~~~Skyfall, Vale ~~~
~~~High council~~~
Artys Arryn POV
"How can you do this?" Lord Yohn Royce slammed his fist on the table.
The Bronze Boar is mad because the coffers of House Arryn, despite the massive income, are not saving much.
"You are simply throwing money away on these peasants," spoke Lord Corbray.
Since the war has ended, my control over the Vale has grown beyond measure, much to the disappointment of the noble lords.
Though many have not seen through my schemes, the sharp ones have seen through my plans.
"Brother, they are not peasants," Ser Lyn Corbray cut in with a lazy grin. "They are the heroes who bled for the Vale."
"Heroes? Heroes, you say?" Lord Corbray, Lyn's elder brother, spat with disgust.
I leaned back, watching the Corbray brothers bicker.
"My lord, there have been little to no attacks on our men, on the roads, or on any village. Most of the hill tribes are in Arryn lands, living as mere villagers under your hospitality."
Lord Corbray ignored his little brother and focused his gaze on me.
Ahh, the diplomatic approach.
"I agree. There is no need to train the men as we do," Maester Chiron spoke with caution.
A new lad sent by those old geezers of the Citadel.
If I am not wrong, he should be the tenth maester in the past five years.
His predecessors all died under mysterious circumstances, from natural deaths to falling off cliffs and whatnot.
"But the hill tribes," I said with a smirk.
"Are dead," the young maester said with confidence.
"As for the remnants, they are under your protection, my lord. There might be a few hundred left hiding in the forest, but they are no threat now."
I should have this one killed too. It's been a while since birds killed a maester.
"Maester Chiron, perhaps you are forgetting you are a maester, not the lord," I said in a low voice.
"I was merely suggesting," he corrected immediately, sensing the change in mood.
"But to me it felt like an order," I said with a smirk.
"Forgive me, my lord. I will make sure to correct my words before I speak next time."
"As you should. The maesters in Skyfall don't tend to live for long," Ser Lyn interjected with a cold smile, pointing a knife at the maester before going back to cutting the apple.
"Threatening a maester?" Lord Corbray said with disgust, looking angrily at his younger brother. "Have you fallen so low?"
"Oh please, brother. It's the Council of the Vale. We are not at home, and I am not your subject here. I think you should collect your ass and go back and fuck your wife," Lyn Corbray shot back.
"People are already calling her a barren wretch and you a ballless coward, and considering your age, I heard the maester say it's tough to have children in old age."
Not this again.
"Isn't it true, Maester Chiron?" Lyn asked the young maester.
"Ah... it is, ser," he spoke as his voice cracked out of fear of Lyn Corbray.
"Many books in the Citadel do suggest it becomes tougher to have children as you grow older, but there are exceptions, like... Lord Frey," the man explained timidly.
"Maybe you should send your wife to the Twins. Perhaps Lord Frey might—" Lyn said calmly with a smirk.
"ENOUGH! Lyn, she is your sister by law. My wife. Show some respect," Lord Lyonel Corbray stood up angrily as he slammed the table.
"What are you going to do about it, brother? Fight me?" Lyn chuckled arrogantly as he straightened his back and leaned on the chair.
"If that's what you want, come to the training grounds. We will decide it like men," he added.
"Lord Corbray, you know Ser Lyn is not very good with words and lacks manners. Just end it for now. You two may continue your discussion in private," I stepped in, raising my voice.
"Ser Lyn, you may hate your brother, but insulting your sister-in-law in such a manner in front of so many people is such insolence," I said, placing my hands on the table and leaning forward.
"This time I will let it slide, but next time there will be consequences. You will remember that, won't you?" I added, looking the man in the eyes.
The dozen Silver Knights in the room placed their hands on their sword sheaths, showing what would happen if my order was ignored.
"Yes, my lord," he replied, lowering his gaze.
"Now, coming to the matter of training. May I ask why you are all so opposed to it? Starting with you, Lord Royce." I looked at the old fool with amusement. He had tried multiple times to stop it.
"My lord, as I said earlier, the men are being called to train, and with the equipment there, it's becoming a problem, as it is looking like the Vale is getting ready for another war," he said, standing up.
"As per your instructions, all the lords call their levies once every six months to form a legion, and once every week the men-at-arms or knights go to nearby villages to train the eligible men. Earlier we had the excuse of hill tribes, but now there is none."
