Interlude: Edric 3
Morosh, Mid Twelfth Moon, 285 A.C., A few hours later…
The lords and knights talk amongst themselves, goblets of the local apple brandy in hand, having gathered at the governor's palace for a simple victory feast. The food has been eaten, and now the Westerosi and their Lorathi allies drink brandy and make toasts. After securing the city and posting sentries to ensure no attack from the splintered Dothraki bands, the Westerosi didn't venture outside the walls. All evidence points to the Dothraki having fled the area, the biggest being they left behind half their slaves, the other half dead or taken with the fractured Dothraki.
Five thousand starving, unarmed slaves made their way to the southern gates of Morosh. After discussing it with the Prince of the Streets, Prince Stannis let in the slaves but not before having them searched to ensure no tricks. Feeding them wasn't an issue due to Morosh being supplied by sea throughout the siege but finding them housing was. So far, they're housing in abandoned homes and the guards barracks until they find better lodging.
I take a sip of my Lorathi apple brandy, savoring the crisp, dry taste, reminiscent of the cider my brother imports from Ser Swyft. I spot Arnolf Karstark at the far side of the room talking with Lord Petyr and Hother Umber. His eyes meet mine and we both narrow our eyes at one another. After a moment of establishing an unspoken, mutual "you don't bother me, I won't bother you", I turn back to my conversation partner, Ser Wendel Manderly. The slightly portly Northmen in a particularly celebrative mood for being the one to slay Khal Motho, not just winning glory for himself and his house, but also a large bounty placed on the khal by the Lorathi.
"Ser Wendel, this is your what? Third? Fourth expedition with the Royal Trade Company?" I ask my fellow Northmen.
"Fourth, Lord Edric. I was on the two voyages to the Summer Islands and the previous expedition to Braavos and Lorath. I even took part in both the negotiations with the Braavosi to open up trade in the Shivering Sea and the Lorathi to establish a trading post!" Ser Wendel boasts, the jolly knight takes a sip before continuing. "I'm already a Lord Captain, but now that I've slain a horselord, I'll for certain be considered a potential successor to Ser Estermont or Prince Stannis as Head of the Council or Lord Director!"
"How much has your house prospered as one of the 'Big Four' of your trade company?" I ask, curious as to how the king's trade company has affected White Harbor and the eastern coast of the North. The Manderly knight's eyes light up.
"Wonderfully! Being among the first supporters of the 'king's company' and favored by the queen, we have profited mightily. The expeditions to the Summer Islands were successful, bringing us much in coin and spices. We have increased trade with fellow houses of the company with more merchants travelling from the Gulltown and the Crownlands to White Harbor to sell their wares. The New Royal Standard makes it easier and simpler to conduct trade between merchants and houses. We even get traders from the Summer Islands sailing into White Harbor!" Ser Wendel exclaims.
"Aye, a few Summer Islanders even stopped in Oldcastle! Word is the foreigners set up a trading post in Wolfsport? Is this true, Lord Edric?" A new voice cuts in and I turn to see Ser Donnel Locke, younger brother of Lord Ondrew Locke of Oldcastle, an ancient holdfast southeast of White Harbor, on the northern coast of the Bite.
"Indeed, it is, Ser Donnel. The Xaq Clan of Koj established a trading post in Wolfsport and now over a hundred Summer Islanders from his clan and their bannermen live and trade in Wolfsport. The men work as traders while the women work in the brothels, something about prostitutes being seen as a noble profession in their strange culture." I respond and the Locke knight looks surprised.
"And there have been no issues with the foreigners in your city?" He asks.
"Only the typical issues that arise from merchants, things like arguments over prices getting out of hand or accusations of underselling and whatnot. No more than the Southron merchants increasingly trading in our city." I say with a shrug. The Summer Islanders in Wolfsport haven't been much of an issue for my brother due to them mainly sticking to their trading post, the harbor, and the brothels.
"We've had a bigger headache dealing from complaints from brothel owners ever since the Summer Islanders built one in Wolfsport. Now every brothel has been scrambling to employ Summer Islander whores, the demand for them is so high!" I explain. The foreign women were particularly popular in the brothels, both for their exotic looks and prowess in bed. Something I can attest to having lost my virginity to a Summer Islander woman a year ago in a Wolfsport brothel.
"Aye. Some of the brothels in White Harbor have started employing Summer Islander women. Before the trade company, the only foreigners to be found were from the Free Cities." Ser Wendel says before taking a sip of apple brandy.
"Lord Edric, I heard your brother is in talks with Lord Benjen Stark about a paved road from Moat Cailin to the mouth of the White Knife." The knight of House Locke asks me and I see Ser Wendel's eyes flash with interest.
"Indeed, he has been, Ser Donnel. We stopped by Moat Cailin on the way to Lannisport so my brother could advise him on constructing his own quickstone kilns. He brought up the possibility of a road to the White Knife creating a trade connection between the Saltspear and the White Knife!" I tell them about our trip to Moat Cailin went and how the wooden keep is mostly restored to her former glory but no work has begun on the towers due to winter.
