-
An addendum to Rule 3 regarding fan-translated works of things such as Web Novels has been made. Please see here for details.
-
We've issued a clarification on our policy on AI-generated work.
-
Our mod selection process has completed. Please welcome our new moderators.
-
Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
-
The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
Her Eternal Excellency (Raiden Ei reborn as Argella Durrandon)
- Thread starter Samael61
- Start date
Chapter 40 - Maidenpool
New
Samael61
Know what you're doing yet?
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2025
- Messages
- 186
- Likes received
- 7,438
Hello there,
If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page
Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 13 chapters ahead
DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 13 chapters ahead
Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 13 chapters ahead.
and Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 12 chapters ahead.
By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.
Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverlands
Seagard
7 BAC
Emrick Mallister waited at the top of his mighty keep to see what had brought Edmyn Tully all the way to Seagard.
"Ahoy there. What brings you to Seagard, Edmyn?" Last he heard, the Lord of Riverrun had gone to bend the knee to Argella Durrandon, and Seagard wasn't exactly close to Harrenhal.
The man he grew up with had a weary tone to his voice. "Best we speak in private, Emrick. It is important."
"Come then, we'll bring you bread and salt." Whatever Edmyn had to say must be important enough.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They retreated to Emrick's solar to speak without any prying ears and eyes.
"Is this about the war?" If Argella Durrandon needed men, she would have to wait, because the Ironborn were harassing Seagard, and he could not leave.
Edmyn laughed, but it was hollow, as if something had greatly shaken him. "There is no war, only a one-sided massacre."
"The Ironborn lost then?" If so, then his foster brother had brought good news. With the distance between Harrenhal and the Iron Islands, Harren's loss would take more ships away from the Ironman's Bay and ease the pressure on Seagard.
"Aye. I came to inform you that Queen Argella intends to send her creation to dig a canal in your lands, connecting Blue Fork to the Sunset Sea, and sail to confront the Ironborn." Even as he spoke, Edmyn realized his words were nonsense to the Lord of Seagard.
Emrick's face scrunched up in confusion, as the words uttered by the man before him did not make any sense when they came together. "What? What creation? You're not making any sense."
"I can explain it to you, Emrick, but you would not believe it, not unless you saw what had happened with your eyes. Harrenhal" Edmyn stopped, searching for the correct word, but had none that would describe what he had seen. "...is gone."
"Gone?" How could that monstrous castle be gone?
"One strike of her sword, and there was nothing left but a great wound in the land, one deep enough we could not see the end of it."
The Lord of Seagard frowned. "Edmyn, are you mocking me?"
Edmyn shook his head. "We are friends, Emrick; we grew up together, so I am asking you, bend the knee to the queen, or it won't end well for you."
Narrowing his eyes, Emrick rose from his seat, looking down at his friend, a man he called brother. "Is that a threat?"
"It is a plea." His answer confused Emrick even more.
A knight barged inside, forgetting all propriety due to the severity of what was happening. "My lord, there is a creature out there; it's doing something to the Blue Fork."
Looking at Edmyn, who nodded, confirming his earlier claims.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The distance between Seagard and the end of the Bluefork was short, so the creature could be easily seen.
"What is that?" Emrick said, closing his gaping mouth.
"Her Excellency's Thunder Dragon—she means to use it to dig the canal in a short time." Edmyn explained. Whatever it was doing, the water churned and turned muddy, and dust clouds could easily be seen.
Ignoring the creature that was tearing through the river, Emrick turned to his foster brother. "Where is she right now?"
"Marching to Maidenpool. She intends to clear the Ironborn and use the town to prepare the host. She intends to sail to the Iron Islands." Maidenpool needed to be cleaned of the Ironborn, and while Edmyn wanted to march with the queen, he was given the task of going to Seagard and informing its lord of what exactly was happening outside.
"Then I know where to ride."
Emrick did not keep Seagard safe by being a fool, and there was ample proof that Argella Durrandon was more than a sorcerer.
This changed everything.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragonstone
Visenya entered the solar without a word and sat down. She did not even bother to freshen up and change out of her armor.
Snatching the bottle of wine from the table, she drank close to half of it in one breath.
