62 You are one vengeful woman Lady Barbrey

Proofread by: Akisu.

Oberyn and Doran were looking at the man like he was crazy.

"So what you are saying Ser, is that we can change the desert to a farmland again?" Doran didn't want to accuse the man of lying and smearing the knights honor, but his words sounded as unrealistic as magic to them.

"That's what the young Lord said. Not all of the desert can be transformed and he wants to try a few different methods in different locations, of course it will take time and manpower." Ser Rolf chuckled just imagining the sight. "But there is a lot of land that can. Our Lord will send his people to try it out, if you agree to his conditions that is... Prince Doran." he looked and waited patiently in silence.

"Both of which we have, but 30% of all the crops and Shandystone holdfast is a steep price to pay dear Ser, yet it is mentioned here that we can buy the crops back if the need arises right? And if the plan doesn't work we will get everything back?" Doran looked up from the letter.

"Yes Prince Doran, and the 3% to House Dayne, Lady Ashara exactly." Rolf added just as a reminder.

"It's still better than nothing brother." Oberyn added. "67% if they even manage to do half the things they promised, would allow us to increase our forces, feed the people without relying so much on trade and build our position again in Seven kingdoms and young nephew wouldn't do anything to make us loose out on the deal. You know how much he did for us already. He didn't have to, he wanted to."

Doran looked at his brother, he was used to playing the game, but as much as he thought about the young man's reasons for his actions he couldn't figure it out.

Pushing them to war with the Reach or the Stormlands? Please. They already were at each other's throats.

He thought a bit more, glimpsing at his brother a few times during the process, they needed allies.

For the first time after his sickness struck he resigned himself to listen to his heart hoping he won't curse this day in the future.

"Alright. Inform Lord Dustin that we agree to his conditions. Shandystone and it's lands will unofficially be given to House Dustin as per his request, officially it will be under his merchant company's management for now. But if you cross us..." Prince Doran tried to look menacing, yet in front of a Praetorian guard he looked like a child throwing a tantrum.

Ser Rolf had a small, cunning smile on his lips. "Congratulations Prince Doran." he smiled and took out a book from under his armor. "Our Lordship knew of Prince Oberyn's dedication concerning his persona, yet he didn't meet you before." the men looked baffled for a moment.

"So... this was a test?" Doran had to admit that he was a bit hurt and happy at the same time that the boy was not like Oberyn just mindlessly following his emotions not thinking about consequences.

"Yes, to make up for it he wrote already tested methods that you can use to increase the yield of your farmlands." he said and handed the small book to Doran.

"Now if you'll excuse me. I have to get back to my Lord. We have battles to fight..." Ser Rolf turned and walked out after taking the signed contract.

The two men spoke for a moment before Oberyn followed leaving the older brother alone in his thoughts.

Since he had some free time, he started reading the book left by the knight.

The beginning of it was nothing new to him, but the more he read the more he smiled, finally he couldn't take it anymore.

"Areo!" Doran shouted and his fateful guard came inside.

"You called my Prince?"

"Ask the maester to call every landed Lord in Dorne. We have a lot to talk about!" the last time he was so happy was when he was informed that his sister and niece were alive.

