Chapter 12: I am Not A Stark
"It says here that you can speak 12 languages. Is that true or they were just adding nonsense to increase your price?" Olivia looked into the golden eyes of the foreign man seated across from her. The man, struggling with the accent spoke.
"I was taught 18 languages since young because my last master saw my potential. In the end I only mastered 12." He admitted.
"I hope my people didn't make you uncomfortable along the way." She changed the topic.
"They look down on a slave but they are not bad people." The man said. His eyes reflect the sun light. He is easily the most exotic man Olivia has seen in this life time.
"Forgive them. No one wants to be a slave. That goes to all of you too." She bought 16 well read and educated slaves to help her with the business. Since the company will have a foreigner shop tag going forward.
"You are no longer slaves here, I will pay you salaries and you are entitled to holidays and off days. If you are sick you are allowed to request medication from my clinics but you need to be discrete because I am hiding my identity as the owner of the establishment you will be working on."
"You all know how to run a business? I hear you were helping your masters manage their wealth is this true also?" She stopped talking when she heard sniffling from the others.
"I'm sorry are you sick?" She stood up but the woman fell to the ground as if strength left her body.
"Master..."
"Please call me Olivia, I am no master." The woman couldn't speak but started sobbing instead.
"If I may, she is just very happy to not be a slave anymore." The man she had been talking to spoke for the woman.
"Oh. Well there is plenty of time for that lets finish the meeting first and you will familiarize yourselves with the various businesses.
The meeting continued until it reached the identity. Slaves are either marked on their bodies.
"I know that you all have some way of being identified as a slave where you come from to ensure you do not run off. I have a way to regrow whatever was cut off from your body and heal all the scars so you will not be associated with your old identities." Their eyes perked up but no one made a sound.
"These two ladies will give you the medicine then a day from now they will give you all the information you need to familiarize yourself with the different locations from the local noble family, the people's standard of living and the finances of each business. It is up to you where you go I will have several soap shops in most of the seven kingdoms so take your time and discuss it amongst yourselves."
"After you are reborn as my employees you may change your names if you like but you are not forced to stay here. I need your consent that I am hiring you and that you will work for me from now on. If you are not interested in the terms in the contract discuss them with me after you have rested." She finished the meeting and they are each shown into their rooms.
There is another business she is going to include under her belt that will make her a lot of money. She realized when a few of the horses foaled and the baby horses are born very strong and fast. When the others saw this they wanted to have them for themselves.
Those born naturally strong will be even more so as they grow older. Olivia has opened a horse business. Their pricing is very steep and they are high mantainace so not everyone can be allowed to buy them even if they can afford to.
However, Olivia is only considering this because she is also contemplating breeding them for her own private army.
.....
During the preparations for departure to Kings landing Olivia has been taking out her items from the tower and stacking them on the ship under the hills of the gift. Her base is facing the Bay of Ice, this way she will just take it to the shore when the time comes.
Currently there are six small ships and two large ships
Olivia made a large box and attached wheels and a pull hanger. Instead of a carriage which will waste time, she made something to put her luggage and supplies. The back and front wheels are stretched on the sides for better balance. But a product like this can only be used in a road well maintained like the one in the North or It will loose its way if a horse suddenly accelerate its speed.
She is not known for her items in the soap shops but she is known as the pharmacist who can make medicine and is willing to give it for free to the people who are in need. They don't know that she is very wealthy and her wealth is steadily increasing with the increase in the sale of her items from the soap, the stoves, the frost cabinet and her beauty pills.
Not to mention the steady flow of income from the money paid by Winterfell. Her vault is going to be full in a few years. These men and women who will be working for her in her shops will write regular reports to her.
The good thing about her shops is that they are all built by her from ground up and therefore have the most secure structure to protect her items from vandalism or theft. She builds a three story building in each large city after obtaining the necessary permission and paper work from which ever lord is responsible for the place.
The construction normally takes a long time because of the safe and warehouse. Then there is the matter of stock and transporting the profits to Olivia. This is why she has created the Carrier, that and because she is secretly moving out her items from the tower.
The day of departure to kings landing soon arrives and she left with two carriers and a single carriage. A while ago many of her employees departed to several parts of the kingdoms to take care of her shops. Now she can sit back and receive coins.
The veterans were very exited to ride the horses she gave them. She allowed them to keep the horses and switch those pulling the carriers and her carriage because her wood is very heavy even though she tried making it less so.
The veterans coming with her ended up being 12 because they quote 'Don't trust the Southerners with their Snow.' whatever that means. What she doesn't know is that those people have someone they know or care about who visited her clinic at some point and she saved them with her medicine.
From the first time they saw her bring dirty and embarrassed people inside her fancy tower to treat them of different sicknesses with her medicine free of charge, she earned their respect and appreciation. But when she didn't stop there and even reached into the furfure parts of the cold North with her clinics to do the same, they have accepted her as the savior and began to love her for it.
The truth is many have wondered if she will end up becoming a Stark because she deserves it but then her loud proclamations of being proud to be called a Snow because that way she is related to all of the North was spread amongst the soldiers of Winterfell and to the outside thus the tittle of being the Northern "Snow" was bestowed.
