Chapter 10 : The Funeral (3)

[William's POV]

The grand hall of Riverrun was a mess of half-eaten dishes, spilled wine, and crumbs of bread scattered all over the tables. The remnants of the night's feast. I took it upon myself to gather the leftovers, arranging them on two large platters ; One was for the dogs, filled with bones and bits of meat, while the untouched food went to the cooks. It seemed fair. After all, they had gone to the trouble of preparing a feast, the least I could do was let them enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Behind me, the familiar sound of my father and uncle bickering filled the otherwise quiet hall. I had learned to tune it out over the years, but tonight, it was harder than usual. The tension between them had been growing in the past few weeks, and tonight's announcement had brought it all to a boil.

My father's voice came out blunt and cold, like a blade drawn from its sheath, "You are rushing things, Hoster. Turning Walder Frey into an enemy this early? That's a problem we don't need right now."

Hoster, ever calm when he was certain of his course, which was nearly always, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a self-assured grin tugging at his lips, "The time was right. The last of our bannermen arrived today, meaning every one of them was present at supper. I had no desire to make that announcement with Olenna Tyrell lurking about, breathing down our necks. Far better to act before she sets foot here, which, by all accounts, should be any day now."

I muttered under my breath, eyeing Walder Frey's untouched plate of chicken, "Looks like Hoster made you lose your appetite. Wasteful old pile of shit. I will give it to the dogs, though, out of respect for the cooks." I was only half-listening to the argument, more focused on the task at hand. Not that I didn't care about what they were arguing over, I did, but the politics of it all had a way of grinding you down. Besides, I already knew where this conversation was going.

My father turned his attention to me, as if he had reached his limit with Hoster for the moment, "William." He said, his voice carrying that fatherly weight it always had when he wanted me to take something seriously, "The dogs and the servants can wait. This is important."

I let out a sigh, putting the plates down, "Alright, alright." I said, stepping away from the table, "But just to be clear, I don't exactly disagree with Uncle Hoster on this."

Both of them raised an eyebrow at that. Hoster, still reclining in his chair, let out a laugh, "Color me surprised. I thought you would side with your father again this time."

I shrugged, "I don't like that you made the choice without talking to us first, but I have to admit it was the right decision, for all the reasons you mentioned."

I smirked, "However, just because it was the right call doesn't mean it's not going to cause problems. You know as well as I do that Walder Frey won't just roll over and let us cut into his purse without a fight. He's not exactly known for his easygoing nature."

Hoster waved a dismissive hand, "That old weasel has no allies in these lands. Everyone despises him, and his House is the only one that won't benefit from these roads. No one's going to stand with him just to see him keep raking in coin from his damn bridge. It's the perfect chance to bring him down a notch."

"True." My father cut in, "But you underestimate Walder Frey. He's slippery, and while it's unlikely he will find much support in the Riverlands, don't forget about Olenna Tyrell. She's a wild card, and she's no fool. If Frey thinks he can turn her into an ally, he will try and she will most likely entertain him."

Hoster waved his hand dismissively again, though this time with less confidence, "Even with Olenna's support, her reach in the Riverlands is limited, especially now that you have weakened her network of informants. At best, they would be a nuisance."

I watched the exchange, intrigued but silent. My father had a point, but Hoster wasn't wrong either. The Freys might be isolated in the Riverlands, but that never stopped them from being a thorn in our side. Walder Frey would find a way to stir up trouble, whether through the Queen of Thorns or another devious scheme.

Hoster, sensing the conversation was reaching a dead end, turned his attention back to me, "Enough about the Freys. Let's shift to something more worthwhile. You have been looking into the logistics of this whole roads and bridges endeavor for longer than me, haven't you, William? What's your approach to getting it done?"

At last. Something worth our time. I pushed aside some plates on the table and unfurled a large parchment map I had brought with me, expecting the subject to arise eventually. It was detailed, more detailed than any map they had in Riverrun, or in Westeros for that matter. I had poured hours into it, blending the maps made of the Riverlands from my old world with the understanding I had of this one, crafting a more accurate representation of the Riverlands. It wasn't perfect, but it was damn close.

My father and uncle both leaned in, their eyes scanning the map. I could see the surprise in their faces, especially in the way Hoster's brows lifted as he took in the detail.

"Where did you get this map?" My father inquired, suspicion laced with curiosity in his voice.

I waved a hand, brushing off the question with a vague answer, "Old records, fragments from different maps I have come across in the Maester's archives. I pieced it together over time. You would be surprised how much useful information gets overlooked." I wasn't about to tell them I had essentially drawn it from memory of a different world.

"Anyway." I said, changing the subject, "The terrain is everything when it comes to building infrastructure. At first glance, the Riverlands might look like easy ground, flat and fertile, but there's more variety here than it seems. We have forests to navigate, hills to overcome, and rivers that can either hinder or help us depending on how we approach them. Understanding every rise, every floodplain, and every natural resource we can exploit is crucial to making sure these roads and bridges last for generations, not just seasons."

I pointed to the areas along the Trident, the Red Fork, and the Blue Fork, tracing the paths where I thought the main roads should go, "The biggest challenge is going to be the flooding. The rivers flood regularly, especially in the valleys. We will need to build elevated roads in those areas, along with proper drainage and canals to redirect the water."