Thinking about it now, it too was because of the boy.

~~~

"Lady Dustin, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Lord Hoster Tully, an older but cunning man welcomed Lady Barbrey inside his castle just behind the gate.

He was clear about the power of this old family that had the blood of the First Men and the Barrow Kings in it. Especially since the woman that was now standing in front of him took over after the death of her husband.

The day he heard that his daughter, that he successfully wedded to the North arranged a marriage between the offspring from both powerful houses he laughed so much that his jaw hurt the next day.

"Lord Tully, I heard your health is deteriorating, but it looks like it was nothing more then false news." she had her Ladylike bearing again when she bowed."Haha I'm getting old Lady Barbrey, before I go to meet my Lady wife again I will be happy knowing that our houses are related." hearing him Lady Dustin had to pause for a second and rein in her emotions.

The house that took her love and her son's father from them, had the nerve to talk about being connected as family? 'Dream on!' she thought.

Marriage with Starks is one thing, but for a weak house like Tully to boast about it? Ha!

"Yes... well. Lord Holster I would like to speak about something with you." she gracefully grabbed his underarm and started walking inside the castle.

They moved for a while joking about her visit to The Twins as the word spread about her meeting with Lord Frey.

Lord Tully was so happy for the Late Walder's problem as he alone was indecisive enough to plug the weeds out from his lands.

They arrived into his solar under the Dustin and Tully men escort.

"What can I do for you my Lady?" he sat in his chair behind the desk and poured some wine for both of them greedily glimpsing one last time at Dustin knights equipment.

"My Lord. I know you don't like to beat around the bush, so I will go straight to the point." she sat in front and drank a sip of the wine he gave her, noting in her head that it was nothing special. "I want to renovate Oldstone for my merchant company to manage." she smiled at the Paramount Lord of Riverlands as his smile grew wider the more he thought about it after hearing her words.

"Haha. You are one vengeful woman Lady Barbrey." he alone had a vicious smile that was not seen since his health deteriorated.

"I will take it as a complement my Lord." she bowed her head slightly. "The north remembers." Barbrey added in whisper, but the old Tully still heard it.

"So that was the reason you stayed in Seagard with House Mallister and Raventree Hall with House Blackwood. I assume that I will receive ravens from them soon my Lady?" Lady of Neverwinter didn't confirm his speculations or deny them.

"You know I don't do pointless things Lord Tully." she said and looked at the lord in silence waiting for his decision.

"The Freys won't be too happy, the town is on their lands after all." all these years he was thinking how to slap one of his unfaitfull bannerman and now, now with the Lady before him he finally had his chance. If she was willing to bear Late Walder's wrath then so be it.

"Oh really my Lord? Silly old me. In that case I would like to request your approval to renovate or build a new castle and ask for the neighboring lands as well. It so dangerous there after all." her eyes changed to the cold ones when she remembered her visit at The Twins.

"Haha! I like you more and more my Lady. I will agree to it. I will even give you the approval to garizon it with 2000 men. Your caravans need protection after all right?" he agreed to the idea and even wholeheartedly supported it just in spite to the Freys that he so much hated. "But..." his demeanor changed without any reaction from the Lady. "The taxes will be payed to Riverrun without question. We will have the priority in supplies in case of any issues." those were his terms.

"I can agree to the taxes. The supplies can be sold at fair prices as well if you have the coins and we will prioritize Riverlands needs, but in this case I expect the River Lords protection for my caravans here." she negotiated with the old trout.

"To this I can agree, it's in both of our interests. But tell me Lady Dustin just out of my curiosity. Why not White Harbor like before or the usual ports?"

"Let's just say that Lord Wyman felt too comfortable with the way things were going, the same for the others. Gold can make those not acquainted to it, do stupid things Lord Tully. It's time for a change my Lord. Just that."

The negotiations finished and the Lady said her goodbyes to Lord Holster and his son Edmure after the man barged in on their meeting whining to his father.

Since everything was done and confirmed by contract she wanted to move on.

"Ser Hadrian." the knight closed in. "Inform our people to start moving. I want the castle to be finished first. Lord Tully will send ravens in the next fortnight letting the other lords know. Send for our men to come and guard the smallfolk from House Mallister and Blackwood while they work." she handed him the contract for safekeeping.

"The garrison my Lady?" he asked while taking the document.

"2000 men, but build it like my son said to fit up to ten times as much if needed. The wall should be started around the town as well, I don't trust the Frey to just sit back and watch. Take the troops without families that are already trained from Neverwinter, we never know what the weasels will do." she said and went in the direction from where a child's laugh came, leaving the man to do his things as everything was prepared beforehand.

