Into foreign lands part 3

After departing from the westerlands the ships set route to the summer isles instead of going directly to The Riverlands, after all the tourney of Harrenhal wasn't going to start in a few months, and while he could use that time to visit some of the other lords Maximilian thought it would be better to wait to the tourney since he had better things to do, and what sort of person go all around the place with half a million gold coins.

So after a week he was back in the summer isles, the money he get from the Lannisters was going to be put to good use, while the summer islanders had villages and cities they were pretty backward, so most of the money was going to be used to made new buildings, aqueducts and public baths, a huge amount of money would be wasted in this but it would be better in the long run, especially the forts that are going to be built in the island, after all having a few cities isn't really efficient, and the most important project of all, a castle and a city surrounding tall trees town, on top of a hill, a outer wall surrounding the city and on the middle of it a castle with tall and square towers. Just this projects will cost around three hundred thousand gold dragons, and while he could take that money from his own pocket it's good to know that tywin is the one who is paying for the renovation of the summer islands.

Apart from that he ordered the construction of an arena to entertain the people and calm the public unrest and several parks for the people to play ball games and other types of activities.

While the construction was in process Maximilian resumed his training with Cassius, first they trained his resistance making him run around the mansion dragging rocks after him, and while the rocks weren't particularly heavy dragging them while running was tiresome, after that Cassius Throwed him into a pool and made him swim from side to side. Then it came to the hand to hand combat, he was thrown into an arena to fight trained soldiers, if you thought they would go easy because he was their prince then you would be wrong, the man he fought beat him up, different from other times, he wasn't against someone his age or just a few years older, Cassius started making his training much harsher as he was getting older, and like that the two months passed, every time he seemed to get used to the training it became harsher, the rocks started getting a little bigger each time, not to a point in which you could clearly see the difference in size. The amount of laps he needed to do in the pool increased, sadly for him he was never able to defeat any of his training partners but at least he seemed to be able to withstand more minutes each time, the change in his training seemed to have some effect in his mindset too, he seemed to be becoming more aggressive and more expressive. Of course his training didn't consist uniquely on those, he also trained in the sword, spear, bow and riding. While with the sword he wasn't as good as with using the spear and bow it was still better that his riding skills, he certainly wasn't born to ride a horse. In the end he spend most of those two months training and let Cassius and Aurelius, who came back after the first month, be in charge of the construction and administration of the cities and towns.

When Aurelius came he just stared from a side of the arena how Maximilian was getting beaten by his training partner who was much taller than him, and then he went to Cassius side.

"It seems that you really took seriously when I said that his training should increase". Said Aurelius in a casual tone.

"Of course I did, we both know that the situation in our home is getting worse by the second and he will need to fight his own battles to prove his value, and if what you said in your letter is right and there's unrest in Westeros then that's just a better reason to do it, I guess your trip was successful, wait till his training end and then you can share what you found". Said Cassius without taking his eyes out of the arena.

After a few more beatings Maximilian was taken to the medic, the soldier too, but he only had a few bruises in his arms and legs. And then he was taken to his room from which he didn't get out from the rest of the day, and at night a servant came and brought him to the private hall, there were Cassius, Cato and Aurelius waiting for him.

"Oh you came back, I was starting to think you became the pet of the eunuch" said Maximilian with a smile in his face.

"And here was I thinking you were at your limits but if you have enough energy to care about others then you can train even more" Said Aurelius while patting Maximilian's shoulders and making him groan from pain.

"Yeah yeah, whatever, what did you found in your excursion?" Said Maximilian while slowly sitting.

"I heard you were going to the tourney in Harrenhal, it seems it was made by the prince as a way to gather his lords and try to usurp his father's throne, the king mental state is too deteriorated to rule, but the eunuch find out about this and informed the king, so the king decided to attend the tourney".

"Apart from that the country seems relatively calm, Dorne seems solid, the reach not so much, the current rulers were stewards that got their position after surrendering their master's castle after they died against the Targaryen and their dragons, the westerlands are pretty unified now that the Lannisters exterminated their two strongest vassals, The Riverlands are something like the reach, they were never rulers but now they got the position and have a few vassals that are stronger and vie for their position, the rest of their regions are pretty united and loyal to their lords and the crown. Even with a king like theirs the kingdom seems united, that Lannister did a good job keeping the country afloat, it would be funny to see how things are going to be now that he quit the job. Ah another thing, you should be extremely careful the eunuchs spy network spans through the whole continent, and it could be any one". Said Aurelius

"So you spend a whole month and that's all you got?". Said Maximilian raising a eyebrow.

