Chapter 75: Building up infrastructure
305 AC / 5 AF
Robb
He read the date on the letter he had gotten, and it still looked weird to him. An agreement had been reached with the Arryns and Baratheons to change the calendar. The year 300 AC would from now on be known as 'the year of freedom', as it was the year that marked all the decisive battles against the Lannisters and their allies, as well as the one against the fake Aegon Targaryen.
It had been agreed that the year 301 After Conquest would from now on be known as the year 1 After Freedom. This was done to ensure that another important notion of the Targaryen legacy was discarded. The timeline would always remember people of a united Westeros, an idea that had to be stamped out by its roots.
The Storm Kingdom and the Vale had implemented it easily enough and the Ironborn had followed the idea enthusiastically. The other kingdoms had not been so easily persuaded, but they had at least managed to get the Westerlands to change it as well. This was a major blow to the South, as from now on all trade to the Reach and Dorne would be done using the new system. It wouldn't be long before the nobility would have to cave into their merchants demands or risk setting up a huge bureaucracy that they couldn't afford.
They had chosen the system, as it would take the least amount of change. By keeping the year 301 as the year 1, easy transitions were guaranteed for Maesters and record keepers everywhere. Still, the new system felt foreign to him but that was of course the entire idea behind it.
Nonetheless, the content of the letter was of course more important. More information about the road network that had come in just in time for his talks with his Master of Infrastructure. Roderick Dustin could arrive at any moment for their long-awaited talk which he had been preparing for a long time.
Together they had been working on an ambitious plan to help the infrastructure everywhere in the kingdom. They had help, mostly from his father's old plans. However, these plans only concerned parts of the North. His plans went much further, encompassing the whole of it and parts of the Riverlands that were devastated by war as well. It also didn't restrict itself to roads. It included the construction and establishment of trade lanes, harbors, towns, villages and the expansion or renovation of existing keeps, towns and harbors.
He walked over to Grey Wind who was contently sleeping in the corner of his solar. He had grown absolutely massive and was the largest of the direwolves. As their Alpha, that's what the Maesters called the leader of a wolfpack, he literally and figuratively towered above them. Interestingly, the males were all bigger than the females, but the closest to Grey in size were Ghost and Shaggydog. Rickon's wild pup had grown into a dangerous beast seven foot tall. It was the only one of the direwolves Grey had to continuously keep in check, together with occasional bouts from Nymeria. Ghost was always loyally at his side, as the direwolves kept mimicking his and his siblings' behavior.
His thoughts about the direwolves were interrupted by a knock on the door, as the guard announced Master Roderick's arrival. Grey perked up as his advisor entered the room, but he soon went back to sleep after receiving a few relaxing scratches behind the ear from him.
He walked to the table in the center of the room with his advisor and the man from the Barrowlands put his collection of maps, scrolls and letters on the table next to his own that had already been there. They sat next to each other and laughed with a sigh, knowing that none of them would leave this room in the next couple of hours as they had too much to discuss.
"If it is acceptable to you, I would propose that we start with the roadways, Your Grace." Roderick started, as he pointed to a certain stack of letters and maps.
"That is very acceptable, Roderick. Please, commence when you are ready." He replied.
"If I have it correctly, you asked me to look into what your vassals are already doing to improve the road network on their own. In addition to that, what needs to be done aside from that with an emphasis on the southwest, west and northside of the North. You also asked me to look into the Southern Riverlands and the agreed upon connection from Riverrrun to Bitterbridge." He started, as he searched for some scrolls. He nodded in agreement to his advisor.
"The southwest was the region I knew the best and I contacted all my family contacts as well as the nobles there. The Dustins and Ryswells have finished planning a large expansion on the road between Barrowton and Ryder's Spring, the seat of House Ryswell. Construction works can start at any moment now and are only dependent on the ever-improving weather. The work will greatly improve trade between the Rills and the Barrowlands and help achieve your goal of improving Barrowton's position as the regional trading hub without the need of any dime from the royal coffers."
He grinned at that. This was very good news. Not only for his coffers, but it also confirmed that both Lady Dustin and her newly appointed heir approved of his vision for the region. House Dustin were the key figures for his ideas in the southwest and were essential to its success.
"Sadly, not much else is happening on its own in the region with much work to be done. The Ryswells are spending most of their coin on this road and their diminished influence on the Stony Shore has made them shun investments there. They and their vassals seem to be looking into expanding some of their fishing villages and small local ports now that the Ironborn threat has severely diminished, but nothing concrete just yet."
"The Tallharts are investing in their lands, but more in population growth and expanding their farming industry. They intend to increase their food production to help feed the North and increase their own population and incomes. However, no efforts have been made to increase connectivity, aside from those that go by boat on their lake and the river south to the Saltspear. It seems they are looking to bypass Barrowton and trade directly with at least the Flints of Flint's Finger from what I have heard."
"Hmmn, I don't mind that in small numbers, as Flint's Finger has often been forgotten by the North, but it can't hinder our plans for Barrowton." He responded.
Roderick nodded in agreement. "I have made multiple suggestions, on which I will end my talks of the region." He nodded and signaled him to continue.
