"My energy will be entirely devoted to researching this ancient knowledge in the future, so you should delegate the roles of Speaker of the Council of Government and Chief Administrator to someone else," Malora declared after finalizing the details of the laboratory's construction.
Lynd felt a sudden headache upon hearing her words—he simply had no suitable candidate for the position of Speaker of the Council of Government.
This was an incredibly crucial role, holding the highest authority in the territory, second only to himself. The Speaker wielded immense power, even able to temporarily act in his place when he was absent. Without both capability and absolute trust, no one could be allowed to assume the position.
"No, you'll have to continue serving as Speaker for now. At least until I find a suitable replacement," Lynd immediately rejected her request.
Malora was uncompromising. "No, I need to personally oversee the laboratory's construction to prevent the craftsmen from making mistakes. Besides, the chairmanship has already taken up too much of my time. I refuse to waste any more on something so pointless."
Lynd was just as firm. "It's easy for you to walk away, but if you do, everything else will grind to a halt. Whether you like it or not, you will stay in that position until I find a replacement."
He didn't give Malora a chance to argue and warned, "Don't even think about acting rashly. If my territory falls into chaos because of this, I'll strip you of your right to experiment, lock you out of your newly built laboratory, and hand all your experimental resources over to Qyburn."
"You—" Malora was so enraged that she couldn't speak. She wanted to push back, but after so many years together, she knew all too well that when Lord Lynd made a decision, he enforced it ruthlessly. Confronting him head-on would only make things worse for her.
"My lord, Lady Malora, there's no need for the two of you to argue over this," Qyburn interjected, breaking the tense atmosphere.
In truth, Qyburn had no intention of helping Malora. On the contrary, he would have been pleased to see her locked out of the laboratory for defying Lynd. That would mean gaining access to her share of experimental resources and, more importantly, the mysterious knowledge she controlled.
However, he also understood that even if Malora were temporarily locked out, Lynd would eventually let her back in. When that happened, she might not dare to retaliate against Lynd, but she would have no qualms about taking revenge on him.
Not wanting to become collateral damage in their dispute, he had no choice but to step in with a solution.
"In fact, my lord, there has always been someone by your side who can take Lord Malora's place. There's no need to waste time searching for a candidate," Qyburn said.
Lynd and Malora exchanged puzzled looks. Neither had any idea who Qyburn was referring to.
"It is Lady Nymeria," Qyburn revealed directly. "She is the person Lord Lynd trusts the most. Her administrative skills are more than sufficient to manage the affairs of the cabinet. Furthermore, Lady Nymeria's territory and the Lord's territory are now nearly indistinguishable—many of their affairs are intertwined and dependent on one another. Since that is the case, why not unify their administration and handle them as a single entity?"
"The merger of territories isn't as simple as you make it sound…" Malora frowned.
"No! I never said the territories should be merged—each will remain distinct. I'm suggesting only that their governance be handled collectively," Qyburn clarified.
"You're right," Lynd nodded. She is indeed a suitable replacement… but will Nymeria agree? He then turned to Malora. "If Nymeria agrees, you will transfer the administration to her within the next few days. If she refuses, you'll continue holding the position until I find a suitable candidate. That is my decision."
Without giving Malora an opportunity to protest, he turned and walked out of her office.
Back at the official residence, Lynd informed Nymeria about the selection of a new head for the cabinet.
After listening, Nymeria did not give an immediate answer. Instead, she said she wanted to discuss it with the officials of her territory before making a decision.
Lynd had no objection to this but asked her to provide an answer as soon as possible so that he would have time to find a replacement for Malora if necessary.
Though he had acted decisively, he was well aware that Malora's mind was now entirely preoccupied with the pursuit of ancient and mysterious knowledge. Even if forced to remain in the political advisory cabinet, she would not give her full attention to the role. It would be far more beneficial to find a replacement and allow her to focus on her research.
