Ser Rodrik Cassel
"Why would you do that?" Ser Rodrik questioned Edwyle Stark. The two Stark boys had left their finance lessons with the maester and were now going through some hypothetical battle maneuvers.
"Sending in the cavalry would be the only way dislodge the enemy Ser. Our heavy or light foot would be out of the question, and as for our archers, we would not enough of them to make a substantial difference."
"And even in the muddy ground…you'd still send them in?"
"Admittedly, that could cause problems, but simple momentum from a great wave of armored horse could still break their formation."
Ser Rodrik just stared at Edwyle before he turned his attention to the other brother. "Lord Robb, have you anything to say?"
Despite not being as good with a sword as his younger brother, usually, both brothers had a mind for the field of battle. "Why attack at all?"
"Sorry?" Both Edwyle and Rodrik responded.
"Why attack at all? I mean, in this example, the terrain is bad, and the enemy outnumbers us. If it was me, I'd say retreat to a more defensible position, a hill or holdfast, and let them come to me. That, or cause panic amongst the enemy and use pincer tactics to divide them."
"Where'd you learn that brother?"
"When I was reading about Walton III Stark, during the Second Hammering of the Riverlands. The book is actually very interesting…ask Maester Luwin about it."
Ser Rodrik decided to cut in. "You have the right of it Robb." Both brothers looked at him at that. "In reality, in a battle like this, even the most hardened Northman would tell their lord to fight another day. But this was done to see what you would do if you had to. So get those good ideas of yours out of your head and answer as if you had to fight this day."
Robb sat silently, thinking on what to do, finally, he answered. "Assuming enemy waits for our move, I'd actually move our archers up first, I'd place them first in line. I would order them to fire continuously into the enemy. I would order our foot and horse to remain where they are. Eventually, the enemy will have to attack to silence the archers or risk being totally annihilated."
"Once the enemy either uses their own archers or sends their own forces, I would order ours to retreat and have our heavy foot assume defensive stances. As the enemy forces rush down, I would order our horse to split into two groups, each going to flank the side of the attacking enemy force."
"Aye, aye lad that is a good plan. Force them to attack us, than kneecap them with our own horse." Both of the brothers looked pleased with themselves. "But." Ser Rodrik held up a finger. "Remember, no plan is infallible, and often, is forgotten as soon as contact is made. Always have more than one plan."
"Yes Ser." "Yes Ser Rodrik."
"Now, one last test. We went over this the other day, but it is important to remember it. How many men can Winterfell raise alone, without the support of the rest of the North?"
Edwyle answered. "Nine thousand, twelve if all men are pulled that can be."
"Good. How many men can the North raise in total?"
Robb took the initiative this time. "Forty thousand. The largest portions would be from Houses Karstark, Umber, Bolton, Dustin, and Ryswell."
"What about House Manderly?" Ser Rodrik questioned further.
"House Manderly, while large, is responsible more for our naval forces."
"Right. Now, in any war, who would be our biggest challengers? Forget current alliances and think about the entire realm now."
Both boys took some time to think before Edwyle answered first. "Probably either the Knights of the Vale, or the Lannisters. The Vale because like us, they constantly live in a hostile land, so they have had to learn to become hardy men. I would say that if a Northman were to fight a man from every single kingdom in the realm, their fight with a Valeman would be the only one I'd be concerned for."
"As for the Lannisters, that is more because of their current discipline under the Lion Lord. After he passes however…most likely they will no longer have such an elite force."
Ser Rodrik nodded happily. His Lord was teaching his heirs all about the history and politics of the South they needed.
"Good. Now, unless you have any questions, I believe it is now time to learn from your Lord father."
Both brothers grinned and ran away, happy to join their father for lordly lessons. As the two boys left his in the armory, he elected to work on some paperwork for now. Despite being only the Master-at-Arms for Winterfell, Lord Stark had entrusted him with the duties of being basically…the unofficial Warden of the North.
Ever since the North began to rebuild its navy and raise its crop yield, he ordered his vassals to send constant reports of their potential host size to the Winterfell Guard.
Looking at some parchment, he read the list.
