Chapter 16: Manifest Destiny
They had all been gathered in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths. It was still in the process of being fixed, Thoren had been told a fight between Darth Nagash and the ghost of Harren the Black took place here. He didn't believe it. How could a battle cause half of the floor to be turned to a crater. He didn't have an answer for why there was now a crater in the middle of the hall but he doubted it was made by a man and a ghost.
"I heard a rumor that he's finally back, think it's true?" Karne Westerling asked as the three of them kept to the back of the hall as much as possible. Many of the noble born Acolytes grouped up and separated from the low born majority that existed in Harrenhal. Not all of them did this, a few existed and were very popular among the masses of Acolytes but out of the twenty one noble born, most stuck to their peers. Around Thoren were the two others that he had come to call friends in the months of living in Harrenhal, Karne Westerling and Cayle Caswell.
Karne was a massive boy already at the age of nine, and Thoren could guess maybe giants' blood ran a little down in the Westerlands. But he generally was quiet and very passive unless you intently prodded him or someone close to him. The only time Thoren ever saw him angry was when it came to the Lannisters. Sometimes Thoren or Cayle would catch him in the out of character act of bullying the sole Lannister of the keep, a member of one of the branch families Ronard Lannister. It was odd seeing the normally silent giant picking on a boy that would just cower.
Then there was Cayle Caswell. Thoren met him when he tried sneaking into the stables to maybe steal a horse to run back to Acorn Hill. Just for a night or too so he could see his dad. Cayle had the same plot but for different intentions. He wanted to ride just to ride. Even at the age of six he knew how ride better than some adults. The spry boy would go on and on about his dream to one day travel to the Dothraki Grass Sea and beat the horse lords at their own game. To prove that centaurs like the ones on his family sigil still existed and they existed in Westeros.
"People have been saying that for months. He still hasn't shown up." Thoren pointed out as he leaned back on the stone wall that the three of them found at the back of the hall. Most of the Acolytes were sitting at the two massive tables that were set down the middle of the hall. But there were other groups that had yet to sit, and a few loners as well. Thoren peered over Cayle to see the most prominent loner, Victarion Grayjoy. Recent arrival from the harvesting of the Iron Islands. And like him the only high born from his kingdom.
The others that had yet to sit down also caught his attention. The Dornish; Lucas Blackmont, Donovar Vaith, Mors Toland, and the two Sands. They all were closer to the front and while they were separate from the others they were still pretty popular. They had the stereotypical dornish charm and used it to get the better graces of the lower born Acolytes. Then there was Rud Errol and his little gang of bullies. Rud caught Thoren's eyes and smirked at him. Ever since he had arrived he had been getting into trouble getting into fights. And he had attracted some of the more brutish elements of the Acolytes, thinking he was some strong leader. Thoren scowled back and looked elsewhere, landing on the last group of any real note. The northerners. Like the Dornish they seemed to really like sticking among themselves. But unlike those from the most south of Westeros, the North didn't use this to get any closer to the rest of the Acolytes. They all gathered around Benjen Stark like he was their king.
Thoren snapped his attention, as did everyone else, as they heard the side doors to the dais platform open with a loud thud that echoed in the hall. At the sight of Governor Quinn, Thoren and the rest of the remaining standing Acolytes took their seats. If they hadn't yet, they followed their peers' example of never breaking rules while in the presence of the stern temporally appointed lord of the keep. They all watched as Governor Quinn strode up to the dais that used to hold the high table where the ruling family would eat during feasts but now had been replaced with a podium stand. The large stone throne that had been carved into the hall was directly behind the dais and was entirely destroyed.
"Ahem, Acolytes… you now number at exactly three hundred and fifteen. You will become the first Sith in the new Sith Order. For months you have been gathered and brought here to await the return of Darth Nagash. That day has come." He finished and the hall was filled with the hushed whispers of young boys and girls excited at the prospect of the true reason they were here now finally beginning. They had done little but learn under the Maester and Pierce. And even then as their numbers grew those lessons became more and more infrequent for each individual child. Thoren himself felt the world slow down for a moment then speed back up. It was hard to think about, this day finally coming. Right now it was happening.
The whispers all stopped as they heard rumblings. They looked around for the source and some tightened ranks in fear of what could be. But then everyone knew where the sound came from as they looked to the massive hall gates that had been left on the floor. Their hinges had been destroyed and they were low on the list of things that needed to be done around Harrenhal. This hall was rarely used and so there was no need to have it complete. But now they all watched as the doors lifted up into the air and placed themselves back in the arch they originally were. Moments passed by and then finally they swung back open revealing a man in dark robes and armor.
He just stood there and the Acolytes were under no illusion of who he was. But despite the dramatic entrance, Thoren wasn't too impressed. He had been able to lift a few rocks so far and he barely had any training. This guy had been training for years so lifting those doors shouldn't be too hard. Then Thoren watched as he walked through the gates and then down between the tables they all sat at. His upper face was covered by his hood and his lower face hugged by some sort of mask. Then as he reached the middle of the tables the gates fell down. A loud creek cried through the hall and then a whoosh of wind followed as the gates hit the ground with a mighty crash. The broke into millions of pieces as dust kicked around them. The children all ducked at what they thought would be shrapnel and a cloud of dust coming at them.
