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CHP 32: Human Heart
🕑 Added 2024-09-04 16:17:43 +0000 UTCThe so-called Brotherhood without Banners had made its home in a wet cave inside the forest and as I'd come to notice, was little more than a band of angry common folk who'd lost someone to the horrors of war and deserter soldiers from all over the Kingdom, generally from skirmishes with the Mountain That Rides.
I didn't believe they stood much of a chance but I wouldn't know.
From a human perspective, the effectiveness of guerilla tactics was often either greatly underestimated or completely overlooked... From mine, such tactics didn't matter when one could utterly decimate the landscape.
One instance was Praetor Rykard, who'd destroyed everything in his path so utterly that little remained to rise back up against him, employing cruelty beyond measure in his 'crusade'.
Ultimately, that was what sealed the final nail in his coffin and made me assault Mt. Gelmir, his home, in the same fashion that he did his enemies.
Thoros of Myr was an interesting personality... and was attempting to make a fire in the cave with his weird 'magic'. All it seemed like to me was a faith-based incantation instead of real sorcery though.
Giving out some orders to the small company of men he had, Beric approached me with an amiable smile, his steps measured and one of his hands twitching, ready to draw his sword at a moment's notice.
"Apologies friend," He started, closing the one eye he had, "You said that you'd routed the Lannister host, and that you'd done it once before, yes?"
I smiled bemusedly and rested my chin on my knuckle, "Yep. I don't think you wouldn't have heard if you're worth even half your salt."
Letting out a small chuckle, he snapped one of his fingers. A man who'd been sitting in the shadows threw him a stool, Beric grabbed it in the air before straddling it with a larger smile, "Indeed, I just found the rumours hard to believe... But it is true that the rivermen at Golden Tooth move back to Riverrun."
I only nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"And considering my own circumstance, I find myself willing to accept what I hear... No matter how far-fetched it may sound."
"I don't think being resurrected compares to an army being wiped out..." I answered, curious to his reaction, "But you do you."
Beric Dondarrion was a young man, and to some degree, behaved as a young man would.
He laughed, "Perhaps not... But the Lord of Light has shown us all that the world is not as simple as we wish to believe it. If you don't mind, how did you manage it?"
I shrugged.
Maybe I could find this Lord of Light, it would make for a fine little sidequest.
"Lightning." I answered as plainly as possible, shifting slightly on the rock I was sitting on, "Now if you don't mind, what kind of rumours have you heard?"
Beric cocked his head, momentarily confused.
He'd forgone his armor but his tunic was still wet from the rain we'd been in and the occasional droplet tumbling to the ground made for quite the nice backdrop to his almost awkward silence.
"Ah, I suppose one would be curious." He finally rationalized my question with another grin, "Some say the Father has descended to pass righteous judgement. It has strengthened Robb Stark's cause by no small margin and weakened Joffrey's image... The Faith of the Seven has declared you a Devil."
Huh.
I nodded, "I guess at least one of the royals has some sense."
From what I knew and learnt, the Faith of the Seven was tied closely to the Iron Throne from its very inception... It'd make sense that the royal family would have some influence, whether by blackmail or by loyalty, on the Church.
It was an objectively smart decision.
"You don't seem upset?"
My eyes briefly flickered with draconic power, "It's not the first time, child. It won't be the last."
He moved back slightly, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, "What manner o-"
"I bear no ill will against you." I waved my hand with a loud chuckle.
The 'Faith' could brand me a Devil all they wanted... unlike the Lands Between, insane fanaticism was downright impossible here due to the nature of life.
Surprisingly enough, it was this world that taught me what I felt now.
To the down-trodden who suffered needlessly, any who offered help were angels and saints... They would find whatever justification they needed within their own hearts and minds.
The human mind truly was something.
"The common folk are largely supportive... but it has caused great divide in the people." Beric continued after a gulp, "The Faith has influence beyond its rights."
I accepted his words with a nod before looking around his company, "I'm thinking you all aren't gathered just to sit around in caves and party?"
