Chapter 30: The Expedition is Imminent

Outside the Winterfell training grounds, Ser Rodrik Cassel, the Winterfell master-at-arms, stroked his snow-white beard with his hand.

"Lord Eddard, the recruitment for Winterfell is complete. We have gathered a total of three thousand soldiers, most from Winter Town, and a small portion from nearby villages."

Eddard looked over the list of soldiers handed to him by Maester Luwin: Jack, John, Harry, Will—each a plain, ordinary name. They were farmers, craftsmen, swineherds, or tavern boys. Now, they were assembled together to fight for Winterfell.

Eddard said, "I hear there are quite a few mountain clansmen among them?"

Ser Rodrik Cassel nodded. "Indeed, Lord Eddard. Eight hundred are mountain warriors. When Winter Town was expanded, it attracted many mountain clansmen to settle here. The mountain clansmen are a hardy folk; many of the mountain soldiers we recruited have real combat experience. Some have killed Wildlings, some have killed Ironborn Pirates, and some even participated in suppressing the Greyjoy Rebellion."

In this clearing of Rockborn Pirates, the mountain clan warriors were of almost no use during naval battles, nor were they skilled in cavalry warfare. However, once the Northern Army arrived at Skagos by ship, on that mountain-dense island, the mountain clan warriors, skilled in mountain warfare, would be a sharp sword for the North.

Maester Luwin touched his chain. "I hear that among the soldiers, some are people who just moved from the east coast to live in Winter Town?"

Ser Rodrik Cassel: "Yes, quite a few are people who originally lived in the lands of House Umber and House Karstark and just moved to Winter Town. The Rockborn Pirates are the very reason they left their homes and moved to Winter Town."

"They fled to Winter Town to escape the Rockborn Pirates, thinking it would be safer to live at the gates of House Stark in Winterfell, yet I am sending them to the battlefield." Eddard's tone was filled with helplessness.

Ser Rodrik Cassel said, "A man should protect his home. Lord Eddard, among the soldiers I recruited, there are two who are quite outstanding. I believe they are men who can achieve great things on the battlefield."

Eddard was curious. "Where did you recruit such men? Are they wandering warriors, or Hired Knights from the south?"

Rodrik Cassel smiled. "They are right here in our Winterfell! They are from that group of hunters under Fellan."

In recent days, every day the Winterfell Master of Kennels, Fellan, would lead a great army of hunters, pulling a dozen hounds, and march grandly out of Hunter's Gate to hunt in the Wolfswood, bringing back pheasants, hares, roe deer, and other game by dusk.

Because many of the hunters were poachers pardoned by Eddard, the people of Winterfell and Winter Town called them the "Poacher Squad" behind their backs.

The two hunters recommended by Rodrik Cassel were indeed both poachers.

"This is Fellan; his archery skills are even better than Theon's." Fellan had red hair, a pair of sharp blue eyes, a quiver on his back, and held a longbow in his hand.

"How could a poacher have better archery than me?" Theon shouted, asking for a bow and arrow, aimed for a long time, and shot toward the bullseye, hitting it dead center. A smug smile appeared on Theon's face.

Rodrik Cassel said, "Fellan, show Lord Eddard what you can do."

Eddard originally thought Fellan picked up the bow and arrow to aim at the target, but he did not expect him to vault onto his horse, gallop at full speed, and then loose an arrow. It hit the bullseye dead center.

Eddard, Robb, Jon Snow, Domeric Bolton, and Theon Greyjoy were all stunned. Theon was dumbfounded. "How is this possible?"

Rodrik Cassel said, "Fellan is from the Rills. He has been herding horses for Lord Ryswell since he was a child, so his horsemanship is superb, and you have all seen his archery. Furthermore, because he spent years in the forest avoiding the lord's hounds and soldiers, Fellan has strong stealth abilities and can be used as a scout."

Eddard looked at Fellan with appreciation. "You herded horses for the lord when you were a child; why did you become a poacher when you grew up?"

