Game of Thrones: Lord of Winter

"Lord Stark." He looked at Ed, who looked a little haggard. "I thought you had returned to the north."

Cole took a bite of lemon pie, mixed wheat flour with eggs and lemon juice, and baked a bright yellow crispy pie. There was a pastry chef in the castle who, in addition to daily bread, also made some fruit pastries and cake pies.

A bitter smile appeared on Ed's face, and he didn't want to leave.

"Lord Stannis seems to have forgotten his guests." Lady Catelyn said with an unhappy expression.

She was angry that Stannis and his group were indifferent to them these days. If he wanted people in the north to fight for him, then he should give their lord enough respect. She thought angrily in her heart.

Cole just ate the food on the plate in silence, and he couldn't guess what Stannis was thinking. In fact, sending Ed Stark back would be beneficial to him.

He originally wanted to advise Stannis to ally with the North and Dorne first, and then seek King's Landing.

That night Cole was looking through letters in the main hall. These were all left by Stannis, which were of great help to him in understanding the situation. After all, the only way to obtain information in this era was through people or letters.

I accidentally flipped through a letter from the North. This letter had not even been opened yet. It must have been sent recently. The envelope happened to be stuck together with another letter.

Cole finished reading the letter, then got up and went downstairs, but he turned back halfway. It was getting late, so let's talk about it tomorrow.

The guards assembled at the crack of dawn, and Cole led them on a run across the city walls. This is what has been happening in Storm's End recently. After the morning run, the guards began to train hahahaha.

Cole will not leave until the end of training with the team, and then Jose will arrange a day of city defense duty.

The servants connected the hot water, and Cole could directly take a bath without testing the water temperature.

After taking a shower, he went straight to the guest building and knocked on Eddard Stark's door, only to see Mrs. Stark slowly open the door.

"I request to see Lord Stark, my lady."

She opened the door and let Cole in.

But he saw Ed sitting on the bedside, facing the afternoon sun outside the window.

"Sir Julius?" He asked softly, his brows were uncomfortable and he looked a little melancholy.

It seems that suffering has made our Lord Stark, who has always been honorable and determined, weak and cowardly.

"Here is a piece of news from the north. I thought I should show it to you." Cole took out the letter.

Ed took the letter and read it word for word. The more he looked at it, the heavier his expression became.

The Ironborn invaded the North on a large scale and captured several northern fortresses such as Winterfell and Deepwood Castle.

The news hit Ed like thunder in his heart. He stood up in a hurry, forgetting about the injuries on his legs and feet. He stumbled and fell out of bed, but luckily Cole held him up.

"Your Majesty, please watch your legs and feet," he advised.

Catelyn also rushed up to help her husband, and asked nervously, "Ned, what was written in the letter?"

"It's the ironborn who are causing trouble in the north, my lady. They captured Winterfell," Cole explained.

"What!" Caitlin screamed, her voice trembling as she asked, "How are Bran and Rickon?"

"It's Theon, it must be Theon. Robb sent him to Pyke." Catelyn gritted her teeth. She had advised him early on that Balon Greyjoy had never been someone who could be trusted, even him. The same goes for the children of a robber. The son of a robber can only be a robber.

"There is no news about your young master yet." Cole shook his head.

I don’t know who this letter came from, but the text description in it is very superficial, and there is no information that can be dug into.

"Ned." Caitlin looked at her husband and saw that he was sweating like rain, gritting his teeth and holding on. She swallowed back what she wanted to say instantly, thinking: What can Ned do if he returns to this state? The maester said that his legs needed to rest for at least half a year, and a few days ago he was stubborn and wanted to follow Stannis to King's Landing.

"Sir, please." Ed clutched Cole's arm tightly.

It was the first time that Catelyn saw her husband begging for help in such a humble manner. His Ned would abide by his honor all his life and would rather live and die than bow his head.

But he loved their children, just as she did, and they both worried about 'Sansa' in King's Landing and 'Bran' and 'Rickon' in Winterfell. But because of his injuries, he could only stay in Storm's End, helpless.

She saw the kid who was Robb's age frown slightly. "Lord Stark, I will have people keep an eye out for passing ships."

Cole walked out of the room and sighed silently, he had to get ready.

Your Majesty the King, you must not go back to your original trajectory.

He went straight to Gilbert Fallin.

"Ser Falin, I never thought that the king would actually entrust you and me with the responsibility of garrisoning Storm's End Castle."

"Sir, this is your Majesty's trust in us."

"Yes, I heard that your son is His Majesty's attendant?"

"Well, Bailan has always been His Majesty's attendant."

Cole nodded. "He will become an excellent knight, just like the coat of arms of your family."

"Good advice from you, sir."

"Have you met Lord Stark?" Cole asked him casually.

"Had a few conversations."

"His Majesty Stannis is the most trustworthy person in the Seven Kingdoms." Cole pretended to be worried, "But people always forget things, just like I sometimes forget what I said."

Although his face was full of confusion, he still said, "No one can remember every word he said."

"Yes, but as vassals, how can we watch the king break his promise?"

Sir Gilbert had a question mark on his face.

"I need to go out. During this period, the things in Storm's End will be left to you temporarily. During my absence, you will be the acting city lord. I will let the knights under me help you."

He looked at Cole in shock, unable to guess what his intentions were.

"My lord, where are you going?" he asked.

"Of course it's to send Lord Stark back to the North." Cole said to him.

"You don't have to"

"Sir, we need allies." Cole looked directly at him. "After Your Majesty captured King's Landing, we still have enemies from the north and south, the Lannister in the West and the Greyjoy in the Iron Islands. If we only rely on the Stormlands Nobles, how long will it take for us to put down the rebellion?"

Gilbert Law wanted to say that these things should not be something they should consider. But considering that the Marquis is an important minister of the king, he has many more things to think about than him.

Thinking again that this unconquerable general on the battlefield was left behind, perhaps to carry out some of the king's secret orders.

If Cole knew what he was thinking, he would probably say: No, you are thinking too much.

Cole just knew that Stannis "may" be defeated, so he had to save a hand. He didn't want the Marquis he had just acquired to become an empty title in the blink of an eye.

ps: It has been almost two months since I wrote it, and it will finally be on the shelves tomorrow.