Chapter 11
Northern military camp outside King's Landing, 281 A.C., the next morning…
"I'd much rather this meeting happened last night then this morning" I hear my lord-uncle Rogar Glover mutter softly as I stand with him and my other lord-uncle, Osric Fisher.
"Aye, but Lord Stark and the King wanted to host a dinner with the Manderlys and other unaligned houses." My uncle Osric mutters in response.
"Probably to get an untainted opinion from Lord Manderly and Lord Cerwyn before meeting with us." I softly put in my two cents and my uncles nod in agreement.
Speaking of the devils, I hear the tent flap open to see the fat Lord Manderly lead the slightly hungover neutral lords in with Lord Cerwyn being the most hungover. The large, ginger haired and bearded Lord of Castle Cerwyn had a grimaced expression from his hangover that morphed into a smug grin when his eyes met mine and Lord Karstark's. His back straightens and he struts like a peacock to the middle area where the neutral lords stood between Karstark and I's alliances. Greetings and pleasantries are exchanged with the neutral houses giving a cordial but cool tone to both sides.
Then the tent flaps open again and Lord Stark, Lord Dustin, and Lord Reed walk in with purpose. Lord Stark heads to a small, wooden platform while Lords Dustin and Reed stood with the neutral lords. Ned stood on the platform that put him about two feet above our heads as he gazed at us with his trademark Stark iciness aimed at his cadet branches before easing as he speaks.
"My Lords. When I called the banners of the North, the silver prince had abducted my sister, and the mad king had murdered my father and brother in a twisted mockery of a trial before calling for my execution. You answered and after nearly a year of war, we stand here triumphantly with the Targaryens overthrown, my father and brother avenged, my sister safe, and the New Gift returned!" We nod and cheer a bit before he continues. "When I journeyed to rescue my sister, I was aided by seven great Northern warriors: Howland Reed, Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, Ser Mark Ryswell, and Walton Seastark against three Kingsguard!" He said as Lord Dustin and the Lord of each of the warriors including my uncle Rogar and myself gave cheers.
"Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, Ser Mar Ryswell and Walton Seastark died heroically in battle but with great regret we could not bring their bones back, we buried them with dignity in marked graves before having to ride with all haste toward Nightsong due to my sister's condition." A storm of mutters filled the tent as I silently looked at the reaction as I expected this though knew Wyman wasn't going to be happy. I hear my uncle Robar mutter unhappily and see the lords' faces and see a mix of understanding and anger.
"Aye. My fellow lords, I was there and Lord Stark speaks the truth. But they have not been forgotten have they Lord Stark…" Lord Dustin suddenly stands out from the neutral faction to address the tent and looks to Ned as his sentence trails off.
"Indeed, they have not Lord Dustin. My sister and I have spoken with Prince Doran and Prince Oberyn and they have agreed to collect the bones of the slain and send them on a ship to White Harbor before being taken to Winterfell where they will wait for us to arrive." The Warden of the North announced to more positive muttering as the promise of the bones of their kin seemed to mollify them.
"Which is why it disappoints me to see the once united, triumphant Northern lords, now torn apart by a petty feud that put it, what were the words? Two punches away from a civil war!" His voice becomes cold and gives Karstark an icy look before throwing it at me when quotes me from the meeting. I suppress a facepalm as it seems everyone has heard that little quip and I feel the eyes of everyone in the room as I realize Lord Stark was waiting for an answer from me.
"It… was just a small jape, things were that bad-" I say nervously before being cut off. "Your small jape was heard by everyone in the Red Keep and had his grace sending me a raven in Byrchkeep, urging me to return with all haste to, in his words, deal with the unfolding civil war on his doorstep!" Ned snarls at me practically growling at the last part as I hear the Northern lords whisper amongst themselves. "This current disaster many have been started by the Harclays and Liddles, and the Wulls and First Flints may have failed to solve it when they should have, but don't think I didn't notice that the reason things spiraled out of control was because my cadet branches were having a childish feud and pressuring houses to pick a side!" He says icily as his eyes shift to the mentioned hill clans before landing on Karstark. He turns his head to address the tent again.
"Will House Liddle and House Harclay step forward!" Lord Stark commanded as Lord Torren Liddle and Lord Gerrick Harclay stepped forth each with a single man from their clan what were the only men in the room besides the wandering crow that weren't Northern lords and Ned looks at the Liddle man.
"Ondrew Liddle, nephew of Lord Torren Liddle, you stand accused of the murder of Ronnel Harclay, heir of Lord Gerrick Harclay. How do you plead?" Lord Stark asked the Liddle man, who looked defeated. "I…killed him, Lord Stark." He said and hung his head in shame.
"Then I offer you two choices, take the black and swear the oaths of the Night's Watch or execution." Ned responded in a grim voice. The man hesitates but agrees to join the Night's Watch. "Mallador Harclay, you stand accused of cheating at a game of dice, and beginning a brawl that left two heirs dead. How do you plead?" Turning his head and addressing the Harclay man, who protested immediately. "I did not cheat, Lord Stark!"
"The dice in your possession used in the game has been found by Lord Liddle, Lord Harclay, Lord Wull, Lord First Flint, Lord Manderly and myself to be loaded die and even if you didn't cheat, multiple witnesses say you threw the first punch! So, I offer you the same choice, take the black or execution." The Warden of the North counters fiercely as the Harclay man's confidence seemed to whither with each lord named that investigated his loaded die, before lowering his head and taking the black with a defeated sigh.
With that done, Lord Stark called for Lord Wull and Lord First Flint and I see Lord Hugo Big Bucket Wull and my namesake, due to being good friends with my father when they fostered together in Deepwood Motte and Lord Torghen First Flint step forth with nervous looks on their faces. Big Bucket Wull and Torghen First Flint ironically looked very similar, same brown colored eyes, hair and beard, same hieight but the difference was Lord Wull's Big Bucket nickname came from his large gut that rivaled Lord Manderly's.
"Lord Wull and Lord First Flint, you are not the sworn lords of House Harclay and House Liddle as all hill clans are sworn to House Stark, but your two houses have the most influence and prestige amongst the clans. They turned to you to aid them in settling their dispute and you failed them by fighting amongst yourselves. Had it ended there with you waiting for me to settle the dispute, you both would have received no punishment. But it didn't end there." Ned's voice started at an even tone and I saw both hill clan lords flinch when his voiced turned cold with his next words.
"Make no mistake, you had a right to call for aid from other houses as the Harclays and Liddles called to you for aid, but you needlessly escalated the dispute by calling in too many houses. One or two more houses each would have suffice, not an entire alliance each. Therefore, you will not be punished for failing to solving the dispute or for brawling but you will face punishment for the escalation. House Wull and House First Flint will pay two hundred gold stags to be used in the restoration of Queenscrown." Lord Stark proclaimed and the tent was a storm of whispers as some lords thought it was too harsh while others thought it wasn't harsh enough.
I thought about how much of a punishment two hundred gold was for the two houses. For me, it'd be like getting a shot from the doctor, a sharp prick and then done. For the average hill clan, the loss of two hundred gold would range from harsh to downright crippling but these weren't the average hill clan. House Wull and House First Flint were the two wealthiest clans and their fortunes put together nearly matched the rest of the clans combined, two hundred gold would sting and they'd probably have to tighten their belts for a year or two but it certainly wasn't crippling. The lords in question both looked like they sucked a lemon but seeing how their bodies subtly relaxed when hearing the punishment told me they were expecting a harsher one.