Lynd did not linger in the territory for long. Once he had finished handling miscellaneous tasks, he left Summerhall and traveled to Grassy Vale, where he boarded a boat downstream to Highgarden. His purpose was to deliver the Winter Horn to Willas.
This time, however, he was not traveling alone. Nymeria accompanied him—not just because she didn't want to wait for his return in the territory, but also because she had heard rumors that Highgarden possessed a type of magic medicine that could help women conceive.
Lynd found the idea laughable, yet he refrained from mocking Nymeria's belief. He understood how desperately she longed for a child, and in a world where monsters and supernatural forces existed, he could not entirely dismiss the possibility that such a medicine might truly exist.
Since there was no urgency to their journey, they traveled at a leisurely pace, taking the boat provided by the Lord of Grassy Vale and floating slowly downstream. What would have been a two- or three-day journey took them eight.
Upon their arrival, Nymeria and her companions searched for the rumored magic medicine in the town outside the castle, while Lynd went alone to meet Willas. However, Willas was not the only one present—Lord Mace's family had also gathered in the Three-Hearted Tree Godswood, where Willas often spent his time, eager to see the legendary Winter Horn for themselves.
"Is this the Winter Horn? It looks rather ordinary," Garlan and Loras remarked in unison as Lynd retrieved the artifact and handed it to Willas.
"What the eye sees is not necessarily the truth," Willas said as he examined the horn. Then, he passed it to his younger siblings and the rest of the family, allowing them to inspect it in turn.
"Thank you for your efforts, Lord Lynd," Willas said, bowing in gratitude.
Lynd smiled. "It was also an opportunity to explore the Land of Always Winter and encounter some legendary beings. A worthwhile journey."
"Lord Lynd, is it true that you have subdued a group of giants?" Margaery asked curiously.
"Yes. They are now stationed at the Redemption Sept as guards," Lynd replied. "If Lady Margaery ever visits Summerhall, she is welcome to see them for herself."
The conversation soon turned to the White Walkers and the Wildling tribes. Though Lord Mace had already recounted much of what had transpired at the Small Council, hearing the firsthand account from someone who had been there was a different experience altogether.
Even after Lynd had finished his account, the group remained full of questions. However, knowing they should not occupy Willas and Lynd's time any further, they soon took their leave.
"Father, let me keep the Horn of Winter for a few days before you send someone to deliver it to the Red Keep," Willas said, stopping Lord Mace and gesturing toward the horn in his hand.
Lord Mace hesitated briefly before nodding and handing the Winter Horn to Willas. He then ordered several teams to guard the perimeter of the Godswood to ensure its protection.
Once everyone else had left, Willas instructed Vortimer to push him to the small pool at the center of the Three-Hearted Tree. When they reached the pool, he had Vortimer place the Winter Horn into the water.
The moment the horn touched the surface, Lynd caught a flicker of magical light emanating from it. Instinctively, he shifted his vision to the vision of Glory and was met with a striking sight—Garth Greenhand, the legendary Greenhand himself, raising a Magic Hammer high and striking it down onto the Winter Horn upon an anvil. With each blow, another layer of a magical shell formed around the horn, as if reinforcing the seal on the power contained within.
Lynd did not linger on the vision for long and quickly withdrew his gaze. By that time, Willas had already directed Vortimer to push him back in front of Lynd before dismissing his attendant.
"Did you also bring the dragon egg you obtained in Summerhall?" Willas asked as Vortimer disappeared into the woods.
"Yes." Lynd retrieved the dragon egg from his backpack and handed it to Willas.
Willas took the egg into his hands and examined it carefully. "It's alive, not a dead egg. It's merely dormant, and it won't wake up for some time."
Lynd nodded. "I know. Someone already told me."
"The one from the Kingswood?" Willas guessed.
"You know her?" Lynd was mildly surprised.
"I only learned of her recently," Willas admitted, his tone carrying a trace of admiration. "She is truly remarkable. Unlike the Children of the Forest, she has chosen a different path. Now, all she needs is the right opportunity to complete her final metamorphosis."