House Bolton – 2,000 heavy foot / 1,000 light foot
House Cerwyn – 500 light foot / 1,000 horse
House Dustin – 500 heavy foot / 500 horse
House Flint (Widow's Watch) – 1,000 light foot / 500 horse
House Forrester – 500 light foot
House Glover – 1,000 light foot
House Hornwood – 500 light foot
House Karstark – 3,000 heavy foot / 500 horse
House Locke – 1,000 heavy foot / 500 horse / 5 war galleys
House Manderly – 1,000 heavy foot / 1,500 horse / 30 war galleys
House Mormont – 1,500 light foot / 500 heavy foot / 10 war galleys
House Norrey – 500 berserkers
House Reed – 1,000 light foot
House Ryswell – 3,000 horse
House Tallhart – 500 light foot / 500 horse
House Umber – 5,000 heavy foot
House Whitehill – 500 light foot / 500 horse
House Wull – 500 berserkers
House Stark – 7,000 heavy foot / 3,000 horse
Total: 29,000 of both heavy and light foot. 11,500 horse troops. 45 war galleys, 35 on the east coast, 10 on the western coast.
Heavy foot were the infantry equipped with a solid plate chest plate, with mail and thick leather for everything else. Armed with a halberd or a poleaxe along with a sword for close engagements. Light foot were all leather and heavy wool. Used primarily for scouting, archers, guardsmen, and other work.
Ser Rodrik nodded happily at the numbers. There were of course many more houses in the North, but this was a list of the normal host raised when going to war. If needed, the North could call on nearly sixty thousand troops, but could only sustain this for a very short time.
Time to have some lunch. Rodrik thought to himself.
Edwyle
"Father, may I ask a question?"
Edwyle's Lord father turned to look at him. He had finished his lessons and had dismissed both him and Robb.
"Of course my son. Come and sit, your mind is heavy with concern."
"Father…what will I be when I grow? I know that I am the spare, but with you and mother already looking for a betrothed for Robb, soon, I will become useless. I can only think of the Night's Watch…and I would not like to go."
One of Ed's closest secrets was his dislike for the Night's Watch. If word got out that the second son of the Lord Paramount of the North did not like the Watch, it could spell political disaster for both him and his House.
He had nothing against the Watch personally. In fact, he considered the people who served to be the bravest of people…but for what? It has become weakened, and a man would simply waste away up there.
His father looked at him for a moment before a small, almost undetectable smirk crossed his lips. That shocked Edwyle, his Lord father was famous, not just in the North, but known throughout the entire realm as a cold, unmoving, man. He responded then.
"My son, I have an answer, unfortunately…it must wait until your nameday."
"Why father? The unknown is killing me." Ed pleaded.
Eddard put his hand up for silence. "That is all I'll say on the matter Edwyle. But I beg of you to wait, for I believe, that you will not be upset about it."
Having little choice, Ed agreed. "Good." His father responded. "You're dismissed. Go, have fun. The rest of the day is yours. The sun shall be setting within the hour I believe however."
Edwyle understood the message. 'Don't be late for dinner young man, or you'll answer to your mother.'
Robb
No doubt after father's lesson Ed got the rest of the day to do as he wished. Unfortunately as the heir, he had an additional duty. His father told him that his mother had news for him. It is because of this that he found himself walking through the castle, on his way to his Rickon's room, the most likely place for his mother.
Turning down the family wing, he already heard the chaos that his youngest brother was causing. Opening the door, he saw young Rickon playing happily in the bath, much to consternation of two nurses and his mother.
"Mother."
Turning to the voice, his mother's cool blue eyes found his. Her tired face took a small smile.
"Ah, my dear son." She had the look of someone who already knew why he was here. Turning to the two nurses, she gave them some minor orders and then gathered her coat to join him. "Come Robb, join me for a walk."
"Of course mother."
And walk and walk they did. They enjoyed comfortable silence as they slow-walked throughout the castle, along some of the walls, and next to the Godswood. Finally, Catelyn Stark broke the quiet.
"My son, have you given any thought to your betrothed?"
Robb was silent for a moment before he responded. "Well that was like a dirge from the dark." Lady Stark gave a chuckle. "I always assumed that you and father would organize it for me."
"Well, you'd be partially right. But we would give you…tentative final approval. I bring this up because your father and I have narrowed down some candidates for you. Would you like to hear them?"
Sighing deeply, he nodded. "Might as well."
"Our list as of current is Alys Karstark, daughter of Lord Rickard Karstark. Next is Larra Umber, daughter of Lord Jon Umber, I refuse to call him that silly name."
It was Robb's turn to chuckle at his mother.
"Next is potentially Dacey Mormont but she is older than you, more than usual. Next is Wylla Manderly."
"I must say mother, with you, I expected some more…southern options." He regretted his comment instantly. He was unaware of the conflict betwixt his parents.
"Robb, just pick one of the names." With that, His mother walked off back to the castle, leaving a confused Robb Stark behind.