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—
Asgard
Robert waited in the docks as the fleet approached, having been slowed down by the special cargo.
Obelisk, on the other hand, landed next to him, scaring the people away, nuzzling Robert with his head before he sent him off to his brothers.
"Davos, Sandor, and Wun Weg, welcome back."
"My lord. I hope you are well."
"Meh, it's the same. Go find your families and rest; don't forget to bring them to the feast."
—
Sandor, having no family and no desire to rest since he has been on a ship for so long, stuck with Robert while the singular, crown-like horns were carried from the ships by dragons.
Manpower would work too, but it would take too long. Instead, the horns were chained from three places, allowing the dragons to lift and fly it all the way to the top of the cliff where the demon's corpse hung.
—
Generous as he was, Robert spared no expense for the feast. This one wasn't for the nobles, but for the families of the dead and the men who had gone to the Iron Islands with him.
Chicken, duck, goose, lamb, beef, exotic fruits and all kinds of vegetables, bread, chocolate cakes, which were quickly becoming a signature dish of Asgard, and different kinds of wine from all across the Seven Kingdoms were served.
The giants and the Children of the Forest, at least the ones that remained in Asgard, were in attendance too.
Foodstuffs were distributed all across the city, because tonight, everyone would eat like kings.
Demolishing his roasted duck, Robert cleaned his hands and mouth, rising with the wine glass in his hand. Dressed in his regal attire with a clean-shaven face, he, as always, cut an extremely dashing figure.
The hall fell silent; the people put down their utensils and stopped eating, listening to their lord with rapt attention.
"People of Asgard. Tonight, we celebrate our victory over the Ironborn filth. Not only are they not going to scourge the seas ever again, but they are now the North's problem."
"And from this day onward, the smallfolk of the Iron Islands will turn to farming as the Children of the Forest, our allies and a part of Asgard, turn those dreary islands into a liveable place." He announced, emphasizing the children's part in the Iron Islands and their place in Asgard.
The applause was loud, and Robert let it continue for a minute before stopping it.
"Now, eat and drink to your heart's content, and enjoy the feast." The people dove back into the food with gusto while Robert had the time to talk with his family. His father, mother, Tali, and Renly could not be here, but he would go see them soon.
—
Tyrion was puzzled.
"What exactly is an advancement fair, my lord?" Robert's explanation for his next task left him confused, because it was common for half of his words to not make sense.
Robert brought his fingers together, tapping them in a rhythm, looking at the ceiling as he thought about how best to explain this. "Tell me a tool that would make your tasks easier."
Curious to see where this was going, Tyrion considered his options. "Perhaps a quill that did not run out of ink so quickly?" When you had to work as much as him, constantly filling your quill began to grate on his patience.
"Now, imagine this. You make a list of tools like that, ones that would make your, my, and everyone's tasks easier. And you give them to scholars, to master builders, to blacksmiths, and offer a fat reward to anyone who makes it happen." Robert explained in the most practical way.
Slowly, Tyrion connected the dots.
"We can work faster, solve more issues, and sell those tools."
Robert snapped his finger and pointed at Tyrion. "That's it. Think about it, you wanted a quill that did not run out of ink so easily; how many others would want it as well?"
"Anyone who had to write something." And as the sole provider of that kind of quill, Asgard would decide the price.
And everything else that came out of the city.
"Exactly."
The possibilities of this idea were endless to him. "My lord, this might just be your most brilliant idea ever."
"Why do you think I brought all those artisans and scholars to Asgard?" Tyrion's eyes widened, not expecting a plan this long in the making.
Now, there was only one thing left for him to do.
"How do we make this list of yours?"
Tyrion would visit the workers of all kinds: farmers, blacksmiths, glassblowers, fishermen, dockworkers, and masons. He would ask them what they desired to make their work easier, make a list out of it with what each device should do, and offer a reward to the makers of the tools that show the most promise.
Most people did not have the coin to spend on making those tools, and as such, would be provided a stipend for that purpose, with severe punishment should it be misused.
If there was more than one tool that did the same thing, the reward would be split between them, provided there was no theft involved.
Every year, the tools would be presented to the people and Robert in the square during the Advancement Fair Week.
