章節 39: Chapter 7: Our Steel is Strong 7
Hillview Hall 154 A.C.
It has been a little over a month since my father's funeral but things have not quieted down one bit. With the cold and snow just around the corner everyone was preparing for those bleak days in their own way. Some will continue to put off preparing till the snows start falling while others will have already started stockpiling supplies and given themselves a mighty head start. I have personally chosen the slow and diligent method to the madness, starting my lands own stockpile of it's larders shortly after Green Town had been fully rebuilt a few months ago, giving myself and my people a head start of our own.
Asher had also returned for his fostering about two weeks ago bearing a message from myself to lord Horton explaining my commitment to our deal but with the encroaching winter requested our timeline be postponed till spring. A raven reached Hillview soon after from Hornwood containing lord Horton's acceptance of the new timeline for his ship and the other promised materials.
The head start I've given myself has allowed me to use the free time wisely by helping Lyla manage the increased orders of BH from nobles looking to fill their stocks of the syrup as soon as possible. The trips I will need to take soon will also not be of a hindrance upon Hillview's preparedness for the coming times either as much has done been and the rest didn't need my constant overview.
Wylla and Ortha have become key parts in my ability to quickly see things done as I no longer had need for sending couriers on long journeys with only a single important message meant for my trade partners. The crannog women and her owl familiar have made establishing lines of communication with both lord Flint of the Finger and lord Manson a relatively painless task.
My messages with lord Flint were in essence a rehashing of the deal my late father had struck with the man combined with an added stipulation of the stone needed for Asher's future keep wall. The lord of the Finger proved amenable to the sale of the extra stone and we agreed on a tentative plan for beginning the stone's deliveries next spring.
The letters lord Manson received were of a far different tone as I tried to reacquaint myself with the man and seek out a meeting in regards of leasing my fishing boats. It did not take Ortha long in returning from Ramsgate with lord Manson's reply that stated he would be honored to host me and discuss the deal in more depth, excellent. My trip to Ramsgate was quickly planned out with an added stop at White Harbor thrown in for business I had to see done in the northern city.
I was actually fairly excited for this trip since it will be my first time sailing such a distance aboard one of my ships. With the vessels being on the smaller side I would only be able to bring ten guards with me as well as be able to fit Beren and Torgun aboard comfortably. The ship could easily fit more people in a pinch but with the journey being safer by river than by horse I figured a smaller party would make things easier to manage. Leroy would be leading my guard as their captain, a position he had earned and one I was happy to reward him with after the fiasco the situation with the Dixons turned into being. I also gave him my blessing if he chose to court lady Wylla but made clear things could be out of our hands when the Stark's learn she has birthed a bastard of their blood.
Leroy didn't disappoint and stepped into his new role with a discipline ingrained upon him from countless hours spent with Ser Ben. Our trip to Ramsgate and White Harbor will be Leroy's first outing outside of Hillview's walls as Captain and I have already heard his petition for extra guards to accompany us several times, if not for protection he argued then as a statement that house Greensmith was not martially weak like how the past bandit raids have tried portraying. That tweak upon my pride almost made me reconsider my plans but then my own ego reared it's ugly head whispering in my ear that my presence alone should demand respect otherwise Stonebreaker could make an smashing appearance.
In the end I stuck with the original ten guards that included Leroy as the journey will be far safer by ship and I didn't want any extra bodies slowing us down when time was of the essence. Beren and Torgun were just excited they would get to leave Hillview for a short while and visit the only northern city, neither knowing I had a surprise for when we reached White Harbor.
Soon enough the day came for my group to ride for Green Town so that we can take the ship I had chartered and ordered extra benches installed onto for our journey. It took less than four hours before we were riding through the opened gate of Green Town's wall into the bustling river port . Less than an hour after entering the town we were boarded upon a longboat named Ser Alyn's Net and rowing our way down the Lower Branch. The sailors rowed until we reached the juncture of the Lower Branch with the Broken Branch, there the river's current started carrying us south towards Ramsgate.