"Visenya, what happened?" Something must have shaken his sister for the usually stern Visenya to drink so unrestrainedly.
"We cannot conquer Westeros, at least not the lands Argella Durrandon rules." Visenya explained, and his siblings, as well as Orys, rose in protest.
"Explain." Aegon demanded, stopping his sister-wife and champion in their tracks.
"The merchant was both right and wrong. Argella isn't a mere sorcerer; she is a monster, a god."
"What did you see exactly?" They had made plans and forged connections, and Orys did not wish for it to be for nothing.
Visenya began to describe what had happened to Harrenhal with a haunted gaze, of how she summoned a creature that was almost as long as Balerion was from head to tail out of nowhere and pulled a sword out of her chest and destroyed the greatest man-made castle in all of Westeros.
"Are you sure of what you saw?" Aegon asked, just to be sure. Perhaps Visenya was ill and had seen things?
Rolling her eyes, Visenya rose to go and rest. "Go see for yourself, Aegon."
"I believe I shall."
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverlands
Maidenpool
"Your king is dead; surrender, and your lives will be spared." Ei offered the customary surrender terms, and the Ironborn, which was becoming increasingly common, refused.
"You lie."
"Oh yes, I would definitely do something foolish such as leaving Harren on my back while coming here." Ei drawled, tired with the attitude of the Ironborn in general.
The reaver in charge snarled. "We will never surrender."
"Very well." If they wished to die, so be it.
By Ei's count, there were two hundred and sixty-three Ironborn in Maidenpool, keeping the town in check by keeping Lord Marlon's keep under control.
Two hundred and sixty-three lightning bolts struck the town at the same time, giving the residents a memory they would never forget, and incinerated the enemy in one decisive attack.
It didn't take long for the gates to be opened, and Lord Osmund Mooton fell on his knees.
"Sasayuri, secure the docks." There were further Ironborn, protecting their ships and keeping the dock under control.
"At once."
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ships that were summoned from all over the kingdom began to arrive, though the numbers weren't enough to carry the entire host, as predicted.
Tarth, Estermont, Weeping Town, Duskendale, and Maidenpool, which included the Ironborn ships seized at the docks, came only to three hundred ships, barely enough to sail ten thousand men.
Of course, with the canal connecting Blue Fork to the Sunset Sea, the rest of the host would embark from Seagard.
But first, there was trouble among the bannermen she had to solve.
House Blackwood and House Bracken were bitter rivals for thousands of years. Both sides claimed to be the kings of the Riverlands once upon a time, only for the other to betray them.
There were also religious issues, as the Blackwoods chose to stay loyal to the Old Gods, while the Brackens had converted to the Seven.
Out of her immediate sight, the two houses were at each other's throats, and Ei decided to put an end to it.
"Here is how the peace between your houses will be following this day." She looked at both Rycherd Bracken and Hoster Blackwood, who had stopped glaring at each other, only because Ei was there.
"The contested borderlands will be divided in half, and border markers will be set. Ones that I will personally oversee. Should those markers be shifted, or one house raid the lands of the other, I will confiscate the entirety of the disputed lands." Ei declared. If they couldn't solve these issues in eight thousand years, with plenty of marriages between both houses, then Ei would solve it permanently.
"That is outrageous!" Lord Rycherd Bracken blistered, raising his voice, but it turned out to be a mistake.
The room was flooded with a pressure that sent both Lord Bracken and Lord Blackwood to their knees.
"You will either take the peace and uphold it, or suffer the consequences. Your rivalry may exist in a good-humored shape, not as enemies." Done with her piece, Ei ceased releasing her divine might, letting the lords stand on shaky feet.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasayuri was charged with organizing the makeshift navy to sail with maximum efficiency and had taken her orders to heart, as always.
Jeren, one of her archers, stopped and saluted before reporting. "General, twenty more ships from Weeping Town; they are Ironborn vessels."
"The ones seized by the Queen. All longships?" Twenty had already arrived, and with the rest here, it didn't leave many warships out in the kingdom.
Something to fix for the future.
"Yes."
Ironborn raiding parties included between fifty and a hundred men, with the latter being the full capacity of the ships.
Supplies would not be an issue as Seagard was relatively close, that is, once the canal was finished and they could afford to ship more men at once.
