Chapter Nine
…..
A month after the Harvest Feast of Riverrun
"A leader must always know the right person to delegate," Delianah muses to herself as she rides alongside Lord Viktor, the latter summarizing to her the status of everything that she sees around her.
Suffice it to say that Delianah is pleased with the current running of her lands. As she expected, the Lord Castellan of Harrenhal was showered literally with letters either by Raven or personal messengers from the other Lords. It took him, and Maester Walkman almost a week to sort out the letters and address the other Lords about their orders of Turkey, spices and most of all, crafted Delianite.
Her donation, demonstration is even a greater success in fact done Delianah expected. Exotic and new, plus adding great taste for the palate, the spices are in extremely high demand that the first harvest is not even close into fulfilling half of the orders. The personal caretaker of Lord Tywin himself had ordered seventy sacks full of spices with a requested demand for a hundred more from the next harvest. There all so large orders from the Crownlands, a straightforward request from her father, Hoster Tully to supply Riverrun with Turkey and spices, and that's not discounting the Reach Lords who also ordered their own quotas. She has to prioritize in order not to alienate the major lords while making promises to the minor ones.
Who knew that the bad positioning of the Riverlands would be beneficial in a way? Apparently not only Riverlords are present during the Harvest Feast. Neighboring lords of the other kingdoms had also attended, others representatives from their Lord Paramounts themselves. Suffice it to say they experienced also her demonstration and had rushed back to their homes spreading the news like wildfire.
Of course Delianah isn't stupid. The process of how to grow spices is literally a homestead secret, and every seed and leaf that would be used to replace the first harvest were kept on each Homesteads' storage space under lock and key. Normally this would be a problem due to farmers being bribed, their loyalty wonky due to the desire of monetary gains. Delianah however has no such problem. The citizens of Harrenhal after all had been chugging loyalty and nutrition potions without their know how. Saw their brain off and they would not even entertain the thought of betraying her.
The sell of Butterbeer also and Firewhisky is at an all time high demand that she received complaints from the other houses like Redwyne and other Houses of Dorne due to their stock being unbought(Delianah took great pleasure burning those). Butterbeer after all tastes like sweet beer only with the added effect of not being drunk. More conservative and strict Houses like House Tarly who frowns on the practice of being inebriated orders casket by the dozens. Firewhisky surprisingly comes in extremely high demand from the Crownlands and the Northern Houses. King Robert himself orders two hundred for his personal use alone. Apparently he enjoys the heat and the steam that comes out of his ears plus its great taste and its rather high effect on rendering him drunk quickly. The Northeners on the other hand were more practical on their large order of Firewhisky. It helps keep them warm, period. She's gotta give it to Northeners who were practical even with their choice of drink.
While the spices, the turkey and the liquor were selling well. Nothing is in greater demand than Delianite. Moldable diamond, the majority of the world now calls it. There were even orders overseas and Delianite sells highly by the gram. Apparently it evolved into something that even Delianah did not expect.
The original purpose of Delianite would be a mineral rare only on Harrenhal that would sell well incredibly. However once more human ingenuity paved new roads. The very existence of Delianite solved the problems of ornamental designs to be placed on weapons and armor. As a golden rule, you can never put too much ornament on a sword or armor. The extra weight tends to throw off the balance and control of the user which can be proven fatal in a fight. After all, ever single bit of advantage are needed when you are fighting for your life against someone. With Delianite so lightweight and malleable, it can be integrated into any weapon without the usual drawbacks that putting too much jewelry tend to do. Thus a skilled warrior can bleach himself to a peacock in armor and still fight as deadly as the one without design.
Already boatloads were bought by the Iron Bank, and Delianah was forced to transmutate once more the already dug mines eighteen in all of her three new territories, in order to keep up with at the least the farthest limit of demand.
However it is Viktor's work about the former slaves that made Delianah impressed with the old man. Never in a thousand years, had Delianah thought about buying slaves from Essos by the multitudes and bringing them here to Westeros and freeing them, thus making them not only legal in the eyes of the Westerosi, but also incredibly grateful and loyal…to her. It is almost a mile up from her original plan of bribing every homeless peasant on King's Landing and inviting them to her lands. After all, Viktor did not just buy them randomly en masse, no. Almost each of them had a trade of their own, which she admit(silently), she never even thought of herself. She winced at the realization that she almost invited thousands of bums to her lands. After all, not all homeless were homeless due to lack of work. Others simply deserved it. Thus the hundred thousand slaves that Lord Viktor bought were not only an efficient workforce the moment they were freed((she frowned though at the loss on the treasury which was almost half. Shipping slaves required money after all and renting a lot of ships to cross the narrow sea), they were also zealous and the best on what they did.
Something that Delianah needs now if she plans to initiate the next step of her plan.
