Chapter 173: Marwyn, Jeyne, and the Wolf Hour

A Stark estate in Winterfell was chosen to be an orphanage, with a maternity ward next door; Mole's Mother and her six Forest Witches were in charge here.

Forest Witches are healers and sorcerers among the Wildlings beyond the Wall; some Forest Witches are also warriors, such as Mole's Mother and Morna White Mask. Many nurses trained in Winterfell serve here, caring for pregnant women, newborns, and orphans.

Assistant Maester Norman, who is in charge of medicine, claims that many nurses have already mastered the techniques of midwifery and the mysteries of the blood-stained birthing bed, and are able to serve the pregnant women and children well.

Among the Wildlings who followed Eddard south, there were many Wildling orphans; those under twelve were all taken into the orphanage. Besides the Wildling children, there were also many orphans from the local Winter Town.

Eddard announced to the Northern lords and Wildling leaders that abandoning children is illegal; if parents cannot afford to raise their children, Winterfell will take in every orphan. Both nobles and commoners were grateful for this grace of the Wolf King.

Due to relatively backward medical conditions, the mortality rate for both child and mother during childbirth on the birthing bed was alarmingly high. Eddard established a maternity ward next to the orphanage, where Mole's Mother and Old Nan, leading a group of experienced mothers, provide prenatal care and midwifery for pregnant women, ensuring they receive the best care for a safe delivery.

Old Nan is perhaps the most experienced midwife in the Seven Kingdoms; she had already begun delivering babies in Winterfell back in the generation of Eddard's father.

Turnips, potatoes, mushrooms, goat's milk, and cow's milk from the Stark estate are sent into the orphanage and maternity ward to supply the gaunt orphans and the pregnant women in urgent need of nutrition; people are mindful of the grace of the Father of Life.

"Father of Life, you have saved countless children." Mole's Mother, small in stature and wearing a mole-skin cloak, held a newborn baby boy. Surrounded by a group of malnourished orphans, she told Eddard, "These children who grow up in the orphanage, as well as the children born in the maternity ward, will forever remember the grace of Stark and the Father of Life, and will forever fight for the North and Stark."

The orphans are arranged to do some work within their capabilities; some are sent to the stables to work as stable boys, some to the forge to help out, some girls are sent to the sheep farm to shear sheep, and some boys are sent to the kitchen to help, learning to knead dough and bake bread.

Eddard believes that many of these orphans can learn a trade and become grooms, bakers, weavers, or blacksmiths in the future; these skills will give them a place in this world.

Nurturing children, of course, cannot be done without schools; Eddard's Wolf Academy recruits students regardless of whether they are boys or girls, noble or commoner.

Once this news came out, whether they were Rockborn, mountain clans, Forest Clan, or Cave Dwellers, Thenn, Hardfoot, giants, Night Runners, Goat Tribe, or Ice River Tribe people, they were all very excited; they all hoped their children could learn to read and change their fate through learning.

Eddard had already marked out a large piece of land south of Winterfell to build the Wolf Academy, but the project had only just begun. A large number of craftsmen were transferred to the confluence of the tributary and main stream of the White Knife to build Spring City, and some went to Long Lake City north of Long Lake and Red Wolf City at the mouth of the Last River, so the construction of the Wolf Academy had to be put aside.

Even if Eddard immediately possessed a hundred acres for the Wolf Academy, he could not recruit students immediately because he did not have enough Maesters to teach.

Currently, the Wolf Academy is temporarily set up in a room in the main keep of Winterfell. The Maesters take turns teaching Eddard's children and wards. Eddard's children have become the first batch of students at the Wolf Academy, and there are many girls among them.

Winterfell possesses four Maesters; four Maesters among the nobility of the Seven Kingdoms is considered very extravagant, because under normal circumstances, a castle only has one Maester.

At first, Winterfell only had Maester Luwin as its sole Maester. Last year, when Eddard led an expedition to Skagos and brought unicorns back to Winterfell, the unicorns attracted the Citadel to send three Maesters, dozens of assistant maesters, and apprentices to Winterfell; Eddard suddenly possessed four Maesters.

