Chapter 120

Domeric bent down and looked at the little marvel inside the glass.

It was a rat. A common rat that you would find skulking around just about anywhere.

Except that it was not an ordinary rat anymore. In fact, this rat was strengthened by the sacrifice of 100 of it's brethren that were now lying dead inside a large runic array. Their bodies decayed and hollowed by the ritual.

That was a few hours ago.

Since then, he had performed various tests on the rat and confirmed that it was now indeed much stronger, faster and smarter than before.

The Ritual was a success.

Or that's what it seemed for now. He'll have to keep the rat under observation for some time to see if there were any side effects of the ritual.

If not, then he would move on to larger specimen.

He had already ordered a batch of monkeys from Pentos.

Creating a whole serious of cages for all of them was going to be a repetitive and annoying task.

Oh how he missed his cute little house elves now. Things would be so much more easier with them around.

He observed the Rat for a few more moments, wondering if there was anything he missed when he felt Communication Mirror vibrate in his pocket.

He frowned and picked up the call.

"Lyra. What have I told you about not bothering me when I'm busy." He asked with a frown.

Lyra, for her part looked apologetic and gave him a sincere bow, as well as a good view of her own bountiful cleavage that sent a jolt of heat to his loins.

"My apologies my lord" she said huskily "But I think that this might be important to you."

"Speak then." He said, using Occlumency to calm his raging hormones that were telling him to apparate to her side, bend her down on a table and ravage her to his heart's content. Puberty was a bitch.

"Do you remember me telling you about Tyrion leaving Kings Landing on his father's orders to spy on you?" Lyra asked.

"Yes. The report sent by Chataya. I remember it. That was what… two months ago. How come he's not here yet?"

"Yes. Well, Tyrion went by the land route instead of the sea."

"That… Why would he do that?" he personally knew from experience that travelling long distances in a horse was really a chore.

"From what I know of Tyrion, he seems like an adventurous sort." Lyra replied "Or maybe he was just doing so on purpose to piss off his father."

"Perhaps. The last time I met him, he hated his father. I doubt that has changed since then. But do go on with your report."

"Yes. Well, it seems like Tyrion has reached Winterfell and has stopped there for a few days."

"What does he want from the Starks?" he asked.

"I don't know. But I guess he wants to confirm the rumors about your and Sansa's betrothal without seeming rude." She replied.

What? "Rumors?" he asked "What rumors. How come everybody does not know about my and Sansa's betrothal?"

"Well… by the time you and Lord Stark set up the betrothal, all the lords had already left Dreadfort. And since neither you nor Lord Stark held a Feast to announce the betrothal, everything is still very unofficial. Plus, as the saying goes, what happens in Dreadfort stays in Dreadfort. And I doubt Lord Stark would tell others about the betrothal because of all the conditions you set for him. If words about it reached the ears of the other people then Lord Stark would look weak in front of his lords."

Huh… he didn't even knew that he was supposed to hold a feast and officially announce the betrothal in front of the other lords.

His aunt was the one who usually informed him about such things… Oh…

Knowing the hatred she held for the Starks, he was not even surprised that she would hide such an important thing from him.

In hindsight, he should really have kept another adviser to advice him in matters dealing with the Starks.

He should also start learning about the customs and traditions of the Northern people even if he didn't really felt like a true Northerner.

"Keep an eye on Tyrion." He told her "Inform me when he leave Winterfell."

"I will my lord." She said giving him another sensual bow that revealed much of her cleavage to him.

He cut the Communication mirror after that and grimaced at the tent in his pants.

He would need to call for another whore at night if that did not go away.