MARGAERY II
Her hands still had the desire to shake…
"My King? What in the seven hells is that abomination."
The roughed tone of Ser Emmons's voice caught her off guard.. she hasn't heard the man speak since Renly picked him as a member of his guard a day past.
She glanced and saw a grimace on his face, far from the prideful smirk he held, when he was named into the rainbow guard. Emmon walked in along with a few other soldiers of their service.
"That is a gift courtesy of Stannis" Renly remarked.
The yellow seemed confused by the remark, but he made no further inquiry.
"Stannis's red priestess seems to have sent this after me."
"The Red bitch" Emmon remarked a smirk of a different variety plastering his features.
"Yes, it seems even in another realm. My brother continues to undermine me" Renly heat touching his words.
"If that is true my king you and Queen Margaery should be placed elsewhere, away from the danger that stands here." Ser Emmon stat
Renly chuckled at the comment.
"Danger not only stands here, from what I hear from the soldiers?"
The resolve seemed to disappear from Emmons's eyes at that comment, if only for a fleeting few moments.
"Its true aye, all the same, King Renly, I think it best if you are not here"
"Pardon mine intrusion, But Renly, is thee sole target of his baleful shadow as things are"
With that Ser Emmon eyed the women as his grimace deepened.
Margaery was surprised to see Ser Emmon Coy and not her brother. Though in a way the site gave her some relief. He would be safe, and though Emmon also held distaste for the witch judging by his face when glancing in her direction., he at least seemed keen enough not to voice, such at this moment.
Whether it was her brother's, hot-headedness, or his sense fueling the changing of the guard she did not know but she put it in the back of her mind to address later.
Other things needed to be taken care of for now. "Husband, perhaps it would be best if you go check on other matters"
Renly face straightened at that. He looked at her for a long moment, to which she replied by nodding. At which point he smiled, something that paled in comparison to his face but hours prior. But confirmation enough that they were in agreement.
"I shall take my leave then Margaery, do be careful. That goes to all of you." He looked over all of them with that.
Looking at Renna and the Shadow last as he turned to the Maester.
"First off maester, I understand I am giving you possibly more than you ever expected to work within your life… I apologize in advance for that."
The maester nodded, solemnly but eyed the shadow with noticeable fear in his eyes.
"With that said please tell and do all you can think relevant in order to find away to dispel this detestable sorcery."
"Of course my king"
Then Renly officially left her quarters.
"Our records don't state such… No such record of shadow binders in Asshai, or that shadow binders even exist at all for that matter. Simply speak of small folk who talk of grumpkins and snarks." the maester stated as if recalling from a mummurs script.
"Be that as it may be, the Maesters do not know all, you know that as much as I. Given our circumstances… you must see as much" Margaery exclaims
"Yes my Queen I do see, it worries me very much. " despite the maester's alleged worry he seemed to have interest in his eyes all things considered.
"What do you worry of? that we will suddenly end up lost in another dangerous land filled of magic, we know nothing of? "
The maester seemed to pale at the thought, whether that was the realization of what has occurred, or him imagining it happening again. She could not say but she hardly blamed the man. She barely managed to hold on to her composure herself. It was an act of necessity not of convenience.
This casual display of forces beyond educated explanation concerned her. This entire situation was something she had little control over. It was a feeling she hated, but given she could not do anything about it. She had to take the small victories where they lie.
Avoiding a repeat of the attack on her brother earlier was a part of that. She also saw no value in not sharing the information. Renna could no doubt kill them regardless if she knew of the rumored magic of Asshai or not. Given that, along with Renly's relative assurance. She saw little harm to be had.
"Apologies, My queen very well." The maester spoke, seeming to have regained his sense and his stomach, for the time being.
" Rumors of Asshai say shadow men live there and all wear masks. They say no children live in Asshai, whether that be of choice, rule, or something more sinister it is not known" The Maester said in a polished manner.
The Maester looked neither at Renna or herself as he explained. She cared little of proper decorum at the moment. Though she did worry about the witches' thoughts on the matter. Sparing a calculated glance at Renna and the shadow, the witch seemed to be far too focused on keeping the specter withheld to notice or even care.
