CHAPTER 85

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CHAPTER 85

286 AC

It had been almost two years since I left Winterfell, and not much had changed here. The most significant change had been Sir Rodrik's belly; we were on our way to the keep, and I said.

"By old gods, you got fat!"

When I said that, he was a bit taken aback, and then he started laughing while holding his belly.

"You checky brat, what can I do my old lady looks after me well. But that long tongue of yours going to cause trouble for you in the future."

POV RODRİK CASSEL

it had been two years last time I saw him, but we have heard all about him and his exploits from taverns and ravens. He even got a nickname.

"It is my honor to be in the presence of Aermir Drasil, The Bane." I did a fake bow, and he looked flustered and said.

"I don't accept that nickname; what the hell is "The Bane"? It is so embarrassing. I can guess right now Robb and Jon are going to make fun of me for years to come."

"We don't choose our nicknames; the people give them. Who told you to kill that many bandits. If the tales are to be believed, you killed five thousand bandits."

"I didn't even kill three hundred!"

hah, this boy is going to kill me. He acts as if hunting three hundred bandits in 2 years is perfectly normal. How many knights can say that he alone hunted three hundred bandits? Is he really a bane or a blessing? It will come out in time.

"Have you come across this Druid Emrys character while traveling north?"

"Yes, I have one time. It was a sight to behold."

"Are you saying he is real?"

"As real as it comes, most things you hear are accurate. I don't know about the Old Gods part, but he has real powers. He turned into a dog and disappeared in front of me."

"We sent men to the mountain clans because the first words about him originated from there, but they didn't come back yet."

"I heard something a bit disturbing about that too."

"What did you hear?"

"He sacrificed a murderer and brought fertility to the land like the Garth Greenhand."

"We heard that too and why are you in such a hurry to see the Lord?"

"I told you; I don't want to tell it two times. Do you think I'd make such a fuss over something trivial? If what I'm thinking is real, there might be war."

It was like cold water started pouring into me, and my head started throbbing.

"Boy, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. Are you sure?"

"As I said, I hope I'm not, but I'm pretty sure."

a war, the peace didn't even last two decades. King Robert's Rebellion ended in 272, and are we really going to have another war?

.......

POV NED STARK

"Why do you think there is going to be a war?"

"Ironborns, they are stealing most of the trees in the forest from Blazingwater Bay to the end of Stony Shore, and they do this in broad daylight without hesitation."

"How is it that we don't know this? What was House Ryswell doing? Rodrik, send word to Rodrik Ryswell to investigate this."

"Right away, my lord."

Aermir excitedly intervened.

"Wait! My lord, we shouldn't send word to the Ryswells. There are two possibilities, either the Ryswells betrayed the North, or there are traitors among the Ryswells retainers. Either way, if we send word, it will alert the Ironborns, and they are not there anymore. I have left some scouts around the area, and if they come back, they will send word to me."

It was a big surprise, he has men working for him, and he sent two men to train in the barrack a year ago too. Is he really 12-name-day old? My sons still do nothing other than go hunting and racing. Here he is, creating scouts on the other side of the north. It was a significant accomplishment for a child, but it was not proper. I haven't even knighted him yet, but he acts like a noble.

"You have established a scouting network in another lord's land?"

"Not per se, my lord; I have saved many men around that area from bandits, as Sir Rodrik informed you."

"Yes, I have aware of your accomplishments."

"Some of them are the relatives of the fishermen and villagers from coastal villages. Because it was an emergency situation, and we needed an early warning against Ironborns. I have left a few ravens in some villagers' hands so they can send a message if they see any Ironborns ship traveling up north. My lord, I'm not arrogant enough to establish something like that without your permission."

With such quick thinking and wit, this boy is born to be a lord. I have decided I'm going to knight him as a reward for all of his accomplishments.

"But why are they stealing trees? I can understand them riding our coast while posing as pirates, but they never stole trees before."

"As we know of, my lord, maybe this was going for moons. As for the trees, why would an ironborn need wood? Of course, for ships."

Rodrik said.

"They already have the second biggest fleet after the royal fleet. Why would they need that many for raiding?"

Aermir smirked and said

"For raiding, they wouldn't need it, but you are thinking like a Westerosi, not as an Ironborn. My lord, who are they?"

Raiders, slavers, and murderers, that moment, it hit me.

"Rebellion!! But why would they? Yes, from time to time, they would raid and start wars with the other regions, but why would they rebel? Are they getting ready to hit North, Westerlands, and the Reach?"

"From the Winterfell library, I remember reading Greyjoys didn't join the rebellion or the Targaryen. They didn't lose any men, but the kingdom lost many. Almost all regions lost half of their men."

He paused a little and asked hesitantly.

"My lord, I would like to speak freely if you will allow it."

I signaled him to go ahead.

"Crown is weak; while I was traveling, I heard from people how our king lives his life. Neglecting his royal duties and living in debauchery. This does not reflect strength or confidence."

There should be a limit to a person's genius. Sometimes I'm frightened by the intellect he shows. Am I raising a hungry dire wolf in my house, but the child never showed me anything other than loyalty? Even in this case, as soon as he learned what had happened, he did his best to bring me the news.

At that moment, Rodrik said

"We should send word to the king so he can investigate and prepare for it."

"Sir Rodrik, it won't make any difference; they didn't decide to rebel yesterday. If they are not idiots, they will mount an attack against Westerlands and our coastal lands; the second word gets out. Rather than thinking about the king first, we should get ready ourselves. Then when we are ready, we can send word. If we do the other way around, they will be on top of us while we are unprepared."

He stopped for a second and continued.

"For once, we shouldn't be the tip of the spear; for once, we should think about our own people. South only comes to us when they need us. Did they ever send help to us when we were starving?"

Full of anger, he said.

"All they do is exploit our suffering for their own gain. Why should we bleed for them again? My lord, I know you are an honorable man. The most honorable man I know of, but before you are an honorable man, you are our lord. Please put the north first."