Chapter 7 [Robb]
Father had decided to head south, despite mother's misgivings and appeals. Just yesterday he had ridden out with the king, behind him rode four score men-at-arms of the Winterfell household guard and a score of marksmen handpicked by Ser Rodrik. He had assured me that he would be picking up more men while traveling down the Kingsroad, "The houses to the south have all pledged men to join my guard Robb, worry not I shall be safe." Yet worry was not a foreign concept to me. Father had left me acting Lord of Winterfell, I was expected to hold court, listen to the smallfolk and resolve their disputes. I was to ride down criminals and take their heads and should push come to shove, I was to call the banners and ride for war.
Sansa had left with Father, she would make her way north after separating from fathers party. Bran would leave in three days, mother wanted for him to stay a bit longer. All in all, the royal visit was not a disaster. The crown prince was certainly an interesting piece, bratty and impertinent. If left unchecked, I shuddered to think of the realms fate when he ascended the Iron Throne. Hopefully, with time he'd mellow out a bit but if not, then the North would revert back to its isolationist policy until his death. Jon had sent a raven North earlier. He seemed to think that the northern infantry would not be able to survive a determined charge by the southron heavy horse. He suggested that either we invest in better archers or start training pikemen en masse. Perhaps we could make do with slightly longer bill hooks. He also attached the monthly report of the Moat and the surrounding lands. Apparently he and his men had apprehended and eliminated a party of brigands reaving the banks of the Fever river.
There had been a series of disturbing reports from the lands south of the Weeping waters, near the Hornwood domains. Girls were carried off in the dark, the report said, their bodies were found in the woods later - raped and mutilated. I had sent a raven to Lord Bolton to reign in the situation and another to Lord Halys Hornwood, to stay alert and keep men and hunters at the ready. Lord Manderly too had reported concerns regarding a band of brigands by the Bolton lands. Should letters not be enough for Lord Bolton, I'd have to ride to the Dreadfort in force to bring the criminals to justice.
I had sent word to all the lords to start storing and preserving grain. Maester Luwin was of the opinion that a long winter was inbound, "A long summer heralds a similarly long winter," he had said. Father had taken a hundred men with him, Sansa had been given an escort of two score men-at-arms and Bran would leave with similar numbers. I had spoken with Ser Rodrik to restore the strength of the Winterfell guard through a new wave of recruitment and selection.
There was also the matter of storage. The Royal visit had emptied a lot of our larders and it would be best to get them filled as soon as possible. Though it would still take time. The matter most urgent was the monthly audit. "My Lord here are the payment details and expenses you asked for. With your approval we can hand out the pay." Eight hundred men of the Winterfell household guard and a further two hundred of the Wintertown watch were on the pay. The household guard were paid ten silver stags while the watchmen got four. That would put the combined expense at eight thousand eight hundred silver stags, around forty two golden dragons. The officers were paid more, with the household guard captains earning fifteen silver stags and the commander of the Watch earning twenty one silver stags. I put the seal of Winterfell on the audit and handed it over to Maester Luwin.
Ser Rodrik wanted to train the new recruits to fight on foot, I asked him to train atleast half to hold bows. If Jon's concerns were true, we'd best blot out the sky with our arrows before a charge hits us. Dead knights do not break infantry lines. Lord Manderly had sent additional requests along with his raven about the bandits. He asked for leave to upgrade the carracks and start working on a small coastal fortress to overlook the harbor, Lord Glover had sent word that the watchtowers had spotted a few stray Ironborn ships off the blazewater and Lord Umber had reported of another destroyed wildling raiding party.
To White Harbour I sent a letter of approval, if they wanted better warships, it could only strengthen the North. Our ships were still nowhere near as powerful as the Dragonstone fleet, Lord Stannis's flagship the Fury reportedly had three decks, with the highest filled with ballistae and catapults. Such a vessel could very well act as an effective artillery platform in a siege, besides being a formidable asset in water.
I asked Lord Glover to keep watch and report on any further sightings, and assured him that I would muster the men to aid him should the Ironborn land in force. Though it was unlikely as Theon Greyjoy was a hostage of the crown and undoubtedly the Lord Reaper wanted not to lose his heir, seeing that his other sons perished in his foolish war.