"Final metamorphosis?" Lynd mused. "Do you mean… becoming a deity?"
"No." Willas shook his head. "If we're talking about gods, then the power you and I wield could have been considered divine during the Age of Dawn and the Age of Heroes. Gods are not rare. A tree, a river, even a mountain can become a god. But a truly eternal existence—now that is rare. I will never reach that state. You, perhaps, might. And she… she is only one step away."
"I didn't expect you to think so highly of her," Lynd said, unconcerned. "To me, she's just a friend."
"Friends." Willas smiled. "We are friends as well, aren't we?"
"Of course." Lynd nodded.
Willas' smile deepened as he handed the dragon egg back to Lynd. "I may have a way to accelerate the hatching of this egg. Would you like to try it?"
Lynd took the egg and thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I think it's better to let it hatch naturally."
His decision was not just because he knew the Red Comet was the key to awakening the dragon egg and that Willas' method was bound to fail. He also recalled Spark's warning—do not get too involved with the Chosen of the Old Gods. And Willas, as the Chosen or even the incarnation of Garth Greenhand, was precisely such a being.
Seeing that Lynd had declined, Willas did not press the matter. They continued their conversation for a while, and just as their meeting was coming to an end, a sea eagle suddenly swooped down from the sky. When it reached the top of Willas' head, its wings trembled slightly, slowing its descent until it landed gently beside his chair.
Willas retrieved a small piece of parchment from the bird's leg, read its contents, then glanced at Lynd with an amused expression before handing the note to him.
The message reported that Nymeria had found Willas' secret apothecary shop and was seeking to purchase a few bottles of the so-called miraculous medicine that could help a woman conceive. The shop's attendant, recognizing Nymeria's special status, had chosen not to sell the medicine immediately. Instead, under the pretense of restocking, he had contacted Willas to seek further instructions.
Even though Lynd typically paid little attention to such matters, it was undeniably awkward to have something so personal known to outsiders.
"I can probably guess the situation," Willas said, suppressing a chuckle. "It's likely because you are too strong and she is too weak, which makes conception difficult."
His tone quickly turned serious. "There are two solutions. One: you weaken yourself to the point where you are on equal footing with Lady Nymeria. If you both reach the same level, the likelihood of conception will increase. But… I don't think you should attempt this method. So that leaves the second option—strengthening Lady Nymeria's body in a short period of time. If she becomes strong enough to withstand your strength, her chances of conceiving will be much higher."
Lynd narrowed his eyes slightly. "From what you're saying, do you have the means to make Nymeria strong enough in a short period of time?"
"Yes." Willas nodded and rang a small bell to summon Vortimer. When the attendant arrived, Willas instructed him to retrieve a bronze box from the bookshelf in his quarters.
A short while later, Vortimer returned, carrying a square bronze box. He placed it on Willas' lap before silently withdrawing once again.
Willas opened the box and carefully removed four fist-sized glass bottles filled with a thick, fuchsia liquid. Even through the glass, Lynd could sense the potent magic radiating from the potion—it carried an almost tangible essence of vitality, a feeling of nature's resurgence.
"This is a potion I developed," Willas explained. "If you and Lady Nymeria each drink one before resting, her body will gradually strengthen to a level comparable to yours, significantly increasing her chances of conceiving."
Lynd took the potion and examined it closely. "Is this something you can produce in large quantities?"
"Absolutely not," Willas replied firmly. "It took me over a year to refine this batch. I had originally intended to give it to Vortimer before sending him to the Land of Always Winter in search of the Horn of Winter. But since I found a more suitable candidate in you, I didn't use it on him."
He added, "The creation process is extremely complex and a great strain on me. I doubt I will make another batch. So if you choose to use it, do so wisely—don't waste it."
Lynd remained silent in thought. Despite Spark's warning about getting too involved with the Chosen of the Old Gods, he ultimately decided to take the four bottles. He planned to return and have Malora analyze the potion's composition before making any decision about giving it to Nymeria.