But it never came and as they all peered above the edges of the table they found something wondrous. The splinters of wood and dust flowed and traveled through the hall like rivers of water. Out of the rivers came fish splashing out and back in, all made out of the debris of the gate. They all look up in amazement and then it all coalesced into one form, a tightly made shark that swam through the air and snapped at the tops of their heads. Then it focused on the man they all knew to be doing this and darted toward him. Then faster than any of them could imagine a person moving, pulled out his sword and cut it in two. The shark broke apart into many different pieces and scattered on the floor.
"The only one of you that I find interesting is the one boy at the end that didn't have his jaw glued to the floor." The man said, his filtered voice catching all their minds off-guard but Thoren was just shocked by the fact he had been singled out by the leader of the Sith. How did the man know he had watched all of that still not impressed? Maybe by the swordsmanship at the end was cool but the rest of it was just moving stuff with his mind. Everyone however looked to him, as he was sitting at the very end of the table with his friends. A range of looks was on everyone's faces, from jealousy to interest.
"Darth Nagash, it is a warm welcome to have you return to us." Governor Quinn was the one to break the small moment and bring everyone's attention back to the front. Darth Nagash walked up to the podium which the Governor gave with a bow. The assembled Acolytes all put all their attention to what he was about to say as this was first day of their true training to become Sith.
"Three hundred and fifteen… that's what I will work with to bring about a new age of Sith. I won't lie and say that you are an unlucky bunch. I plan to purge the Sith Order of defects and weaknesses I had seen in my homeland. So you do not have the benefit of a proven and tested culture or system for your upbringing in the Sith. Much of the coming years will be a trial run of my plans." Darth Nagash explained and Thoren could hear whispers and very few of them were spoken in uplifted voices. This seemed to put a wet blanket over their moods but Thoren was thankful for this. This man wasn't going to coddle them, he wasn't going to lie and tell them all would be well and they would all be granted greatest like a right.
Too many of them didn't even have a birth right let alone a right to greatness, this was Thoren's thought to himself as he looked down the table to Jadith, the girl from Acorn Hill that had come with him. She sometimes snuck up on him and teased him like she was a peer. She wasn't, he was high born and she was just the daughter of some granary worker.
"But with this comes opportunity, you will be the generation to set the coming culture of the Sith. To set traditions that will be practiced for as long as this order exists. You will become the forebears of future generations." He said and that did in fact turn things around for the assembled children and pre-teens. The idea was appealing, it made everything they did important. "I have arrived in Westeros with a population ready to begin work on this keep, and in that population I have teachers from Essos ready to give each of you a education worthy of any high-born would get. I will also be personally interviewing each of you to get a better understanding of all of your capabilities so in the future I can better place you within the Order."
Placement, Thoren supposed that everyone was thinking that there would be classes in the Order much like how there was in the real world. Already he could hear a few people talk about giving the high-born special treatment. He wished but given that low-born would already being given an education he doubted that would be the case. Much as Thoren believed that there should be some sort of allowance to the children of the nobility, the true rulers of Westeros, the Sith seemed to be all about giving power to anyone able to use it. The Force.
"You are now Acolytes to the Rule of Three. Three of what, three sects of Sith. The Sect of Revan, reserved for those that have achieved Balance between the Light and Dark Sides of the Force. The Sect of Revan is the highest power within the Order, the elite and the goal of all Sith." Darth Nagash explained and Theron already felt it in his bones, that's where he belonged. Above everyone and ready to stand on top of the masses. He assumed that only those truly great could reach such a lofty goal.
He didn't know exactly what the Force was but they all had at least been given some explanation by Pierce who had lived around Sith for many years and picked up a few pieces of their lore. Thoren knew that the Dark and Light Sides were opposing powers in the Force and… that was actually it. But every time someone began saying that one was good or evil Pierce warned them to never say that in front of their eventual leader as that was very wrong in his book. Thoren didn't exactly understand but he now knew he needed both to attain the height of power he deserved.
"The other two sects, they are the Sect of Manwë and Morgoth, an order for the Light and Dark respectively. You will all be placed in one or the other depending on which side you most attune to, and then put in the opposite side. The goal for all of you is to achieve Balance between the Dark and Light. Though I know there will be those that get lost in one side or the other, those will stay forever in that Sect. They will be made the leaders and Masters of their respective Sects but be still be under even the Masters of the Sect of Raven, sans the Grand Master of a Sect. This placement will occur once you fully join the Order, should you choose." There was a lot of information to take in there and Thoren had trouble keeping up with it all. But he did and knew that this wasn't the only time they would be told it. He knew that anything he missed could be relearned later.
It's a system designed to encourage getting friendly with both sides but punish those that get in too deep. A person could find glory in just one of the Sects but there will always be someone above you, even if that person is in a very real way you lesser. Thoren could only picture those cast into one of the lesser two sects being ordered around by a member of the primary Sect who was far below them in both experience and power. But because they were shamed with only mastering one side of the Force they had to put up with it.