Then it was our turn but to my surprise, Lord Umber was called alongside Karstark and I. Lord Stark gave us a hard look before speaking. "Lord Karstark, Lord Seastark, I have already announced part of your punishment yesterday in regards to the restoration of the Queenscrown tower and village but the second part concerns the settlers." I was thinking What settlers? when my question was answered.
"The lords that attended dinner with myself have volunteered between themselves one thousand smallfolk and House Stark will match that number. Which brings me to your punishments. Lord Karstark, for your cousin starting this feud and your part in perpetuating it, your house shall also provide one thousand settlers to the New Gift, smallfolk farmers and laborer only, no skilled artisans will be among them." This was met by loud, fierce protests from Karstark while the lords whispered about this new development. It was one thing for houses to volunteer smallfolk settlers and for Lord Stark to provide settlers from his own lands, it was another for Lord Stark to force settlers even as punishment and it made me nervous about the second part of my punishment.
"Lord Umber!" Lord Stark called out as he ignored Karstark and the muttering lords. "Due to your part in escalating the feud, House Umber will also provide one thousand smallfolk settlers. HOWEVER…" Lord Stark's voice got louder and he held up his arm as Lord Umber looked like he was about to unleash a bellow of rage. "…House Umber historically had lands in the eastern third of the New Gift, bordering the extinct House Towers and House Amber lands that were taken by House Targaryen. Therefore, for your house's thousands of years of loyalty, I will see those lands returned to house Umber." The lords muttered fiercely between themselves where this was fair or not with mostly Karstark and Umber aligned lords thinking it was unfair while neutral or Seastark aligned houses tended to lean towards it being fair. Lord Umber, for his part, didn't bellow in rage or protest but continued giving Lord Stark a hard look before begrudgingly nodding his head with gritted teeth, barely content with the sugar going down with his bitter medicine.
"Lord Seastark, for your part in the feud, you will provide no settlers…" I relaxed hearing I wasn't going to have to give up a portion of my labor force or levies. "…but you will pay for the settling of the four thousand settlers in and around Queenscrown for the first five years." Only to immediately wince from the added cost of paying for food and housing. Four thousand wasn't a huge number to pay for by any means, but the costs on top of the restoration was going to hit my treasury.
The only solace I had was the recent city charter for Wolfsport meant I paid half taxes on the city to both the Crown and Winterfell, though that was only for Wolfsport and I still paid full taxes for the rest of Sea Dragon Point. The fact that Wolfsport was by far the largest and richest settlement and my house's biggest moneymaker meant that despite paying half taxes for only Wolfsport, I'll be paying around one-third less taxes overall. Granted, that money being saved from paying less taxes in the future was now going to fund the settlement of the New Gift but at least that meant it wasn't going to hit my bottom line too hard and I wasn't being forced to give up part of my manpower.
"Lord Karstark and Lord Umber will also apologize to Lord Seastark for their insults to his house and his betrothed and Lord Seastark will apologize for his insults." Lord Stark broke me out of my internal thoughts with his final proclamation to Karstark and Umber's loud protests of Lannister meddling that made me roll my eyes and Lord Stark to my surprise, brought up his Tully wife as a counter argument to me having a Southron betrothed. I personally didn't want to apologize to those arrogant asshats, especially since the Karstarks are the ones who started this whole damn thing. But if it meant ending this stupid farce, I'd grit my teeth and give a half-assed apology. However, I noticed there was a certain someone who wasn't getting an apology from those two and decided to correct that.
"On one condition." I stated and felt all eyes on me. "Lord Karstark and Lord Umber both owe my betrothed an apology for the grievous insults they flung at her for a feud she had nothing to do with." I start facing Lord Stark but shift to speaking to Lords Karstark and Umber.
"Like it or not, Lady Myrra is to be my wife and future Lady of Castle Warg and while you don't have to like her, you will show her the proper fucking respect a lady of the North is entitled to." I say to murmurs of support from my allied houses, nods of agreement from the neutral houses, and protests from the Karstark and Umber aligned houses.
"Agreed. Lord Umber and Lord Karstark will apologize to Lady Myrra by the time of the Royal Dual Wedding in two weeks' time or face further penalties but you will apologize to each other now in front of your fellow Northern lords." Lord Starks ends the protest with his words.
I nod at Lord Stark before turning to see Karstark and Umber's sour expressions, we looked at each other in mild contempt for a moment before our faces shifted to more neutral expressions. We gave our apologies but I'm pretty sure they didn't believe my apology because I certainly didn't believe theirs. I'm not sure Lord Stark believed either side but he deemed it enough.
"Good. Don't make me deal with this again." Our sworn lord growled at both of us before turning to the crowd.
"Two more announcement on the New Gift. First, the lands in the western third that once belonged to the northern hill clans such as House Norrey, House Knott, and others clans on the border, will be restored to their houses following the historical borders with the extinct House Towers and House Frost." He said to enthusiastic cheers from the Norreys, the Knotts, and five other clan lords.
"Second, as acting Regent of Queenscrown I hereby appoint Ser Wylis to castellan of Queenscrown to oversee the settlers, Lord Karstark's raw materials and Lord Seastark's payments until the end of the regency." Lords whispered again while Lord Manderly gave a big smile. "Lord Stark, you honor me and my son." Lord Stark nodded and began finishing up.
"One final announcement, my brother Benjen Stark has been betrothed to Lady Jonelle Cerwyn and they will marry in two years, where he will be given the lordship of Moat Cailin, not to found any new cadet branches, but to create an extension of House Stark." This created storm of whispers of a new Stark of Moat Cailin as Lord Cerwyn puffed up his chest and beamed with pride. Suddenly his swagger walking in made sense as he threw gloating looks at Karstark and I.
"I hereby declare this meeting adjourned." Lord Stark declared and we slowly made our way out of the massive tent. I made eye contact with Karstark and Umber at two different points but we simply settled for icy looks and ignored each other as we left. I chatted with my uncles for bit as we walked to our horses and they mentioned their sons were with my cousin today. I heard a voice call my name and I turn to Lord Willam Dustin on a brown Northern stallion.
"Lord Seastark, I was hoping to talk to you personally." I nod and bid my uncles farewell as they walked off. I mount my horse and follow Lord Dustin to the Gate of the Gods…
The Red Keep, An hour later…
I hear muffled talking behind the thick doors leading to the Seastark quarters and I open the door to find Wyman and my other cousins Galbert Glover and Owen Fisher as expected but two new additions surprised me. My betrothed, Myrra and blonde haired and bearded knight in his thirties that looked similar to Myrra. I knew him because she introduced him to me before as Ser Maynard Hill, bastard cousin to Lord Harrold Lannister of Lannisport and her Uncle Maynard. He was her sworn knight accompanying her to the North when we married so I wasn't surprised to see him with Myrra, but I was surprised to see them here.
"Hugo!" "Cousin!" "Lord Seastark!" I hear Myrra, my cousins and Ser Maynard greet me as I walk in and I greet them back.
"Myrra, Ser Maynard, didn't expect to see you two drinking black beer. How's the Wolfsport brew?" I ask out of curiosity since black beer was a Northern beverage that we had to bring down south.
"I've never liked ale, especially since it's a smallfolk drink, but this is surprisingly good. I still prefer wine though." Myrra said with a smile.
"I thought it… strange that Northern lords drank this black beer instead of wine but now that I've tasted it, I see why! It's better than any ale in Lannisport!" Ser Maynard took a sip and raised his tankard in praise.
"It's not that we don't drink wine, Wolfsport certainly has plenty, it's that the North can't grow grapes for winemaking so all wine is imported. Black beer came about thousands of years ago as a cheaper alternative for the hill clans and petty lords who couldn't afford to import wine but its spread over the centuries to the point that the Starks openly drink it." I explain to their nods of understanding.
