Maester Brumi has been trying to get rid of this terrible headache which seemed to drill his skull for such a long time he could no longer remember a time without it, in vain, even with all the remedies he knew. None have worked.

The afflicted man slouched on his armchair, and it took a lot to break the steel-hard deportment of a Maester of the Citadel ! But the epidemic he was facing, almost on his own was too much for him, who specialized into military strategy and accounting. He rested for a short time, caressing thoughtlessly the gold and iron links of his chain.

It has been a fortnight since the fight against this terrific epidemic began. The diagnosis was set quickly : the Shivers ! This awful disease took almost all the unfortunates who fell ill in three days at most. A fortnight full of screams, death, pain and sorrow. Surprisingly, young lady Arya provided the overloaded Maester with an undreamt support. She helped him with the herbs, collecting, drying and sorting them with all her eager energy. When the man showed his surprise, she told him she had to to so something, anything otherwise she will turn mad in the blink of an eye. With a wink, she added she was the type of girl who needed to stay active to feel useful… Even if the Master was grateful for her support, he could not help but to think of her future. Her father will have a hard time to find her a good match for such a headstrong and tough girl…

Maester Brumi really liked young lady Arya, like he loved all of Lord Gendry's children. He helped their lady mother to give birth to them, he taught them as soon as they were able to learn something, he saw them growing. And even Yoren, the unexpected bastard. At first, the Maester condemned his presence under his father's roof but eventually, the boy grew on him. The boy was clever, loyal, resilient and most of all he had a much better fashion sense than his mentor, Ser Hillin and his atrocious silks of Lys!

Yoren. The poor boy was having a very hard time right now. The Shivers claimed his master at the very beginning of the epidemic and Yoren has been nothing more than a ghost ever since. Pale, silent and empty-eyed. The Maester sighed, the boy barely just recovered from his injuries and he had to face such a terrible loss. Brumi arose from his armchair and went to his worktable, where he brewed his potions. He began to make one for Yoren, one that would bring him a sweet and immediate sleep. The boy had no marks on his body, but his soul was scarred still. Quite often, he had horrific nightmares and he would wake up all of his neighbours with his screams.

With his hands occupied, the Maester let his mind wander. He thought about the documents his Lord asked from the castle's archives. All of them spoke of Valyrian steel. And they all agreed with Maester's Samwell researches. To forge such a legendary steel, one must have dragon's fire. He was quite confident they will find a way around that. What an honor it would be, to be the very first ever since Valyria fell to forge a brand-new Valyrian steel weapon!

Old Valyria always fascinated Brumi, ever since he has been a child. It was exotic and yet so familiar thanks to the knowledge all Westerosi of noble birth had of House Targaryan. He let images he saw from many books float for a few moments in his mind, carrying him far away from the castle of Storm' End, still under quarantine.

Until the messages he received from Bravoos came to his mind. Disturbing news indeed. Since it was useless to delay his visit to his lord, the Maester slowly made his way to Lord Gendry's solar.
As usual, the lord was there, working for the afternoon, reading reports and dispatching orders in order to maintain the epidemic under control. Brumi hated to add more of this brave man's shoulders, but it was his duty. He had to clear his throat a bit to interrupt his lord, so focused on what he was doing he did not hear his advisor enter the room.

"-Hem, excuse me to disturb you, my lord. There are two important news for you, both from our excellent friend, Sadel Senia. A raven arrived early this morning." He handed it to Lord Gendry who looked so tired he could sleep for three days in a row.

The Maester saw his lord's face pale gradually, as he learned what his adviser already knew. First of all, the recent and unexplainable massacres in Essos. Some people, apparently completely normal are randomly murdered by the Red Priests of R'hollor who would never give the reason of their actions. The fights were always brutal and bloody, many priests losing their lives in the process. Sadel Senia, a Bravosii merchant who was a close business partner with Storm's End, always kept an eye open on and for House Baratheon. And, of course he learned about Yoren's existence and more importantly, who his mother was. And since the Red Priests worshiped her as their god's chosen one, it would make sense she could be the cause of all this unexpected bloodshed.

