Chapter 14; To face a mage;
Characters of the chapter
Ratho Son of Darm, of clan Stone Crow, clansman of the Vale
Iledia, Agent of the Inquisition, advisor in matters of the arcane in the court of Queen Daenerys
Tyrion Lannister, Hand of the Queen to Queen Daenerys
Tyrion and Iledia were on horseback, journeying in the forested lands of the Vale, on their search for the hilltribes. With them travelled two dozen Lannister guardsmen, likewise on horseback.
"Why are your soldiers staring at me? Have they not see a woman before?" She asked, the question instantly making the soldiers avert their gazes, though only for a time. Soon enough their eyes returned to stealing glances at her when they thought they could get away with it.
"Well, they are all young men, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility. But the thing they really have not seen… is a mage." Tyrion said, a smile tugging the corner of his mouth.
"Oh." Iledia said. "But… Orlais brought mages during their invasion. I can't possibly be the first one they've seen."
"True, Orlais sent mages. And the North had some mages on their side as well. But these lads never took part in the fighting. They spent the invasion in King's Landing, protecting my person, and the Crown Prince. They have never seen a mage in action. But they have heard all the stories told about people like you." He said. Then he lowered his voice. "Frankly I think they are wondering which of those stories are true. You are probably more than a bit intimidating to them. Especially after news got out about that display at my door."
"Hmm. I see. I often forget that so many things the people of Thedas take for granted are strange and new to you." She said, thinking. "Back in Thedas magic is just one more part of life. Potent, dangerous, and feared by some because of those qualities. But not something to be considered miraculous or unnerving just because it exists. Though… I must admit I speak from a perspective of a mage, for whom magic is part of every moment of every day. I suppose that commoners in Thedas don't come face to face with magic all that often. But even then none can fully escape the presence of magic or its influence."
"You don't seem to be concerned by me though." She commented.
"No. I have seen enough strange things not to be fazed by a mage. And I am much harder to impress. I have read of mages, so I already know what to expect." He said.
"Fair enough. Though you haven't seen what I can do. Maybe that would be enough to impress even you. Books can tell you only so much." She said.
"Well, hopefully a demonstration of my powers is not necessary today. I would much rather have this meeting with the clansmen go smoothly. He said.
"Are you sure they are worth this much trouble? Their fighters probably number a few thousand at most. Perhaps less. And not the most disciplined or well-armed at that, even if they kept the weapons you provided for them. Do we need them?" She asked.
"You of all people should know that even a small number of able people in the right place can make all the difference." He said.
"My people are trained, and the way I make use of them maximizes the potential of each individual. When we seek to harm an enemy we use infiltration and sabotage, trading the greatest amount of damage for the least amount of cost. That's how we compensate for our lack of numbers. I don't think we can expect the same from these people." She argued.
"Should we come across a more professional ally I will of course recruit them to the cause as well. Happily. But until then I will take whatever help I can find, wherever I can find it. And in battle the mountain clans have proven to be quite ferocious. They can be useful, if deployed with care." He said.
"As long as they don't turn that ferocity on us when we try to talk to them." She said.
"Don't worry. I got along with the mountain clans well enough when I met them last. They may be rough people, but manageable, if one can come to an arrangement they find beneficial. When we find them, let me do the talking and we will be just fine." He said.
"It has been more than eight years since you dealt with these people last. Much can have changed in that time." She argued. She had to wonder which of them he was trying to convince right now.
"Which is exactly why I brought you here." Tyrion replied.
"At least he has planned for that possibility. A fool you are not, Lord Hand." Iledia thought.
"So, how will we find these would be allies of yours?" She asked.
"We are more or less in the same area where Bronn and I ran into them last. As for the rest… odds are they will find us." Tyrion replied.
"It might be best to dismount here and continue on foot." He added.
"Oh? Why?" Iledia asked. The terrain was forested, but she noted nothing that a horse could not go to.
"Mountain clans are uneasy around horses, particularly when armed and armored men are on top of them. The knights of the Vale have seen to that. If we want them to show themselves and not have the situation devolve into violence at once we must greet them on more even terms with them." He explained.
