From the mont they left the camp in ruins, Nyria’s eyes never left Glory, who stayed close by Lynd’s side. She stared at the creature in a daze, sotis forgetting to breathe.
It wasn’t just Nyria; even Lynd’s subordinates in the camp were left speechless and stunned at the sight of Glory. The massive beast seed to bring the mythical era of their grandmother’s bedti stories to life. With shoulders nearly two ters high, a body length of about four ters, and over five ters when including its tail, Glory’s sheer size made everyone feel as if they were dreaming.
While Glory’s appearance instinctively inspired fear, it also elevated the awe and respect everyone felt for Lynd. Glory was undeniably terrifying, but Lynd, who had managed to ta such a beast, appeared even more powerful—and even more fearso.
Nyria had heard reports from her subordinates about Glory’s transformation, but she had assud they were exaggerating. She thought Glory’s supposed growth was an illusion created by its thick, fluffy fur. Surely, she reasoned, the creature hadn’t grown that much.
However, the mont she saw Glory for herself, she realized her subordinates had not exaggerated at all. Glory had truly beco a giant beast.
“This kind of growth—it’s not normal, is it?” Nyria asked, barely concealing her astonishnt as she turned to Lynd.
Lynd shrugged nonchalantly. “I wouldn’t know. This is the first ti I’ve raised a Shadowcat. Maybe you should ask soone else who has.”
Nyria caught the evasiveness in his tone and shot him a cold glare. While she suspected Lynd knew more about Glory’s rapid growth than he was letting on, she chose not to press the matter further.
At that mont, Glory, walking alongside them, seed to notice sothing of interest. Without warning, it leapt into the bushes on the side of the path, disappearing into the dense foliage in an instant.
Nyria had noticed Glory’s movents but initially thought nothing of them. However, monts later, she realized sothing was amiss. The bushes around them were thick with shrubs and small trees up to one or two ters high—an environnt where even a child more than a ter tall would struggle to move without being noticed.
Yet Glory, with its massive size, had moved through the dense growth without disturbing a single branch. Its large body seed almost illusory, making no sound as it vanished into the underbrush. The mont Glory entered the woods, it was as though it had disappeared entirely.
Nyria’s mind raced, recalling the many legends surrounding Shadowcats—tales of the "ghosts of the forest," the "entourage of the Stranger," and other ominous folklore. Glory now fit those terrifying legends perfectly.
Thinking of this, Nyria’s gaze shifted back to Lynd. In her eyes, Lynd, already a figure of imnse power and mystery, now seed even more enigmatic. She couldn’t help but associate him with the legendary figures from ancient stories—like Brandon the Builder or Garth the Greenhand—each accompanied by creatures of magical or mythical origin.
“Is there a problem, my lady?” Lynd asked, noticing Nyria’s strange expression. Her gaze unsettled him, and he wondered if there was sothing wrong with his clothing.
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Nyria replied quickly, turning her head away. For so reason, her cheeks flushed, and she felt a little flustered. Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she said, “You can call by my na, Nyria, instead of ‘my lady’ every ti.”
“Okay, Nyria,” Lynd nodded without hesitation.
“So, can I call you Lynd too?” Nyria asked tentatively.
Lynd smiled. “Of course. We’re friends. It’s normal to call each other by our first nas.”
As they walked through the forest, chatting casually, the mood between them felt more like a leisurely outing than a eting with the leader of a band of bandits.
Before long, they arrived at the small valley. At the entrance, a man stationed there raised his hand to signal them to stop. He then went inside to report their arrival. After a short wait, the man returned and gestured for them to proceed.
This behavior didn’t sit well with Nyria. She frowned, scanning her surroundings. Sothing about the people here struck her as off. Though they looked like ordinary bandits at first glance, their deanor was different. They exuded an air of discipline, more akin to seasoned warriors than common thieves.
“Sothing’s wrong. Be careful,” Nyria whispered to Lynd.
Lynd nodded, already on high alert. He had noticed even more details than Nyria. Initially, he suspected these people might be connected to Lord Tywin, but he quickly dismissed the thought. On closer inspection, he saw an unpolished emblem on the leather armor of so individuals. Lynd recognized the mark—it belonged to a group he believed had been completely wiped out long ago.