"House Dustin has already improved its connectivity to Moat Cailin under your father's rule, but those improvements were minor and are not according to the standard you wish them to be. Aside from Ryder's Spring not much is happening yet, except for the enlargement of the docks and the construction of extra naval waystations in certain villages along the Fever river. Lady Barbrey told me she is willing to work on other projects with us in the future, but these have her priority right now."
"The Flints of Flint's Finger are investing in more fishing industry, to take advantage of the drop in Ironborn shipping after their population decline. They are also investing in their naval capabilities, both those of military and mercantile uses. They have improved their relations with the Ryswells, Reeds and Whitefyres due to marriage diplomacy and your brother's choice to grant Lord Timotty's little brother land. I expect them to improve their personal trade with these houses, although I am not sure how that will go with the Reeds."
"The new House Shield is trying to establish their rule over the Stony Shore. This is going well, but at a slower pace than expected. This is mostly due to the resistance of old allies of the Ryswells. In the meantime, they have successfully constructed a sturdy wooden keep along the coast and a large village is growing there. I see it growing into a small town in time, but this will take years to come to fruition. House Shield is trying to grow the current population and increase fishing and farming on their lands to create a self-sustaining food supply for their growing population. They are nearly completely cut off from all neighboring regions. The lands are poor and desolate, and a lot of work needs to be done if we expect it to be self-sustaining and able to break free from the meddling of House Ryswell."
He feared as much. This had been a reason why he hadn't wanted to give the lands to his brother. He had already decided to start heavily investing in the region, but this account only served to strengthen his resolve.
"If we continue on to the westside, we get to Sea Dragon Point and the area connecting it to the Rills and the Stony Shore. Your Grace and your brother, Lord Whitefyre, have already done much and the lands are developing at a higher rate than expected, but a lot of work still has to be done. Connectivity with their neighbors are still a problem, except for a few hidden dirt roads in the Wolfswood only known to the locals."
"The Mormonts are investing heavily in repairs to their keep and the increase of their naval infrastructure to prepare for an increase in the export of wood and furs from Bear Island towards the Iron Islands and the South. However, their support for House Shield is already straining their treasury and due to their empty coffers their efforts will fall short of their goals without additional aid."
"Lastly, The Glovers are repairing and improving their keep and restoring the areas damaged by the Ironborn. They are in talks with some of the nearby Mountain Clans to increase local trade, whilst their vassals have done the same with your brother. However, none of this seems to be accompanied by plans for infrastructure aside from the occasional inn or waystation for horses."
"I would like to interrupt you here Roderick. What are your proposals that we should do to remedy some of these problems? These regions are quite cut off from the rest of the North and I would like to discuss this now instead of throwing all of it together." He interjected.
"Very well, Your Grace." The Dustin heir responded. He grabbed some other scrolls and laid them out in front of them.
"I have made some proposals based on the budget of eight hundred thousand wolves you gave me to work with. These proposals, combined with the others for other regions, amount to an estimate of one million golden dragons. However, I have to remind Your Grace that problems may arise due to unforeseen circumstances which could increase the costs. Therefore, I propose to delay two or three projects to the end of the summer to better manage our coin and ensure that we finish all the projects that we will be starting right away."
He smiled at that. Roderick had eclipsed all his expectations as part of his council and had never stopped giving sound advice since the day he had been appointed. His knowledge and integrity were commendable, and he had declared his undying loyalty upon knowing that he had negotiated to make him the heir to House Dustin. He never failed to smile upon reading how his sons were faring in Barrow Hall.
"First of all, I think the road to House Ryswell is a very good idea, however I wouldn't have it stop there. At Ryder's Spring, I would have it split into two, one going to the keep of House Shield and the other to House Whitefyre. This will increase these new houses' connectivity to the rest of the North, whilst also increasing the prosperity of the Rills."
"Why not connect both keeps directly? Why have them pass by Ryder's Spring? This would increase the power and influence of House Ryswell over the region" He countered.
"Aye, in the short term this is true. This was done to placate the Ryswells and to spare coin. Another benefit is the assured use of this route, whilst these lands are still developing. Otherwise it could become a costly affair with little use. I was also thinking about establishing a direct trade lane by ship between them directly to lessen unnecessary influence of the Ryswells."
"Very well, I will trust your expertise on this. Where would the roads go?" He asked and for the next few minutes they looked at how the road would pass through valleys, cut through forests and would pass creeks and smaller rivers.
"Another road would start in Sea Dragon Point at your brother's keep of Dragon's Lair. It would cut across the peninsula and then follow the coast until it reaches Deepwood Motte. This would establish a ring road all along the western side of the North, help connect and enrich the Glovers and make sure that the Ryswells do not get a sole grip on your brother's lands. The smaller dirt roads can still serve as direct avenues of trade with the Wolfswood clans, but a better and larger route to House Glover would be established that can also be used in times of turmoil."
He nodded, as he looked at the map. Jon would love the idea. It would help develop his lands and small settlements would probably spring up like mushrooms from the ground all along the road on his lands. It could also help create an indirect route to the Mountain Clans, which could keep the current migration pattern going for longer than he had hoped initially for.
