He roared down the road, the wind buffeting him, his body thrilling at the sensation of freedom, almost of flight. He pushed the throttle harder, 1000 ccs of engine throbbing under him in response. He had no idea how fast he was going and he didn't care – it could never be fast enough. It was just him and the bike and the road. And Ghost, perched up behind him, muzzle resting on his shoulder, cradled in the half seat he'd had crafted for the pillion passenger, eyes slitted against the wind.

They were out in the middle of who knew where – Jon barely listened whenever Robb said where they were headed next. It didn't matter. All that mattered was the road and the power of the beast between his legs. The landscape flashed past him, flat and barren, everything in vivid reds and oranges against the bright blue sky. His black leather jacket was undone at the neck and his v-neck t-shirt left his skin bare. The air flowed in over him, providing relief from the searing heat. It was hot here, wherever here was.

He heard a faint sound over the rumble of his own bike and glanced back over his shoulder, aviators flashing in the sun. There was a spec in the distance, approaching fast. Jon grinned as the shape solidified into a hot red MTT Y2K Superbike - sleek and fast and powerful. The most dangerous machine money could buy. The red bike's engine screamed as its slim, leather-clad owner pulled it up into a mono as she passed Jon, the mirrored visor of her red helmet reflecting his own face back at him as she turned to look at him.

Jon couldn't see his sister's face, but he knew without a doubt that Arya was sticking her tongue out at him. She might have just turned 21 but she was still such a child sometimes. He laughed out loud, the wind whipping his joy away, and poked his tongue back at her. Then he pushed down on the throttle again, swerving in at the red bike. Arya pulled her bike back down on to two wheels and leaned in, accelerating hard away from him. She flicked one hand up behind her back as she did so – very clearly giving him the finger. Jon laughed again, shaking his head. That girl was a menace. Ghost touched his nose against Jon's neck, clearly in agreement.

They rode for another hour or so into the emptiness, Jon and Arya vying for the lead, swerving and playing and enjoying the freedom of the road and their machines. Eventually the land around them started to green and fences and trees became more common, then fields of wheat and animals grazing, putting their heads up in surprise as the roar of the bikes disturbed their peace. Jon saw signs marking the next town ahead: Bitterbridge. He pulled up slowly on to the verge of the road near the sign.

He killed the engine and Ghost jumped out the leather half moon the kept him secure against Jon on the back of the bike and began sniffing around the sign, running a few metres away into the trees that stood beside the road. He cocked his leg on one and then kept sniffing, running from place to place. Jon smiled at the huge, shaggy white dog and kicked the foot stand out to lean his bike on it. He threw his leg over and stood, stretching against the shape he'd been bent into the last few hours. He took his helmet off - it was steely grey like his bike, and open faced. He set it on the seat and scrubbed a hand through his tanged black hair.

Down the road Arya suddenly noticed Jon wasn't with her anymore and he heard the squeal of tyres as she ripped her bike around, laying it nearly flat in the sharpness of her turn. She gunned it hard and tore back down the road towards him, pulling up in a screech of tyres and the smell of burning rubber. She kicked her stand down and jumped off her bike, pulling her glossy helmet off and shaking her shoulder-length black hair free. She grinned across at him impishly, the exhilaration of the ride still glowing in her face and Jon couldn't help but grin back.

Jon pulled a small metal flask from the inside pocket of his leather jacket and took a swig, the burn of the whisky barely registering. He tilted the flask in Arya's direction, but she made a face at him, a shadow of disapproval in her eyes. Jon made a point of ignoring her and took another deep swig, the golden liquid flowing through him.

Arya leaned back against her bike and Jon was struck again by how small she was against the vicious machine. Sometimes he couldn't believe she could control that thing. But then he remembered who he was thinking about and what he'd seen her do. Jon didn't think there was any one or anything his little sister couldn't dominate.

'How far behind us do you think they are?' he asked her, his husky voice containing just the hint of the thick accent from back home that he could never seem to shake.

Arya shrugged, uncaring, 'they're always so slow. You know it's not about the road for them. It's always business, business, business.' Jon nodded in agreement and took another swig from his flask before he capped it and put it back away, the whisky burning nicely in his veins.