"It's funny you should mention a connection between the eastern and western shores of the North. Lord Dustin wrote to my father about how he aims to construct a "Barrow Road" from the seat of the Rhyswells, Grailheart, through Barrowton, Goldglass, and Oldburrow, until it reaches Barlow Keep, seat of House Barley on the Kingsroad. He inquired my father on a possible expansion from Barlow Keep to the White Knife north of White Harbor." The Manderly knight says and my eyes widen.
"If we extend the planned Stony Road from Fisher Hall to Grailheart, one could walk from Wolfsport to the White Knife. And if combined with a Moat Cailin road, will allow greater trade to flow between the two shores of the North!" I respond, my mind racing. Trade between houses of the different shores of the North has always been difficult due to the sheer distances involved. The North is large and takes weeks to travel on foot from one shore to the other but it's still faster than sailing around Westeros from Wolfsport to White Harbor. Even one of the roads being constructed will allow trade to more easily flow between Northern houses, let alone both. I need to tell my brother about this potential "Barrow Road".
"I'm sure my brother will support Lord Dustin in his endeavor. I have no doubts my brother will see the merit in a paved road that runs from Wolfsport to the White Knife." I say before taking another sip of brandy.
"I've seen those quickstone roads of your brother's when my father and I sailed up the White Knife and Wolf's Branch to Castle Cerwyn and rode on one to Winterfell. They were expertly crafted and solidly built, your brother living up to his name "Hugo the Builder". The King has no doubt heard of it's merit from Lord Stark, considering he's planning to pave the Kingsroad from Storm's End to Castle Black." Ser Wendel responds, mentioning my brother's epitaph in the North, as oppose to in the South, where they call him "Hugo the Inventor". I'm prevented from responding by Prince Stannis' voice echoing across the spacious dining room.
"My lords, MY LORDS! We are gathered here tonight to celebrate a great triumph! We have defeated the Dothraki that threatened this city, slain Khal Motho, and now the remnants of their horde flee. Scattered to the winds by Westerosi might and steel!" I cheer along the assembled lords and knights before the prince continues.
"Take pride my lords, for we have fulfilled our oath to see this city safe from Dothraki slavers. The good women and children of Morosh will no longer fear being brutalized and carried off like cattle by savages…" I see lords nod and murmur in agreement at the prince mentioning the Dothraki being slavers. I feel my own pride swell, the desperate and forlorn faces of the people of Morosh during the siege flashing before my mind. How many of those women and children would have been raped and enslaved had we not intervened? I shudder to think of the answer.
"…And will establish a new trading post in Morosh for the Royal Trade Company!" The gathered lords cheered and I tune out the Fisher Prince, being the only Prince of Lorath to speak fluent Common Tongue, thanking us for saving the colony. I raise my goblet when he toasts the new alliance between us and Lorath.
"And now to announce achievements! Ser Jasper Redfort, Ser Cedric Storm, and Lord Perkin of House Follard all slayed Dothraki "kos" or commanders in single combat! Lord Perkin, step forward and kneel." I see a young Crownlander squire around my age step before the prince and receive a knighthood for his achievement to the applause of the crowd. The three named men being congratulated by their peers for their achievements, especially the newly knighted Ser Perkin.
"Lord Edric of House Seastark slayed Jotho, son and heir to Khal Motho in single combat! Lord Edric, step forth and kneel!" I did as commanded and receive a knighthood from the prince. I admit to being surprised at receiving a knighthood, considering a worship the Old Gods. But there are Old Gods worshippers like Ser Martyn Cassel who have been knighted with no issue. It is a surreal experience to kneel, be knighted, and stand up a knight of the Seven Kingdoms. I barely acknowledge the congratulations when the prince speaks again.
"And last but not least, Ser Wendel Manderly slayed Khal Motho himself in single combat!" I snap out it and join the crowd in letting out a hearty cheer for our fellow Northmen. The Manderly knight receiving praise and slaps on the shoulders for his achievement. The night soon becomes a blur as I drink a celebrate a siege won and try not to think about the five-and-ten Sea Wolves that didn't make it…
Three days later…
I walk with the Fisher Prince and Vogan towards the city barracks where an intriguing group of now freed slaves were being housed. Nothing physical about them is intriguing, a mix of peoples whose skin tones range from copper to pale and speak only in the Dothraki tongue. No, what made them intriguing is why they wish to meet with me.
"They want to what?" I ask Vogan if I heard him translate the lead freedmen, a weathered old woman, correctly.
"They wish to settle in the 'lands of the black wolf'." The translator replies.
"I heard you, it's just…do they not know how far Sea Dragon Point is from here?" I exclaim incredulously.
"No. They don't know where that is. Neither do I, now that I think about it. It's in the North, correct? It shouldn't be too far a here." Vogan replies.
"It's on the other side of the North, in the Sunset Sea. A good five moons by galley if you're blessed with favorable winds!" I state matter-of-factly and his eyes widen and translates my words to the representatives of the former slaves. The wizened woman looks surprised, glances at me before talking with several younger freedmen in Dothraki. They have a brief argument in the foreign tongue before the crone speaks to Vogan again.