And secondly, the peculiar purchase he saw on the list of his last shipment: an enchanted item, designed by the warlocks of Qarth's House of the Undying, small enough to fit into a purse. The merchant had no idea of its powers, but an object made and enchanted by such powerful dark magic users could do no good. It was a quiet and discreet man who bought it, the kind of man with an appearance so common one would have some trouble to remember it. The man never said anything noticeable, nothing at all. But Sadel could not help but to feel that there was something else, something hidden under his meek appearance. And given the political troubles the Stormlands were facing because of Lady Tasha's dismissal…

Brumi felt like he was facing the ghost of young King Robert, a giant black-haired man with the bluest eyes that ever were and skin as white as foam. His lord did not move, for several minutes. The Maester could read an abominable terror in his blue eyes, as cloudy as a thunderstorm. Lord Gendry feared for the life of his first-born's mother and, more importantly Brumi thought, for the life of the boy himself. This unexpected son, who changed every one's life drastically, who entered into hearts as one walks into open doors.

The Maester began to worry when he realised his lord was petrified, an ugly terror eating his guts. This man, who has been through so much, who risked his life so many times, was terrified beyond any measures.

At this very moment, the advisor realised his lord was desperately in love with Princess Arya Stark. He was hers, body and soul, always had been in fact. They all had been fools, Lady Tasha included, when they believed he could belong to another any woman who was not wild, fierce and brave, to anyone but her.

Even if, before Yoren's arrival, no one knew about the two of them, Ser Hillin told his fellow adviser many times about his intuition : their lord's heart belonged to another woman than his wife.
Maester Brumi refused to even consider this possibility when he witnessed how faithful his lord was to his wife. But now, he knew why: what was the point to have a mistress if your one true love is out of reach ? Literally and figuratively in his case.

« -If my lord will allow me, hem, I will brew several antidotes in case the mysterious item Senia wrote about is poison. I would also advise you to engage some strapping young lad to stay by Yoren's side. Someone slightly older than him, someone he could bound with and who will look out for him when no one else can. Hem, I also want to assure you my lord, that I will do everything in my power to keep your bloodline safe."

Brumi blushed as his lord gazed upon him, incredulous. By using the word 'bloodline' and not 'family', he included Yoren. The Maester was really beginning to be fond on this boy indeed… Which was rather new, especially to Lord Gendry who did not witness his advisor's change of mind during Yoren's recovery, crushed and blinded by his guilt.

Clearly not trusting his voice, the lord simply nodded. His eyes were full of trust and gratitude. The Maester could also see weariness and sorrow in the sea of his eyes.
Brumi bowed respectfully and withdrew, leaving his lord to his work and thoughts. After all, the Maester had work on his own.

Before he went back to the sickroom, he made a detour to the Sept to lit a Candle to the Mother and the Crone. He hoped the kindness of the first and the wisdom of the second would enlighten his path.

He was quite surprised to find Yoren there, kneeling in front of the almost empty altar of the Stranger, the most feared and the less revered of all the Seven. He did not take the boy for a believer, not of the Seven at least.

Brumi came close to the boy and patted his shoulder gently. Yoren was so focused on his prayer he almost jumped out of his skin. As he was getting back on his feet, the Maester whispered :
"-Do you want to pray with me to the Mother and the Crone Yoren ?"

The boy refused and answered flatly "Mother always said there was only one god. And his name is Death. And what do we say to the god of Death ? Not today!" His Stark grey eyes were blazing with determination, his full demeanor strong and resolute as he left the Sept.

A cold hollow made its way into the Maester's chest when his eyes met Yoren's. The boy really hardened since he first came to his father's house. Brumi bade a silent farewell to the shy yet open-hearted boy Yoren once was.

The last thought the Maester had before he went on his knees to pray was that whoever would try to murder Yoren might have quite a surprise. He was after all, his mother's son.

He will not be taken down without a hell of a fight. The boy might have his father's hair but he had his mother's eyes.

Yoren was no stag, he was a wolf.