The journey was as peaceful as I hoped it would be and with the view changing from farmland and forests to the rocky hills that started sprouting as we neared the land surrounding Ramsgate. It gave a wonderful view of how diverse the landscape of the North could be. Torgun got a kick of how quickly the forest seemingly transformed into the hills known for containing house Manson's castle and silver mine that they oversee for house Manderly.
Our ship reached the small port town near Ramsgate just as the sun started it's descent on the western horizon allowing myself the chance to take in the sight of the Manson's castle. The fortress made of light grey stone was nestled tightly in between two large stony hills, constructed in such a way that it blocked the only path leading up to the silver mine of these hills. I could also faintly make out the numerous rams amongst the hills that loaned their name to the castle and sigil of house Manson.
As we approached the small sea port of the Manson's I recalled what I could of the Family's history from my Maester lessons. House Manson was started by a third son of a Manderly lord some five hundred years ago when said son killed an Essosi Pirate King hell bent on occupying part of the Northern east coast. As a reward for his services to his house he was granted the lands around the recently discovered silver mine found in the Ramming Hills, along with a portion of the mine's revenue.
The first Manson chose to name the castle he built amongst the Ramming Hills after the stubborn beasts that called the rocky hills home and incorporated them into his new house's sigil. Only a couple of generations passed before the Mansons were fully ennobled as a lordship by the King of Winter when the Manson of the time slayed a Skagosi King that was pillaging the eastern coast. My thoughts of the family's history was broken when the captain called for the men to prepare to make port in Rammington.
We docked in Rammington with little issue and were greeted by the sight of a small group of guards bearing the Manson's sigil of a brown ram charging across a field of blue-green . The lead guard was quick to inform me that their group was charged with escorting my party up to the castle. I quickly issued my consent of the escort and we were off on the short journey through Rammington where at the end of it we came across the inclined walkway that brought us right up in front of the castle gate. As our group was not mounted we entered through the smaller man sized door cut out of the larger main wooden gate which deposited us straight into the main courtyard of the castle.
Present in the courtyard waiting for my group was lord Manson and his family. Lord Wylan is an older man nearing his fifty-first year but his wife was a younger woman of thirty-three namedays from house Whitehill , not a surprising age difference since he remarried after his first wife had passed of sickness before bearing him any children. The couple had two daughters as of now but lady Manson was pregnant with a third and the couple were obviously hoping for a son and heir. I was able to break the ice with some family friendly anecdotes of my own pregnant wife that warmed the noble couple to me somewhat. After the bread and salt were distributed we all adjourned inside the keep for dinner.
I felt bad that Torgun and Beren were forced to sit at the lower tables but Leroy kept the boys chins up well enough in my absence. It was a shallow power move by the Manson's to keep me isolated at the head table but as it was within social courtesies my tongue had to be held on the matter. Their pettiness just spurred me into putting my best foot forward with the mindset of killing them with kindness. Lady Manson was easy enough to win over with a few tasteful japes and stories of my tourney achievements.
Lord Wylan proved a tougher nut to crack as he barely smiled at my japes, seemingly happy enough trying to ignore my presence as if I wasn't sitting right next to the man. This was a different reception then what I had expected, considering his amicable tone from our traded letters. It did not inspire me with much confidence going into our meeting tomorrow morning and made me wonder If I had to reassess my backup plans for the boats.
The feast tapered off later that evening till we all had left for our chambers in search of a nights rest. Torgun needed extra coaxing before being able to fall asleep as he was upset from being split so far from Fang, an issue I had been warned about and prepared for by Wylla. After plenty of stories that saw me nearly put myself to sleep before Torgun, we both were finally able to pass out for the night.
