Neighbors

In the morning, after travel for several hours, finally Rai's group reach Riverland. As soon as they arrive in Riverland, it is mean they are already in the territory of Whent family or currently you can call it house Hoare.

The gate of riverland via kingsroad was guard by a knight of lord of Harrenhal. This landed knight is house Wode.

"Ser Oswald Wode I am happy to finally meet you" Rai greets the head of House Wode.

Oswald Wode slightly nervous, since he was informed by his son that his new boss is coming.

"I really don't know about your arrival my lord, I am sorry with humble reception." Oswald bows.

"I assume you heard about my appointment by the king as the lord of Harrenhal and the revival of the old house of Hoare. What you say about it?" Rai asks.

Hearing this Oswald Wode kneels and pledges his loyalty. Well, he never meets someone as big as Belwas, while Syrio silently stand beside Rai, but his aura is so cold and sharp. Daario playfully swing his Arakh on his right hand, while a stiletto dancing on his left hand. Oswald can't see it clearly since Daario hands move so fast, but Oswald know perfectly what will be happen to him and his house, if he antagonizes Raizel Hoare.

Rai burst of laughing seeing this. "Ser Wode you will never regret this action. As the first task of yours, is to build stone gate at the entrance of our land, you can move your hall there, I am not really fond of this earth and timber halls of yours."

As Rai said this, Belwas step forward and drop a box full of dragongold coin, 100 thousand of them.

"My house is yours to command my lord." Wode bows as deep as he can.

"Good, let's get straight to the business, bring me the largest map of you have" Rai commands.

Soon one of Oswald son bring a map to the hall, then put it in the middle so everyone can see it.

Rai walks around everyone "A full circle, that what I want, that our first target." he looks at every one eyes.

"God's eye lake is an immense lake, the largest inland body of water in Westeros. It is located in the heart of the continent; Gods Eye feeds a river which is a tributary of the Blackwater Rush. I want to be a sole ruler of this lake." Once again Rai take a break as he wants to confirm that his men understand what he just said.

"We already control the north and the east side of God's eye, I want, not longer than two years, we control the west and the south too. West is the land of house Goodbrook while the south own by Wayn. No need to spill the blood, we introduce them what the meaning of economic war." Rai explains.

Davos steps up "My lord I believe we can use our advertisement of free tax and high payment to attract their small folks. With no income, they soon will fall to debt."

Oswald Wode bows a little than speaks "I think we can focus on Goodbrook first. Wayn has been served Tully as their castle steward for generations, so Wayn has a strong back up. While Goodbrook's lord currently is a nine year old boy."

"Good, the basic idea is commendable. Find out all the information about this steward of Tully, their back up could be their hunter if we play it right." Rai is happy some of his men can use their brains.

"Current steward name is Utherydes Wayn, He is an old man. He is grave, gaunt, and sour. But I will see it myself to collect more data my lord." Oswald speaks.

Rai nods, after looking at the map for a while he then continues, "As our other neighbor are Roote and Bracken to the north, Darry and Mooton to the east, our west meet with Vance, Goodbrook and Wayn, these houses are part of Riverland. While our south neighbor is crownland, house of Buckwell, and Hayford. After securing God's eye, our next target is compliance of our neighbors."

He then continues, "Be subtle especially to the one in crownland, as our way to show our good will, buy as many as our daily needs and building material from our neighbor. But I want Roote to be our third target after Goodbrook and Wayne, find out is it possible to build an inn and tavern at the crossroads, we have to control that intersection."

Oswald asks, "without doubting your capability my lord, can you enlightening me, how much money can we use for this grand plan."

"No worries Ser Oswald, I possessed millions of Dragongold coin. So first send one of your trusted to Harrenhal to consolidate what left of house Whent there, so as I arrive there is no need for more talk, as we will busy to rebuild our castle and build a new city around it."

As they prepare to continue their journey to Harrenhal Davos asks, "Seems you not really explain what we capable of to your knight my lord. may I ask why?"

"You guys are my companion, close to me as my family, knight is like an employee, a tool, to me Davos. Do your best Davos, one day you may be live as the lord of the land which currently Goodbrook have." Rai explains.

Davos smiles and bows to his lord, then Syrio approach. "The preparations are complete my lord, one of Osweld son already run ahead of us, he already sends raven to Harrenhal too. Daario will lead the rest."

"Good, let's go then." Soon their surrounding change. Rai, Davos, and Syrio already stand near the iron bank of Bravos.

"Usually, it takes two weeks for wagons to traveled between kingslanding and Harrenhal. Davos do your job, we will meet here after five days, Syrio you accompany me to Iron Bank first." Rai commands his men.

As soon as they enter the iron bank they are guided to meet a representative, Tycho Nestoris is a representative of the Iron Bank. Seeing this man, the first time, Rai know, he is a rational man, more interested in numbers than in words, reasoning that the former are less likely to deceive than the latter.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Nestoris" Rai smiles as he shakes the man hand.

"Unlike you my lord, I am not a landlord, so I am not a lord, nor a ser." Tycho answers.

"As I believe lord and ser is the value of their honor and their possession, I believe you are a lord for me, Lord of ton of Coins." Rai continues.

Tycho nods then he let Rai sit, while Syrio refuse to sit as he stand still beside Rai.

"I wants to have a long relationship whit you Lord Nestoris, first I would like to give you a deposit, a pawn, this is for showing that you can hold more than just my word." Rai speaks then Syrio deliver a wooden box just like King Robert got.

"I wanted to loan ten million of dragongold coin, cash, then I want iron bank help to get as many as educated slave to help me build my castle. I too want your help to buy 2000 unsullied, some Dothraki sellsword, and the last, help me to find connection with the golden company, I want to contract them for a year."

"Lord Hoare, I surprise and admire your boldness, but a valyrian dagger not enough as a deposit for all of that." Tycho says as he admires his new dagger.

Rai laugh "I am sorry my lord, the dagger is my deposit to get your cooperation, as my requests are sure not easy things. The pawn for all my request is my castle, Harrenhal, if I failed to give back my debt to iron bank in ten years, then Harrenhal is yours."

Bursting in laugh, Thyco Nestoris, he invites Rai to shake his hand "Lord Hoare, it must be nice to be young, I will make sure all you need to be satisfied."

"When will I get the coins my lord, I need to get back as soon as possible." Rai smiles brightly.

"Two days from now my lord, you will get your coins with dozens of best sellswords. The rest will be shipping to your land gradually this year." Thyco gives his best smile..

"It will be perfect my lord, as for the golden company?" Rai asks.

"This evening I will send one of my assistants to be your guide. I think you can find more than just the army here in Bravos my lord." Thyco winks at Rai.

Rai just smile, He thought that this representative forget he is just a teenager.