"However, first one must actually join the Sith Order." That brought a lot of murmurs from the children. Thoren had to roll his eyes at them all, did they think it would be so easy. But that's what you got from a bunch of peasants. "You are all younglings, given the title of Acolyte. You will remain as such until you pass a series of tests… which have yet to be made." Darth Nagash chuckled, almost as if embarrassed but no one had the courage to really make note of it. "I will create these tests in due time but once they are made anyone may take them. You could have just arrived from a Seeker's Harvest or have spent years here studying. Passing these tests will grant you the title of Sith. Then you will have a choice to make, either you can renounce your ties to the realm and join the Order proper, or leave."
"What? Just cast us out?" Thoren said to himself but it was drowned out by the many voices that filled the chamber. Many of them were fellow high born but also a good number of small folk. Seems many had thought to keep their oaths of loyalty to their liege lord. Darth Nagash just leaned back on his feet and let them all shout and work themselves up. Minutes went by and soon the air grew heavy and people started to lose their will to even stand. One by one all returned to their seats feeling nearly sick to their stomachs.
"This will be the choice you will have. Once you become Sith, you will be recognized by the realm as such, be given a Valyrian Steel sword as a badge of proof of your title." That made them all pale with the prospect. A Valyrian Steel Sword was something only a number of noble families had, the Smallwoods didn't even have a sword. But maybe… no… he would have one someday. "But that will be it, you will have what you learned in your time here and I can assure you it will be a drop in a sea of the vast knowledge that the Order shall keep. The King has also agreed to pass laws barring people that have left the order from researching certain fields of research that are for the Sith Order only. That is the trade off, either leave with what you have or seek more and stay. Swear yourself to the Sith and only the Sith." They all had so many questions. Or at least Thoren still did. But then Darth Nagash said his final words. "Now then if you'll excuse me… I am fucking tired and want nothing more than to sleep for three days straight." He said before walking off the dais and slamming the side door behind him. He left all of them more confused than settled and hoping that the coming days would remove some of their worries and fears. Thoren however was ready, he had been told everything he needed to know.
I flopped onto the large lordly bed that had been set up in my chambers. It was set up in a décor that I preferred though with a Westeros spin on it. Quinn did so like his hobby of interior decorating. Dark reds on blacks lined with silver and gold both. Candles lit the room in a nice warm glow. I was tired… and sick of the road. Arriving a week earlier than the rest of the incoming population so that I could get the whole meeting with the younglings over was worth it. Quinn had assembled them and I just finished addressing them and lining out my initial plan.
"I just want to sleep like I'm dead." I groaned as I sunk deeper and deeper into the soft bed that Quinn had kept so tidy for me. The man was going to die dusting my shit and crossing my Ts but if that's what he wanted… who was I to stop him. "Saarai!" I yelled even if my voice was muffled.
"You called Naraiz-sama?" The woman said instantly after my call, I had put my swords carefully on a nearby table but I would need to get them their own racks for the wall. Only the best for my swords.
"Get wine and something to eat. If anyone asks who you are just… I don't care so long as you don't kill them." I knew that Saarai would in fact kill anyone that impeded her efforts to follow my orders. She might have been supposed to represent my Light Side but at the same time she didn't. It was a warped light. She said her confirmations and left to go get me my refreshments. And once the door shut close I felt a weight on my back. "I don't want to play right now Mi, go back to sleep."
"No~ I've been sleeping for weeks now. We haven't had any fun since Volantis. Do you have any idea how horrible it is to finally have a body after so long of being an object? Then to experience pleasure on top of that!" Midwan continued on with her whining and prodding. All while trying to cox me out of my weariness by pressing her naked breasts into my back. Too bad, I'm not horny and more interested in sloth than lust. "Master! Master! Master! Hm?"
The whining finally stopped but was replaced by a whoosh of wind and then sounds of a scuffle. I was still lying into my bed and could guess what was happening behind my now uncovered back. I sighed and just let Midwan and Jaesa get to know each other. Sounds of fighting eventually turned to surprised squeals and then pleased and confused moans. I knew there was a wonderfully glorious lesbian sex scene playing out in my bedroom but I couldn't be bothered to care. I had been riding for a week nonstop to get here and so was intent on having a drink and meal and then dropping in a slumber so deep the only thing deeper would be Force Rest. Which reminds me I need to do that, put it off too long and my locked away power starts to become chaotic. Needs a moment to settle back down in my body.
"Naraiz-sama I have returned." I heard Saarai say as the door opened. Easily I pictured her looking at the mess on the floor and just giving a dismissive glance to them before returning to her duties… if she even acknowledged them at all. I heard the tray she was using set on the bed table and then I felt her sit besides me. "Both of you are such disappointments, can you not see that the master is trying to rest. Must you be so loud and distracting."
"J-just- ah fuck! Who the fuck…" I heard Jaesa try to demand but was being worked over too well by Midwan to really complete her train of thought. The fact that she couldn't see who they really were was likely thrown her off and caused her concentration to falter. I knew she could have sex and still be very threatening at the same time, she had a lot of practice in this field, the little succubus she was. But I supposed that I should give her the time to explain just who Midwan and Saarai were. Plus I also needed to test her to see if she finally got it.
