CHAPTER 259

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CHAPTER 259

296 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

Aermir's proposal for a hunting party was met with mixed reactions from the Vale lords. Lord Grafton, with a furrowed brow, voiced his concern, "A hunting party during peace negotiations, Lord Drasil? Are we to celebrate while tensions linger? Our focus should be on ensuring a stable agreement and preventing further conflict."

Aermir, with a knowing smile, replied, "Lord Grafton, I'm not suggesting a celebration. Instead, a brief interlude in the form of a hunting party could provide us with the opportunity for a fresh start. A change of scenery might just be what we need to find common ground."

The second he heard about hunting, Lord Belmore's ears perked up with interest. He always enjoyed a good hunting feast, nodding in agreement, added, "He's got a point. A short break might help us approach the negotiations with clearer minds. We could use a bit of distraction from these endless talks." 

Jon Arryn, considering the atmosphere in the room, said, "A momentary distraction might alleviate the tension. We can resume discussions with renewed focus after a short break."

Ned, ever cautious, added, "We must tread carefully, but if it helps in maintaining a conducive atmosphere, I see no harm in a brief interlude."

With a nod from most of the lords, arrangements were made for a temporary recess, allowing everyone to gather for a hunting party outside the confines of the negotiation room.

...

The Newkeep forest echoed with bird song, creating a serene backdrop for the unfolding hunting parties. Because their numbers were many, they had divided into smaller groups. 

Lord Stark was flanked by his knights and some of Lord Arryn's. Since he was too old to accompany them, they had joined up with Ned, and Jon was waiting in the base camp. They moved through the underbrush while the crisp breeze carried the invigorating scent of pine, mingling with the earthy fragrance of the forest floor.

As the party ventured deeper, the keen eyes of Lord Stark caught sight of a formidable boar; its massive form moved through the bushes while digging into the forest ground with its tusks to forage for food. Usually, you would wound the beast to limit its mobility before going for the kill with a spear, but Lord Stark wanted to try out the spell gem Aermir had given him. He used the small gem, which turned into dust, but right then, he felt his speed and power rise; it wasn't as high as Aermir's own buff, but he felt more powerful. 

Lord Stark signaled to the knights, and together, they formed a circle around the beast. The boar, sensing the encroaching danger, snorted defiantly and charged towards Lord Stark with surprising speed. Lord Stark met the boar's charge head-on. 

With a swift sidestep, he avoided the beast's tusks and, in a fluid motion, thrust his boar spear into the charging creature. The blade found its mark, and the boar's momentum carried it forward until it crashed into a tree. Lord Stark, his breath steady, surveyed the scene as his knights closed in, offering nods of approval for the skillful execution.

Some of the Arryn knights knew Ned personally from his years as a foster of Lord Arryn, and they were in more awe than others. They couldn't believe their eyes at how much faster and more powerful Lord Stark had become. To them, it looked like, despite his advanced age, Lord Stark looked faster and more robust than when he was younger. 

...

Harlik, the knight captain of the paladins, moved through the underbrush with a great air of focus. Unlike others in the hunting party, he had chosen to forego the conventional weaponry in favor of a more primal approach.

His target was a mountain lion, a creature renowned for its ferocity. Its eyes gleamed with a primal intensity as it crouched in the undergrowth, aware of the impending threat. Harlik, unfazed by the creature's fangs and claws, approached it. 

His paladins around him had faces full of pride, and they were certain their captain would come out victorious, but the Vale knights' faces showed horror; they looked like Ser Harlik had a death wish. As Lord Stark did, Harlik used two spell gems, one for buffs and one for defense; then power surged through him.

As the mountain lion leaped towards him, Harlik demonstrated a display of raw strength and unwavering courage. In a breathtaking sequence, he grappled with the wild cat, his muscles bulging with effort. The beast had more power, but Harlik was heavier and bigger, so while using those advantages, he managed to pin the beast down. 

The defensive power of the gem was not as good as the oakshield spell, so the lion's claws were able to rip through it and wound Ser Harlik's arms and back as he hugged the beast's neck with everything he had.

He was bleeding a bit, but his wounds looked more like cat scratches than lion claw marks. After some more struggle, he managed to get a better hold of the beast's neck, and with a final, decisive maneuver, he broke the lion's neck, killing it instantly.

The paladins erupted into cheers, applauding their captain's unparalleled feat. Harlik, his chest heaving with exertion, surveyed the awe-stricken faces of the Vale knights and soldiers. Harlik smiled. "Sometimes," he remarked with a grin, "it's best to meet the challenges of the wild with nothing but your own strength."

A tiny seed of fear bloomed in the hearts of the Valemen who witnessed this. As the hunting party continued through the Newkeep forest, the tale of Harlik's bare-handed triumph became a focal point of conversation.

...

Meanwhile, in a different part of the forest, Lords Grafton and Belmore ambled through the trees, discussing matters that were not quite suited for polite company. As they exchanged disparaging remarks about Aermir, Lord Grafton couldn't resist injecting a tasteless jest at Aermir's expense.

Lord Grafton chuckled, "Belmore, did you see the arrogance in that savage? That base-born bastard thinks he is our equal now. I accept he got some power, but without his pagan master, he couldn't raise this much." Disgust twisted his features.

Lord Belmore commented, "I heard his late mother was a servant of Lord Stark."

Lord Grafton released a hearty laugh and said, "A servant playing as nobility." he shook his head disappointedly and continued, "At least she knew her place and died a servant. I bet his mother would be turning in her grave if she knew how her son was acting in front of his betters."

Belmore remarked, "Didn't you think he was formidable?"

"That was until I met with the brute; he is nothing but a savage," Lord Grafton replied.

Lord Belmore added, "He should have stayed a knight like his bastard father."

However, their banter was abruptly halted when they spotted a couple of deer around 60 meters away. Deciding to approach them, a pair of arrows sliced through the air, narrowly missing both Lord Grafton and Belmore. The projectile landed with lethal accuracy, striking two deer through their eyes and dropping them instantly.

Emerging from the concealment of the surrounding foliage, Aermir appeared with a menacing smile. "My lords Grafton and Belmore, it seems the forest is not as forgiving as the negotiating chamber. Careful where your words fly; here, they may provoke more than just discomfort."

The menacing accuracy of Aermir's arrows had an immediate impact on the two lords, who couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear at the display of his deadly precision. Lord Grafton, unwilling to show weakness, drew courage from their numerical advantage. Aermir was all alone, and they had 20 men.

"Are you threatening us?"

Aermir smiled menacingly and retorted, "No, of course not; I am merely stating that if you don't dare to say something to someone's face, you shouldn't complain about them behind their back like some cheap whore."

Blood rushed to Lord Grafton's brain, and he roared in anger,

"Who are you calling a whore!"

Aermir showed a brighter smile and said,

"But of course you, my lord, I am not some craven that would talk behind other's backs. Today, you made a grave mistake; you should have never talked about my late parents with that worthless mouth of yours. So I will make you regret it."