Hadrian Peverell: High Lord of Skagos

Chapter 34: The Secrets of White Harbor

The air was crisp as Hadrian flew through the night sky in his Animagus form, a midnight-dark phoenix. His feathers absorbed the dim light of the stars, blending him into the endless northern sky. Below, the landscape stretched in a rugged, frozen beauty. The North had always been harsh, a place where only the strong survived. But as Hadrian soared over the snow-covered wilderness, heading towards White Harbor, the thought of what awaited him gave him hope.

He had never visited White Harbor before, though he knew of its importance to the North. House Manderly was unique among the northern houses, for it commanded a fleet—a powerful one, at that. While the other northern lords were focused on survival, war, and honor, the Manderlys had always had an eye toward trade and the sea. If Skagos was to thrive and establish itself as a power in the North, Hadrian would need their expertise. He needed ships, and White Harbor was a key to getting them.

As he flew closer to the city, the terrain began to change. The barren, desolate fields gave way to larger villages, bustling with life. Smoke curled up from chimneys, and the faint glow of lanterns flickered in the distance. White Harbor was different from the other northern strongholds—more prosperous, more connected to the world beyond the frozen borders. It was a gateway to the south, to the rich trade routes across the seas.

When the white walls of White Harbor came into view, Hadrian let out a soft caw, his phoenix form gliding in wide circles over the city before finding a secluded spot near the gates. He landed gracefully, his feathers fading into black mist as his form shifted back into that of a man. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Hadrian cast a Notice-Me-Not charm. The spell wrapped around him like an invisible cloak, ensuring that no one would take note of his presence unless he directly interacted with them.

The city gates were imposing, towering high above him, but Hadrian slipped through unnoticed, walking alongside the flow of merchants, travelers, and villagers making their way in and out of the bustling city. White Harbor was a maze of narrow streets and open squares, the sounds of commerce filling the air. The scent of the sea mixed with that of roasting meats and baking bread as he passed through the busy market district. Despite the cold, the city had an energy that reminded him of places he had visited in his old world—bustling, alive, always moving.

But Hadrian was not here to take in the sights. His destination was New Castle, the stronghold of House Manderly, perched on the edge of the city like a beacon of power. The Manderlys were southern in origin, and it showed in their architecture—grand, tall towers with sweeping arches, unlike the squat and sturdy keeps of most northern lords. He could sense wealth and prosperity here, more than anywhere else in the North.

Once inside the castle grounds, Hadrian made his way to the Manderly library. He had learned over the years that knowledge was often the greatest weapon of all, and in White Harbor, he knew he would find what he needed. The Manderlys had maintained their position through trade, diplomacy, and a keen understanding of the seas. Their library was rumored to hold valuable knowledge about shipbuilding, navigation, and trade routes. If Skagos was to have a fleet, this was where he would begin.

The library was smaller than he expected, though grand in its own right. Rows upon rows of bookshelves filled the room, the scent of old parchment and ink heavy in the air. He felt a flicker of excitement as he approached the shipbuilding section. He began scanning the titles, recognizing several works that he had heard about but never seen in person.

Moving quickly, Hadrian raised his wand, casting a silent charm to copy the texts. His magic worked swiftly and efficiently, duplicating entire volumes of books as they floated in the air before him, one after the other. The knowledge contained within these pages would be invaluable back on Skagos. Every book that dealt with shipbuilding, navigation, or trade was copied, the glowing duplicates floating into his bottomless bag.

He had just finished the last section when he heard the soft shuffle of footsteps behind him. Turning slightly, he saw a man in the traditional robes of a maester, the long chain of office gleaming in the candlelight as he passed by the entrance to the library. For a moment, Hadrian considered leaving undetected, but the thought of what else this maester might know stopped him.

Slipping into the maester's mind was easy. His mental defenses were weak, non-existent, and Hadrian quickly rifled through the man's memories, searching for anything relevant to his quest. The maester had served House Manderly for nearly two decades and was well-versed in their dealings with shipbuilders, merchants, and even foreign dignitaries. He had corresponded with shipwrights from the Iron Islands and from the Free Cities of Essos, acquiring the latest innovations in ship design and construction. The knowledge would be invaluable, and Hadrian memorized every detail he could find.

Satisfied, Hadrian slipped out of the maester's mind, leaving the man none the wiser. With a final glance around the library, he gathered his things and moved silently out of the room, still cloaked in his charm. White Harbor had proven fruitful, but there was no reason to overstay his welcome. His task complete, he made his way back through the streets of the city, unnoticed by the guards and townsfolk alike.

Once he was far enough from the city, Hadrian dispelled the Notice-Me-Not charm and found a secluded spot near the treeline. Without hesitation, he transformed once again into his phoenix form and took flight, the cold air rushing past him as he soared back towards Skagos. The journey was swift in his Animagus form, and he relished the freedom of flying under the cover of darkness, his wings beating silently against the wind.

By the time he reached Skagos, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a pale light over the jagged cliffs and snow-covered peaks of the island. Norhall, his castle, stood tall and imposing on the horizon, a symbol of his newfound power and the future he was building. Hadrian landed at the edge of the city and shifted back to his human form, feeling the weight of his mission settle on his shoulders once more.

The city of Norhold was bustling with activity as he made his way through the streets, the people of Skagos working to prepare for the coming winter. The transformation of the island had been nothing short of miraculous. Where once there had been scattered, warring tribes, now there was order. The people were well-fed, well-trained, and loyal to him. But there was still much to be done. The construction of ships would be the next step, and with the knowledge he had gathered from White Harbor, they would soon have a fleet capable of standing alongside any house in the North.

Upon reaching the gates of Norhall, Hadrian was greeted by his steward, Kreacher, still in his human disguise as Regulus Black. The former house-elf bowed deeply as Hadrian approached, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"My lord," Kreacher said, his voice low and gravelly in his human form. "I trust your journey was successful?"

"More than successful," Hadrian replied, his tone calm but filled with satisfaction. "I've copied the entire shipbuilding and trade sections of the Manderly library. We now have everything we need to begin constructing a fleet."

Kreacher's eyes flickered with a mixture of pride and cunning. "Excellent. I will see to it that the books are placed in the library immediately, and I'll begin gathering the necessary materials for the construction of the ships."

Hadrian nodded. "Do that. But we must move carefully. We can't afford to draw too much attention just yet. The North is watching us, and while we've earned Lord Stark's approval, others may not be so forgiving, I will be going on a few more trips now to compare knowledge and maybe even uncover some other knowledge I will take Riff and Toff with me."

"Understood, my lord," Kreacher replied, bowing once more before turning to leave.