With that the group dismounted and walked onwards, leading their horses by their reins. For another hour of walking nothing happened. Then Iledia noticed movement from the corner of her eye and stopped. The others had noticed the same, the Lannister soldiers gathering around Lord Tyrion. Iledia half expected an arrow or a rock from a sling to strike at them and was ready to call up a barrier should it come to that. Instead after a moment the first of the clansmen emerged into view, followed by others.
There were at least a hundred of them. Tyrion looked rather more worried than he had moments ago. Perhaps he had not expected to encounter this many all at once.
They looked much like Iledia would have expected them to be. Scruffy looking folk in crude clothing and scraps of armor. Some carried castle forged weaponry with distinct Lannister motifs, the legacy of Tyrion's deal with them. Others bore more makeshift weapons, the worst examples little more than clubs and sharpened sticks. Her first impression was that they were a people that lacked even the most rudimentary sophistication. Perhaps that was an unfair assessment because of how little she truly knew of them, but she somehow doubted that this was the case. Were it not for their great numbers and their ability to not be seen until they wanted to be, she would have been thoroughly unimpressed.
The soldiers were tense at the presence of so many potential opponents, but kept their swords sheathed, following the orders Tyrion had given before they had set out on this mission. Iledia reached for her staff strapped to her back but Tyrion took her arm before she could. "Let me handle this." He told her with the look he gave her. She nodded slowly. This was his show for the moment. Though she intended to be ready to act, if necessary.
Tyrion cleared his throat and stepped forward, handing the reins of his horse to one of the soldiers. Iledia also passed the reins of her horse to another and followed him closely, though remaining in the background for the moment.
"Greetings. I am Tyrion, son of Tywin, of clan Lannister. We come in peace. And we have brought gifts. Good wine, food, castle forged steel." Tyrion said.
The men of the mountains said nothing at first, merely forming a semicircle around Tyrion's entourage. A particularly large clansman stepped out of the crowd and eyed Tyrion. Iledia took a step closer as well, though she remained in the background. "Halfman? After all these years, you've returned. How fortunate." Said the clansman.
"Ah, I see you remember me. If you would send word to Shagga son of Dolf that I wish to speak with him." Tyrion said.
To Tyrion's surprise the clansman laughed, and a number of the others chuckled as well. "Shagga son of Dolf is three years dead, Halfman. I sent him to meet the gods myself. The Stone Crows answer to me now. And you are a fool if you think you could come here as a friend."
With that Iledia and the Lannister soldiers gathered around Tyrion while the clansmen grasped their weapons a little tighter. Some of the Lannister soldiers drew their swords, but Tyrion motioned for his people to not attack. He was not willing to have the situation blow up just yet, particularly as they were as badly outnumbered as this.
"Even if Shagga is dead that does not mean we must be foes. When last I met we made a bargain. I see many of you still carry the weapons that bargain got you. I honored the pledge I made you that day. And today…" Tyrion said.
"Your father paid us the steel YOU had pledged us. And he rewarded us for fighting in the war YOU dragged us into. He paid his debts to us. The same cannot be said of you. I was there when we found you and the swordsman you had with you. You promised us the Vale of Arryn. Yet still the knights hunt us, your promise unfulfilled." The clansman interrupted.
"Tell me then, Tyrion, son of Tywin, have you come to keep your word today?" He demanded.
Tyrion winced. It had quite slipped his mind that he had made this deal in the first place. It had been a promise made in haste, to preserve his life. When his ploy had succeeded, he had not paid the matter much thought. And after Stannis's assault against King's Landing had been defeated the mountain clans had all gone home and his attention had turned to more relevant concerns. He would have thought that the clansmen would have also forgotten about that deal after so long. But apparently that was not the case. Not good.
"I am sorry. Today I cannot honor that promise. It is not mine to give. But there is a chance of us to negotiate. I have come on behalf of Queen Daenerys of the South Kingdom. If we come to an arrangement…" He tried to say.
"If you are not here to repay your debt then I, Ratho, son of Darm, name you a cheat and a liar. And now I grow weary of your tongue wagging, so I will hear no more of you." The clansman interrupted.
"Your life belongs to us now, until your debt to us is paid." He said.
"Wait! Listen to me! The Queen can…!" Tyrion tried to speak in his last ditch effort to save a situation rapidly slipping out of his control.
