The next day's award ceremony was held, and the commander announced that Black Walder of House Frey would come forward to receive his title. Kneeling on the ground, Black Walder was anxious, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief when one after another began swearing allegiance to him.
The stubborn faction of Edwyn, which had caused trouble the day before, had been thrown into the Greenwater River. Every member of House Frey, upon rising and entering the hall, was greeted by a trusted confidant of Black Walder who informed them that they would pledge loyalty to Black Walder that day.
Edwyn and his supporters were absent from the ceremony. After Black Walder was titled Lord of the Twins, Janyce Hunter, his wounded wife, began to cry. Lord Walder comforted her for a moment before asking the officiant to list Edwyn's crimes of allying with vampires. It was also mentioned that he had attempted to launch a surprise attack as a vampire the previous night, only to be killed by Thoros the sorcerer. A pile of blue vampire ash was presented as evidence.
The vampire ash from the riverlands had been mixed with dirt and not yet dried, as it was still raining. With the pile of clean ash, the evidence was solidified in front of numerous noble witnesses.
From today onwards, the Twins formally passed from the old Walder to his great-grandson, Black Walder. On the same day, Black Walder also formally married his brother's widow, Janyce Hunter, continuing to expand House Frey.
Several days later, reinforcements from the riverlands arrived, including many mages from the Citadel. With weapons and experience to deal with vampires, the gathered forces discussed splitting into two groups to head west and rescue Seagard. The victorious knights of the West then began their return.
---
The last time Wright visited Winterfell in the North, the outside of the castle was a lush green meadow, but this time, the snow outside had piled up to knee height.
It was still snowing lightly, and the white steam rose up from the thick castle walls, merging with the other steam and floating upwards, creating a large white pillar of cloud connecting the earth and sky.
"What's Odahviing doing out there? Oh, my~~"
"Hurry up and get inside!" Catelyn Tully grabbed Bran by the ear and pulled him inside, while Robb, laughing to the side, quickly shut the window.
The sounds of rumbling and the golden-red glow still seeped through the closed window into the guest hall of Eastwatch.
"The dragons don't like the cold, so it's melting the snow and dirt to make a comfortable place to land," Wright said, holding a cup of hot water.
"Will the dragon not freeze out there?" Bran asked, still being pulled by his mother, Catelyn, towards the guest hall.
"Odahviing—breaking down the word—it means snow, hunter, and wings. Just by hearing its name, you know it can survive in the cold, though it doesn't prefer it. It's like humans not liking to live in deserts, but if there's no other choice, they'll make do," Wright explained.
Looking at Bran, who was being dragged by his mother, Wright chuckled.
"Bran, since it's cold outside, if you want to see the dragon, you can connect with Summer, your direwolf, and have it run outside to see it."
"Really? The dragon won't bite Summer?" Bran's ears instantly stopped hurting, and he turned to Wright, as if his mother's hand no longer existed.
"Your direwolves are all from the same litter, and Odahviing remembers their scent. As long as you don't attack it, the dragon won't harm Summer," Wright reassured him.
With Bran's strong magical aura, as long as he didn't provoke Odahviing, it would be safe for him to watch from nearby. Bran was still the heir of the green seers, and Wright had already informed Odahviing about this, so perhaps Bran could even get an extra treat.
"Just remember, only Summer can leave the castle. You can't even leave your room!" Catelyn, dragging Bran out of the guest hall, nodded at Wright and slammed the door shut.
Robb sat back at the table and explained Bran's impudence in opening the window.
"You know, Bran is full of energy at this age."
It was just a window being opened, and the cold wind didn't bother Wright or Robb, but the others in the room weren't so lucky. Seran Farman wrapped her arms around herself, and Ned Stark kept his hands on the table, letting the cold air hit him, continuing to talk to Wright, though Wright noticed goosebumps rising on his arms.
The basement of Winterfell had hot springs, and after many generations of the Stark family's improvements, along with techniques Robb brought back from Tyrosh, every room now had hot water pipes. Even though it was snowing heavily outside, only light long-sleeve shirts were needed in the castle.
