“My lord, I have gathered 23,945 of our people. So are on their way to Miracle Harbor, while others have already arrived,” Russell reported eagerly in the study.
“More than 20,000?” Lynd raised an eyebrow, surprised. Based on Russell’s previous descriptions, he had expected that most of the Greenblood River orphans would be unwilling to abandon their current lives.
Russell explained honestly, “Word of your deeds in Essos has already spread to Dorne. With your na protecting them, they believe there won’t be much danger in rebuilding Ghoyan Drohe, so…”
He hesitated for a mont, then glanced at Lynd with a conflicted expression. Clearly, he was not entirely pleased with how easily his people avoided hardship yet jumped at opportunity.
Lynd shook his head. “It’s fine. You don’t need to worry that I’ll bla them for going where the wind blows. As long as they’re willing to help rebuild Ghoyan Drohe, that’s all that matters.”
At this point, Mus spoke in a low voice. “With over 20,000 people, plus the river bandits who were already occupying the floating strongholds of Ghoyan Drohe, the numbers should be sufficient. Any more might cause unnecessary complications.”
“That was my thought as well,” Lynd said before asking, “Are the supplies ready?”
Mus nodded. “Everything is prepared. Weapons and armor are stocked and can be distributed at any ti.”
Lynd then turned to Gorman, the executive chairman of the Miracle rchant Guild. “What about the ships? How is the fleet’s preparation coming along?”
“They’re ready,” Gorman replied seriously. “We have enough ships to transport over 30,000 people along with all the necessary supplies in one trip. However, Pentos has yet to respond. We don’t know if they’ll allow us to dock.”
Lynd waved off the concern. “It doesn’t matter. Even if we can’t use Pentos’ docks, we can ferry people ashore in small boats outside the city.” Then, as another thought crossed his mind, he added, “Once the transports are done, send a few of our better ships to Pentos to pick up the scholars from the Sphinx Academy and their collection of books. Understood?”
“Yes, my lord,” Gorman responded quickly.
...
“I want to go to Essos as well,” Nyria suddenly said.
The room fell silent for a mont, and then all eyes turned to Lynd.
Lynd frowned slightly. “Is this because of Ny Sar?”
Nyria nodded.
Seeing her response, Lynd felt a twinge of regret—regret that he had ntioned Ny Sar to her at all.
After returning to Sumrhall, he had, as always, shared stories with Nyria about his experiences in Essos. But when he spoke of Ny Sar, the old man in the river, and the statue of Queen Nyria in the ruins—a statue that looked exactly like her—Nyria’s reaction had been unusual.
At first, Lynd didn’t think much of it. But in the following days, Nyria began to have strange dreams. In them, she found herself in Ny Sar, except the city was still intact, and she encountered the old man in the river.
Lynd initially assud she was simply having vivid dreams inspired by his storytelling. But when he questioned her about the details, he discovered sothing uncanny—Nyria’s descriptions of the city’s layout and architecture were identical to the real Ny Sar.
Yet Nyria had never set foot anywhere near Ny Sar. She hadn’t even been to the coastal regions of the Free Cities, let alone deep into Essos’ interior. How could she possibly know so much about its geography?
That left only two possibilities: either Nyria was the reincarnation of Queen Nyria, or her bloodline had sohow awakened ancestral mories.
The concept of reincarnation was not unheard of in the world of ice and fire. The most well-known prophecy spoke of the rebirth of Azor Ahai, the Lightbringer. If that legend held truth, then the idea of Nyria being the warrior queen’s reincarnation wasn’t entirely impossible.
However, Lynd was more inclined to believe that it was a matter of blood rather than reincarnation. Nyria had already surpassed mortal limits through various ans, gaining extraordinary abilities in the process. One of the most remarkable was her ability to communicate with highly intelligent creatures like Glory and the Cannibal—not just sensing their thoughts but conveying her own to them as well.
