, staring at the expressions. He saw it, the guilt, the actual crime. The Eye of the Judge was pointing at the Maester strongly. It was a sloppy job to begin with since he wasn't supposed to find out about the poison this quickly.
In Maester Medrick's ideal life, the poison went unnoticed. But Wylis wasn't a common man. His absolute poison immunity also let him know when he was poisoned.
"The question is, why?" Wylis asked, "I've never set foot here, never laid eyes on you. So tell me, what cause does a simple Maester have to kill me?"
"I did no—"
Wylis pressed a hand on the Maester's shoulder, squeezing. "Arthria is too small. That poison would've wrung her out in agony. The thought of it sets my blood on fire. I'll see you suffer for it a thousandfold. Now speak. Did the Citadel order you?"
"N-No! No, my lord!"
"Was it the Boltons? They made you a sweet offer?" He asked, his nails now digging into the Maester's shoulder.
"I would never!" Maester Medrick replied, face full of horror. "I would never serve the likes of them."
"Then speak, Maester. Why poison me? What do you hope to gain from it?"
The game was over already. Wylis wasn't going to let this man live. All he wanted was a clear confession and the true reason why the Maester did it. If not for Citadel and not for Boltons, then why?
"Because I must, I must! Gods help me, you're a soreness in the order of things. It festers, it does. You went and kept that Qyburn as your Maester. The Citadel cast him out, aye, threw him to the wind, and still you kept him close! And your lands, full of whispers they are. Rumors of magic, crawling through the dark like… like… ahk!"
Wylis clawed at the Maester's neck and squeezed hard, fury blazing in his eyes. "That's it? No grand design? Just a doddering old fool chasing some cursed vision of how it should be? That's why you came for me? That's all?!"
His grip hardened further, turning the Maester's face red.
"I came here to speak of trade with Lord Hornwood. I came as a friend, as a man of the North. And still I must stand on edge because of some cursed rat from the Citadel? This won't end here. I'll skin you, pull your nails, carve you piece by piece till every secret you've kept spills out. Chett. Take him to the dungeon. I want eyes on him at all times."
Wylis threw the Maester like he was a ragdoll.
"I'll remain with Ashara until she gets better."
He gave Lord Hornwood a nod and left the great hall.
Ting!
Of course, now it appears.
[Hidden Quest Completed - The Maester's Folly
Description - A hidden plot is brewed to bring down the Tyrant. A lesson to be learned, the enemy strikes when least expected.
Goal - Catch the mastermind behind the plot.
Reward - Bird Master Skill: Train any bird to follow simple commands.]
Oh? Does that mean… I can fuck the Citadel up?
####
Ashara was well to begin with. But Wylis still remained in the bedchamber with her, holding her and Arthria in his arms and taking a nap. It was very heartwarming and sweet. That was until Ashara's hand began to tease his erection.
They didn't take it far, however. He left her and Arthria to sleep and headed to the dungeons.
There were witnesses when Wylis tortured Maester Medrick. From his and Lord Hornwood's side. Sadly, there were no grand schemes uncovered. Other than finding the proof of the Maester's fanatic madness, he found out how the Maester was siphoning money.
Since timber was one of the major industries in Hornwood lands, the Maester made deals with certain timber traders to help them get exclusive contracts at a certain price. The Maester would then subtly influence Lord Hornwood to agree to those traders. In return, the Maester got a cut.
Maester Medrick also confessed to passing private information to the Citadel, and said most maesters do it. It was an open secret at that point, but it still got Lord Hornwood angry. And it didn't take long for the lord of the land to officially condemn Maester Medrick to death.
By that point, Wylis had already turned the man into a half zombie. Barely alive, toothless, a few fingers missing, and all his nails gone. Of course, his cock as well, since the Maester had no use for it to begin with.
In the presence of at least fifty men and women of Hornwood, the Maester was beheaded on the block after the herald read his crimes, the gravest of them being plotting the assassination of Lord Wylis Kaiser.
At that point, Lord Hornwood stopped trying to hide it. Since the blame was the Maester's, he didn't mind if the word spread across Westeros.
And Wylis saw all of it as an opportunity. While it enraged him, especially the danger if Arthria had drank that water, he planned to use this incident to emotionally blackmail Lord Hornwood into agreeing with the trade.
By evening, another feast was prepared.
This time it was more private, the involved persons being Wylis, Ashara, Benjen, and Chett, and Lord Hornwood with his immediate family. The food this time was tested, and the plates were cleaned many times.
"I truly wanted to go hunting with you, Lord Kaiser."
Wylis gave a small smile, seated opposite Lord Hornwood. "Plans rarely heed our wishes. No matter. Let's leave the clutter behind and tend to the present. Benjen told you why I've come, I trust?"