Wright had come in a rush, not giving notice in advance. The Stark family hadn't had time to gather their vassals for a reception banquet, but Wright wasn't one to care about formalities, so Ned Stark had received him in a small guest hall.
Originally, the Stark family and Wright were sitting together. Bran, who was eleven, and Rickon, who was six, wanted to see the dragon. While their parents and Wright were chatting, the two slipped over to the window and opened it, letting the biting cold wind rush in. Little Rickon was not to be punished, but Bran, being older, was likely going to feel Catelyn's wrath.
Wright commented, "How can youth not be full of energy? It's fine; we were all like that when we were young. But you—what's with the tired look?"
"Robb, he..." Ned had just started to explain for his son but stopped himself. Robb, standing next to him, also awkwardly stammered, unsure of how to speak up.
Seran took a deep breath, then proudly said, "I've already started my monthly cycle."
When Seran entered the room, Wright had noticed her hairstyle—a golden mane styled up in a woman's hairdo.
"You studied human anatomy with Qyburn, so you should know that, at her age, if she were pregnant, childbirth could be very dangerous." Wright's gaze was fixed on Robb.
Perhaps due to early physical development, Westeros had a tendency for early marriages, but Robb was different. He had studied full human anatomy, making him a real bastard! Seran wasn't even twelve yet!
Robb grabbed Seran's hand, holding it firmly. "I'll protect her."
"To be safe, I'll teach you a magic circle later!" Both parties were willing, and while Wright could advise Robb, it wasn't his place to interfere in his apprentice's family matters.
Seeing his son nod, Ned moved the conversation back to the earlier topic. "Wright, is the vampire situation really this serious?"
Wright responded, "Vampires are just as troublesome as the Others. If the Wall is breached, you Starks should know better than anyone how bad things will get for Westeros!"
Ned fell silent for a moment. "What kind of support do you need?"
Wright tapped his finger on the table, and a model of the Wall made of ice rose up.
"There are more Night's Watchmen on the Wall now than there were decades ago, but only four castles are actually filled. I'm not sure where the vampires will strike, so we need a strong fighter stationed at the center of the Wall. When I fly over on Odahviing, this person can defend Eastwatch and quickly offer support where needed."
The only person who could serve as this strong fighter was Robb.
"Master, when do we depart?" Although Robb had been enjoying time with his young wife, he still knew when to prioritize the important matters.
"I'll leave tonight. You get ready, and we'll head north to the Castle Black tomorrow." Robb wasn't going alone; Ned would surely send a large number of knights with him. Given the harsh weather, it'd be impossible to prepare them for a departure today.
"I'll leave tonight too. Father, please allow me to go with Master," Robb stood up and earnestly looked at Ned.
Ned also rose to his feet, clapping his son on the shoulder as he gazed up at him, now taller than him. "You've grown up, married, and you're the heir of Winterfell. The decisions you make within your authority no longer need my permission."
"Understood, Father!" Robb was clearly pleased with his father's approval.
"Ned, this is urgent, so you don't need to keep me for dinner. I'll drink with you once this is all done." Wright rose, grabbing the large sword next to the table, preparing to leave.
"Wright, make sure you and Robb stay safe. If trouble arises, head back to Winterfell first." Though not particularly close with Wright, Ned had a clear sense of the man's character from Robb's training and Seran's time at Oldtown. If Wright ran into trouble, it would be a loss for the entire Seven Kingdoms.
"Don't worry, Ned. I'll be back once it's all handled. This time, and next year, when Robert's progress tour comes to Winterfell, I'll be back!" Wright said, leaving hurriedly, jumping out the window instead of using the front door.
With the provisions Ned had prepared, Wright made his way to Odahviing, who was already unfurling his wings.
Nearby, two direwolves, about the size of ponies, were playfully running in the snow around Odahviing. The silver one was Bran's Summer, and the black one belonged to Rickon. Both had been trained under the guidance of the Three-Eyed Raven, receiving advanced teachings through dreams.
Soon after Odahviing took off, Robb, now in armor, along with fifteen knights, gathered at the castle gates. Their families and fellow soldiers were stuffing provisions into their bags.
"Robb! You have to promise me you'll come back safe!" Seran, bundled in a white fur coat and thick gloves, hugged Robb tightly.
