:-[Chapter 29]-:
"Why should we care about Harrenhal? It is of no importance now." said the Father firmly. The Isle of Faces will burn eventually when the king arrives from King's Landing for his marriage with Cersei Lannister. It will be a sight to behold."
"When will the Faceless Man arrived with the heathen?"
"Tonight." answered the Mother, a vicious smile beneath her mask.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry was riding on the Faceless Man's horse for what seemed to be days. From the Neck to Harrenhal, his enemy had successfully managed to keep him drugged and weak, incapable of forming a single coherent thought. His captor hadn't fed him at all, only giving him crumbs and water. "Enough to keep you fed without giving you too much strength" the man had said one night. His position was uncomfortable, being tied up and put on his stomach on the horse's rear.
They entered by the main entrance, guarded by a few men. The guards already knew on his arrival, so they didn't try to stop him. The Faceless man had received some terribles injuries against Harry and still wasn't healed, even with the secrets of the House of Black and White. The injuries were magical and would take a lot more time to heal.
Getting down his horse, the Essosi grabbed his prey and easily put him on his shoulder. Quickly walking inside the so-called haunted castle, the Faceless Man didn't wait a moment, already knowing where he needed to go. He climbed up the many tower's stairs, until he reached the desired door. Inside, were six peoples, and from what Harry could barely see, they were wearing weird masks.
"Your Holiness, I bring to you, Lord Harry Winterstorm, Lord of Moat Cailin and Sorcerer of the North." said the assassin calmly, even though the pain was starting to kill him. The House of Black and White thank you for your patronage, I must leave now."
Harry was left alone with the six other people. In his weakened state, he tried to use his magic to free his hands and feet from his chains but without success. The poison was still too strong in his veins.
"Wait a second, Faceless Man. Why is the sorcerer like this?"
"Do you mean poisoned?" asked the assassin and the Father nodded. "He is a magic user. In the land of Essos and beyond, the House of Black and White fought those of his kind for millennia. I have use a special concoction that dwindle his senses massively." laughed the man, kicking Harry to show how inoffensive he was.
"How long before he gets his wits back? We need to speak to him." inquired the Warrior.
"Couple hours, if you let it be. The poison needs to be ingurgitated to be effective." frowned the Faceless Man. 'Why do they want to speak with him? Didn't they understand the danger they would be in if he was to recuperate? If a cornered beast was dangerous, a sorcerer was even more so.'
"Good. Leave us now, Faceless Man. You have done well." said the Father, nodding in the man's direction.
The Faceless Man bowed to them and left promptly. He needed to do his report to his superiors as fast as possible and he had a deep feeling of fear in his heart, as if a great catastrophe was about to happen.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry was put in a small cell, still with his shackles. He had been tossed away like he was dirt in a cold cell. He was thanking his lucky start thought, these people were dumb enough to let him purge the poison from his body? He would show them how stupid they were. Sure, he didn't have his sword but soon, oh very soon, he would have full access to his spells.
After a couple of hours, the door opened, letting the young wizard see two guards.
"Still alive, you filthy heretic?" spat one of the men. "Their Holiness are best to kill you fast, unless I do so before them. Non-believers like you all deserver to fucking die by the pyre. We heard you got married, huh? Maybe we should visit the wife of yours, maybe she'll beg the Seven for forgiveness after I am done with her." he laughed before kicking Harry in the stomach. "You should thank me, I will try to save her soul."
Harry's anger rose up within his heart but decided to stay silent.
"What, nothing to say, heretic? Maybe you don't mind that I take a turn with her? You lot sleep with the cows and goats, maybe you're into that stuff. Ha ha ha ha!"
"Luthor, that's enough. Their Holiness are calling for the Heathen. We cannot make them wait." said the second man.
"Fuck off you arselicker. We came all this way from Oldtown to kill some Old Gods followers. This is one. He should die."
"And he will, only not by our hands." said the man more firmly.
