Chapter 14: The Ward of Winterfell

Eddard dined with the children in the Great Hall.

Little Rickon was still nursing, so Catelyn had a servant take his meal to the bedroom.

Robb and Bran wore woolens with the House Stark Ice-River Wolf Emblem on their chests, while Domeric wore a scarlet cloak of Bolton House, though on his chest was the rusted crown and crossed battle-axes emblem of his aunt's House, Dustin. Before Domeric came to Winterfell as a ward, he had been a squire to his aunt, Lady Barbrey. On Theon's black leather armor was the golden Sea Monster emblem of House Greyjoy.

Jon Snow sat in the corner of the table; as the bastard of Winterfell, he had no emblem to wear.

Eddard heard from the Winterfell master-at-arms, Ser Rodrik Cassel, that Theon had been practicing archery and swordsmanship with increasing diligence lately. In the past, Theon had trained with Robb and Jon, and eleven-year-old Robb and Jon could not threaten Theon at all during sparring; Theon would always defeat Robb and Jon with a smirk on his face.

However, now that the Dreadfort heir Domeric had come to Winterfell to become Eddard's ward, Domeric's swordsmanship, horsemanship, and spear-work were all better than Theon's, who was of the same age. The admiration Robb and Bran once held for their big brother had shifted from Theon to Domeric.

Sansa was always seeking Domeric out to ask about music and ballads, pestering him to play the harp for her; Arya, who had not liked Domeric at first, began pestering Domeric to teach her swordsmanship once she saw his excellent skills.

As a fellow ward, Theon was far less popular among the children than Domeric, and the maids also preferred the gentle and refined Domeric. Recently, Theon had changed a great deal, taking the initiative to chat with Sansa, Arya, and Bran—one must know that in the past, other than Robb, Theon had been completely indifferent to the other children. Theon's training was more diligent, he no longer filled the maids' ears with dirty jokes or groped them, and his trips to the brothels in the Winter Town had become less frequent.

Eddard felt it might be because Theon felt his status was threatened by Domeric. Although Theon was always smiling, he was, after all, living under another's roof, and the presence of a ward in the Winterfell hall who was more talented and popular than himself made it hard for Theon not to change.

Yet Eddard had to take note that Theon seemed to have started trying to please everyone around him, while his relationship with Domeric had worsened; whether in the training yard or dining in the Great Hall, Theon rarely spoke to Domeric.

The only thing that had not changed was his attitude toward Jon; Theon had always been indifferent to Jon, and it was the same now.

A servant brought over a honey-roasted chicken, and Robb tore off a leg.

"Father, I heard from Ser Rodrik that the savages of Skagos attacked the saltpans established by House Umber on the coast and killed over twenty people."

Eddard said gloomily, "Yes, news travels fast indeed."

Theon said, "Lord Eddard, the people of the Winter Town are filled with righteous indignation! When I was patrolling with the guard, I heard many commoners saying that Lord Eddard should assemble the Northern Army and teach those cannibals a lesson."

Sansa was frightened pale; she wore a sea-green gown, her red hair draped over her shoulders. "Cannibals? How can there be cannibals in the world? It's too terrifying. The ballads never mentioned them."

"Only fools believe the ballads." Arya was thin as a rail with messy hair; she never bothered to dress herself up, wearing a brown tunic and black wool trousers.

Sansa glared at Arya, but Arya ignored her and turned to Eddard.

"Father, those cannibals went to House Umber's lands, burning and looting—did they eat the people?"

"That shouldn't be the case." Eddard did not want to discuss such terrifying matters as cannibals with the children at the dinner table.

Robb slammed the table. "Father, we must kill those Skagosi pirates to avenge those who died. Can I go to the battlefield?"

Eddard smiled. "Robb, you are too young; you don't even count as summer grass, at most a sprout in the spring. Have you seen the little puppies in the kennel? Are we to the point where it's the little puppies' turn to go to the battlefield?"

Robb was a bit angry. "I will be an adult in three years."

"Me too," Jon chimed in. "Lord Eddard, Robb and I can go to the battlefield; we often defeat adults in the training yard."

Younger Bran was eating a chicken cake. "Can I go too?"

Theon laughed loudly. "You bunch of brats want to go fight the Rockborn and be food for those cannibals? Skagos raids by ship and harasses the coast of the North; who is more qualified to lead an army than me? I am the heir to the Iron Islands; King Balon is not—I am the son of Lord Balon, a natural Ironborn."

"Is there anything more perfect than letting an Ironborn defeat the Rockborn?"