"I think it worth to note that this road could in the future be continued on towards the Shadow Tower, by way of the seats of multiple Mountain Clans. However, we will not have the coin to establish that for multiple decades."
He made a note of that to write about it in his journals. It might give his sons or grandsons further ideas to better the North in the future.
"Torrhen's Square is another area vastly lacking in infrastructure. Its connection to Barrowton is vital for the town to serve as a trading hub for the region and at some points it is in a bad shape. I propose to make work of this shortly along the route it is now taking. It's connectivity elsewhere is just as bad. The roads to Ryder's Spring and Deepwood Motte need to be enlarged and improved, but these plans will also need to be postponed for future generations. What I do propose is improving the road to Castle Cerwyn. That way we ensure their direct connection to a port and to the Kingsroad. In this manner their extra food production could easily be transported to most of the North. It will also serve as a more direct and faster route from Winterfell to Barrowton, which will not go amiss."
He made notes of these of his own and had his Master of Infrastructure talk him through the route these roads were now taking and the need for improvements upon it. In the end he agreed to both ideas.
Then he continued on to the most northern parts of his realms. "I propose to improve the connection from Roose Ryswell's new keep to the Kingsroad. It won't do to incorporate these regions back into the realm after two hundred years only for use to leave them underdeveloped. If we wish for the population to increase and to stimulate migration towards the area, they will need a way to go and ways to sustain themselves. Easier connectivity to the Umbers and Castle Black by way of the Kingsroad will do wonders for this and it is a relatively small road in comparison to the other plans, only spanning around one hundred miles. Having another road run towards the mountains might be a good idea, but I will look into this in the future after assessing the need for it in future rapports."
He had been in the area and had travelled along the Kingsroad there when on his way to and from the Wall. It was clear that the man had never been there. The Kingsroad looked good on a map, but three days north of Winterfell it slowly lost the grandeur it had elsewhere in Westeros. Especially after you had passed into the New Gift, the road was small and in a bad condition. He told Roderick as much, to his councilor's surprise.
"Apologies, Your Grace! I should have checked on this beforehand, but I never imagined … Improvements will need to be made immediately! Yet, I have already spent the whole budget with my ideas, oh no …" The man's apologies had soon turned into muttering against himself as he frantically looked over numbers and started shuffling through papers.
He put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Dear Roderick, calm down. It is no matter. I have seen the road for myself and can safely assess its state on my own. I see on your papers that you have prepared other plans to improve the road from Last Hearth to the Kingsroad?"
"Aye, Your Grace. Nevertheless, these plans are moot without a proper connection north of Winterfell." He countered.
"Aye, it is true that three days north of Winterfell the road deteriorates. At first it is still in good condition, but it simply narrows and has less inns and settlements to stop at. It is only after passing the Umber lands that its state becomes what I can only call deplorable." He tried to calm his advisor.
"That still leaves one hundred and fifty miles of road, Your Grace. Seventy-five of it recently transferred to your care." The man replied.
"Aye, I would propose we leave the lands between them and Winterfell in the same state they are now but encourage more settlements around it as the population grows to facilitate travel. In the New Gift lands, we will have to improve the quality to that level, not the level we are used to in the Barrowlands to limit the amount of funding needed. The funding in question I will look for partly in my own coffers, whilst also having talks with the Umbers and the Night's Watch and I will see what I can do to keep your plans intact."
Roderick looked at him. "If Your Grace deems this possible, it would be a very good solution." He nodded that he did.
"Before we leave the northside, I have plans of my own too. The actual budget was a million gold pieces, not eight hundred thousand. The others I wish to spend on my own project. I was fostered in Karhold and know personally that the roads there need work, a lot of work. Hundreds of roads need redoing, but that would be impossible. I have already spoken to my brother-in-law and he vowed to invest parts of his coin on it, but I would want to do a little more." He told his advisor as he picked out his own plans.
The nobleman from the Barrowlands looked at him in wonder and leant forward to look at the plans he had written down. "Better roads and infrastructure could cut down days of travel time between Karhold and Winterfell. It could also serve to promote trade between Houses Karstark and Bolton and even between the Boltons and Wintertown."
Roderick Dustin looked everything over, including the calculations that he had made together with Maester Luwin from the information he had received from Harry and Dom.
"This is a massive project." He remarked, after he looked at it for a long while.
"Aye, it is, but all of the roadway already exists. It just needs to be expanded and improved. Most of it now is nothing more than a small and badly maintained dirt track. It would greatly improve trade in the eastern and northeastern parts of the North and almost certainly create more trade for Wintertown."
"You would need to build multiple larger and sturdier bridges to accomplish this width. Most notably across the White Knife and the Last River, maybe across the Weeping Water as well. The remainder are smaller, yet still substantial."
"Aye, that is true, and it will take many years, but I think it worth the time and resources." He replied.
"Wouldn't it mostly benefit the Boltons? The Karstark trade would massively reposition itself towards them in time." Roderick brought up.