It seemed only the direct nature of her brother's accusations offended her.
She felt herself jolt at that, seeing Loras in that helpless state stung. He largely brought the behavior upon himself, but the danger of this woman was clear. Regardless if the witch cared where the Maesters sight held or not it would do best to be safe. With that, she gathered herself.
She mouthed the words "Look at who you speak to" making sure the Maester saw.
He paused at this, for a moment but settled with a nervous, nod and redirected his gaze towards the shadow and the Witch.
"I appreciate thee sharing what thou knowest, whatever manner or way that such is inconsequential of regard to that which befalls thine King"
The Maester nodded leaning against the cloth of the tent.
"Oh yes, Lady Renna, the Shadow magics. My order beyond a few knows little of the supposed shadow magics, of the Asshai'i though I do recall a story. A tale passed down, of a witch who binded a shadow and needed a dark veil of night, for said shadow to come into being for her bidding"
"So thy only functions in darkness?"
The maester nodded "The story seems to imply as much"
"Thee have any tales, of other hindrances such face, or scholarly recollections of thee retainers of such"
"I have little knowledge of the shadow binders, but my knowledge of the followers of the lord of light is adequate, it has to be for the position I have within King Renly's court."
Renna stood waiting for further elaboration. Yet 2 of her hands remained facing the shadow.
"Why hast need of such knowledge arised itself?" Renna asked eyebrow raised.
"Because the Kings brother is the biggest threat his reign faces as of late."
Margaery wanted to chide the maester at that very moment, but despite him revealing information to the witch. She made no note of it. Other than the
"Hmm? Might their own blood relation be relevant"
" Some texts suggest such I've no doubt some followers of the lord of light have attempted… blood magic. They've sacrificed many, and the religion is the strongest of Volantis, and it was the first colony of the freehold. A place known for such behaviors. Could bonds of family hold stronger in these rituals? It's not known but far from impossible. " The Maester stated, with some unease
"Hmm, Thou appears to speak of different manner of blood magic than familiar, but thine connection of brothers can be most strong, perhaps helding place in the power and lack of damage the being can sustain."
Blood magic… Just the term itself caused a bad taste in her mouth. And she talked as if they had some form of it here.
"Do those who follow this creed know any of spiritual projection?" Renna asked, voice rising a bit higher than it did before.
"Not that I know of, You may need to speak with a different maester on these matters. Though, Some Lord of Light Followers have gotten into spats with both the faith of the seven and those who follow the old gods. There are legends of followers of the old gods having the ability to project themselves, inside animals. This is referred to as warging. I know not of its legitimacy, the flame of truth one of the church heads has engaged in open opposition of those who follow the weirwood and claimed warging was a skill of the great other, "
"Hmm, would thou mind to explain more of the nature of this great other. And the weirdwood."
The Maester, paused in thought for a moment.
"The great other is the evil deity that those who follow the lord of light such as the women the king suspects of this casting are against.. As for the weirwood that is simply what those who follow the old gods use for worship, its a tree…" The maester stops for a moment… as renna gained an increased focus on the man at the final sentence.
"Apologies, it is Nothing like the erdtree I assure you… much smaller often smaller than some of the trees surrounding our camp right now, it doesn't glow. Though many weirwoods do have some peculiarities about them.. Looking as if a face was carved into the wood"
Renna nodded at that, though her earlier focus still remained despite it losing the intense energy it had moments before. She does seem to have some issues with trees? Well… that tree anyways.
Given her people were attacked by a sentinel of said tree at least if Renna was being truthful, she could not blame her. It no doubt held great significance here if it could be seen from this far out. She silently wondered how different those who follow the old gods and those who follow this tree, assuming they exist were…
"A fascinating tale, quite the storied history ye lands hold.. I'm inclined to hear more tales of it. Another moon, but in regards to thee kings shadow. I suspect thine being can only function as an assassin when the sun lacks presence, with that knowledge I think as day breaks again, the shadow shall become a null issue until night falls again. "
"You gathered all that from what I've stated?" The maester asked seeming to not believe it himself.
