Chapter 61

"Hehe, we'll see the madam soon; let's talk later." He walked past Mei Yi, spiraling down the stone steps.

Molten lava hung upside down on both sides, continually dripping water droplets that pattered on the rocky floor with a crisp sound.

Deeper down, the ceiling hung with downward-pointing stone pillars that looked ready to fall at any moment. Passing through, their footsteps buzzed in the cavern, echoing endlessly.

Mei Yi felt the cavern was colder than outside.

"Miss." She heard a familiar voice.

Ha'erwen had the same dark‑brown hair as the Stark family, his beard and hair tangled. He was leaner and stronger than when he left Winterfell, with a long face, heavy brows, a mouth as silent as Hulun's, and a dry smile full of weariness.

"I heard you once kidnapped Arlia, have you betrayed us?" Mei Yi glared at him, hand already on her sword.

"Sir, you are our guest," Soros reminded her.

I am not.

"I came in on my own, not by invitation. Besides, I've heard the Brotherhood Without Banners treats guests differently from outsiders, so don't remind me about being a guest—I came in sword in hand and won't put it down; I hope your eyes aren't blind."

Hearing this, the nearby Brotherhood members gathered and drew their swords.

"You're badly mistaken," Lemon Cloak said, stepping forward and drawing his sword as well.

Mei Yi suddenly lunged, moved to his side, grabbed his shoulder with one hand and, using his momentum, threw him down. As he reached for his dagger, Mei Yi kicked his elbow; he cried out and the dagger flew from his hand.

Two members charged with swords; Mei Yi kicked a stone at her feet, smashing it into one man's belly and dropping him. Before the other could approach, she kicked his sword arm, then followed with another kick that sent him flying into a gang of lackeys.

In a single breath, everyone lay down.

"Just a bunch of trash, still pretending to be heroes?" She glanced at the archers in the distance and sneered.

"Miss." Ha'erwen placed his hand on his longsword.

In the firelight, Mei Yi saw he still wore a brown sheepskin jacket, his chest bearing a hot‑stamped ice‑field wolf badge.

"Draw your sword on me and I'll hang you." Mei Yi glared into his eyes.

His hand opened and closed on the hilt, struggling hard, but eventually he let go.

"Miss." He looked anxious and hesitant. "Lord Edd is dead, Miss; I now belong to the Brotherhood Without Banners, to my brothers."

"Brothers? You should remember the brother your father raised at your estate," Mei Yi snapped. "Or have you not seen him so long that he seems a stranger? Do you even recall his name?"

The Herman family is a minor house sworn to the Starks, managing part of their territory and maintaining its own estate there. Old Hulun's wife often brought Ha'erlo back to Winterfell, but she spent most of her time living on the estate with her young son (actually her second son).

"Miss, I mean Ange, Lemon, and Seven‑string Tom. We harbor no ill will toward Robb, you, or the northern armies, but we fight neither for you nor for Bran far away in Winterfell. They have their own armies and many great lords backing them, while the common folk have only us. Do you understand?"

"You dare not say your brother's name, right?" Mei Yi sneered. "His name is Ha'erlo, a male of the Herman house, just sixteen; his sigil is a red stallion rearing on a golden wheat field. Their motto is 'Let me ride.' And I'll tell you, Ha'erlo came south with me this time, took Riverrun and Harrenhal, defeated Davian Lannister at the banks of Seagard, and…"

"Miss, I remember all that and have heard of your deeds. But I have my own liege lords, they are…"

"Common folk? You're truly naïve. The Riverlands and Seagard belong to the Tullys; Riverrun was granted to Brynden Tully and now bears the Tully name, so all of the southern Trident is back under Tully rule—what need have the peasants for you?"

"Miss…"

"Moreover, my father Lord Edd sent you on a errand as lord; though he's dead, his son lives, you still have a liege to serve; you worry about Cracklaw Point? I've taken Cracklaw Point, the road from the Riverlands back to the North is clear. So why are you holed up here instead of reporting back? I ask again: will you betray us?"

"I now serve the lady…" he said with difficulty.

"Lady Catherine is already dead at Riverrun, slain by the Freys. Whose lady do you serve?" Mei Yi cut him off bluntly.

"She…"

"She is dead." She looked into his blue eyes and said, word by word.

He fell silent.

"You heard that too, right?" Mei Yi asked the people surrounding the Brotherhood.

The cavern grew quiet again; the dripping of water could be heard clearly.

"Soros, keep leading the way; let me see your leader."

The Brotherhood members hauled the fallen few to their feet, gathering behind her to await Soros's words.

"Let's see how the lady will deal with you." Soros leisurely tidied his faded robe and walked on.

Mei Yi sneered at the rabble and Ha'erwen: "The Riverlands aren't no‑man's land; bandits won't survive this winter."

Having said that, she turned and followed Soros away.

Ha'erwen let out a long sigh and trailed after them.

After winding through several deep, dark lava passages, Mei Yi found they had entered a higher‑vaulted cavern where a burning fire had been lit in the center; flames swayed and firelight washed over everyone's faces like flowing water.

