Chapter 161: Returning to the Territory

In the soft morning sunlight, the cargo ship slowly approached the dock. Well, "dock" was a generous term—it was really just a single wooden pier…

But despite the modest sight, Samwell felt his heart surge with excitement. This was his land, his home—built from scratch, brick by brick, by his own hand.

Of course, the "investors" had lent a hand too. Their support, though small, was something Samwell would always remember—especially since it was unlikely anyone else would.

"Lord Caesar! Welcome home!"

"Gavin! Haha, you've put on some weight!" Samwell grinned, opening his arms to embrace his steward, who stood at the front of the welcoming group.

After the hug, Samwell gestured toward the ship docked behind him and ordered, "Make sure everything's unloaded from the ship. I mean everything—not a single item left behind."

"Yes, my lord! I'll see to it right away."

Then, Samwell greeted each of his household officers, exchanging warm words and waving at the local villagers.

"My castle is finally complete?" Samwell looked at the tallest building on the estate, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"Yes, my lord. It was finished nearly two months ago, and we've furnished most of the rooms. You can move in whenever you're ready," said Vido, the head architect, with a broad smile.

"Perfect!" Samwell picked up his pace, eager to explore his new castle.

The castle was modest by Westerosi standards, reaching just over a hundred feet high. Atop its spired towers flew the blue double-eagle banner, and its walls—built against the surrounding cliffs—stood eighty feet tall, crafted from sturdy stone, and over ten feet thick. The walls held four small catapults, and a seawater moat encircled the fortress, crossed by a single drawbridge leading to a massive iron gate.

As Samwell crossed the drawbridge and passed through the towering gate, he entered the main keep.

"My lord, this is your central keep. It has six floors, thirty-eight rooms, and two levels of cellars. There are also three smaller forts, a stable, a warehouse, a barracks, and a garden…" Vido listed off, clearly proud of the construction.

Samwell nodded in satisfaction. The castle couldn't compare to the grandeur of the Red Keep, nor did it possess the elegance of Highgarden, but he had fallen in love with it at first sight.

It was, after all, his first castle.

Perhaps one day he would have bigger, grander fortresses, but this one would always hold a special place in his heart.

"Do we have a reliable water source?" Samwell asked, considering the castle's defenses. "In the event of a siege, lack of water could be a real problem."

Vido gestured toward the roof. "Don't worry, my lord. We accounted for that. Eagle's Nest gets plenty of rain, so we installed several collection pipes to gather rainwater and dew, which flows into a cistern. The supply can sustain up to seven hundred people, or even a thousand if rationed carefully."

Reassured, Samwell turned to Gavin. "How many people live on my lands now?"

"About fifty-four thousand six hundred," Gavin replied without hesitation.

"So many?" Samwell was taken aback.

When he had left, the population had only just passed ten thousand. He recalled that part of Starfall's war reparations required sending seven thousand men to work on the Isle of Eagles, with no restrictions preventing them from settling down. He had considered them his subjects from the start.

There had also been a steady influx of refugees from the Reach. Even so, it shouldn't add up to over fifty thousand people…

Unless…

"Is this Chiman's doing?" Samwell looked around, searching for the man, but didn't see him. "Where is he?"

An awkward silence settled over the group.

Finally, Gavin spoke up. "My lord, Chiman… he's stationed outside the valley."

"Outside the valley?" Samwell narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? Didn't he get my order to stop his campaign?"

"He did, my lord. He stopped expanding but… he's camped outside the valley."

"Why? Did you refuse to let him enter?"

Gavin nodded, quickly adding, "My lord, it's not that I wanted to make things difficult for him. But he has over a thousand soldiers under his command, while we only have five hundred here. I feared that—"

"A thousand?" Samwell raised an eyebrow. "I only permitted him to recruit five hundred, didn't I?"

"Yes, my lord, and we've only provided supplies and weapons for that number, but…"

"I see." Samwell's face remained unreadable. "Send word to Chiman that I'm back and he's to report to the castle immediately."

"Understood."

As Samwell continued his tour, the atmosphere grew noticeably tense.

Before long, the messenger returned, looking flustered. "Lord Caesar, Chiman refused. He says Eagle Nest doesn't welcome him. If you wish to meet him, he requests that you do so outside the valley."

The air grew even heavier.

Samwell chuckled. "Quite the attitude, isn't it?"

Gavin spoke up quickly, "My lord, you shouldn't go."

"Why? Does he intend to kill me?"

"Chiman…" Gavin hesitated before saying, "He seems… unhinged."

"Unhinged?" Samwell laughed. "He's been unhinged for a long time."

Todd Flowers stepped forward, "My lord, if you truly wish to go, I suggest taking an escort."

"But we have fewer men than he does. Bringing troops would only make us look weak." Samwell patted the massive sword Dawn strapped to his back. "I'll go alone."