"No I've gathered such from my knowledge of beings that only function in cover darkness, as well as ye own kings words that it attacked before ye were unceremoniously thrusted upon the lands between. It was night correct? "
It was night, was this witch right was night truly what caused this specter to be active? She winced at the thought. They already were in a very strange land, how would they get anything done if they had to deal with this Shadow every night? Neither she nor Renly would ever get any sleep. If this would keep up for longer than the day. She gave up on sleep already as soon as she laid eyes upon the creature.
The Maester held a reluctant nodded, "yes lady Renna it was night"
"As things are as thou hast said, I suspect a way to deal with this Lowly shadow assassin at daybreak. So ye may not live in fear of night forever" Renna said with a hint of humor to her tone.
Margaery left the tent shortly after Renna, exclaiming she found a solution. There was no way it could be proven of course. All any of them could do was wait for daybreak unless one of the Maester's found a true solution.
She left Emmon to guard the Maester. As if it mattered... She no doubt could very much handle Emmon easily, perhaps the other guards in conjunction would prove a match for the four-armed witch, but either way damage would no doubt be done before she could be dealt with.
Thankfully, she didn't seem inclined in harming them at least all seemed good before her leave of the tent.
"Queen Margaery, I am Alec I've come to talk with the king on the manner of crops?"
She rose an eyebrow at that, she didn't have knowledge of the king making an inquiry into this. She was glad he did, but in truth given how impossible things have been she doubted he had the time or thought of it. The lack of a title to the man's introduction indicated something was amiss here as well. Yet he did not seem harmful. So she played along.
"The king ordered you to look into what exactly in regards to crops?"
At her inquiry sweat began to form on the man's forehead. And the look in his eyes switched to something direr.
"The king didn't ask you to look into this then?"
The man looked downward, red pooling onto his cheeks.
She smiled at the man,
"What is it you wanted to share with the king?" She asked it in the sweetest tone she could muster.
"Well Queen Margaery, In truth I was tasked by Lord Caron to help with logistics in regards to crops at Bitterbridge I was asked to dig up soil patches. Report my findings to Lord Caron who was then going to bring the information to The Lord Commander" The man stated quickly. No doubt out of nervousness.
The man should've reported the information to Loras at the most or simply another member of the rainbow guard perhaps just one of the Maesters in our direct employ, certainly not the King or queen. But given the circumstance. Chiding the man was not the proper course of action.
"I suspect you decided to perform this experiment here as well?"
"Yes, the soil in Bitterbridge was imperfect but manageable. The soil here, it's very wet ins some spots but extremely dry in others. the soil seems adequate in some regards with work of proper drainage, but the worms... Well, Look at this lady Margaery." With that, he brought out a bucket that had a shallow amount of dirt in it. And a collection of earthworms. The sight reminded her of when she and Willas used to go and pick earthworms out of the dirt of the rose bushes, much to the annoyance of Mother.
Yet she learned from that experience that, those worms helped guarantee the health of the soil the bushes were rooted in. Nothing seems amiss, at first glance but upon a deeper look. It seemed quite a bit thicker than it should be. A good inch in a half of girth to it, which was unusual but she came across thicker worms, perhaps not that size but it didn't seem to far from normal.
Then she followed the body of the worm, looking for its other end, she followed the twists and curves of it, well over a foot, With still no end in sight, She did her best to follow it moreso, 3 feet in she still failed to see its end. She picked it up a bit away from its and saw that she did indeed estimate the measurement accurately, as it wats head was well over a 3 feet above the bucket and still she found no end to the worms seemingly infinite body. In the fairly deep bucket.
"My gods it is all one worm." It was a statement she made as she dropped the worm back in the bucket not a question yet Alec responded nonetheless.
"Yes My queen,, it actually is two worms, but both their sizes are… Concerning."
