Interlude - Sworn to Serve

There was a change in the air. It was subtle in it's coming, creeping slowly as the days went by, so slow that it was barely noticeable, but it was certainly coming. Jaime had been alive for long enough years to see it coming. 

And that change was being brought by none other than his former student and charge, now both king and lord, Edmyn Tully. Or whatever creature that wore Edmyn's skin. 

Jaime was no fool. 

He was anything else other than a fool. 

He had known the young Tully from the moment of birth. He had been there, bringing him into this world from between his mother's legs. He had watched him grow over the years. From when he could first walk. To when he could first talk. 

He had been there for many a first. 

Therefore, it might be said that he knew young Edmyn like the back of his hand. 

And this...Edmyn, was not the Edmyn that he knew. That he had seen grow from nothing more than a squalling babe to the man that he had been. 

Oh yes, the creature was a good enough mummer to convince the others that nothing was amiss. He said the right words, acted like much the old Edmyn would, but it was the certain... differences in his behaviour that stood him out. His constant need to have a bath daily. His use of strange words that he had never heard of before. 

He had even caught him seemingly cursing in a language that was not one he had heard of before. It wasn't Valyrian, no certainly none of its bastard offspring as well.  

When he came to this startling revelation, he had come to something of a crisis in faith. What was he supposed to do? His vows made him swear loyalty to the lord of the castle and this creature now wore the skin of that lord of the castle. Which made it rather difficult to bring his suspicions to others, who would believe him after all? 

He had heard of the Faceless Men of Braavos, but he doubted it was them. What use was taking the face of Edmyn? If it had been to give their god's blessing to Harren, then it would have been far easier to merely take the face of one of his household guards or let alone a relative of his. 

No, this was different. 

But his vows told him what to do. He had vowed to serve the lord of the castle. Those vows never stipulated what to do when some creature took the body of the previous lord. 

And in truth, he didn't mind the creature at all. It certainly had curious ideas and the knowledge that sprouted from it's head fascinated him so. 

Thus Jaime told himself that he had betrayed no vows. He continued to follow them loyally as he had done ever since he became the maester of Riverrun. He was the maester of Riverrun. Not the maester to the Tullys. 

And the creature held Riverrun. 

"Hm, what a curious device." Jaime mused as he took note of the creature's words. "It would allow us to plant out seeds at a consistent depth and width. This should greatly increase the productivity of our lands if it's created just right." 

They were in the creature's solar, his guards standing guard outside of the doors. For some reason, he felt the urge to near whisper his words, as if he worried that the walls could very well hear him speak. 

"By a factor of nine or eight, one or the other. Can't remember which." It said, scratching his chin. "the seeds will have to be planted deep enough that birds and the likes won't just carry them off." 

He nodded as the creature made a point. Once again, he couldn't help but think this was certainly not the work of a Faceless Man. He had never heard of a contraption called a 'seed drill'. It had even shared ideas of other devices such as of that 'printing press' the 'spinning wheel', 'cotton gin', even across the narrow sea he was sure these devices never existed. And frankly, he would admit that the creature advice to use the power of the rivers to turn machinery was something of pure genius. Why should the power of water be used in the grinding of flower? 

This creature was something else entirely. 

Where did it come from? Why was it here? What did it want? Why did it take the skin of Edmyn? Oh Edmyn, he hoped that whatever happened to his soul, it wouldn't be damned for all eternity. He supposed he should make a quick prayer for him in the castle sept when he had the chance. 

"That would greatly increase our food supplies. Drive down the prices for many a grain as well."  

The creature nodded. "Although with the increased harvest means more men on the field to bring the harvest in then take the seeds out and all that other farming nonsense. I don't want that, I want less men on the fields. To do other things as well." He wrapped his fingers on the table, one hand propping up his face by the way of a fist. "I think it was called a threshing machine...? Don't know how it worked though, so we'll leave that for now." 

The creature gave a command and Jaime nodded his head. "What of the soil? If we abuse it so much, it will reduce itself in fertility." Did the creature have a solution for this as well? He had come to think he had learnt much about the world and it's working, but it seems there was always more to learn. 

The creature beamed widely. "The Norfolk four field system." 

Jaime stopped for a moment to look up at the creature as it looked pleased of itself for some reason. "I'm sorry, you are going to have to explain that, your grace." 

The creature rolled its eyes. "Please, you are going to have to stop calling me 'Your Grace', you've known me for so long, just call me Edmyn already." 

He held back a snort from escaping him. He had known young Lord Edmyn for years, yes, not this creature. "It would be improper." He replied easily. 

The creature's shoulders moved as he shrugged, but the smile persisted. "I'll get you to call me Edmyn one day, one way or another." Was that a threat? He didn't know how to take that. "And the Norfolk four-field system is basically crop rotation." 

Crop rotation? He raised an eyebrow at that. "The farmers already do that your grace. It's been a staple for so many centuries." 

The creature nodded, Edmyn's head bobbing up and down. "Yes, but I've noticed that there's mostly some part of the field left fallow. I think...that was called the three-field system?" It shook Edmyn's head. "Nevermind, basically..." 

And the creature began to explain this Norfolk four field system. Of a method of agriculture that allowed for continous growth of crops in a four-year cycle without a fallow year being left for the soil to rejuvenate. Although this system came in the form of making sure specific crops was planted in the field, each crop helping sustain the soil in some way. 

The maester also made a note to himself to peruse his books for any place that was called 'Norfolk' perhaps this place would bring him to understanding where this creature came from and what it wanted. 

"I have to say your grace, I'm curious as to where these marvellous ideas of yours have come from." Although he was looking down onto the sheaf's of parchment in his hands, he made sure to study the reaction of the creature. 

The creature shrugged Edmyn's shoulders once more. "To be honest, I have always been curious about grist mills and then seeing all those apprentices scotch in the heat of the furnace using those bellows, I couldn't help but wonder if the same couldn't be done using the power of the rivers as well?" 

"Ingenious." The creature hadn't even answered the full-breadth of his question, but just enough to leave him satisfied.  

It spoke again. "Are you going to report these ideas of mine to the Citadel?" 

Was it uneasy? Curious. 

Jaime shook his head. "I was raised and taught at the Citadel yes, but my loyalty is to Riverrun. If you wish me not to report these ideas and devices of yours to the Citadel, then it shall not be." 

The creature slumped in his seat and let out a breath. "Would you? That would be so kind. I have a feeling we are going to be in need of every advantage we can get if this whole Kingdom of the Trident thing is going to last more than my lifetime." 

He bowed to the creature that wore Edmyn's skin. "As you will, your grace." 

The creature smiled at him then, a smile that almost reminded him of the smile that Edmyn used to cast to him whenever he came to him. I am loyal to the Lord of Riverrun, not to the Tullys. He told himself, quashing down the pang to the heart he had felt of the boy that he had watched grow only to be replaced by...this. 

"Thank you, Jaime. For your help, for everything you are doing right now." 

He repeated his vows once more in his head as he bowed. "I only live to serve the Lord of Riverrun, Your Grace." 

And with that, he left.