"No, it wouldn't. It would be accompanied by another project. A road from Last Hearth to Karhold. I have travelled that road before, and it is much the same. These two roads would create a backbone of trade in the area upon which the local lords can have their own roads branch off. The Karstarks and Umbers are trying to improve local trade and trade with the Skagosi, this would do wonders." He explained.
Roderick looked over the plans for the second roadway, which was half the length of the first one but still over three hundred miles long. His advisor let out a small whistle. "These are massive plans … it could indeed massively boost the local economy and it might pay itself back in multiple decades, but still. Who's to say what happens during that time? A massive winter, famine, … all could delay or destroy any possibility of it paying itself back."
"Aye, true enough, but there are other motives for it. The increased road infrastructure could help speed up food transports, which would help to keep population numbers up in the future. It could also help our grip on these lords, as now they sometimes act like they are on their own. Most importantly, it could limit the time it takes to call the banners by multiple days or even weeks. The Riverlands are weak and pacified now, as is the rest of the South. I hold no illusions that this will always be the case. Reinforcements would almost always have to come from the North and better connections for some of my strongest and slowest bannermen to rally would be invaluable."
Dustin looked up at him, a little surprised, but nodded and took another look at the plans. "Taking those things into account, it would indeed be a no-brainer to go through with this. However, can the Crown afford this?"
"I have put two hundred and fifty thousand golden wolves aside for the projects. This will cover the parts of the roadway that are in Stark lands, as well as all the large and small bridges necessary. For the rest of the roadway I will be looking for aid from the local lords as well." He responded.
"That could work, but there is one big problem. We will be asking a lot of these lords and they have projects of their own as well. The Karstarks and Umbers wish to improve trade with the Skagosi. They will need to improve docks, build extra ships and provide roads to harbors to transport the goods. If we take away their coins with this, it could have the effect of cancelling those other plans when I had planned of stimulating them as well."
He thought on that for a while, as he caressed his beard. "You are right. I plan to go through with these anyway, but I might have to move along the timetable for them. I will have to discuss this further with Lords Bolton and Karstark, maybe even some of their vassals directly influenced by this project. For now, I would like you to make concrete plans for the parts of the roadway that runs through my lands and the building of a larger stone bridge across the White Knife. House Stark will lead by example and that roadway could help achieve parts of our goals either way."
Roderick agreed with that and made some notes. "I have one more idea that could greatly benefit the North and travel time by land." He continued when he was ready.
"Aye?" He asked.
"A coastal road connecting White Harbor with Widow's Watch. It will pass Oldcastle, Ramsgate and Blackpool. It will help trade and prosperity in the area, help with mobilizing troops and better White Harbor's position in the area."
"That is a very good idea. I will write it down." He responded, as he wrote about it in his notes. Together they talked about the details for a while, before moving on.
"To end the idea of roadbuilding, I have made a list of roads to start thinking about improving in the coming decades, especially next summer." He slid the scroll over so he could read it himself.
Dreadfort, passing Hornwood to White Harbor
Dreadfort to Last Hearth
Hornwood to Ramsgate
Hornwood to Winterfell
Torrhen's square to Deepwood Motte
Deepwood Motte to the Shadow Tower
Torrhen's Square to the Rills
A road through Cracklaw Point
From the Twins through Seaguard to Riverrun
They talked a little about the benefits of each road. He agreed with the list and they put it away. He pulled out some other papers about other subjects he wanted to discuss.
"As you know, the works in Winterfell have started. All nooks and crannies in the walls are being filled in, the hinges of the gates and doors checked and the roofs restored. It sounds more work than it actually is, but now that Winterfell is the capital of a multinational kingdom which will often house foreign diplomats, I want it to be in the best shape. Works on the First Keep will soon commence too. The fortress will be restored and will house a guards' barrack, many rooms for visiting nobles and foreign dignitaries and servants' quarters. In time, the broken tower next to it will be reconstructed as well and be renamed the Grey Tower. It will house my Kingsguard, their squires, their armory and all their belongings."
Roderick nodded, as he already knew that. "What you may not know is that I have recently made an agreement with Myr under the impulse of my Queen. They have agreed to a trade of glass for timber. The glass will be used to enlarge the Glass Gardens. Its area will be doubled to ensure a supply of fresh food inside the castle. Houses Karstark, Umber, Hornwood, Manderly, Cerwyn, Bolton and Whitefyre have made similar deals with them."
"House Dustin has not?" Their heir asked in surprise.
"No, Lady Dustin did not seem to be excited about it." He replied.
"I will write to her again. I don't agree with that assessment." The man responded without hesitation and he nodded supportingly. He would always encourage more development of the North.
"You have set aside a million golden dragons to build keeps in your realm. Your brother Jon, Rodrik Umber, Ser Corlys Menning, Ser Harry Parrell and Ser Harry Rivers have been the recipients of most of that coin. The work on your brother's lands is going well, as you know. The Last Castle on the remnants of the Visenya's Hill is progressing slowly, but surely." His advisor started.