"The realm whispers. They say we prepare for war, and some even suggest you plan to rebel against the Crown once your father dies," he added.
"Rebel against the throne, Lord Royce? You know me. I am an Arryn, and I have sworn to serve King Robert and all his rightful children," I said calmly.
It happened a few months ago, so I made a public declaration that I would remain loyal to Robert and his rightful children until I die.
But he doesn't really have any rightful children, and my oath didn't include his brothers.
"Yes, you did, but with the hill tribes gone, even the king might soon suspect us," Lord Royce said, his eyes narrowing at me.
"Your father serves as Hand of the King, but there is a limit to how much sway he has on the politics of the realm. With the hill tribes gone, there is no excuse left," he added.
"Lord Royce has a point there, my lord. With the hill tribes gone, I think we should just stop with training," Lord Grafton joined in the conversation.
"Is that what you all think?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
I knew this day would eventually come. But my goal has been achieved. In the last year, the men have trained to fight in legions. So far, I have ten legions totaling fifty thousand men.
Since I introduced centralized recruitment, we are able to raise men more easily, though I am still nowhere near the level of the Romans. I mean, they could lose three legions in months and raise five more. I don't have any allies.
The ten legions are the limit of the Vale, plus my special units like the Silver Knights, the Moon Knights guarding the Bloody Gate, and the other two new gates I built to enter the Vale.
The hill tribes are, at least on paper, calm, but a lot of work needs to be done on them too. And then there is the Bear Legion, seven hundred men riding bears.
"Fine. Send falcons across the Vale. Tell the lords there is no need to train men any further," I gave my orders as Maester Chiron began to write them down.
"Next order of business. I suggest we stop paying levies three gold dragons every year from the Arryn coffers. Since they would not be coming to training and there is no war, and my lord, they are not mercenaries," Lord Royce began the next topic.
"By law, they are obliged to serve their lord and answer when called upon, same as we are to serve you and House Arryn," Lord Corbray said, supporting Lord Royce.
That's the entire fucking point.
I want these trained men to be thankful to me and owe me, so in case I march my armies, I face little to no resistance from the lords.
The Moon Knights now number two thousand since they receive twenty gold dragons in salary. Many hedge knights from all over the realm have joined, and many more are coming.
"Lord Royce, these gold dragons are a gift of thanks from House Arryn to the proud saviors who helped me in their cause. Don't worry. If you guys think I am having too much influence, then I will hand the gold to the lords and they can distribute it," I said softly.
"That should work," Lord Grafton interjected before Lord Royce could respond.
Greedy man, but stupid. They would know the money comes from me; the lords are just distributing it. I could stop it any time I wanted.
"Ser Nestor, you are in charge of the books. Tell me, how much is it costing me to pay them this?" I focused my attention on the High Steward of the Vale.
"My lord, you spend one hundred and twenty thousand just on the money you send to levies, and despite the income of House Arryn tripling, our coffers are almost empty thanks to—" he looked out the window.
I followed his gaze. From the window we could see the construction of my castle, which was being carved out of a literal mountain near Skyfall.
I have made the architecture a mix of Minas Tirith and Casterly Rock. The construction has been going on for three years now, and thousands of stonemasons, alchemists, and skilled workers needed to be called from all over the world for this.
"My lord, a raven came from King's Landing," a guard came in from the entrance.
I hope that old man granted me permission.
"Bring it to me," I ordered the knight.
"A raven from King's Landing? What happened?" Lord Royce asked with worry.
"What else could it be? They should be asking for another loan," Lord Grafton said arrogantly, not hiding his hatred as he spoke.
The man approached and handed me the scroll. I opened it and read the contents.
Wonderful. Finally, the old man agreed.
"It's from Father," I said, chuckling as I read it.
"What message does Lord Arryn send?" Lord Corbray asked.
"I asked him permission to make a visit to Essos," I said with a smirk.
"So Essos it is," Lord Royce sighed as he judged Father's answer from the smile on my face.
"Essos it is. Don't worry, you would enjoy your time. Ser Nestor will run operations in the Vale. Me, you, Lord Grafton, and Soryn will go to Essos," I said with a smile forming on my face.
After all, I had been waiting to leave Westeros. I had stabilized the Vale. Things are developing, the Vale is growing, the army is ready, but I need a base in Essos too.
The Unsullied, the Dothraki, mercenaries, all the wealth, and not to mention it's time I visited that island from the treasure map the Celestial gave me.
POV ends.