—
When the city hall workers began to nail papers across the city on boards, those who knew their letters took a look.
The rewards offered were mind-boggling to the people, who only saw the gold dragons offered in tourneys.
A thousand gold for a writing utensil that did not spill ink nor run out so quickly, two thousand for a farming tool that could thresh wheat faster, and another two thousand for one that could sow seeds faster than a man could, five thousand for a cheap and quick way of making paper, and ten thousand gold dragons for a loom that would work using a water wheel.
The list went on, offering countless gold coins for fanciful tools. Most who knew how to read found the rewards enticing but did not think they could deliver what was demanded.
Those that did, however, were the ones Asgard needed.
—
"Welcome to our first meeting after the mess with the Ironborn."
"Davos, let's start with you. How are the ships that are left doing?"
They had lost twenty ships out of the eighty at the start, and currently, forty were left behind to ferry the Ironborn to the Wall and would eventually return.
Close to eight hundred men were dead, most lost to the sea.
Cone, the Child of the Forest left behind to speak in Asgard's council, spoke of how their stay in Asgard was peaceful so far, the same with the giants.
The construction efforts in the city were going well, and most importantly, in a planned manner, and that way, the city would not turn into a dump like King's Landing.
Now, if he could only figure out the secrets of making dragonstone, but he had to wait for Leaf to return so she could take him to these underdwellers.
—
The North
Winterfell
Rickard hated his life.
The Ironborn in the Wall were being belligerent, as he knew they would be, refusing to follow orders, only eating, drinking, and wasting their days.
At least the Watch was supplied better now that their allies, the Crown, the Westerlands, the Reach, and even the Riverlands, were sending food, clothing, and such to the Wall.
But the Ironborn had to be brought to heel, and for that reason, the banners were called. There would be more to join the Watch soon, bringing the numbers beyond what it had been for centuries, and if this issue was not resolved, the Wall would be in danger.
Damn Robert for not killing them all.
They couldn't even refuse to take the Ironborn since the Slayer of Monsters and Demons, which was a new title for the man after killing a god-damned kraken of all things, had said he would just leave them on the shores of the North.
Every day, he hated Robert more.
But there were good tidings from the Crown, at least.
Lyanna, his daughter, the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, was with child, the future king if it was a boy, a princess if it was a girl.
The child would secure his daughter's position while strengthening the ties between the North and the Crown.
—
Two thousand men from the neighboring lords had gathered near Last Heart before heading to the Wall.
Lord Commander Jeor Mormont would bring the Ironborn for a hunt, which was the only good thing they did for the Watch, because it was an act they enjoyed.
Punishing them in the Wall itself would lead to fighting, which they could not afford, and the men Rickard had brought with him would surround the Ironborn and hang as many as needed for the reavers to understand something.
The Night's Watch would not tolerate their acts.
—
Victarion let the arrow loose, and it pierced right through the chest of the deer. The creature thrashed on the ground for a couple of seconds before lying still.
Hunting was just about the only thing they could enjoy in this damned wasteland. Ready to skin the deer, he stopped when an arrow fell next to his feet, stabbed into the ground.
Raising his bow and notching another arrow, Victarion looked around for the attacker, and a dozen men wearing the Stark sigil came out of the trees, pointing arrows and crossbows at him.
"What are you doing? I am a man of the Watch." He shouted, searching for the leader.
Who came out from behind the archers, and Victarion recognized the Stark heir. "You are nothing but pirate filth that should have been hanged, if only that Baratheon had the courage for it."
"Lower your bow and surrender. Your defiance in following orders will not go unpunished any longer." Brandon warned him.
Considering his options, Victarion lowered his bow. Even if he took one of them out, the rest would kill him.
—
Hundreds of Ironborn were brought to their knees before Lord Rickard Stark. Some had chosen to fight and were killed, but most had chosen to lay down their weapons.
"The Watch has stood for thousands of years, protecting the Seven Kingdoms from the horrors that lie beyond. Yet, you, as brothers of the Night's Watch, have refused to follow orders and carry out your duties." Rickard raised his voice to be heard clearly by everyone.
"Piss on that. We never had a choice." Someone among the Ironborn shouted back, and Rickard didn't even try to see who it was.