"Seventy-five men to each; use the rest of the space for supplies. The beachhead will need to be sturdy to discourage any Ironborn attack." If they had the courage to attack in the first place.
Then again, the Ironborn were either intelligently underdeveloped due to who knows what or chose to be plain stupid and might just throw themselves to Ei's blade.
It's best to be ready.
"Understood."
"Dismissed." Jeren saluted again and left to carry out his orders.
"General Sasayuri." The voice of Ei's father—which was a brand-new sentence for Sasayuri—was loud, perhaps to get her attention.
"Prince Argilac." She simply greeted the man back. Listening to how Ei had found herself reborn as his daughter was an entirely new experience for her, and the Tengu General was grateful that her friend did not remember the birth itself.
"We did not have the chance to converse." Marching, managing the host, and keeping the friction between lords from turning to fights was challenging work.
Sasayuri nodded, eyes still glued on the logistic reports. It was a mess, and she would have to create a unified reporting system. "War keeps us busy, does it not?"
Argilac snorted. "Not as much as it would have without her." Just taking Harrenhal would have been a nightmare, but with one swing of a divine sword, the monstrous castle was gone.
A smile crept to Tengu's face. It has been a long time since she and Ei were on the battlefield at the same time, even before her death. "Indeed. Anything I can assist you with?"
"I wanted to know the relation between you and Argella, or Ei, whatever you prefer." With this crow woman here, things were bound to get more interesting, and Argilac wanted to avoid any more world-shattering surprises.
"You call her Argella; I'll call her what I will. As for the relationship between us, we are dear friends, and I am, or rather was, her general, the leader and organizer of the Inazuma Shogunate's army." Her duties were more detailed, of course, but for now, the simple explanation would do.
Argilac finally breached the matter that plagued him the most. "She said you were supposed to be dead."
Sasayuri was silent for a minute before she nodded slowly. "I did fall in battle, but when the Heavenly Principles, the ruler of Teyvat, was slain, it threw the world into disarray, and here I am."
"That must have been something." A god from another world as a daughter, and now a dead person alive once more?
Argilac feared to know what awaited him and the kingdom next.
"You cannot lead armies if fear of death controls you."
When Sasayuri had chosen to follow Ei, she did so with the knowledge that death may come knocking one day.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next issue was the ransom taken from Harrenhal. The lords expected it to be dispersed as the loot had been last time, but Ei had different ideas.
"The Riverlands have been sucked dry by the leech that was the Ironborn. This ransom will be used for the reconstruction of the land. To that end, the entire sum will be stored in Maidenpool until the war is over due to the issues with transport."
The Stormlords weren't pleased, but the Riverlords were the opposite, delighted that at least some of the wealth pillaged from them would return.
Even with her many improvements to the economy and industry, the flow of coin was tight across the Storm Kingdom, as they had to use the production capabilities for the war effort rather than commercial ones.
Once the Iron Islands were taken and its people neutralized, Ei would have to work even harder to set the kingdom right, which had more than doubled in size.
At least, with Sasayuri here, things did not look so bleak.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wound
Balerion the Black Dread, the largest dragon alive, a beast massive enough to strike fear into the hearts of every mortal out there, refused to approach where Harrenhal used to be.
Visenya was right.
There was nothing but a rift on the ground, where the enormous castle was built on, and it was glowing purple.
No matter what he did, Balerion would turn back, and after a while, he saw no choice but to land so he could approach the calamity—for it could be nothing else—on foot.
It was a mistake.
As he neared the rift, a purple lightning bolt struck the ground at the very edge, right in Aegon's path. One more step and he would be dead.
Understanding why Balerion was disturbed, the Lord of Dragonstone decided not to push his luck and turned around.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dorne
"Well, she certainly isn't keeping a low profile." The figure, still hidden by the hood, whistled.
A storm was cutting the Storm Kingdom off from Dorne and the Reach, and the sight of it was one of welcome familiarity.
"At least we will be safe from the storm. Let's set camp for today; we still have quite the distance to cover." The Narukami's lightning would only strike foes, not friends.
"Do you think we'll ever return to Teyvat?" The second woman, who had just put down the supplies, asked. She didn't even know if she wanted to return, not when Ei was here.