"No." Beric denied my words, "I-... We, are gathered to do what is right. With the Lannister host held at bay... I will do what Lord Eddard Stark ordered me to do and hunt down the Mountain for his crimes. He will not stop me again."
The man with the axe snarled like an animal at the mention of their target.
"You're in luck, then." I smiled, "I'm also mountain hunting."
"That is grea-..."
"So what are you then?"
Beric and I looked over at Thoros.
The red priest had made himself comfortable next to his fire, gulping on wine from his flask. He'd posed the question with an unexpectedly serious tone but, matters of religion always tended to be quite... motivated.
Thoros took a long drink and fastened his flask back on his belt, under a swathe of belly fat.
He was almost as fat as Robert, but not nearly as tall, and not nearly as interesting a person. I wished we'd met before he was on death's door.
I grinned at the priest, "Why don't you ask your fire, Thoros of Myr? Or does your preaching extend only to food and wine?"
He'd told me the Lord of Light showed them visions of what was and what could be, and it was far too amusing a prospect to know what a God of this world thought about me... especially if he could see the future.
"Good idea." Thoros grinned back before turning his concentration to the fire.
The flame soared and flickered, embers flew into the darkness of the cave. It buzzed erratically, took on strange forms as I looked on.
Thoros was enthralled, as if some kind of spell had taken hold of him.
It reminded me of those affected by Miquella's 'love' for a moment before I pushed those thoughts away... That boy had been a monster, his 'love' was mind control in its purest form and made men kill their own blood with smiles on their faces.
A disgusting thing.
Horrid if one assumed its possible effects on his own sister... It was a terrifying possibility, one I couldn't ignore fully even if I wanted to.
Then, as I watched, the fat priest's healthy skin paled, beads of sweat formed on his thick forehead, and his heart drummed against his chest.
He came out of his trance with a sudden jerk, and trembled, "You are..."
I leaned in.
"A Go-"
"Let's not go that far." I laughed at his claim, the nature and audacity of it, "I'm just a humble traveller with a bleeding heart that's been around for a bit too long."
Ignoring his reaction, I turned to a stumped Beric, "Do you want me to join the hunt then?"
He cocked his head involuntarily but then nodded, "Yes... of course."
"Be right back."
-
As always, the journey back always seemed to be far faster.
It was the nature of what I saw along the way that made me feel an emotion I'd long forgotten.
I had no companions, and I was admired by none.
For as long as I could remember, I was shunned... and I'd come to think that that was natural and was mostly unbothered by such a thing.
This world had shown me that it wasn't the same, if I did what I was compelled to by my heart, I would be treasured and admired.
It wasn't a reward I'd thought I needed but found myself relishing.
I could rationalise it in the eyes of a human but... I wasn't one, was I?
It felt so... so odd.
So, when I saw even more burnt fields and dead common folk on my way back.
It tugged at my heart in a way I didn't think was possible...
For the first time in a long time, I felt something other than curiosity and amusement.
I didn't like what I saw.
As I neared Pinkmaiden, I saw thick black smoke billowing into the silent grey skies.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt uncertainty and worry.
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Hope you enjoyed.
Comment your thoughts and/or suggestions for the story.
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I hope you guys are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing this.
Even after a thousand years and more in Miyazaki land, Karl still has a beating human heart that's totally forgotten what it was like. He's susceptible and accepting of change due to his advanced heart, and most detached because of that same reason. But he's growing as a person, even now.
He's slowly 'mellowing' out.
I, at least, love this.
I hope you do too.
Comments
jonah suer
I mean, it was no real surprise, since Tywin said to Addam to meet up with the Mountain and assault Pinkmaiden together.
jonah suer
Damn, Karl feels a bit like Acnologia from Fairytail.....a dragonslayer that got so insanely strong by slaying dragons and mastering his art that he himself became/can transform into a dragon.
Donovan
Don't tell me that the mountain showed up at Pinkmaiden while he was out, if so great plot twist but I hate it in the fact that I really liked Addam and was hoping he got to survive
