A/N: This chapter will be the last one before the timeskips, since I want to focus on Garsiyya's introduction.

Chapter V: Master of Agriculture

3rd POV:
Garsiyya

He found it very strange that a noble would so willingly seek him out for the purpose of employment. He, a lone farmer who had admittedly far better yields and profits than most in his profession. Most nobles, Dornish or otherwise, simply paid it no heed and focused on their political schemes and petty arguments.

This one, this Askari Rada, seemed radically different compared to the previous Lord of Sranan who was executed for corruption. He had a very different air, and his eyes clearly radiated interest.

"So, you're the farmer round these parts?" Said Askari, "I have to say, you've done a good job of tending your fields."

"I strive to do my best, Lord Askari," Said Garsiyya.

"Four-field crop rotation, irrigation systems, ploughs of steel and seed planters… quite a lot of things that aren't normally found elsewhere," Said Askari, "Not to mention you have a keen acumen for numbers, administration and worker welfare."

"My workforce is my power, I'd be nothing without them," Said Garsiyya, "It's only fair I treat them well as compensation for their hard work."

"Something I can agree with," Askari said noddingly, "So tell me, what would you say to holding a position in my small council?"

Garsiyya had to stop himself from floundering; they barely met, and already Askari wants him in his small council? Such an honour was reserved for only the nobility or high-ranking merchants, or Mother Rhoyne forbid, eunuchs! Why was a common man like him being given the right instead?

"I know what you're thinking, so I'll say this: I don't care about anyone's heritage right now," Said Askari, "What I need the most is talent, talent that you have. And it's just my feeling right now, but we may eventually have to go to war, and it'll be the costliest war yet. Troops can't march on an empty stomach, and to win I need to be able to fight protracted wars without worrying about supplies dwindling rapidly."

"In other words, food," Said Garsiyya, "Lots of it."

"Yes, months' worth, at the very least," Said Askari, "I want to name you my Master of Agriculture, in charge of all matters relating to food production and the growth of cash crops."

"That's a lot of responsibility still, and to give it to a man you just met…" Said Garsiyya.

"Yeah, I know," Said Askari, "But I have this feeling about you; I feel I can trust you, and that what's coming next, I need you. And I've always been one to trust my instincts."

Garsiyya also trusted his instincts, and they told him that Askari was a man to be trusted.

"And, to be frank…" Said Askari, his voice lowering to a whisper, "I think you're the same as me."

Now that made him very confused.

"What do you mean?" Asked Garsiyya, his voice turning soft.

"That you're a reincarnated person like me," Said Askari.

Garsiyya's eyes were wide, and he was suddenly thankful for the privacy of their room. Their escorts were waiting outside, and the walls and windows were built to be soundproof.

"…You're from where?" Asked Garsiyya.

"Singapore," Said Askari, "Born into a Chinese family."

"Me too," Said Garsiyya, "From a Turkish family that migrated there."

"Have a good life?" Asked Askari.

"Yup," Said Garsiyya smilingly, "A lot safer and secure, even though it was expensive."

"Not as expensive as Hong Kong," Said Askari.

And the both of them laughed.

"So, you became a farmer, eh?" Asked Askari.

"Yes, and I love it," Said Garsiyya, "Loved to cook food, loved my career as a chef, but my place went bankrupt and I lost my job, and when the Covid pandemic hit, it was just worse. Very few job openings for me to take."

"I figured," Said Askari.

"Thankfully, there was a sustainable food initiative that saw vertical farms being built, and in multi-storied carparks of all places," Garsiyya said with amusement, "But the top floors are barely used, so it's a good place to start."

"Oh yeah, there was such a thing," Said Askari, "A little bit of farming's always good to reduce our reliance on imports. Especially here now, with how underdeveloped Dorne's farming industry is."

"You know, I never thought I'd land in this world," Said Garsiyya, sobering into a sombre expression, "I was afraid I'd die one day, raided by bandits and left to die by the roadside."

"You're a damn lucky man then," Said Askari, "But we need more than luck to survive, and there's the coming war to worry about."

"Say no more, I'm in," Said Garsiyya, "Where do we start?"

"Right, we'll talk more in the Keep, but be sure to have someone help oversee the fields here," Said Askari, "Wouldn't want to lose those delicious eggplants."

"You like eggplants?"

"I prefer calling it brinjal, but yeah," Said Askari, "Meet me tomorrow at the Keep, I'll have servants escort you to my study.

"See you in the Keep then, My Lord," Said Garsiyya.

IIOII

The next day, Garsiyya would arrive at the Keep with his aide Maryam, the latter looking a lot more nervous than the former.

"Garsiyya, you sure about this?" Asked Maryam, her eyes darting around.

"I'm sure," Said Garsiyya, "Call it instinct; he can be trusted as a good employer."

"…Your instincts haven't been wrong," Said Maryam, "I'm just nervous about stepping foot inside such a fancy place."

"Well, if it helps, attend enough times and you'll be desensitized to it," Said Garsiyya.

Maryam was not reassured by that.

They came face-to-face with Askari and his gathered officials, more specifically Erkin, Huang Xue and Saida. Garsiyya immediately decided he didn't like the looks of Erkin, simply because he rubbed him off the wrong way.

"Good to see you here, Garsiyya," Said Askari.

Maryam quickly whispered, "He's just a young boy…!"

"And that boy's our employer, Maryam, you know how things work," Said Garsiyya.

Maryam said no more about that.

"Here I am, Lord Rada," Said Garsiyya, "So, you're making me your Master of Agriculture?"