"Seeing as our current status means we have trampled on the rules of the world? Maybe." Both females had experienced a freak event that brought them to the land of the living once more, so it wasn't certain.
"Way to be optimistic." The shorter female said as she pulled out the tent.
"Don't you have a camp to set?"
"Yes, yes, you dainty princess."
"Talking back to me, peasant?"
The other figure huffed and proceeded to set up camp and cook.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom of the Reach
"My brothers and sisters before the Seven-Who-Are-One, the time is upon us. The Sorcerer Queen of the Storm Kingdom, Argella Durrandon, must be brought low lest she spread her vile powers across the Seven Kingdoms. By the will of the Seven, we will bring the cursed sorceress and her followers to judgement." High Septon Lucenor called out to the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows, the military orders of the Faith Militant.
"May the Father guide our judgement."
"May the Mother show mercy to the ones fooled by the sorceress."
"May the Warrior bestow on us the might to cut down our enemies."
"May the Smith bless us so we may make the world right once more."
"May the Maiden guard the innocent."
"May the Crone give us wisdom to follow the correct path."
"And may the Stranger take them to its cold embrace and out of our world." Lucenor finished the prayer, and the Faith Militant cheered for the opportunity to carry out their sacred duty.
,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:
Two hosts, one outnumbering the other significantly, faced each other, waiting to see what the other would do.
From the Reach host, three riders, carrying the white flag of truce, approached the Dornish host, waiting in the middle of the clearing.
Nymor Martell, heir to Meria Martell, rode with two of his lords to meet King Mern Gardner.
"Prince Nymor, it appears we both had the same idea." Mern greeted the heir to Dorne, and in all honesty, he should have expected the Dornish to strike the Storm Kingdom.
Nymor Martell chuckled at the younger ruler. He would not entertain this parley any other time, but the Reach had brought near ninety thousand men, including the Faith Militant. "Indeed. What shall we do about it?" Hopefully, resorting to war will be avoided now.
Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.
If you enjoy my stories you can read advanced chapters in my patreon page
Her Eternal Excellency, a Genshin Impact and ASOIAF crossover, Raiden Ei Reborn as Argella Durrandon, is 13 chapters ahead
DCU:Blacklist, a Raymond Reddington inspired OC SI using his knowledge for his own advantage, as well as the rest of the world, is 13 chapters ahead
Geek's Guide to Thriving in a Low End Fantasy World, a Robert Baratheon OC SI in an AU, is 13 chapters ahead.
and Commander Shepard, The Greatest to Ever Live, a Mass Effect story where Shepard is greater than ever, is 12 chapters ahead.
By supporting me, you can read advanced and special chapters, as well as vote on how you want the fanfiction to proceed.
Note: Apple store payments will be refunded, because of the company's 75 day hold policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverlands
Seagard
7 BAC
Emrick Mallister waited at the top of his mighty keep to see what had brought Edmyn Tully all the way to Seagard.
"Ahoy there. What brings you to Seagard, Edmyn?" Last he heard, the Lord of Riverrun had gone to bend the knee to Argella Durrandon, and Seagard wasn't exactly close to Harrenhal.
The man he grew up with had a weary tone to his voice. "Best we speak in private, Emrick. It is important."
"Come then, we'll bring you bread and salt." Whatever Edmyn had to say must be important enough.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They retreated to Emrick's solar to speak without any prying ears and eyes.
"Is this about the war?" If Argella Durrandon needed men, she would have to wait, because the Ironborn were harassing Seagard, and he could not leave.
Edmyn laughed, but it was hollow, as if something had greatly shaken him. "There is no war, only a one-sided massacre."
"The Ironborn lost then?" If so, then his foster brother had brought good news. With the distance between Harrenhal and the Iron Islands, Harren's loss would take more ships away from the Ironman's Bay and ease the pressure on Seagard.
"Aye. I came to inform you that Queen Argella intends to send her creation to dig a canal in your lands, connecting Blue Fork to the Sunset Sea, and sail to confront the Ironborn." Even as he spoke, Edmyn realized his words were nonsense to the Lord of Seagard.