"True. You were foolish enough to attack Asgard, and look how it ended for you. You chose to join the Watch, fearing death, but your little rebellion will end here. Commander, who were the ones most defiant?" He asked, ready to crush the spirit of the Ironborn.
Jeor Mormont named each and every one, with Victarion Greyjoy at the head, who had emboldened the Ironborn.
Rather than the headsman's block, Rickard ordered them all to be hanged like pirates, a fitting punishment for the Ironborn.
The corpses would be left there, and every new Ironborn to join the Watch would be made to walk through the woods to see the price of their defiance. The sight of it already had the remaining reavers obey the orders.
—
Asgard
Valhalla
Robert, as usual, was sitting in his office, or solar in the local terms, working, when someone knocked on the door. It was Sandor, dragging three men covered in dust inside, and the smell made him gag.
"Why did you bring them here?" Robert waved his hand in front of his nose, trying to dispel the smell, and gestured to one of the men to open the windows.
Sandor, disgusted by the smell as well, smacked one of the criminals with the handle of his sword. "These bastards were caught trying to dig a tunnel to the vaults."
"And they dug into the sewers?" The smell made sense now and only made Robert more disgusted.
Sandor grunted, affirming his inference. "First, have them dipped into the sea until they don't smell, and bring them back when they are dry." Robert dismissed them.
—
While the robbers were being taken away, Robert listened to how they were discovered. Their neighbors, suspicious of the noise and the dirt around the house, had reported them to the city guards. Searching the house, they came across a hatch by chance, leading to a tunnel.
The owners of the house were found at the end, having accidentally dug their way into the sewers.
And we were brought to Robert.
Cleaned in the sea, the robbers looked like cats with ruffled fur.
He rose, slow and deliberate, taking his hammer in hand. "Trying to steal from me, eh? Who put you up to this?"
Wiping the glinting double-sided hook, Robert waited for an answer.
"Not going to talk? That's alright." He swung the hammer, the hooks going uncomfortably close to their eyes, scaring the shit out of them.
Robert shook his head. They weren't brave enough to keep a secret.
"Tyrion, how much do we pay the sewer cleaners?" He put the hammer down, sitting back and propping his legs on the desk.
"A lot, since no one wants to do it, and even then, it is hard to find enough men."
Robert clapped his hands. "Here we have three hale and strong workers already acquainted closely with the sewers."
Sandor sniggered.
"It is my belief that they should pay for their crimes by cleaning the sewers of Asgard as a constructive punishment." The men raised their heads, looking ready to beg, but Sandor pulled his sword out.
Feeling the sharpness of the greatsword touching their neck, the criminals did not make a peep.
"After a year, we might just send them to the Wall." If they were good in their work, Robert would name them the eternal sewer cleaners and keep them in Asgard.
"Take them away." He ordered with a wave of his hand, and the trio was dragged out.
"Cleaning the sewer pipes? I must admit, that is a brilliant idea." Even with its pay, dealing with the sewers was not well-liked work.
"Better than just turning them to corpses. Why hang a criminal when you can work them to the bone?"
That got a good laugh out of them.
—
After a thorough investigation, Robert came to the conclusion that those morons weren't ordered by anyone to do this. Their equipment was shoddy, and the plans were crudely drawn, without even an idea where the vaults were or the depth.
They were just three idiots hoping to find his vaults by digging a tunnel. Their first job was to fix the broken sewer walls, fill the tunnel back, and rebuild the torn floor before being taken to their new job.
—
In the next chapter:
"Well, well, I never expected to see you here, my lord. Why the secrecy?" Chataya was surprised to see Robert visit her establishment.
If she could hook him, his endless purse could be opened for her girls.
"I am not here to indulge. I just need two girls to help me with something." Robert asked, grinning. The girls were fine, nothing like that redhead from Morocco, but he was in the city for another kind of thrill.
Such a pity. "What would that be?"
Still, this wasn't a total loss, as Robert pulled out a fat sack of coin, handing it to Chataya.
"Ask no questions. Just know that it is dangerous, but I'll offer to pay the debt of the girls."
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In addition, if you enjoy the premise of a genius protagonist, you can check Arrival : Ruptures, my original story for much of the same in sci-fi, action, technological wonders and romance.