"Fine! Get up you piece of filth!" screamed the man called Luthor. Luthor grabbed him from under the arm and put him up roughly. After making sure the chains were still well attached on his prisoner, the Reachman push him out of the cell.
Feeling his magic on the tips of his fingers, Harry calmed himself, not wanting to give up the element of surprise too quickly. He endured much worse in his training and even with his Uncle Vernon. The man was giving him a beating of a whim and even more insults every single day, just like his Aunt Petunia and Dudley, his cousin.
Since the raven-haired boy has shackles on his wrists and feet, he was moving pretty slowly. He was receiving a hard push once in a while from Luthor. With him back to his full strengh, so was his familiar and so was their communications.
"Master, where are you?" said a beyond relieve direwolf.
"In Harrenhal. We rode like hell for days. I think the Faceless Man of the House of Black and White are magic users. I don't know the full potential of their abilities but the man was able to completely overwhelm me in matter of minutes, even with our joined powers."
"This world has many surprises, Master Harry. Right now, we need to focus about how to bring you back in Moat Cailin. Sura is beyond herself with worries. Eddard has gone to get you with men but we don't know where they are at the moment. You need to get out, now and rejoined them somehow."
"Aye, I know. But I need to know who is behind all of this. We have an enemy ready to hire Faceless Men against us. My magic is back now on business. A simple Alohomora spell will free me from these chains easily enough."
"Be careful, Master. We don't know who is behind your kidnapping." warned Hedwig.
"I will girl, I promise to get back to you and Sura as quickly as I can. Stay with her in the meantime, ok?" said Harry, cutting their communications afterward, not knowing Hedwig had zero intention of staying in Moat Cailin.
They finally arrived at a guarded door by multiple men. Luthor didn't wait any time, pushing Harry on the wall.
"Stay there you piece of filth." said the man before turning to his brother in arms. "You can warn their Holinesses that the heretic has arrived."
One of the guards nodded and then knocked on the door. When he heard a response from inside, he quickly entered. The small group waited for a while until the door opened again, revealing a masked figure.
"So, this is the heathen, Harry Winterstorm. Savior of Rhaegar Targaryen at the Burning of Duskendale." said the figure in a manly voice. "We have much to discuss, young one."
The man returned inside without another word. As soon as he finished speaking, the guards dragged Harry into the room. The room contained a long table with six people seated. Torches were installed on the walls, giving light to an otherwise dark place. The people seated were all wearing masks and the young wizard immediately noticed the resemblance to the Seven Gods.
"Harry Winterstorm of Moat Cailin. The Sorcerer of the North. We have watched you for quite some time now."
"Really now? And who in the Seven Hells are you?" snarked Harry.
"We are the Order of the Guiding Hand. You may call me Father." said what seem to be the leader.
"The Order of the Guiding Hand? Never heard of it."
"You silly ignorant child. You northerners could not see the Seven's light if it was directly in your faces. We are the Order who guide the followers of the Seven into a better world, a world without miscreants like you. Trees worshipers like yourself will be killed by fire." said the Father with passion.
"Why? What are your goals?" inquired the would-be prisoner."
"Uniting the world under the light of the Seven Gods. For centuries have work our way into the kingdoms' castles and strongholds. For centuries we have work into the shadows to that their light could shine upon the smallfolk and lords alike."
"Thats it? No other evil plans?"
"Getting rid of all magic users. You and your kind will be exterminated one day. Due to the Lace Serpent and yourself, almost the entire Seven Kingdoms has rallied against all of you. We've manipulated all of the right people toward that goal and finally, finally I see the end. Your end."
'There is it.' thought Harry, remembering his classes in history at Hogwarts. Muggles always feared what they didn't understood or control so he was really surprised by it.
"Who trained you? Do you have any acolytes?" asked the Father.
Subtly, Harry used a locking charm on the door, making sure no one could enter. He then put a silencing spell on it too, just to be safe. There were only a few guards in the room at the moment, nothing the young warrior couldn't handle.