"If your Queen will give us the price you pledged us then your life will spared. If she cannot or won't then you will settle your debt yourself, with your life. You will live until we have heard from her, though one finger I shall take from you to prove to her that we have you." Ratho said.
"I would advise against trying it. This man is under my protection. Either hear him out or tell us to leave. But you will do him no harm. Attempt to do so and you will answer to me." Iledia said coolly, stepping between the two men. Her hand sneaked behind her back to open the straps holding her staff in place. Tyrion reappeared in the corner of her eye and shook his head at her, his eyes pleading her not to do anything rash.
"Well… too late." Iledia thought.
Momentarily Ratho seemed surprised. Then he burst out laughing, the other clansmen joining in. Iledia let them laugh, her face remaining stone cold and unmoving.
"Quite a fiery protector you have dragged here, Halfman. Too bad she's an idiot who doesn't realize she is outnumbered." Ratho said between continuing bouts of laughter. Then he gave her a closer look, his eyes moving up and down. "Maybe I will keep her has well. Such a fierce thing promises to give a man strong sons." He said.
"Take the Halfman and the woman. Kill the others." He commanded, motioning to his followers, who took a step forward.
"Apologies." Iledia said to Tyrion. Then her left hand whipped out her staff and her right hand went to her forehead.
Around her head emanated a sudden blast of green light and everyone other than her doubled over from a sudden, blindingly intense headache. She took advantage of the distraction she had created and pointed her staff at the clansmen, a cone of fire erupting from the tip. She swept her staff in a wide arc, a good two dozen of the closely packed enemies turned to living torches in an instant.
The effects of the mind blast starting to fade, one of the surviving clansmen charged at her, raising a rusted ax. She simply planted her free hand on his face as he charged. There was a bright flash of light and the unfortunate man transformed into ash and charred bones. A smoking skull was left in her grasp before she dropped it to the ground as well.
That was all that was needed to send the clansmen fleeing. But she had no intention of letting them go. She raised both her arms towards the sky and black stone grew out of the ground between the trees, blocking their escape. With nowhere left to go they turned to face her again, this time without the haughty confidence of a few moments ago. They huddled against the stone wall she had called up from nowhere, gripping their weapons as tight as possible, hoping to ward her away with them.
Iledia raised an eyebrow at the sight and raised her free hand once more, a sickly green glow appearing above it. The same kind of glow appeared on all the weapons of the clansmen. The effect their weaponry was most spectacular. Bathed in green light, metal rusted and turned to dust, wood fractured and crumbled away, leather festered and turned to black ooze that dripped between their fingers. In a few seconds every one of them was disarmed. Her spellcasting done, she stood there, a triumphant smirk on her face.
In the space of little over one minute she had defeated all of them. Friend or foe stared at her in shock. Even Lord Tyrion could only look at her, mouth open in awe. He had seen dragons, he had seen the minions of the White Walkers and the destructive power of Wildfire. All manner of crazy things normal folk would not believe. But never had he seen one person achieve this much all by by herself, with a few waves of her hands.
The silence lingered for a lengthy while, no one moving a muscle. Then one of the clansmen fell to his hands and knees, followed by another, then another, until all of them were bowing. Bowing AT her, much to her confusion. Tyrion, Iledia and the Lannister soldiers remained standing, though the soldiers were clearly wondering if they should be bowing as well. Her smile had faded, eyes moving from one bowing person to another, not understanding what was happening.
"W-what are you doing?" She stammered.
"Forgive us divine one. We did not understand your nature. We were ignorant, foolish. We did not think that a god was amongst us. A god…" Ratho said, keeping his eyes cast down, his tone subdued.
Iledia's eyes widened as she understood. "What!? No!"
"Get up, all of you, right now. Up, UP, this instant!" She shouted, pulling one of the clansmen to his feet. The others slowly rose up as well, looking puzzled.
"Divine one, my apologies, if our bowing has offended you…" Ratho tried to say, clearly confused as to why she was upset.
"Stop that!" She cut him off.
"Stop trying to… I'm not a… fucking seriously!? That's all it took? You bloody ignorant, gullible…" She said, exasperated.
"Right then… You! Come here!" She said next, pointing at one of the Lannister soldiers.