"What can I say, there isn't much happening right now, I spend most of the time trying to put the spies in place". Answered Aurelius while shrugging his shoulders.

"Well it doesn't matter anyway, what news you have from home?". Asked Maximilian.

"They are getting restless, but they know how strong we are so I don't expect any move in at least a few years, and when they act they will get crushed". Answered Aurelius.

"Good, we will strengthen our forces there and here in the summer isles, the contribution of the Lannisters is pretty helpful, train more men and buy more weapons and armors, and are they spies still under control? We need them to believe that we are having problems here and that we are sustaining heavy loses, they need to think we are weak". Said Maximilian.

"Everything is under control, we will take all that belong to us soon, you just need to be patient, and keep with your training". Said Aurelius.

"You got any information from mother?". Asked Maximilian.

"She send you a letter, the usual, she misses her baby and want you to come back but she knows you are doing what's best for all". Said Aurelius while handing the letter to Maximilian.

The meeting ended shortly after that.

And like that the month ended, training his body and his ability to wield weapons, as well as his training with Aurelius and reading the books brought for him.

And the day came and he boarded his ship and set sail to The Riverlands, this time instead of five ships he was going to bring three since they weren't bringing as many things as last time.

First they stopped for a few days in Dorne visiting the Martells. There Maximilian spend the time playing with the Martell girls who looked worried of how bruised he was, and even tried to tend to his wounds but he stopped them saying that while the healers could easily get ride of those, it was all part of the training, and that his body needed to get used to this kind of things, and while Arianne didn't look happy about it the sand snakes tried to ignore it and play with him normally for the time they could spend together, but even if he was there this time his training didn't stop, and the girls could see how brutal their training methods were, this just make them worry even more to the point in which they stopped playing any games that involved physical activity, and instead they played board games or tell histories, and Tyene even started studying some herbs that could be used in medicine and tried to make some remedy for his bruises which ended with his skin getting all red and her trying to apologize, so he had to ask Aurelius for help, the latter just searched for a few herbs and made a drink that make not just the color but the bruises disappear in a few minutes. and the next day Tyene was all over Aurelius asking different kinds of questions. The day after that they set sail once again and in a week they reached The Riverlands.

After a few days on horse they saw a three sided castle, it wasn't the most beautiful castle or the bigger he had seen but it sure looked well protected, sitting in the confluence of two rivers. And on top of the castle there was a banner with a leaping silver trout in a field of red and mud blue, the banner of house Tully of Riverrun.

He send a letter to lord Tully before coming, asking for an audience.

When they arrived at Riverrun they were received by Brynden Tully, a tall and lean man with auburn hair and deep blue eyes. And in a balcony you could see two girls while both were practically identical with their auburn hair and blue eyes, one was taller, with long fingers and high cheekbones, the other smaller and with a shy look on her face, with her hair reaching her waist. Which Maximilian assumed were the two daughters of lord Hoster Tully, Catelyn and Lysa.

"When I heard a prince was coming I didn't thought it would be a kid" said Brynden while getting closer and stretching his hand.

"Well you are as blunt as they say, it's a pleasure Ser Brynden or if you prefer black fish". Said Maximilian while taking Brynden's hand and shaking it, getting a snort from Brynden in response.

"You can but then I will call you baby prince". Said Brynden making Maximilian state at him with narrowed eyes. " you have come a long way to get here, what are you looking for? I doubt it is just because of a tourney". Said black fish.

"But it is, and besides I heard that you got a beautiful niece and your brother is looking for a good match for her, who knows maybe I will call you uncle before I leave this place". Said Maximilian with a cocky smile on his face, making the black fish turn red from anger.

"You should learn to control your temper. Apologies Ser Brynden but his training has increased and he is a bit aggressive this days, oh right, I'm Aurelius, his tutor". Said Aurelius trying to appease black fish.

"No ser, I'm the one who should apologize, I can't let a kid angry me that easily ".Said Brynden visibly more calm now, before bringing them inside, and bringing them into a hall, inside was a man who looked like black but broader and with a beard, apart from that you could see the resemblance between them, after all that man was his brother, the lord of Riverrun Lord Hoster Tully.

"I see you brought our guest Brynden" Said Hoster.

"Greetings Lord Hoster, I'm Aurelius tutor of prince Maximilian of the Nicene empire and lord of the summer islands. As stated in our letters we came to extend our hand in friendship, we are willing to offer the same terms we offered the other regions previously". Said Aurelius.