"The keep will be finished before long, after which a new curtain wall will have to be erected around it. Ser Harry Rivers has built a stout wooden keep and managed to fortify the bridge over the Blackwater, whilst a small town of five to six thousand has successfully developed underneath it. He is looking at starting the construction of a stone keep instead this summer and in the future he wants to wall the town to better defend it from threats from the south."
"Lords Manning and Parrell had both chosen large holdfasts along the Goldroad as their keeps. They have been expanding the holdfasts with larger halls, curtain walls and the like. In time, the old holdfasts will serve as keeps for their castles. Peace has successfully returned to the area and two large villages of mixed Riverlander, Crownlander and Reachmen population have sprung up next to their seats." He concluded and he thanked his advisor for the update.
"Most of the budget for those is gone, although the efforts are clearly baring fruit. However, I would wish to propose a change to your plans." Roderick told him.
"What change?" He asked.
"You have another half a million golden wolves set aside for those works in the future, as well as the expansion of keeps on the eastern and western borders of the Riverlands. Another half a million in loans will also be made available, you wrote in your notes."
"Aye, I did. The four keeps in the Riverlands will protect its southern flank, whilst Jon and House Shield will protect the North's western coast. Yet, the Riverlands has shown itself weak from the west, and the east doesn't look much better." He replied.
"I agree, but I think that on the short term that money can be used more wisely, Your Grace." He motioned to his vassal to elaborate.
"The Arryns are our staunch allies for now, whilst the Lannisters are in no shape or form to propose any real threat. Anything they try the next decade will result in the destruction of the Westerlands and they know this. They see the work already being done on their southeastern flank along the Goldroad and this will deter them further. I would propose to keep the loans as to promote lords to strengthen their lands themselves, especially Houses Mooton, Cox, Ryger, both Vances and Piper to rightfully strengthen the borders on both flanks. Nevertheless, I do believe that that half a million could be spent now to help develop the economy everywhere in your lands. The Riverlands are still ridden with the scars of the war, whilst parts of the North are suffering from decades of low to no investments."
"I am listening." He replied
"I would propose that we invest it in small, but noticeable changes. Concretely, I would propose investing in a small port each on Skagos and the Stony Shore. Give extra money to Maidenpool, Stoney Sept, Fairmarket and Saltpans to help with permanently settling and integrating the influx of refugees from King's Landing. They will be the backbone of our economic system in the Riverlands. The faster they recover, the faster we will start making money again there."
"Interesting ideas, anything else?"
"Aye, I would look into Ser Harry Rivers' lands. He has done his best, but between building a brand-new keep, settling thousands of refugees, fortifying the crossing and winning over the local population he simply doesn't have enough coin. The spoils of war we gave him are all but spent and the Brackens have subsidized him far less than we expected to prioritize reconstruction of their own lands. In its current state, his lands are nothing more than an inconvenience for an invading army. The bridge is fortified yes, but that will not hold for more than a day or two. His wooden keep is weak, and his town is without any defenses. These lands are definitely the weakest link in the south and you can be sure that the Tyrells already know this." Roderick explained.
"Very well, but what to prioritize?" He answered.
"Ser Harry has done good work with integrating and housing the refugees, as well as winning over much of the locals. Partly because of the food shipments he received from you from the Reach's war reparations. His work on the bridge is also admirable. I would propose subsidizing parts needed for a stone curtain wall around the town. Have it built with enough room to expand the town to ten thousand people in the future. We cannot give the full amount necessary, but we can give more than enough to have the works start in earnest. Most of the stone can easily be shipped on barges from the ruins of King's Landing."
"Very well, I accept your plans. Nevertheless, I have some doubts. Wouldn't we be underinvesting in the Western Riverlands?" He asked.
"Aye, a little, but it seems necessary as greater gain can be made elsewhere. Besides, the upcoming royal progress will be making up for a lot of it, I think. Once they see you, the Queen, the Crown Prince and the Princess they will be quickly won over." His advisor smiled at him.
"I surely hope so." He smiled back. He thought about the progress they would be taking.
In a few months, he and his family would march south along the Kingsroad and visit all his vassals east of the Green Fork including House Frey. After that, they would stop at Harroway's town, Darry and from there go to Maidenpool and visit all the Lords of Cracklaw Point, before making their way to the Blackwater. From there, they would march along it, visiting his border settlements in the process.
At last, they would turn north to Stony Sept along the beginnings of the new road towards the Reach, before visiting Pinkmaiden, Wayfarer's Rest, Atranta, Stone Hedge and others on their way to Riverrun. In the end, they would go north by way of Blackwood Vale and Fairmarket to Seaguard, from which they would take ship to Barrowton with a visit in Flint's Finger as well. From there they would march to Torrhen's Square and then back to Winterfell. The journey would take six mon ths and show him and his family and heir to much of the Riverlands, as well as the southwest of the North.
For hundreds of thousands of his subjects it would be the first time they ever saw him, maybe even the only time too. He and Alys had been planning it for months now. Nonetheless, it couldn't come at a worse time. Alys' recent miscarriage had dampened everybody's spirits severely. Some also had questions about leaving Rickon alone as the Stark of Wintefell, but he had already arranged for Jon to be regent for him whilst Arya and Sansa had promised to visit him.