This ability seed sowhat similar to the Greenseers' gift of communicating with animals, yet upon closer examination, it was fundantally different. Later, Malora discovered through ancient texts that this power had also appeared in legendary heroes of the past—figures like Garth Greenhand and, notably, the Warrior Queen.
According to legend, when the Warrior Queen led the Rhoynar in their great migration, they initially intended to settle on the continent of Sothoryos. However, they faced nurous disasters there, including a devastating attack from a swarm of wyverns. In the end, it was the Warrior Queen herself who negotiated with the Dragonlord of the wyverns, striking an accord that spared her people from annihilation.
This tale suggested that the two Nyrias possessed remarkably similar abilities, reinforcing Lynd’s belief that when Nyria transcended mortal limits, she had also awakened ancestral powers.
However, the very lineage that once strengthened her was now becoming a burden. She had not slept properly in so ti—every night, her dreams carried her back to Ny Sar. Even if Russell and the others had not co, Nyria likely would have asked Lynd to travel to Ny Sar with her regardless.
...
“In a little while, after I finish dealing with everything here…” Lynd hesitated, worried about Nyria’s safety.
“One of us has to stay behind,” Nyria interrupted, stepping closer and pressing a finger against his chest. “I stayed while you went out before. Now that I’m leaving, you need to stay. It’s about ti you experienced the joy of sitting in a chair all day, listening to reports, and handling endless administrative tasks.”
“Fine. I agree.” Seeing that she was set on this, Lynd could only nod.
Russell quickly added, “My lord, rest assured—we will protect Lady Nyria.”
“No need,” Lynd shook his head. “She won’t be traveling with you.”
With that, he swiftly signed off on the financial and logistical directives for the expansion and reconstruction of Ghoyan Drohe that Mus had brought him, then ordered them to depart as soon as possible.
After Mus and the others left, Lynd summoned Qyburn, Septon Hullen, Elder Colin, and Holy Sister lessa.
Septon Hullen, Elder Colin, and Holy Sister lessa arrived first, reaching the castle within half an hour.
“How many of the Chosen Children can be mobilized right now?” Lynd asked Septon Hullen
Hullen answered solemnly, “Seven hundred. They have all completed the necessary trials and undergone warrior training.” He hesitated briefly before adding, “If we include those stationed at the Black Cave…”
Lynd shook his head. “No need. Leave the Black Cave forces where they are. Seven hundred is enough.”
Next, he turned to Elder Colin and Holy Sister lessa, inquiring about the number of Redeed Sisters and Silent n available.
Their answers ca quickly: thirteen Redeed Sisters and sixteen Silent n.
“Equip them imdiately and have them stand by at the Miracle Sept,” Lynd ordered.
The three swiftly left to make preparations.
“I’ll also dispatch a thousand mbers of the Chosen Legion to accompany you to Ny Sar. You’ll travel on ships from the Miracle Fleet, and the Three Seas Kraken will send their own people as well. Once you arrive in Volantis, switch to longboats and follow the Rhoyne north to Ny Sar.” Lynd carefully planned out the route before continuing, “While in Volantis, visit the leaders of the Elephant and Tiger factions on my behalf. They should also send people to assist with your protection.”
Nyria didn’t argue. Instead, she simply smiled, reassuring him. “There’s no need to be so nervous. Even if I traveled to Essos alone, I wouldn’t be in any danger.”
...
That evening, Qyburn arrived from the Black Cave, wiping sweat from his forehead. “My lord, did you summon in such a hurry to ask about the progress of the potions?” he asked.
“No.” Lynd shook his head. “How many undead soldiers have you created so far?”
Qyburn hesitated for a mont before answering truthfully, “Only seven.”
“Seven?” Lynd nodded. “That should be enough.” Then he asked, “Are these undead warriors really as powerful as you claim?”
Qyburn imdiately launched into an explanation. “As long as their hearts remain intact, they can continue fighting indefinitely—even if they are decapitated. However, if they lose their heads, they beco uncontrollable, which is why I requested the developnt of heavy armor twice as thick as standard plate.”