"Of course of course, but why are you offering such generous terms? I'm sure you could get more money if you directly sold your products directly to the merchants, and it would be faster, so why come all the way here to sell them for the same price you are selling them in the south?" Asked Hoster warily.

"In the end does it matter? You aren't losing anything, instead it will reinforce the economy of your lands, for someone who have vassals that are too powerful and can't command them it is a good way to close the gap don't you think?. But if it makes you feel better I will give you a reason, we need to offer better terms that the Essois, we both sell our products to your people, but they sell everything overpriced since you can't buy things from anyone else, but now you can, and I'm sure they won't like it when their profits go down, so we are scratching your back now so you will scratch ours later". Said Aurelius.

"I see, with how many lords you have struck the same deal?". Asked Hoster curiously.

"Besides you, just with three others, the deals were made with the lord paramounts of the westerlands the reach, and dorne, but still our merchant ships might bring our products to other ports and sell them directly to the minor lords or other merchants". Answered Aurelius unbothered by Hoster's curiosity.

After that conversation a servant brought Maximilian and his entourage to the rooms they will use for a week, until the tourney of Harrenhal begins and they would leave.

The week was uneventful, he expend the time training and in the free time he played with the Tully kids, especially Edmure, since they were the same age the boys became friends quickly, playing ball games, cyvasse, running or swimming, everything was pretty normal, except for a commotion that happened when the Tully girls saw the way Maximilian trained and thought someone was attacking him.

You could see two auburn haired girls running towards a man that looked like them, with blue eyes and auburn hair, these were Lysa and Catelyn, and the man was Brynden.

"Uncle, uncle, there's someone attacking max, they are in the field, hurry, his tutor is there but he isn't doing anything". Said Catelyn, since Maximilian started playing with Edmure and becoming close she started treating him like a little brother much to the other annoyance.

"Now now, calm child, I'm sure there's a perfect explanation for all of this, I doubt someone would beat him in our castle and I doubt even more his tutor will let him get attacked right in front of him". Said Brynden reassuringly.

After that Brynden was dragged by the two girls to the courtyard, and just when he was going to tell the girls they saw wrong, the words got struck in his throat when he saw a man on top of the young prince delivering punch after punch, and the prince just covering his face and some times when he finds an opening he delivered a blow to the man's face getting the latter a few bruises and a broken nose.

After a few seconds that felt like years Brynden awoke from his stunned state, and ran to the field but before he could separate the man from the prince he was stopped by the boy's tutor at whom Brynden glared with narrowed eyes.

"What are you doing? Aren't you seeing that man trying to kill your prince and instead of helping him you are trying to stop me?". Asked Brynden raising his voice obviously angry.

"He don't need help, that man isn't trying to kill him, he is a member of his guard, he would kill himself before letting any danger befall the boy. They are training, that's a challenge he needs to overcome by himself, the pain and anger will make him a man, the man he needs to be to rule, nobody follows the weak, so he must be strong, stronger than anybody else so they won't question his decisions. Now if that's all you wanted you can go now, he will be fine, after all at least now he fights back". Said Aurelius nonchalantly without looking at Brynden.

"What you mean by training, I don't even think the savages of the north of the wall will do something like this to a child, how can you just remain so calm seeing that?". Asked Brynden lowering his voice after every word sounding obviously more calm now.

"That's because we can't afford to be weak, while your people leave in plains and have abundant food and the only thing you should worry are greedy humans we have to fight all kinds of dangerous beast that could still kill a trained warrior, have you ever seen a wyvern? What about basilisks? Or walking lizards? Our people can't afford weakness because weakness means dead". Said Aurelius raising his voice a little.

After that the topic died there and they continue to watch the training, till it ended, and the Tully girls had to leave to their lessons with worried faces after seeing such brutality.

And so the time for the tourney grew closer and Maximilian had to depart from his new friends, wondering how much veracity was in the statements that claim that the tourney was planned to get the lords to support the prince in taking the throne from his father.

After some days of travel they reached Harrenhal, it was truly impressive, the bigger castle he had seen since coming to Westeros, it make him wonder why the kingdoms were ruled from kings landing instead of here, the castle was truly an impressive feat of architecture, it could almost rival the city of Thessaly, but even the it was as impressive as the imperial capital of the empire, a castle fit for a king. While getting closer he could see all sort of different banners, the grey wolf of stark, the crowned stag of Baratheon, the falcon of Arryn, the three headed wyvern of Targaryen, even though those creatures are called dragons for him they are just the progeny born from blood magic between a wyvern and a fire wyrm, as long as multiple other banners he didn't recognize after all he isn't from Westeros and while he knows the mayor players he don't really know the sigil of all the houses. And in the distance he saw a banner that truly make him excited, a spear piercing a red sun, the sigil of house Martell.