Emrick's face scrunched up in confusion, as the words uttered by the man before him did not make any sense when they came together. "What? What creation? You're not making any sense."
"I can explain it to you, Emrick, but you would not believe it, not unless you saw what had happened with your eyes. Harrenhal" Edmyn stopped, searching for the correct word, but had none that would describe what he had seen. "...is gone."
"Gone?" How could that monstrous castle be gone?
"One strike of her sword, and there was nothing left but a great wound in the land, one deep enough we could not see the end of it."
The Lord of Seagard frowned. "Edmyn, are you mocking me?"
Edmyn shook his head. "We are friends, Emrick; we grew up together, so I am asking you, bend the knee to the queen, or it won't end well for you."
Narrowing his eyes, Emrick rose from his seat, looking down at his friend, a man he called brother. "Is that a threat?"
"It is a plea." His answer confused Emrick even more.
A knight barged inside, forgetting all propriety due to the severity of what was happening. "My lord, there is a creature out there; it's doing something to the Blue Fork."
Looking at Edmyn, who nodded, confirming his earlier claims.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The distance between Seagard and the end of the Bluefork was short, so the creature could be easily seen.
"What is that?" Emrick said, closing his gaping mouth.
"Her Excellency's Thunder Dragon—she means to use it to dig the canal in a short time." Edmyn explained. Whatever it was doing, the water churned and turned muddy, and dust clouds could easily be seen.
Ignoring the creature that was tearing through the river, Emrick turned to his foster brother. "Where is she right now?"
"Marching to Maidenpool. She intends to clear the Ironborn and use the town to prepare the host. She intends to sail to the Iron Islands." Maidenpool needed to be cleaned of the Ironborn, and while Edmyn wanted to march with the queen, he was given the task of going to Seagard and informing its lord of what exactly was happening outside.
"Then I know where to ride."
Emrick did not keep Seagard safe by being a fool, and there was ample proof that Argella Durrandon was more than a sorcerer.
This changed everything.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragonstone
Visenya entered the solar without a word and sat down. She did not even bother to freshen up and change out of her armor.
Snatching the bottle of wine from the table, she drank close to half of it in one breath.
"Visenya, what happened?" Something must have shaken his sister for the usually stern Visenya to drink so unrestrainedly.
"We cannot conquer Westeros, at least not the lands Argella Durrandon rules." Visenya explained, and his siblings, as well as Orys, rose in protest.
"Explain." Aegon demanded, stopping his sister-wife and champion in their tracks.
"The merchant was both right and wrong. Argella isn't a mere sorcerer; she is a monster, a god."
"What did you see exactly?" They had made plans and forged connections, and Orys did not wish for it to be for nothing.
Visenya began to describe what had happened to Harrenhal with a haunted gaze, of how she summoned a creature that was almost as long as Balerion was from head to tail out of nowhere and pulled a sword out of her chest and destroyed the greatest man-made castle in all of Westeros.
"Are you sure of what you saw?" Aegon asked, just to be sure. Perhaps Visenya was ill and had seen things?
Rolling her eyes, Visenya rose to go and rest. "Go see for yourself, Aegon."
"I believe I shall."
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverlands
Maidenpool
"Your king is dead; surrender, and your lives will be spared." Ei offered the customary surrender terms, and the Ironborn, which was becoming increasingly common, refused.
"You lie."
"Oh yes, I would definitely do something foolish such as leaving Harren on my back while coming here." Ei drawled, tired with the attitude of the Ironborn in general.
The reaver in charge snarled. "We will never surrender."
"Very well." If they wished to die, so be it.
By Ei's count, there were two hundred and sixty-three Ironborn in Maidenpool, keeping the town in check by keeping Lord Marlon's keep under control.
Two hundred and sixty-three lightning bolts struck the town at the same time, giving the residents a memory they would never forget, and incinerated the enemy in one decisive attack.
It didn't take long for the gates to be opened, and Lord Osmund Mooton fell on his knees.
"Sasayuri, secure the docks." There were further Ironborn, protecting their ships and keeping the dock under control.
"At once."
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ships that were summoned from all over the kingdom began to arrive, though the numbers weren't enough to carry the entire host, as predicted.
