She nodded. "Do it."
I placed my hands on her chest and arm at the same time. Growing the arm back was easy
But fixing her magical pathways was much harder. I had to carefully remove blockages that had been there her whole life. Rebuild channels that never grew properly. Open nodes that had never worked since she was born.
Ghost lay down beside me. His presence through our bond helped me stay calm and focused.
More than an hour passed. Finally, I pulled my hands away. Sweat soaked my clothes. I could barely stand. Ghost got up and pressed against my leg, holding me upright.
The woman looked at her new arm, opening and closing the fingers. Then without a word, she hurried out of the chamber.
A few moments later, a different woman entered. This one had Valyrian features—pale skin, silver-blonde hair, purple eyes.
But it was the same person. She'd changed her face.
"It works," she said, and her voice was different too. "Thirty years I served without this gift. And now, finally... "
….
I left the House of Black and White barely able to walk. Ghost supported most of my weight. The empty biomass sacks hung loose on his back.
Ghost helped me into the boat. I sat down heavily. He took the oars in his massive jaws and helped push us away from the dock. Through our bond, I felt his worry and his steady loyalty.
"I'm alright," I told him. "Just tired. We'll rest when we get home."
He huffed, he didn't quite believe me, but he'd stay by my side anyway.
The sun was setting as we rowed across the lagoon. Behind us, the House of Black and White stood quiet and still.
After reviving three faceless men, I'd gained something valuable today. I now understood how the Faceless Men's Magic worked. And I had a sample of that poisoned fountain water. With both of those things, I could potentially create more people with the face-changing ability.
Or a magic beast with shape-shifting abilities.
…
Back at my mansion, I collapsed into a chair. Morra brought food. Talea brought water. I ate without really tasting anything.
But there was still work to do. The Sealord expected results. And I needed to prepare seeds for the North.
"Sorro," I called. "I need you to gather wood. Fresh branches, as usual."
"How much, my lord?"
"Enough to fill the workshop. Hire help if you need to. I'll pay them."
….
One Week Later
The work took longer than I'd expected. Each type of plant needed careful study. I had to map its complete structure, understand how it grew, and figure out which parts to improve.
I started with wheat. I grew samples to full size, studied them down to the cellular level, then made changes to the seeds. I gave them deeper roots for poor soil. Better ability to use sunlight. Faster growth. Resistance to disease and drought.
Most importantly, I changed how fast they reproduced. Normal wheat took three months from seed to harvest. My version would be ready in four weeks.
I used the wood biomass Sorro collected, turning it into proteins and nutrients to feed the growing plants. Each change had to be tested. Grow the plant, watch the results, and collect seeds.
I did the same thing with barley, rye, beans, carrots, turnips, and onions. Each plant got its own improvements based on Braavos and the north's climate and soil.
Because of the difference in temperature between the north and Braavos, I am able to add a few genes that will work as a switch. In the north, these seeds will produce high yield for countless generations, but in Braavos, the lord will have to buy seeds from me after every third generation.
By the end of the week, I had modified crops that grew three times faster and produced twice as much food. They could survive conditions that would kill normal plants.
But the fruit trees were different. For those, I went much further.
Seven types: apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot, and a hardy northern berry bush. Each one got the standard improvements—faster growth, more fruit, better cold tolerance.
Then I added magic.
As I grew each tree from biomass, I built a magical node and circulation system in them at the DNA level.
These trees would pull energy from ambient magical fields. They'd grow even in frozen ground. They'd produce fruit through long winters. They'd survive things no normal tree could and produce enough fruit to feed the north.
I grew each type to full size in my garden.
Then I harvested their seeds, making sure the magical changes would pass to their offspring.
Seven types of impossible trees. Enough to feed Winterfell through the longest winter.
I packaged both seeds, seeds of modified crops, and fruit tree seeds.
The. carefully and wrote detailed planting instructions. I set them aside for the next parrot flight north.
The regular crops, without magical enhancement, I prepared for Qorro. I will use it to make money.
….
POV: Eddard Stark, Winterfell
The godswood was quiet save for the rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of the castle waking. I stood before the heart tree with Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik, and a handful of trusted men. Above us, perched on a thick branch, sat an enormous eagle.
Not just large but massive. Bigger than any eagle I had ever seen, with a wingspan that had to be near ten feet. A heavy leather pouch was hanging from its legs.
"Read it again," I said to Luwin.
The maester unrolled the letter, his weathered hands steady. He read in a clear voice:
"Father. The seeds I send are modified for northern conditions. The regular crops will grow three times faster than normal varieties and produce twice the yield. They can survive early frost and poor soil. Plant them as you would normal seeds, but they will be ready for harvest in four weeks instead of three months.
The fruit trees are different. They contain magical enhancements similar to what I did with Ghost. Plant them in good soil, water them well, and add horse dung as fertilizer. They will grow to full size within minutes and begin producing fruit immediately. They will survive winter, even the harshest cold, and continue producing year-round.
Seven varieties: apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot, and northern berries. I have included enough seeds to plant orchards across the North.
Distribute them to your most loyal bannermen. These seeds could prevent famine during the long winter. Keep this knowledge quiet. If word spreads to the south, Robert will want to know how you obtained them.
Trust the eagle. It will return to me when you are ready to send a reply.
Jon"
Luwin lowered the letter. "My lord, if what he claims is true…"
....