Sleep provided a welcome relief to the days ups and downs but like always it was over all too soon with Leroy knocking on the door of the chamber waking me up from my rest. Before I could answer Leroy I had to wake Torgun up and detach him from the death grip he had developed on my right arm. Finally Leroy was answered and we were made aware breakfast was being served in the main hall. Food tempted Torgun enough that he was cooperative when I was helping him get dressed for the day. Torgun didn't wait for me to finish dressing before running off for food on his own, thankfully Beren was standing just outside the door and followed after Torgun to make sure my son didn't get lost in the Manson's castle.
Leroy and I chatted as we made the journey down to the Main Hall ourselves, after I had made myself presentable enough for noble company. Before we could enter the hall for breakfast I ordered Leroy to watch Torgun personally while I spoke with lord Manson as I didn't want my son causing any issues while I spoke with the lord of Ramsgate in private. Leroy reluctantly agreed but made plain that his next best man would fill in as my door guard for the meeting. I chuckled at his attitude and we entered the hall for our morning meal, where I was once again placed alone amongst the Mansons at the head table.
Breakfast was an overall simple affair of eggs, sausages, and freshly baked bread. The welcoming feast we received last night would probably be the most extravagant meal my group would have while staying at Ramsgate since every Northmen worth his salt was tightening their belts right now when it came to food. Before I fully realized it my plate of food was consumed with a huge glass of hot water that washed it down nicely while warming my bones from a cool nights sleep. Only after the servants had cleared the table of the mess did lord Manson beckon me to follow him to his solar.
It only took a few minutes of silent walking through the castle before we reached the lord's solar. The room was richly decorated with imported rugs and paintings mostly likely acquired via White Harbor as well as house Manson's banner hanging over the hearth on the side of the room. Lord Manson quickly settled himself behind the massive desk in the room before offering me the seat opposite himself with a wave of his hand. As I sat I couldn't help but wonder if my read on the lord had been off last night and he was just a stoic man and not just a quiet prick.
"Ser Alyn let us quickly get down to business I do not like wasting time and there are other important things I need to see to before winter sinks it's claws into the North so please excuse my bluntness." Lord Manson explained his brisk attitude away to me.
"No offense taken lord Wylan, I completely understand the need to see things accomplished quickly in these times. That being said I won't waste your time and ask that my longboats be allowed to dock in Rammington during winter. I'm sure I don't have to explain how my ships can be a boon for the town but I will not allow the sails to fly anyone's sigil but my house's own." I bluntly offered to lord Wylan since this is the direction he wanted to take.
"Your condition is acceptable but what will you want in exchange for the use of your ships Ser Alyn?" Lord Wylan cut straight to the chase of my offer.
"I offer two possibilities lord Wylan. Option one is my ships dock here and you handle the expenses of repairs or replacement as well as the wages of the sailors aboard them. Option Two you pay me a lump sum of gold per boat per each year of winter and house Greensmith will handle all the other variables I've already listed." I explained the admittedly decent terms of the deal I wanted. Either way lord Manson obtains access to efficient fishing vessels that will support his people through the upcoming winter.
" I cannot accept the first option unless you are willing to budge on your demand of flying your own sails?" At my negative reply to his question lord Wylan soldiered on."Then option two will have to be our course Ser Alyn. I'm willing to offer ten gold dragons for each boat a year." The head of house Manson started off the barter with a pitiful offer.
" That is a unacceptable offer lord Wylan especially if the rumors I have heard of the increase of ship stealing pirates in these waters is true." I quickly fired back trying to portray an act of a hotheaded man when in reality I had subtly poked at the fact that lord Manson has lost four ships, almost half of his houses', these past few months to pirates thought to come from the Sisters.
I wasn't overly scared about my vessels getting stolen as they were much smaller than the usual targets of the pirates and my longboats usually tended to stick within sight of the coast while out trying to obtain their catch.
"You are not in the wrong to worry about your ships Ser Alyn but they will have my staunchest protection should they dock here come winter that I swear on my honor as lord of house Manson." The master of Ramsgate severely replied to my heat.