Tarth, Estermont, Weeping Town, Duskendale, and Maidenpool, which included the Ironborn ships seized at the docks, came only to three hundred ships, barely enough to sail ten thousand men.
Of course, with the canal connecting Blue Fork to the Sunset Sea, the rest of the host would embark from Seagard.
But first, there was trouble among the bannermen she had to solve.
House Blackwood and House Bracken were bitter rivals for thousands of years. Both sides claimed to be the kings of the Riverlands once upon a time, only for the other to betray them.
There were also religious issues, as the Blackwoods chose to stay loyal to the Old Gods, while the Brackens had converted to the Seven.
Out of her immediate sight, the two houses were at each other's throats, and Ei decided to put an end to it.
"Here is how the peace between your houses will be following this day." She looked at both Rycherd Bracken and Hoster Blackwood, who had stopped glaring at each other, only because Ei was there.
"The contested borderlands will be divided in half, and border markers will be set. Ones that I will personally oversee. Should those markers be shifted, or one house raid the lands of the other, I will confiscate the entirety of the disputed lands." Ei declared. If they couldn't solve these issues in eight thousand years, with plenty of marriages between both houses, then Ei would solve it permanently.
"That is outrageous!" Lord Rycherd Bracken blistered, raising his voice, but it turned out to be a mistake.
The room was flooded with a pressure that sent both Lord Bracken and Lord Blackwood to their knees.
"You will either take the peace and uphold it, or suffer the consequences. Your rivalry may exist in a good-humored shape, not as enemies." Done with her piece, Ei ceased releasing her divine might, letting the lords stand on shaky feet.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasayuri was charged with organizing the makeshift navy to sail with maximum efficiency and had taken her orders to heart, as always.
Jeren, one of her archers, stopped and saluted before reporting. "General, twenty more ships from Weeping Town; they are Ironborn vessels."
"The ones seized by the Queen. All longships?" Twenty had already arrived, and with the rest here, it didn't leave many warships out in the kingdom.
Something to fix for the future.
"Yes."
Ironborn raiding parties included between fifty and a hundred men, with the latter being the full capacity of the ships.
Supplies would not be an issue as Seagard was relatively close, that is, once the canal was finished and they could afford to ship more men at once.
"Seventy-five men to each; use the rest of the space for supplies. The beachhead will need to be sturdy to discourage any Ironborn attack." If they had the courage to attack in the first place.
Then again, the Ironborn were either intelligently underdeveloped due to who knows what or chose to be plain stupid and might just throw themselves to Ei's blade.
It's best to be ready.
"Understood."
"Dismissed." Jeren saluted again and left to carry out his orders.
"General Sasayuri." The voice of Ei's father—which was a brand-new sentence for Sasayuri—was loud, perhaps to get her attention.
"Prince Argilac." She simply greeted the man back. Listening to how Ei had found herself reborn as his daughter was an entirely new experience for her, and the Tengu General was grateful that her friend did not remember the birth itself.
"We did not have the chance to converse." Marching, managing the host, and keeping the friction between lords from turning to fights was challenging work.
Sasayuri nodded, eyes still glued on the logistic reports. It was a mess, and she would have to create a unified reporting system. "War keeps us busy, does it not?"
Argilac snorted. "Not as much as it would have without her." Just taking Harrenhal would have been a nightmare, but with one swing of a divine sword, the monstrous castle was gone.
A smile crept to Tengu's face. It has been a long time since she and Ei were on the battlefield at the same time, even before her death. "Indeed. Anything I can assist you with?"
"I wanted to know the relation between you and Argella, or Ei, whatever you prefer." With this crow woman here, things were bound to get more interesting, and Argilac wanted to avoid any more world-shattering surprises.
"You call her Argella; I'll call her what I will. As for the relationship between us, we are dear friends, and I am, or rather was, her general, the leader and organizer of the Inazuma Shogunate's army." Her duties were more detailed, of course, but for now, the simple explanation would do.
Argilac finally breached the matter that plagued him the most. "She said you were supposed to be dead."
Sasayuri was silent for a minute before she nodded slowly. "I did fall in battle, but when the Heavenly Principles, the ruler of Teyvat, was slain, it threw the world into disarray, and here I am."
"That must have been something." A god from another world as a daughter, and now a dead person alive once more?