Luthor, who was behind him, smashed his hand on Harry's back of his head.
"Answer His Holiness, you miscreant!" snarled the man.
"No matter, Luthor. The man shall die soon." said a feminine voice. "We have sent a raven to his grace, King Rhaegar, announcing your capture. He is most pleased by the news. Lady Shela is getting everything ready for the army of the Faith arrival."
Harry still said nothing to them. He was trying to get them to talk. It seems that they had the same problem as Voldemort, they spoke too much. He just looked into the mask man's eyes.
"Proud until the end I see. We'll see how proud you'll be when you are burning into a pyre. Just know that all the Stark will suffer the same fate. Lyanna Stark will be married off to the next Lord Paramount to breed only strong male for the Seven. Her brothers will be put to the block and as her traitorous father, Rickard Stark, he will have the distinct joy of seeing all of this, prisoner until he fucking die. Any lords who follow the Old Gods will perish!"
"Boy he sure loved to listen himself talk doesn't he, Master?" said Hedwig mentally.
"He sure does" confirmed the young wizard. "Looks like evil doers like to make speeches."
"But enough of all of this." continued the Father. "Guards, bring back the filth to his cell and make sure he stays there until called by his grace, King Rhaegar."
"Aye, your Holiness." said Luthor, kicking Harry up and shoving him toward the door. The Reachman threw a menacing look at the young wizard and tried to open the wooden door but was unable to do so. A second men tried his hardest to open it but without success.
"What is going on? Stop this madness!
"The door your Holiness, it is locked shut! We cannot opened it!"
*CLING CLANG*
All eyes turned to the source of the noise. The chains that had previously held Harry were now on the floor. His body grew visibly wider and taller until he stood just over seven feet tall. His arms were almost as wide as tree trunks. His emerald-green eyes were glowing menacingly and fangs were coming out of its mouth.
"By the Seven Hells... Guards! Kill this abomination!" screamed the Father in fear.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Luthor didn't need to be told twice. He drew his steel sword from his scabbard and in what he thought was a quick movement, tried to slice the heretic's torso. The beast, however, managed to stop his weapon with his bare hand. With surprising strength, the giant pulled with all his might on the sword, thus tearing it from his hands, like a child. As if he weighed nothing, the heretic threw him across the room. He landed brutally on his back on the wooden table, breaking it with all his weight. With a grunt of pain, the Order of the Guiding Hand's guard managed to struggle up onto his knee.
The Reachman was the beast attacking his partner with is sword. He swung the weapon only a couple of time and managed to kill the man easily, slicing his throat. Blood spurted from it, splashing the beast who didn't seemed to mind at all.
"All of those death, because of you." said a terrifying voice.
Said voice was coming from the heathen in front of him. Some members of the Order screamed in fright and Luthor could smell the urine in the air. The few guards left where shaking in their boots.
"And you plan to do more." continued the sorcerer. "You plan to bring misery to my lands, to kill my friend and wife. You plan to exterminate the North and anyone that doesn't believe in your Faith. You extremist sickens me. The Faith can easily leave in harmony with any others, you just don't want it to be. You crave war and now, you have it." he finished while grabbing the Smith and crushing his throat, making the Maiden scream in fright.
The Warrior immediately when for the kill, wanting to avenge his friend. The man was a very good fighter from was Luthor could see. He managed to put the beast on his back foot then suddenly, the sorcerer put his massive hand in front of his enemy's face and screamed a word Luthor never heard before.
"INCENDIO!"
Waves of fire shot out of his hand and licked the Warrior's face, making him scream at the top of his lungs. His metal mask melted over his face and eyes. The man dropped his sword in pain. Reflexively, he tried to remove the mask from his face but simply burned his hands instead. The heathens then smashed the pommel of his sword on the Warrior's mask, effectively knocking him out.
"One down."
