Chapter 107: 107 Seeing the Rock...
"Aerys, please just don't have those old idiots who call themselves Maesters touch the items given by Paul. I have confidence in his skills as a healer as well as his integrity, if you want a peace of mind then I had also asked for the same set of medicine for you to take." Shaera was having a conversation with the King who had heard the events from the lips of the servants and handmaidens present.
"Why will I trust a man who I had just met and seemed to be older than he looks mother? He used magic as well as had a conversation with my wife that she won't even tell me the details. Such a dangerous man is now in the castle so how can I not suspect?" Aerys paced back and forth as he did not like hearing that Paul could use magic so easily when many maesters were said to have tried and failed, the men known to be the knights of knowledge within Westeros.
Even the Handmaidens who were ladies of noble birth would not dare mistake some mummer's act as magic yet they witnessed and attest to the fact that real magic was done in front of them.
"If he wanted to he could have destroyed the city all by himself, so he would not stoop down using mere poison to attack Rhaela. If he so wanted he could march in front of the gates and still kill anyone he wanted to then walk out the city unscathed." Shaera slammed her cane on the floor as she felt annoyed at the fidgeting of Aerys who flinched at her outburst.
"No number of knights would be able to stop him, that I can attest so please heed my last advice Aerys as it might just be of help to you one day. Never ever try to antagonize that man, I beg of you…" Shaera said as her instinct as a mother wanted only for her child to not stray his path.
"Your last advice?" Aerys picked up on this as he looked at his mother's 'aging' face.
"I am only alive thanks to the help of Lord Paul, I should have died on my bed during my time outside but I got a second lease in life thanks to him. Still the price of asking him this favor is too steep no gold can ever buy it." Shaera's words made the King frown as he felt something within his chest starting to ache as an empty feeling starts to grow.
"I will be gone Aerys, but I am relieved that with these vials you would not catch the deadliest diseases there is." Shaera went to the side where another decorative box is present.
She opened it and took a light bluish vial with some purple liquid inside.
"This is a very rare vial made from countless priceless medicines, it is a vaccine Aerys. A vaccine to greyscale, so that you won't fear the dreaded curse that had befallen our ancestors before. But to take this you must take the others in the schedule given, they too are vaccines to the deadliest known ailments to mankind found. Too bad none are for our family's madness." Shaera whispered the last part to herself as Aerys finally gave attention to the vials brought by her mother.
"Such vials exist? Then why not make more, then rid the world of these problems once and for all?" Aerys said as he held the small vial in his hands.
"You with your grand claims and demands like always. You speak as if these vials grow on trees to be plucked when ripened but if the cost be tallied that vial alone would cost 500,000 gold dragons." As Shaera said this Aerys flinched and almost dropped the vial from his hands as he scampered trying to catch it in midair.
He was sweating buckets as he finally caught the vial safely and placed it back on the ornate box.
"My life alone would not have paid for all of these but I had accepted a deal that Lord Paul can study our family's genealogy with me as I will be 'probed' within but that is all with my consent, he has integrity my child and he would not experiment on anyone without consent given through a contract that even he cannot ignore." Shaera patted the hands of the King as he was in a dazed manner.
"Who knows? Some of his discovery might one day help our family in the future so I think this is the best for me. I'll be leaving in the morning, I won't spoil your tenth year reigning as King with my farewells." Shaera then walked out hunched like an old lady leaving Aerys still processing the farewell of his mother.
[Two Days later, Gold Road]
"I assume you would not tell me what is it that you have found Lord Paul?" Shaera said in her real youthful form as she laid tired from the last night's 'calisthenics' with Paul as he stretched her insides as well as test her flexibility in many poses.
"No, I cannot disclose your daughter's condition for her safety. But I can say this, her gift is something I even covet." Paul lunged forward as his spear pierced the wet trembling cave of the woman under him.
"Ughh! Really? Would you take her as well one day like you are taking me Lord Paul?" Shaera's eyes were hazy as she sultrily said with temptation in her voice as her mind was all over the place as she said this.
"Maybe you are being afflicted with the madness of your family, quite the little temptress you are and maybe I should take Betha and the other minx as well once we get back on Leviathan." Paul pulled both her legs up to his shoulders as he found a desirable angle to ram shut both mouths of the silver haired woman.