Maester Luwin is Eddard's confidant; he is responsible for caring for the ravens, letters, and teaching Eddard's wards to read.

"White-haired" Maester Norman is responsible for healing the sick, training nurses, managing herbs, and testing new medicines. The medicine warehouse in Winterfell has already collected thousands of herbs; many herbs follow Winterfell's goods, traveling south along the White Knife, and are shipped from the White Harbor docks to all parts of Westeros, earning wealth for Winterfell.

The thin Maester Duosite studies mysticism and magic; he is responsible for writing "The Long Night and the Others" and communicates daily with the Crannogmen Jojen, Meera, the skinchanger Varamyr, Eagle King McCain, and Jeyne, researching the mysteries of Wargs and skinchangers.

The chubby and slovenly Maester Farmer is responsible for agricultural and mineral research. He is a pragmatic man who walks the fields of the estate and the mines every day, excavating minerals such as Cinnabar Stone, Obsidian, quartz sand, and kaolin for Winterfell. These minerals are essential for Winterfell to manufacture glass panes, cinnabar ink, and porcelain, and many minerals themselves can be used as medicine.

Winterfell now has three hundred Wildling wards, over thirty Rockborn wards, plus noble wards like Sam, Domeric, and Theon, wards voluntarily sent to Winterfell by nobles from all over the North, and Eddard's own bastards and biological children; Eddard has so many children that they could almost form a guard.

Most of the children like the Maesters' lessons very much, especially the girls, who cherish the opportunity to read and write. However, some children are not naturally cut out for reading; they are mischievous and active, so Eddard simply sent these wards to the training grounds to receive training from Master-at-Arms Rodrik Cassel.

Every day, as Eddard walks through Winterfell and hears the sound of reading coming from the schoolhouse, he feels very gratified; the children are the hope.

This night, Eddard was in his study when the woodcarver master Guzan walked in, "Lord Eddard, the things you wanted are finished, but I am curious, what is the use of this thing?"

After Eddard returned to Winterfell from his northern expedition beyond the Wall, he handed the blueprints to Guzan, asking him to make a small gadget according to his drawings.

Guzan handed the items into Eddard's hands; these were two briar pipes, one engraved with the head of a direwolf, and the other engraved with the Crown of the Stag, the workmanship was very exquisite.

"Guzan, your hands are truly ingenious. This is a pipe; let me demonstrate to you how to use it."

Eddard took a pack of tobacco from the drawer and stuffed it into the pipe. Over an incense candle, Eddard lit the tobacco in the pipe and puffed away leisurely. The first puff he inhaled into his lungs felt instantly refreshing, and he blew a smoke ring.

In Westeros, people chew sourleaf and use milk of the poppy as a painkiller, but no one smokes. At first, Eddard thought Westeros had no tobacco at all, until he led his army across the Wall and camped at the Fist of the First Men, where he discovered yellow broad-leaf tobacco.

Some Wildlings chew broad-leaf tobacco, but no one smokes.

The climate beyond the Wall is cold; the fact that broad-leaf tobacco can grow on the Fist of the First Men means that it can be planted throughout the North south of the Wall. Eddard felt as if he had found a treasure, immediately ordering his personal guards to collect some tobacco and seeds to bring back to Winterfell, and found Guzan to have him make pipes.

Eddard blew a smoke ring and said leisurely, "Swallowing clouds and puffing mist, better than the gods. Guzan, would you like a puff?" Eddard handed the pipe engraved with the Crown of the Stag to Guzan; this was originally intended to be offered to Robert Baratheon.

Guzan asked suspiciously, "Is it really that refreshing? Lord Eddard, if I may be so bold, this smoke doesn't smell very good!"

Eddard packed the tobacco into Guzan's pipe. After lighting it, Guzan took the first puff, finding the aftertaste endless, and took two more deep puffs. He was silent for a long time, "It really feels quite wonderful! It gives one a sense of tranquility, forgetting worries and fatigue."