With that he paused and grabbed the head of the one she dropped back in and began pulling it out carefully, eying the edge of the bucket. No doubt to avoid unintentionally damaging or splitting the worm. He went beyond the 3 feet she did, Beyond 4, Beyond 5, Finally the other end came out what felt like an eternity later. At a glance, the worm seemed to be at least 10 feet long. The second reach 15 feet in length.
She felt her heart regain its earlier vigor at the sight. Concerning indeed. The quickened pace subsided though, But the sight of the worm was uncanny, it no doubt was an earthworm, but its length was just wrong.
With that thought, she went back to the man's earlier statements.
"We are on a fairly steep incline, which also is not ideal, But this can be worked with. It could even be a benefit in regards to controlling drainage. We will no longer be able to resort to row gardening. We will have to stagger the plants. Perhaps diagonal to the incline would be best. Though assure if multiple diagonal paths are used no plants stand directly in front of one another. Place dig and place stones loosely around the seed. "
"My queen? I mean no ill by it but I did not know you knew so much of such dirty work"
"Alec, I am a Daughter of Highgarden, no Tyrell leaves that place without some knowledge of gardening leaving with them." She said the truth of it, but if she was honest with herself she wish she could offer more.
"Tell me, I understand Caron is gone but do any of the others who worked on this matter reside here?"
"Yes some do, though I tried to get some to help me out with this task, and to say they were uninterested is putting it lightly, and then…" With that, the man's eyes started to tear up.
She recognized this, these tears. Something was troubling the man.
She took a breath
"What happened do not worry I will not judge you?"
"I walked to his tent, to speak with him, he always was passionate about his work, you see. He helped with discerning what bug and animal life was useful for crops and which wasn't He'd talk your ear off about earthworms, so I thought he was the perfect man to talk to" The tears started to run down his cheek at that.
She swore she could hear the man's heart beat out of his chest. She had a feeling where this story was going so she walked over to the man's side, and rest an arm on his back.
She didn't press just waited.
"He's dead… He hung himself. On a tree behind his tent… I didn't think he had it in him" Was all the man muttered. His face is a mess. She felt a few tears trickle through her eyes at the display herself.
"I'm so sorry Queen Margaery, here I am blubbering like a fool"
"Fret not, I asked you to share… " She meant it though it was far from what she expected to hear.
"What of the worms then?" The man asked weakly.
She took a few much-needed breaths thinking about it.
"What of them, their size is troubling ill admit, in general, and they may pose trouble when it comes to soil quality and proper aeration and potential collapse. but as things are now we need food, So until complications regarding the worms arise bring up the guidelines I have listed, I will send my handmaiden Meera, and tell them by order of the queen you are to work together on this goal."
She realized she may be piling too much on the man.
"Apologies, Alec I misspoke, I will send Meera out alone to speak with my husband on the matter in haste"
"No, Queen Margaery, it is fine, this work is important. I will go with her. Thank you for giving me your ear"
"The pleasure was mine, Alec, You informed me of something of the utmost importance."
With that, she sent him Meera's way, and she left with a sick feeling in her stomach.
LORAS III
How could he let his guard down like that?
It was not the time to show his vulnerabilities to anyone certainly not to those tightly aligned with one of Renly's enemies, Nonetheless, he felt he needed the talk.
Tried as he might hold things in as a Knight should in these situations he could not. He felt his throat off instinct, and look towards the ground to make sure his feet were still firmly planted.
He was never great at self-control
But he at least knew he would always be in control if his feet were on the ground, and if he could breathe.
He shuddered at the feeling
"The Dead have been Killed." Robar Royce says the statement as if unsure of himself. but it seemed as if it was aimed at no one in particular.
Having to kill them seems to defeat the whole purpose…
With that Loras, face went into a line as he thought of the sight of those "dead" flesh so charred its gray, but with their wake, it almost was as if the scent was amplified tenfold.
Similar but distinctly worse compared to the soldiers.
He eyed the tent again, the "sentinel of the great tree" and the soldiers seemed like such distant memories, compared to the demon and witch that lurked on Renly.
"Com-" Loras looked over, to see Robar, being the one the voice the half state.
He had the sense that Robar was intending to say something to him judging by the look he got when Loras looked in his direction.