"This is our base," Soros said.

The burning wood crackled here; the smoke vanished into the endless dark above, making the place feel like a yawning abyss.

This is a natural soldiers' hideout.

After crossing the silent brine‑creek wooden bridge, a steady clank of metal came from the far end of the central island—someone was still intently forging weapons.

Approaching, Mei Yi saw piles of scattered stones ringing the fire; around it lay taller stones that divided the space into sections, with people lying between them. Only here did she finally catch a faint whiff of true smoke and fire, but it was thin, not strong at the entrance.

"Soros, you've picked a fine base—frankly, only I could wipe it out." The cavern's far reaches linked to a sliver of gray sky; even so, it gave the interior a noticeable light.

Soros gave an embarrassed chuckle. "The lady is right here."

The fierce flames roasted the surroundings hot; this level of fire obviously couldn't be sustained long—clearly it had been added temporarily.

What's meant to come will come.

Come, come, let me see the wonders of mankind, let me see the works of the evil god in the world.

Lemon Cloak swept past the crowd, slipped into the darkness, rustled, and then helped a person clad head‑to‑toe in a black cloak emerge from the shadows.

Firelight shone through the cloak, revealing the Stone‑Heart Lady's face as milky white, with several blood streaks trailing down her cheeks, leaving harsh red lines; Mei Yi oddly felt such a terrifying visage ought to grow on a heart tree.

The Stone‑Heart Lady reached out—her hands were no different from those of a corpse floating in water—she pulled off the cloak's felt hood, and withered strands of hair clung sparsely to her equally pallid scalp.

She bore a face similar to Lady Catherine's.

She is certainly not Lady Catherine, and ought never to be acknowledged as such.

In the firelight, the Stone‑Heart Lady's eyes looked blood‑red, radiating intense malice toward Mei Yi that pierced straight to her heart.

Have I provoked you?

A stabbing pain like ice spread across Mei Yi's whole body; she had to admit that in her past adventuring life, she had felt this sensation only a few times during crises.

She involuntarily placed her hand on her own sword.

The ruby smile on the sword's hilt began to flash, alternating light and dark, grinning at the darkness.

After a few breaths, Mei Yi finally felt normal again.

Shixin Furen placed her hand on her throat—the spot of her fatal wound in life—and began to speak, her voice hoarse and venomous, yet Mei Yi could hear every word clearly:

"Why, why, why not you, why? Shaman?"

"What do you mean 'not me'? Why wasn't I the one who died at the wedding, and why isn't your son the one seeking vengeance for the red wedding?"

Only Qiongen would be hurt by words; his sister would not.

Mei Yi forced a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth.

It was utterly impossible to draw any comforting words from that face full of malice. The beautiful Kaitelin Furen could still conceal her emotions, but this inhuman monster cared nothing for human etiquette, openly displaying its malice.

But this is a good thing; the jealousy contained here is no less than hatred. Jealousy is a higher emotion, with the potential to grow toward goodness, while hatred is destruction, is emptiness.

"The Freys cut her too deep, from left ear to right ear, damaging her windpipe." Suoluosi said, "When we found her, she had been soaking in the river for days, her blood had drained completely, and now only hatred and the flames of the Lord of Light keep her alive."

"Then she will be disappointed." Mei Yi said.

She voiced her reproach silently, but Mei Yi was no longer affected.

"Her hatred will soon be completely ended by me; with me here, the Freys, Boltons, Lannisters, and all who conspired will wither one by one, so her hatred will lose its ground."

Mei Yi looked at Shixin Furen—at least she wouldn't interrupt, which is also an advantage—the firelight reflected in her eyes as she glared at him, "When the time comes, the fire's bonds will vanish, burning everyone nearby."

Mei Yi couldn't understand how she could harbor such great malice toward her.

I am just beginning?

She looked at Suoluosi, "These godmen's nonsense should be spoken by you."

Suoluosi looked worried, "I don't know."

Seeing her hand again resting on her neck, Mei Yi spoke first, "Suoluosi, I have already seen the lady; it's your turn to speak about Shansha, Bulan, and Ruiken." She omitted Qiongen.

Suoluosi gazed at Shixin Furen, waiting for her nod before speaking: "Sir Mei Yi, Bran and Rickon will die."

"Who did it, and how did they die?"

"You. You killed Rickon."

Suoluosi's voice shot into her chest like an arrow.

She felt like she was laughing in anger.

Mei Yi gripped the sword hilt tightly, feeling abnormal heat radiating from her body and surging to her brain, "I have never killed a child. Or has your god let you see ten years into the future?"

"No, not long after you returned to Winterfell."

Mei Yi felt she had never been toyed with like this before.

"Don't think I won't start a massacre here."

"At least I haven't seen that."

"Why would I kill him?"

"Future queen." Shixin Furen said harshly in a low, resentful voice.

"Mei Yi Stark, future queen of the Valyrians, Andals, and First Men, ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, protector of the realm." Suoluosi said, "You said it yourself. Tell us, is that a reasonable purpose?"