Eddard laughed, "Living in this world is tiring, so many people will fall in love with tobacco. Guzan, is it difficult to make pipes?"

Guzan shrugged, "Any carpenter's apprentice can make one, but to craft an art piece, that is difficult! Only a woodcarver master like me can do it."

Eddard said, "When you return to the woodcarving workshop, you can make more pipes, engraving them with the Roaring Lion of Lannister, the Rose of House Tyrell, the spear of Dorne, the crescent falcon of House Arryn, or even the Seven; the nobles and the Church will surely like them."

Nowadays, some of the wasteland reclaimed in the Stark estate is planted with broad-leaf tobacco, and there is also plenty of wild tobacco in the wilderness. Even in winter, tobacco can be grown in glass farms. Winterfell has become the first production site for tobacco, and most people cannot resist the charm of tobacco, which means Winterfell can make a fortune relying on tobacco.

Many crafts, as long as they bear the heraldry of a noble or the Seven, can be sold at a higher price.

For example, the incense candles produced by the Winterfell candle workshop were not popular with churches and monasteries at first. However, Eddard had the candlemaker add dyes during the production process of the incense candles, following the colors of the rainbow; seven candles in seven colors, with each candle engraved with the images of the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Smith, the Warrior, and the Stranger respectively.

Nowadays, this type of candle has become a staple in southern monasteries, churches, and some pious noble families, used during every major festival; the Seven-god candles have ten times the profit of ordinary incense candles.

Eddard believes that if the pipes of Winterfell can be engraved with family heraldry or deities, the collection value of the pipes will increase, and they can be sold for a higher price.

After Guzan left, Maester Luwin walked in.

"Lord Eddard, the delegation from the Citadel has arrived."

When Eddard led the Northern Army and the Night's Watch to crush the Wildling army and incorporate the lands beyond the Wall into the North, the Seven Kingdoms were plunged into shock, including the Citadel in Oldtown.

After the Citadel learned that Eddard had brought back a large number of skinchangers, fierce beasts, giant eagles, and giants from beyond the Wall, they believed this was an explosion of mysticism and magic. The Conclave of the Citadel immediately sent a Maester delegation; they wanted to study the mysteries of how skinchangers control fierce beasts and how the mysterious giants live.

Eddard put away the pipe, "The giants, skinchangers, and fierce beasts are all mine. If the Citadel wants to study them, they must help me establish the Wolf Academy and send more Maesters to serve in Winterfell; otherwise, let this delegation head back home!"

Maester Luwin smiled nervously, "Lord Eddard, the Citadel will certainly be willing to help Winterfell establish the Wolf Academy. The head of the delegation hopes to be received by Lord Eddard now."

"It is too late." After smoking, Eddard felt a bit lazy and tired, "Let him come to see me tomorrow."

Maester Luwin whispered, "Lord Eddard, Archmaester Marwyn has traveled thousands of miles from Oldtown to Winterfell; it would not be good if you refuse to receive him, would it?"

The name of Archmaester Marwyn made Eddard instantly perk up. Eddard had never dreamed that the Conclave of the Citadel would send Archmaester Marwyn to Winterfell to study the strange creatures.

Archmaester Marwyn, nicknamed "the Mage," is an authority in the Citadel's field of magic and mysticism; his staff, mask, and chain are all made of Valyrian Steel.

Eddard adjusted his gray velvet, suppressing his excitement, "Since it is Archmaester Marwyn, why didn't you say so earlier? Quickly invite him in."

Archmaester Marwyn followed Maester Luwin in; Maester Luwin looked like a bald squirrel, while Archmaester Marwyn looked like a bulldog.

Maester Luwin brought Archmaester Marwyn to the study, turned, and left, gently closing the door.