"Indeed, and I'm willing to pay you handsomely," Said Askari, "Fifty Gold Dragons per month."

Maryam's eyes widened at the sum.

"And may I ask who's this lovely lady beside you?" Asked Askari.

Maryam answered for herself.

"M-Maryam, Garsiyya's aide in all administration."

Askari nodded, saying, "You've got good people, Garsiyya."

"And you're a very generous man, Lord Askari," Said Garsiyya.

"So I hear you've been a talented farmer with revolutionary methods," Said Huang Xue, "Many would be green with envy at how much you're harvesting and earning. But where are my manners? I am Huang Xue, styled Shuren. And I hail from the distant lands of Yi-Ti."

"And I am Erkin Ahrassar, from Great Moraq," Said Erkin, "I admit I'm not knowledgeable on agriculture, but as a military man, I must admit we need a man like you to fill the bellies of our troops."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, all of you," Said Garsiyya.

"Right, so now that pleasantries are out of the way, I'm going to get straight to the point," Said Askari, "I want to eventually fight for control of the provinces to our south, and for that, we need to build up our lands for five years."

This time Garsiyya was thrown in for a loop, and he asked, "Might I ask why, My Lord?"

"Because I want to fight with the Martells for control of all of Dorne," Said Askari, "But not as its next Prince, as its next ruler sworn to the Targaryens."

Maryam was immediately opposed to this, saying, "Why swear yourself to the Targaryens!? This is lunacy!"

"Maryam!" Garsiyya shouted.

Askari and the others looked at her impassively, and seeing that they were unmoved, she sat back down.

"Forgive my outburst," Said Maryam.

"It's forgiven," Said Askari, "And I get your reaction; I'm actually loathe to work with the Targaryens myself."

"Then why, My Lord?" Asked Maryam.

"Because I don't like the Martells," Said Askari, "And quite frankly, I don't see Dornish independence lasting that much longer. It's overrated, in my opinion, and the Martells, despite their union with Nymeria, chose to spit on her heritage and attempted to outlaw Rhoynish language and culture, and even rejected the use of Water Magic in her courts. Princess Meria's legitimacy, in my opinion, is superficial."

"…I admit I'm not that big on cultural preservation," Said Garsiyya, "But from the tone of your voice, I'm suggesting you have a more personal reason to do so?"

"Yes, I do," Said Askari, "The Martells and so many noble houses are too complacent about their independence, and they don't realise that they, like everyone else, can die from treachery and deceit, and don't develop Dorne to its full potential. I intend to change that and so much else, and I cannot do that without the power of a Prince or its equivalent. And you know the worst thing?"

"What is it?" Asked Maryam.

"That they think they can outlast other Kingdoms forevermore," Said Askari.

"Attributing to Dorne's climate and their mastery at guerrilla warfare?" Asked Erkin.

"And their trade with Essos as well," Said Huang Xue.

"But they have a fatal flaw," Said Askari, "One that I'm sure you're aware of."

"Dorne's lack of a thriving agricultural industry," Said Garsiyya.

"Yes, and think about this," Said Askari, "What would happen if Dorne loses its trade and an enemy fleet blockade the entire country to starve it to death?"

"And Dorne doesn't have a very strong navy despite its trade," Said Erkin, "I've done my investigations, and they're only strong enough to handle a few pirate fleets here and there. The Ironborn may have had problems fighting them before, but with the lack of raids for the past few years, the sailors have gotten lazy."

"And we know the Targaryens' ambitions," Said Huang Xue, "If they pool together a large navy from the other Kingdoms, Dorne's effectively finished."

"Fuck…" Said Maryam, "Just… fuck."

"But there is the risk the Martells can simply rally opposition behind them when you eventually start to gain power," Said Garsiyya, "Slavers or not, people here are used to Martell rule. They won't ever willingly support a supposed upstart, forgive my words."

"I don't mind," Said Askari, "Just gives me more reason to replace them with my own people."

"But what if the Targaryens renege on their word when you swear to them?" Asked Maryam, "My Lord, I have to say that this is a big gamble you're taking."

"Yes, it is a very risky gamble," Said Askari, "And they won't – they can't. That's because without someone in Dorne to rule the land for them, someone the people trust, their conquest will fall apart like a house of cards and they will know it. They are ambitious and arrogant, but not stupid."

"What reason can you give them, though?" Asked Garsiyya.

"Well, we can tell them that as fellow magic-wielding Houses in a land that abhors the concept, we can band together to protect this sacrosanct knowledge from being lost forever," Said Askari, "And as a Dornish house, we know how the Dornish fight and can identify hiding places to render their raids moot."

"Both tempting offers the Targaryens cannot refuse," Said Huang Xue, "And as we succeed where others may fail, the Targaryens and their loyalists have no other option but to reward us, or risk losing face altogether."

"Not to mention that if anyone else dares gainsay such achievements, they will be the ones to suffer great humiliation and embarrassment," Said Erkin, "A fine plan, if I say so myself."

"So, you ready?" Said Askari, "Are you ready to help me prepare to turn the world upside down?"

If it were in his more peaceful life back on Earth, in Singapore, he would have said no. In this world, where weakness is mercilessly exploited, and especially with Askari and his inner council willingly revealing their whole plan to him, there were only two options.

One, be silenced to keep their plan hidden.

Two, jump on this very shaky boat and attempt to survive no matter what.

And was it ever a choice?

Garsiyya shook hands with Askari, saying, "I accept your offer."

"Then welcome aboard," Said Askari smilingly.