"Cousin, I saved you a plate!" I sat at the head of the table, Wyman to my right with my cousins to his right and Myrra to my left next to her bastard uncle with a plate of eggs, sausage and bacon, though closer to the British/Canadian bacon from my world than the American kind and a small tankard of Wolfsport black beer. They seem to be almost half-way done with their plates as I dig in after a sip from my tankard and look to see the whole table looking at me in anticipation.
"So…what happened at the meeting?" My cousin Owen asks curiously.
"Can we even discuss it in front of your betrothed due to the silence embargo? Er, no offense Lady Myrra!" My other cousin Galbert responds nervously while glancing at Myrra, who frowns.
"This damn silence embargo of yours is driving me insane. Hugo, I will be Lady of Castle Warg, I think I'm entitled to knowing the details of my betrothed getting involved in any civil wars. Not knowing what's been going on with you Northerners has had me worried and my father concerned not to mention court. Half of court thought a war between your houses was about to start and were taking bets!" Myrra complained, letting me know exactly how she felt about being kept in the dark.
"Yes, you will. But not yet. You aren't Lady of Castle Warg until we're married." I chide softly as I cut a piece of sausage and eat it.
"Besides, as far as Lord Stark is concerned, the feud is over." I say when I done chewing and this got everyone's attention.
"And as far as we're concerned? What about Karstark?" Wyman asks evenly, remembering his brawl with Arthor Karstark.
"As far as House Seastark is concerned, the feud is also over. As for Karstark, if he wants to restart it, I'll happily knock him down a peg or two." I say, impressing onto Wyman not to continue the feud.
"Did you or Karstark get any more punishments?" Galbert asked to the whole table's curiosity.
I take a sip of black beer and give them a brief summary our punishments.
"…And Karstark and Umber will have to personally apologize to Myrra." I finish as I take a bite of bacon, making a note to myself to introduce real bacon to Westeros.
"Oh yes, I heard some of the things they've said…" Myrra smiled but her eyes and voice had a cold fury to them. "…lioness whore, Lannister cunt, harlot of the Westerlands, and blonde broodmare amongst others."
"And they'll apologize for all of them." I said with steel in my voice.
"Anything else happened?" Owen asks and I explained Ser Wylis' appointment and Benjen Stark being betrothed to Lord Cerwyn's daughter and his lordship of Moat Cailin.
"Didn't he reject betrothals from you and Karstark?" Galbert inquired and I saw Myrra perk up at that question and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Aye. He rejected both of us and is strutting around like a peacock now he's got a Stark betrothal." I said with mild disappointment, I wasn't too broken up about not getting the betrothal for my younger brother Edric but I still needed to find a match for him, preferably from the North.
As I finished my tankard, I thought about my plans for the day and decided to make a small change. "Wyman, we're meeting with Lord Slate this afternoon to finalize the details of your betrothal to Lady Elsa Slate. Myrra, you're coming with us." I say to Myrra's shock and I smile. "You may not be Lady of Castle Warg yet, but that doesn't mean you can't start meeting all the Northern lords you're going to help me deal with. You've already met my lord uncles of House Glover and House Fisher but today you can meet Lord Slate of Blackpool and we can go from there."
Myrra smiled. "I'd like that."
Chapter 12
The Red Keep, late 281 A.C., five days later…
I stood in my finest blue and white tunic with Myrra in a beautiful red dress with gold trimmings that matched her hair and eyes perfectly. We were standing in a large dining room we were using to host our event as the Seastark quarters would have been too small. Wyman was off to one side talking with one of the servants and Myrra's ser-uncle Maynard was standing nearby in a red tunic as he was a guest of the dinner I was hosting with Northern lords to introduce Myrra and to a lesser extent, introduce Ser Maynard as her (and my future) sworn knight. I had my hands behind my back with my right-hand clutching something I got for Myrra.
"Alright. I know I've been busy these last two days at the Wayfinders Guild with the sticky-stone shipment getting in, so I haven't been able to help you and Wyman much in setting up this dinner, but I want to make it up to you." I remove my hands from behind my back and with my left hand I guide her open palms to where my right-hand places something. Myrra looks down to find a golden necklace with a large piece of polished blue amber, roughly the size of a golden stag and her eyes bug out as she gasps.
"Hugo! This is beautiful!" she said excitedly. "You told me about the blue amber but I had no idea they looked this stunning, and the size of it, it's huge!" she gushed and I laughed.
"Well, let's just say sticky-stone wasn't the only thing in that shipment. My mother also sent some amber for trade deals including our prized blue amber and I found a good goldsmith in the city to make the necklace. Besides, I told you I'd get you one bigger than Lady Lyanna's!" I say as she puts on the necklace and clasps it together behind her neck.
"Uncle Maynard, look at this!" She excitedly shows off her new necklace to who I've mentally referred to as her sworn uncle, whose eyes widened when he saw her necklace.
"By the seven, that's as large as a coin! And it truly is blue! It almost looks like a sapphire!" The knight in his late thirties proclaimed, visibly impressed by the blue amber.
"I'm happy you both are impressed with the blue amber but the guests are set to arrive soon and I would like to quickly go over the guest list with Myrra." I say and Myrra makes he way back to me.
"Alright, you've already met Lords Glover, Fisher and Slate along with their sons and heirs and from what I hear from them and Wyman, my uncles and cousins seem to like you and you made a good impression on Lord Slate and his son Jonos." I start and Myrra nods.
"Your cousins have been quite welcoming to me and your lord-uncles have been accepting of me. Lord Slate and his son were polite to me in our meeting with them and all of them have condemned the insults." Myrra says with a small smile and it's my turn to nod.
"Good. Now let's go over the lords you haven't met yet. Mormont." I begin the quiz her.
"Lord Jorah Mormont, Lord of Bear Island, commands the Mormont Fleet that works with your fleet, betrothed his cousin Alysanne to Wyman's younger brother Jonnel, poorest of the Northern Great Houses." Myrra started listing the things I've taught her about the house.
"Correct. Though definitely don't mention that last part out loud and certainly not in front of him." I caution as I see Ser Maynard a body-length away pretending not to listen.
"Ser Maynard, I'm introducing you as the first knight of House Seastark, so you might as well know the lords you and your sworn lady will be around." I say with a sign and wave him over and the older knight seemed uncomfortable.
"Lord Seastark, is it truly alright for me, a bastard, to dine with these lords? Such a thing usually doesn't happen in the Westerlands." He says nervously but Myrra and I dismiss his concerns.
"Of course, uncle! I am to be Lady of Sea Dragon Point and bastard you may be; you and your children are still my kin and will have a place at Castle Warg. Right Hugo?" Myrra says and looks to me.
"Of course they're welcome to live in Castle Warg! His son will be a future knight and more importantly, his wife and elder daughter are cooks that know how to make west onion soup!" I jape but get a light slap on my shoulder from Myrra, who grinned and gestured me to continue where I left off.
"Tallhart." I state the next house. "Master Helman Tallhart and his younger brother Leobald Tallhart, Master of Torrhen's Square, "Gateway to the Interior" due to lake and river trade, Wyman's younger sister Yara is betrothed to Leobald, lots of raw materials for trade." She says and I nod.
"Wull." "Lord Hugo Wull, the Wull of Ice Harbor and his second son and newest heir Mikken Wull, your namesake, heir is betrothed to a Norrey, one of the two largest and wealthiest hill clans, trade a few precious gems and a bit of silver found in the Northern mountains." I nod and praise her for using the correct hill clan address of the Wull of Ice Harbor.