"Yes, Robar?"
"What do you make of this realm?"
"This place seems cursed." He said with conviction.
"I'm inclined to agree with you Loras, This place is like one of the seven hells opened up just to us… "
"I killed those dead men... And I saw the light leave their eyes... I've killed living men before... But there was something terrible about their eyes… Their eyes looked as if they belonged to the stranger, yet when I killed them… If only for a moment I felt a sudden surge of clarity and energy… What kind of man does that make me?"
Loras swallowed hard at that statement. Thinking about what he meant.
"Would you like to have a drink with me, Robar?
He looked towards the tent again, a part of him wanted to head back, and keep an eye on things… yet he knew he couldn't do anything and at the moment wasn't wanted, his throat seemed to feel scratchy at the realization.
Be that as it may, He was the king, and it wasn't just the king in that tent. Grandmother would never let him hear the end of it if Margaery would perish here, regardless of how far past Asshai or the far light they were. His grandmother would find a way.
He chuckled to himself.
Drowning in his cups did seem like a nice thought... Robar looked like he needed it to…
With that, he sent the yellow, and a small collection of guards to Renly's tent as Robar got out a flask.
The warmth of the ale made the pain he felt in his throat disappear. A feeling he didn't realize was affecting him as much as it was until it was gone. He felt as if he could finally speak and be at his full energy.
"What do you think is a top that thing anyways?" Robar said
There was no need to elaborate; Loras knew exactly what he meant.
The joy the alcohol brought him seemed to subside at the thought... The reminder of where they were. Which Robar just had to remind him of.
He shrugged at the question.
Robar drained another cup.
"Not in the mood to chat on it? Then how about a spar?"
Loras felt his heart beat with enthusiasm. At the word. But declined the suggestion.
"I don't seem to recall our last spar going so well, Robar."
"That is because it was daytime, the night is my element," Robar says with exaggerated mystique
Loras scoffed,
"Good luck, Your ancestral runes will not save you this time either"
Robar slashed upward toward his right underarm, Loras leaned back to avoid the attack, Then countered with a forward poke,
Robar came in again this time with a diagonal slash toward his torso,
Loras Felt the blow pushes him right, He used the momentum of the movement, to slash at Robar in a down-right motion.
He could see the strain it gave to his hands gripping the pommel.
As the swords hold loosened for but a moment. Robar countered the action with a thrust forward causing Loras to jump back,
He stumbled slightly getting reacquainted with the ground but he held steady then Thrust forwards with the sword. Robar evaded the action.
Finally making a successful hit to his side. The sword ringing against his armor,
Loras slashed right toward Robar's upper torso, which Robar successfully ducked under.
Robar thrust, Loras. Evaded the action via a quick shift to the left.
Loras finally made a successful hit at Robar's lower left torso, then another at his right shoulder.
Robar slashed upwards colliding with Loras's sword.
The action caused him to nearly drop it, but he held on. Robar performed multiple thrusts towards his midsection all of which Loras avoided as he countered with a diagonal slash, This slash collided with Robar's sword, at which point it slipped out of his hand.
Loras waited for Robar to pick the sword up.
"I yield. It was good but I need rest"
With that he hear claps come from nearby… he glanced over and saw Renly, clapping.
He looked back over at Robar, who already was collecting his sword, and readjusting his armor.
Loras realized he no doubt walked off cause he realized Renly was here for him, if Robar could feel the glare Loras was giving him he gave no indication.
"I came to cheer you up but it seems someone else has beaten me to it." Renly glanced at Robar's form walking off. As he placed a hand on Loras's shoulder.
He made a feeble attempt to shake it off.
Earning a smirk from Renly.
"You sided with some otherworldly witch!" Loras exclaimed anger seeping into his voice.
"I sided with your life Loras, you would have died if I had not intervened," Renly said his eyes seeming to speak the truth.
"What did you want to talk about earlier?"
"Truthfully. I wanted to tell you about the shadow, Talk through these bizarre circumstances, and maybe…" He glanced down at the final statement.