They were now on the way to Casterly Rock as Paul wanted to handle a business opportunity with the Lannisters.
He had heard of the dwindling gold produced by the mines of the Rock but from what his puppets had investigated, they had found that there were many hidden caverns where they can mine gold that would fork out a million gold dragons per year for ten to thirteen years.
That was only for the caverns connected to the existing mines of Casterly Rock, there were still some mines that could be dug on the sea through a hidden undersea cave a kilometer away from the rock.
If he could mine them he could generate 2 million per year for 20-22 years but that is only if the Lion would accept his proposition so he can bring in manpower to facilitate the mining of these untapped resources.
Good timing was, that the Hand of the King was planning a two month leave from the capital to escort Lady Joanna and his children back to the Rock after hearing of her pregnancy. He would leave the day after the celebration of the King's 10th anniversary as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.
He was still rather sour after the tasteless remark of the King towards his wife.
Paul learned this through the small valyrian steel puppet that is still on the Red Keep spying on the tower of the Hand where more information seemed to travel that are rather useful for him.
After a day's ride away from the capital, he then spent a whole day in riding the dragoness that seemed to like being 'probed' by him very deeply as he experimented on her on some positions he remembered done by the look alike of Shaera.
This also helped him prove his theories of getting stronger after doing such acts of debauchery, well he did make sure Shaera gets something out of this too as she became healthier and prettier as he kept 'watering' her 'flower'.
He had also placed a glamor spell on his carriage as some spies went on to try and track him which they were not successful as Paul somehow vanished from their sight when they were in the Great Square in the capital.
Now no one was sure where Paul went as even White Lizard and the soldiers with him separated with their group on the capital as they took different roads.
But they would all converge after crossing Blackwater Rush, there they became a merchant caravan which is guarded by mercenaries that were the disguised soldiers.
They would only change after they are in the Westerlands, which were a few days away meaning he has a lot of time with this naughty girl under him.
It felt great to have a change in his routine once in a while as they now camped on the side of a river where the herd of boars he had marked and tamed now followed them.
The driver which was Swan is currently sealing them on summoning scrolls so they will be relocated in the Flask Basin or Yeen to become mounts for the Boar Riders.
Soon White Lizard and the crippled knights arrived at the camp, they were the last ones since they had to hide much more thoroughly since White Lizard is quite eye catching with his white hairless face and red eyes.
Soon they passed by Deep Den after taking care of some local bandits trying their luck on their caravan.
They even earned a few silver stags since some of the ones caught were wanted but only for 20 silver stags at most.
But Paul did not shy away from it as he bought a few cask of cheap ale for the road since it was winter and the soldiers need something to warm their bellies.
He does not need much as well as Shaera as they were plenty warm with each other, he could feel her warmth deep inside her as she too feel something warmer go deeper inside her.
Still Paul dare not forget his duties as he gives a few hours of hearing reports as well as directing orders to various puppets he could connect on a daily basis.
Rohanne also informed him of having her son, Donald or Donut as Duncan like to call his kid since the boy had a like for donuts since he was given one by his father when he was a small chubby kid, he enrolled to the Academy where the talents of Titanus are being nurtured.
Now 4 years of age he is a rather jolly chubby kid who was already at his mother's shoulder level, Rohanne is at most 4'11" while Dunk is 6'11" so the kid got his size from his father.
Rhaenys now 12 years old was the best student in the academy on her age as she mastered Water Sword Dancing already and started to study on magic with a few other talented kids.
And since some beastmen tribe now joined, a few talents also emerged with three being from the goat tribe as they proved great as knights that Paul plans to make them his personal guards.
The other beastmen were gifted physically but skill wise in handling a sword, they were behind the smarter Goat tribe.
Dog tribe became great scouts as their sense of smell was leagues ahead of the others except for the Wolf and Fox tribes.
Fox tribe which recently joined had not shown their talents yet but maybe it'll show itself one day.
Mostly it was the smaller tribes that joined with the Goat Tribe being the only large beastman tribe that entered Titanus' rule.
Other Large Tribes maintained some distance but they still trade from time to time as they were still wary of Titanus' military strength.
So far Paul has 4 million gold dragons back up funds while his business has a total of 24 million in assets if he liquidates them all into funds.
Over 12 Million of that were in banking as he invested in some businesses as well as gave loans to some merchants who had enough collateral to take if they are not able to pay their loans.