Archmaester Marwyn was short and fat; he had a neck as thick as a bull's, a chin like stone, a round belly under his gray robes, and thick arms. White hair sprouted from his nostrils and ears, and his Valyrian Steel chain emitted a dazzling light under the incense candle.

Eddard observed carefully and found that Marwyn's nose bridge had clearly been broken many times, which proved that he was a man who loved to fight. His belly proved that this person had strong desires.

Marwyn's teeth had become scarlet from years of chewing sourleaf; sourleaf can relieve pain and soothe stress, and Eddard felt that Marwyn had the potential to become a smoker.

Among the Maesters of the Citadel, Marwyn is an absolute outlier; he is learned and talented, having lived in the distant East for eight years, with his footprints reaching as far as Asshai, Qarth, and other places. He draws maps and communicates with the Cloud Mages, Shadowbinders, and Warlocks of the East, searching for lost ancient books and ancient magic scrolls.

Marwyn is an authority in the fields of occultism and magic, and he also possesses profound knowledge in medicine, ravens, finance, and military affairs, though his achievements in these fields are overshadowed by the brilliance of his occult and magic research.

Knowledgeable and erudite, such a talent is clearly what Eddard needs.

Eddard stood up to welcome him, "Archmaester Marwyn, Winterfell welcomes your arrival. When we received the letter from the Citadel, I thought the Citadel would send a Maester, I did not expect you to lead the team yourself."

Marwyn sat opposite the desk, and Eddard poured Marwyn a cup of Blue Noble, using a porcelain cup; Marwyn was astonished, "I have never seen such a fine ceramic cup."

Eddard introduced, "This is porcelain, a product of the Winterfell ceramic workshop; it has not been promoted on a large scale yet, and only Winterfell has it for use."

Marwyn took a sip of the Blue Noble, and just then, the Giant Eagle Prince Michu flew past the window. Marwyn was shocked, and he exclaimed, "The blueberry wine is so rich, the porcelain is so exquisite, giants sleep within the walls of Winterfell, four-meter-tall snow bears walk in the Winter Town, giant eagles sweep across the sky, and direwolves roam in the Godswood."

"Lord Eddard, Winterfell is truly a magical place, and you are the creator of all this magic."

Eddard said, "Archmaester Marwyn, you must stay in Winterfell for a few more days this time; we have all kinds of strange and wonderful things waiting for you to study! Was your journey from Oldtown to Winterfell smooth?"

Maester Marwyn stroked the porcelain cup, "We took a ship from Oldtown and headed north all the way. The wind was favorable along the way, and after the ship stopped at Lannisport, it continued north and arrived at Seagard, but at this time, the captain refused to go further north because the northern seas are infested with Ironborn Pirates."

"Some of the Assistant Maesters in my team suggested going north from Seagard along the Kingsroad, but I felt that would slow us down, so I found a ship from Seagard and went to King's Port in the Iron Islands. Since Ironborn Pirates are rampant, wouldn't it be fine if I spent a little more money to find an Ironborn ship to go to the North?"

"It is just a pity that I did not find a ship at King's Port. The local Ironborn captain told me that some vicious Ironborn Pirates even rob Ironborn merchant ships and fishing boats, and no decent person dares to take the risk, so I had to go to Harlaw."

Eddard knew that Harlaw was the most densely populated island in the Iron Islands, and House Harlaw was also one of the most powerful leader families under King Balon of the Iron Islands.

Eddard said, "You found a ship on Harlaw?"

Marwyn revealed a rugged smile, "Lord Harlaw of Ten Towers, the 'Reader' Rodrik Harlaw, loves reading. He is particularly fond of my book, 'Lost Books'. Therefore, when I was looking for a ship on Harlaw, I received Lord Harlaw's help, and he generously dispatched ten longships to escort the Citadel's inspection team north."

The 'Reader' Rodrik Harlaw is Theon's uncle, his sister Alannys is Theon's mother, and King Balon is his brother-in-law.

