Beside the campfire, Mufasa held a wine bottle, looking at the remaining liquid inside. Then he spoke to everyone.
"Let me tell you a story!"
"It's called 'The Crow and the Pitcher.'"
A quarter of an hour later, Mufasa finished the story, and everyone else looked thoughtful.
"Crows are very smart! I saw that talking crow at Lord Commander Jeor Mormont's place," A'guda said, tearing at a piece of beef jerky.
"Of course crows are smart. Every Maester at The Citadel keeps many crows to send messages," Mufasa replied.
"So, are all crows under the sky black?" A'guda continued to ask.
"No, there are also white crows. They are special. Just like how a black swan sometimes appears among white swans, they are special, they are anomalies," Mufasa explained.
"We wildlings call the Night's Watch 'Crows,' but some of you will join us wildlings, making them 'White Crows,' isn't that right, Benjen Stark?" A'guda looked at the Chief Ranger.
Benjen Stark remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"For Night's Watch men who join the wildlings, we are certainly obligated to bring them to justice!"
"Although, we hold little malice toward you wildlings," he continued.
Living Beyond the Wall is essentially survival in the wilderness, yet the wildlings manage to multiply generation after generation, which is worthy of admiration from Southerners.
It was snowing in the North, while it was raining in the South.
The King's convoy crossed The Neck and arrived in The Riverlands.
Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully proposed going to Riverrun to visit Lord Hoster, Catelyn's father.
Robert readily agreed.
They arrived at Riverrun together, only to learn that Lord Hoster was gravely ill. Lying in bed, he vaguely opened his eyes, intending to salute King Robert.
"Don't bother! Lord Hoster, by generation, I am your junior; counting through Eddard, you are my uncle; and counting through Jon Arryn, you're practically my damn grandfather!"
King Robert swore angrily.
"Hahaha!" Lord Hoster laughed, a rare occurrence.
"My health is poor, so I'll have Edmure entertain you! May I ask my daughter to stay behind and talk with me?" Lord Hoster asked.
"Of course! We won't intrude," Eddard Stark and the others withdrew from the room, leaving the father and daughter alone.
"Little Cat! It must have been over ten years since I last saw you, hasn't it? *Cough, cough, cough*!" Lord Hoster's face flushed red from coughing.
"Father! I should have come to see you more often," Catelyn looked at him with a worried expression.
"I heard Jon Arryn passed away! That old man... it's just a pity for Lysa!"
Thinking of his younger daughter, he recalled some unpleasant memories.
"Father, Lysa..." Catelyn wasn't sure if she should mention the letter Lysa had written to her.
"Listen to me, Little Cat, Lysa, she has a hard life! Unlike you, who married a younger man, Jon Arryn is older than me!"
Lord Hoster looked regretful.
"Back then, if it weren't to solidify the alliance, marrying Lysa to Jaime Lannister would have been the best choice," he continued.
"The Kingslayer, huh?" Catelyn said.
"He wasn't the Kingslayer back then! Nor had he joined the Kingsguard. Lord Tywin's eldest son marrying my younger daughter was absolutely fitting."
"It's just that a detestable bad boy appeared, he, he, he! He!"
Lord Hoster seemed to be thinking of someone.
"Baelish..." Catelyn murmured the name.
In Riverrun, Edmure enthusiastically hosted all the distinguished guests.
It was his first time meeting his nephews and nieces.
Seeing Sansa, Bran, and Rickon all having red hair, Edmure was very pleased.
However, when he saw Arya, he was somewhat dissatisfied that her hair was black.
Furthermore, Arya didn't seem to understand proper lady's etiquette.
But the person who most surprised Edmure was Ygritte; her red hair made Edmure envious.
But after hearing that she was Jon Snow's wife, Edmure looked regretful.
King Robert secretly asked Edmure if there were any good brothels nearby, or if any farm girls would be willing to warm their beds.
Edmure gave a knowing smile and whispered in response.
"Your Majesty, I'll take you tonight! The girls of The Riverlands might not compare to those elsewhere, but they are certainly not bad!"
The two men finalized their plans.
The others did not do anything out of the ordinary.
For some reason, after arriving in The Riverlands, Jaime Lannister suddenly felt an itch in his left hand and a strong desire to hold a sword.
Then, for reasons unknown, he began practicing Dual Swordsmanship.
He was originally a Right-hander and couldn't use Left-handed Swordsmanship, but his idol, dawn, was a Dual Swordsman.
Jaime Lannister was now in the Godswood at Riverrun, holding a sword in each hand and beginning to practice.
Just then, Jon Snow also arrived here. He saw Jaime Lannister's figure.
In Jon Snow's eyes, Jaime Lannister was a tall, handsome man with an extraordinary presence and a Kingly Demeanor.
"A Dual Swordsman! Isn't he right-handed?" Jon Snow watched Jaime quietly.
If Mufasa were present and checked Jaime's current stats, he would find that his Strength and Speed had changed.
"Name: Jaime Lannister"
"Identity: Kingsguard"
"Profession: Knight"
"Strength: 20"
"Speed: 20"
"Intelligence: 20"
"Spirit: 20"
"Magic Power: 10"
"Talent: Dual Swordsman."
"Evaluation: For love, he can disregard everything. For honor, he can likewise forget life and death."
"Watching for so long, little wolf cub, have you seen enough?" Jaime Lannister smiled, looking toward Jon Snow behind a tree.
"You noticed me a long time ago?" Jon stepped forward.
"Your presence wasn't hidden! And I sensed a scent of winter; someone from House Stark must have arrived!" Jaime chuckled.
"Then, could I ask you to instruct me in swordsmanship?" Jon Snow asked.
"Yes, come on!" Jaime Lannister said.
Jon Snow drew the Longsword from his waist, while Jaime Lannister twirled his Dual Swords.
The wind picked up, and the battle between the two men began. Vaguely, it seemed as if another person appeared behind each of them.
The person who appeared behind Jon Snow was Eddard Stark—no, it was Rhaegar Targaryen.
And the person who appeared behind Jaime Lannister was dawn: Arthur Dayne.
The fight started quickly and ended just as fast.
In less than ten moves, Jon was defeated, Jaime's sword stopping right at his throat.
"You need more practice!" Jaime sheathed his Longsword.
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