Chapter 139: Lady Barbrey Learns about White Walkers
Dreadfort Castle
POV of Lady Barbrey Dustin
"What do you an you’re leaving?" Lady Barbrey almost shouted. Her eyes were blazing in righteous anger, and her nephew backed away in fear, raising his arms to calm her down.
Calm her down! Hah! As if she would be calm knowing that Doric was leaving for yet another stupid expedition as soon as she returned ho.
"Auntie. At least let
explain it to you." Her nephew said.
"Explain. What’s there to explain? Are you not going on yet another expedition North of the Wall?" she asked as she looked around for sothing to pick up and beat her nephew with. A few good smacks to his head might yet beat the foolishness out of him.
"Yeah, well... yeah... but there’s more to that. Much more."
"Then send your n. What good are they if you have to risk your own life every ti sothing important cos up?" she asked. "Don’t you have the greatest swordsman, Varko, as your sworn shield? Why don’t you send him on this expedition?"
Her nephew frowned at that. "Okay, first of all, he might be a great swordsman, but a great commander he was not. Secondly, you know very well, Auntie, that I’m not the kind of man who would sit in his castle and expect his subordinates to fight for him."
She almost snorted at that. Even with all the strength he had gained, all the stubble he had grown, and all the maturity he had shown, he would always remain a boy to her. The boy who beca a lord when he was far too young to shoulder its burdens.
And the fact that he had done so well as a lord said more than anything about her nephew’s talents and abilities.
"Thirdly, you know that I have my own set of skills that make it very important to be present on this expedition."
She frowned and sat down on a chair, motioning him to take the chair opposite her.
"Explain to
then. Why are you going on an expedition North of the Wall once again? Why is it so important that you go out there and risk your life on that frozen piece of land? What do you want, nephew?"
Her angry tirade had turned into a desperate plea by the end, but she paid no attention even as her nephew looked distinctly uncomfortable by it all.
Her nephew remained silent, his eyes closed in contemplation, before he opened his eyes and gazed at her seriously.
"You’re the first person I’m about to tell this." He said, "And you’re not going to like it. Are you sure you want to know why I’m again leaving for the North?"
"Yes." She replied with equal seriousness.
"Brace yourself for this piece of information then." He told her, and then, after a mont of silence, he explained, "The White Walkers are back, Auntie."
Nothing. Absolutely nothing could have prepared her for this piece of news. And even as she tried not to show any signs of shock or fear, judging by the concern on her nephew’s face, she was not doing a good job of it.
She did not even consider that her nephew would lie to her.
"How..." she let out, her voice weaker and raspier than she had expected, and she realized that her throat was dry.
Her nephew took out a glass of water from his bottomless pouch and gave it to her.
She gave him a thankful glance and took a few sips from it. "How would you know such... a thing?" she asked clearly this ti, a little angry at how her voice shook in the end.
She did not want to be a frightened kitten right now. She wanted to be a pillar of strength for her nephew. Soone whom he could tell things like these. Soone whom he could consult without any fear. Not a scared little lady.
But the unexpected ntion of the White Walkers had shaken her to the core and filled her with a primal fear that she was having difficulty overcoming.
Then her nephew put his hands on top of hers, and it was as if a fog had been lifted from her mind, and she found herself becoming calr by the mont.
"Take a deep breath, Auntie," Doric said, and she nodded, doing as he told her to. Feeling more and more calm and collected with each breath.
By the end of it, she had regained her composure, so her nephew nodded at her and started explaining, "All those years ago, when I t Mance on the expedition North of the wall..."
Ten minutes later, she was still silent as her nephew ended his tale of how he could now feel a distinct difference in the air whenever he went North of the Wall and was sure that it was the doing of the White Walkers.
"I must go and investigate this situation on my own." He told her in the end, "I must see if these White Walkers are really as dangerous as they’re made out to be. And if they are, then I must inform Lord Stark and King Robert about it to prepare the whole Seven Kingdoms for the war that will co this Winter."
She could only nod at that. Not knowing what else to do.
"Well, it seems like I cannot stop you in this endeavor of yours." She said, "But... promise
that you’ll return. That you won’t do sothing foolish and sacrifice your life for your n. Promise
that you’ll prioritize your life above everyone else in your group. Promise
this."
Her nephew looked reluctant, but she continued to look at him resolutely, and he finally nodded at her.
"Then I make this vow to you. I’ll put my life above those under my command and make sure to return at all costs, no matter what."
She nodded at him before she rose from her seat and pulled him into a tight hug.
At that mont, she was reminded of how she hugged her husband, William Dustin, when he went to the war down South and never returned.
She tightened the hug on her nephew and prayed to the Old Gods once again to keep him safe.
---------------
Author’s Note: You folks can also read up to
50 Chapters on my P@treon Page as an early access privilege.
You can also read " 2 Free Chapter" and see so pictures as aFree mber.
patreon/vanguard_v
P@treon Page Na: V For Vanguard
Next Chapters’ Na:
Ch.140: Secret Expedition
Ch.141: In Search of the White Walkers
Reviews
All reviews (0)