His family would soon be scattered again. Sansa in the Dreadfort, Arya in Castle Cerwyn, he and his children travelling around the Riverlands with Alys and his mother and Bran in Riverrun. Still, it was for the best. His people needed to see House Stark. He would not become like the Targaryens or Baratheons, expecting people to pay taxes and die for you in wars without them knowing who you are.
"Your Grace?" His advisor asked.
"Excuse me, Roderick. I was thinking about the royal progress. Please continue." He apologized for his lack in concentration.
"Many and more plans have been made up. Expanding the towns along the Goldroad, expanding the population of the New Gift, the development of the lands around Moat Cailin, reconstruction of the fortress, the construction of villages and small towns all along the new road projects and much more, but there is simply no more coin for it. I am afraid to tell you that by now we have exhausted much of our reserves, especially after buying in food throughout the winter."
He nodded. "I understand, although you have to remember that our income has never been as high, and it is growing everyday with the improvement of the weather and trade following in its wake. The areas conquered from the Reach are progressing well enough and can be left for a later date. The construction of settlements along the roads will also have to wait on the roads itself." He summarized practically.
"Concerning the New Gift, change is rapidly being achieved. The Umbers have sent hundreds of farmers north to their new territories east of the Kingsroad. This will be the first of many waves they are planning to send up there and with their gains from the war they have even started the construction of a small fortified village, around which most of the first farmsteads are being built. I heard the Smalljon mention that it could possibly serve as the future seat of his younger brother Ned. If they plan to give it to one of their own, they will not neglect it." He started.
"The Ryswells have also sent hundreds of farmers to their lands west of the Kingsroad, around their own small fortified town. A wooden castle has been built on a hill there to rule the area from. Master Roose Ryswell has even managed to convince his father to allow the migration of a handful of his horse breeders. They plan to start training the future generations of garrons for the Hill Clans and rangers of the Night's Watch.
"Some Mountain clans, like the Norreys have extended their lands into the New Gift, while three new, small clans have been created through marriages of multiple others in the area. These people are populating the mountains of the New Gift as we speak and will in the future protect the western flank from Wildling raids along the Gorge or the Bay of Ice. I think the Gift will do well without additional help from us for now." He finished with a smug smile.
"Even so, I would want you to look into the Moat Cailin area. We do not have the coin to rebuild the fortress, so you don't have to spend your time on that. Nevertheless, the development of the lands around it could make it more viable in the future. It could also help trade along the Kingsgroad, if more inns and settlements establish themselves there. More specifically I want you to investigate sending farmers from Cerwyn, Stark, Hornwood and Bolton lands there. A few hundred will do for now."
"I will, Your Grace, although I have to ask if asking the Cerwyns is a good idea? They have just allowed hundreds of people to leave their lands a few months ago together with people from the lands of Houses Woolfield and Slate to settle in the Hayford lands that you awarded to Lord Cerwyn's nephew." He countered him.
"Aye, you're right Roderick. I forgot about that. Ask Cley anyway, but don't push him to hard if he isn't willing to send a lot. Maybe ask Lady Barbrey to send a few dozen to make up for it instead?" He replied.
"It will be done, Your Grace. If I may ask, how is the integration of the Northerners in the New Riverlands coming along?" His Master of Infrastructure asked him.
"Very well, from what I gather. In Sumber and Karstark/Rosby lands, they are quickly intermingling with Old Gods believing Riverlanders that moved there and the locals. Especially in new or rebuild rural settlements just around the keeps. They remain a small minority for the time being, but the Old Gods believing population is steadily growing. Most local female heirs have married Northerners and extinct houses have been replaced with them as well. A lot of Northerners and Old Gods believing Riverlanders have received household positions in Rosby and Last Castle. Hayford remains largely Andal for now, although a few Northerns have received lands there. Once Martyn Cassel comes of age, that too will partly change." He explained the situation in the southeastern corner of his realm.
"The locals haven't complained about this?" Dustin asked in a surprising tone.
"Some have, but especially in the former King's Landing area those have moved away to follow Ser Corlys Menning or seek their fortune in any of the other settlements consisting of large portions of refugees. A handful of those around Rosby have been encouraged to follow them. Nonetheless, many Andals have also been given new opportunities under the new management and are glad for it. Only the old pro-Targaryen knightly houses have made serious complaints and they have been discredited and reduced after the war anyway. In Stokeworth, the same is happening, but instead of replacing the old Crownlanders with Northerners they are being replaced by Riverlanders from the lands of Houses Tully and Grell."
"Interesting …. is the situation in Hayford the same?" He was asked.
"Partly, but the opposition there is greater. Even so, a nephew of Lord Slate has gotten lands from an extinct house and a Cerwyn cousin, a younger brother of House Cordon and the bastard of Lord Woolfield have married heirs in the lands. Together, they are protecting the Northern population and they have served as a beacon for Northern migrants and veterans willing to settle down. Their small lands are quickly transforming into areas where a third of the population are Northerners, with Old Gods believing Riverlanders also going there in smaller numbers, whilst the rest of the Hayford lands remain almost exclusively Southern."