Reason being Paul wanting more money to spend was because he had sent a few disposable puppets that were meant to scout out the area beyond the Wall.
He sent them five years ago and they were only able to return after a two year mission, he sent 50 puppets which would self-destruct once they reach a certain amount of disrepair.
They were given at least expert skills in scouting and gathering information, they are lightly equipped and since the north had an abundance of mana then they could function with full faculties.
Yet after the two year absence, since Paul did not place a function that would connect them to him in case some tricks of the others can affect him from afar and he also placed the self-destruct feature so no evidence are left of the puppets.
They were mostly made of quality teak wood, titanium alloy plating and stainless steel fiber coils as the muscles.
They could perform skills that would even defeat elite knights in battle but they only returned a mere 6 in number as they returned atop the cog that he had given them for the scouting expedition.
Now they returned in his private port in Lys reporting what they found and did it make Paul frown really hard.
In the TV show the army of the dead were mostly around a few hundreds of thousands with a dozen white walkers that were transformed from children offered to them.
But from what the scout puppets counted, there was at least three million undead and that does not include the reanimated animals.
Yet the scouts were successful in their mission though as they were able to capture four wights which was the reason why so many scouts were destroyed.
There were zombie mammoths as well as zombie giants present which caused the most damage on the puppets, yet even with these Paul had to create a special area within one of the Basilisk Isles that would be forbidden from other people to success as to preserve the wights for study.
Yet thinking how close it was from Yeen he dashed that plan as he rather continue on experimenting on Old Valyria as he still attempted from time to time unlocking the Mini Kaijus and his subordinates.
Yet he placed those things on a pin for the moment as he experimented on the Targaryen woman under him on how much he can give them to develop their bodies, he does not just blindly hump and shoot all over but rather he is giving her a thorough massage to help in managing the mana within her.
He was using his knowledge to give acquired physiques to Shaera and think that maybe he can do this too later to Kaash and any other lover he might bring into the fold.
As they passed by the territory of Hornvale, Paul had already taken note of many untapped mines on the way as he spent the days in a leisurely manner.
He is finally getting the results of gathering talents that help him in managing his many projects, even the Goat tribe Chief who was an intelligent chieftess that has great talent in managing his agricultural sector.
The special course for the beastmen recruits in the military forces of Paul is currently being fine-tuned as he scheduled an even that would be able to integrate the talents of these tribes in active battle.
It was a week later when Paul finally saw the famed Casterly Rock as well as the city below it, Lannisport which is smaller than Kingslanding but not less busy as the place was also one of the seven major ports in the seven Kingdoms.
There he scanned the earth below and found more than what his puppet had reported as there was an abundance of metal within the area.
It was then a spike of mana was felt by Paul making him look over where he felt the disturbance, he saw an old crone on a small tent waking up as his senses honed on the woman.
He felt the distinct nature of divination magic being used as the presence of time seemed to swirl around the old woman as she felt the being that stared at her so she subconsciously tried to see what is happening.
But Paul's presence alone broke her attempt as the forces of time did not heed her call for a vision of the future, this alone made the woman realize that whatever or whoever arrived in Lannisport is not someone she must antagonize.
Paul saw her nose bled as she spasm for a while after her failed attempt in divination, he thought about something and realized that this might be the famed Maggy the Frog, a local healer that had been in this city for decades.
Paul did not bother her anymore as he felt a bit guilty for causing her to feel backlash just because of his curiousness.
Then his eyes locked on the large hill by the sea, six miles long and 640+ meters tall, even taller than the Wall, with a whole slew of halls and dwellings carved inside.
"It reminds me of the lonely mountain…" Paul murmured as he watched this on a small dormer on the carriage where he can watch what was in front while lying on the bed cuddling the sleepy silver haired woman in his hands.
"Lonely Mountain? Where is that?" Shaera asked drowsily as she hugged Paul feeling like a content cat purring as she rubbed her face on his neck.
"When I said to you one day I might have to leave does not mean I am going to another place aside from Westeros, but rather I…" Paul had a good understanding of Shaera's temperament already so he felt it was time to tell her why he is here.
"You came from the stars?" Shaera interrupted Paul as she looked up looking gently at the face of the man who showed her many great things and was now caring for her that she felt she is living a life in a fairy tale.