"They acknowledge the distance is far, but they still wish leave these lands behind and settle in this 'Sea Dragon Point'". He translates and I'm shocked they still wish to come to Sea Dragon Point of all places.
"But why? Why give up a life here in Essos for Sea Dragon Point? And why there? Why not White Harbor that's closer?" I start firing question after question as Vogan struggles to keep up in translating. The weathered old woman smiles and speaks for a long time to Vogan.
"What life do we have here? We are former slaves who, unlike the rest of our compatriots, were born into Dothraki chains or were enslaved at a young age. Unlike them, who remember their peoples' cultures and tongues, know only the harsh tongue and whip of the Dothraki! We heard the khal's screams of anguish and rage at the death of his son by your hand, the black wolf. How he cursed you and seethed in fury, and swore to see your head mounted on his yurt. That made us curious about you. Then after we were freed, we heard rumors about you and your lands, telling of a prosperous city and now wish to live under your rule. We, who have nowhere to go now that we are free, wish to live under the warrior who slayed Jotho, the cruelest of the khal's sons in single combat." Vogan translates her impassioned speech and despite feeling moved by their plight, I still had some practical concerns.
"I am not the lord of those lands, that would be my brother, Lord Hugo Seastark. I can convince him to allow your people to settle, and you may serve under me but you will swear an oath of fealty to him. How many of you wish to settle and what kind of trades do they practice." I ask glancing around the barracks to see mayhaps a hundred people in the barracks. One hundred shouldn't be too difficult to settle in Wolfsport and the surrounding area and Hugo has given me permission to bring back any Essosi who wish to settle in our lands.
"Over one thousand freedmen, mostly herders and pillow slaves for the Dothraki but craftsmen like blacksmiths, carpenters, and tanners are among us." My eyes bug out at the much higher number than expected.
"Over a thousand! But I can only fit mayhaps three dozen on my ship at most. To transport these people over such a vast distance is going to require chartering a good dozen galleys, in the middle of winter no less!" I turn to the Fisher Prince, who smiles.
"We will provide the necessary galleys for transport as part of our thanks for slaying khalakka Jotho and fighting with us for two weeks. They can set sail for your lands within a week." The Fisher Prince says to my immense relief, having taken the burden of finding transport for these people off my shoulders.
"Bounty or not, you have my thanks, Prince Vygaro. I will wait until they leave to sail for the Port of Ibben." I say and the prince nods. Today, Prince Stannis left Morosh, leaving over a thousand men despite scouts finding no Dothraki within ten leagues of the colony, to sail for Saath. The city is southwest of here and it's the last remnant of the Kingdom of Sarnor and the Tall Men. They'll then sail for the Kingdom of Omber before reaching the Port of Ibben in a trip that'll take two to three moons. Meanwhile, I'm going to sail directly to the Port of Ibben and be there in three weeks so by the time the prince and expedition reach the western shores of Omber, I'll be sailing into the capital of Ibben…
One week later…
I watch the small fleet of galleys taking the new settlers of Sea Dragon Point sail west while the Thunderbolt heads east. It'll take them roughly five to six moons to get there, including stops along the way. Ironically, with how fast the clipper is, I'm going to reach Wolfsport before them since they'd only take three to four moons from Ibben to Wolfsport.
I hear the sounds of struggle accompanied by cheering and glance over to see my ten newest passengers forming a circle and spectating a wrestling match between one of them and the crew. A short, squat, hairy man pins one of my sailors to the deck to the cheers of the crowd. Vogan, lent to me by the Princes of Lorath to serve as my translator to the Ibbenese, walks up with one of my guests, a gruff looking Ibbenese man named Shrogg Koth. He says something in his raspy, guttural tongue and Vogan translates.
"This one thanks you for transporting them back to their homeland after years of enslavement and expresses how impressed he is at the speed of this ship."
"You are most welcome. I was heading to the Port of Ibben anyway so it made sense to take you with me." I say, not disclosing the true reason.
The true reason being to make a good impression on the Shadow Council that rules over their lands. They came to power after overthrowing their line of god kings when almost all their mainland holdings were razed by the Dothraki. This pairs with the second part of how the Princes of Lorath thanked me for my valor, an official letter to the Shadow Council signed by all three Princes of Lorath vouching for me and my character. Returning their people and an official letter won't get me the designs for one of their large whaling ships my brother is obsessed with, but it does get me a meeting with some important magisters in the Shadow Council. The kind of magisters who have the authority to trade those kind of secrets.
Hugo gave me full authority to negotiate any kind of deal I can get to obtain those schematics. I might not be able to trade a clipper, but there's a lot we have to offer the Ibbenese…
A/N: This chapter we see the aftermath of the siege with the Dothraki more or less splintering into smaller competing khals migrating away from Morosh. Edric gains a knighthood, settlers for Sea Dragon Point, and a letter from the Princes of Lorath that effectively plants his foot in the door to meeting with the Shadow Council.
Sorry for all the interludes. I realize with this chapter, six of the last seven chapters have been interludes. This is because the Edric saga has kinda blown up on me similar to how the King's Landing saga did. Rest assured, we'll return to Hugo next chapter