Archmaester Marwyn continued, "Our fleet saw the Wolf Castle built by Lord Eddard on the west coast of the North, the Blacksmith City at Sea Dragon Point, the Stony City on the Stony Shore, the Warhorse City in the Rills, and the Dawn Watch at Barrowton. Every commander of the Wolf Castle received us warmly, and every Winter Wolf spoke of the grace of the Father of Life."

"We saw the salt pans and farms under the Wolf Castle, and every castle was training soldiers and reinforcing the arrow towers and dock fortifications. The captains and sailors of Harlaw all said that the North building so many Wolf Castles on the west coast is an act of cowardice, because the North dares not confront the Ironborn on the sea."

Eddard said, "With these Wolf Castles, it is difficult for Ironborn Pirates to ravage the coast of the North. If the Ironborn feel unhappy when they see the Wolf Castles, I am very happy."

Archmaester Marwyn leaned forward, "Lord Eddard, the Wildling soldiers in the Winter Wolves, as well as some residents of the Winter Town, are whispering behind your back, saying that you are a Warg, a skinchanger. Is this true?"

Eddard said mysteriously, "That is something you will have to study and discover for yourself. I do indeed have many skinchangers under my command, such as Nella, who can control goats; Borroq, who can control wild boars; Varamyr Sixskins, who can control snow bears, shadowcats, and wolves. Daron controls a hellhound with three heads."

Marwyn sighed, "Lord Eddard, I have studied occultism and magic for decades, and my footprints have covered the Nine Free Cities; I have even been to Asshai. I have heard many legends about skinchangers, but it was not until today, until I came to Winterfell, that I witnessed it with my own eyes. How did you make these skinchangers submit to the direwolves?"

Eddard thought for a moment, "I brought the Wildlings to the warm South, to the south of the Wall, and they are grateful to me for it."

Marwyn's bull-like neck shook as he nodded, "Winterfell is the South? This statement is very strange, but from the position of the Wildlings Beyond the Wall, Winterfell is indeed the South. Lord Eddard took in the Wildlings, won the trust of the Wildlings, and gained the loyalty of the skinchangers."

"The Oldtown Citadel is located on the banks of the Honeywine, in the warm and prosperous Reach. Even in winter, it has little effect on the climate of Oldtown. I believe that if the skinchangers had a choice, they would prefer Oldtown over Winterfell. Unfortunately, the Oldtown Citadel cannot win the love of the Wildlings, because the Maester organization is rigid and corrupt. These Maesters are like a group of lifeless grey sheep, full of no vitality, and they have made no progress in academics."

Eddard was not surprised by Marwyn's attack on his own Maester organization. Eddard had heard Maester Luwin, Maester Norman, and others mention that Marwyn had been squeezed out by other Archmaesters in the Conclave for years, and some of his magic research was too radical, even involving Blood Magic. If it were not for Marwyn's great fame in the field of occultism, the Maester organization would have long ago driven Marwyn out of the Citadel.

Eddard said, "I have heard that the study of occultism and magic is subject to heavy restrictions in the Citadel."

Marwyn said helplessly, "Yes, the Citadel is committed to building a world that has no place for dragons and magic. To tell you the truth, this has something to do with some of the True Dragon bloodlines in the Citadel. Back then, Jaehaerys I Targaryen and the kind Queen Alysanne sent their seventh son, Vaegon, to the Citadel."

"Vaegon had a solitary personality; he was not suited for court life, but in the Citadel, he was like a fish in water, eventually becoming Archmaester Vaegon. His staff, mask, and chain are made of gold. Archmaester Vaegon hated dragons and magic."

Eddard was a bit confused, "This Archmaester Vaegon was the son of Jaehaerys I Targaryen, a descendant of Aegon the Conqueror, he was of the blood of the True Dragon, why would he hate magic and dragons?"

Marwyn revealed a scarlet smile, "Vaegon was nicknamed 'the Dragonless'. As a Targaryen Prince, he did not have his own dragon; he was not a Dragonlord. His brothers, sisters, nephews, and grand-nephews had many Dragonlords. Perhaps because of jealousy, during his time at the Citadel, he opposed occultism and magic. He believed that if dragons bred too much, it would eventually lead to a human catastrophe."