"Isn't that dangerous in the long term?" Roderick asked him and he had to agree.
"Aye, but the situation only needs to hold itself together for a decade. After that, Martyn will be able to take full command of his lands and represent my interests there personally. I will ensure that his household will consist of a healthy mix of both peoples and that he will encourage intermingling between them. His good relations to me and the surrounding lords will do the rest. For now, the regent knows that his own position is endangered if he lets the two groups clash so he keeps them separated as much as possible." He explained his reasoning.
Roderick looked deep in thought but nodded at that. They worked out more details together, such as the location of harbors and how to reach out to certain nobles with their plans. In the end, they looked over all the work they had done in contentment. He thanked his advisor profusely and waited until he left his solar. He put away all the documents and left himself.
He walked over to the Godswood, where he knew Alys could be found. She had been there a lot lately, so it could have been a good guess, but it wasn't a guess. Grey was with her and he always knew where he could find him. He found her sitting around the shores of the pond under the Weirwood Tree together with Wylla and both their children, accompanied by three of their ladies.
He recognized a knight's daughter from White Harbor, Lyessa Slate and Marna Flint. The latter two had been recent additions to their court. Both girls were around fifteen years old and served his wife, quickly becoming like younger sisters to her. He had warned her that she would have to pick ladies from the Riverlands too and she had agreed to look for suitable women on their procession south.
Grey noticed him first, and he happily sauntered over to him. Ghost simply raised his head in greeting, whilst remaining with little Lyanna. His five-year-old daughter noticed how Grey ran away from her and quickly ran after the direwolf, before seeing him. "Daddy!" She screamed loudly and ran towards him. Grey seemed to notice and the direwolf seemed to want to have some fun.
He aggressively jumped him, using his weight to force him to fall to the ground. His companion had been vigilant not to hurt him, but he was still stuck under a two hundred and fifty-pounds animal. Grey Wind seemed to laugh at him, as he fondly licked his face. Eddara quickly ran from behind him and jumped his only free shoulder to hug him and give him kisses on the one cheek Grey wasn't momentarily licking. "Daddy fell over!" She loudly laughed.
He used his one free hand to grab ahold of her and lightly tickle her. Her high squeals filled the forests and soon his little baby boy joined them too as he waggled over to them. He clumsily fell on top of him and his sister and he was almost in danger of being smothered to dead by his own children.
In his mind, he gave Grey the order to get off him and the direwolf immediately obeyed. In his place, both his children crawled on top of him and he playfully roughhoused with them for a bit, until Alys stopped them.
"Robb Stark, how do you suppose me to ever be able to tell your two children to stop dirtying their expensive clothes when their father rolls around with them in expensive fur coats that most of the nobility can only dream off. Those furs, which your clothes are made of, were a gift from Lord Hornwood to celebrate your five-year reign!" She scolded him, but her smile betrayed how she really felt at the sight of her husband and children playing together.
He looked at her and smiled his most boyish grin, as he waved his hand through his little boy's hair as he babbled. She rolled her eyes at him and gave him a stern look, meaning it was time for him to get up. He carefully pulled his two children in his arms and stood up. He placed Edda in his neck and held Rickard on his arm, as he symbolically dusted parts of the mud from his clothes.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Wylla and the other ladies laugh at him and he winked at her in greeting. Together with his children, he walked over to his wife and kissed her. She scoffed at him that "they were all behaving like beasts", but she kissed him anyway. He gave her another kiss on her cheek as he laughed. "If you didn't want to have a husband and children that behaved like beasts, you shouldn't have married into a family of direwolves."
He looked up and winked at his little girl at the end and she laughed and nodded at him. "Father and I are direwolves!" She exclaimed. "And Ricky too! Ricky is a baby pup wolf." She giggled as she grabbed her little brother's hand below her and raised it in the air. "Icky wolf!" He loudly shouted in support of his sister's words.
Alys looked fondly upon the sight, as did he. He grabbed her in a small hug and whispered in her ear out of earshot of their children. "How are you?"
He felt her smile against his cheek, and she gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Now that you are all here, I am doing great." Then she pushed him away. "Now, try to at least to act like the king you are. You are embarrassing me in front of my ladies."
She looked around. "Where is your guard? Why are you walking around alone without Grey?" She asked sternly.
"Northguard was with me." He smiled knowingly. "He is waiting at the entrance of the Godswood." She nodded in response. "Where are your guards?"
"Torr was with us, but I sent him away to get some rest. Grey is all the protection we'll ever need." He looked at the direwolf and he looked smugly back at him. He scratched him behind his ears and under his maw. "Good boy", he whispered to him. "Grey is a very good boy! I want to pet him too!" Edda loudly demanded. He bowed through his knees and put Rickard on the ground first, before pulling Eddara from his neck. She immediately started petting the direwolf, who was over twice her size, and her brother joined in. Grey was so kind as to go and lay down, otherwise Rickard couldn't even reach him.
