Chapter 10: The Wolf's Due and the Shadow's Claim
The echoes of the wedding feast still lingered in the Great Hall of Winterfell, but Aelyx Velaryon, now Lord Volmark of Skagos, knew that goodwill, like winter ale, was best consumed while fresh, and quickly replenished. His marriage to Lyanna Stark had forged a vital link, the recognition of House Volmark a significant step. But Aelyx's ambitions for Skagos, and for the North itself as an unwitting shield and resource pool, were far from sated. He needed to deepen his influence, secure a steady influx of manpower, and ensure the Northern lords viewed him not merely as an accepted kinsman, but as a powerful, indispensable ally and benefactor.
In the days following the formalization of the trade agreements and the groundbreaking proposal for the Glass Gardens at Winterfell, Aelyx orchestrated a display of largesse that left the notoriously stoic Northern lords both impressed and slightly bewildered. He announced a "Lord's Gifting" to celebrate his marriage and the establishment of his house, a tradition he claimed was common among the great houses of Valyria to mark significant alliances.
One by one, the prominent lords who had attended the wedding – Manderly, Karstark, Umber, Bolton (a house Aelyx watched with particular, cold interest, recognizing a kindred ruthlessness beneath their flayed man banner, though he offered them the same courteous generosity as the others), Flint, Mormont, and others – were summoned to private audiences with Lord Volmark in the guest wing of Winterfell he now occupied.
The gifts were not mere trinkets. To Lord Wyman Manderly, whose port of White Harbor would be crucial for Skagosi trade, Aelyx presented not only another Valyrian steel dagger of exquisite craftsmanship ("a family heirloom I was fortunate to preserve, my lord, for a true friend of House Volmark") but also a sealed chest containing five hundred golden dragons of unfamiliar minting – a "contribution to the prosperity of White Harbor and the strengthening of our mutual trade ventures." The sheer weight of the gold, and its untraceable nature, made the jovial Lord Manderly's eyes widen.
To the formidable Greatjon Umber, whose lands bordered the wild northern frontier, Aelyx gifted a magnificent Skagosi snow bear pelt, larger and whiter than any seen south of the Wall, and a Valyrian steel short sword, its pommel a snarling wolf's head in obsidian. "For a lord who understands the value of strength and the taming of wild frontiers, Lord Umber. May it serve you well in guarding the North." With it came a smaller, yet still substantial, purse of gold.
Lord Karstark received a matched pair of Skagosi shadow-cat cloaks for himself and his lady, along with a finely wrought silver-inlaid hunting spear supposedly of Valyrian design, and, of course, a generous "gift" of gold to "bolster Karhold's defenses against eastern threats." Even Roose Bolton, whose pale, disconcertingly intelligent eyes seemed to miss nothing, received a rare set of Valyrian obsidian game pieces, intricately carved, and a weighty purse, Aelyx's demeanor perfectly cordial, betraying none of his internal assessment of the Lord of the Dreadfort.
For the lesser lords, there were casks of a surprisingly potent spirit Aelyx claimed was a Skagosi specialty (actually a carefully brewed concoction from Flamel's recipes, subtly enhanced for flavor and effect), bolts of fine, dark wool dyed with rare Skagosi lichens, and smaller, yet still significant, bags of gold. He ensured no lord felt slighted. The message was clear: House Volmark was wealthy, generous, and valued its new Northern connections.
The source of this incredible wealth was attributed, vaguely, to "Velaryon enterprise before the Doom" and "newly tapped Skagosi resources." In the current global climate, with Valyria gone and trade routes in disarray, a new power emerging with seemingly deep coffers was unusual, but not entirely unbelievable, especially one with Valyrian roots. The Northern lords, not known for their sophisticated understanding of international finance, were mostly content to accept the bounty. Gold was gold, and Valyrian steel was beyond price.
This wave of calculated generosity created a palpable buzz throughout Winterfell and, Aelyx knew, would soon spread throughout the North. He had bought attention, gratitude, and, most importantly, a degree of obligation. He was no longer just Lyra Stark's Valyrian son; he was Lord Volmark, a man of substance and open-handedness.
