Chapter 27: Catelyn's Anger

The fire in the fireplace was burning; in the bedroom, the infant Rickon was fast asleep in his fur swaddling.

"Five hundred thousand Gold Dragons." Catelyn stood before the window, gazing at the warehouses, barracks, and workshops under construction in the distant Winter Town.

Catelyn turned and glared at Eddard, "Have you gone mad? To actually let Winterfell shoulder a massive debt of five hundred thousand Gold Dragons. How could we possibly pay back so much money to the Iron Bank?"

Eddard placed his hand on Catelyn's shoulder.

"Rest assured, we can afford to pay it back."

In reality, Eddard had also borrowed one hundred thousand Gold Dragons from Lord Wyman of White Harbor, but Catelyn was currently in a fit of anger, and Eddard clearly saw no need to add fuel to the fire.

Catelyn brushed Eddard's hand away with her slender fingers, "With what will you pay it back? When have you ever seen that much money in the vaults of Winterfell?"

Eddard said: "My financial advisor Klar and I have planned it all out; once the expansion of our Winter Town is complete, we can earn money and slowly recoup the costs. In fact, a honey candle factory can be put into operation immediately, and the raw materials and workers are already in place."

Catelyn said indignantly: "Honey candles? You expect to pay back five hundred thousand Gold Dragons with honey candles?"

"We can also produce candied fruits, as well as sausages and hams."

These plans were inseparable from the Beehive and Salt Farming Plan that Eddard had introduced. The candied fruits and honey candles were made from honey, and the meat for the sausages came from the breeding farms in Winter Town.

The former Pig Pen Overseer, Givon, had been promoted to Breeding Farm Overseer; he managed the pig farms and cattle factories, and following Givon's suggestion, Eddard had also invested in chicken farms and rabbit farms, which could provide a steady stream of meat for Winterfell in the future.

Furthermore, the hunting parties of Winterfell could bring back plenty of game from the Wolfswood every day, including wild boars, pheasants, hares, and roe deer. Many of these hunters were former poachers who had become prisoners due to their poaching; Eddard had pardoned them and let them hunt for Winterfell to atone for their crimes.

With this fresh meat, combined with the salt produced by the Salt Farming Plan, the workshops in Winter Town would be able to produce sausages and hams in the future.

Eddard was full of confidence, "Catelyn, these plans were all decided upon by Klar and me. Klar will help Winterfell make money, otherwise, why would I hire him?"

Anger flashed in Catelyn's blue eyes, "That Klar from Braavos sold you out to the Iron Bank, and you actually still let him help you count your money. Klar is a former employee of the Iron Bank; he is simply a swindler sent by the Iron Bank to Winterfell to cheat you out of your money."

Eddard smiled helplessly, "The Iron Bank lending us money, how can that be called cheating? In fact, Klar put in a lot of effort when negotiating with the Iron Bank's envoy; he managed to lower the loan interest rate quite a bit."

Catelyn shook her head, "Who knows if Klar wasn't just putting on a show with the Iron Bank's envoy? Klar is a Braavosi, and their Iron Bank envoy is also a Braavosi. I have heard that Braavos has many theaters, and Braavosi are the best at acting."

"And that Syrio Forel—every day I see him teaching Robb, Arya, and Bran how to fence, I get scared. Whenever I hear that thick Braavosi accent of his, I fear that one day he will spirit my children away. Syrio is constantly filling the children's heads with stories of Braavos; Arya told me she wants to follow Syrio to see the Titan of Braavos."

Eddard smiled, "How can the words of children be taken seriously? Sansa is always saying she wants to go to King's Landing and Oldtown, and Robb is always saying he wants to go on an adventure Beyond the Wall at the Great Wall. Children only have wild thoughts and talk nonsense; it won't come true."

Catelyn said angrily: "I have told you how many times, drive Klar and Syrio Forel away, but you just won't listen. If you insist on having Syrio Forel teach the children to fence, then let him teach Jon Snow instead, or teach Theon, or teach Domeric of House Bolton. Let him train the Bastard and the ward, and keep him away from my children."

Eddard said: "You don't need to be in such a hurry to drive Syrio away; I will take him with me on the campaign."

Eddard had already issued the order for the Northern Army to assemble; the North was about to sweep away the Rockborn Pirates ravaging the coast and launch an expedition to the mysterious island of Skagos. Syrio Forel's swordsmanship could be put to use on the battlefield.

Eddard thought Catelyn would be happy to hear the news of Syrio Forel's departure, but he did not expect her to immediately grab his wrist.

"Eddard, it is not too late to rescind the decision to send troops. We owe the Iron Bank so much money, so let's not fight a war, otherwise, we will only become poorer and poorer. As long as you decide not to send troops to Skagos, you can keep Klar and Syrio if you want!"

Eddard frowned, "What did Maester Luwin tell you?" Maester Luwin had once strongly urged Eddard not to launch an expedition to Skagos; could it be that the old Maester, having failed to persuade the Duke of the North, had set his sights on Catelyn instead?

Catelyn let go of his hand, "It didn't take Maester Luwin to tell me; I chatted with the women of Winter Town, and they all petitioned me, hoping you would rescind the decision to send troops. Many residents of Winter Town haven't even finished clearing and planting their land, and some log cabins haven't been built yet, yet you are conscripting the men to go to war."

Eddard sighed, "I also know this is cruel to them, but the Rockborn Pirates must be eradicated."

Catelyn said: "These women all say that these are times of peace and prosperity, so why bother conscripting so many troops for the Rockborn Pirates?"

"Times of peace and prosperity?" Eddard was somewhat angry, "They are safe staying at the gates of Winterfell, but the people on the east coast are bleeding, from the coast of Seal Bay of House Umber, the peninsula forests of House Karstark, the basin of the Last River, to the mouth of the Weeping Water of House Bolton. If they lived on the east coast, would they still think that way?"

Catelyn said helplessly: "What value could Skagos possibly have? Must you force the Rockborn to kneel and submit? I heard Old Nan say that the Rockborn have a custom of cannibalism; what is the use of having such barbaric vassals?"

Eddard explained patiently, "Catelyn, you know me; I am not a man who seeks glory. If the Rockborn stayed quietly on their island, I would never go to provoke them. The problem is that the Rockborn are now coming to the coast to plunder, and their armor, weapons, and ships are all Iron products, which proves that an external force has infiltrated Skagos."

Seeing that she could not persuade Eddard, Catelyn gave a light huff.

"Then take your Braavosi swordsman Syrio Forel on your campaign! You had best take Klar with you too; he can help you count the number of soldiers, manage the grain and fodder, and such."

Eddard shook his head, "Klar must stay; the expansion of Winter Town and future commercial production cannot do without him."

Catelyn suppressed her anger, "Must I have to find this damned Braavosi every time I spend money in the future? Are you going to appoint Klar as Acting Castellan while you are on the campaign?"

Eddard said: "My lady, it is not that exaggerated. My good lady will be the Acting Castellan, and Maester Luwin and Rodrik Cassel will assist you."

(End of chapter)