The guards managed to gather their courage and tried to jump on the sorcerer but the beast was faster than anyone Luthor had seen on his life. The heretic blocked the violent blows of the men-at-arms so easily it looks bored.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry was seeing red. His emotions were heightened by Hedwig's power just as much as his physical prowess. He was fine with the insults. He was fine about being threatened. But to hear the plan about his wife and the Starks was way too much for him to handle. He was slashing and punching his way through flesh and steel as if it was butter. One by one, the member of this Order died by his hands or sword.
In his rage, the young wizard was able to made all the sword fly into the air and he propelled them toward a woman screaming that he was a heretic and that he should burn inside the Seven Hells for what he was doing. He simply answered that he didn't believe in it, killer her afterward.
"You... you are a monster, heretic!" screamed the Father, pointing his skinny old finger at him. "I hope you... GYAAARRKKHH!"
The Father didn't have enough time to finish as a sword cut his chest easily, as he wasn't wearing any armor. The man, who thought so high of himself, died in a gurgled of blood, alone.
Harry turned his head slowly, looking around the room and he saw no one moving. No one, with the exception of the Reachman, Luthor, the man who had threatened him to rape his wife Sura. It didn't take long for the sorcerer to start marching toward the man. The guard screamed will all his might in fight at the vision before him but Harry didn't stop. He didn't stop until he was at armlength.
"Take up your sword."
Luthor looked up to Harry in consternation.
"W-What?" stuttered the man.
"Take. Up. Your. Sword." growled Harry. "You wanted to kill me earlier. Now that I'm not defenseless and shackleless you won't attack me?" snarled the young warrior his voice like steel.
The guard scrambled as he tried to grabbed his sword but his hands were shacking too much.
"Or do you prefer your victim screaming mercy? Thats what it is doesn't it? You prefer defenseless victims, you fucking coward."
"P-Pl-Please! D-Don't kill m-me!" begged the cowardly warrior in front of Harry.
"Mercy? You will find no mercy, here, you piece of shit. Your death, like those of that Order will make the world a better place, I am sure or it."
"I'll change! I swear by the Old Gods and the New Gods! I-I-I`ll become a better man!" tried Luthor desperately.
But Harry wasn't in a mood of forgiveness. In this world, the weak was getting eaten by the strong and said strong very often abused the weak. This filth of a man was only trying to save his own life, the young emerald-green eyes warrior was sure of it. He grabbed him by the throat, and rise him into the air until his feet were dangling.
"I don't think so." said Harry in a voice so cold Luthor's entire body started to shake. "Incendio."
Luthor screamed as his flesh was burning. He tried to move put Harry's grip on him was too strong. When the young wizard finished the disgusting man, he dropped uncourteously the body on the ground. He looked at the door, and undid both of his spells with a simple thought.
:-[T.A.B]-:
The guards outside suddenly noticed smoke coming out of the door. In panic, they tried to open it but the door handle was piping hot, burning the man's hand. The men tried to use a bench sitting nearby to use it as a ram. Eventually, they managed to break down the wooden door, revealing intense flames. Inside were the smoking and charred bodies of about ten people. They immediately put their hands over their face, thus covering their nose from the foul smell.
"About time." said a terrifying voice coming from the flames. The voice caught the eyes of the many guards. They saw a gigantic black shadow with emerald green eyes glowing among the fire. Some were brave, and attacked the figure. These certain men were the first of the group to die. Arms, heads and a few legs flew everywhere.
Harry was now armed with two swords and was cutting through steel and flesh like they were butter. Some of the guards flee when they saw the carnage unfolding toward them. Death was coming straight at them and all of their instincts were telling them to drop everything and run, which many of them did.
One by one, with his speed and strength, Harry went through the southerners. No one could stop him, as they didn't have the training nor the abilities to properly face him. The young wizard descended the steps of the tower one by one. Eventually, he faced knights of House Whent.
In his honest opinion, those men were by far better than the simple guards lying dead upstairs but they were still not up to his level. He was able to take them by surprise and kill many of them before he was outside. Night had arrived and stars were shining into the sky. The top of the tower was now burning like an inferno.