"Then a price that shows your commitment to their protection lord Manson, five and thirty gold dragons per ship each year they are docked at Ramsgate." I made a show of calming down while delivering this counter-offer to lord Wylan's original low ball starter.
"You demand I be reasonable then offer me such a lopsided deal is telling Ser Alyn. Twenty gold dragons is a much more palatable number I feel." The off brand Manderly shot back an offer I had originally wanted but he had to make things difficult so now I will ring his stone of all it's water.
"Thirty gold dragons though seems like such a small payment for making sure your people stay fed over winter and pick up the slack left by the stolen ships though don't you think lord Manson?" I coyly asked lord Manson while enjoying the man's glare at my continued negotiation.
"Five and twenty gold dragons is my final offer Ser Alyn." Came the gruff rebuttal of the man I have almost cornered to where I wanted him but I had one final push to give.
"Seven and twenty gold dragons lord Manson, a generous enough deal that if you do not take it lord Flint of Widow's Watch most certainly would." I bluffed, hoping lord Wylan would impulsively accept after hearing just who I might lease the boats to. Hells I didn't even need the extra two dragons but it was the principle of the matter, if I would've just accepted his 'final' offer I would've painted myself as someone he could easily negotiate around for his own benefit and that was unacceptable since I have plans that will have need of Rammington's sea port come next spring.
"Fine Ser Alyn, seven and twenty gold dragons per boat each year they are docked in Rammington for winter." Lord Manson ground out clearly not pleased to have lost in these negotiations.
"Wonderful lord Wylan, shall we call your Maester so that he may write out two copies of the deal for the both of us?" I asked lord Manson who grumpily agreed and sent his guard off in search of the man. It took a little over an hour for the Maester to arrive and write out the two copies of our deal which were quickly signed by both lord Wylan and I.
"Excellent, I can't wait till we reach White Harbor once we depart from here lord Wylan, lord Torrhen will be most pleased to hear how well we are cooperating as neighbors." I cheekily stated to the head of house Manson, not so subtly pointing out that his overlord will know my ships will be here during winter and I will expect them back come spring.
Surprisingly that cracked a smile from the senior lord who simply left me with " Lord Torrhen was right about you young Alyn. Your star shines bright here in the North."before I was excused out of lord Wylan's solar with my copy of our deal.
The last comment definitely threw me for a loop but I could always speak to lord Torrhen about it when I inevitably saw him in a few days. Overall though I was proud of how that meeting went and felt I could make a solid trade partner out of lord Manson with time. For now though it was time for lunch then this afternoon will be spent preparing my group for a departure towards White Harbor tomorrow morning.
The Mansons warmed up a great deal since breakfast so my suspicions of it all being an act was reinforced but I simply chalked it up as an intimidation method meant for throwing me off my game during negotiations. Whatever it was mattered little now of course and I was just happy to be sitting at the head table with Beren and Torgun enjoying one of our final meals at Ramsgate.
The afternoon and evening meal passed in a manner of monotony with nothing of excite happening after the morning tensions. Soon enough my crew was loaded onto Ser Alyn's Net the next morning with the sailors rowing us out of port. It didn't take long before the captain was comfortable dropping the sail and begining our sea journey towards White Harbor. Based on the wind today the captain estimated we'd make port around sunset so we all settled in for a day on the water.
Steadily we cut through the waves like a knife does butter and passed more than a few ships along our trip through the Bite. The wind turned out to be even more favorable then the Captain originally predicted and we ended up rowing into White Harbor's dock about an hour before sunset. Lord Manson must have sent word of our arrival ahead of us since as soon as we docked a group of Manderly guards led by Wyman presented themselves in front of my ship.
Wyman and I had a joyful reunion since we hadn't been able to see each other since the start of summer when Torgun had been brought into of my life. Speaking of my son, the lad quickly started pestering Wyman with questions as he knew Wyman had been the knight I had squired for when I was a lad. I noticed that when Wyman had been humoring Torgun's questions he had also been closely studying my son's face as if Wyman was searching for proof of something. I quickly shook off that train of thought and chalked it up to me just being over protective of Torgun in such a large congregation of people.