He left his children with his companion and walked over to the other women with Alys. He greeted them all personally, before picking up little Lyanna from the ground and giving her a big kiss on her cheek. She rewarded him with a big smile, and she babbled as she put her tiny hands on his face.
"I spent thrice the amount of time with her than he does, but all she ever has eyes for is him." Alys scoffed jokingly.
Wylla rolled her eyes. "I know how you feel."
"It's the wolves." He simply replied, without looking at them.
"How so?" Wylla asked. "The wolves follow us. The children recognize that, and they all recognize one another as part of a whole. The lone wolf dies but the pack survives, my father always said and he was right. They recognize us as part of the pack and know that they aren't alone. Maybe they don't know why, but they know they are safe."
Wylla laughed. "Lya isn't really a wolf, you know."
He looked at her and scoffed. "Semantics, Jon and his children will always be wolves to me. Damned be those people that declare otherwise." This earned him a good-natured laugh from Wylla. "He wouldn't have it any other way." She smiled back at him.
He looked at the little girl in his arms. "You are a wolf pup, little girl. Different name or not, you can't change the blood. You are a wolf, wolf, wolf." He laughed, as he poked her softly on the nose every time he said "wolf". She giggled back loudly exclaiming "of". "Very good!" He replied, kissing her twice more on the forehead, before handing her back to her mother.
He looked over all the ladies looking at him. "I am sorry to interrupt your day, ladies. Would it be alright if I sit with you?" He asked very formally with mud still decorating his fur tunic. This resulted in a wave of laughter rolling over the forest.
"Husband, you have already disrupted us more than I previously thought possible. If you wish to sit with us in your own keep, please do so, but quit the antics." Alys laughingly scolded him.
"As you command, My Queen." He replied with a mock bow, before sitting down. She just rolled his eyes at him not giving him the pleasure of a response.
He spent the rest of the day together with them. At some point, Jon and Rickon also joined them together with Ghost and Shaggy after his little brother's sword training. He allowed Northguard to go to his rooms then. Three adult direwolves were more than enough to protect all of them.
This is it for this chapter!
First of all, I am so sorry for the big delay. My laptop crashed and all my documents of the story were on it. A repair shop told me that they could get the documents back in 10-12 days back in November, it ended up taking them over two months … I could not access this chapter or any of my dozens of extra documents with information that I have compiled to write this story. As a way to make it up to my loyal readers, the next chapter will be published next week.
This is the most slow-paced chapter we will get, after this things will start to pick up more. We see a lot of worldbuilding, as Robb uses the coin, and prestige, he gained during the wars to improve the North. The foundations of the new world he is creating are becoming clear. You also see Roderick Dustin becoming more and more important, as the now official heir to the Barrowlands.
We finish with a heartfelt scene with Robb and his family. He is worried after her recent miscarriage (a sadly even much more common occurrence during medieval times than now). He has a procession planned throughout the Riverlands, which is where we will take off next chapter.
Fannic
Reviews:
- GoMagikarp: I think you feel the same as Jon does. He understands, but they were too much of a threat.
- Supremus85: Thank you very much! It can't all be brutal, but more brutal passages are sadly on the way. Life isn't a walk in the park, especially in a medieval setting.
- Cliff West: Thank you! Here you can see more of its development in depth. I hope you like it.
- Rebfan90: Thank you!
- Force Smuggler: RIP dragons as a whole, but Jon will built them a lasting, albeit secret, shrine to remember them by.
- Wolflord456: With restraint I didn't mean absence. It was true that Jon was held back somewhat compared to his siblings. He was denied a place at the table at formal events for example. Jon felt alone from time to time, partly because he didn't even know who his mother had been. Ned loved him, cared for him and educated him as a noble. He was part of the family, but definitely the odd one out in the group.
- Freakdogsflare: No, that is impossible. The hinterlands of Sea Dragon Point do not produce enough food to sustain a population that big, nor could they as they are not as fertile. They lack the population, having less than 1/10th of the needed people to achieve that. The town would be too far north and not on major trade lanes. It wouldn't be interesting enough to generate that kind of trade traffic. The place also isn't ideal for a western fleet, as it is too far north. Ironborn or others could raid Flint's Finger or the coastal regions of the Barrowlands or Rills before Sea Dragon Point realizes they are being attacked.
Robb and Jon will mold the town over decades into a well-respected local trading town, a few thousands in population. The major western hub will be Barrowton and a western fleet will be scattered over all the houses on the western coast to be able to fend minor raids more effectively, as any threat of major Ironborn attacks has been eliminated for the following decades. This makes Jon a respected lord somewhere in the middle of the pack, which is crazy strong for a new house already. New houses never become strong vassals, it imposes threats, jealousy and destroys internal power balances.
- Poly19hum: Thank you very much!
- Siebells: Thank you so much! This warms my hearth and gives me the energy needed to continue writing. This story will have a very large epilogue/sequel which we are now in. In total you can expect some 10 extra chapters detailing the new world. Thank you again for your patience.
- Guest1 & 2: So sorry for the delay! Next chapter will be up next week.