"He has indeed, my lord, that he has. Went on about trade for a spell. I've given it good thought, I have, but I've come up empty all the same. House Hornwood's got naught worth offering in such matters. You hold lands, a port, a fine fleet, and the word is your trade's doing right well."
"Aye, trade's going well enough. But coin won't fill a man's belly." Wylis straightened and leaned in. "I'm sending Archmaester Marwyn to Essos. He'll bring back seeds, rare ones. Might grow in the North, might not. It's a long wager, but I've no choice. Truth is, I lack the land.
"Which brings me here, my lord. I hope to buy the land by the Broken Branch. Two miles along each side. The river should make it fertile enough. It lies wild now, unused, thick with trees. I'll clear it for fields, and all the timber will be yours to sell. I know this is no small ask. Land holds more worth than anything. So when I've grain to spare, your house shall have it first, and at a kinder price than the realm. And…"
Wylis didn't want to drag this. He wanted to settle it all in one go and lay out his offer. He nodded towards Chett and sent the squire to bring out the actual price he was going to pay.
He waited for Chett to walk around the table and place the elegant, wooden box on the table, in front of Lord Hornwood.
"Lord Hornwood, few houses can claim what I bring. Men have bled for less, and more will to keep it. I hold my lands dear, as you do yours, so I reckon this a fair price for what I seek." Wylis gave a small nod, and Chett stepped forward to open it. "I present you Nightfang. Forged of Valyrian steel."
An instant silence eclipsed the entire small dining hall. Only the crackle of the burning wood in the hearth was a sound.
Lord Hornwood was dumbly staring at the bastard sword with a dark blade and beautiful patterns. Its hilt was elegant, and the pommel had a strange, dark gem in it. It shone so bright yet.
Donella Manderly was staring at the thing similarly. Even House Manderly didn't possess a Valyrian steel sword. Gods, even the Lannisters didn't have one. Everyone at that table knew Lord Tywin would happily gift not only lands but gold and even a virgin maiden of his house for this sword.
And yet, Wylis was offering it to Lord Hornwood for land that sat unused, and quite honestly, he wasn't asking for a lot. Not enough to warrant a Valyrian steel sword. It wasn't just a sword but the highest sign of status in Westerosi nobility, and earned the greatest bragging rights. It was something passed down through generations.
Of course, only Wylis knew the truth. The sword wasn't just for the land but also for all the gold he was going to extract. Wylis wanted to make Lord Hornwood happy enough that he wouldn't regret his decision later.
"A-Are you certain, m'lord?" Lord Halys asked, eyes wide and near dreamy, hands trembling yet never once brushing the sword, as though he feared he might soil it. "This is… this is precious… there's no equal to it."
Wylis made a hesitant face, but nodded. Although he had found the Valyrian steel for free, sunken in the sea, it had still taken effort to get, and that warranted some acting. He needed to sell the fact that this was the greatest ever deal of Lord Halys Hornwood's life.
"Aye, the sword is yours if you agree." Wylis reminded him that this wasn't a gift.
In fact, Wylis had more to offer. He was going to take all of the Bolton lands soon. He could offer a small piece of it to Lord Hornwood, something of equal size to what he was taking now. But at the moment, he saw no need to offer it.
The sword was doing its magic. He was near certain the man was going to drool.
"Of course, I agree! Aye, without a doubt. I'd be a fool to say otherwise, Lord Kaiser. Still, I can't help but feel I'm taking more than I ought. That land's hardly equal to such a blade. Are you certain about it? Might be wiser sellin' it on to Lord Tywin, wouldn—"
"Lord Tywin is not my neighbour, is he?" Wylis cut in. "Besides, if this makes us friends, I'll call it a fair bargain."
"Hah! Friends, is it? Gods be good, you're more than that to me, Lord Kaiser. You're kin in all but blood now, my brother, and I swear it true. I'll ride wherever you've a mind to go, battle or no, and I'll wield this blade of mine right there beside you."
Hope you still say that after I start digging the damn gold.
Ting!
[Hidden Quest Completed - The Almighty Scammer!
Description - A good deal is where you lose nothing and gain everything. Scraps you found with ease have earned you lands.
Goal - Scam Lord Halys Hornwood
Reward - Pickpocket Skill]
"..."
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Advance chapters on [PATREON] are in long-form format. I have 12 long chapters of this story on P@treon. That's equal to 45-50 Webnovel chapters.
Check out Solo Dacey Mormont & Wylis X Elia NSFW art, and advance chapters at [email protected]/MrPlotThickens Or Subscribestar.adult/mrplotthickens
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