"Forrester." "Lord Gregor Forrester, Lord of Ironwrath, sworn to House Glover, married to Elissa of House Branfield: a now extinct house in the Crownlands, harvesters of the famous Ironwood trees."
"Wells." "Lord Barthogan Wells, Lord of Wells Keep, with his son Benjicot Wells, Lord of the Bracelands located on the Saltspear between Cape Kraken and The Neck, been historically hit by Ironborn reavers, looking to get protection from the Sunset Fleet, betrothed his daughter Lorra to your younger brother Edric, small rivalry with House Flint of Flint's Finger since the Bracelands historically were under Flint rule before House Wells rose in prominence and strength and broke away before the Conquest." I smile at her answers.
"Ryswell." "Lord Rodrik Ryswell, Lord of the Rills, betrothed your younger sister Breyna to his heir Roger Ryswell, has daughters married to House Dustin and House Bolton, famed for their northern breed of horses, were sworn to House Ryder when the Ryder Kings were conquered by the Starks, then gained lordship over the Rills after King Theon the Hungry Wolf Stark crushed a rebellion and extinguished House Ryder." I smile.
"Good, you've been paying attention my little history lessons on the North. Last houses, Dustin and Stout." "Lord Willam Dustin, Lord of Barrow Hall in Barrowton, ancient Barrow Kings, one of the strongest Northern Great Houses, lots of raw material resources, married to Barbrey of House Ryswell, made an oath with you to betrothal our children in the future without my opinion." She softly growls the last part as she narrows her eyes at me but continues with the last house.
"Lord Harwood Stout, Lord of Goldgrass, sworn to House Dustin, keep is just outside of Barrowton, lost his arm at the Battle of the Trident, brews the Barrowlands' local black beer."
"You're ready. You picked up everything I taught you! I'm happy to see you taking this seriously." I praise with sincerity.
"Well, it helps that I had a good instructor." She says with a shy smile before it turns into a worried frown. "I also don't want to mess this up. I was surprised by insults made by those two lords and what concerned me was hearing that some Northern lords agreed with them. I don't want the lords I'm meeting tonight to say the same things they did, I want them to accept me as a Northern lady." She says nervously with worry in her eyes.
"They won't sprout the same lies as Umber and Karstark, you know why? Because you'll win them over with your wit and charm. Besides, my uncles and Lord Slate already like you, so that's three houses that you've already got in your corner. Yes, we will have to meet with less…friendly lords, but that's apart of our duties as Lord and Lady." I say comfortingly.
Speaking of my uncles, they and my cousins are the first to arrive, greeting Wyman, Myrra and myself warmly. My cousins Galbert and Owen, already having met Ser Maynard, greeted him and he introduced himself to my uncles. As he was telling them about his familial connection to my betrothed, Lord Jorah Mormont arrived with Lord Artos Slate and his son Jonos Slate with servants carrying a barrel of Bear Island black beer. The Slates greeted Myrra while I warmly greeted Lord Jorah before he turned to Myrra.
"Lady Myrra, it is an honor to meet you." He said with a polite bow to which Myrra flashed a bright smile. "Lord Mormont, the honor is mine." She says with a practiced curtsy and makes polite small talk with the Lord of Bear Island while the Slates meet Ser Maynard and Wyman chats with my uncles and cousins. Just as I was about to join Myrra and Lord Jorah's conversation, I hear a booming voice call my name and instantly knew it was Big Bucket Hugo Wull and his second son and now heir Mikken Wull, who unlike his father, was slim and muscular instead of fat and muscular and were next to servants carrying a barrel of Ice Harbor black beer. I warmly greet my namesake and the cycle continued as a conga line of Northern lords came in and were greeted by Myrra and I before dispersing to meet Ser Maynard or talk to Wyman or each other. The Tallharts, then the Wells, Lord Ryswell, Lord Forrester, finally Lord Willam Dustin and Lord Harwood Stout with a barrel of the Goldgrass black beer.
"Lord Seastark, it's good to see you again!" Lord Willam greets me warmly and quietly asks me if Myrra knows about our oath and I greet him, quietly confirming she did, before meeting Lord Stout for the first time as The Lord of Barrow Hall walks up to Myrra.
"Lady Myrra, it is an honor to finally meet you. Lord Seastark has told me much about you." Lord Willam greeted Myrra with a polite bow that's met with my betrothed's curtsy. "Lord Dustin, it is honor to meet you." With all the guests arrived we made our way to the long table where everyone was seated with myself at the head of one end as host with Myrra seated to my right and Lord Ryswell to my left. Lord Dustin was seated across from me at the other end of the table with my lord-uncle Robar Glover to his right and Lord Stout to his left and my cousins, the Wells, the Tallharts, Ser Maynard, Lord Forrester, the Wulls, and Lord Mormont all mixed in the middle. I stand up to speak to the table as servants place two large charcuterie boards of various breads meats and cheeses placed on opposite sides of the table.
"My fellow lords of the western shore, I invited you here tonight to formally introduce my betrothed and future Lady of Castle Warg and Sea Dragon Point, Lady Myrra Lannister of Lannisport and her sworn knight and bastard first cousin once removed, Ser Maynard Hill, future first knight of House Seastark!" I say to polite applause from most of the lords and more enthusiastic applause from my uncles, Lord Slate and Lord Mormont.
"Of course, I didn't just want to introduce my betrothed and her sworn knight to just the lords of the North but also, it's various black beers. They've both enjoyed my Wolfsport brew but tonight they'll be introduced to the Bear Island, Ice Harbor and Goldgrass brews, starting with Lord Mormont's black beer." I say as the servants fill up everyone's tankards.
"Ser Maynard is a veteran knight who fought in the War of the Ninepenny Kings and his wife and daughters are talented cooks who helped made tonight's appetizer from the Westerlands, west onion soup!" I finished as servants began placing bowls of steaming hot soup with melted cheese and bread on top.
"Cheese in soup!?" "What kind of madness is this?" "And they think Haggis is disgusting!" "Pft! Typical Southron decadence."
I hear mutters as the sight of the cheese greatly confused the Northern lords because it seemed ludicrous to them to put cheese in soup. I grab a piece of bread from the charcuterie board in front of me, giving the silent signal to my guests to begin eating. As we begin eating, Myrra and I watch with amusement as the lords try the soup one-by-one and see their expressions shift from disgusted or unsure to stunned at the delicious taste.
"This is delicious!" "How is it possible!" "The cheese is making it better!?" I silently chuckle at their comments.
I sip a spoonful of soup before taking a sip of the Bear Island black beer. It tasted strangely like an IPA with distinct piney flavor. I see Myrra talking with Lord Mormont next to her about his local brew so I turned to talk to Lord Rodrik Ryswell.
"Lord Ryswell, I must congratulate you on the birth of your third son! Have you chosen a name?" I ask to make conversation.
"Thank you, Lord Seastark. I was surprised by the raven that I knocked up my wife when we were leaving the North but we had already decided Roose for any boy." He said and I nodded.
"Aye, didn't Roose Bolton also get a raven that your daughter was pregnant again?" Master Helman Tallhart, seated to Lord Ryswell's left chimed in.
"He did. She sent a letter to my wife recently, claiming she had a good feeling about this one and the names will be Darla if a girl and Domeric if a boy." I hear Lord Ryswell answer and my eyes slightly widen as I take a bite of the soaked bread in the soup. Hearing the impending birth of Domeric Bolton reminded me of the future menace that was Ramsay Snow. From what I remembered, Ramsay hasn't been born yet because he was a year or two younger than Domeric and wasn't sired by Roose until after his wife died. I was contemplating ways to quietly deal with Ramsay to ensure the survival of Domeric as I continued eating my soup before being pulled out of my thoughts by Master Helman.