"The later Dance of the Dragons seemed to prove that Archmaester Vaegon was right. It was also from the Dance of the Dragons that the Citadel began to work to make dragons disappear from the world. The history books compiled by the Citadel make us believe that the extinction of dragons was due to the infighting of the dragon race and the mob attacking the Dragonpit, but in reality, when the Dance of the Dragons ended and Aegon III ascended the throne, there were still four dragons in Westeros, and many dragon eggs. What truly caused the extinction of the dragons was the Citadel and the House Hightower behind them."

The Dance of the Dragons was a bloody civil war that occurred after the death of Viserys I. The Black party supporting Queen Rhaenyra and the Green party supporting Aegon II attacked each other, the Seven Kingdoms were drenched in blood, and countless magic dragons fell in this bloody civil war.

Eddard frowned, "I remember that House Hightower was a firm supporter of the Green party during the Dance of the Dragons, because the Queen Dowager Alicent, mother of Aegon II, came from House Hightower, and several of Queen Dowager Alicent's children were Dragonlords. Why would House Hightower want to kill dragons?"

Maester Marwyn said gloomily, "Because Queen Dowager Alicent's children and grandchildren all died during the Dance of the Dragons. The last Dragonlord to sit on the Iron Throne was Aegon III, the son of the mortal enemy Queen Rhaenyra. The Dragonlords of House Hightower's bloodline were all dead. Without Targaryen blood, House Hightower could not control magic dragons. They hoped for the extinction of dragons, so they used the hands of the Citadel to accomplish it."

"The attitude of the Citadel depends on Oldtown, and the attitude of Oldtown depends on House Hightower in the Hightower. This ancient and proud family is the sponsor of the Citadel. Once House Hightower gives instructions, the grey sheep of the Citadel are happy to comply."

"The Citadel has always been committed to building a world dominated by knowledge, because the Citadel controls the knowledge of Westeros. After the dragons appeared, the Maesters discovered that Maesters could not fight against dragons at all. The Citadel would not forget that countless civilizations and books were destroyed under the dragonfire of Valyria. With the Hightower's order, the Citadel is happy to comply."

"There are Maesters beside the nobles in all parts of the Seven Kingdoms. They are teachers, advisors, and doctors, and they also control raven communications. Just like that, relying on poison, silently, the magic dragons died one after another, and the dragon eggs could no longer hatch. The dragons went extinct, and magic subsequently disappeared in the West."

Eddard said, "You do not seem to like your colleagues in the Citadel?"

Marwyn's tone was full of contempt, "The knowledge in the Citadel has not progressed much from a thousand or two thousand years ago. The first thing you do when you enter the Citadel is to assimilate you, remove your surname, forget your origin, grind away your personality, and turn you into a tame and obedient sheep. There is no place for magic there."

Eddard said, "Archmaester Marwyn, my Wolf Academy is committed to innovation, and we accept both male and female students. You should stay in Winterfell from now on! Here, you can study magic, occultism, and all kinds of practical sciences."

Archmaester Marwyn said, "There are giants, skinchangers, terrorbirds, unicorns, and hellhounds here. I think these magical wonders are enough for me to study for many years. Lord Eddard, are you willing to help me?"

Eddard nodded, "Of course, because I am a skinchanger myself. And besides skinchangers, Winterfell has even more terrifying things."

In a remote courtyard in Winterfell, Eddard held a torch and opened the lid on the pit.

The surrounding air was unusually cold, and the flames crackled.

Eddard took out a cage covered with a black cloth. After the black cloth was lifted, the wight little girl Wheat, under the firelight, looked at Eddard and Marwyn with icy blue eyes.

Marwyn broke out in a cold sweat, "The Others and wights have returned to the human world?"

