Chapter 9 – The North
- Kings Landing - 5th month of 273 – Week 2 – 4th day – A Raven Flies to Winterfell from the Hand of the King, as soldiers go forth into the city to prepare the citizenry for their trek north.
-Winterfell-5th month of 273 – Week 2 – 5th Day
Rickard Stark stood behind his large desk and surveyed the people assembled before it. His son and Heir, Brandon stood by the door a silent figure in black and grey. Lord Umber, Lord Bolton, Lord Karstark and Lord Manderly all sat before the desk. And off to the side, was Winterfell's steward Jae Poole and the Master at Arms – Eli Cassel.
"I have thought about your proposal Lord Umber." Rickard stated, his tone colder than the winds of the north. "When Benjen is 7 name days, he will travel to Last Hearth to be fostered by you. The suggested betrothal, will be discussed at a later date."
Lord Umber nodded. "That is reasonable, Lord Stark."
"You should all be aware that I have written to the King, and the Hand. Missives were sent with Lady Karlyn to be delivered into their hands directly. The letters requested assistance for the Nights Watch." Rickard said. "The Lord Commander has been crying out for recruits."
"And then he has to train them" Lord Karstark grumbled. "No wonder the watch never gets anywhere. They waste time training instead of patrolling."
"As to that, I had a thought." Bolton spoke up. "They are low on trainers and low on recruits. I was thinking, that we should send some of our men to do the training. That way all sworn brothers can be manning the wall, or on ranging."
Stark looked at the Bolton lord. It surprised him, truth be told that such a suggestion would be made.
"It was my second son's suggestion." Bolton admitted. Lord Bolton had two sons, half-brothers. Roose was the heir, but Byran was the second born. And a good soldier at that. "He wanted to join the watch but I refused it. So he suggested this idea instead."
"Then he shall take charge of it." Stark said. "He is 15 name days?"
"Aye."
Lord Stark turned to Eli Cassel. "Cassel, select 4 men from our forces and send them to the Dreadfort. There they will liaise with Lord Byran." Lord Rickard moved to the large map of the North on the wall. "Have them set up a training camp in the New Gift, near Queenscrown. It will be the place where the Nights Brothers Recruits can train. I will send a raven to the Lord Commander."
"I will send several of my men as well." Lord Dorran Karstark commented.
"Aye, I will do the same. If every lord spared 5 men on rotation, say 6 months each, the Nights Watch will have recruits trained up faster." Lord Wyman Manderly said. "I am sure your son, Lord Bolton will be able to arrange that."
Ronard nodded. "He is very capable."
Lord Stark nodded and then said "Any other ideas?"
"The Kings Road needs fixing." Manderly commented. "Lord Kevan mentioned it."
Rickard nodded again. "Yes he mentioned it to me as well. Issue is funds for maintaining it comes from the crown and the crown is not giving us any leeway currently. The last communication from Kings Landing, from the King not his hand, suggested we ask people to pay to use it."
There was a grumble of dissent in the air. "I have ignored that suggestion."
There was a knock at the door. A servant popped his head in "Lord Glover, My Lord."
"Send him in."
Lord Cedrick Glover entered a raft of paper in his hands. "Found what you wanted, Lord Stark. That Maester of yours, he may have been evil but he kept good records."
"On the desk thank you." Rickard turned to Brandon. And waved him to the desk. As the only heir in the room, Brandon had been standing silently, listening and watching.
"yes Father?"
"Lord Glover has brought in all the records of the past 4 year's seasons." Rickard stated to the room. "Given what we have discovered, I need to verify these. Brandon, start at the commencement of the Maester's stay. And read out the allotments and such. The rest of you can confirm or not the amounts from your memory."
Brandon hid a sigh. It was going to be a long afternoon.
After dusk fell, the lords gathered in the Great hall to eat. It was a silent meal in many respects, but there was a lot of quiet chat. Rickard sat with his children, mulling over the afternoon's events. He was glad, though that for all his faults, the Maester had be meticulous in his book keeping and they had been all pleasantly surprised that the North stood in good financial standing. In fact, as Lord Umber had put it, the North was doing splendidly. So much so, that the money could be put towards road repairs and maybe trading vessels. Lord Manderly had been pleased with that idea.