"Mi, stop it." I said as I lifted my face out of the bedding and forced myself up as I heard Midwan detangle herself from Jaesa. My darling apprentice then took the chance and turned the tables on Midwan, though the spirit pretty much allowed Jaesa to do this. I sat up and turned to face both of them, I sighed at their sweaty and panting states. I wasn't in the mood for sex but they were leading me there. "Jaesa let her and put some damn clothes on, you to Mi." I said as I really just wanted to sleep and wouldn't be able to keep up with either of them if we really went at it.
"But master?" Jaesa asked, confused and it was then that I separated them myself, with a wave of my hand they slid apart from each other to each side of the room. "Master I am only trying-"
"Quiet, your master did not call for you to speak." Saarai said a little extra harshly than normal. I glanced at her but returned my focus back to Jaesa.
"Jaesa these are the manifestations of Midwan and Saarai." I said as both the spirits got up and collected their swords, both were in their sealed state but their aura in the Force was unmistakable. Jaesa's jaw dropped. "A lot happened over in Essos."
"Yeah… I can see." Jaesa mumbled in partial disbelief.
"Listen, why don't you go have fun with Mi here. I'm sure the two of you will get along great, while I take a nap and when I wake up I will explain everything on my mind to you." I said as Midwan and Saarai placed their swords back where they had been put previously. Midwan kept sending sultry glances back to Jaesa who smirked as she began to agree with my idea that they would get along. The two than ran off to have wild and crazy sex with each other while I fell back into my bed. I lazily used the force to float me back to the head board and the many pillows there.
"Do you feel better now Naraiz-sama." Saarai asked as she poured a glass of wine for me. I could tell that there was something on her mind, something that had come to her attention that she wanted to discuss. I had begun to notice that both of them seemed to provide different forms of attention that I had lacked in my previous lives. Midwan was physical and Saarai was emotional. Given that they were split sub-entities of Wo I assume that their responsibilities to my needs also split too them both. Wo himself I guess was supposed to lean more to a third option, that being of wisdom. Id, Ego, and SuperEgo. Hmmm.
"Say what you want Saarai, no need to tiptoe around any subject." I took the glass and had a rather large sip. Wine was good for my nerves. She paused and I took note of it. I didn't like her being hesitant to talk with me. "You seemed to be extra cold to Jaesa, why?"
"I dislike her is all. Jaesa is simply a class of woman I do not appreciate." Saarai said calmly as she went about her normal routine of serving me my meal.
"Are you going to be this way with all the women that love me?" Saarai was being strangely selective and I didn't like it. I really hoped she wouldn't be this way with Lyarra and Joanna. Being cold to Jaesa was fine because as the lighter sister she was supposed to dislike Jaesa. Midwan was already having fun as expected. So this was also expected.
"Of course not, I look forward to meeting Lyarra-chan and Joanna-chan." I got her, not only with the honorifics she used, or the lack of them in most people's cases but also on who she left out.
"And Vette?" I said and Saarai didn't react in the slightest to me pointing this out. "This is about the fact Lyarra and Joanna are both women I found after the merging."
"Naraiz loved Jaesa and Vette, and to a greater extent Satele." I could feel my chest tighten at the mention of Satele and Saarai gave a sad smile to that reaction. "Even now, you feel a phantom love for them that isn't your own. I dislike them all because they don't know the real you. And you don't truly love them." I lifted Saarai off the bed with a finger and glared at her. I wasn't about to be lectured to by a sword.
"Careful, you are treading dangerously thin ice." I warned as I kept her aloft but there wasn't a hint of fear in her black eyes. She just looked down at me waiting for me to put her down. And I did, what anger that was in me didn't last very long. "I hate that you make sense." I mumbled as I let Saarai down back onto the bed and she came to my side to comfort me.
"The old Naraiz loved them, the you of Earth loved the idea of them but that isn't the same." She said and just sat by my side keeping me company as I thought about this. The fact she was right was irritating me but there was something deep inside that knew she was right. I wanted to love Jaesa, Vette, even Satele, but I actually loved Lyarra and Joanna. Every night I had been away I had thought about my pets and worried how they were managing themselves. But I only thought about Jaesa and Vette when I felt I could use them. "You care about those five little tagalongs you picked up, you find them interesting and amusing. You feel the desire to love Jaesa and Vette, lust after them and want them to be happy with you. But you love Lyarra and Joanna. Love is fickle and can bloom anywhere."
"You seem to be leaving yourself and Mi out of all this." I was done for the moment thinking about all of this and was more interested in the woman guiding me through the remaining I guess I could say traumas of the merging between me and Naraiz.
"I am your humble servant, born from your connection to the Force. It is our duty to help you in all matters. In and outside of combat." Saarai said as she cupped my cheek. I understood now, a Manifestation of a person's connection with the Force was a spirit that served the Force User in all things. It didn't matter in what way. Naraiz needed someone to stabilize him and I had my own baggage as all people do. Saarai and Midwan were those needs and more. "Mi-chan and I will always be with you, Love is too weak a word to explain the devotion that we have for you." She breathed and leaned for a kiss. Our lips locked together as sleep became the furthest thing from my mind.
I reached around Saarai's waist and pulled her further on the bed and into my lap as we continued to kiss, tongues dancing together with me leading the way. I felt the kimono that she normally wore drift off into nothing as her hands started to remove the robe I still had on. The pieces of armor had long been removed so I could sleep but this worked too. It didn't; take long for the two of to both be naked.