As they entered the valley, Lynd and Nyria found a makeshift camp set up by a group of over a hundred people using remnants left by the previous occupants. Despite the proximity of Tumbleton and the hundreds of soldiers stationed there, these people showed no signs of fear. Instead, they lounged about with a relaxed confidence.
When Lynd and Nyria arrived, the group’s attention shifted. They stopped what they were doing and stared openly at the newcors, their gazes bold and unrestrained. When they saw Nyria’s towering figure, so let out strange cries, as though mocking or marveling at her presence.
Nyria pulled the reins of her horse to a halt, jumped down, and retrieved her massive double-edged axe from its place on the horse’s back. She turned to the crowd and bellowed, “Shut up, all of you sewer-born worm bastards! If you’ve got the guts, step out and fight one-on-one! Or have you all had your bottoms cut off, so now you only hide in the crowd like a pack of court jesters when trouble cos?”
Lynd made no move to intervene, his deanor calm. His hands rested lightly on the hilt of his greatsword as he surveyed the crowd. anwhile, Glory, who had just caught an elk, received Lynd’s ntal command and swiftly moved to the top of a nearby mountain within the valley. From its vantage point, the enormous beast silently watched the scene below.
Nyria’s outburst silenced the valley. Though the crowd was clearly displeased by her insults, no one stepped forward to accept her challenge. It was evident to them all that Nyria was no ordinary opponent. The heavy sound her armored feet made when she landed on the ground was unmistakable. They could see her armor and weaponry were made of steel, and despite the sheer weight of her equipnt, she moved effortlessly.
The double-edged axe she wielded, which none of them could likely lift, swung easily in her hands like a toy. It didn’t take a sharp mind to recognize the vast gulf in strength between them and Nyria.
"The Demoness." This was the thought that ca to everyone’s mind simultaneously. Regret settled over the group for having provoked Nyria earlier. They now found themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
“Okay, you’re a bunch of emasculated guys. Not now, but years ago, you were already emasculated—completely and utterly.”
A woman’s voice erged from the crowd, silencing everyone instantly. Her words struck a nerve, and their expressions turned gloomy. Yet, no one offered a rebuttal. Instead, they quietly turned away and resud setting up their temporary camp.
From among the crowd, a woman in leather armor, with a sword at her waist, stepped forward. She was strikingly mature and beautiful, standing out from the rough company around her. Her appearance and deanor made her seem more like a nobleman’s paramour than soone in this rugged environnt. Yet, it was clear she was the leader. After chastising the group, they obediently complied, showing no overt signs of discontent.
“Lynd the Bear Hunter,” the woman said, ignoring Nyria’s hostility as she walked up to Lynd and studied him closely. “Although this is the first ti I’ve seen you, I’ve heard of your reputation for months. That song about the Bear Hunter—it's quite good. I like it.”
Lynd dismounted from his horse, giving her a slight nod. “It’s an honor to receive the approval of Wenda the White Fawn.”
“Wenda the White Fawn?” Nyria’s eyes widened in recognition. She quickly put the pieces together and said in surprise, “You’re Wenda the White Fawn of the Kingswood Brotherhood. I thought you were dead.”
“I almost died, but soone saved before the end,” Wenda replied with a smile. She turned her gaze back to Lynd. “Saved by soone we both know.”
Lynd paused briefly before deducing her aning. “Spark?”
Wenda did not deny it. Her eyes then shifted behind Lynd. “Where is the little one she gave you? I don’t see it with you.”
In response, Lynd gestured with his hand. Monts later, the massive Glory leaped down from a small cliff, landing lightly and walking to Lynd’s side with steady, deliberate steps.
The entire valley fell silent. All eyes were fixed on Glory, and a wave of fear swept through the group. So of those closest to the giant Shadowcat collapsed to the ground, their legs trembling uncontrollably.
Even Wenda the White Fawn, seasoned and well-traveled, instinctively held her breath. Her wide eyes betrayed her awe and apprehension as she gazed at the towering beast. It was as though she feared that even the sound of her breathing might provoke Glory.