"Lord Seastark, I heard you were busy making wayfinders at your guild. When are we Northmen going to get any wayfinders?" Master Helman asks.
"It's not my guild Master Helman, it's the crown's and not until I get back to Wolfsport to set up a Wayfinders Guild there." I answered Master Helman and Lord Ryswells speaks.
"I heard you received a monopoly on wayfinder and backstaff sales in the North from the crown." He asks curiously and I nod.
"Indeed, I do have a monopoly in the North." I say, drawing the attention of Lord Wells and his son, Lord Forrester, Lord Mormont and the Helmans as the only Northern lords close enough to hear me. "Of course, I wouldn't dream of overcharging my fellow Northmen, the prices shall be the same as King's Landing." I see their reactions of relief. Could I have abused my monopoly to wring every gold coin I could from my fellow Northern lords? Absolutely. But doing so would erode a lot of the respect and goodwill my house has built up over the centuries.
Something I explained to Myrra was that while House Seastark was the strongest house on the western coast and its unspoken leaders, its leadership style was first amongst equals. House Seastark was a little over five hundred years old surrounded by houses that were thousands of years old, and that age gap meant we had to be mindful how we interacted with the older houses. The age of one's house isn't everything as younger houses like mine can surpass older houses, but it matters in prestige. The Freys get shit from practically everyone both inside and outside the Riverlands, and they're over a century older than my house. Granted, it helps that my house is a cadet branch of the Starks, but the Freys got greedy and started raising the toll to exploit their river crossing and the older houses haven't forgotten. I had no intention of needlessly antagonizing my fellow Northern lords for a few extra gold coins to become the Freys of the North.
I looked around as I finished my soup to find the guests were finished with theirs and I waved the servants to start collecting empty bowls and refill the tankards with a new black beer. The servants poured Lord Stout's black beer into our tankards and brought out the main courses, smoked venison, lamprey pies, roasted duck and quail, mutton chops, salted cod and black sausages. I grab a mutton chop and everyone begins grabbing food after me. I take a sip of Lord Stout's brew and wasn't surprised to find that it tasted like a pretty standard stout beer, nothing special but not bad either.
"Lord Ryswell, Lord Mormont and I were discussing the extinct houses of the North such as House Woodfoot of Bear Island, House Greenwood of Sea Dragon Point, and I heard there was a House Rhyder of the Rills?" Myrra asked, making conversation with Lord Ryswell while Lord Mormont talked with Lord Wells and his son and Lord Forrester was chatting with the Helmans. I take a bite of the lamprey pie and thought it was alright. Lamprey pie is a popular dish in the North, especially on the coasts but less so in the southern kingdoms. Of course, Wolfsport had the best lamprey pie in the North no matter what the Manderlys said.
I join Myrra and Lord Ryswell's conversation for a bit as I ate the lamprey pie and some mutton chops before looking across the table to Lord Dustin, whose eyes met mine. He adopted a subtle look as if he was asking for permission and I had an inkling that he wanted to announce our agreement so I gave a small smile and nodded. He returned both before standing up with a tankard in his hand.
"Lords, knight, and lady. I must thank Lord Seastark for hosting this wonderful dinner to introduce his betrothed, Lady Myrra and her sworn knight. I also have an announcement." Lord Dustin said, raising his volume so that the whole table could hear him without shouting with everyone giving him their full attention.
"Lord Seastark, your uncle, Walton Seastark, fought by side at the Tower of Joy. He was mortally wounded after Ser Oswell slew Martyn Cassel but threw himself in front of his blade, saving my life and giving me the opening needed to prevail. I owe him and your house, a life debt." He ignored the surprised murmurs of the lords and continued.
"Lord Seastark and I have discussed this life debt and have decided on a betrothal between our houses as the way to settle it. As I have no sisters or female cousins, I could not make a betrothal for his younger brother Edric. However, Lord Seastark and I will swear an oath in front of a Heart Tree that a Dustin and a Seastark will marry. Whose son marrying whose daughter matters not, only that a Dustin marries a Seastark." He stated and shocked whispers could be heard around the table as I stood up with my tankard in my right hand and Myrra did the same.
"Lord Dustin, Lady Myrra and I are honored by this betrothal and happy to deepen the bonds between our houses." I say as we smile at him though Myrra's is a bit thinner as she wasn't particularly happy about me deciding a betrothal for one of our unborn children before we're even married.
"Lord Seastark, Lady Myrra, the honor is mine. I propose a toast to Walton Seastark for saving my life and to the future Lady Myrra Seastark, mother of my future goodson or gooddaughter!" He toasted and the whole table met his toast with eagerness. I looked at Myrra and smiled at how she beamed at the toast and how she got the endorsement of one the oldest, strongest and prestigious houses in the North. Conversation flowed as we finished the main courses with the smoked venison and roasted duck being particularly delicious. The servants again took away our empty dishes and poured the Wulls of Ice Harbor's special brew into our tankards and brought out small bowls of a dessert that the North lords recognized immediately while Myrra and Ser Maynard looked in confusion. Without standing, I addressed the table.
"My lords, for the first course, we had west onion soup as my betrothed wished to share a favorite dish from her home with us Northern lords, so I found it appropriate that for dessert, my betrothed and Ser Maynard can try Cranachan, one of the oldest and most common desserts in the North." I say as I grab a spoon and dig in that I've never tried but except in Hugo's memories. Cranachan was a dessert of a soft cheese called crowdie cheese, mixed with lightly toasted oatmeal, honey and raspberries, tasting like a slightly sweet yoghurt and was considered as old if not older than the Starks. I take a sip of House Wull black beer, second oldest black beer in the North, and find that I liked it, tasted like a stout or a porter but with a hint of some slightly sweet and tart flavor I couldn't place. Myrra, however, seemed to ask the question for me after she took a sip and her eyes widened.
"This dessert is very good, but I love this black beer, it's got a faint taste of…" Myrra asks Lord Wull while smacking her lips. "…Is it blackberry!?" Lord Wull laughs.
"Haha! Why yes Lady Myrra, it is brewed with blackberries to put the black in black beer. I see you have keen tastes!" Lord Wull compliments Myrra and they begin talking about his black beer. I chatted with Lord Ryswell on the horse deal we made and other topics, but my mind was preoccupied by the betrothal made with Lord Willam.
House Dustin was an ancient house that was a good five to six thousand years older than House Seastark and was one of the strongest houses in the North. They didn't have a navy and weren't as wealthy as my house, but they had more lands, levies and most importantly prestige. They weren't poor either as Barrowton, while not being a city due to a city charter, was the third largest settlement in the North behind White Harbor and Wolfsport with around twenty thousand people and its placement at the confluence of two rivers made it a decent inland trade center like Torrhen's Square. The number of levies they could raise rivaled the Manderlys and Boltons, was slightly more than the Umbers and Karstarks could field and was roughly double the House Seastarks levies. House Dustin was a pure land power compared to House Seastark's trade and naval power.
But what their house truly powerful was Lord Willam and his connections. Best friends with Ned and Howland Reed, on great terms with the King and Lyanna for rescuing her and their house has a great reputation amongst the North as they have no real enemies or rivals. The Tallharts, Rhyswells, and Wells may have just agreed to betrothals with my house and want to increase trade, but they have a much older and deeper bond with House Dustin and if it came down to them listening to me or Lord Willam, they'd no doubt listen to the latter.