"I guess I should reward my humble servant for helping me when I didn't know better." I smirked as I traced under her small breasts and she gave a small sigh. Small but sensitive, I reached up and grabbed ahold of her bust while capturing her lips as she moaned out in pleasure. I felt her shift in my lap, pushing herself closer and closer and soon enough I could feel her moistened slit rub along my growing cock. "Don't rush things, let me reward you properly."
"Please master, I want this so bad." I hadn't actually fucked Saarai yet. She had been picky where Midwan had been very loose. I guess now was the time. Didn't change my plans to take my time with her. I left her lips and started traveling down her neck while one of my hands did the same with her toned stomach. I could feel her shiver with need as my fingers and teeth grazed against her pale skin.
She gasped lightly as my fingers reached her folds, sliding along the edges of her pussy and teasing at her clit. I then cupped her mound as I wrapped my lips around her hardened nipple. Feeling her squirm a bit before I finally pushed a finger into her awaiting cunt, she wrapped her arms around my head as she tried to keep me to her bust, her moans growing louder and louder as I moved my digit inside her. As my pace grew so did her squeals of pleasure and soon enough she was rocking her hips trying to fuck herself on my finger, then two fingers. I kept my thumb on her clit and slowly rotated around it to keep the sensation as minimal as I could.
As I pushed in a third finger I felt her clamp down around my fingers. She tightened her grip on my head as I could feel her on the edge of an orgasm. Smirking, I gave the numb that I had in my mouth a small bite and shoved my fingers as deep as they could possibly go, finding a spot that I knew she loved. That did the trick as Saarai screamed as she came on my hand and soon her body went limp in my arms. She panted heavily as she came down off the initial high of her climax but then blushed and hid behind her hair as she saw me licking her juices of my fingers.
"What, I always love the taste of you two. Both so sweet but one of a kind." I said before leaning over and putting my hand over her lips and slipping between them. Despite her embarrassment at anything too lewd, she readily opened her mouth and began sucking on her own essence. Then as I pulled out of her mouth I pushed in. Saarai let out a surprised but very pleased whine as I started entering her, sliding through her pussy and filling up her insides.
"Deeper, don't hold back." Saarai begged as she gripped the bedding so tight that if it wasn't several fur pelts I would think they would tear. But I was happy to oblige, so I grabbed ahold of Saarai's hips and thrusted in as deep as I could. The woman gave out a gasp and wrapped her legs around my waist as she attempted to pull me in even deeper. "So full…"
"Fuck, I knew you were going to be tight but this fucking fantastic." I grunted as I could struggled to pull out for another trust. Between Saarai's pussy clamping down on me and her legs working to keep me where I was I really had to work at it if I was going to have any friction at all. As hot as Midwan's snatch had been Saarai was equally as tight. But I did it and eventually I was able to develop a slow rhythm. The sound of my bedroom was filled with a rhythmic thumping and the sounds of flesh hit flesh laced with the quiet moans of a soft spoken woman. Midwan loved her dirty talk but Saarai was the total opposite and remain quiet but for her whines of pleasure. I smiled as I saw she was deeply enjoying herself to the feeling of me making love to her.
"Thank you master, thank you so much." I leaned down to kiss Saarai, a soft and slow kiss between lovers. "I worried that you would forget about me, that my darker side would take all your attention and leave me nothing but a discarded tool." She cried after reaching up and pulling me down on top of her. I couldn't sense anything from either Saarai or Midwan but I could hear the real terror in her voice. I did indulge in the Dark Side more actively than the Light, I often thought of the Light Side as a chore, I regularly thought of the Light Side as a buzz kill. It would make sense that Saarai who was my Manifestation's Light would worry that I would do the same to her.
I needed to dissuade her of this fear. Because it was anything but true. I would never ever let her feel unwanted. Just as I would do the same for Midwan, Lyarra, or Joanna. So I pressed my lips back to hers in the most passion fueled kiss I could give, and began pacing up the rhythm of my thrusts as I rode us to our climaxes. I felt Saarai's nails dig into my back and her walls get even tighter. With that I came and felt her come with me as I spent all I had into her body. Our bodies locked up, intertwined with each other before we finally caught our breath. I turned us around and held Saarai in my arms as she rested on my chest.
"You don't need to be some sex hungry seductress, that isn't who you are or why I need you. But I do need you. You're the only one that would or could say these things to me. Only you and Mi know the full story and so are the only ones that can really know me." I supposed that Midwan could comfort me like Saarai did. She was smarter than she let on and certainly was capable of more than just the emotional range of a spoiled brat that loves sex. But she had her sister to handle me when it came to this stuff just as Saarai had me to control my sexual appetite. While what we just did was great and something I treasured, it wasn't fucking but making love. And I loved to just fuck. "God fuck what has my life become where I'm fucking swords?"
"Stop that." Saarai giggled as she slapped my chest. "This is better than a normal life of working two jobs hoping that some day you would become a famous author, or am I wrong?" She asked as she nuzzled herself closer, putting her head under my chin and got comfortable in my arms. Yes, she was certainly right about that. This was better, crazy, but better. Let's see if making it more crazy would also make it better.
"I wonder if I can make Dragon Balls?"