My entourage was quickly mounted on horses and escorted through White Harbor towards New Castle. Torgun and Beren were suitable stunned by the sights of the city and humored by the stories Wyman and I shared from my time spent here as a squire. My first meeting with Gerold and just how much of a disaster it turned out to be almost made Beren fall of his horse from laughter. Soon enough we passed the massive castle gate into the main courtyard of New Castle where our group was greeted by lord Torrhen.
Introductions were done with bread and salt administered so that we all could quickly retreat into the warmer confines of the Manderly's hall but not before I caught lord Torrhen giving Torgun a strange look of his own. I didn't get the opportunity to question the strange looks before my group was plopped down in the main hall with plates full of hot food served up fresh out the kitchens winning the attention of my hungry stomach. Small talk was pretty minimal as we ate and it wasn't till after we all had our fill that I got to bring up the strange looks to lord Torrhen.
It was odd when the man seemingly clammed up and just locked eyes with Wyman before asking me to join him and Wyman in his solar. While the sudden secretive nature was out of character I had too much history with the Manderlys not to follow them out of the hall. Once seated inside lord Torrhen's solar with a glass of wine for each of us I brought back up the topic of the duos strange behavior towards Torgun.
"Alyn I would be remiss if I didn't start at the beginning. Carla was no simple servant but an unacknowledged bastard daughter of lord Cregan." Lord Torrhen began his tale. "She was sired by lord Cregan here at New Castle after the Warden of the North had made the pact of fire and ice with Prince Jacaerys Targaryen, securing the Starks and the Norths aid against the Greens." The head of house Manderly finished the background of Carla's conception.
"I honestly never would have guessed she was a Stark bastard. Her looks besides her hair color weren't traditional Stark features and the fact she was treated like a run of the mill maid didn't make things easier." I commented stupefied by this revelation.
"Understandable, we really had no other option with her since lord Cregan knew of her but refused to acknowledge her ties with Winterfell and made clear that if we tried forcing his hand on the matter house Manderly would come to regret it. This isn't an isolated incident either as far as I'm aware, there are other unacknowledged bastards of lord Cregan but the only other one I know of forsure is a horse breeder in Barrowton that is almost fourty namedays old and seemingly spits the image of Cregan if the rumors I've heard are correct." Lord Torrhen elaborated further painting me a divisive picture of lord Cregan.
"So in summary you are telling me I had drunkenly slept with and impregnated the estranged bastard daughter of our lord paramount then proceeded to unwittingly acknowledge the child born of said union?" I asked suddenly feeling nauseous at what kind of bind this has put me in.
"Yes Alyn that sums it up rather nicely and don't go overthinking the situation, I taught you better than that for Seven's sake, breath and think lad." Lord Torrhen admonished me as if I was still two and ten namedays old.
"You are correct lord Torrhen, and now that this is out in the open it helps explain the slight differences in Torgun's facial structure to mine and Asher's. As he continues to grow I have noticed his face having a slightly longer profile and sharper jawline than the either of us. But it doesn't really matter in the end his ties with Winterfell has no use to the Starks so neither does my son." I piece out my own thoughts on this whole matter.
"I wouldn't say his ties won't be acknowledged just yet Alyn." Wyman piped up for the first time baiting me deeper down this apparent rabbit hole.
"What gives you foresight to predict that Wyman? And honestly what would the Starks gain from acknowledging Torgun?" I asked what I felt was a rhetorical question only to be met with the deadpan stares of both the men seated with me.
"Really Alyn do I need to spell it out for you? Which ever Stark recognizes Torgun as having Stark blood in him creates the connection to house Greensmith. The vassal of the Hornwoods that is quickly becoming their strongest and wealthiest and who also now have a head of house that is a renowned tourney knight and fighter. Even if some would scoff at your accolades Alyn fewer would be foolish enough to actually draw steel against you in a fair fight." Lord Torrhen laid out plainly so that I could fully grasp his point.
