Chapter 38: Whispers In The Wind II
(Rhaegon's POV)
"So you're zealots of the Red Cult?" I asked, "All the way here in the North, I should've known your stupid blasphemy can reach this far....."
The first man spat on the ground, "The Lord of Light's grace can reach the darkest corners of the world."
"Hm..." I said
"And as for you, pretender...." He pointed his sword at me, "We shall make an example out of you."
They all readied their flaming swords as they stood a few feet away from each other in front of me. I never once thought I'd see the day that a man wielded a flaming sword, it almost made me envious.
I then felt the gust of wind again,
"....the flames speak, do not listen...."
I heard a crow's caw above us, the sound prompted me to look up without hesitation. In the sky above the bonfire, flapping its wings as it looked at me.
I snapped out of it, "The fuck..." I said
The first man then lunged at me, swinging his sword at me with terrible form. I parried it to the side, feeling the scorching heat sear my skin as I cut his stomach in a quick counter, dropping him hard.
I watched as his body fell to the snow, the flames of his sword slowly dying out as I heard the loud battle cries of the other ones.
I gritted my teeth, "Fuck..." I said as I dodged two of them simultaneously swinging their blades at me, "The hell...."
Their swordsmanship was worse than poor, but it was the fact that their swords were literally on fire that made me be cautious as I straightened up.
I then saw as Jon dismounted his horse and drew his sword and began to charge at one who had turned to him.
Almost as if he had no brains, he began to swing his blade at the zealot, clashing his sword against his several times before he backed away.
"Are you fucking mad, Jon?!" I exclaimed
The other two that were looking at me charged at me again, this time taking turns as they swung at me.
I parried the first one and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying and tried to finish him off but the second one thrust his blade at me.
I was able to deflect it but felt a bit of singing pain as the flames grazed my midsection. I then swung my left fist at his cheek, feeling the bones of his cheek crack in an instant. The man stumbled as the other one got right back up and swung his blade at me.
I parried his flaming blade three times, the heat becoming less annoying each time, and pivoted to my left, countering with a riposte aimed at his throat. I felt the point of Fury slide through his flesh with ease as his eyes widened in horror.
He dropped his sword, the flames instantly doused by the snow. I held my sword in place as he clutched onto it, his hands bleeding as he cut himself up with it.
The other one then lunged at me with a cry and with a quick motion, I slashed outwards from the one I had stabbed, finishing him off. I then spun, keeping the momentum and parried the flaming blade and countered with my own swing.
I felt as he tried to block the blade but was too late, Fury cut through his shoulder and blood spewed out as he instantly collapsed to his knees with a grunt.
I pulled my blade out and pushed him down with my boot, seeing the flames of his blade die out as well.
"Fucking hells...." I muttered as I looked over to Jon
He was still locked in a clumsy combat with the last man. I saw that some of his fur on his clothing was a bit scorched.
"Jon." I said as I walked over to him, "I'm coming-"
"Hear me..."
The voice was loud in my head as I felt an odd warmth in my stomach. This wasn't the gust of wind that was speaking to me, it was something else.
I stopped in my tracks and frowned, "What?"
I slowly turned around to the bonfire and squinted my eyes, seeing that the animal heads have been completely reduced to ashes. I felt something, other than the heat, within the flame. It was something odd, something familiar.
The flames were calling to me forth to them, I could feel it.
"See within the flames.....see the truth...."
I felt a stronger gust of wind as I heard the crow's cawing louder.
"No! Do not listen!"
The voice in the wind was much louder and it echoed through my head.
"A-Aghh..." I clutched my head, "What the fuck...."
I felt the heat of the bonfire sear my skin through the clothes, almost as if something was digging through and burning me from within.
"Rhaegon!" I heard Jon's voice as I felt his hands on my shoulder, "Are you okay?!"
I looked up at him as I felt sweat roll down my forehead, "Y-You're alright?" I asked him
"I got the man." He said, "Are you okay?"
I shook my head, "I...." I said as stumbled, "I don't know...."
"Feel my warmth, see within the Flames...."
The voice was causing the heat to burn my ears.
"J-Jon!" I said as I stumbled back, "Do you not hear that?! The voice!!"
"What are you talking about?" Jon said as I closed my eyes
"The flames...." I said, "Fuck!"
There was a loud ringing in my ears, drowning out all noise. I felt the colder gust of wind as the crow's cawing got even louder than I could bear.
"Seek the Tree! I shall show you."
"Get out of my head!!!" I shouted out as I collapsed to my knees
"We need to get you to Winterfell!" Jon said, "You're not well!"
The ringing suddenly stopped and the heat subsided.
I opened my eyes and my vision slowly became clear. I looked at the flames, a strange figure appearing amidst them. The figure was that of a man wielding a strange curved weapon. It was almost as if it was made out of shadows, shadows cast by the light of the flames.
I shook my head and stood up as I looked up at the sky, seeing the crow fly away.
Something was telling me I had to follow it.
"Jon." I said, "Go to Winterfell. Have Lord Stark send a raven to my Father. The Red Cult has spread its influence to the North. The Red Woman must be apprehended. Go. Now."
"Are you sure?" He asked, "What about you?"
I sheathed Fury, "I'll be fine." I said, "I have to go do something."
"By yourself?" He asked
"Yes." I nodded as I turned around and walked over to the Horses, "Now go, I won't tell you again."
"I have to find out what is going on."