They waited in companionable silence for about ten minutes before they heard the rumble of bikes in the distance. Jon put his helmet back on and swung a leg over his bike, kicking the stand back up. He whistled a short, piercing sound and Ghost came bounding silently from the trees, jumping onto the back of the bike in a smooth, practiced motion. Jon gunned his engine back into life with a rumble as the first of the bikes roared by. One by one they passed until all fifteen had moved down the road, stylised wolfs heads standing out starkly against the black of their leather jackets. Then Jon and Arya pulled out behind them, following the last few kilometres into town. The eyes of the people inside every car and on every footpath followed them as they rumbled through the town. Jon always marvelled at it, the feeling of power, the hint of apprehension in people's faces as they watched the riders pass.

The group pulled up at a set of shabby looking apartments on the other side of town and dismounted one by one. Jon glanced at Robb, but his brother was already striding inside to meet with whatever contact his mother had set up for them here. Arya walked up beside him, 'Think there's anything to do in this rathole?'

Jon snorted, unzipping his leather jacket to reveal a white v-neck shirt, 'First, did you see the place on the way in? Second, you know Robb will want us all for a meeting soon.'

Arya sighed, kicking at his tyre. 'Hey,' he objected, shoving her away from the bike. 'How many times do I have to tell you. This bike is a classic, treat it with some respect.'

Arya snorted at him. 'Your bike is a relic. I can outride you in my sleep on the Y2K.'

Jon raised an eyebrow at her, 'That monster of yours has a helicopter engine in it. You could probably outride NASA.' Arya grinned at him evilly.

'Seriously J, when are you going to join us in the future. Ice was a solid bike in dad's time, but now …'

Jon cut her off with a look, smoothing one hand over the gleaming tank of his 2000 Moto Guzzi Vulture. 'This baby has more staying power than your flash in the pan will ever have and you know it. She was a legend in dad's time and she's still got more heart than your pocket rocket will ever have.' He cast an eye over the beautiful machine, the matt grey of the tank and body, the polished chrome of the exhaust pipe pulling of the back, dull golden gleam of the rotors. Arya fired back at him, as he'd known she would, and they fell into a familiar bickering pattern. It was broken only by Umber approaching.

'Robb wants you,' he grunted at them both, sweating heavily under his thick beard. Jon pushed off his bike with a sigh and walked inside. It was cooler, the air conditioning blasting. Around the open kitchen and lounge room stood and sat leather clad men and women. Robb's eyes flicked to them as they entered and then he started.

'Theon's been based here and collecting information on the Debt Collectors' movements for the last few months.' With a start Jon's eyes turned to the man standing beside Robb. He hadn't seen Theon Greyjoy in years - not since they'd been children together and Theon had been sent to live with them. The other man hadn't aged well. His face was thin and drawn and he'd lost a few teeth by the looks of him. His eyes darted to Jon and Arya and then away again, nervously. Jon frowned at him. He'd never liked Theon that much, but Robb had always been close with him. With a wrench he pulled his thoughts from the past and forced himself to listen to Robb.

'Mother wants us to back Theon up. We need to expand his networks in the Landing and find out as much as we can as quickly as we can. She's pretty sure they've got a big shipment - drugs, guns, it's not certain at this point - but it's coming in soon and she wants us to be ready to take them when they come for it.' Robb paused, looking around the room meaningfully. 'Apparently whatever's coming is so big we can expect that bitch Cersei to be there in person. And we all know where she goes, her brother Jaime comes panting behind her.'

There were sniggers around the room at this and Jon's thoughts darkened at the mention of the Lannister twins. Everything good in his life had been tainted by them - his brother, Bran, his father - Jon pushed the thoughts away violently. Losing himself into the darkness that was the blood feud between the rival gangs - the Direwolves and the Debt Collectors - wouldn't do him any good.

He reached into his jacket pocket for his flask and uncapped it. Arya nudged against him but he ignored her, draining the last of the liquid in a few mouthfulls. He leaned back against the wall, resting his head against it and closing his eyes, rubbing one hand over his stubbled face roughly.

Robb was finishing up, 'We'll hole up here tonight then finish the ride to the Landing day after tomorrow.' Jon pushed off the wall and headed back out into the sunshine. Suddenly he didn't want to be around here anymore, didn't want to speak to Theon, see Arya's judging eyes on him or have Robb look at him as if he wanted more than Jon could give. He whistled Ghost up and kicked his bike into life, roaring away from the building without looking back.

Jon's bike: /images/9EQJo2

Seat for Ghost looks like this: /images/UhPmpv

Arya's bike: /images/asXMBS