Not wanting to stay in this gods-forsaken castle any longer, Harry saw the main gate and ran for it, avoiding arrows and spears. He jumped on the wall when he saw the men trying to close the wooden gates. He killed a few more men before jumping down, as he was facing a barrage of arrows in his direction. With his heightened speed, the young wizard easily ran away from Harrenhal and into the woods surrounding it. Was entering
:-[T.A.B]-:
King Rhaegar Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men Lord of the Seven Kingdoms Protector of the Realm was entering Harrenhal very early in the morning, the entire army of the Crownlands, Vales, the Reach and the Riverlands at his heels. The entirety of the kingsguard was present at his side, watching the still smoking tower with interest, especially Oswell Whent.
The ride was long due to the very large troops. Last night, his scouts reported to him that the castle was burning in the distance, at least a good part of it. So he made the decision to ride at dawn to unravel this mystery. When he entered, he saw that chaos reigned. Of course, Lady Shella Whent was there, welcoming him as her title required. The old woman bowed deeply to the king. The men surrounding her could see her trembling slightly on the spot.
"Your grace, it is an honour to greet you in Harrenhal." said the old woman.
"I am sure it is, Lady Whent. Bring me the prisoner at once. He must pay for his crime as soon as possible." said Rhaegar, still sitting on his horse.
Lady Whent started shaking even more. She couldn't even look at the Targaryen, not without seriously risking her bowels.
"The p-prisoner, your grace... h-he-he escape last night." stuttered the old lady.
Rhaegar stayed silent a moment. The men beside him didn't add anything either. You could only hear the wind howling in the desolated courtyard.
"You... lost a single prisoner, Lady Whent?" said the king, squinting his eyes to the Lady of Harrenhal.
"A-Aye, your grace. The sorcerer burned the entire tower, killed many of my men and then fled North. We have sent multiple scouts but we are still waiting for their words."
"Ser Oswell." said Rhaegar.
"Aye, your grace." said at once the knight just beside him. The man threw a worried look to his relative, knowing his king's reputation.
"You and Ser Arthur will take two hundred men and support the research. You have until my wedding with Lady Cersei Lannister in a week. Bring me this heathen."
"Your grace," started Ser Jonothor Darry, "maybe I should in place of Ser Oswell. He knows the place and I am sure he would like to spent time with his family members."
"If I wanted you to go look for him, I would have asked you, Ser Darry. Whent knows the woods and fields better then any of you and Ser Arthur has experience hunting criminals filth like Lord Winterstorm."
"This is no mere criminal, your grace." said Shella Whent. "My men are speaking about a beast who used fire to kill and flee my castle. He managed to kill many..."
"I know, Lady Whent, you've already told me your failure and your men's. Ser Oswell, take your men and go. Do not forget, you have a week, no more, no less.
"Aye, your grace. I shall not fail you." nodded the knight.
Ser Arthur, who was beside Jonothor, followed him without speaking to anyone. He just obeyed the order without complains whatsoever. The Sword of the Morning wasn't who he was years ago. Now, only a shell of a man was standing in his place. Years of seeing who he thought was a good man and the next Great Targaryen King, burning people alive and then killing his own father had taken a huge toll on his psyche.
"I sure hope so, as failures seem to run in your family. I hope that you show better results. Leave, now." snarled the king.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 29 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story of what you would like to see.
If you are interested in becoming an Alpha or Beta reader, contact me!
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To Nysk: I hope you like this chapter also my friend!
To Wrixel: Thank you for the review!
To Qhristian: Sí, nuestro Harry aún no tiene la experiencia necesaria pero aprende de sus errores y continúa sin parar.
To Glitner: Sorry you didnt like the chapter. Hope you like this one!
To Tantio: Maybe I should have put two Faceless Men? What do you think?
To valyriadoom400 : Harry will get stronger with time, do not worry!