Arya: A flogged man

The gate to the Sun Castle was guarded by a dozen men in dark armors and spears. They looked like warriors, but not from a regular army. Several of them had grotesque expressions with deep scars on their faces. They were unkempt but did not seem to lack discipline.

Arya rode up to them on her grey mare and was the first to speak.

"I'm Arya. I'm here to see Robb. He's expecting me."

"You're a pretty one, aren't you? You've come to the wrong place sweetheart if you don't want to entertain us."

With lust, they took in Arya's body from head to toe. She didn't exactly look like a lady in her black tight leather pants and white wool top, but not like a whore either.

"I don't have time to play. I need to see Robb," said Arya.

"Get lost, girl. He's not available."

Arya had begun to lose her patience.

"He is waiting for our new lord to come, not a brat. And if he expected a girl, he would have told us." A roar of laughter came from the men.

Arya just stared at them at first. She couldn't decide how to deal with them. Breaking in by force would hardly be a good start.

'He should know who I am unless the Lodge fucked it up.' thought Arya.

"Tell him Arya from the Lodge is looking for him."

Arya raised her hand and connected her Yin mana to a fire rune, and from her hand rose a flame of blue fire.

The laughter from the men died away at once.

"You're from the Lodge?"

"Yeah," Arya replied.

They looked at her in disbelief. And she understood why; normal Magas were like noblemen, dressed in fine clothes and guarded by elite soldiers, Guardians.

"Wait here, Arya of the Lodge."

One of the men disappeared and, Arya assumed he was going to tell Robb she was here.

It was not long before the guard returned with an overweight man in a fine black coat of velvet and wool. He was a middle-aged man with no hair but a clear, watchful gaze.

"Are you Robb? I am here from the Lodge and, I am Arya of Stormborn," Arya said. She held out the letter that would be proof of her lineage. She took no further notice of the guards but had all her focus on Robb.

Robb made a deep bow after reading the letter. "My lady, welcome to the Sun Castle of Trisada."

"Thank you very much, Robb," Arya said in a calm voice but, she felt like a fraud.

"Come with me and, I will show you to your quarters if you wish, my lady."

The man had already started to enter the courtyard, expecting her to follow. Arya suspected that much of his submission was an act for show.

Arya followed a few paces behind him with her horse. The courtyard was full of people. Arya had thought there were only a few employees, but the yard was a hive of activity. There were all kinds of economy-buildings inside the walls. Warehouses, stables, a forge, and more.

Robb summoned a stable boy. "Boy, come here!" "This is Lady Stormborn. Please take care of her horse." His voice was close and nurturing.

The boy looked curiously under his bangs at Arya while bowing deeply and, Arya responded with a slight nod.

They continued across the yard. After a while, Arya spotted a man hanging from a pole in one of the far corners of the courtyard. It took a moment before she realized what it was.

It was a man hanging from a whipping post with wounds from being severely flogged.

He was soaked in his own blood, which had turned to a black mass on his half-naked body. Dressed in only a pair of loose-fitting torn trousers, his muscular body was clearly visible. Although he was emaciated, it was more muscle than bone. Broad shoulders, massive chest, clearly defined abs, and sexy arms. He hung his head so she couldn't see his facial features.

Arya couldn't take her eyes off him. Yang mana crackled around him in waves, making the air vibrate and twist. She had never seen anything like it before.

Yang mana crackled around him in waves, making the air vibrate and twist. She had never seen anything like it before. It was both watchful and frightening how his Yang mana danced around him.

'A magician,' thought Arya.

"Robb, who is that, and why has he almost been whipped to death?"

Arya pointed at the man.

'How can you punish someone so brutally, she thought.'

Robb looked over at the man, but he didn't answer. "Robb! Who's that hanging over there?" Arya's voice had an edge to it that made him flinch.

"...he's a criminal who killed two guards yesterday. In an attempt to escape," Robb sounded composed yet cold.

"Why haven't you executed him?"

"That's complicated. He's also a hero who's saved the city several times and killed thousands of demons. But he's also a traitor who took part in a rebellion that killed hundreds of people."

"And... he's a wizard and, since you're a witch, you need him to draw runes. There's no one else around here who can do that."

"The only one? "

"Yes...he is the only male mage in your domain. He isn't part of the Lodge, just saying."

Arya already understood that. No one would dare punish a Mage who was a member of the Lodge the way they had done to him.

"What's his name?"

"Ethan."

...

...

"What are you going to do with him?" Arya asked without taking her eyes off him. Robb looked at Arya with a frown.

"That's up to you, my lady. You are Arya of the Stormborn."

"Yes... that's true... If he continues to hang there, he will die. Take him down and see to his wounds and... lock him up for now. I want a full report later." Arya said.

"Will do," said Robb.

Robb summoned some guards and conveyed Arya's wishes. She watched as the guards took him down from the pole and then dragged him away.