"…" Paul was silent as he looked confused at Shaera but his eyes were also impressed yet not shocked, he did not hide it much in the past years so it is likely the retainers of his already have an idea on what he might be.
"I know you are not of this world, you just seem so divine and only the gods could make such miracles that you did. How you do not even mind when the people of Yeen worship you as a God, as well as how you can make most feral of beasts bend to your will…" Shaera looked a bit dazed as she is saying this.
"…I know I am lucky to have gained your care but I will not stop you once it is time for you to ascend to the heavens, I just hope I would be a part of your life even if our time is brief…" Shaera's eyes became wet as she was about to continue but Paul suddenly flicked her forehead.
"Haish… you are smart but sometimes you think too much. I was just going to ask you if you would like to come with me on my jourmey to the stars, you and Kaash as well as those that are willing to be with me." Paul leaned down as he planted a kiss on Shaera's forehead as she look at Paul unsure what to say.
"B-but like you said, even with the gifts you have given us we can only live for another century or so. You would outlive us… I-I don't want you to see me grow old, I want you to remember me as I am…" Shaera whimpered as her feelings for Paul had swollen for the days she had spent with him.
It was not just being sexually pleased but also emotionally satiated as Paul acted like a very caring man that most women could dream off, he was sweet, considerate, smart, respects her decisions and she was treated so gently and lovingly in so many ways her initial lust has turned into adoration then into infatuation and slowly into a desire of wanting to mean something to this man in front of her.
She knew she was not the only one, she knew she might not be able to live another life like this but she wanted to be a memory that he would hold dear.
So she had been hardworking as well as studious in the past few days so she can support him in his time in this world.
She could feel it, how he seemed to not belong with the mortals like her and everyone, his presence that overshadowed awe someone would feel from god like beings.
She thinks that even the gods they worship are not nearly as amazing as the man in front of her, he made the impossible come to life yet he was also caring enough to give purpose to them, a second life when they seem to be not that needed.
The second life she is living made her want to leave a mark on this man who seemed too divine for her, at least to be remembered by him would make her heart feel satisfied.
Paul did not need to read her mind as her feelings were rather too obvious and quite powerful that it is affecting him.
"I might be a god to you right now but I was a man first, never was I raised abandon those that I care for and cares for me. I don't care if you grow old nor how you would look like, you are my woman now and I am your man." Paul caressed the cheeks of the woman in his arms as he wiped away her tears.
"Besides have I not said I am very possessive so you won't have to worry about me forgetting you. Though I am asking you stay faithful to me even if I cannot do the same to you, I will never forget you as you have already carved a place in my heart." Paul said as they hugged the soft body of the woman he now cares for.
He could feel her sincerity as she nodded as her heart had already accepted this second life she has gained.
"Then I shall accompany you, I just hope you would not leave me soon as you found another that stokes the fires in your heart." Shaera gave a final tight hug on Paul as she finally fell asleep.
Seeing her sleeping figure, Paul decided to camp out for the night as it was already sun down and they still had two leagues to go towards Lannisport, it might be quite near but he decided to rest a day before getting into the city.
[The next Day]
"Look at what we have ere boys, bunch a nobles be twiddling around with only this number of guards." A large portly bandit said as he eyed the camp area of Paul and his soldiers.
His group was indeed a bit too small for an escort for a noble, most of those with enough wealth would not leave their lands unless they were accompanied by a minimum of around a hundred guards.
So now a bandit group of over hundreds of broken men and some beings local thugs of the few small towns nearby Lannisport has surrounded their camp feeling overjoyed seeing this small group.
Paul was totally confused as he looked at the sigil hanging on the side of the carriage and saw the Targaryen symbol then looked back at the bandits surrounding them like they were idiots.
Maybe they were as they did not seem to show fear at all as their thoughts were quite apparent for Paul to pick up on.
They were greedy, they had been rather poor lately since Tywin does some occasional clean up of the area around the Westerlands of such criminals.
Also they were all commoners who lived in secluded areas that does not know much about what happens to the whole world.
To them the Lannisters are the masters of these lands that they live on, they could be considered mountain tribes men on how they are behaving but one thing they know is that they can ransom people who rife carriages like these to the city.
