Honor & Fealty chapter 18
Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort was never content with his lot among the other Northern houses, whom he perceived as subservient fools.
Umber, Mormont, Karstark, Flint, Reed, Tallhart, Glover, Hornwood, Cerwyn, even all the northern mountain clans chose to stand with House Stark faithfully and willingly.
The Manderlys easily pledged their fealty to House Stark. In Bolton's reasoning, it was easy to gain the fealty from a family that had nothing.
There were many adjectives Northerners had for him. A few of the most frequently used among the more eloquent and polite of them were covetous, knavish and reticent.
He was all those things and more whenever he looked to Winterfell, the ancestral seat of House Stark where Lord Eddard lived with his lady wife and their five children. Ned Stark even allowed his bastard son to live with him and interact with his highborn heirs and heiresses as though he were a Stark in all but name.
In spite of this 'folly', the Lord of Winterfell and head of House Stark retained the respect, admiration, love and devotion of every house in the North.
Meanwhile, the Lord of the Dreadfort and head of House Bolton retained the suspicion, ridicule and hostility from every house between the Wall and the Neck.
The meeting place for Lords Stark and Bolton was set in an area not far from the Dreadfort and in full sight from Winterfell. Their discussions would be out in the open and in the light of day.
Because of the wide open spaces, there was no advantage for ambushes or sneak attacks.
Even if there was any advantage for either, Roose Bolton was well aware of the consequences. Raising a hand against the Lord of Winterfell would result in every other house in the North rising up against the Dreadfort, extinguishing House Bolton from the realm completely.
Lady Barbrey Dustin stood by him in a display of House Ryswell and House Dustin's collective solidarity with House Bolton and her personal animosity with Lord Eddard Stark. In her mind, she believed that the ever noble Warden of the North left William Dustin to rot on the Red Mountains when he and Howland Reed stormed the Tower of Joy to rescue the Wolf Maiden of Winterfell.
Upon seeing Lord Stark arrive, it was not lost upon them how many soldiers from Winterfell, Last Hearth and Karhold were gathered with him. Though Lord Bolton only acknowledged the presence of Lord Eddard Stark and his eldest boy, Robb, it was only Lady Barbrey who noticed Harrion Karstark, Dacey Mormont and Smalljon Umber surrounding the heir to Winterfell. In her mind, it was as though Ned Stark was displaying how he could rally the North to him with the slightest of efforts.
Ned Stark and Roose Bolton looked at each other for a moment before addressing each other.
"Lord Bolton."
"Lord Stark."
To Lady Barbrey's surprise and ire, which were both more evident from her than Lord Roose Bolton, Lord Howland Reed of Greywater Watch arrived with columns of soldiers from Houses Flint and Manderly along with Ser Wendel Manderly and Robin Flint at the forefront of each column and at his sides.
"Lord Stark. Lord Bolton, Lady Dustin. I hope I did not keep you all waiting." Howland Reed spoke firmly, his voice never betraying what he felt about the two standing on the eastern bank of the White Knife. Howland Reed, Robin Flint and Ser Wendel Manderly nodded to the heirs of Winterfell, Bear Island, Last Hearth and Karhold, acknowledging their presence out of respect.
"We had just arrived, Lord Reed. Your timing is such that we did not have to wait." Lord Stark remarked.
"Lord Reed, I do not recall summoning you to this meeting." Bolton spoke up.
"I do not recall giving a damn about what you think, Bolton. Lord Stark called me to this meeting. Houses Manderly and Flint sought to come along with me as company. I do get lonely when I'm far from home."
Roose Bolton never cared for niceties or small talk. "There are grievances I must lay at your feet, Lord Stark, in regards to my household and the heir to the Dreadfort." Roose Bolton began, his voice only raised enough that he could be heard.
"What sort of grievances trouble you, Lord Bolton?" Lord Stark inquired.
"Seven persons in service to the Dreadfort abandoned their posts some time ago and have yet to return. There has been no notice of where they have gone or what their intent was. Naturally, I am concerned when the people under my care disappear without rhyme or reason."
"I have not come across any wayward servants of yours, nor has anyone in service to Winterfell." Eddard Stark answered directly.
"Then perhaps I am asking the wrong person." Roose Bolton spoke before turning his glare at Howland Reed. "Howland Reed, have you or any of your crannogmen seen any of those servants I am inquiring about?"
"Yes, Lord Bolton. I have. Those servants you speak of were found trespassing in Moat Cailin. Their intent, as you so eloquently put it, was ill at best though they were tight lipped about the matter." Howland Reed said before Robin Flint dismounted his horse with a large sack in hand.
Harrion, Dacey, Robb and the Smalljon watched as Robin Flint emptied the sack at Roose Bolton's feet. Six heads with flies and maggots emerging from the orifices, ears and eye sockets.