Loras faintly smiled at that.
"Then why don't you now?"
"In truth, I don't know if I can trust your judgment at this moment at least.:"
"You nearly cost us the one "ally" we have due to emotions getting in the way of your judgment." So he chastised him for questioning the witches' motives… but it all was only in the protection of his king, He simply refused to take the woman at her word.
"I only did so in protection of you and my sister. You chastise me for being the only one willing to question her."
"No not because you questioned her. Loras do you think I don't question her, you know your sister better than I do. You think she hasn't… gods if you would've come into the ten but 10 minutes prior you would've become privy to some of our questions.
That statement calmed Loras down. He got so consumed in his rage. And the madness of the day.
"You know me Loras, frankly I'm offended you'd think I wouldn't be skeptical and cautious, especially in a manner like this," Renly stated with light heat.
Loras' breath began to get heavier again.
"I recognize this, however, you treat her far too well considering the questionable nature of our circumstances. She can throw me around however much she wishes it will not change that."
Renly stared at him for a moment, he looked at him, with
"Loras, did you notice the way she speaks?"
Loras thought about Renly's question. She proclaimed things in a very strange way as if she was sure of every word she spoke, but much of her speech came across like a Puzzle to solve in of itself.
"I can't say I've focused on it specifically, but I won't deny it's quite hard to comprehend sometimes."
Renly frown curved into a smile at that...
"Ay she orders things odd, almost reminds me of some in the free cities speak. Though her words themselves, come across as someone quite well learned. As if taught by whatever this realm's Equivalents of Maesters are."
Hmm, so that's the route he's going with this. She did use some rather detailed words, and descriptors for the common folk, it's possible she could simply be well-read. The standards in this land could differ. Thinking about it Renna gave them very little about the land other than, a stalemate between 2 royals in a civil war brought it to a state of disrepair. One supposedly being a woman, For a split second a desire to look in the direction of the healer tent where Brienne was entered his mind, but he squashed the desire. He glance back toward the queen's tent the one in both the shadow and his sister resided. A long with the witch.
He supposed it was plausible for women to be a commander in this land at least. Given the strength of one such as her… The thought made him shudder.
"Id assume your silence is pointing in favor of my theory having credence."
"You truly think she's a noble?"
"Not for certain, it simply is a theory I and Margaery entertained, though she may not necessarily be a noble, though at the very least one who has associated with such people,"
Renly had a point, though there was little evidence to promote such, other than his belief, that her words were too well for a woods witch.
"I recognize I know little about these lands and their practices, I very well could be way off the mark, but It is simply a feeling I have about the women"
"So are you worried about potential retribution from her family if we piss her off?"
"No, I worry about the potential of immediate retribution from her directly, and then the further potential that she may be of noble blood and create more enemies for me than I could ever handle.
Loras nodded at that.
"Well I understand the concern, but as things are now we know nothing of her noble or not that doesn't mean we should trust her with anything."
"Yes, My trust in her is not high, I promise you that. But she is trying to find a way to get rid of that Baleful shadow"
"Yes, that is what she claims," Loras states annoyance consuming his tone.
Renly pauses, then
There's something I wanted to ask you to do, I didn't just come to chat.
He felt the joy leave his body of course he didn't. Renly Baratheon cared too much for a strategy to simply want to have a conversation.
"Could you form a small party and investigate some of the areas around the camp… as carefully as you can manage? Please bring at least 2 other rainbow guards.
"Does this have to do with what you and Margaery were speaking on, as I was entering your tent?"
Renly was quiet. He began to wonder if he'd ever respond
"Yes, I want us to find a secondary location, that could at least work temporarily for some of the more important members of the camp, and noncombatants…
"You know I feel like unless some event like this happens again and reverses things. someone who does not know how to fight won't do very well in this world… seven hells even someone who can fight won't do well"
"I have no plans to demand people be taught combat who lack the desire for it." Renly Plainly stated
"You could just encourage it for now." Loras countered.
"I'll think on it… truthfully I don't think will...be able to return" with that Renly held himself back. But he could tell as well as anyone where he was going with that.