And Paul's being quite large and rather ornamental in appearance after the glamor spell has been taken off made them not care whose house the sigil owns it but rather on how much they can get from ransoming people that could ride such fancy looking carriage.
Feeling their lust for money, Paul knew he could not reason with these people so he signaled for White Lizard to guard the carriage with the other soldiers as he stepped forward making hand signs as he initiated a summoning technique.
*POOF!!*
A large plume of smoke spread in the area shocking the bandits as they did not expect that to happen but what they did not expect more was the sound that appeared after which was like the roar of an apex beast.
*ROOOAAR!!!!*
The smoke cleared showing Paul riding his mount, Cera the ceratosaurus like dinosaur, he now held a long blue steel sword staff riding in full speed slicing off the head of the bandits who was stunned scared after the roar.
Many bandits did not register what is happening yet as Paul's hands swung so fast that a few heads were already flying into the air with terrified expressions.
"Arrghh!!" a man screamed in a shrill loud voice as he made eye contact to Cera who's large mouth was gaping wide trying to bite the panicking bandit.
Cera bit the torso of the guy leaving the head intact as it shook the body of the man breaking him into pieces.
"Run for ya lives!!" one bandit got over the fear and shouted this as he turned tail to run but he was hit in the head by an arrow as the archers of Paul were targeting the ones running away.
The knights and soldiers were on guard around the carriage as they watched in awe at the way Paul rode such a savage beast with such finesse and grace while not having a single drop of blood stain his clothes.
Some woke up enough to understand that they would die if they do not fight back so a few vice leaders of the bandit rallied around 40 others to charge at the carriage hoping whoever was inside would stop the man riding the dragon looking like monster killing their colleagues like they were helpless chickens.
White Lizard stepped forward with ten soldiers with him facing the charging group while the ten archers sent a volley to them.
Behind was two knights holding bows shooting the ones running away, while the front of the charging group held up their worn out shields to defend from the volley of arrows.
They felt pressured as they did not think the archers would load three arrows each to increase the volume of the volley.
They might not be elite archers but they were trained by Paul's puppet nonetheless so they were skill enough to fire the three arrows to the general direction they wanted.
It was a way to put pressure to charging enemies who were much more numerous that they were.
The other knights and soldiers were watching around alert as they defended the sides of the carriage from other bandits that tried to charge in smaller groups.
Paul on the other hand has already killed 30 in the short amount of time the whole battle started.
He looked over and did not worry much for his mean but he did charge at some bandits that got their courage back as they too wanted to charge towards the carriage not wanting to face the monster riding man.
Yet their attempts were futile as after ten minutes the ones left were trembling with fear as they were not even able to get near the carriage as in front of them were a wall of skill soldiers and behind them was a monster that brought fear deep into their hearts.
"Surrender and you might be lucky enough to be sent to the wall to take the black or stay and fight to face death by my hands." Paul looked down on these men as he finally remembered their files, they were a rising bandit group after successfully ransoming a few nobles and merchants taking the Ocean Road and the Golden Road.
They were even reported to have disgraced a noble lady who was a member of a sizeable house in the Riverlands.
They ought to have a bounty upon their heads in Lannisport, as he thought of this the 15 men left were kneeling and begging to be spared while some voided their bladders the second time for the past hour.
"Take the heads of your fellow bandits and let yourselves be captured by my men, if any tries something then they will face a fate worse than death." As he finished speaking Cera roared once again making a few men faint in fear.
Their morning was rather eventful as Paul rubbed the head of the murder lizard he rode on. He looked down and thought about something, nodding to himself he then weaved a spell in his hands to emulate the cancelation of Cera's summoning contract to keep her here.
Something about the summoning justu pulling back the summoned creature to which place they were from to act as a balance for the technique.
So bypassing it was a rather tedious chore as he kept making the magic circle for half an hour.
He wanted to have a great impression left to the people of westeros in case some would have thoughts of wanting to send an army to capture him.
He alone killed over 60 of the bandits without a splatter of blood on his clothes.
Soon many carriages of other people from merchants, commoners and even visiting nobles towards Lannistport saw tied up men trudging with fear forward going inside the gates.
But the large walking lizard that growled behind being the one that drew attention from all as they were scared stiff seeing the fearsome creature.
The one who is riding it also drew attention as he looked like a Dornish prince with his light brown skin and long raven hair.