As I was finishing my cranachan I realized the future betrothal between our houses wasn't just an alliance between two houses, but a merging of two alliance blocs in the North, stitched together with marriages. House Seastark would no longer run its alliance with nearby houses as a first amongst equals but jointly running a larger alliance with House Dustin as co-leaders, though it begged the question of who would be the senior and junior partner.
I pondered these thoughts as we finished our desserts but continued drinking and conversation. I was discussing the Ironborn threat with nearby lords.
"If Bear Island and Deepwood Motte both construct an additional galley then I can transfer two ships from the Bay of Ice to Blazewater Bay in additional to the five galleys recently constructed in the last two years. With seven additional galleys, the Sunset Fleet can effectively protect Blazewater Bay, shielding the Saltspear and your houses from their reavings. Unforunately, I won't be able to construct any new warships for at least the next five years due to Lord Stark's punishment." I say to the lords before looking at Lord Mormont.
"House Mormont can construct another galley though it would stretch our treasury. I can talk with Lord Glover and convince him to build one as well." Lord Mormont said with determination. I and the other lords thanked him for his contribution.
"While that protects my northern coast on the Saltspear, it doesn't protect my southern coast on Ironman's Bay." Lord Wells comments on the geography of the Bracelands, the eastern third or so of Cape Kraken that was mostly forested and between the Flints of Flint's Finger and the Neck, stretching north to south across the width of the peninsula and having two coastlines to defend with the population density decreasing the further south you go.
"Unfortunately, Lord Wells, I cannot spare ships south of Blazewater Bay without compromising the fleet somewhere else and its stretched thin enough as is." I say with a sign and he grumbles but accepts that his northern and more populated coast is protected.
More rounds of beer were poured and drank as the night went on topic shifted yet again, this time by Lord Dustin.
"Lord Seastark, I heard you are meeting with the Summer-Islander captain Nakaya Sho tomorrow." He commented from across the table and once again the lords hushed their conversations and looked between us.
"Aye. You traveled with her when escorting Lady Lyanna back to the capital. Any advice or insights on negotiating with her?" I ask, curious what he thought of the Summer-Islander woman.
"She's as sharp a negotiator as she is a captain and she's already made a deal with Lord Manderly with Sho Clan sending a single swan ship to White Harbor each year and I suspect she will want a similar deal for stick-stone." Lord Dustin replied.
"Well, I certainly won't oppose any Summer-Islander ships coming to Wolfsport, though it is quite the distance, roughly two to three moons with their faster swan ships to our three to four moons depending on wind. I would rather trade directly for their gems and spices then through Lannisport or Oldtown." I say with a shrug.
"Well, the only alternative is sending a ship all the way to the Summer Islands and that would be horrendously risky and expensive!" Lord Dustin commented, and the lords muttered in agreement that the risks outweighed the rewards.
"Oh absolutely! Even for House Seastark and all our wealth, it would too much by ourselves! They only way it could be done is if we all pooled in our trade goods and made a trade fleet. My amber and sticky-stone and y'all could provide iron, copper and tin that they always trade for. Mayhaps throw in some shadowcat furs and black beer, and we can trade it for gemstones and spices." I comment off-handedly before polishing off my seventh tankard, ignoring a few looks of confusion from my Americanism slipping through. This set off a loud debate across the table as some lords seem to think that a joint trade fleet could work while others thought it was still a bad idea.
"I would be willing to invest in a trade fleet!" To my and the tables surprise, Lord Dustin proclaimed loudly, and all eyes were on him. "House Dustin is willing to contribute a small amount to a trade fleet to the Summer Islands, I trust Lord Seastark." This convinced many of the more skeptical lords since House Dustin was an old and well-respected house.
The next and last rounds of black beer was spent half-drunkenly hashing out the details of which houses were contributing, what were the contributing, and how much. To my surprise, all the lords at the table were willing to contribute even a small amount to the effort. It was around the hour of the eel when we decided enough details of our trade fleet have been hashed out and that we'll meet again to sort them out.
The Wull of Ice Harbor and his son Mikken were giving an enthusiastic goodbye to us. "Lord Hugo, Lady Myrra, thank you for such a wonderful dinner! The onion soup was heavenly!"
"Lord Hull, thank you for sharing your house's personal black beer brew! It's my favorite black beer I've tried so far, and my betrothed will definitely be purchasing a few barrels from you for Castle Warg, right?" Myrra said with a smile and the last part aimed at me.
"Of course. I don't mind buying a few barrels from my namesake!" I say with a smile, not minding paying a small amount for a few barrels.
"Lady Myrra, you honor us and the Wulls! Know you will always have our acceptance as a lady of the North!" The Big Bucket said solemnly.
"The Wull of Ice Harbor's words flatter me, and your acceptance humbles me." Myrra said with a curtsy. Lord Wull grasps my arm with his.
"I knew you, the one your father named after me, would go on to do great things!" You picked a fine lady who will make a great wife. Your father would be proud." He said sincerely and I thanked him.
The last guest to leave was Lord Dustin, who suggested they meet again about the trade fleet before the wedding, and I agreed. He also mentioned he'll see if Lord Stark wants to invest to my surprise.
Soon it was just Wyman, Myrra, Ser Maynard and I. Myrra and I took a moment to celebrate how well the dinner went and how she has many lords supporting her now including old, respected houses like Dustin and Ryswell before she and Ser Maynard left because it was getting late.
I simply retired to my quarters for the night.
A/N: These chapters seem to sometimes blow up on me, like I just end up adding more and more. Reactions:Sonifri, eeda, MasterOfDragonsGod and 29 otherskaizerfoxApr 4, 2025Reader mode Threadmarks Bob UchihaGetting out there.Apr 5, 2025#27I also don't like overpowered MC's, but this MC... he's so weak in every aspect. The entire story so far has just been the MC giving away every advantage for free and then wh*ring out himself and his family just to keep his head above water. Then the latest chapters, the MC getting robbed by the Starks without any thought of resistance... If I wanted to read about a pushover getting taken advantage of by his bosses I'd just read my own autobiography; this fantasy story is too realistic for my taste. Reactions:AbaddonKikoskia and dariosinThreadmarks Chapter 13 Threadmarks kaizerfoxGetting sticky.Apr 12, 2025#28Chapter 13
The Red Keep, Late 281 A.C., five days later (four days the wedding)…
"The exterior structure of the Queenscrown tower is still sound. There are a few missing stones on the merlons that need to be replaced, the tower needs new coating of mortar and the merlons need a new coating of gold paint." Yorren, wandering crow of the Night's Watch, explained to table with Lord Stark, Ser Wylis Manderly, Lord Karstark, Lord Umber, myself and to my surprise, Lady Lyanna with baby Brandon. Yorren was attending this meeting on the rebuilding of Queenscrown due to having been to the tower twice as it was a common stop for wandering crows and new recruits on their way to and from the Wall.
I noted that cost wise, the exterior wasn't going to be bad, but I had to know about the interior.
"And the interior?" I asked and Yorren looked at me and responded.
"The interior needs a lot of work. After being abandoned for nearly a century, much of the wood has rotted on furniture and parts of the floors. Practically all the iron for the grates, door locks, and whatnot have rusted and need to be replaced…" Yorren responded with a laundry list of things the interior would need renovated or replaced. It was definitely more expensive than the exterior, but I was fine with that because working with stone is much more expensive than wood. The table listened patiently to the wandering crow, absorbing every detail and when he finished, Lady Lyanna spoke.
