ASOIAF/GOT: Minecraft in Essos.

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~~~Eighth Moon, 277 AC~~~

~~~Hunting Camp, Crakehall~~~

"I want Moat Cailin," was the request that came from Azrael's lips, causing the northern group to become alarmed at the request. And it wasn't about something pusillanimous, no. This was Moat Cailin, the fortress that had kept the North safe from the Andals invasions for millennia.

The fortress, steeped in thousands of years of history, awash in the magic of the ancient children of the forest and stained by the blood of the thousands of Andals who perished trying to take it, made Moat Cailin a pillar for the North. Even now, when the fortress is no longer what it once was, with more than three-quarters of it destroyed, it is still an important stronghold in the North.

So Azrael's request upset them, it was as if they had heard that Azrael wanted their mothers as slaves.

"Moat Cailin is from the North, it's part of our history, give it away..." Rodrik Cassel, Lord Rickard's master-at-arms, was the first to explode. "Silence!" Rickard immediately shushed him, not putting up with his men's insubordination in front of foreigners.

"Father, don't agree. We can borrow money from Lord Tywin," Ned said quietly. Now that the exchange of the sword for the potion could not be done, the sale of the potion if it was within his possibilities made Ned excited, and he was willing to lend Lord Tywin money if necessary to save his brother.

"Not for a moment will I agree to prostrate myself in the necessity of asking the old lion for anything, I will owe him nothing." Was Rickard's cold and curt reply, which made Ned bite his lip and get frustrated, for him, they might as well ask Lord Tywin for a loan, he was the richest man in Westeros, and would no doubt have that much gold present on the spot, and it's not as if they wouldn't pay him back the moment they arrived at Winterfell.

But his father had refused, and knowing him, once he made up his mind, not even his mother could change his mind.

Azrael noticed the exchange between father and son, and willing to get what he wanted, decided to speak, "I know the story of Moat Cailin, a fortress that is as much a part of the North as is the blood of our bodies, but now, it is but a ruin in the middle of the swamp, no longer the impenetrable fortress from the south."

"I know that the exchange between a potion with a fortress of such caliber is a bit of a stretch, even if Moat Cailin is in ruins, that is why I offer thirty thousand gold coins, I would opine that it is an equivalent exchange, adding it to the potion." Azrael offered, for him, it was very easy to offer more than one hundred thousand gold coins for the ruined fortress since it had a strategic point for what he wanted.

With the negotiations for the creation of the Northern Canal, Azrael would have to devise a plan to build fortifications to protect the canal and the interests of Xandar.

And while bastions would have to be built at both inlets of the future canal, both east and west, a base would still be needed near the canal to monopolize passage between North and South, because, with the creation of the Canal, new bridges would have to be created.

While Skagos would serve as a base for Northern affairs, expeditions to be made north of the Wall, as well as trade with the free cities of the Narrow Sea, this would be far from the royal stronghold. And this was where Moat Cailin came into action.

As the fortress at the epicenter of the Neck, and this being the safe passage to the North and custodian of the royal road. It made Moat Cailin a focal point for Azrael, a place from which he could attack both hemispheres, North and South if he so chose. And at the same time cutting off the pass between the two.

"I agree," Rickard agreed, "but Father, you can't!..." Whatever Ned was about to say was silenced with a blow from Valka, who slammed her fist on the table, causing the oak table to crack a bit where she struck. "Lord Rickard, we are eating, control your son... Or I will." Was Valka's comment-threat.

Lord Rickard gritted his teeth, not happy with the underlying threat, but aware that he had to end things quickly so he could go to Brandon. So giving Ned a cold, Stoic look, he decided to call it a day on Moat Cailin.

"I will make the letters, one to the king and one to Oldtown, rectifying our agreement today, Moat Cailin becomes the property of Xandar, in exchange for a regeneration potion, and thirty thousand gold coins, the fortress will pass into your care, but the protection of the North will not veil it."

"I would expect no less, Xandar is well versed as far as protecting his autonomy is concerned, as for the gold, it can be delivered to him immediately, as can this;" Azrael commented with a cheerful and pleasant laugh returning to his face, as Essino approached Rickard and passed him a small chest that fit in both hands.

Rickard accepted the small chest, and opening it, he could see inside a glass container holding a strange pink liquid; the regeneration potion was displayed in all its glory. Closing the chest again and holding it tightly, Rickard stood up; "my party and I will be traveling back to the North later today, we will not be around for Lord Tywin's wedding celebration, let alone his departure. Nevertheless, it is a pleasure to have met the infamous King of Xandar," Rickard said, as Ned rose as well.

"And I to you, Lord Rickard, the gold will be delivered to you before you leave, as will the sword, I wish you happy travels." With that, Lord Rickard and his party took their mounts and began to ride to their camp, where they should all be ready for departure by now.

"Ned, son," on the way, Rickard looked at his son with a blank face, "I love you too much, as do your brothers and your mother, but I want you to know if you ever contradict me head-on again, I will have you whipped until your back bleeds."

"Yes father, I know," Ned replied a little wistfully. "My lord, I know it is not my right to ask, but I want to know why you did it, Moat Cailin is an important point in the North, to give it away, is to give away a Northern native power," Rodrik Cassel asked confused and a little angry deep down.

Whether Rickard heard about this or not, he did not let it show, but letting out a long sigh heavy with the weight of responsibility, he replied to his friend; "I am afraid to believe that the Iron Islands will rise in rebellion", the comment was enough to surprise and admonish Rodrik.

"Then it is necessary to tell the king, let the kingdom prepare, and cut off the rebellion long before it begins," Rodrik said in alarm, but Rickard shook his head, " No, we will not do that." At Rodrik's stunned look, Rickard explained; "the South has done nothing for the North for two hundred years, and now the North will remain silent, just as the South has."

"Besides, my guesses are unverified, I could very well end up as a charlatan or a creator of chaos, and that would represent harsh consequences for the North, instead, we will return to Winterfell, reinforce the west coast and call up the levies quietly if needed."

Rodrik nodded, he knew that an allegation of such caliber would not be well received without proof, and could well end with Lord Rickard facing trial or ending on worse terms with the crown, "as for Moat Cailin, while I know it is an important fortress, it is now nothing more than a wooden tower in the middle of the swamp, my house did not bother to provide repair for it, without sufficient gold, that was not an option when there was winter to prepare for."

"But now we are seeing things change, and the presence of the Xandarians in Moat Cailin will be enough of a deterrent to any force from the south, they will protect us without realizing it." Rodrik agreed, having learned from Xandar's victories in Essos, and their strong army, that it would represent a stop to any sign of marking from the south, "but my lord, you speak as if a war is approaching from the horizon." Rodrik could not help but comment.

"The political situation in the south is weak and fractured, the Reach is rebellious, the king has angered several by showing preference for the Xandarians, and now the matter of the Iron Islands, we must be prepared Rodrik, that is why the moment the Xandarian gold reaches us, I want you to buy as much armor and weapons as you can, as well as grain."

"So shall it be done my lord, so shall it be done."