Game of Thrones: I Am The Heir For A Day

Chapter 72: Shadow Creature

Negotiations brought relief, easing the wariness between the two sides.

Rhaegar accepted food and water from the savages and watched them dance around the campfire.

Falcon and Skylar's sibling joined him by the fire, telling stories.

Falcon, picking at rabbit bones, remarked, "You don't seem old enough to be the king's youngest son."

"I'm actually the oldest," Rhaegar joked.

"Traditionally, the oldest inherits. You could be the next king?" Falcon was surprised.

"No, it's my sister," Rhaegar replied plainly.

“Why? Is she hiding a dick under her skirt?” a brown savage teased, igniting laughter.

Rhaegar glanced at Falcon, who remained silent but visibly displeased.

"Yeah, yeah, Xander, scram..." Xander brushed off the warning.

Only when a hawk landed nearby did Xander reluctantly leave, shivering and muttering about the tribe's unrest.

"The tribe has been unsettled lately, many warriors are restless," Falcon said before walking away.

Rhaegar grinned, "He has a foul mouth, I wonder if his breath rivals dragon dung."

Falcon, slightly irritated, paused, "I'll take care of him and warn the others."

He wasn't irritated at Rhaegar's threat, but at the tribe's men for embarrassing him in front of guests.

The night progressed.

When his hunger was satisfied, Rhaegar returned to the cave where he had awakened to rest.

Falcon provided soft animal skins and made sure the siblings accompanied him.

Arranging the skins as bedding, Rhaegar greeted the sleeping siblings and shared the remaining skins.

"Thank you," Tormund murmured gratefully.

"May I ask about the changes in the tribe?" Rhaegar inquired, jumping at the chance for information.

Tormund hesitated, glancing at Skylar.

Skylar nodded and lay down on a straw mat.

"Our home was attacked by monsters," Tormund explained solemnly, "forcing Uncle Falcon to lead us on this journey."

"Monsters? Like alligators or pythons in the swamp?" Rhaegar's curiosity was piqued.

"No, shadow creatures, swift as pythons, lurking unseen," Tormund trembled with fear.

Rhaegar was incredulous. "I've never heard of such creatures. Are they real?" he asked, turning to Skylar for confirmation.

Skylar nodded sadly. "They are. Even our elders are baffled. These monsters came out of nowhere."

Rhaegar frowned, uneasy. The safety of this tribe was more precarious than he'd thought.

After a somber exchange, the cave fell silent.

The three lay in their beds, the cries of the wildlings echoing from the carnival outside the cave.

After a while, Skylar broke the silence. "Why is your sister the heir?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter; we're both my mother's children," Rhaegar replied, uninterested.

"You're fooling yourself. Noble lords prefer a son to inherit their title," Skylar interjected.

"True, but my father chose her, and I support her because we're family," Rhaegar explained.

Skylar scoffed, "She'll marry, have a family of her own, and you, the brother with a higher claim to the throne, will just be in her way."

"What lord are you the illegitimate daughter of? To have so much knowledge of the Targaryen political situation," Rhaegar joked.

Skylar grimaced. "Just a bastard from someone who couldn't keep his pants on," she replied, uncomfortable discussing her heritage.

"I don't need you meddling in my family's affairs, young lady," Rhaegar shot back.

Tormund chuckled, "He called you lady."

Skylar kicked him to stifle his laughter.

The cave fell silent again.

...

It's midnight.

The air is thick with humidity, and the crescent moon is hidden by a thick cloud.

Without it, the darkness deepens.

In the valley, the tired wildlings are sleeping in groups on the ground.

The campfires are almost out, with just embers left.

In the darkness, a shadowy figure emerges from the shadows of a looming tree.

It blends in perfectly with the night, moving like a snake towards a sleeping savage.

It sneaks into the savage's nose, ears, and mouth...

It seems almost like it's made of air as it easily gets into the savage's body.

The savage is startled awake by a soft gagging sound. His eyes flutter open.

To his horror, he finds a twisted creature on top of him, with tendrils extending like vines.

Before he can scream, the tendrils pierce his brain, ending his life.

With a chilling efficiency, the creature moves on, seeking its next victim in the darkness.

...

Rhaegar was fast asleep inside the cave.

Out of nowhere, a mournful scream pierced the night, jolting everyone awake.

Rhaegar blinked and looked around the cave. The siblings were already on their feet, grabbing weapons from nearby.

"Stay inside, it's dangerous out there," they warned as they quickly left.

Numbly, Rhaegar followed, believing is more dangerous to be left alone.

Outside, the savages were in a panic. Some were tending to the bonfire, while others were lighting torches, but the darkness persisted.

Rhaegar stayed close to Skylar, peeking out to assess the situation amid the chaos. Amidst the screams, useful information was scarce.

As the commotion settled, Falcon returned with the tribe warriors, carrying corpses.

Strong savages, bleeding from every orifice, lay among them. One had been fatally shot by an arrow.

In front of the tribe, Falcon incinerated the bodies.

Another savage retrieved the arrow, scowling.

"The other tribes have surrounded us and are watching our movements!" The Falcon's angry roar echoed in the night.