"Can I learn?" Arya asked without any hesitation or concern for the consequences of her own words. After all, despite what the girl said, she was a Lady of a Great Noble House.
Arya learning magic meant many things, especially for the Faith of the Seven, who would see this as an affront to their authority. The North not only had different gods, but also harbored mages.
This could very well trigger a chain of quite significant events throughout all the Seven Kingdoms. But Cadmus thought about this for only a moment and smiled gently. He didn't give a damn about what his actions would cause.
Reaching into his bag, Cadmus took a while to find the books he wanted, and when he grabbed them, he pulled them out of the bag. The book wasn't thick, it had about ten pages. It was a book containing everything about what the people of this world called Skinchanger.
"This book will help you enhance your powers. If you have talent, you could even control bears, lions, and even a direwolf." Cadmus handed the book to Arya and said with a smile. "Just like Brynden Rivers used to control hundreds of ravens, which became his eyes and ears."
Hearing the name of the Great Bastard, Jon Snow's eyes lit up. Brynden Rivers had always been one of his favorite heroes from the stories, a royal bastard who became Hand of the King during the reigns of Aerys I and Maekar I.
(Note: The Great Bastards were the sons and daughters of King Aegon IV with other women of noble birth, so they were called Great Bastards.)
Robb also looked at the book with an excited gaze. Just hearing that he could control direwolves was enough to make this young heir of Winterfell extremely excited.
"Heretical abomination, how dare he taint my daughter with his diabolic power." Catelyn could no longer stand still. As a faithful follower of the God of the Seven Faces, indoctrinated since youth to be an epitome of brainwashing, how could she accept her daughter performing such heretical acts.
However, her words made all the Northern Lords show expressions full of displeasure. Although they felt fear of magic, this was, in the end, a characteristic of the First Men.
Catelyn's words were practically insults to all of them, who were proud descendants of the First Men. Even Eddard frowned before relaxing again. He looked at his wife and spoke, whispering discreetly to his wife, "Cat, watch your words."
Catelyn looked at her husband with an irritated look, but taught to be a good wife and submissive to her husband, she closed her mouth, but anyone could see the veins pulsing on her forehead, showing how irritated she was at that moment. She could only look with anger and resentment at the source of all this.
As if feeling a gaze full of anger, resentment, and fury falling upon him, Cadmus raised the corners of his lips. He knew that Catelyn Stark, née Tully, was extremely irritated at that moment, but he didn't care about the Faith of the Seven, so how could he care about a mere Catelyn?
"Are you sure you want to give us this book?" Robb asked with an uncertain tone. It might seem like a simple book, but this book could create someone similar to Brynden Rivers from generation to generation for House Stark. As Heir to the North and a talented strategist, he could see the infinite possibilities with this magic.
As Cadmus had said, Brynden Rivers became a Master Spy with this power. If House Stark had this power, they could control the entire North much more easily. So Cadmus's gift was really very expensive. So expensive that he couldn't imagine why this mysterious man would share this knowledge.
If Cadmus heard Robb's thoughts, he would have said that they both had different worldviews. If Robb had such knowledge, it would be a secret that only House Stark should possess, but in Cadmus's eyes, knowledge was everyone's right, regardless of noble birth or not.
"It's just a copy, I have about five more, so don't worry and accept it." Cadmus spoke with a smile, and his words sounded enigmatic as a mage should be. "I'd like to see how much a book could alter someone's future."
Robb, Jon, and naturally Arya didn't understand his words, but that didn't stop them from being happy to receive such an extraordinary book. Especially Robb, who was smiling as if he had just lost his virginity.
As for the Faith of the Seven, just like Cadmus, Robb never cared about that arrogant church. The North had its own gods and wouldn't accept other gods, especially those of the Andals. If it weren't for Catelyn, the North wouldn't even have a church dedicated to the Faith of the Seven.
Cadmus smiled, seeing the expressions of the three Starks. He really wanted to see what a mere magic book could do to alter someone's fate. That's why he loved magic—only magic could perform this kind of miracle.
"Let's rest." Geralt, who was already impatient with so many people around him, spoke in a calm tone. Cadmus looked at him and nodded, put the money for the meal on the table, and left with the witcher, but not before nodding to Eddard Stark.
In this alternate universe, this man endured immense pressure by remaining neutral in a political minefield. Everyone wanted the North as allies, as this cold and lifeless region had powerful and experienced warriors.
Honestly, Cadmus found it hard to believe that Eddard would come to the South. It was obvious that the king wanted to conquer the North, and for that, the princes and princesses would probably become a political tool to unite the noble houses.
Of course, Tywin Lannister wouldn't let that happen so easily. Cadmus could even imagine that through Hoster Tully, he had already influenced Catelyn to marry Sansa or Arya to Joffrey or Tommen Tully.
Eddard nodded back and continued eating. He wouldn't easily become an enemy of such a mysterious mage, but he certainly wouldn't become his friend either. Magic was frightening, and he wanted to stay away from it.
As for Robb accepting the magic book, Eddard turned a blind eye to it. Robb would become Lord of Winterfell and had his own thoughts, which made him happy, because a Lord without courage or determination would never be able to lead the Northmen.
Leaving the tavern, Geralt and Cadmus walked to a not-so-cozy hotel and rented a room for a day.
Once inside the room, Geralt looked at Cadmus and spoke in a curious tone. "You know you're going to cause chaos if the Faith of the Seven finds out about this, right?"
Cadmus lay down on one of the two beds in the room and spoke in a casual tone. "Of course I know, but I need to face this stupid religion alone, so I have to win some allies. Who better than the future Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell?"
"This is a dangerous game, Cadmus." Placing the two swords, one silver and the other steel, beside the bed, Geralt spoke in a solemn tone. "Gods exist and aren't as benevolent as the holy scriptures claim they are."
Cadmus looked at Geralt and smiled. "Who said I'm less dangerous than a god?" His words were arrogant, but when you have magic capable of distorting reality itself, those words aren't so arrogant.
He wanted to be the Merlin of this world, and he chose Rhaegar as his King Arthur. If Rhaegar didn't work out, he would support Daenerys as Merlin supported Artoria Pendragon. As for the fear of death, he didn't have it. Dying erased his fear of death.
Of course, that's not to say he wanted to die, but he simply no longer feared death. And if he died for his dreams, he wouldn't die with regrets. He had already lived a normal life and didn't want to live another normal life, especially with the power he had.
Seeing the boy's relaxed expression, Geralt had to admit, he felt a bit of admiration for the boy. Not just anyone could remain calm and relaxed even knowing they would face gods.
"Just be careful and cautious." That was the only advice Geralt could give Cadmus.
Cadmus looked at Geralt and smiled. Although it was difficult to become friends with this cold and indifferent witcher, it was a real and solid friendship.
"Don't worry, I Am the Most Powerful Wizard in the World!"
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/GOTSW
Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Mage