With her acquiring of the lands of House Darry and House Roote, this basically gives Delianah access to the end of the Fork River that leads to the Bay of Crabs south of the Vale that is connected to the sea. With this new access to the waters of Westeros, she can fully circumnavigate the Twins controlled by Lord Walder Frey. There is a good reason after all that Delianah does not include the large amount of rice currently being stockpiled and accounted from the three lands she got into the market. She has bigger plans than to simply sell them to any potential buyer.
Yes, she plans to sell them to the Northeners. What better product after all for men enduring winter head on than non-perishable food that gives you strength better than any grain and at the same time can taste great and easy to cook? Long discussion, short; Delianah plans to monopolize the food supply to the North, or if that's not possible, get control of the majority of it. Her farms after all are enchanted and saturated by potions and can have double, or triple (pushing it) the harvest of any regular farm in Westeros. She can totally supply fully the North and better, not at cutthroat prices.
One of the main reasons why food and grain at the North are so expensive is because of the Freys. The weasel-eyed Argus Filch look alikes tend to ask for extremely high tolls for traveling merchant trains going up North. This forces the merchants to sell to their customers up North at higher prices up in order to avoid operating at a loss. So while the Northeners struggle to scrape up money to buy food, the Weasels at The Twins get fat and rich.
Delianah does not plan to have her food trains subjected to that over high prices however. The Starks after all are her family by law through Catelyn, her trueborn half-sister. It would be fair for them as long as it's her providing. That is why she needs a direct access to the sea. With a sea route, she'll get her supplies to White Harbor without the filthy paws of the Filch lookalikes touching it. For that she'll need ships, small enough to sail the river before breaking into open water, but large enough to carry the supplies to White Harbor.
That is the reason why she is here riding beside Lord Viktor at the river's edge of former House Darry's lands. According to her Castellan, one of the slaves that he had purchased was a shipwright of excellent skill and he lives here.
"Are you sure that he can be trusted Viktor? I would not want my ride here to be simply a waste of time,"
"I would never have brought you here my lady if there is any doubt that he would be able to fulfill into your specifications," replies the Castellan of Harrenhal with a bow. "He might be a bit odd, quite eccentric and refuses to live with the others in one of the homesteads. He is skilled with an axe though and better with a hatchet. He prefers to live where waters are near according to him my lady,"
"You peaked my curiosity Viktor. Sounds like our shipwright is unique; you have my trust. Do you have a name for our mysterious shipwright?"
"Of course my lady, his name is Floki,"
…..
King's Landing, Red Keep
There are few times in his life nowadays that Robert Baratheon can feel content. Fewer that can make him happy. Looking at his bedside though, he can espy from where he is lying the crude paper flower positioned at a side table. It is ugly, mismatched and certainly not looking the least a flower but rather more of a mismatched form of paper shaped into standing. Certainly not fit for the personal resting place of the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Looking at it though brings Robert, it would be too much to say joy but rather a sense of pride and fulfillment; a small ray of hope from the gloomy life that he is striding on day by day. It is a sign that he at the very least is not a total failure as a father.
It was given to him by his daughter. Robert can still remember that day as clearly as today. He had been just finished up with the whores from Littlefinger's brothel when without warning the doors to his bedchambers slammed open with Ser Arys Oakheart trampling a surprised Ser Barristan Selmy towards him. Robert might have been mad as a bull for the disruption when the Kingsguard hissed at him that his daughter was coming and fast.
It took a second for Robert to register before sprining up. Never had he moved so quickly throwing on a night robe while almost literally throwing the naked whores out of his room who dogpiled the trampled Ser Barristan before running off stepping upon the old knight even more. There were just some things that daughters must not see and Robert, bad father or not was adamant about those things.
As it was, he barely managed to make himself look presentable when a blur of gold and red slammed into his neck muttering: "Thank you, thank you, thank you," a lot of times happily before giving to him the paper flower as a gift. Suffice it to say, Robert was a bit overwhelmed. He can count literally at a single hand the times his children interacted with him happily thanks to that shrew of a mother of theirs.
For the next two hours, Robert listened as his daughter narrated quite loudly and with many hand gestures her adventures at the Harvest Feast of Riverrun. Robert only listened amused as Myrcella describes again and again the new Lady of Harrenhal. As he listened, the King of the Seven Kingdoms gave himself a mental pat in the back. Apparently not only did his daughter met Delianah Tully, the two of them got along well together with Myrcella apparently learning a lot. Never had he seen his daughter act so lively here in the Red Keep. She was laughing, dancing and acting carefree, in other words she was happy. That was why Robert can never say no to her when she asked if she can stay for a few months at Lady Delianah's domain. He had never seen Myrcella full of life and Robert be damned if he let that smile of hers be suffocated by this cesspool of a city as it did to him.
That is also the reason why Robert is frowning as he sits facing the flower that his daughter gave her. As he expected, Cersei vehemently opposed his decision to send Myrcella at Harrenhal. She literally screamed his ears off. For someone who doted on Joffrey, she can be quite a miser hoarding gold when it comes to her other two children. He knew enough through long and bitter experience that he would never convince Cersei alone.