"Mama!" a small bullet came straight into Lady Barbrey's arms.

In the tent near the clearing next to the Red Fork river was a small girl that was a bit sweaty from running around with two small wolves.

Lord Tully proposed for her to stay in the castle as per guest rights, but she refused not trusting anyone she didn't knew.

"Did my little girl finish her lessons?" she asked while kneeling before the child and brushing her sweaty hair to the side.

"Mmhm!" Bri nodded, smiling. She just loved her Lady's touch, it reminded her so much of her mother's. "The teachers said that I'm smart and learn fast!" she was happy to relate what her instructors said, especially so since she knew from experience that it would make her foster mother happy.

"Good girl!" she hugged the child. Lady Dustin liked the feeling of hugging the little girl just like she did to her son before. Maybe this was some type of defense mechanism for her since her son left.

"Mama Ser Hadrian said he will teach me how to fish later! He said that grilled trouts are the tastiest!" Bri excitedly jumped around holding Lady Dustin's hand not noticing the cold flash that passed the woman's eyes.

'The north remembers' she thought to herself.

Lady Barbrey's personal knights all smiled watching the young child. She was like a breath of fresh air in this shit filled world.

"Oh? Now did he? Do you think I can join?" she asked pretending to be bashful.

"My Lady, the meal is ready." one of her handmaidens came and Bri quickly let go of her hand.

The Lady just looked at her and nodded while walking in front to the table already set outside the tent followed by the child walking obediently after her.

The table was set with light snacks prepared by the House chef that she always took with her whenever she traveled. Barbrey didn't trust anyone outside of her people. They had few chefs in the castle and each one of them was the best from their own region's Dustin restaurants and inns. Even King Robert proposed to hire some of them and went to all extents to do so just to be rejected.

Since more eyes were on them now, the playful child behaved like a proper young lady.

They sat at the table and tried the chilled mint tea for the Lady and the juice for the girl and just looked at the beautiful view in front of them.

Loki and Laika were at their legs biting the juicy, bloody steaks not minding the surroundings.

"My Lady." Ser Hadrian joined them as the guards saluted him.

"Join us Ser Hadrian." it was a common thing and at home they usually ate with their trusted knights or stewards, a habit she learned from her son.

'If you know their names they will follow you, if you know their family names they will die for you.' as her son used to say. Like most of his words wise beyond his age, but true nevertheless.

Ser Hadrian sat down without any hesitation, before he placed anything on his plate, he reached out and placed some of the foods for little Bri to enjoy.

Stuffed dates in honey, cherry pie, honey and lemon bread, nut pie, lemon cake, cheese cake with fruits, eclair with whipped cream the child's favorite, basically anything he knew the girl enjoyed.

"Don't you think you're spoiling her too much Ser Hadrian? Lady Dustin asked when she saw her usually strict knight's actions while wiping the child's mouth with her handkerchief smiling.

"She deserves it my Lady." this must have been the longest sentence he said in the fortnight's time.

"Is it done?" the adults started to speak when they were left alone with the guards surrounding them at a distance.

"Yes my Lady. The falcon's were send, by the way Qyburn will arrive in 2 days." he said without any emotion, but Lady Barbrey knew he was happy hearing him speak so much. The whole conversation his eyes went to the young girl to make sure she was alright like an overprotective grandfather.

"Did he finish his job in Qarth so soon?" she was surprised.

Another one of the young Lord's "must have people" as he called them. This time again, he was right.

Her son had the tendency to bring in people that she never knew existed, but each one of them had something that they were exceedingly good at. Even with some of them having... flaws like Davos's lack of etiquette or knowledge outside sea faring, Qyburn's unhealthy interest in experiments to the captured, unlucky enemies of their house. They had other aspects that made them commendable. Most of all. Loyalty.

"Yes. He took care of it." Hadrian drank some wine. "He went to meet Rina in Meereen and the young Lord's magi in New Lhazaar after." Barbrey was amused.

"Looks like his pursue of knowledge never ends." they smiled after she said that. Well, she smiled and Ser Hadrian did something almost lookalike.

Remembering the time when Qyburn came to Neverwinter for the first time, she almost wanted to burst out laughing.

When the ex-maester whom she liked, since she met him, having similar views on the rest of the grey rats like her assisted with his first, simple surgery with Neverwinter doctors he had so many questions like a child.

A few moons after, he was the one leading the surgery and since then, their medical knowledge only increased. The conversations the man had with her son sounded to her like a magical formula. Blood types, bacteria and many more she didn't understand opened the doors for Qyburn that he never knew existed.

Lady Barbrey was happy that another one of her trusted men would join them soon.