Breakfast was laid out with an array of dishes on the long table, which could seat a hundred people. Steaming bread, hand-torn beef and mutton, honey, milk, grape crystal juice, beef shank soup, snowbird eggs, various fresh vegetable salads, scallion meat floss, and more were presented. Additionally, there was renowned wine from Meereen, a city on the eastern continent across the narrow sea.

In the North, even girls could partake in a few cups of wine due to the weather. Men, in particular, often carried a wineskin at their waist, taking sips to ward off the damp and cold during conversations, as casually as if they were drinking tea.

Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn were seated at the head of the table. On either side of the long, rectangular table were their children: Robb, Jon, Theon, Bran, Rickon, and across from them were Sansa, Arya, Septa Mordane, Maester Luwin, the steward Vayon Poole, and Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms.

Brother of the Night's Watch, Will, was also present.

Beside Will were the captain of the guards, Jory Cassel, the deputy captain, Alyn, the stablemaster Hullen, the castle steward Desmond, and others.

Eddard Stark enjoyed dining with his closest retainers, a tradition he taught his children.

Eddard Stark often told his children that you couldn't expect people who didn't feel close to or respect you to risk their lives for you. You should treat your subordinates like family, eating and drinking with them, and training together, because these were the times when you could most easily understand their characters and know what kind of people they were.

But even more importantly, you should give your subordinates the opportunity to understand what kind of person you are.

When there were no distinguished guests, Jon would dine with his father and siblings. If there were noble guests, he would have to withdraw and eat with the servants, cooks, grooms, and kennel workers in an adjacent room, so as not to insult the esteemed guests.

In Westeros, bastards were not legitimized, so Jon Snow did not belong to the Stark family. He had no inheritance rights, no status, no property, and could not use the Stark surname, so he could not claim to be a Stark to outsiders.

The surname Snow, carrying discrimination, was the common surname for all fatherless children in the North. Although Jon had a father but no mother, he was still conventionally given the surname Snow.

During the Targaryen dynasty's 300-year rule over Westeros, King Aegon IV, known as the Unworthy, did something controversial yet remarkable—he was the only king to legitimize his bastards. Four of his bastards were the most notable, as their mothers also had distinguished backgrounds, leading them to be known in history as the "noble bastards."

At least three of the legitimized bastards were formidable. One led the Blackfyre Rebellion and declared himself king, while two others became bitter rivals and eventually became wargs, later training to become greenseers. One of them, Brynden Rivers, served as Hand of the King to two generations and eventually went to the Wall in the North to become a greenseer, the Three-Eyed Raven who later taught Bran to develop his warg abilities.

During the Targaryen dynasty's 300-year rule, no bastard achieved greater fame than Brynden Rivers.

However, it was clear that Jon Snow did not have the same luck as Brynden Rivers. From the time he was old enough to understand, he faced discrimination, not only from Lady Catelyn but also from his elegant and beautiful sister Sansa and others in the family. Despite Eddard Stark's equal treatment, the custom of discriminating against bastards was irresistible. Even Hullen's little daughter, Beth, looked down on Jon Snow.

Will poured himself two cups of wine. The famous wine from the distant city of Meereen was not something everyone had the chance to taste. Will slid one of the cups across the table to Jon Snow, passing several people.

Jon Snow looked up, and Will raised his glass in a toast. Jon Snow felt grateful but still looked to his father for approval. Eddard Stark always wore an expression as cold as snow, but he was warm inside. He then looked at Catelyn, whose eyes carried her usual bone-deep disdain.

"Brother Jon, let's drink to that. I salute you!" Will said with a smile.

Jon Snow raised his cup. He had long wanted to taste the renowned wine from Meereen but never had the chance. The sweet aroma kept teasing his nostrils, making him yearn for it.

Robb laughed, "Will, why are you toasting Jon alone? I'd like to have a couple of drinks too."

His mother Catelyn's eyes turned cold, and Robb stopped smiling.

In the morning, except for a few knights and the captain of the guards, the rest of the children, women, and guard captains were not allowed to drink alcohol. Today, Lord Eddard brought out the good wine because of Will. Once Eddard Stark recognized someone, he would bring out the best things to entertain his guests. That was just his nature.

Will smiled, "Because Jon is the smartest. He's the only one who hasn't challenged me. Look at Theon—the injury on his face will take at least half a month to heal. Robb, how are your fingers?"

"They're fine," Robb showed his hand to everyone.

Theon said, "Brother of the Night's Watch, one day I will defeat you. I'm still young and have plenty of time."

Arya laughed, "Theon, no matter how much you train, you won't be a match for my friend in black. Will, after breakfast, can you teach me the move you used to disarm Robb?"

"No problem," Will raised his glass to Arya.

Arya filled a large cup with honey milk and clinked it against Will's glass: "Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Will gestured for Jon to join in.

The three of them toasted together, drinking every last drop.

The captain of the guards, Jory Cassel, tore off a large piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, "Brother Will, you're a chosen one who can see fragments of the future. Can you see your own tomorrow?"

"I can't," Will said.

"No way," Alyn laughed, "Lord Eddard said you're starting to become a warg. Can you control the soul of an animal now?"

A few knights chuckled, their expressions revealing disdain and ridicule.

"I can't yet," Will remained composed.

Desmond said slowly, "Brother Will, you'll be returning to the Wall tomorrow. You're so skilled, can't you take a look at your journey ahead to ensure it's smooth?"

Will said, "My prophetic visions aren't something I can control. They're all the will of the gods. I can only see what the old gods reveal to me. If they don't show me anything, I'm as blind as anyone else. The will of the gods is inscrutable."

Alyn said, "Brother Will, you must be careful on your journey. The King's Road does pass through the Wolfswood. But you don't need to worry about the direwolves now. Captain Jory and his cavalry have searched along both sides of the King's Road and confirmed there are no other direwolves. The one Bran encountered was definitely a lone wolf."

"I'm not worried about the direwolves," Will said.

"But you can't foresee your own tomorrow, right, brother of the black? Then you're a false chosen one, and you'll never become a warg. At most, you'll be a false warg," Theon declared decisively, his eyes firm, then he chewed his bread vigorously.

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