Nyria, who had been irritated by Wenda’s earlier private exchange with Lynd, felt her annoyance fade as she noted Wenda’s uneasy reaction to Glory.
Wenda composed herself quickly but couldn’t resist taking a few cautious steps back, putting more distance between herself and the Shadowcat. Still keeping her eyes on Glory, she asked Lynd suspiciously, “Didn’t she give you an albino Shadowcat?”
“She did,” Lynd replied calmly. Transmitting an unspoken command, he prompted Glory to alter its fur color. Before their eyes, Glory’s coat shifted from pure black to a radiant white. The white fur was not dull or grayish but luminous, almost glowing faintly. In the dark, the effect would have been even more pronounced, casting an ethereal and holy light. The transformation lent Glory, who had just inspired terror in everyone present, an almost sacred air.
At this mont, many of the bandits in the valley who held faith in the Seven Gods saw Glory’s radiant, sacred aura and imdiately thought of legendary stories from the Faith's teachings. Without exception, they associated Glory with the divine beasts described in those tales. Overco with reverence, they knelt down and began praying to Glory.
Even those without faith revealed expressions of respect. Faced with Glory’s faint white glow, they instinctively lowered their heads, afraid to look directly at it.
Lynd was sowhat surprised by the reaction of those around him. He hadn’t anticipated that Glory’s fur transformation would have such a profound effect. It made him consider how Glory’s presence might wield even greater influence when dealing with wildling tribes in the future.
However, the fact that Glory had inspired prayers from believers in the Faith of the Seven concerned Lynd. This could potentially draw the attention—and perhaps the ire—of the Church of the Seven, sothing he wasn’t eager to deal with. As he pondered this, he quietly instructed Glory to revert its fur back to its usual black-and-white stripes.
anwhile, Wenda the White Fawn watched Lynd and Glory with a mix of envy and jealousy. She had assud Glory was just an ordinary albino Shadowcat. The revelation of its extraordinary nature left her in disbelief. Wenda couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy, thinking of her long relationship with Spark, the Child of the Forest. Despite their history, Spark had never given her anything remotely comparable. The disparity gnawed at her.
“Did you co to see because of Spark?” Lynd asked directly.
Wenda didn’t hesitate. “Spark told you could take us in.”
Lynd paused, montarily stunned. He glanced at the group in the valley and asked, “Are all of these people survivors of the Kingswood Brotherhood?”
“Not all,” Wenda clarified. “Only about half were part of the original Kingswood Brotherhood. The rest are new mbers we’ve taken in over the years.”
Lynd considered her answer. He wasn’t opposed to taking in the Kingswood Brotherhood survivors. Even if the news beca public, it wouldn’t harm him significantly. The Kingswood Brotherhood’s infamous reputation was tied to the Targaryen dynasty, which was no longer in power. Furthermore, even the Kingsguard had respected so of the Kingswood leaders, and taking them in could bring more benefits than drawbacks.
Still, Lynd had so lingering doubts. “With your reputation as Wenda the White Fawn and the history of the Kingswood Brotherhood, you could easily join the service of a major Lord. Why co to ? It can’t be just because of Spark’s introduction.”
“Why do you think it can’t be because of Spark’s introduction?” Wenda countered. “And what do you think would happen to if I joined a major Lord’s service?”
“Beco a plaything,” Nyria interjected before Lynd could respond. Her voice was sharp as she added, “A legendary figure like you would probably end up as their toy.”
Lynd turned to Nyria, noticing her sudden intensity. Her agitation was clear, and Lynd quickly realized the idea of becoming a noble’s plaything had deeply struck a nerve. Given Nyria’s background, her reaction wasn’t surprising.
After a mont of reflection, Lynd said, “I can take you in and incorporate your people into my ranks, but for now, it has to remain discreet. I’ll need your help with so tasks conducted in secret.”
“What tasks?” Wenda asked warily.
Lynd smiled faintly. “Don’t worry—it’s sothing you’re very familiar with.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)