As they advance towards the south a strong hold of the old called the Moat Cailin came to view and Olivia became entranced by the lost magnificence. She took a mental picture of it and started a blue print.
Between Grey water watch and the Moat is Olivia's most significance contribution to the North. Rice. It glistens against the sky dancing lightly with the cold winds of the North. This project was why she had hastened the development of the neck compared to other places.
Those who work in the field have long been allocated housing in the in the territory of the Reed family. Even as the convoy moves along the kings road they can see the hundreds of buildings showing upper floors because this place is surrounded by one of the tallest walls because of their location. The grey water territory was turned into a very big housing district with a small potion allocated to modernizing the town.
The Reed family is an old family they have a lot of history with the Starks as a result they were able obtain a substantial support from the lord paramount. The project was as big as the one of housing in the last Hearth and Borrow town.
"The North sure is different but still the same." The soldier called 'Blunt' said. He is a very tall and has a bright blond beard.
"In a good way too. There are almost no cases of bandits like before." Another one said.
"The Northmen can find ways to earn coins now. In fact many jobs are still not taken because of our small numbers."
"My good for nothing nephew found a nice job in the Dread fort town. All he does is smile and say the things that store is selling, enticing people to buy. He is always wearing clean and pretty clothes for work he says." The one who spoke first said.
The conversation continued but Olivia is in a dazed state after bringing in the carriage wood from outside and then started shaping it according the appearance of the Moat Cailin that she envisioned.
The model accounts for all the security issues turning it into a monster level guard dog for the North.
"My apologies but I have these for substance. Take one each. We will eat real food when we reach the crossroads inn. This is so you are not pressed to pee in the middle of the night and get killed on your own." Olivia gave them meal capsules and went to sleep while they take out their sleeping bags and travel blankets. She had these made from the clothing factory.
Five days later they made it to the inn. The men ordered a small feast since she gave them a lot to spend after they have been suffering from eating pills all week.
They stayed one full day and a night in the crossroads inn. Olivia saw the situation of the small folk in the rest of the world compared to the North. She has had to work like a dog to bring the North where it is today and she is happy about it.
It just when she still see people suffering this way outside it makes her feel like her hard work was a drop in an ocean.
She took a walk to get her mind off thinking about such useless things. It must have been an oversight on her part because she is now wearing a light laced dress that is loose on the body making her feel cool. She must look like a sheep because she could feel a few breaths following her.
She decided to turn back but she came face to chest with a long haired broad chested man. Turning to see his face she couldn't believe it. "Are you the mountain's brother?" She asked with curiosity in her tone.
"Watch where you go." He turned to leave.
"I hear you are great with a sword. Is it true or someone lied to me?" She followed him back into the inn. The several breaths she had felt before disappeared.
"Don't talk to me." The man said rudely.
"I found her!" Someone shouted.
"Snow, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Sir Blunt?"
"We are eating and even missed you slip away. If anything happened to you we would be done for." The big man said with visible sweat.
"I am back now and will not wonder off again." She smiled to reassure the big bear of a man.
"Good. Who is this?" Blunt's happiness is short lived when he realized there is a scary man next to her.
"Don't mind him." She put something in the man's hand. "If you break your bones or hurt yourself eat one. One of these is worth a small ship. I know what you were doing and this is my way of thanking you. Don't over think it. My name is Snow. I will see you again." She smiled at him and moved to enter the inn leaving him standing there alone.
He looked at the small wooden bottle and shook it hearing the clanging of pills inside. "Worth a small ship huh?"
The next day her convoy made haste and before the day is over they passed Ivy inn. The horses are really fast reminding her of a flying sword. Too bad she can't use it now.
But she could control wood to fly high carrying her weight if her mental power continues to soar. In another week they made it to Kings landing. When they entered they didn't go to the castle right away but booked into an inn and then she went with four of her guards to meet the hand of the king.
"Come in." A mature voice sounded from inside the tower of the hand. It didn't take her long to find this place.
She entered alongside with her guards. "Good evening, I am Olivia Snow." She curtsy.
"We were not expecting you for another three weeks." He stood up and shook her hand. Studying her closely for some reason.
"I thought you are 11 name days?" He said suddenly.
"And I thought you were a politician." She said coolly. In fact, she is almost 12. But no one told her chest that. It seems a ate bloomer is a late bloomer.
Did he just glanced at her growing girls? She knows she is tall for her age, and she is flat chested for her height. But looking at her with such probing eyes makes her uncomfortable.
"Ahem... will you meet the king right away?" Lord Arryn asked her
Olivia looked at him "Is he in any way sober or not busy with something currently?" She had seen the streets and it's people. At some point she jumped over a dead body.
"Watch your tone."
"I am ignorant." She said without sincerity.
"I am staying at the Dull Inn when your king is ready to meet with me, find me there." She said turning to leave.
"I didn't dismiss you." He said frowning.
"Then dismiss me." She looked at him.
"You know that your behavior will reflect poorly on your father Lord Stark right?" He said with a grandfatherly voice.
"That doesn't concern me. I am not a Stark." She left the office.
...