The soldier in question was startled of being addressed, but nonetheless complied.
"Your dagger. Draw it." Iledia ordered.
"What? Why?" The soldier said.
"Do as she says." Tyrion said. He did not know what Iledia was up to, but could guess she had reason to ask.
The soldier nodded uncertainly and did as he had been bid.
"Now, this weapon, it's just a normal dagger, nothing special about it?" She asked.
"Yes, of course. Made at Lannisport. Everyone in the Lannister army has one like it. But why…?" The soldier said.
"Good. Now cut my palm." She said, placing her hand before him.
"Wha-… Excuse me?" The soldier asked, not believing his ears.
"Cut. My. Palm." She repeated, a bit more forcefully. "Now!" She added when the soldier hesitated.
The soldier hesitated for a brief moment longer, then took ahold of her hand and cut a line across her palm. Iledia bit her lip, a loud hiss escaping from her. She snatched her hand away, fingers balling into a fist. Then she took a deep breath, opened her hand and showed everyone the red line that had been traced across it, trickles of blood travelling towards her wrist.
"You all can see what he did. A normal man has cut me with a normal weapon. And I bleed, same as all of you. If I were a god that could not have happened. Take this as proof that I am not one. I am stronger than you, in command of powers that are beyond you. But I am a mortal. A blade in my heart would end me same as any other, were it lucky enough to find me. Do you understand? I am no god, and I will not be worshipped!" She said loudly enough that everyone could hear her.
"Yes… we understand. It shall be as you say." Ratho said, though from the tone of his voice Iledia could tell he still regarded her with something akin to fearful reverence. Then he looked at his frightened, unarmed followers, then back at her. "But you have defeated us. We cannot fight you. If it saves our lives, we yield. Ask what you will of us, but spare us."
Iledia turned her eyes to Tyrion, who nodded and stepped forth:
"We came here to seek your aid in war against our enemies. If the men of the mountains fight for us, we shall reward you for it. Today I cannot give you the Vale and I am truly sorry for having gone back on my word. But perhaps there are concessions to make. I will speak to the Queen of it. I give you my word of that much at least. And if not that then another reward acceptable for you will be paid. I swear it." He said.
Despite everything Ratho scoffed. "Your words still ring untrue halfman. I won't follow you. Your Queen I have never heard of, so I won't follow her either." Then he turned to Iledia. "But I would follow you, if you will it be so."
For the second time in a short while Iledia was thoroughly confused. "What? Why would you do that? I just killed several of you."
"Yes, in a matter of moments. No doubt the rest would fall just as quickly if you continued to attack. You have proven yourself strong. I am not one to obey another lightly, especially a stranger. But to follow a being of your might… it would make me proud. The others as well. The Stone Crows are with you, if you wish it."
Iledia and Tyrion exchanged looks. Then she spoke: "Then I would have you follow me to destroy the enemies of Lord Tyrion and her Queen. Rally all your warriors and bring them to the Riverlands, to the army you find waiting there. And send the other clans word. Tell them what occurred here. Tell them if they follow me I will bring them mighty foes to face, and that I vouch for all the things Lord Tyrion has pledged you."
"Then it shall be. I shall return home with a few chosen warriors, to send word forth from there. The rest can accompany you, as your first vanguard. The other clans will surely rally to you once they learn of what you managed to do and what you offer. Then we will join our strength with yours." Ratho said.
Iledia nodded at this, though Tyrion noted an unexpected look of distaste on her face. But with the encounter had come to a surprisingly positive outcome. As agreed Ratho departed with a handful of his fellow clansmen, while the rest followed Tyrion and Iledia. The gifts they had brought with them were passed on to Ratho's group, as an additional gesture of their good intentions. Heading back the way they had come, the two rode at the head of the column, followed by the cluster of Lannister guardsmen, then the clansmen on foot.
"You did well. I thank you for intervening, though I had hoped that would not be necessary. At some point I'd be fascinated to know how your abilities work. Particularly that last spell, the one you used to disarm them. It was as if you aged their weapons several years in a few moments. I did not realize that your powers allow you to manipulate time as well." Tyrion said after about fifteen minutes of riding in silence.