Eddard said, "They appeared Beyond the Wall. I used the methods recorded in ancient books, and using fire against the wights worked. I also prepared obsidian to deal with the Others. Beyond the Wall, necromancers still walk in the ice and snow, spreading terror and the evil arts of supernatural powers."

Marwyn excitedly stroked his Valyrian Steel Chain, "This is truly a crazy era! Lord Eddard, for the sake of the warg, wights, Others, and magic, I will definitely follow you and serve magic and the direwolves!"

That evening, Archmaester Marwyn moved into the Xueshita. Maester Luwin of Winterfell, Maester Farmer of agriculture and minerals, Maester Duosite of occultism, and Maester Norman of medicine were all very humble when they saw Archmaester Marwyn.

The twenty or so followers brought by Archmaester Marwyn were all Assistant Maesters and apprentices; not one was a Maester, because the Citadel Conclave squeezed Marwyn out, and no young Maesters dared to follow Marwyn to Winterfell.

That is fine, too; these are all young people. Rather than cultivating decrepit old Maesters, it is better to cultivate young people. Eddard was determined to cultivate these young people into doctors, teachers, architects, accountants, etc., and not just Maesters.

Eddard left the Xueshita and found that there was still candlelight flickering in the Library Tower, so he walked towards the Library Tower. The Dornish Lareza was reading inside.

"Lareza, you really are a diligent lad, still reading so late."

Lareza smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "My father told me that if you don't work hard, it's hard to gain a foothold in this world."

The Red Viper. Lareza is the daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper, Eddard was certain. She disguised herself as a boy to study at the Oldtown Citadel and ended up in Winterfell by mistake.

Eddard said, "Lareza, the Wolf Academy will recruit female students in the future. What are your thoughts?"

Lareza was stunned for a moment, "Good idea. In Dorne, I have many cousins who are eager to become Maesters, but unfortunately, there is no such opportunity."

Eddard said, "They lack the courage you had to disguise yourself as a boy."

Lareza was stunned, and she said nervously, "Lord Eddard, are you joking? I am a boy myself."

Eddard said, "You are a girl, Theon, Robb, and Jon have never seen you bathe or use the latrine. You have the strength of a boy, and your archery is fiercer than the vast majority of boys. But I can tell, you are a girl; I have the eyes of a wolf. In the past, for the sake of your studies, you had to dress as a boy, and I could not bear to expose you. Now that the Wolf Academy will be enrolling girls, there is no need for you to dress as a boy anymore."

Lareza pondered for a long while, "Lord Eddard, I am indeed a girl. The Wolf Academy says it will enroll girls, but who knows how long it will take for the Wolf Academy to be built. I hope to become a student of the Wolf Academy, but I am still an apprentice of the Citadel for now, so please, Lord Eddard, keep my secret for me."

Eddard said, "Of course I will keep your secret. Not only that, I want to adopt you as my foster daughter. Are you willing?"

Lareza laughed, "Lord Eddard, Robb, Jon, and Bran are all my brothers, and Sansa and Arya are my sisters. I am willing to be your foster daughter."

Eddard said, "Between a foster father and a foster daughter, there should be no secrets. Lareza, can you tell me, is your father truly a Dornish fisherman? Is your mother truly a merchant from the Summer Islands?"

Lareza lowered her voice, "My mother is a merchant from the Summer Islands. As for my father, he is Prince Oberyn, the Red Viper of Dorne, and my uncle is Prince Doran Martell of Dorne."

Eddard feigned surprise, "So you are the daughter of the Red Viper."

Lareza shook her head, "I am a bastard, a Sand Snake, not a Martell. My cousin Princess Arianne is the heir to Dorne."

Through Lareza, Eddard could make contact with Prince Doran Martell and Prince Oberyn, the Red Viper of Dorne.

Back then, Duke Tywin tricked the gates of King's Landing open and slaughtered Prince Rhaegar's wife, Princess Elia Martell of Dorne, and her young children. Tywin's mad dog, Ser Gregor the Mountain, smashed the infant Prince Aegon's head against a wall, and then the Mountain, with his hands covered in the infant's brains, raped and murdered Princess Elia Martell.