"I understand the feeling but I sincerely hope you're wrong… I mean there's obviously magic in this world so maybe we can use that to get us back"
"No Loras you misunderstand… I do not think will survive here long enough to even begin to try to reach or contact Westeros." Renly said strain evident in his voice.
"What do you mean, you are Renly Baratheon, the king…less than a day passed you were exclaiming proudly about fighting your brother and succeeding " Loras pleaded.
"Yes but look at where that got me… attacked by a shadow assassin, and suddenly stranded in a strange with a fraction of my army. "
"did you hear about the weapon recovered in the very area where we fought the tree sentinel?" Loras asked wanting to change the subject.
"Yes, a very large and heavy halberd?" Renly stated with a raised brow
"Yea but considering the fact he both used that weapon to slay many of my men, including Bryce…along with the fact the rider seemingly disappeared into dust. I feel uneasy about keeping the weapon"
"I'll think about it" Was all Renly said after a moment's thought.
"Why not just get rid of it?"
"Well I've been having a Maester lookover the weapon and it seems like it has some Valyrian steel-like properties… and beyond that, I have a feeling it might be magic"
"And what do you need with magic? I'd say the past few hours have truly shown us the issues of magic"
Renly was made temporarily mute again.
"As a child, I often wonder if magic died off naturally in our lands or if it was forced out… I never was truly certain of the myths, but given my experiences on this day alone, I'll say my perspective certainly changed… ill also say if magic was forced to mostly die off in our lands, I completely understand the reasoning."
Loras nodded, taking in Renly's words but not really understanding their relevance to his statement.
"Saying that I also think at least until we have a better grasp on things, magic and magic weaponry might be the only way we could realistically survive in these lands at all.
"is that a conclusion you came to or have you been bewitched?" Loras asked making sure to project as much heat as he could manage.
Renly rolled his eyes at that.
"I have not been bewitched, and I don't say this lightly, if we could find a way to ease ourselves, without magic then I'd vastly prefer that… I have no desire to become a mad magic obsessed ruler like Aerys. It simply was an idea for survival." Renly said, as he did so he took a position leaning against a small tree as if tired from the statement.
Loras nodded at that. He saw his point this realm wherever it was seemed to be filled with impossibilities. Witches with sickly blue skin and four arms and potentially an alternative of greyscale? Dead men walking… What he witnessed amongst those crucified this night, made him think back upon the soldiers again. The memory of their sickly scent caused his stomach to shift. Impossibly large steeds, and riders that would dwarf the mountain holding weapons of ridiculous weight.
"We need to find a place for temporary camp preferably before Godrick's men return, and I'd prefer it if we had someone with magic on our side when they do return."
"You were just saying she's likely hiding her upbringing, and could prove troublesome, and you hope she works with us?" Loras remarked frustration slipping into his tone.
"Would you rather she work against us? It's not ideal I understand, but after the day we've had you know as well as I magic is very much alive here. " Renly said hints of anger peppering his speech.
"I'd rather we not have to deal with her at all"
"Charter us a ship back to Westeros then" Renly's fury was in full force this time around, his eyes, seeming to be ready to jump from his head and attack.
Loras shrugged at that… to prevent his own rage from bubbling up.
"I'll have a force of 70 prepared tomorrow to explore farther into these lands, to find a good location for camp." He stated plainly
"Smaller force than that. I do not want to attract Godricks attention, and the bigger the force the bigger the target."
"Ok 30?"
Renly nodded at that.
"Please be as careful as you can be exploring these lands, Loras, see anything that you even suspect is dangerous retreat." Renly stated wholehearted stare pouring into his eyes.
A.N. Well here is Chapter 5. I played around with alot of ideas in this chapter. The Earthworms are a personal addition, but they do fit within the lore of the lands between. I spent the past couple weeks working on it, I also beat elden ring again in full which has provided more inspiration for this story.
The Robar vs Loras spar was my first real 1 on 1 fight scene ive written so curious about everyone thoughts on that, The worms, Characterization, and the darker elements of the chapter.