"And you forget we have blood ties with house Stark ourselves Alyn, keeping us well informed of what his happening in Winterfell." Wyman tacked on after his father finished his explanation.
"So they would try and get me onside through Torgun, that is interesting. I had not thought myself a big enough deal that some lords would consider me a viable option so that they may try and obtain the Hornwood's support." Now my mind was reeling thinking of ways I could use this to my own advantage.
"And it is for that reason and what Wyman has brought up that made me want to speak with you about this before the Harvest Festival anyway Alyn. I wish to set up a private meeting between you and my niece Jeyne's husband Rickon Stark during the festival." Lord Torrhen explained his plan to me.
"And you want me to be the intermediary between him and lord Hornwood correct?" I asked to confirm my place in these plans. It was honestly a pragmatic and easy move by lord Torrhen, using his foster son to gain the Hornwood's support for the Stark brother he had blood ties with. I was honestly torn between being disgruntled and proud, lord Manson's ending comment resonated back to me then so I settled for pride, for now.
"Exactly Alyn and with you and the Hornwoods onboard the houses bleating loudest for a different heir of the North will be silenced." Lord Torrhen played up my part in this scheme but I wanted a wider look at this whole debacle.
"Who are the loudest opposing lord Rickon's ascension to his rightful place as our next lord paramount lord Torrhen?" I asked curious who exactly was causing the most tensions.
"The Ryswells and Boltons. Lord Ryswell's daughters are married to Jonnel Stark and lord Bolton puffing up the man's ego and making him feel entitled to bluster on with this challenge of the Stark's line of succession." The web of alliances in the North always run deep and none of the North are closer to the Dreadfort than the Ryswells.
"And with lord Cregan unwilling to put an end to it with cementing Rickon's place as heir the Ryswells will just continue to get louder with the backing of the Dreadfort. In the end it could just come down to an 'accident' happening to Rickon and the North would end up with a Ryswell/Bolton puppet as our lord paramount." Any of the Stark brothers could in reality end up as puppet lords if anything happened to Rickon as none of them were as complete of a package as the eldest.
Jonnel was too traditional and would let the North sit and stagnate. Edric was a idiot that was passable at swinging a sword and thought too much with the head between his legs. Barthogan probably had the best sword arm of the bunch but was the epitome of a blunt northmen and would likely cause bigger arguments to bloom from small ones while trying to mediate them peacefully. Brandon seems the most angry and bitter out of the brothers so the North would likely struggle with him at the helm.
Rickon respected the traditions of the North as he was taught such by his mother, who hailed from the clans that held onto those traditions as tightly as any Northmen but he wouldn't let traditions stop him from doing things that would help the North like Jonnel. He had a strong sword arm as well as the brains and tact that Edric and Barthogan lacked. Brandon had almost everything Rickon had but his anger and bitterness would continue hampering him immensely if he couldn't get them under control.
"A more than adequate assessment Alyn but with bringing the Hornwoods onside Rickon will have more than enough support to quiet down the detractors. But enough of this serious talk, Wyman tells me you have a surprise planned for your squire tomorrow morning?" Lord Torrhen shifted the conversation to lighter topics and I was happy to go along with it as my curiosities were mostly sated.
After discussing my plan with the two I excused myself for the night to head for bed. A night of rest was exactly what I needed after the heavy discussion I was apart of last night and now I was ready to celebrate my squire. Breakfast was a standard affair but it wasn't what I was waiting for this morning, no my satisfaction came when Beren, Wyman, Torgun, and I headed out to the training yard for some sparring.
