The Private Dining Hall, Starfall
Arthur chewed his breakfast of minced ham and gull eggs fried with fire peppers.
He still couldn't handle the spice well. With every bite of the fiery egg, he had to take several large gulps of Summerwine.
To be honest, in his seven days here, he still hadn't adapted to the spicy cuisine typical of Dorne, but the Dornishmen of the castle seemed to have adapted to him.
Ever since Arthur helped Edric improve his social anxiety, his aunt Allyria and the Maester had made Edric his page. Except for lesson times, the boy followed him everywhere.
"Cousin, where are we going today?" Edric stuffed a piece of cheese-smeared bread into his mouth. "To the Godswood or the training yard?"
"I'm going to Starfall Port. The ship that brought me is setting sail for Oldtown today."
"Setting sail for Oldtown?" Edric asked eagerly. "Aunt Allyria, may... may I go too?"
Allyria looked at Maester Oswell, but seeing him with his head down, intently focused on his meal as if he hadn't heard, she turned her gaze to Arthur.
Arthur sighed. "I will look after him. It's good for Edric to get out and see the world."
Only then did Allyria smooth Edric's messy hair and instruct him, "You must listen to your cousin when you are out. Stay close to him, do not cause trouble, and fulfill your duties as a page."
In Westeros, a page was akin to a knight's squire, only younger.
Pages mostly handled minor chores for the person they served, but their primary purpose was to observe and learn how to conduct themselves from their master at close quarters.
Edric nodded hurriedly. "I will be good. I will pour wine for Cousin Arthur and carry his messages."
---
Starfall Port
Entering Starfall Port again, Arthur finally slowed down to examine the place carefully.
The port didn't occupy a large area. It wasn't a famous port city of the Seven Kingdoms like White Harbor, let alone a Free City like Braavos or Pentos, but its facilities were more complete than most ports in Westeros.
Because of the nearby Red Mountains, stone was abundant and easy to quarry, so there was a sizeable stonemasons' guild here.
The docks, inns, and common houses were all built of brick and stone.
Functional facilities like grain silos, smithies, and bakeries were also present.
Upon entering the port, Arthur and his group dismounted, handing their horses to the squires behind them, and he led Edric on foot.
Passing through the market, Arthur spoke to Edric, who was craning his neck and looking around with wide-eyed curiosity. "If you see something you want, ask the price and buy it. I'm paying."
"Really?" Edric asked for confirmation again. Seeing Arthur nod, he walked up to a stall.
"Excuse me... how much are these raisins?"
"My Lord, these raisins are sweet as honey. Ten copper stars a pound. But if My Lord wishes, take them freely—no charge."
The raisin peddler bowed low with a beaming smile. He had clearly recognized Edric's identity from the sigil on his clothes and the banner of the purple field with sword and star carried by the squires behind him.
"This... this... how can I do that?" Edric was flustered. "I will give... give you money."
"Take it. A Lord always pays for his goods." At Arthur's signal, Jimmy took a silver Stag from his purse and tossed it to the peddler, grabbing two handfuls of raisins to stuff into his pocket. "Keep the change as a reward from My Lord."
A silver Stag was enough to buy a flagon of Summerwine.
Overjoyed, the peddler caught the coin. "Thank you for your generosity, My Lord! May the Seven protect you always!"
Seeing this, the peddlers at the neighboring stalls began to shout their wares loudly, hoping to attract Edric's attention.
Arthur simply told Edric to buy a little something from every stall along the way, paying far more than the goods were worth.
By the time they walked to the docks, the squires' pockets were overflowing, and they had to hang the bags on the horses.
Chewing on raisins, Edric asked in confusion, "Cousin, why did you make me visit every stall? I didn't really need some of those things."
"You are the Lord of Starfall, a highborn lord. Your smallfolk need coin to live, and you need the love of your smallfolk," Arthur explained.
"Doing this also lets you understand the prices of goods in your lands, so you won't be deceived by dishonest men later."
With a thoughtful look on his face, Edric followed the group onto the Ice and Peach. On board, Wick and Vic led them to the captain's cabin.
Inside, "Ledger" Pate, Wick, and Jal Bhar were waiting.
Edric had clearly never seen a Summer Islander before. He forgot his confusion about economics and stared curiously at Jal Bhar.
The three men were surprised to see Edric enter with Arthur.
"This child is...?"
"Edric Dayne, Lord of Starfall, my cousin, and now my page," Arthur introduced him. "Report as usual. You don't need to hold anything back."
"Lord... page!?"
Although the three were used to Lord Arthur's charisma and diplomatic skill—smooth as a Braavosi courtesan—they never expected that in seven days, he could make a landed Lord his page.
Who would believe it? Seven days to have the Lord of Starfall pouring tea and running errands.
"My Lord, that is... too fast," Pate clicked his tongue. "I've only just settled the manor rental and gathered some local intelligence to prepare the talent development framework."
Pate unrolled a map he had drawn of the island of Starfall and its surrounding lands.
Wick reported, "I've completed the charting of our sea route so far. The ship is prepped and ready to sail. We leave on the next favorable wind."
Jal Bhar spoke up. "On my end... the three men who claimed to be expert prospectors went to the west bank of the Torrentine..."
Arthur synthesized the information from all three, gaining a systematic understanding of Starfall and its surroundings.
The lands directly under Starfall included Starfall Port on the island itself.
To the east, connected by the stone arch bridge, was the Dawn Market.
Further east, downstream of the Torrentine, lay vast tracts of land. To the west of the Torrentine, near the Red Mountains, was Violet Canyon, where mountain clans were known to roam.
The middle reaches of the Torrentine were enfeoffed to a cadet branch of House Dayne, the Daynes of High Hermitage.
The coastal lands, forests, and hills to the southeast of the island were mostly enfeoffed to landed knights and petty lords.
The Orys family of the Master-at-Arms, Ser Clegg, held their seat at Meteor Keep and its lands in this region.
After grasping the general situation, Arthur instructed Jal Bhar, "When looking for a location for the smithy district later, have the swordsmen accompany you. Mountain clans often appear near the Torrentine. Be careful."
"The climate here is hot. Have the master smiths study the local armor styles and start working on improvements."
Arthur then turned to Pate.
"The same goes for the rented manor. If you don't have enough hands, hire locals in Starfall Port. Post guards at night."
"With you and Nick handling the funds, I am at ease."
Finally, Arthur looked at Wick.
"Wick, you are a professional at charting new trade routes and mapping currents. I have little to add. May the Old Gods and the New protect you."
"I will arrange for your brothers to go to Starfall to keep my cousin Edric company."
Wick knelt on one knee gratefully. "Thank you, My Lord. My family can never repay your kindness."