Lyanna and Benjen sat in their seats eating quietly. Their father looked at them. "I have sent for my sister, she will arrive within the week." He informed his youngest two. Their father's sister was married to Lord Cerwyn, and was often a visitor. She had been still abed from her recent child, which was why she had missed her Good-sisters funeral. Lady Myra Stark, would be a welcome addition Lyanna thought. Karlyn would be upset to have missed it.
Benjen nodded as Lyanna did.
Rickard then turned to Brandon. "Lord Dustin has informed me that your studies and training go well at Barrowton. I would however like you to remain here for the next few weeks, I have a task for you."
"Of course Father." Brandon said curious about it.
"We will discuss more tomorrow. I want you, though to get a good nights sleep. You are going to need it." Rickard said softly, before turning to Lord Dorran to speak with him.
Brandon and Lyanna exchanged looks but when his sister shrugged and went back to her meal, Brandon knew it best to keep quiet.
- 5th month 273 – week 2 – 6th day
The next day dawned with noise in the courtyard as men and horses jockeyed for position and prepared to leave. The Lords of the North were leaving and Brandon blinked sleep from his eyes as he said his good buys to Lord Dustin and his son. He would re-join them in a month or so, he believed.
Not an hour later the courtyard was silent and Brandon stood beside his father. Rickard let the silence stretch for a while, then he said "I kept you here, for two reasons, One, I wanted you to be aware of some things, and two, the task I mentioned."
Brandon turned and faced his father. And waited.
"Walk." Rickard said and led his son to the parapet. They walked in silence until they overlooked the Gods Wood.
"You should know that I do not expect a positive reply from the King. Rumours of his ailments have been aboard for some time. They say when a Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land. According to my sources, the world can stop holding its breath for the current king shows all the signs of his family's madness."
"And you sent Karlyn there?!" Brandon got out.
"I prepared Karlyn for it. And I trust the Hand of the King to keep her safe."
"A Lannister? You trust them?"
"Lord Tywin Lannister is not evil. Stern, unforgiving, and one to watch, but Karlyn is a 9 name days old girl who is an innocent. I prepared her for it as best I could. She is safe, of that I have no doubt. And being under the care of a Lannister, the King of the Pride, so to speak, she will be as safe as she would be if she were here at home." Rickard paused "And she, like you, has a role to play."
"And what other role am I to play father, then your heir, to marry some girl from the south?" Brandon asked.
"You won't marry the Tully girl." Rickard said. "I sent a Raven yesterday detailing the breaking of that betrothal."
"And you think Lord Tully will accept that?"
"I offered reparations, but I doubt he will accept." Rickard shrugged. "I am sure he will find other husbands for his daughters."
"What reparations did you offer?"
"To maintain the trade agreements in the betrothal, and I hinted at a marriage with Eddard."
Brandon winced. "Oh that will go down well with Ned."
And likely the same with Hoster Tully, Rickard noted dryly in the privacy of his mind. "It matters not. He will most likely reject it. And trade to the Riverlands will be sparse for a few years. That said, we will maintain the trade with the Westerlands and the Eyrie, which should make up for it. But getting back to your role, Being Lord Stark, is not just sitting in a chair and giving orders, its also politics, and for the most part, Northern Politics are more simple than the South's. Eddard and Karlyn are learning those lessons every day. I need you to learn the North ones, quickly. Thus, in two days, you, and several of our retainers will leave for the Wall, to do a review of the situation there. Once you have done that, you shall tour the Northern Lords and their families. Alliances are to be made, and they can be made at a table or in the bedchamber. Your role is to make them at a Table. Get to know the Heirs, the second sons, the daughters, the families. Let them know you."
"And who is going with me?"
"Cassel will send his oldest son with you, as will Poole."
Brandon nodded. Both boys were older than he by a couple of years. Vayon and Rodrick would be great to have on the road.
"And you will take a score of guards." Rickard finished.
"Very well father."
"Good. Now to the training yard with you. I will see you at noon meal." Rickard then turned and left his son.
Brandon sighed and headed for the training yard. Two days, well he had things to keep him busy. But now it would be months until he returned to Barrowton.