Domeric Bolton, who had remained silent, spoke up. "Theon, the Skagosi do indeed call themselves Rockborn, but we Northerners usually call the Skagosi 'Skagosi'—it is a derogatory term. Rockborn is just what the Skagosi call themselves; we Northerners would not bestow such a grand and imposing title upon the Skagosi."

"'We Northerners'?" Theon's smile vanished, and he sensitively seized upon the phrase. "Kid, what do you mean by that?"

"Sorry, I meant no offense." Domeric apologized with a sincere expression. "I was just stating the Northern view of the Skagosi. You might not understand; the Ironborn's name for the Skagosi is different from ours—from the people of the North. It is just a cultural difference."

Theon picked up the fork he was using to eat, as if it were a weapon; his face twisted with anger.

"Do I need you to teach me? Let me tell you, I came to Winterfell when I was ten. I grew up here; my coming-of-age ceremony and my first kiss from a girl were both here. Lord Eddard even says I am half-lad, half-sea monster. You've only been in Winterfell for a few days, and you dare to push me out?"

Sansa exclaimed, "Theon, you are too rude! How can you speak to the kind Domeric like that?"

Arya chimed in, "Yeah, Theon, you're being too sensitive."

Jon commented, "Domeric has already apologized, Theon; you shouldn't be so unrelenting."

Facing the accusations of the crowd, Theon became even angrier and looked toward Robb, casting a pleading glance.

Robb looked at Domeric, then at Theon, feeling a bit confused. "Theon, I think Domeric is actually stating a fact; he isn't targeting you. You shouldn't be so fragile."

Theon broke down. "Even you say that? What did I do wrong? So many of you are targeting me."

Domeric stood up and reached out to place a hand on Theon's shoulder.

"Theon, I'm sorry; all of this was caused by my poor choice of words."

Theon slapped Domeric's hand away. "Flayed Man, stop acting so hypocritical."

Robb shook his head and sighed, Sansa scolded Theon softly, Arya picked up an egg from the table and threw it at Theon, and Jon cursed at Theon. Bran clapped. "A fight! Hurry up and do it!"

"Enough!" Eddard's voice cut through the Winterfell hall like a sharp sword.

"The savages of Skagos are slaughtering on the lands of the North, and Wildlings and Ironborn may be plotting the next attack on the North in some dark corner, yet you children are bickering in my hall."

Theon suppressed his anger and sat back in his chair.

Eddard said, "Theon, you are an adult; you cannot be controlled by your emotions. Being too sensitive will only expose your weaknesses to others. Domeric just apologized to you; you must apologize to him."

Theon gave a perfunctory "sorry," and Domeric accepted it solemnly.

Sansa looked toward Eddard.

"Father, what is going on with the cannibals of Skagos? I have never heard of them."

Eddard's gaze swept over Jon, Robb, Theon, and Domeric.

"Children, you study with Maester Luwin every day; now it is time to test you. Who can introduce Skagos and the tribes upon it to Sansa?"

Robb and Jon were a bit confused, and Theon frowned, seemingly racking his brains.

Domeric said, "Lord Eddard, let me."

"House Stark of Winterfell is the King in the North. From south of the Night's Watch gift lands at the Wall to north of the Neck, whether they are nobles living in castles, mountain clans living in the mountains, or forest tribes living in the Wolfswood, all submit to the rule of House Stark."

"But there is one exception, and that region is Skagos, located between Seal Bay and the Shivering Sea. The island faces Eastwatch, the port fortress of the Night's Watch brothers at the easternmost end of the Wall, and is the largest island in the North. Historically, the Skagosi have rebelled many times to challenge House Stark; the last large-scale rebellion occurred during the reign of Daeron II."

Robb said angrily, "The largest island in the North actually does not submit to the rule of Winterfell."

Domeric continued, "Living on this island are the Skagosi, who call themselves Rockborn. The savages living on Skagos are somewhat similar to their neighbors, the Umbers across Seal Bay; they are burly and tall, and it is said that like House Umber, they have giant blood. They wear animal-skin coats that reek of a fishy stench, and they kill living people to sacrifice to the Weirwood; there are even legends that they have a custom of cannibalism."

"It is rumored that the leaders of Skagos fight riding Unicorns. The island produces Obsidian and animal furs; the Skagosi have no currency and trade by barter. Their warships are relatively backward, and Winterfell has burned the islanders' ships many times and banned them from going to sea, but due to the weakness of the Northern navy, the maritime ban is in name only."

(End of chapter)