To Lord Umber I had sent a reply thanking him for defending the North and asking him to continue his watchful guardianship of the lands past the Gift. It would have been much better if we had the lands still with us, they were good lands and fertile. We could set up new holdfasts and give them to second or third sons of the northern lords. Not only would the land see better use, but the trained guards of these keeps would act as a buffer against any Wilding raid. We could even put in some decree to have these new lords send a portion of their harvest to aid the Watch, and ride to the Wall should the Wildlings attack in force.
This was of course wishful thinking, I doubt King Robert would give back the New Gift, Joffrey would more than likely make it some form of royal domain. No, it would be best to keep the issue under wraps for now. No need to draw extra attention.
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[Jon]
Father had ridden south just hours ago, together with the royal host. He had behind him some two hundred mounted northern guards, a quarter of them carrying bows. He had assured me that more swords would join him in the Riverlands. "Recruit and train a couple hundred more archers Jon. And keep raising the curtain walls," Father had commanded. I had secretly stopped the construction of further scorpions instead focusing on portable stakes and caltrops. The sight of the southron heavy horse had increased my paranoia two-fold if not more.
Robb had sent a raven from Winterfell asking me to keep my war open for rumors and news about bandits roving the banks of the White knife and the Weeping waters. He didn't want to directly interfere since the lands were bordering the fiefs of Bolton, Hornwood and Manderly, but was nonetheless concerned about the area. "I have sent word to Lord Bolton to punish these brigands and I hope he does so, for I do not much wish to ride out in force into the lands of the Boltons. Keep your ears open Jon, should you chance upon any further information." That had been the request Robb had made.
Robb had also made it known that he was aware of the Ironborn sightings off the blazewater and had advised me to work faster on the defenses of the Moat. I had heard the reports a week ago and had since then ordered increased work on the western and northern parts of the Moat. Only a fool would attack from the south, and if they did in fact land troops on either side- well, the Cranogmen would take care of the southern host, we'd only need to focus on the second one and their ships.
On a lighter note, apparently all my siblings had direwolves. Perhaps mine was too, I couldn't exactly know but he was growing rather fast. White fur, red eyes and absolutely silent. Ghost would be a great hunter when he grew up. The horses at the Keep were all terrified at his scent and it had taken days to get them accustomed to him. He'd be a boon against any mounted force engaged in melee. Robb had named his one Greywind, Sansa had named hers Lady, Arya - Nymeria, Bran - Summer and Rickon had named his...Shaggydog, an interesting name if a proper one.
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"Leofred!" I called out to the hulking captain of my men, "Give a look to the report on the garrison expenses if you can. I don't want to cheat you lads out of your money. " Leofred looked at me sheepishly while Edwyn and the other guards laughed, "I don't know how to read m'lord," he said looking apologetic, "Me mum never taught it." Edwyn spoke up then, "Young Lord we don't need to look over the coin." Intrigued I asked, "Why do you say so Edwyn?" The man nodded solemnly, "Yer a Stark m'lord. Yer word is enough for us."
"Aye," came the surprising chorus of replies.
However I would not back down, "Then I shall read it out and you shall listen. Am I understood?" The men nodded and Leofred started gathering the rest of the Moat Cailin guard.
"Eight hundred men-at-arms man the fortress. The footmen are due seven silver stags per head, while the bowmen recive five."
The men let out another chorus in the affirmative encouraging me to continue on, "Leofred and Edwyn receive fifteen silver stags each as is due to their rank of captain." Both men in question nodded.
"There are thirty cooks and four score builders. The former are paid two silver stags while the latter recieve four. Is all well?"
"Pardon m'lord, but what does "former" and "latter" mean?" Spoke up one of the cooks, clearly confused about the report. "Former means the first, my good man. I meant that the cooks were paid two stags while the builders were paid four." The man nodded happily. "In total the garrison pays amount to some fifty two hundred silver stags or around twenty five golden dragons." I amused to catch my breath, "If there is any man who feels that I have wronged him, please speak up now." Looking around I found no complainers, well that went better than I expected. "I shall send this report to be audited then," I declared finally, dismissing the assembly.