Tywin stared at Brightroar as it rested on the wall. It had been lost for so long and now it was back where it rightfully belonged, or at least by proxy. Where it belonged was in the Rock but in the possession of the Rock's Lord was just as good. But all of this was marred by the fact Naraiz Rhyhall had been the one to deliver his family's ancestral sword. Never mind the fact that Naraiz had then two seconds later announced to the Small Council that he knew how to make Valyrian Steel. That would affect every family not just his, the idea that Tywin would find the whole thing irksome was childish. He had Brightroar back and it would be a good deal of time before the Sith Order could make Valyrian Steel common enough to dilute its value.
No, Tywin took the fact that it was Naraiz himself that found the sword and brought it to him that was the greater insult. The Lion was nearly of the opinion that the sword would have been better kept lost… nearly. But his true reason for why he was angry this day had only partially to do with Naraiz. The Sith's deliberate slight was only icing on the cake. It was the fact his slave ships had reached King's Landing at all was the problem.
"They have the Iron Born's family now, their youngest is now in Harrenhal." Tywin's younger brother Kevan said as they both stood in the Tower of the Hand. He had come by horse just this morning from Lannisport, a ship from the Iron Islands with a message delivered the Grayjoy's status. Balon's reason for not helping Tywin in his little scheme was that his father would never agree to attack the Sith if it meant his blood would be put in danger. The Tyrells would have to be informed not to provide grain and meat to the islander kingdom, such was the punishment of failure.
"Yes, with that they have two members of the Great Houses and twenty one of the lesser ones. No heirs, which is good." Tywin muttered as he glanced down to the letter that Balon had sent. It detailed that his father and mother were now going to support the Sith though they weren't exactly happy about it either. Tywin knew that the Grayjoys weren't in a position to actually help in any meaningful way. And from the rumors that had been circling the court, the Sith had been very unsuccessful in their recent Harvest of the Iron Islands. Only the young Grayjoy had been taken. It was suspicious how few of the Ironborn were taken but it mattered not. "Cutting off their ability to have a standing army won't be enough. Naraiz was too accepting of this."
"Does he truly think that his Sith will be a force great enough to match thousands of men?" Kevan chuckled in a mocking way but Tywin didn't find such amusement in the idea. Naraiz at the moment had two full Sith, his apprentice and the lost Sith that he found in his travels. Naraiz claimed to be the best fighter in all of the Empire and he had played with the King's Guard like they were children. Tywin had to assume the worst, that a rank and file Sith was as good as a King's Guard Knight, Westeros' best. And now they would have Valyrian Steel. And the possibility of it not just being swords but armor too was a matter that had to be addressed.
Tywin could see what the Sith had in store, a force of highly trained and highly skilled warrior monks clad and armed in Valyrian Steel. Yes… that might be a match for thousands of mortal men. Then there was the fact that Sith could operate beyond the battle field, assassins and saboteurs. This was a enemy that the realm had not seen in all of its existence and it was shaking Tywin to his core. He needed to find others that had dealt with foes like this, abnormal enemies that challenged the way things are normally done.
Rathari stood in the Godswood of Harrenhal. Standing before the Weirwood tree. It was a strange thing, he could feel the Light and Dark Sides ooze from the bark of the tree. The angry face carved into the tree was the center of the Dark Side while the rest of it ebbed with the Light Side. It was a good fixture to have in the castle.
It had been roughly two weeks since he and the rest of the new population of Harrenhal had arrived. His lord and emperor had remained in his room with only his sword spirits coming and going. Even Jaesa, not someone that Rathari was pleased to see again, wasn't allowed in his chamber. Something the woman was oddly okay with. Or at least she didn't complain to Rathari about it. Orders came from Naraiz in the form of Saarai coming and handing either him or Quinn a list of things and taking their reports back to Naraiz. But now the new Lord of the Sith had called for all the Imperials of Harrenhal to assemble in the Godswood.
Pierce was nearby, sitting on a log and sharpening his greatsword. Rathari had respect for the man that would eventually lead the forces of the Empire. He was professional when the time came for it and practical if a bit ruthless. Perfect for a militant leader. Quinn was also here and standing at perfect attention waiting for their lord to arrive. Rathari also had respect for the newly appointed governor. Despite the betrayal that Quinn had committed he had long since proven his loyalty back to Naraiz, though Rathari doubted that Naraiz would ever let that guilt the man carried go.
The fact the two men weren't bickering was a great relief to Rathari as for the past two weeks they had done nothing but. The arrival of the new massive population had been a great strain on the meager guard that Harrenhal had, a guard that couldn't grow too big or else risk breaking the new law set on the Sith Order. It had also been a logistical nightmare getting everyone settled in a reasonable fashion. Pierce and Quinn lead their respective groups as best they could. Keeping the peace and keeping everyone fed and somewhat happy.
The last few days things had begun to settle down. Camps had been set up around the outer walls of the keep and work had begun to plan out the deconstruction of the smaller two towers. Those salvaged materials would go to building homes and other structures for the people of Harrenhal. That was the first project that would be done then came the rebuilding of the rest of the keep. The stonemasons from Essos had already begun surveying the Dragon Fire melted stone and drawing up lists and plans for what they would need to either fix or remove the stone. Rathari guessed that the rebuilding of the main keep would take about a year to begin. The labor force they had on hand currently would be a good asset and if his master's plans to bring about an industrial revolution here in Westeros bore fruit than they would have even more workers and capacity to work. At best it would be eight years before the rebuilding was done if the maintained the funds from the crown and support of the people they had. At worst it could be a decade.