The city watch would have stopped them if not for the sigil that was on the side of the carriage being that of the royal family.
Shaera with her glamor spell on appeared and testified on the men in front to be bandits and that it was the infamous Blood Lord who had faced them alone slaying 60 men as he rode his mount.
She even assured them that the Giant Walking Lizard is rather tame and would not attack humans unless provoked. The Queen Dowager also announced that she would like to visit Casterly Rock but she could wait in a manse that was owned by the house Targaryen within the City.
Paul handed the bandits to the city's watch and verified that they indeed have bounties which were only around 50 gold dragons for the leader, 100 silver stags to the heads of the commanders and 10 silver stags for every member.
It was rather a great bounty already since Tywin was rather generous in giving rewards to people that kill the bandits in his territory.
Paul did not shy away from the coins as he went and spent them all buying casks of ale and a few bottles of cheap wine as well as a few sacks of flour and some ingredients that he was going to use to make some food he plans to restock their provisions.
He did not ride Cera to the market place as he instead left it in the manse as he borrowed White Lizard's horse instead while ten soldiers followed him with a cart behind.
He also bought a few pigs, chickens and goats as he shopped as he planned to make jerky. For some spices he did not bother as he has plenty in the carriage.
The reason they stayed I the manse was to wait for Tywin and Joanna Lannister to arrive as he had heard the result of the tourney in Kingslanding.
The Hand was already on his way to Casterly Rock with his children and wife as he too was given a note from Paul's spies that he is waiting for him in his territory.
Even the master of whisperers does not know of Tywin receiving the note as even Tywin was surprised finding it inside his pockets.
This made the golden lion give more importance to Paul than he had initially thought, he did see the obvious improvement of the Queen's health which also earned the praise of the King himself making King Aerys a bit bearable during the whole event of his anniversary.
Though he was still sour in the King's comments about his wife but he held himself in, he still hoped that old friend of his full of dreams and aspiration was there inside hoping he would stop listening to the scheming fools at the royal court.
A day after the event ended, Tywin took his leave as he left the matters to some nobles that were on his employ to report to him the matters of the Kingdoms as he rode back home with his wife and children.
He had also received a raven about Paul's arrival in Lannisport which made him confused how he got past many lands of nobles of the Westerlands without detection.
He was only reported to appear only when he was near Lannisport and that he also took down a recent up and rising bandit group with over 60 men confirmed to be his kills.
Even an expert hunter was reported to have been called over to identify the way the heads of many bandits were cut off which was too clean compared to that of an executioner's cut.
And the Hunter also identified that the weapon used to behead most was the sword staff seen to have been held by the Blood Lord as testified by the guards at the gate at that time of his arrival.
There was also a note about how Paul did not appear to have been stained by blood while his mount which was a giant Walking Lizard, much to the surprise of Tywin as he read clearly not able to believe that Paul was able to bring such a beast into Westeros without any spies knowing about it.
Yet the prisoners alive from being captured said that they saw the Blood Lord conjure the beast from smoke and soil as it roared like a devil that shredded their soul's will to fight.
Tywin had a rather grim countenance as he rode on his carriage reading the letter, only one allowed to read it with him was Joanna who was also frowning while their twin kids were looking out the carriage's windows seemingly playing a game they only know themselves.
The Warden of the West and Hand of the King was stoic as he got to the part where he spent the bounty he gained immediately to buy casks of ale and wine as well as food by the cartful as he was last seen staying within the Manse owned by the Targaryen's in Lannisport.
Folding the letters he was silent as he thought about his initial impression of the mystery merchant and remembered the stunt made by him five years ago in Yunkai where he showed a block of Valyrian steel and promised to make whatever the highest bidder wanted to be made.
The winner was very wealthy slave trader named Yezzan zo Qaggaz, a known collector of oddities and misshapen creatures, who offered ten live Giants captured from the north near mouth of the Antler River.
They had been captured by a group of Ibbenese whaling ships that had lucky seen a small group of Giants crossing the frozen river and seemingly exhausted from running away from something.
These Giants were offered made the Blood Lord even throw in another block of valyrian steel which Yezzan asked to be fashioned into a Chain whip, which was given a week later in exchange for the promised slave Giants.
Some spies had seen the wealthy slave master to be holding a very detailed work that the best black smiths in the city of Yunkai cannot stop praising as they marveled at how the chains were made making it look like a spine of an animal.
