Story 5 : Chapter 2

(Torrhen Stark)

Looking at the man seated before me I could feel the power he contained within him. My Wolf's blood as my father called it called out to me. His glowing eyes set him apart from the rest of the gathered men. His size was unnatural even seated he looked me in the eyes. If that was not bad enough his Dragon was different from the rest I had heard about the massive beast that it was.

His armor glistened with the signs of Valyrian steel along with his queer weapon resting at his side. Mage my mind supplied a living Valyrian mage was seated before me grinning like a mummer ready to spin fanciful tales for all to hear.

After partaking in bread and salt even though the tradition of guest rights doesn't hold much weight to the man before me. His humoring of the practice relieved some of my misgivings. He gave me a grin with pointed fangs being reviled to me.

"How many House Stark and the Winter Kingdom help one such as you?" Keeping my voice as steady as I could in my Solar. He leaned back making the wood chair groan in protest.

His smile widened "Well King Stark we have much to discuss you and me. Being the King of Winter... You like that title do you not Stark King?" Grinning unnaturally wide his shoulders moved as if he was laughing at his jape. Giving him a small nod my mind working hard wondering where this is going.

"Well in two and ten moons there shall be no more Winter King. Another group seeks to Conquer this Landmass you may have heard of them from the Manderlys during your Harvest Festival. This group happens to have Wyverns." My mind came up with one group that had been buying Iron Wood in bulk lately the Targaryens on the Volcanic Rock known as Dragon stone. They had been making waves as of late. He seemed to pick up on my thoughts as he inclined his head flicking his long white hair. Are they not in league with one another both being Valyrian? No, he didn't go to them.

"What is the purpose of coming here? Why not go with your fellow Valyrians?" He inclined his head at my question.

"Several problems I have with them. They sip upon our traditions. In Valyria they were the equivalent of Sheepherders. HA! Me going to those jumped up fools no they should come and beg me to help them." Shaking his head he stared me down akin to a hungry wolf staring down at a babe. "No, I need nothing from them. If I want something..." Inclining his head to the massive eyes looking into my solar. Fighting down my unease at the massive beast staring hungrily at me. "I take it"

"What is your purpose here then? We have little in the way of material goods." The North is strong yes but weak to Dragons or Wyverns as the Mage had called them. The Dragon bonded to the mage was the size of a castle. From the trader's reports, the Targaryens Wyverns were a third of its size. If I could get him on the North's size then we would not become slaves for these Targaryens instead we might as well be to this Mage... but if we could get him to help us then we might come out of this.

Looking over to the Mage we would have to become slaves to him and that did not sit well with me. "What do you come to my Kingdom for Mage?" The North may need him so If I can get one Favor out of him it would have to be used in our greatest time of need.

"Call me Ajax, Ajax the Blood Mage of the Valyrian High Council. I could have taken what I wanted but I didn't need a bunch of ants coming complaining when I took Skagos to form you so I decided to buy it. In buying it I don't have to worry about you Northmen" As he spoke felt the castle rumbling around me looking outside the wall I spy the form of the pink form of the Great Dragon.

He may have insulted us Northmen but coming from him I can see how one would think of us as lesser beings compared to him. Do Kings and Lords down South not think of themselves as the betters compared to smallfolk? Even here in the North most Lords see themselves as the betters of the smallfolk.

Not to bring up his Blood Magic which leaves me uneasy. Hopefully, it would not be used against us Northerners if we can come to agreeable terms. But what is the Valerian High Council? Were there more of the Valerians out there? If so the world was not ready for them.

"So what do you want for that bundle of rocks you have not thought about in years?" He grinned down at me knowing he could take it if he wanted I don't think I would be able to stop him. Grinding my teeth I thought over what he could give me for it. I shouldn't ask for too much. A few favors from him and some gold wouldn't be much to ask for.

Also, some guarantees for him to not use my people as experiments in his blood magic. Opening my mouth to start negotiations.

A/N: All hail the Pink Dragon. Thanks for reading.