"Yorren, how large is the island the tower stands on?" she asks and my eyes are drawn to baby Brandon. Small flashes of his book and show forms flicker across my mind and I briefly contemplate his change destiny from a brother of the Night's Watch to a minor lord.
"The holdfast and stone steps take up most of the island, with the rest taken up by rocks and oak trees. Not much room for an expansion if any." Yorren answered the lady's question. She opened her mouth to ask another question before Lord Stark threw her a look and cut in.
"Thank you Yorren for your insights on the tower and village. You are dismissed." He said with a nod and the wandering crow left the room. Lord Stark turned to Ser Wylis to his right.
"Ser Wylis, your thoughts?" He said and the knight's brow furrowed as he briefly contemplated before speaking. "From what Yorren of the Night's Watch says, the rebuilding of the tower is a simple affair with most of the costs laying with the interior. I estimate that costs should be around five hundred to a thousand gold dragons, though of course, I would have to visit the tower myself to get a more accurate assessment of the damages and costs. I will also assess if any expansion is feasible." Ser Wylis answered as Lord Stark and I nodded, both agreeing with the rough assessment of the costs without any expansion. This was a relief for me because I was afraid the costs were going to be around two thousand gold, but the lack of significant repairs needed for the stone tower and only the interior needing renovation brings down potential costs. However, if an expansion was deemed feasible and accepted, it would raise the costs to be closer to the two thousand gold price tag I was dreading.
Ser Wylis spoke again. "Getting the materials to the island will be a pain but luckily, we don't have to move much stone unless there's an expansion. Moving on to the village, it is mostly dilapidated cottages and houses, an inn and a smithery. When it was settled, it had some two hundred orchard farmers but from what I hear you intend to build a larger village Lord Stark."
"Aye. I intend to settle the two hundred smallfolk each from your house and House Dustin in the village proper and lands around the lake and a wooden palisade will be constructed around the village. The thousand smallfolk from Stark lands will settle in the lands between the tower and Kingsroad. The settlers from the other houses will settle where they please though I suspect they will go to Queenscrown or around the Kingsroad. Lord Umber, Lord Karstark, have you decided where your settlers will go?" Lord Stark asked the two lords sitting across from me.
"Aye. Our settlers will build a village next to the Kingsroad, just north of our border with the new house." Lord Umber answered gruffly.
"The Karstark settlers will construct a village on the Kingsroad due east of the tower." Lord Karstark answered plainly and Lord Stark nodded.
"Sensible locations. One more announcement on the Queenscrown lordship. My sister and I have quietly discussed with his grace to lower to portion of the harvest from half to one-tenth, half of the income from taxes will still go to the Night's Watch." He stated, answering an unasked question in the back of my mind of how viable the lordship would be if they had to fork over half of their food each year.
"Lord Umber and Lord Karstark, I heard you apologized to Lady Myrra yesterday by the training courtyard. Consider that part of your punishment fulfilled." Lord Stark informed them and I fought to keep a smug grin off my face as I heard them grumble. Myrra and I had gotten tired of waiting for an apology so we ambushed them by the training courtyard when I was near them in front of a good three dozen Northern and Southron lords.
"My betrothed just happened to show up to wish me luck on my spars. She noticed the two Northern lords but didn't know who they were so I introduced her to them. They introduced themselves and apologized for their public insults." I said failing to keep the smug grin off my face as the lords in question stared daggers at me for my bullshit. I did technically introduce Myrra to them, but the venomous look she gave them when she first laid eyes on them meant she knew exactly who they were.
"Lot of good that luck she gave you. You lost spars to Lord Edric "Silveraxe" Fell, Tyrek Lannister again, Lord Jorah Mormont, Farlen Umber, my cousin Cregan, and lost a best two out of three bout with the Red Viper!" Karstark sneered and my grin disappeared and I threw him an irritated look.
"You're forgetting the part where I defeat Ser Adam Marbrand again, both my uncles and all three of my cousins, Ser Andar Royce, your other cousin Arthor, and I won one spar against the Red Viper even if I lost the bout." I immediately shot back.
"Lord Seastark." Lady Lyanna cut in this time and interrupted us. "His grace and I heard about your trade deal with Captain Sho and the trade fleet you and Lord Dustin are creating was brought up in a small council meeting." She said, those piercing grey eyes giving me the guarded look she seemed to strangely reserve for Tywin and I.
"Oh? And what did his grace and the small council think of the trade fleet?" I asked, genuinely surprised the king and small council were talking about it.
"I wasn't at the meeting but his grace told me about it. They were intrigued by the idea of sending a trade fleet to the Summer Islands and comparisons to the Sea Snake were brought up. Lord Arryn and Prince Stannis argued for the creation of a royal trade fleet with goods from the Stormlands, Crownlands, and the Vale to be sent to the Summer Islands once the loyalist were dealt with and Lord Royce and Ser Estermont arguing for caution. His grace was swayed by his brother and the Hand and I suggested House Manderly and other Northern houses on the eastern shore could potentially join such a venture if they wish." She said before looking at Lord Umber, Lord Karstark and Ser Wylis, who were surprised at both the King accepting the idea of a trade fleet and that they were being offered to be apart of said trade fleet. The two lords looked at each other before coming to an unspoken agreement.
"Lady Lyanna, we would be honored to contribute to his grace's trade fleet." Lord Umber said with a smile while Karstark nodded and I resisted rolling my eyes. Two days ago, I heard them bemoaning an ancient and proud house like the Dustins being reduced to trade and copper counting due to their alliance with me and now they're trying to get in on a trade fleet.
"I will inform my father about this but I have no doubt he will wish to be apart of his grace's trade fleet." Ser Wylis thanked Lady Lyanna genuinely.
"What did the Master of Coin, Lord Mallister, think of the trade fleets." I asked, noting the one member of the small council not mentioned besides Ser Barristan or Pycelle.
"He was supportive of the Iron Throne building a trade fleet and met with my brother and two Riverlords." She said and looked at her brother, who picked up where she left off.
"Aye. Lord Dustin and I met with Lord Mallister, Lord Blackwood, and Lord Frey and all three wished to invest a trade cog of roughly one thousand gold dragons of goods." To my and the table's shock except Lady Lyanna.
"That is certainly a boon. I take it Lord Dustin told you about my future goodfather wanting to invest a trade cog and a similar amount of gold coins into the trade fleet?" I asked to the surprise of everyone but Lord Stark.
"Indeed, he did. It is just the Lannisport Lannisters, correct?" Lord Stark asked and I knew what he meant.
"Aye. Lord Harrold mentioned Lord Tywin was intrigued by the trade fleet and is willing to let Westerlords invest but is not investing himself. No other lords in the Westerlands have approached me, though if the king announces his own trade fleet that could cause them to start investing." I say the last part absentmindedly and I notice Lady Lyanna subtly tense up in the corner of my eye as I face Lord Stark.
"I will not stop other houses from investing in yours and Lord Dustin's trade fleet but how much is the North investing?" Lord Stark inquired.
"I am investing roughly two cogs and five-and-ten-hundred gold dragons worth of mostly amber and sticky-stone while Lord Dustin is putting in one cog and one thousand gold dragons worth of trade goods like iron, copper, and tin between himself and his bannerman Lord Stout and Lord Brownburrow. The other Northern lords of the western shore, including the Flints of Flint's Finger have matched me with a combined two cogs and five-and-ten-hundred gold coins worth of trade goods." I reported while ignoring the slightly alarmed looks that Lord Umber and Karstark had when I mention one of their allies investing.