It was against this backdrop of cultivated goodwill that Aelyx made his next, far more audacious proposal. He requested another audience with Lord Cregan Stark and his council, this time also inviting several of the most influential Northern lords whose lands he knew, through Tibbit's discreet intelligence gathering, suffered from overpopulation, poor harvests, or the lingering effects of recent wildling raids.
"Lord Stark, my lords," Aelyx began, his tone earnest and thoughtful. "During my time here in Winterfell, and in my discussions with many of you, I have come to appreciate the challenges of ruling these vast, often harsh lands. The North is strong, its people resilient, but even the strongest tree can be overburdened if it tries to support too many branches with too little soil."
He let that sink in. "On Skagos, by the grace of the Old Gods and the hard work of my people, we are… more fortunate in some ways. We have brought new lands under cultivation. Our Glass Gardens" – a subtle reminder of his gift to Winterfell – "promise abundance. Our ports and workshops require many hands. We have space, Lord Stark. We have opportunity. But we lack… sufficient numbers to fully realize Skagos's potential as a true bastion for the North."
Lord Manderly, still beaming from his recent gifts, nodded thoughtfully. Lord Umber grunted, a sound that could mean anything. Roose Bolton watched Aelyx with his customary unnerving stillness.
"Many Northern holdfasts, I understand," Aelyx continued, his gaze sweeping across the assembled lords, "may, from time to time, find themselves with… an excess of smallfolk. Good, hardworking people, I have no doubt, but perhaps more mouths than the land can comfortably feed, especially after a harsh winter or a poor harvest. Such situations can lead to unrest, to banditry, to a weakening of the holdfast from within."
This was a delicate subject. No lord liked to admit his lands were struggling. But Aelyx's tone was empathetic, not accusatory.
"Therefore, I come to you with an offer, born of kinship and a desire for mutual prosperity. House Volmark of Skagos will welcome any smallfolk your lordships may deem… surplus to your immediate needs. We offer them a new life: land to till, homes to build, work in our growing industries, and the protection of a strong lord. They will be free citizens of Skagos, under the laws of House Stark as administered by House Volmark."
He paused, then delivered the crucial incentive. "And for each family, or indeed each able-bodied individual, that a lord sees fit to allow to journey to Skagos under our care, House Volmark will offer generous compensation to that lord. Not as a purchase – for free men and women cannot be bought or sold" – he made sure to emphasize this, knowing Northern sensibilities about slavery concerning their own people – "but as recompense for the loss of their labor, as assistance in resettling your remaining populace, or simply as a contribution to your lordship's treasury for your continued good governance."
The hall was silent for a moment. Then, a low murmur began. This was unprecedented. Compensating lords for allowing their smallfolk to leave? Most lords clung to every subject as a source of labor and taxes, however meager. But the offer of "generous compensation" in gold, from a lord who had already demonstrated his extraordinary wealth, was a powerful lure.
Lord Cerwyn, whose lands were known to be poor and overpopulated, spoke first, his voice hesitant. "Lord Volmark… you speak of… compensation? What manner of recompense for, say, a family of five?"
Aelyx smiled graciously. "Let us say, Lord Cerwyn, for a healthy family of five with at least two able-bodied workers… perhaps twenty golden dragons? And for skilled artisans – smiths, carpenters, weavers – the compensation would be significantly higher. All transported at House Volmark's expense, of course, on our own ships."
Twenty golden dragons. For a peasant family a lord might struggle to feed through winter. It was a fortune. A lord could "relocate" a hundred such families and receive two thousand golden dragons – enough to re-equip his household guard, repair his keep, or simply live in comfort for years. The implications were staggering.
Lord Cregan Stark looked at Aelyx, his expression a mixture of surprise and deep calculation. He understood the game. Aelyx was buying population, but framing it as benevolent assistance. It would strengthen Skagos, his new vassal state, and by extension, potentially the North, while also enriching its lords. And it would relieve pressure on over-burdened holdfasts.
"This is… an unusual proposal, Lord Volmark," Cregan said slowly. "To take on so many… mouths to feed. You are confident Skagos can support them?"