"Don't worry, with Master, we get hurt all the time, but it's never life-threatening," Robb thought back to his tough training days at the school of magic.
Seran, stroking the black wolfhead necklace on Robb's chest, stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, "When you come back, I'll help you make a little Robb."
"Haha." Robb hugged her tightly in return.
Just then, Ned and the castle's officers arrived at the gate.
"Robb, these creatures are not human; when you engage, show no mercy," Ned warned, concerned that his son might hesitate due to a lack of experience.
Robb looked up, patting the two longswords strapped to his back. "Both swords are inscribed, specifically designed to deal with these monsters."
Ned glanced at the sword hilts on Robb's back, his thoughts drifting to his infamous bastard daughter, Ashara, whose name had spread throughout the North. He waved to a servant behind him.
The Master-at-Arms of Winterfell, holding a sheathed greatsword, walked over. Ned grabbed the sword's scabbard and handed it to Robb. "This sword is more suitable for you."
"Father?" Robb was confused. The Valyrian steel greatsword Ice had always been wielded by the head of the Stark family, unlike other noble houses, where the best swordsman used their family's prized weapon. Robb didn't understand why his father was offering it to him.
Ned saw the confusion in his son's eyes. "Don't overthink it. I'm not about to die. Ice is just a weapon. You are the first Stark magic user, and carrying this sword shows House Stark's resolve in battling monsters and enemies alike."
Robb unsheathed one of his longswords, then took the family heirloom with both hands. "I won't let it bring shame."
The greatsword Ice was simple in appearance, with a design resembling the long swords crafted by the local blacksmiths. It had no adornments on the crossguard or hilt. Although Valyrian steel was light, Ice's massive size made it heavier than most greatswords. It was cumbersome for Ned, but for Robb, who was taller, it was just right.
Ned said, "Your teacher, Wright, uses a similar greatsword. I don't understand your magic skills, but this time, be sure to learn from Wright."
Being recognized by his father was the greatest joy for any son. Robb, with tears in his eyes, mounted his horse and nodded at Ned. "Father, Seran, it's cold outside. You should go back."
With that, Robb, accompanied by fifteen young knights, rode out of Winterfell, leaving tracks in the snow as they headed north.
---
Wright made a small mistake. The North was vast and sparsely populated, with small towns spaced far apart. Now, with heavy snow covering the roads and forests, many landmarks were hidden. Normally, Wright could fly from Winterfell to Castle Black in a day and a night, but it took him three days to arrive.
At Castle Black, many of the Night's Watch members were those Wright had personally exiled. Seeing the dragon land outside the castle, they thought Wright had come to execute them and started fleeing into the tunnels. Fortunately, Commander Mormont had them all caught and disarmed, tying them up in the training yard to prevent further chaos.
Wright descended from the sky and floated into the castle. Seeing Mormont rushing toward him, he called out, "A rebellion in the castle? Do you need my help?"
At that moment, the Night's Watch could not afford any issues. If Mormont said he needed help, Wright would act immediately, swiftly eliminating any traitors.
"They say you're here to kill them, and they tried to escape. I caught them. Now, you can deal with them," Mormont said, his breath coming in labored gasps. Despite his old age, he had directed the capture but was now winded, exhaling clouds of mist.
Wright surveyed the prisoners, most of whom he had forgotten, but a few of the former gold-cloaked officers were still recognizable. "I'm not interested in them. I came for the vampires. They may have plans to breach the Wall!"
"Vampires?"
The black-clad members of the Night's Watch had heard rumors of this new kind of undead, which seemed to have allied with the Others beyond the Wall.
"Mormont, release them! It's cold outside. Let them wait in the hall for me. I'm going to the Maester's Tower for the latest news."
The snowstorm raged outside, and the Night's Watch members were bundled in heavy furs, but Wright disliked giving orders in such a place.
"Release them. For now, I won't pursue charges for the rebellion. Those who assist Lord Wright may earn a pardon!"
Wright overheard Mormont's commands. Although the commander was aging, he still knew how to handle such matters. However, in another two or three years, Mormont might not be able to suppress them.
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