Everyone protested immediately.

---

"Lord Caesar summoned you—why won't you go?"

Outside the valley, Ucha, one of the wildling lieutenants, glared at Chiman in frustration.

Chiman cast a cold, pale glance at Ucha. "Why should I?"

"Are you planning to betray Lord Caesar?" Ucha demanded, angrier than ever.

"Betrayal?" Chiman sneered. "Have you forgotten you were once a wildling of the Tigerfang Tribe? Or has your sister's marriage to the steward made you think you're a noble of the Reach?"

"Yes, I was once a wildling, but now I'm one of Lord Caesar's subjects! He's provided food, shelter, and safety for our elders and children, giving us a life we never dreamed of. I'd defend him with my life for that!"

"How lovely." Chiman gave a mocking clap, but said nothing more.

"You're coming back with me," Ucha insisted. "You'll apologize to Lord Caesar, and he'll forgive you."

But Chiman didn't budge.

"Are you really going to betray him?" Ucha placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I warn you, Chiman—don't be fooled by the number of men you command. How many would follow you if they knew they'd go back to the wild? If you betray Lord Caesar, let's see how many would stay loyal."

"Yes. How many truly follow me of their own will?" Chiman sighed. "I'd love to find out."

"Then let me tell you—none. Not one!"

"Is that so? Then why are you so nervous?"

Ucha realized he was talking to a madman.

A truly madman.

As he debated whether to call in reinforcements to subdue Chiman, he suddenly heard the man say:

"Look, your Lord Caesar is here."

Ucha glanced up to see a tall figure emerging from the valley.

"Well, he's certainly braver than any of you," Chiman murmured, almost to himself.

Ucha's grip on his sword tightened.

But Chiman seemed unbothered by any perceived threat. His pale, icy gaze fixed on the approaching figure.

As Samwell advanced, his white armor shone in the sunlight, reflecting a dazzling light.

"He actually came alone," Chiman muttered, a strange glint in his pale eyes.

Closer and closer.

Chiman could make out the face he would never forget.

It was him—Samwell Caesar.

The face that had haunted his nightmares, filling him with dread beyond words.

He licked his dry lips, still tasting the blood—his brothers' blood.

"Brother, kill me, and then run as far as you can. Don't even think about revenge. He's a demon who plays with souls! You'll never win against him!"

His brother's dying words echoed in his mind.

But Chiman hadn't run. He had drawn closer to the devil.

And now, the devil was walking toward him.

Closer.

Chiman could see the emblem on Samwell's white armor, the intricate pattern on his blue cloak.

Blue—the color of his uncle's blood.

"Why are you doing something so cursed by the gods?!"

His uncle's final shout echoed through his mind.

Because I sold my soul to the devil.

He had repeated this to himself countless times.

"Chiman." The devil called his name.

Samwell stopped about ten paces away and slowly drew his massive sword, Dawn, from his back.

"Come here. Kneel."

In Chiman's eyes, the crimson and gold glow of the sword danced like fire.

In an instant, he felt as if the whole world was ablaze.

In that moment, Caiman's mind was transported back to that twilight—the day Starfall's armies had marched against Eagle's Nest.

It was this very man, Samwell Caesar, who had stood like a god of fire, wielding a burning hammer, annihilating opposing forces with flames that seemed to consume the night.

A memory echoed in his mind—a fragment of ancient prophecy:

"When the long night falls, and stars weep blood…

"He will awaken the dragon within the stone…

"Bearing a sword of flames…"

"He is the one foretold…"

"King," Chiman whispered, almost in a trance. Slowly, he took a step forward.

Closer. Ever closer.

As Chiman approached, the familiar, paralyzing terror took hold of him once more. Yet, mingled with it was an exhilarating surge—his heart pounded in a way he hadn't felt in years.

In that single instant, he felt reborn.

And then he knelt.

Samwell watched Chiman lower himself onto one knee. Raising Dawn, he brought it down toward the man's shoulder.

The flames around the sword died away, leaving only the ancient, red-gold engravings on the blade—symbols steeped in mystery and an aura of timeworn majesty.

"Have you chosen your family name?" Samwell asked.

"Please, my lord, grant me one," Chiman replied, his voice trembling.

"You come from the Tigerfang Tribe," Samwell replied, after a moment's thought. "Then let it be 'Tigerfang.'"

"Chiman Tigerfang, at your service, my lord."

Samwell looked down at him with solemnity, his voice echoing across the valley.

"I, Samwell Caesar, Lord of the Eagles Nest, in the sight of the Seven, hereby dub Chiman Tigerfang as a knight."

"I, Chiman Tigerfang, offer my undying loyalty to Lord Caesar," he replied, lowering his forehead to kiss Samwell's boot.

The ceremony over, Chiman remained kneeling, his face serene, his oath echoing through the valley.

(End of Chapter)