"With the systems we are establishing, Lord Stark, yes," Aelyx replied confidently. "Our fishing fleets are bountiful. Our Glass Gardens will soon yield much. And there is much land yet to be cleared and cultivated. We need the hands to do the work. We offer a future to those who may have little here, and in doing so, we strengthen Skagos for the benefit of all the North."
The debate among the lords was animated. Some were suspicious. Why would this Valyrian lord want their poorest smallfolk? What was his true angle? Others, particularly those from less prosperous regions, saw only the glint of gold and the prospect of relieving their own burdens. Lord Manderly, ever the pragmatist, spoke in favor. "My lords, if Lord Volmark has the means and the will to offer a new life to those who struggle, and to compensate us for their departure, it seems a boon to all. Fewer hungry mouths here means more for those who remain. And stronger vassals mean a stronger North."
Aelyx listened patiently, interjecting only to reiterate his benevolent intentions, the opportunities on Skagos, and the fairness of the compensation. His house-elves, glamoured and strategically placed among the servants, subtly monitored the conversations, feeding him snippets of who was most receptive, who was most suspicious.
His true motives, of course, were far more complex. This influx of Northern smallfolk – First Men blood, hardy, accustomed to harsh climates, and, crucially, not Valyrian or Essosi – would provide a vast, loyal labor pool for his ever-expanding projects on Skagos, both the public city and port, and the secret, monumental undertakings within the hidden sanctuary. They would populate his farms, work his (yet to be fully exploited) mines, build his infrastructure. Their children, born on Skagos, would know no other home, no other lord. They would be the bedrock of his new Skagosi nation, their loyalty cultivated from the moment they stepped off his ships, grateful for their "rescue." The gold he was expending was a trivial price for such a demographic transformation, a strategic investment easily covered by the Philosopher's Stone.
Over several days, agreements were struck. Many lords, tempted by the gold and the logic of Aelyx's arguments, agreed to allow significant numbers of their "surplus" smallfolk to volunteer for resettlement on Skagos. Aelyx's agents (his house-elves and trusted Shadow Legion officers, now acting as "emissaries of House Volmark") would coordinate with the lords to identify suitable families and individuals. His merchant fleet, currently waiting in White Harbor, would begin rotations to transport the new settlers.
Lyanna watched these proceedings with a mixture of awe and unease. Her husband was transforming the North before her eyes, his wealth and ambition reshaping ancient dynamics. She saw the relief on the faces of some lords, the hope in the eyes of the smallfolk who heard tales of a new life on Skagos. But she also sensed the cold, calculating intellect behind his generous facade, the sheer scale of his vision that seemed to encompass far more than just a remote Northern island. She was to be Lady of this Skagos, this place her husband was populating with the North's cast-offs and binding to him with chains of gold and gratitude. It was a daunting, exhilarating, and terrifying prospect.
Aelyx, meanwhile, continued to play his role as the gracious, visionary lord. He finalized the plans for the Winterfell Glass Gardens with Maester Walys, promising to send his "chief horticulturalist and engineers" (Mipsy and a team of house-elves with glamoured Legionaries for mundane labor) as soon as he returned to Skagos and made arrangements. He spent evenings with Lyanna, speaking of their future, of the strong sons they would raise, heirs to both Stark and Velaryon (Volmark) legacies. He was charming, attentive, and utterly in control.
As their planned departure from Winterfell approached, Aelyx felt the pieces of his Northern strategy locking firmly into place. He had a Stark bride, a recognized lordship, trade agreements, a major construction project underway at Winterfell that would give him influence and intelligence, and now, a mechanism to acquire tens of thousands of loyal Northern settlers. House Volmark was not just a name; it was rapidly becoming a significant power in the North, a power built on Valyrian cunning, inexhaustible wealth, and the shrewd exploitation of Northern needs.
The lords of the North thought they were benefiting from the generosity of a rich, somewhat eccentric kinsman. They had no inkling that they were merely facilitating the rise of a hidden empire, providing the very sinews of its growth, all while their attention was diverted by glittering gifts and promises of shared prosperity. Aelyx Velaryon, the last Dragonlord, was playing a long, subtle game, and the North was proving to be a most accommodating chessboard.