"The heads were all we could recover. The creatures of the Neck devoured the rest."
Roose Bolton stared hard at Howland Reed before turning to Eddard Stark. "Lord Stark, this can not be tolerated for one moment. I demand that Howland Reed pay restitutions to my house for this atrocity." Roose Bolton complained only to have Howland Reed interject himself.
"Coming from you, it is almost laughable, Lord Bolton, that you would call this an atrocity. As well, if you bothered to count, you would note that there are only six heads at your feet. Your now former kennel master, Ben Bones, is in the custody of House Manderly when he was found in White Harbor trying to sneak back to the Dreadfort instead of boarding a ship bound for Essos." Ser Wendel said firmly.
Ned Stark had his 'lord face' on and even Roose Bolton had to see the severity of the situation for what it was.
"Lord Bolton, what have you to say on your behalf?"
Having been fed up with the silent accusations and the heads being thrown at Roose Bolton's feet, Barbrey Dustin spoke up. "Lord Stark, he had no knowledge of what happened and I find it disrespectful that you would so easily cast such charges against the Lord of the Dreadfort, who fought alongside you in the Rebellion as my husband did all those years ago. Furthermore, Lord Howland Reed has lost whatever good sense he had when he cast the heads of dead servants at our feet."
"You have played that flute for many winters, Lady Barbrey. Wherever William Dustin is, I imagine he's as fed up with it as I am. As for these delinquents, I doubt you care any more for the former owners of these severed heads then I do." Howland Reed said as he stared down Lady Barbrey.
"Lord Stark, I did not orchestrate or order any misdeed or transgression to be committed against either House Reed or anyone else." Roose Bolton answered before Lady Barbrey could try to retort against Lord Howland Reed.
"My lords, my brother and I were there when the seven servants of the Dreadfort were detained in Moat Cailin. None of them possessed the wit among them to do anything unless someone gave them the order first." Ser Wendel said.
Harrion, Dacey and the Smalljon had a clue as to what was implied but Robb had no idea until Dacey leaned in and whispered her suspicion in Robb's ear. The Bolton family tree was not extensive at all. Lord Roose Bolton had only one highborn son and one bastard son.
It was Lord Eddard Stark who voiced the suspicion. "Where is your bastard son, Lord Bolton?"
"He has long since been banished from the Dreadfort though I have been told along the way that he continues to refer to himself as my rightful heir. The very concept of a lord raising his bastard in the same roof as his highborn children is rather unheard of." Lord Bolton said as if to subtly antagonize Lord Stark. "However, in answer to your question, Lord Stark, I do not know where Ramsey Snow is, which brings me to my second grievance."
"What might that be?" Lord Stark asked.
"My son, Domeric, was meant to return to me a year ago. Instead of coming home, he chose to remain in the Vale for another year. It is unusual for my son to disregard my orders. He is usually very obedient. I am led to believe that someone sparked a rebellious fire in him. I had sent ravens to all the great houses in the North save for Winterfell. I wanted to give the message to you myself, Lord Stark. If you or they come across my son, living or otherwise, I wish to have him returned to the Dreadfort straight away."
"Lord Bolton, I do not know where your son is nor do I have him in my custody." Lord Stark answered before looking to Ser Wendel Manderly, Robin Flint and Lord Howland Reed.
Howland Reed spoke first. "He crossed the Neck only after the lizard lions finished supping on your servants and your mongrels. In the event you are wondering, your son is not harmed in any way."
Robin Flint added for good measure. "Your hounds, the ones trained to kill wolves and do not dare try to deny it, Lord Bolton, they died a better death than the six who lost their heads among other things."
Ser Wendel spoke up. "They left White Harbor long ago and have found refuge with House Karstark. I believe you would have received a raven by now at the Dreadfort explaining this."
The concept that there was more than one person caught his attention. "Who else is with my son, Ser Wendel?"
"Friends. To be honest, a Bolton with friends is quite uncommon. It is akin to an honest Lannister with generosity in his heart for the smallfolk or a sober Baratheon with a dry wine chalice."
"Do you think this a laughing matter, Ser Wendel Manderly?" Bolton scorned only to receive a smile hidden underneath Ser Wendel's beard and mustache. "No, Lord Bolton. As you can see, I have not uttered so much as a chuckle at your expense. I believe that privilege should be reserved for your son if the two of you speak together again."
Roose Bolton turned on his heel and walked away. Lady Barbrey looked at Howland Reed with the same contempt she harbored for Eddard Stark. "How is it that you and Lord Stark were the only ones to return from the Tower of Joy?"
"My lady, many people died in that Rebellion. Many of them were deserving of death while others were deserving of a long and happy life. Go home and be content with what family you have left."
"The North remembers, Lord Reed, as do I." Lady Barbrey said before walking away after Lord Bolton.