Chapter 79: The Shadow Lands

"Prince..."

Sam began, but was cut off by a younger man at his side.

"Old Sam, the Prince does not want your old bones, do not embarrass him any further," the man interjected.

Dressed in black, he was the Lord of Dyre Den, and he too knelt before Rhaegar and offered his greetings. "Wells Brune pays his respects to the Prince and offers his sincerest blessings."

Anger flashed across Sam's face and he turned his head away from Wells with a contemptuous snort.

"Rise, both of you," Rhaegar commanded, motioning for them to stand.

As the appointed leaders gathered, Rhaegar wasted no time with formalities. "I have no interest in the squabbles of the nobles of the peninsula. I'm here for only one reason."

"Have any of you heard of or encountered an unnatural shadow creature?"

Wells replied bluntly, "Not really, Prince."

Sam hesitated before speaking. "Prince, I have heard rumors of such a creature."

"Please, tell me more," Rhaegar urged, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected lead.

Sam's expression turned serious as he recounted, "About half a moon ago, a merchant ship was shipwrecked in a storm in the Narrow Sea. It washed ashore on one of the beaches of our peninsula."

"Our soldiers from The Whisper were sent to investigate. When they boarded the ship, they found it deserted, with no cargo or survivors."

"Disappointed, they began to disembark, only to be ambushed by a creature lurking in the shadows. It killed three men before vanishing without a trace."

Wells opened his mouth to interrupt, "Wrong, that freighter was a ship trading with the Dyre Den, shipwrecked on the Narrow Sea and plundered by you."

"In your words, it became an empty ship with no money and no people!"

"Enough," Rhaegar interjected sharply, silencing the young lord's attempt to intervene. "I didn't ask for your opinion. Be quiet."

Stunned by the rebuke, Wells hesitated for a moment before lowering his head in submission, his words stifled.

Turning his attention back to Sam, Rhaegar urged him to continue.

Sam recounted the incident with the cargo ship and the subsequent conflict between their families, emphasizing the accusations made against them by the Brune House.

Rhaegar rubbed his temples, frustrated at the lack of useful information despite his inquiries. He shifted the conversation to the origins of the shadow creature.

"Where did the cargo ship come from and what route did it take?" he asked, directing his question at Wells.

Wales replied in a subdued tone, "The freighter departed from Qarth, passing through Slave Bay, the Stepstones Islands, and the Free Trade city-states. Occasionally it would stop at Crabs Bay on its way back, trading goods with Gulltown and the Dyre Den."

"Qarth?" Rhaegar mused, remembering the world map he had studied in the Red Keep.

Qarth lies at the Jade Gates, which connect the Summer Sea to the fabled Jade Sea. The city lies southeast of Lhazar and the Red Waste, and southwest of the Bone Mountains.

Qarth's location also makes it the gateway between the lands of Westeros, the Free Cities, and Slaver's Bay, and the more eastern lands of Asshai, the Shadowlands, and Yi Ti.

As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, Rhaegar's suspicions grew. "The Shadowlands... shadow creatures..." He pondered the connection between Qarth and the Shadowlands, his mind racing with possibilities.

Sam offered a reminder, "Prince, the Shadowlands is a realm shrouded in darkness, filled with sirens and blood witches, a realm of fear and chaos."

"Perhaps the Shadowlands is too far from Westeros to be detected," he added.

Rhaegar paused for a moment, considering Sam's words. "Lord Sam, in the western part of the peninsula, a shadow creature terrorizes the wildlings and thrives on taking lifes. I've come here on my dragon to destroy it."

"House Crabb stands ready to serve you, Prince," Sam declared solemnly, his commitment unwavering.

Rhaegar acknowledged Sam's loyalty with a nod before turning his gaze to Wells.

Wells scowled at Sam and the nearby wildlings. "Prince, you should not pay attention to old Sam's story. He's just trying to distract you from the fact that the freighter was plundered and to deceive you."

"So Lord Wells believes the shadow creature I saw is a fabrication?" Rhaegar's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I dare not suggest that, but considering the prince's youth, it might be wise to stay away from savages. They're nothing more than ignorant beasts," Wells replied weakly.

Rhaegar's expression hardened. "Enough, Lord Wells. The Shadow Beast is real and it consumes life to strengthen itself. It's time for the people of the peninsula to put aside their prejudices and unite to defeat it."

"With all due respect, I have never encountered this supposed shadow creature, and I refuse to work with savages and enemies," Wells countered, his tone defiant.

Rhaegar waved his hand dismissively. "Then you may leave."

When Wells tried to interject, Rhaegar cut him off. "Go, Lord Wells. Return to your castle and refrain from provoking conflict until the shadow creature is defeated," he commanded firmly.

Seething with rage, Wells glared at Rhaegar before the cannibal's low growl filled the air, signaling his displeasure. As dragon saliva splattered over Wells, the Dyre Den commander quickly stepped in and led him away from the scene.

With the forces of the Dyre Den in retreat, Rhaegar turned his attention back to the task at hand and waited for everyone to leave.

Sam glanced up at the sky and extended an invitation to Rhaegar, "Prince, would you care to join us at The Whispers? The Crabb House would be honored to host you for a sumptuous dinner."

Rhaegar raised an eyebrow at the offer. It was a tempting offer, especially considering his recent focus on the shadow creature and the fatigue that accompanied it.

"If there is any surplus food in the Whispers, I would like to distribute it to the warriors of the Free Folk. Upon my return to King's Landing, I will see to it that you are repaid twice," Rhaegar added, his tone sincere.

Sam hesitated, weighing the request against the resources available. Despite his reservations, the opportunity to forge a bond with the prince was too valuable to pass up.

After a moment's consideration, Sam nodded and conceded, "Certainly, the Whispers will provide food for the savages for three days. Any additional assistance will strain our resources, but we will try to accommodate it."

With over two thousand men in his army, Rhaegar knew the burden of his request. Still, he was grateful for Sam's willingness to help.

"Your generosity is greatly appreciated, my lord," Rhaegar acknowledged, relieved to have solved the immediate food shortage.

As they prepared to leave for The Whispers Castle, Rhaegar found his opinion of Sam Crabb greatly enhanced, appreciating the lord's willingness to extend hospitality despite the difficulties of it.

(Word count: 1,144)