But that was the secondary worry to Rathari. The primary one was the future of the Sith Order. The Rule of Three. Three sects of Sith each devoted to one of the three aspects of the Force. He had been left with a detailed outline before Naraiz had traveled ahead of the bulk of people. So Rathari had time to study the new order of the new Sith. He had worries but most of them were based on the idea that no plan is ever so final in the beginning. And his lord knew this as well, Naraiz knew that his outline was only just that… an outline. It would eventually be shaped by these younglings as they grew and developed traditions and a culture within the confines of the new order.
The Light would be handled by the Sect of Manwë, they would be the healers, the diplomats and wardens. Each Sect would be given three primary duties that they would handle beyond their study of their aspect of the Force. And these were the duties that the Sect Manwë would follow. It made sense, healing and diplomacy were certainly things that the Jedi always could perform far better than the Sith could. And being wardens to the criminal and traitor was best given to those that needed to detach from emotional triggers. Granted only those lost to one aspect would stay in a Sect but these were skills that all needed to learn.
Then there was the Sect of Morgoth. Those that followed or preferably learned from the Dark Side. They would need to be watched a little more than the former sect as the Dark Side is far more seductive. Though hopefully by training people in the Light Side and not attaching a stigma to the Dark Side there would be less forbidden allure to it. Unlike with the Jedi, there was little taboo that could cause a violent reaction and fall to the Dark Side and instead a place of understanding and guidance. But they would also be given duties to perform. The duties of forging the weapons of the order, Enforcing the laws, and handling the resources and funds. Rathari had to chuckle at the idea of giving these duties to the Dark Side Sect but given that the Sect would already be under more scrutiny from the very beginning the idea of corruption should quickly be seen as a detriment to the whole sect. Internally those in the Sect would turn on anyone that might draw attention to the Sect as a whole with their less than legal activity.
Lastly was the Sect of Revan, while he understood the naming of this one the other two baffled him. But he supposed that Naraiz had his reasons. This would be the Sect he would be overseeing while Darth Nagash oversaw the whole of the Sith Order. He doubted that he would install Jaesa as the leader of the Sect of Morgoth but who knows. This Sect was theoretically supposed to be both the top tier of the Order and the most populated. As the entire goal of the order was to achieve Balance. The only reason why Naraiz had planned for some people to never be capable of finding Balance was because it was just an inevitability. The system was designed with the knowledge in mind that they might not be able to get everyone to achieve Balance. The options then were to either get rid of those that couldn't or work them into the system. The former would most certainly cause resentment and fear, and while the latter might invite scheming and possible betrayal it was better than poisoning the whole with the threat of elimination.
"Good, you're all here." Rathari and the other two men all turned to see Darth Nagash walking toward them with Jaesa in tow. Behind them was Saarai who was carrying two boxes, one small and the other long. Rathari was uneased by the presence of the strange black eyed woman. Both because she was strange and had mannerisms that were unfamiliar to Rathari but also because she was a empty void in the Force. And not like in the way a Wound in the Force was, because he surely knew what that felt like. But instead if not for the fact he could see her with his own eyes he would swear she wasn't at all there. "We are completely alone by the way, we can speak freely here. And I encourage you all to speak your minds."
"Where the fuck have you been?" Pierce started the meeting off on a high note with that. Both Quinn and Saarai fumed at his blunt demand toward Naraiz while Rathari and Jaesa both didn't care much way or the other. The Imperials all still wanted the answer to the question regardless of how they felt about it.
"Dicking around mostly." Naraiz shrugged as he admitted to being a lazy bum for the past three weeks. Rathari expected that out of his lord as everyone in the True Followers knew he was prone to bouts of sabbatical after a great event. "But I was also communing with the Force, more organizational planning, thinking about schemes, all that sort of things." He waved off before looking to Saarai and nodding to her to present what she carried. With a cool and detached air she walked to each of the present Sith and handed them the boxes that she carried. The small one to Jaesa and the larger one to Rathari. "I also made these."
The two Sith opened their respective boxes and in them found their own Valyrian Steel blades. A curved and back hooked dagger for Jaesa. The hilt was ringed with stapled Dragon Glass and the blades on both sides were hollowed in the middle. It was expertly crafted and detailed in such ways that one couldn't be mistaken for the effort that went into it. Rathari on the other hand had pulled out a bastard sword, the blade had an intricate design of scales lining downward toward the hilt which was a six prong circle of talons. The pommel was a rounded bottom but carved into was a depiction of the Wound in the Force that had formed in Valyria. Rathari knew it was not a symbol of mockery but honor, that he had stayed as guardian of the horrible wound all those years.
"Master, these are for us?" Jaesa asked and Rathari could hear the utter shock at getting such a gift. He had heard that Jaesa had been on the outs with Naraiz for some time. He wouldn't; presume to understand a master and apprentice's relationship but he knew Naraiz well enough to not put pettiness above the important matters.