It was also confirmed to be made of Pure Valyrian Steel with the weight equal to the two bars of ingots used giving another awed praises from the smiths.
This did cause the Smiths of Qohor to clamor and claim Paul stole their secrets then demanded that he would turn himself over as the knowledge of reworking Valyrian Steel is not something an outsider should have.
They sent quite a few groups of armies by boat down the river Rhoyne to force the Blood Lord's hands but they went missing without anyone knowing what happened to them.
Then came the Blood Lord's reply how he does not use such crude methods the Qohoric use in reworking Valyrian Steel, also he gave thanks to the new test subjects he sent them saying it would further improve the knowledge he will have about the human body once he experiments on the ones they sent.
This caused a war to almost pop out but the knowledge that the Blood Lord owned at least 500 ships means he has enough force to deter any of the Slaver's City on his own.
Tywin had been rather intent on hearing these exploits so he sent some spies of his own that got him more information which was how some merchants talking how a new rising force near the Lhazarene.
A force 2000 strong made up of boar riders, 3000 mounted archers atop trained Zorses and 200 armored Elephants naming themselves The Guardians as they provided protection to many villages in Lhazar.
Merchants talk about how even some Khalasar's faced defeat from this force in an open field battle, saying there was an Iron Hill riding atop a giant Boar the size of a bull.
This matched the description of the famous guard of the Blood Lord, Iron Hill Ogap, Tywin had suspected that this force was the forces owned by the Blood Lord sent to gain experience.
What Tywin did not know was that he sent 3000 puppets as well mostly to farm the lands untouched by the Lhazarene, he had developed a large plantation of various crops needing a large field there.
But what he prioritized was the development of Bamboo Forests, Sugar Cane fields and the vast untapped oil reserves found in the fields just a few leagues after one passes out of Khyzai Pass.
He sent his cavalry regiments there to protect his miners so he could stock up on materials to use for burning the army of the undead.
Sure he would lose some soldiers from time to time every time some dothraki horse lord was feeling Lucky, yet their stupid head on charge was always an easy exploitable weakness that he even thought that these horse lords were truly dumb.
He mostly used the Cavaly regiments since at least those that ride atop a mount were respected by the Dothraki so after a few defeats they now rarely bothered his forces there.
What the merchants also did not know as that there were 3000 shielded spears and 2500 golden tree archers stationed to patrol the villages.
The Cavalry was just the obvious ones, the Lhazarene were also thankful even if they have to provide some taxes for this protection but they were glad to pay since they would rather pay than to fight which was against their pacifistic culture.
Paul did not lose out on this as well since he got more resources to add into his trades while also gaining access to some metal mines increasing his pace in making the floating Island.
Still even with such secrecy such news was still heard by Tywin making him realize that there was no reason for Paul to fear the rich men of Qohor when most could see that Paul was much richer right now than those magisters in Qohor.
Yet they did not stop sending assassins which always failed making the bounty to kill Paul to skyrocket since there was no one that could go near the Blood Lord at all.
It took a fortnight until Tywin was greeted by the familiar sight of his home where he would spend around a month until he would leave to go back to Kingslanding.
Tywin just preferred to have his family in the Rock where they are guarded by those he could trust, he would still return a month before the third child of his would be born according to the maesters.
Just as he arrived a rider came and updated the Lord of the Rock abuot the recent events done by the infamous visitor.
Paul did not sit idle after his arrival and did lots of things that made Tywin confused for a bit.
On the twenty days Paul has stayed in the city, he first held a public painting at the City Square of the City of Lannisport with the Casterly Rock seen in the background.
Many wealthy Merchants as well as nobles started a bidding war when they saw the finished product but Paul said the painting was for the Warden of the West as a gift.
But he then various commissions to paint or draw people who would only be entertained if they get in line, which was quite a hit since on the second day he was able to sell a painting of many nobles and merchants that bought his services.
Then he accepted the commoners which made many wait in line but they were only able to afford being drawn yet the skill and speed of Paul's hands defied common sense as he was able to give 200 portraits of various families in just one day.
Even some Mercenaries as well as Sellswords got in line but some were rather forceful in trying to cut in line but they were beaten by the five knights with Paul.
Which many found to have been amputees and only had a wooden leg but they seemed to be able to move just fine, this caused many who heard this in the city to go and ask to be given new legs.
