Chapter 29: Aegon III

From the Riverlands and the chaos that had followed the execution of the Brown Sparrow, they had made their way north slowly. They'd spent a bit of time with Lord Frey, a measly man who counted grudges, and his spoiled son Walder who had tried to pinch Egg, though Egg had knocked him on his arse a few times. From there, they'd moved northwards, through the neck, and the lizard lions and the swamp, further north still. And now they were approaching the heartlands of the north, and there were people about them.

His curiosity getting the better of him, Egg approached one of the men, who bore the wolf of Winterfell. "Excuse me, Ser, what's happening?"

The man looked down at him, he had a long beard and a look of a giant about him. "Everyone is moving to Wintertown, for Lord Beron is gravely ill and has summoned his lords and their retainers to him." the man replied.

"What's happened to Lord Beron?" Egg asked, he knew the importance of the Starks to keeping the north safe and the thought that one of them might be injured stirred some worry in him.

The man looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "He was wounded fighting the Ironborn. Doing the job whilst the King read his books." The man spat and walked on.

Ser Duncan appeared then and put a hand on his shoulder. "You look worried lad, what's wrong?"

Egg thought for a moment and then said. "Lord Stark is injured, and I think he thinks he might be dying. He's summoned the lords of the north and their retainers to him. That means either he has something important to say or he really is about to die."

"Why do you say that?" Ser Duncan asked, the man had gotten a little scar under his right eye from fighting the Cranogmen.

"Because he fought the Ironborn, Ser." Egg replied leaving out what the big bearded man had said. "And because the Starks are crucial to holding the north."

"Like the Lannisters are for the Westerlands?" Ser Duncan asked, they'd been talking about the great houses during one of the rare occasions there was nothing to do on their travels.

"Yes," Egg replied. "But more so. The north is a big place filled with houses that feud with one another constantly. They only stop themselves going to war because of the Starks in Winterfell. They are the only people the northern lords listen to. And as the Starks are the most loyal house we have in the entire of Westeros, apart from the Darrys, if Lord Beron is ailing that is worrying."

"His brother is with Aerion is he not?" Ser Duncan asked, they'd spoken briefly about Lonnel Snow and why Egg thought he might be a good influence for Aerion, the brother who Egg hated.

"Yes, but he's a bastard and can't inherit anything, besides, Beron Stark has children, I think he has four sons." Egg said, his knowledge on the current Stark family wasn't very good. "But that's not what is concerning."

"Then what is?" Ser Duncan asked patiently.

"He's the fifth Stark lord to have died in the last thirty years. Winterfell and the north haven't been completely stable since Cregan Stark died." Egg said, he idolised the old man of the north, the man had done a lot of things during his long, long life.

"He's the man who fought in the Dance of Dragons, fought Aemon the Dragonknight and also conquered something beyond the wall isn't he?" Ser Duncan asked.

"Yes. His tenure as Lord of Winterfell started when King Viserys the First was reigning and it ended just as King Aegon the Unworthy's reign began. He ruled for so long and had so many children that things were quite confusing for a time after his death. His firstborn son Rickon died fighting for the Young Dragon in Dorne and his second son, Jonnel had married his firstborn son's niece Sansa, hoping to unite the two claims, but they didn't have any children. Jonnel's brother Edric married Sansa's older sister Serena and when the Blackfyre's rebelled, he rebelled as well. Jonnel died, and Edric was defeated, and exiled. But he and Serena Stark have children, and they are adults now. So, if Beron is dying, that could mean they will come back." Egg answered.

"But they would not have any decent claim to Winterfell, due to being exiled as traitors, surely?" Ser Duncan asked.

"I'm not sure. The north relies on the Starks, and it depends on adult Starks to keep itself in order. If Beron is dying and his sons are young, then Edric could stand a chance." Egg answered.

"And that would be bad for the crown, as Edric might side with the Blackfyres again, meaning the north would as well?" Ser Duncan asked.

"Yes, I think so." Egg replied.

"Well we had best get to Winterfell then." Ser Duncan said. They mounted their horses and rode off, following the other travellers who were making their way there. As they rode, Egg looked at the surrounding countryside, it was very, very beautiful, the trees, and the hills made everything look so picturesque, it compared with the Riverlands and the Reach and perhaps surpassed it in some instances.

After some time they made it to Wintertown, where Ser Duncan gave their names, and they were allowed to enter. They settled down, and found a place to stay, a room in an inn that was already quite crowded. They got their things together and changed, and as they were making their way down, they heard a bell toll. They got to the ground floor and heard people whispering. Ser Duncan asked what had happened, and someone replied.

"Word has come, Edric Stark has landed on the eastern coast."

Egg felt his heart sink. They were about to be caught in a war zone, of that he was sure. He looked at Ser Duncan and the man shook his head, now was not the time to reveal who they were. Or rather who Egg was.