Princess Elia Martell's daughter, Rhaenys, was stabbed to death by Tywin's other mad dog, Ser Amory Lorch.

After the Usurper's War ended, because Dorne had consistently followed the defeated Targaryen House, the Mountain who killed Princess Elia Martell and the children, and Ser Amory Lorch, remained at large to this day, not to mention the powerful Duke Tywin.

Martell House hated the Lannisters to the bone; they were seeking an opportunity for revenge. Once the Starks were drawn into the wars of the south in the future and crossed swords with the Lannisters, Eddard could use Lareza to have the North and Dorne conclude a "Snow and Sand" pact, attacking the Lannisters from the north and south.

The next day, Archmaester Marwyn began to study the direwolves. He selected the Dornish girl Lareza and Sam as his assistants. The male wolf Night-Walker and the female wolf Sunshine were both very affectionate toward Marwyn. Sunshine, with her big belly, licked Marwyn's neck with her stone-like tongue, making Marwyn laugh heartily.

Marwyn said, "The mother wolf is about to give birth."

Eddard nodded, "The due date is within these few days."

In the Godswood of Winterfell, under the gaze of the Weirwood Heart Tree, Old Nan delivered the pups for the direwolf Sunshine. Eddard, Catelyn, Marwyn, Robb, Jon, Arya, Sansa, Bran, and Rickon Stark watched from the side. The foster sons Theon, Domeric, Lareza, Sam, and others were all present.

Wildling leaders such as Giant King Mag, the warg Varamyr, Tormund Giantsbane, Mole's Mother, Morna White Mask, Prince of Giant Eagles Michu, Eagle King McCain, and Bear King Byars also stood guard nearby.

The direwolf Sunshine gave birth to a total of seven pups. The first wolf had smoke-gray fur and yellow eyes; Eddard gave this wolf to Robb and named it Grey Wind.

The second wolf had white fur and blood-red eyes like red garnets; Eddard bestowed this pup upon Jon and named it Ghost.

Sansa's wolf had gray fur and yellow-diamond-like eyes, named Lady; Arya's wolf was also gray, with golden eyes; under Lareza's instigation, Arya named the direwolf Nymeria; Bran's wolf had smoke-gray fur and yellow eyes, named Summer.

Rickon Stark's pup had fur as pitch-black as Night-Walker's and green eyes; Rickon Stark named this wolf Shaggydog.

The last wolf had fur like ebony and eyes like molten gold; Eddard named this wolf the Forest Wolf. Eddard decided to raise this pup himself, and in the future, if there was an opportunity, he could send it to his brother Benjen at The Wall.

Eddard and the children held the pups and placed them on the mother wolf Sunshine's belly to nurse. The direwolf Night-Walker began to howl at the sky, and the blood-red leaves on the bone-like branches of the Weirwood rustled.

Giant King Mag roared, "Long live the Wolf King!" During these days in Winterfell, the giants had already learned the simple Common Tongue.

Subsequently, Tormund, Varamyr, Prince of Giant Eagles Michu, Bear King McCain, Mole's Mother, Harma the Doghead, Magnar Styr of the Thenn, Alfyn Crowkiller, the Wildling Princess Val, and others joined in.

"Long live the Father of Life! Long live Stark!"

The snow bears, shadowcats, wild wolves, and terrorbirds controlled by the wargs began to roar; giant eagles, blue eagles, falcons, and red eagles shrieked in the sky; the unicorns and mammoths in the stables roared in response, joining the chorus of beasts.

Ancient Winterfell welcomed for the first time direwolves born in the Godswood.

The Wolf Time had come.

Thanks to Shunjian 5 Yiwang for the tip and monthly ticket, thanks to Caizhiyuan, 20191114224402431, Dote MR Little Rocket Forever Happy, Fengyun A, 20191025132531254, and zhuhuabjss for the monthly tickets, thank you for the support!

(End of chapter)