Argilac feared to know what awaited him and the kingdom next.
"You cannot lead armies if fear of death controls you."
When Sasayuri had chosen to follow Ei, she did so with the knowledge that death may come knocking one day.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next issue was the ransom taken from Harrenhal. The lords expected it to be dispersed as the loot had been last time, but Ei had different ideas.
"The Riverlands have been sucked dry by the leech that was the Ironborn. This ransom will be used for the reconstruction of the land. To that end, the entire sum will be stored in Maidenpool until the war is over due to the issues with transport."
The Stormlords weren't pleased, but the Riverlords were the opposite, delighted that at least some of the wealth pillaged from them would return.
Even with her many improvements to the economy and industry, the flow of coin was tight across the Storm Kingdom, as they had to use the production capabilities for the war effort rather than commercial ones.
Once the Iron Islands were taken and its people neutralized, Ei would have to work even harder to set the kingdom right, which had more than doubled in size.
At least, with Sasayuri here, things did not look so bleak.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wound
Balerion the Black Dread, the largest dragon alive, a beast massive enough to strike fear into the hearts of every mortal out there, refused to approach where Harrenhal used to be.
Visenya was right.
There was nothing but a rift on the ground, where the enormous castle was built on, and it was glowing purple.
No matter what he did, Balerion would turn back, and after a while, he saw no choice but to land so he could approach the calamity—for it could be nothing else—on foot.
It was a mistake.
As he neared the rift, a purple lightning bolt struck the ground at the very edge, right in Aegon's path. One more step and he would be dead.
Understanding why Balerion was disturbed, the Lord of Dragonstone decided not to push his luck and turned around.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dorne
"Well, she certainly isn't keeping a low profile." The figure, still hidden by the hood, whistled.
A storm was cutting the Storm Kingdom off from Dorne and the Reach, and the sight of it was one of welcome familiarity.
"At least we will be safe from the storm. Let's set camp for today; we still have quite the distance to cover." The Narukami's lightning would only strike foes, not friends.
"Do you think we'll ever return to Teyvat?" The second woman, who had just put down the supplies, asked. She didn't even know if she wanted to return, not when Ei was here.
"Seeing as our current status means we have trampled on the rules of the world? Maybe." Both females had experienced a freak event that brought them to the land of the living once more, so it wasn't certain.
"Way to be optimistic." The shorter female said as she pulled out the tent.
"Don't you have a camp to set?"
"Yes, yes, you dainty princess."
"Talking back to me, peasant?"
The other figure huffed and proceeded to set up camp and cook.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingdom of the Reach
"My brothers and sisters before the Seven-Who-Are-One, the time is upon us. The Sorcerer Queen of the Storm Kingdom, Argella Durrandon, must be brought low lest she spread her vile powers across the Seven Kingdoms. By the will of the Seven, we will bring the cursed sorceress and her followers to judgement." High Septon Lucenor called out to the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows, the military orders of the Faith Militant.
"May the Father guide our judgement."
"May the Mother show mercy to the ones fooled by the sorceress."
"May the Warrior bestow on us the might to cut down our enemies."
"May the Smith bless us so we may make the world right once more."
"May the Maiden guard the innocent."
"May the Crone give us wisdom to follow the correct path."
"And may the Stranger take them to its cold embrace and out of our world." Lucenor finished the prayer, and the Faith Militant cheered for the opportunity to carry out their sacred duty.
,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the next chapter:
Two hosts, one outnumbering the other significantly, faced each other, waiting to see what the other would do.
From the Reach host, three riders, carrying the white flag of truce, approached the Dornish host, waiting in the middle of the clearing.
Nymor Martell, heir to Meria Martell, rode with two of his lords to meet King Mern Gardner.
"Prince Nymor, it appears we both had the same idea." Mern greeted the heir to Dorne, and in all honesty, he should have expected the Dornish to strike the Storm Kingdom.
Nymor Martell chuckled at the younger ruler. He would not entertain this parley any other time, but the Reach had brought near ninety thousand men, including the Faith Militant. "Indeed. What shall we do about it?" Hopefully, resorting to war will be avoided now.
Curious about the next chapter? Please consider supporting me in Patreon.