.Lynd nodded in satisfaction and said, “Send them all here. Their job will be to protect Nyria.”
“Yes,” Qyburn responded without hesitation, asking no further questions before leaving the study to begin preparations for the undead warriors.
The undead warriors were Qyburn’s latest creation, developed through the use of sacrificial slabs. While Malora had assisted in the process, she admitted that she couldn’t fully grasp how it worked. Qyburn himself had no clear explanation either—he simply followed his instincts, carried out the steps he felt were necessary, and waited for the results.
Even so, the mortality rate had been extrely high. Of the forty-four condemned criminals used as test subjects, only seven had successfully been transford into undead warriors.
Before Lynd departed for Essos, Qyburn had reported that the process had been completed and had invited him to inspect the results. However, Lynd had been too preoccupied with the developnt of magical armor at the ti and had put the matter on hold. Now, with Nyria in need of warriors who could act as her unyielding shield in tis of danger, these undead warriors had a clear purpose.
“I’ve seen those undead warriors—they're terrifying,” Nyria remarked after Qyburn left, a trace of unease in her voice. “Their combat skills are ordinary, no different from regular soldiers, but they never tire. They can keep swinging their weapons indefinitely, unfazed by pain or injury, and their strength is far beyond that of normal n. Even I would have to be cautious against them.” She hesitated for a mont before adding, “You shouldn’t let Qyburn continue making more of them. They resemble the wights far too much.”
Lynd did not answer her concerns directly. He rely nodded and responded softly, “Hmm.”
...
The next day, in the Redemption Sept, seven undead warriors stood in formation on the training grounds. Each of them towered over two ters in height, clad head to toe in heavy armor. Beneath the plate, they wore fitted chainmail for additional protection. In their hands, they wielded massive two-handed war hamrs, each designed for both slashing and crushing—one side functioning as an axe, the other as a spiked hamr capable of breaking through armor.
As Qyburn instructed Nyria on how to control them, Lynd took the opportunity to examine them up close.
According to the records, the criminals used for the experints had been of average height, none taller than a ter and a half. Yet now, these undead warriors stood over two ters tall. Clearly, their bones, muscles, and bodies had undergone extensive forced growth through alchemical enhancents.
Even their internal composition seed unnatural. Lynd could still detect the scent of dicinal concoctions emanating from their bodies—rather than the stench of rotting flesh—which suggested that they had been infused with a special fluid to sustain them.
Another striking detail was the complete absence of magical energy. These creatures were not products of sorcery, but of pure alchemical modification. Perhaps this was why, despite having observed the entire process, Malora had been unable to understand how Qyburn had created them.
Once Nyria had mastered their control, Lynd gestured for her to command the undead warriors to attack.
With the transfer of control granted by Qyburn’s sigil, the undead warriors imdiately obeyed Nyria’s commands. From their movents and reactions, it was evident that they retained a level of basic intelligence. When ordered to attack, they coordinated their strikes rather than fighting mindlessly like headless beasts.
However, as Nyria had pointed out, their combat abilities were rather crude. They relied solely on their inexhaustible stamina and their inability to die, charging forward with brute force. Against an opponent like the Red Viper—an agile fighter who could exploit their weaknesses—it was possible that they could be neutralized without injury.
That said, such an outco was only likely in single combat, and if they weren’t wearing their armor. Once two or more undead warriors worked together, it would be nearly impossible for an ordinary soldier to take them down.
And now, with seven of them acting as a single unit, they could serve as an impenetrable defense for Nyria, capable of holding off thousands.
Satisfied with their capabilities, Lynd finally felt reassured about Nyria’s journey along the Rhoyne.
...
The next day, Nyria entrusted all her affairs to Lynd. Accompanied by her retinue, she departed from the Redeer and set out for Miracle Harbor.
Her departure sparked speculation among many, with so wondering whether she was traveling to Dorne to visit Prince Doran—given the unique relationship between the two.
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