Fellan said apologetically, "Lord Eddard, when I was a child, I stole a white horse from Lord Ryswell to trade for money to treat my sister's illness, but my sister died anyway. I didn't dare return to my hometown, so I had to hide in the Wolfswood and poach for a living. When I was captured by the Winterfell guards and trapped in the dungeon, I thought I was finished. It was Lord Eddard who pardoned me."

Eddard said, "Fellan, you were once a horse thief and a poacher, and it was I who gave you the status of a hunter. Now, I give you another status: Winterfell Guard."

The second person recommended by Ser Rodrik Cassel was a burly man named Dawson. He had black hair and a thick black beard, arms as thick as rock pillars, and a neck like a bull.

"Dawson's battle-axe weighs thirty pounds. His horsemanship is poor because he rarely rides, but his foot combat ability is extremely formidable; even Jory Cassel cannot beat him."

Jory Cassel was the Captain of the Guard at Winterfell, and Dawson being able to defeat Jory in foot combat already proved his strength.

Eddard sized up Dawson. His appearance reminded Eddard of Robert Baratheon; Robert would like such a wild warrior.

Fellan and Dawson knelt before Eddard together and swore their allegiance.

The army was assembled, and the expedition was imminent. The children were all very excited. Robb said, "Father, take me with you on the expedition!"

Eddard said, "You are still too young; you must stay in Winterfell."

Robb was somewhat disappointed. "I heard that some squires in the south can go to the battlefield at ten years old."

Eddard said, "Little wolves cannot go to the battlefield, Robb. When you grow up, I will certainly let you charge into the fray. For now, your task is to stay in Winterfell. While I am away, you must help your mother and protect your younger brothers and sister."

Those who could follow Eddard to the battlefield were Domeric Bolton and Theon Greyjoy, both of whom were very excited.

Domeric said, "Lord Eddard, I cannot wait to go to the battlefield to prove myself. Last year, when I was serving as a squire for Lord Redfort in the Vale, I once fought against the mountain clans in the Huangshan with the Canyon Knights. I wounded a Black Ears cavalryman, but he was stabbed to death by a Canyon Knight nearby, and I missed my first chance to kill an enemy just like that."

"You crave slaughter and blood?" Domeric was kind-hearted and multi-talented, but he was, after all, the Heir of the Dreadfort.

"What I crave is the glory of battle." Domeric touched the longsword in his hand. "The lands of the Dreadfort have also suffered from the raids of the Rockborn Pirates. I will use my longsword to avenge the people of the Dreadfort."

Theon was not to be outdone. "Lord Eddard, I request that you send me to White Harbor! Hand the fleet there over to me to command. I am the Heir of the Iron Islands, a natural-born Ironborn, and a master of naval warfare."

Eddard said, "Theon, the fleet at White Harbor has already departed. You should stay by my side. When we reach the seaside, there will be a time for you to show your skills."

It was true that Theon was an Ironborn, but he was hardly a master of naval warfare. He had been sent to Winterfell at the age of ten and had not seen the sea since.

Jon Snow approached Eddard. "Lord Eddard, can you take me with you?"

Eddard said, "Jon, did you not hear what I said to Robb just now? You and Robb are too young to go to war. Stay at home."

Jon Snow looked troubled. "I am not being unreasonable, it is just that if I stay in the castle, Lady Catelyn Stark, she... she will be very unhappy."

Eddard had almost forgotten about this. As a bastard, Jon Snow had to endure the hostility of Catelyn Tully at all times. As long as Catelyn was in Winterfell, Winterfell could never be Jon Snow's home.

Now Eddard was in a dilemma. "Jon, why don't you go to the manor outside Winterfell to live for a while?"

Jon Snow said, "Lord Eddard, I only want to go with you. Bastards have always grown up fast; I can adapt to military life. I am not asking you to let me go to the battlefield, just let me polish your armor and clean your sword for you."

Eddard was helpless and had to agree. This was incomparably difficult for Jon, but this was a difficult era.

(End of chapter)