Many beggars as well as former soldiers went and became men of the Blood Lord as the next day dozens were seen to have been walking with their new legs that were different than the ones provided by Maesters.
Some even without hands gained new hands as well giving a great shock to many within the City, the City Square became crowded by people that wanted to witness these new guards that seemed to look so far from their former beggar appearance.
On the Seventh day, using the money he earned he bought them standard equipment as well as some weapons as they now seemed to look fanatically at Paul when they gained their new hands and legs.
Paul then spent more on the eighth day to buy out many ingredients in the Market as he had a public feast given for the children of the City.
He fed around two thousand children that went to eat free food, he even fed the homeless and beggars that were present on the city.
He did not do all of that himself, some of the reported men and women who became the people of Paul were retired soldiers that now are chefs of Inns and Taverns.
He bought few carriages of food that day, the city became lively as a result that the City's watch reported the large drop of crimes done since the soldiers originally with Paul were able to catch the pick pockets on the crowds.
Then on the ninth day someone got stabbed accidentally by a running pick pocket which got to his heart, the guy was a hedge knight that lost all his belongings the night before from gambling and was unlucky enough to be in the way of the thief.
Yet Paul went forward and helped the hedge knight even when the knife was stuck near his heart, Paul had the knight carried to the tent he placed on the Square to entertain the drawing requests.
An hour later the knight was seen laid on a bed to the side sleeping peacefully with the knife already gone from his chest.
This made everyone knowledgeable remember the rumors of Paul's infamous title the Blood Lord because of the book he had published years before.
Some Maesters nearby requested to check up on the patient which was denied of course but only the Maester of House Lannister was allowed and he testified about the wound to have penetrated to the back side which means that it was a rather hard and delicate operation to do in only an hour's time.
Many got in line this time to ask for medical help like a limp or a broken bone that was not aligned properly yet already healed up, to prostitutes wanting to ask about some private matters.
Some talked about what they experienced how their ailments that have bothered them for years has disappeared like a puff of smoke just from a simple meeting with the Blood Lord.
Some Maester's wanted to disguise as old men wanting to be cured as well trying to foil the plans of Paul but somehow the guards were able to identify those with ill intent making the people of the City amazed.
Some nobles wanted to make a scene but seeing the sigil on the carriage park nearby and the Queen Dowager present watching the events since day one.
The Queen herself sent a message with the rider saying this is for all the trouble her son, King Aerys has brought upon Tywin making the man feel a bit thankful seeing his own efforts were being reciprocated by the Royal family even if it was not by the King himself but the Queen Dowager making amends.
Since he was only a day away from his home Tywin relaxed for a bit and continued reading the reports.
The tenth day, the Blood Lord had his Giant walking lizard sleep nearby as he helped it calm down since a few bones of the bandits it had swallowed were stuck thus Paul had to be near to calm the beast so as to not have it rampage in pain.
That day was surprising since a few dozen prostitutes lined up wanting to be looked at since Paul pointed out some rashes they have were diseases brought upon by sleeping with too many men and it could be passed unto others.
Many nobles present went in line that afternoon wanting to be checked up as well when Paul said these diseases would kill a man or a woman slowly depending on what disease they got.
Some septons cried on in alarm when a few of their fellow godly men also went in line wanting to get checked as well as a few septas as well which caused a rather big controversy going on the people of the city.
That night Paul was spotted shopping many casks of ale, medicinal herbs and various poisonous insects that some of the City's watch was alarmed about his openly buying deadly items.
When asked the Blood Lord said when mixed with right amounts some poisons could turn into the cure of some diseases and that something within the Ale can be extracted to be used as disinfectant for patients.
The next day many lined up again for different reasons and from the calculations of some men who went to investigate, the amount earned would have already reached around 120,000 gold dragons even with all the spending.
Tywin was shocked at this as he read the letter and what came next was a much bigger surprise…
(A/N: It took a long time for me to update since I have been busy helping out my younger sibling prepare for college, I have been running errands left and right recently that even if it was during school break I am very busy. Still I'll find time to write since this is my calm place to let out some pent up stress.
It took a lot of thought and read more sources so I can think up of more uniwue things I can add to thie AU of the ASOIAF Universe, just hope you'll like the results of my imagination.)