Beren had improved by leaps and bounds ever since he started his squire ship for myself almost four years ago now and with his abilities in the forge finally matching his skill with a sword I knew he was finally ready to earn his spurs. The sparring I forced him to do with the squires of New Castle and their knights was just a final exam of sorts that showed off Beren's ability to fight off any challenger. The foot work drills I had made my good brother do over the years has honed him into a lightning fast terror with a bastard sword in his hands.
Finally when the young man was doubled over gasping for breath after almost twenty consecutive spars I walked up and said the words every squire longs to hear.
"Beren kneel."
The shocked face of my soon to be former squire stared at me while shakily descending down to the position, sword still in front of him like a true warrior.
" In the name of the Warrior I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother I charge you to defend the young and innocent. In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect all women." I started tapping Wyman's sword on each of Beren's shoulders as I recited the lines.
"Beren of house Lief do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all women and children, to obey your captains, your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or dangerous they may be?" I asked my good brother as intensely as Wyman had when he knighted me all those years ago.
"In front of the eyes of Gods and Man I swear it Ser Alyn." Beren finished his part now time for me to put the finishing touches on this show.
"Then rise Beren Lief and be know as Ser Beren from this day forth." I finished with a flourish. I felt pretty proud of myself when the men still in the yard started cheering and congratulating Beren on his ascension to knighthood.
After everyone calmed down I announced that I would be taking Torgun out into White Harbor to do some shopping and we would be back around dinner time. Leroy quickly assembled a guard detail for us before my son and I were off into the the lone city of the North. First stop on the docket was the high end forge of the city known for their excellent armor. It was here I gave Beren's measurements for a strong suit of partial plate and chain to be made as a present for earning his spurs, I would also personally forge him a sword and give it to him on our way to Winterfell as another portion of the gift.
This winter I would also make myself some new armor since my last set was damaged from multiple bandit hunts and the fight with Rickon Dixon. I was still pissed the bastard had been able to take advantage of a dent in my thigh plate too puncture through it with his sword. I was just lucky the elder Dixon hadn't been stronger otherwise he could've easily done more damage to my thigh than he was already able too.
Past the blacksmith came a stop at the Ibbenese trader that has sold me Balto and a few other snow dogs over the years. This transaction was almost the same with me purchasing two more breeding pairs of the dogs as well as a book that was apparently about rendering down whales but was written in Ibbish. It won't be impossible to find a transcriber just time consuming but I was sure the book would somehow be useful in the future.
It was closing in on dinner time when I had gotten done bartering with the trader from Ib but I still had one more stand to find. The trader I was looking for ended up being quite a distance away from the man of Ib but I was just happy to find the YiTish trader. From there is was simply finding the seeds for Rice or Water Gorger as it is known as by the YiTish, though I will admit the name sounds better in the YiTish language than in common tongue where it weirdly translates into water gorger. By the grace of the gods the trader also had a book written in YiTish explaining how to plant and harvest the crop making this an overall big win for me and the Reeds.
Now all I had to do is have the Manderly's Maester translate the YiTish book and send it with the seeds to the Neck where the Reeds can store it and plan for their use next spring. I do not remember much about Rice besides that it grows well in soil with high water content and in the North that points directly to the Neck and the lands surrounding Moat Cailin. Before leaving I had also decided to order a few more sacks of rice seeds from the YiTi trader to be delivered next spring, getting him to agree with the deal saw me having to throw in some gold as an advance but I felt the reasoning was solid while also having the added benefit of clearing my conscious of house Greensmith's debt with house Reed.
Overall I was on cloud nine as Torgun and I arrived back at New Castle even though we would need to spend an extra day here waiting for Beren's armor to be finished. Ultimately though nothing could put a damper on how successful I felt about this trip and made me even more excited about the harvest festival than I probably should be.
A/N: Hello All I hope you enjoyed this new chapter of Our Steel is Strong! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited and or followed my story your support is astounding and is pushing me to keep writing and flushing out Alyn's journey through Westeros. Next time on Our Steel is Strong, Ser Alyn tackles the Northern politics found at the fall harvest festival.
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