Hoster nodded, his eyes following my finger as it moved across the map, "What about the materials? We can't afford to use cheap or temporary solutions as you pointed out. If these roads don't withstand heavy use and weather, we will be throwing gold into the mud, only to rebuild them in a few years."

"Exactly." I agreed, "We have all the sand and gravel we need right from the beds of our rivers, and plenty of clay from the marshes. That won't be the most challenging thing. What will be complicated is that we need a lot of stone. And not just any stone, durable material that can withstand the wear of heavy traffic and harsh weather. The hills near Seagard and the mountains in the west are rich with quality quarries that have supplied builders for millennia. Using that stone for the main roads will ensure they last through floods and winters without crumbling. The roads connecting Riverrun to Harrenhal, Seagard, and the Twins are vital trade arteries, and if we reinforce them properly, we won't just improve trade ; We will secure the region's strategic strength for the next centuries. On top of that, reinforcing the Frey's roads should prevent them from targeting us in the early stages of this endeavor."

I moved my hand to the forests surrounding the Trident, "For the bridges, we can use a combination of wood and stone. Wooden bridges for smaller crossings make sense because they are easier to construct, quicker to replace if needed, and we can use the local timber, cutting down on transport costs. But for the major rivers, like the Trident and its forks, stone is essential. It's not just about longevity, it's about stability. Stone bridges can withstand the heavy flooding these rivers see every spring, and they will handle the constant weight of trade caravans and troops. Wood would rot, warp, and need constant repairs. Stone is an investment that pays off in durability."

My father, ever the practical one, crossed his arms, "And what about the manpower? We don't have enough builders and masons for a project of this scale. And even if we could find enough hands to do the work, training them to the level required for such a vast and intricate project would take years. We can't just rely on unskilled labor ; The quality would suffer, and we would risk wasting resources on roads that wouldn't last."

I had anticipated that question and was ready with a robust solution, "We don't need to rely on unskilled labor alone. We could bring in skilled builders and masons from the Free Cities, places like Braavos or Pentos. They have expertise in constructing durable infrastructure that has lasted centuries. They will train the local workforce, but instead of waiting years, we can run shorter, intensive training programs. These workers can then be split into teams under the direct supervision of skilled foremen. We can also offer incentives to attract capable labor from other regions, like the Vale or the Westerlands. It's faster, ensures high quality, and gives us the flexibility to build more quickly while keeping costs lower by using local labor where we can."

This approach wouldn't just address the issue of the quality of our manpower ; It would introduce new techniques to the Riverlands, giving us an edge over some of our rivals in both skill and efficiency. While I could theoretically teach our builders more advanced methods from my old world, doing so would take years to bear any real fruit. Plus, it's smarter to keep that knowledge tucked away, to be used when the timing is perfect and when we can fully manage its effects.

Hoster grinned, clearly impressed, "And how do we pay for all of this? The Crown is not going to foot the whole bill."

I returned his grin, but with a sharper edge, "The Crown agreed to fund a third of the costs, it's a fraction of what we will need, but it's enough to signal confidence in the project. We will match that contribution ourselves, showing that we are just as invested in the future of the Riverlands. And we will require of each of our bannermen to contribute the rest for the infrastructures built on their lands. Better roads bring more trade to their doors, increase the value of their lands, and enhance their defenses. This is a long-term investment for them, not just an expense."

I paused, letting the idea settle before continuing, "As for maintaining the roads, I plan to rely on the indirect contributions of merchants. We are providing something they can't resist ; Quicker and safer routes. Time is money to traders, and they will happily pay for convenience. By setting up tolls at key bridges and crossings, much like Walder Frey does with the Twins, we can ensure those fees feel like a benefit, not a burden. They will be more than willing to part with coin to shave time off their travel and steer clear of unsafe paths."

I glanced between Hoster and my father, reading their reactions, "We are creating a situation where everyone gains ; Our bannermen, the merchants, us, even the Crown. And as trade increases through our lands, so will our revenue. The Riverlands will become indispensable to the flow of goods in Westeros."

Hoster leaned back, "I like it. It's ambitious but I can see it coming true."

My father gave a slow nod, "It's a strong plan, William. But it's risky. If the roads don't hold up, or if the costs spiral beyond our control..."

I cut in quickly, "Every bold move carries its risks, Father, but the rewards here are too great to pass up. We can't afford to keep holding back."

A heavy silence hung in the air as my father and Hoster locked eyes, each weighing the risks and rewards silently. Finally, Hoster slammed his hand down on the table, shattering the stillness, "It's decided then. William, you will take charge of logistics and planning. We will start with the main arteries ; Riverrun, Harrenhal, Seagard, and the Twins. Brynden." He added with a dark glint in his eye, "I trust you will see to the military aspect, ensuring our forces can move swiftly if needed."

My father nodded, though with a hint of reluctance, "Fine. If the Freys becomes an issue, we will handle them swiftly before things get out of hand."

As the discussion shifted toward the finer points of logistics, a quiet satisfaction settled in my chest. These roads were just the first step. The Riverlands were on the brink of something bigger, and I fully intended to be at the heart of it, steering its course.