No, what Robert needs is someone who can bring Cersei down to heel enough to say yes. Problem is there's only one person who can do that.
"Gods all this thinking is giving me a headache!"
"LANCEL! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU LITTLE SHIT?! MORE WINE AND FIREWHISKY!"
"Gods bless that Tully bastard for Firewhisky. At least it can knock me out quickly more than wine ever could,"
…..
Casterly Rock
Lord Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West
Casterly Rock
Lord Lannister. As your brother told me before, if I get my hands of anymore Valyrian items and if I am willing, I would be able to sell them to you. So here it is my lord, a circlet, Valyrian Steel made inlaid with gold. How I got my hands on such a rare item I'll keep to myself. I'm sure that you would be tempted into melting this and turning this into some sort of weapon my lord. I implore you not to do so. In exchange for payment for such a rare find, I do ask that the Princess Myrcella Baratheon be my ward here at Harrenhal. I can guarantee her safety and protection fully, upon my House's honor. Me and the Princess had been close friends ever since we met at the Harvest Feast at Riverrun and I do miss her company a lot. I have heard however how reluctant the Queen Mother is about letting her children away from her sight. As head of her House; I do implore you to intervene. If it is not possible that she could come, then the payment for this Valyrian circlet is a million and five hundred thousand gold dragons.
Signed, Delianah Tully,Lady of Harrenhal
A loud laugh leaves Tywin Lannister's lips startling his brother Kevan who had been in the process of drinking his tea.
"I do appreciate brother if you do not make me choke on my own drink," the younger Lannister quips at his older brtother
"Here, read this," the Old Lion of the Rock simply hands the letter at his younger brother who takes a minute to read it before putting it down on the table.
"She's quite direct….and demanding," he comments.
"Indeed she is," Tywin replies leaning on his chair before a smirk appears on his lips. "Quite cunning too, and brave,"
"Not foolhardy?" a raised eyebrow from Kevan. "She did say that she'll give this to you for free in exchange for Princess Myrcella as a ward? It's not fair to her is it? I meant a million golden dragons compared to housing the Princess seems a poor exchange,"
"No, at normal times it would be not," Tywin Lannister answers before letting one of his rare smiles appear at his face. "However nothing is normal when it comes to Delianah Tully and I admit that this move of hers is quite clever,"
"How so?"
"The very reason why she chooses Wardenship of the Crown Princess instead of money tells a lot. She does not need it, gold at the moment. Judging from the booming trade coming from Harrenhal, it is no surprise. By gaining the Wardenship of the Crown Princess Myrcella, she would not only gain a powerfully ally from the Royal Family, it would also give her the image of being favored. No Lord would dare challenge her then. Who would with the Princess as your ward and in your favor. Also if the friendship between the two of them would be true, the princess would support her no matter the issue. This is a masterstroke and I am impressed,"
"But why tell you though?" asks Kevan. "Why bother messaging you?"
"Because she knows that only I can move Cersei, the final obstacle out of her plan. Without Cersei's consent, Robert can do nothing about sending her daughter away. If it is from me however, she will have no choice. The Circlet is a bribe for me to do as she asks,"
"And will you do it?"
"Yes, I think I will," answers Tywin standing up as he looks down from the window. "It is high time that Cersei's children start learning. It would be good if Myrcella connects with Delianah Tully. Harrenhal is becoming richer by the day, and the Princess can learn something from the dubbed "cleverest woman of Westeros". It is better than being stuck on the Red Keep being taught by septas. With her Wardenship, the relationship between the Crown and this new player would improve and through the crown, House Lannister. We might even get our hands on some Delianite before the Iron Bank once more buys it all,"
"She's a former bastard brother," points out Kevan.
"Yes, yes she is," answers Tywin taking a fresh piece of paper. "And look how far she has risen,"
…
Castle of Harrenhal or rather now Ruined Castle of Harrenhal.
"Archways? Why are you building Archways on the hillside?" asks a very confused Matthew watching the now finished man-made plateau kinda hill looming over them, as tall as the once ruined castle of Harrenhal now fully recycled on the weird nature contraption. While he is proud of his men from the Guild of finishing the simple looking plateau-hill quite advanced from schedule, he still can't get over the fact that they would be building something so…..simple.
"I dunno boss, but that old Castellan commanded directly from the top that we install Archways on the hillsides alongside with some weird looking houses. Boss I dunno if our customer is fond of tree houses but it feels like she is," replies Ellie, his second in command. "He has every carpenter that knows how to hold a hammer helping us all out on this endeavor,"
"Fine, fine," Matthew waves off and walks away. "Just leave my name out of it,"
"Sure thing boss. Oh I almost forgot that they also asked us to reroute the river from the Gods eye around the hill and to some kind of contraption like a waterfall for-,"
"I SAID LEAVE MY NAME OUT OF IT!
…
Author's Note: Here's another update hope ya like it.