"Yes, you see I have achieved a new power of the Force." He then waved to Saarai who much to everyone's surprise blushed and hid her lower face behind her sleeve. "This is Saarai, I have discovered that a Manifestation of a Force user's connection with the Force can be brought into reality should a secondary vessel be filled with the user's power and they grow a connection with that vessel. My swords are my vessel, and have developed a Manifestation." Naraiz explained and Rathari saw what he wanted. He wanted to test to see exactly what it took for a Manifestation to form. Rathari was the control, he had achieved Balance and was of average Force power. Jaesa was the experiment for the Dark Side.
"So if I do this, do I get a hot sword spirit too?" Jaesa asked with a great deal of excitement but the question seemed to dampen Naraiz mood.
"I have decided to name them Tsân, the Sith word for manifest. Seems as good a name for anything I suppose. But what form your Tsân will take on I don't know." Rathari then glared at Saarai who looked like she was oblivious to her owner's apparent irritation. Why he was irritated at this topic Rathari couldn't guess as it looked like he had gotten quite lucky. "I want you two to meditate on these weapons and discover if you can Manifest a Tsân like I did. You should at the very least partially manifest one as the Valyrians were apparently able to do so."
"Yes, they were able to form a communion with their blades to unlock unique abilities. But I had never seen this." Rathari said as he looked to Saarai who just continued to stare straight ahead and ignore him entirely. "Do you believe that we can achieve what they couldn't."
"My theory is that either Balance is needed or the Valyrians just were too focused on their initial creation to seek a deeper power. Jaesa here will either prove or disprove the latter theory while you will do the same for the former." Naraiz said before he turned back over to the two mortal men that had been not even attempting to follow along to the goings on of the mystics. Rathari had to appreciate the Imperial deference they had toward the Sith in all matters Force. They really did the best job of just waiting for their lords to finish with their cosmic magic nonsense. "Now, tell me how has the integration been going?"
"As of today we have housing, food and water for our population. However this will not be sustainable as the crown is only subsidizing the funds to feed and house the Acolytes and any serfs directly in the service of the order. The rest are simply citizens under the lordship of Harrenhal." Quinn explained and Rathari knew that feeding and taking care of these men and women would be a top priority. They were less likely to complain and revolt as they were freed slaves and gratitude would go a long way. But a happy population was a population that paid their taxes and worked hard. There was also the lands around Harrenhal, the reports that Rathari had seen they had been woefully under utilized so there wasn't a lacking in the ability to farm their own food.
"Our first objective is to get our holdfast self-sufficient. Profit will come later. For now focus on development of the population and their needs. I want a city built here within ten years." Naraiz ordered and Quinn gave a bow and a promise to begin preparations as quickly as possible. Naraiz then looked to Pierce for his report.
"The men aren't happy about the order to not make an army. They're thinking that they won't be having a job anymore. And even if they still do, then they won't be getting paid very well." Pierce said as that was the main grumbling that he had been hearing.
"Tell them that the garrison won't be taken from us and that very little if anything will change. As our population grows I will implore the crown to make an addendum to the ban to exempt the city guard." Naraiz said and more details on the status of the changing keep of Harrenhal was discussed. Mostly logistical problems and solutions. Plans and futures that needed to be prepared for. The state of the stonemasons and their timetables. And the building of a school for all the children. Not just the Sith Acolytes. That would surely cause an uproar throughout the whole of the realm, a public school system. "If that is all, I will leave you to your duties. Jaesa, I want to speak privately with you later. But for now I want you to start running through every single person in this keep and find those that we will need to watch. Then go through the Acolytes, I need to especially know what I'm dealing with when it comes to them." At that everyone but Rathari started to leave the Godswood. Naraiz turned and face the carved face in the Weirwood while Saarai bowed and walked a fair distance away. Rathari would never understand that being but he supposed he wasn't supposed to.
"My lord, I-"
"I know you have reservations about the sword Rathari." He started as he continued to stare up to the furious face in the tree. "I know that anything to do with the Valyrians brings back painful memories. But understand that the blade you hold in your hand is nothing but a Force Blade I crafted for you. Yes, it was the Valyrians that discovered the means to make the metal but they do not own Force Blades entirely." He said and Rathari looked down to the bastard sword in his hands. It was a gift from the man he knew to be the true Emperor of the Galaxy. Even if he wasn't crowned yet he was the heir to Revan's legacy. The man that killed the false eternal emperor. He was everything that a Sith should aspire to be in Rathari's opinion. "You need this my friend. The Force granted me something… I never knew I needed when it gave me Dumits. Whatever form your Tsân comes in it will give you what you need."
Rathari looked down to his new sword, it was his and he could already feel a form of connection to it that felt odd. A stranger that he had only just met. It was up to him to make the first step toward changing a stranger to a friend.
"I thank you my lord. I will do as you ask and began trying to commune with the Force." Rathari said as he bowed.
"Remember our new creed Rathari… the Force certainly hasn't." He said with a small grunt of irritation that Rathari found odd but waved it away. There was much he didn't understand about his lord and he didn't even begin to try to understand it all.
Sith Word – Tsân (T-ash-in) literal meaning is To Manifest.