"They do not. I didn't. It was no time magic that I did. I bathed their weapons in entropic energy, and that destroyed their armaments." She explained.
"Entropic energy?" He asked.
"According to common magical theory entropy is one of four broad *schools* of magic a mage can focus on. It's not my specialty, but I do know a few spells from that school. Most mages tend to know at least some spells outside their main areas of focus." She said.
"So what is your focus?" He inquired.
"Elemental magic, fire in particular, as you saw. Elemental magic is one of the more typical areas of study, learned by just about every mage that expects to do combat." She said.
"Fascinating…" Tyrion said.
"Since you expressed an interest, we can discuss this topic in more detail later on. Much of what I do is instinct, so explaining some matters could prove difficult, but I will do what I can." She said.
"In fact I will I insist on having those talks. They are more necessary than I thought." She added.
"Good, good. I look forward to having that conversation." He said.
"You were right, by the way. Seeing you in action was enough to impress me." Tyrion said then.
"You and everyone else it seems." Iledia said with surprising dryness.
"True enough. That is perhaps the first time I have seen someone recruit allies by wiping out a good sized chunk of them. Most people I know would only react with hostility and fear."
"There are cultures that follow strength and personal prowess above all things. Particularly among those who have not had the time, the means, or the interest to develop a more refined government. It was our fortune that we were dealing with just such a group. Because what individual can command more personal battle prowess than one with the powers of a mage?" She said."But I could well have done without the baggage that came with that demonstration. You people are far too easily impressed."
"Well, the tribesmen of the Vale may be a superstitious sort. But most people in the Twin Kingdoms are more sensible. You'd do well to remember that not all people in Westeros are alike." Tyrion countered.
"They may not all be alike, but I saw the look on your soldiers. They were scared shitless of what I did. They were wondering if they should be bending the knee, just to be safe. If they had no prior knowledge of magic who knows what they might have done?" She said.
After saying that she gave a slight grimace. Tyrion noted how she was clenching her fist, her hand still red from the blood spilt.
"When we get back to camp you should have someone take a look at that." He said.
"There is no need. I know a healing spell. I will attend to this later, when there is a chance to do it in private." She said.
"If you know what to do, then why wait? Why not just heal yourself now?" Tyrion asked, perplexed.
"Is it not obvious? The clansmen are here with us, as are your soldiers. I allowed myself to be harmed so they'd understand that I'm not some deity. If they see me just fix the damage like it was nothing they will start to question what they saw. From such doubts notions of my supposed divinity could rise again. They already proved themselves gullible enough to believe it, so why not again give the opportunity? I refuse to have that happen. I will not be worshipped." She said.
"You seem very disturbed by the notion." Tyrion said, having noted the sharpness of her tone.
"As I should be. As should you. As should your Queen and King. As should everyone in Westeros who wants their country to remain free. There is great danger in that line of thinking. I had the decency to deny their attempt to proclaim me a god. But there are other mages who have far less scruples when presented with an opportunity like that. There are those who would embrace claims like that and use them to their own ends. Some because they would be deluded enough to believe it themselves, others because they would see the advantage it brings them. A horde of loyal zealots is a tool most valuable to those who seek power." She said.
"The Imperium in particular has many mages that would like nothing better than to be hailed as gods by the peoples they intend to conquer. Individuals, armies and nations can be resisted. But gods? Those who believe will never resist gods, as it is futile and potentially hazardous to one's soul." She continued.
"I have a hard time believing we would fall victim to any of that. We couldn't be that gullible." Tyrion said.
"Always bet on stupidity, Lord Tyrion. During the Breach War the Venatori had comparable beliefs. The Loyalist Venatori continue to have them. Many of those are mages. If they can be fooled like this, then how much easier will it be to deceive your people?" She said.
"Then what do you suggest?" He asked.
"Most of your people are completely unfamiliar with magic. In the absence of proper explanations they'll invent their own. I had not realized the vulnerability, but it's there. Your people are hopefully more resilient than that, but something like this should not be left to hope. All of Westeros needs to develop an understanding of what mages are, and what we are not. I will begin by teaching you and the Queen. Then we will work together to ensure the knowledge spreads until it its common knowledge everywhere in Westeros, from noble to commoner." She declared.