"I see the North is investing a good deal into this and so will House Stark. I will invest one thousand gold dragons worth of iron, copper, tin and other goods, and as part of my wedding gift to you Lyanna, half of the profits for House Stark in this venture will be held for Brandon when he reaches maturity." Lord Stark announced to his sister's joy as I look at Brandon and wonder if he's Westeros' first trust fund baby.
"Lord Stark, I'm honored you're investing in Lord Dustin and I's trade fleet. The addition of your investment means I'll have to add another cog for a total of six cogs carrying roughly five thousand gold dragons worth of trade goods." He nodded and I continued.
"The plan for the trade fleet I've made with Lord Dustin is that the trade fleet led by my cousin Wyman will assemble and sail from Wolfsport when I leave for my wedding in Lannisport with the Northern lords who've agreed to attend a year from now. Though now that you mentioned Lord Mallister and the Riverlords' investments, it means we'll stop by Seaguard and pick them up on the way to Lannisport. We get to Lannisport, I get married, and when I leave with my new wife with the Northern guests, the combined trade fleet sets sail for the Summer Islands, stopping for trade and provisions at Oldtown and Sunspear. They will sail to the Stepstones before sailing directly south to the Summer Islands, hopefully reaching Stone Head Island before sailing to the northernmost main island of Walano, stopping at the settlement of Last Lament before sailing to Lotus Port, the main goal, the island of Koj where the Sho clan and their sworn lords, the Princely house of Xaq. From there, the Isle of Birds, the northern coast of Omboru, the middle main island, then north back to Walano to visit Tall Trees Town, the closest settlement to a capital in the Summer Islands as it is a religious center with the Priestesses of the Talking Trees and where the Council of Princes convenes to elect a King of the Summer Islands in the brief times the islands have been united. Then back to Stone Head, the Stepstones, then stopping in Sunspear, Oldtown, Lannisport, and Seaguard for provisions and to sell our new goods for coin before returning home to Wolfsport." I reported long-windedly before taking a breath.
"I see you and Lord Dustin have truly put thought into this and took advice from Captain Sho. That gives me confidence in your venture." Lord Stark said with a nod. "By the way, I believe this is yours." He says and hands over my first wayfinder back but I wave him off.
"Worry not Lord Stark, I made a new, better one for myself. You can keep it or even give it to the future lord." I say with a laugh while tilting my head to baby Brandon, not particularly caring what happens to my first DIY compass if they don't needlessly disrespect it.
"Very well." Lord Stark says hesitantly before turning to the rest of the table. "One more announcement, his grace is looking to rebuild the Goldcloaks under Ser Manly Stoakworth and my sister recommended Lord Umber's younger brother Farlen Umber and Lord Karstark's cousin Cregan Karstark for positions as captains and his grace accepted." He said to Lord Umber and Lord Karstark's astonishment, who looked at each other before thanking Lord Stark and his sister as he dismissed us. I thought about this development as I left. I wasn't worried because while captains in the Goldcloaks did give both houses some prestige, a tiny bit of influence in the capital, and maybe a tiny bit of gold from corruption but nothing that affected or threaten me. I was out the door when I was pulled from my thoughts by a voice.
"Lord Seastark, I heard you found yourself a Southern knight in your service." Ser Wylis walked up next to me and matched my pace.
"Aye. Ser Maynard Hill, bastard cousin of my future goodfather…" I began explaining House Seastark's first sworn knight. We talked as we traversed the halls of the Red Keep and I invited him to meet the knight and my betrothed. He agreed and along the way we bumped into Ser Wylis' younger brother Ser Wendel, who decided to tag along.
Ser Wylis was Lord Stark's age of eight-and-ten while Ser Wendel was my age of six-and-ten. Soon enough, we reached the doors to the Seastark guest quarters. I open the doors and was greeted by my cousin, Myrra, Ser Maynard, and a brown-haired man in his late teens in a simple gray tunic and pants standing next to two paintings, who gave a deep bow with paintbrush in hand.
I greeted them and introduced the Manderly knights to everyone but Wyman, who already met them before.
"Wyman, did you take the silver and gold necklaces to the jeweler?" I inquired and Wyman didn't say anything but reached into a bag to pull out two necklaces, one silver and one gold. I looked closer to see large polished blue amber on both, with the silver having a carving of a direwolf on the back, while the gold had a lion. I nodded in satisfaction.
"No problems with the jeweler in fitting the blue amber in despite never working with amber before." Wyman responded with a smile. "They will make great gifts for the royal brides!"
"Indeed, they will. Especially since it will replace the one Lady Lyanna lost in her…abduction." I say the last part delicately. To say it was a delicate topic in the Red Keep was an understatement. While there are no laws or proclamations against discussing what happened to Lady Lyanna, one didn't want to face the wrath of the King and the North if one talked too negatively about her… loss of maidenhood too loudly. A minor Crownlord named Hubard Rambton got a bit too deep into his cups and talked about her being spoiled goods among other vulgar words, and was kicked out of the Red Keep and uninvited to the wedding before the Northern lords could get to him.
"Ser Wylis, Ser Wendel, this is my betrothed Lady Myrra Lannister of Lannisport, Ser Maynard Hill, and a painter I found in King's Landing, Lucos. He's painting House Seastark's wedding gift to the king and prince." I say, showing off the two paintings he finished.
The first was for the King, showing a red, three-headed dragon being killed by a blue falcon and white trout attacking its tail, a golden lion biting the left head and a gray direwolf biting the right head. The center head was impaled by a crowned stag while a distant King's Landing is shown to have barrels of wyldfire underneath. Half artistic expression, half feudal propaganda is what I'm hoping is the King's taste in art. It certainly wasn't any renaissance painting or of that quality, but it was a noticeable step-up realistic colors, lighting, shadows, and depth from the plain, flat style of painting that's prevalent in Westeros. The best Earth comparison I can think is comparing thirteenth century Florentine painter Giotto di Bondone to European medieval paintings a century or two earlier.
The Second was for Prince Stannis, depicting a strong but haggard stag with several Stormlords like the turtle of House Estermont and the owl of House Mertyn protecting Storm's End with a young fawn against an onslaught of human Reachmen smallfolk levies attacking while a fat golden rose sits at a table with other Reachlords feasting. Meanwhile the Onion Knight's ship is docking at Storm's End avoiding the distant Redwyne ships.
The two Manderly knights examined the recently finished paintings and commented on the high quality and I let a nervous Lucos introduce himself in his rough Fleabottom accent that he was an apprentice to a painter that died to the Mad King's flames for not painting him to his liking and eventually found work in the Wayfinders Guild painting house sigils. I discovered his artistic talent when I was building the guild and while the canvasses, paintbrushes and paint was expensive, he was good enough to be one of the best painters in the realm.
The knights complimented Lucos on his work and asked him if he was working for me and I confirmed that I was his patron and that he would be coming to Castle Warg. The knights turned their attention to my betrothed and Ser Maynard and as I watched them smile and converse, I hear Lucos shift around nervously.
"Milord, do you really think my paintings are good enough for the King and Prince?" Lucos asks me in a rough Fleabottom accent like Lord Davos' accent.
"Aye. I reckon they those two paintings are among the best paintings in the Seven Kingdoms." I answer truthfully but only cause the bar was Bayeux tapestry level. I was trying to wrap up my business in the capital before the wedding as Lord Stark, Brandon Snow, and the Northerners will be leaving a week after the wedding. We head straight up the Kingsroad to Winterfell, where we divide up the war loot and go back to our castles and holdfasts while Lord Stark's wife Catelyn Tully was pregnant in Riverrun and expected to give birth to Robb in a few moons.
I watched Myrra talk to the Manderly knights before they left and mentally checked off another important Northern house she needed to make a good impression on.