Chapter 160: Joint Expedition
Nearby the Last Hearth
POV of Domeric Bolton
"We're coming with you on this expedition." Smalljon Umber said without any fanfare as both he and Harrion Karstark stood before their small host, numbering 400 and 300 men, respectively.
They had come out of Last Hearth with their small host and had stopped him a few hundred yards away from the Castle.
Using a surface Legilimency probe told him that Smalljon was serious about this. And if he refuses, then the Umbers would stop him from crossing their lands.
With the Umbers and Karstarks united in this matter, if he still wanted to go to the Wall, then he would have to go further west and travel through the lands of the Mountain Tribes to get up to the Wall.
How bothersome.
"Why?" he asked.
"Our reasons are our own." Harrion Karstark replied. A surface legilimency probe informed him that they wanted a share of the glory and any wargs, giants, or Children of the Forest he might encounter in the North.
They also wanted to get into a few skirmishes with the wildlings up North and gain some battle experience, as they had only ever participated in small-scale skirmishes with a dozen wildlings or bandits.
He spurred his horse to move onward and came face to face with the two heirs sitting on their own horses. "I will allow you to join me on this expedition. But know that if you or your men slow me down, then I'll leave you behind."
"We will not slo…"
"I'm not done speaking." He said, giving a glare to Harrion Karstark, and used a little mind manipulation to scare the older man into submission.
"I'll share my scouts so that they can teach your men how to find food in the land North of the Wall. I'll also give each of you a warg of my own for the duration of this expedition. That would be the extension of my help to you. But… if any of you die on this expedition, then it won't be on my head. Is that clear?"
"Definitely." Smalljon Umber said, and Harrion Karstark nodded, a little subdued by his cheap intimidation tactic.
"Very well then." He said as he led his horse forward while the two heirs followed him, "I'll send my men to check if your men are truly ready for this expedition. Those who are not well prepared will be sent back home."
"That…" Harrion Karstark started, but a look from him made the man gulp in fear, "…is acceptable."
"I agree." Smalljon added as well, "I thought my men were well prepared. But just by looking at how you men walk, I could tell that my men are not prepared enough."
"Good." He said, and they continued on their way to Last Hearth.
An expedition to the True North was no small matter. Domeric, with his own resources and his status as a wizard, could handle most situations. However, this was not the case for the other lords and their men.
First, Domeric had to check the clothing of all the lords' men participating in the expedition. If the lords sent men inadequately dressed, many would freeze to death early in the expedition.
Next, the men's physical condition had to be assessed. The lands beyond the Wall were more challenging than the North, and food was much harder to come by. Therefore, the expedition participants had to be able to withstand the harsh terrain and, if necessary, starvation.
Next, the armor and weapons of all the men had to be checked. Those who joined the expedition with inadequate equipment would be the first to die in their first encounter in the True North.
And after all this, the remaining fit men needed to undergo training. At the very least, they had to be able to execute orders smoothly and quickly and act together.
Domeric didn't have high expectations of them. It was certain that these men wouldn't reach the level of his own men any time soon. And probably never.
Domeric's goal was to ensure that if they were to engage in combat, the other lords' men wouldn't pose an obstacle to his army.
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Winterfell Castle
POV of Robb Stark
As Domeric headed toward Last Hearth and considering what needed to be done, Robb met with his father, Lord Stark, at his solar.
"Father. I have heard that Lord Umber and Lord Karstark have requested permission to join Lord Bolton's expedition north of the Wall. Moreover, both lords are sending their heirs to join the expedition."
"Yes, Robb. Not just Lord Umber and Lord Karstark, but many other lords have sent letters requesting permission to join Lord Bolton's expedition."
"Father. I also wish to join Lord Bolton on his new expedition north of the Wall."
"What? No way. Land beyond the Wall is too dangerous."
"But you said yourself that many lords have sent men to join the expedition. I'm sure many lords, like the Umbers and Karstarks, want to send their heirs on this expedition, don't they?"
Lord Stark paused before answering, then, albeit reluctantly, he replied. "...Yes. But Robb..."
"No, Father. What will the other lords think if the son of their Liege lord sits in his castle, while the heirs and men of many lords join this expedition?"
Robb was determined to join the expedition no matter what. Like his friend and idol, Domeric Bolton, he also wanted to go beyond the Wall and tell tales of heroism when he returned.
Robb couldn't sit at home playing lord while Domeric accomplished one thing after another that would astonish the realm.
Especially when the heirs of nearly every lord in the North were joining this expedition.
"I do not wish to be remembered as a coward, father. I cannot possibly lead House Stark and the North in the future when all my vassal lords consider me a coward. I must join this expedition, whether I like it or not. Besides, there is a limit to what I can learn about being a lord while under the shadow of Winterfell. To get experience, I must step outside of Winterfell."
Yeah, Robb was pretty determined to join this expedition.
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Ch.161: Ravens from Other Lords
Ch.162: Bran the Builder