After that they reached the gates and entered the castle, it was certainly as huge as it seemed [that's what she said. Lol. I know it broke the immersion and all that but I can't resist it, I'm weak].

And once inside he was guided to the spot him and his entourage were suppose to make camp, it was fortunate that he send a letter to lord Whent beforehand if not who knows were he would've been send.

After getting inside he found out that he was seated next to the dornish envoys, it came as a nice surprise when he saw the one who came was oberyn, his friends father, and Cassius friend, the latter which get in front of oberyn and just started directly at him for a few seconds before both broke into laughter and hug each other, after that oberyn make the presentations between his new friends and his sister and her husband, prince Rhaegar.

Elia was slender and flat chested with black eyes and hair but that didn't meant she wasn't beautiful au contraire she was a very beautiful woman. And her husband prince Rhaegar was a man with the notorious silver hair and purple eyes of house Targaryen, and a very handsome man indeed.

After the greetings they started talking, prince Rhaegar seemed to show genuine curiosity for the empire, of course that was just a façade, in truth he only tried to see if he could get any useful information from the kid in front of him, sadly for him the kid was smart enough to realize that and just half answered his questions without letting him get anything useful. After that the other nobles came, he greeted the four stark kids that were seated besides the Martells, thee boys and a girl of course if you could call the bigger of them a boy, all with brown hair and grey eyes except for the smaller boy who had blue eyes. Besides them where lord Robert Baratheon and lord Jon Arryn. Robert was a young man with black hair and blue eyes and Jon was a man in his sixties already, from what Maximilian heard, Jon Arryn took both, Eddard and Robert as his wards, which mean they were all like a whole family.

After that they seated and waited for the tourney to start.

Then they heard a commotion, and saw knights in white and gold armor, accompanying a withered man, with long hair and extremely long nails, after seeing the colors of the mans clothes as well as the crown in his head Maximilian recognized him as King Aerys, and in that moment he understood many things, he heard the king was mad but he didn't knew the extend of his madness, but he could at the very least guest that the man didn't let no one get close to him with anything sharp in their hands, and he could assumed from the fact that the letter they send requesting an audience was denied that the man didn't let any stranger close to him, it seemed he was extremely paranoid.

And Maximilian wasn't the only one surprised by the state of the king, all around the place you could hear people murmuring, till the king get to his seat and they all stopped fearful of the king seeing them speaking of him.

And after a few moments of silence, a handsome young man with blonde hair and green eyes entered the arena, in that moment Maximilian knew what this was, how could he not, that man was Jamie Lannister, the brother of Cersei and the son and heir of lord Tywin, and so the ceremony began and Jamie was made a member of the Kingsguard, and while the fool was enjoying the clamor of the crowd, the king was doing the same, and surely the thing he enjoyed the most was the feeling of superiority, of how he the man that rule the kingdoms in his place for years, the one who people said was the king in all but name could do nothing if he decided to take everything from him, it is a lesson for him, that HE is in charge, that HE is the king.

Maximilian could just see this with a amused smile, an idiotic king who made his strongest vassal into his enemy and a foolish boy who abandoned everything he had to became a servant for the enemy of his father in exchange for a little glory.

After the crowd got silent once again, the king didn't let Jamie bask in the glory for more time and instead of letting him participate in the tournament he send Jamie back to kingslanding.

That night a banquet was held in the grand hall of the castle, in the banquet prince Rhaegar sang a sad song, and most of the ladys were mesmerized by his singing, some, like the stark girl were crying, even though Maximilian didn't understood that, why would they cry just for a song.

And after the prince took his seat Sextus stood up and took a flute from his bag, Maximilian stared dumbfounded at him since he never heard him using a flute, but before he could stop him Cassius told him to let him continue.

"Let him be, I'm sure seeing someone more handsome than him getting the hearts of all the lady's with a song surely wounded his ego". Said Cassius.

And for the next couple of minutes Sextus use his wyvernbone flute to perform the most beautiful flute song he has ever heard. While before the ladys were crying now they were standing in applause for him, while he looked at Rhaegar with a cocky smile on his face, and even the king gave him one applause, surely happy that someone took him down a peg.

And the first day ended shortly after that.