Chapter 25
Castle Warg, Early Seventh Moon, 286 A.C., The next morning…
I sit at the desk in my solar, my hangover lessened by a breakfast of eggs, mushrooms, black pudding, and bacon as Wyman stands to my left nursing his own hangover.
While I couldn't throw a feast in winter, that didn't stop last night's dinner from turning into a drunken celebration of the company's success. What started as a dinner with great food and conversation morphed into a party full of toasts and dancing. The lords told stories of their adventures to their wives and families, showing off pelts acquired in Ulthos to the shock and amazement of their audience. The ladies gasped at wide jaws of the tigerwolf, stared in horror at the skull of a Deinosuchus or "Giant Lizard Lion", shrieked at the sight of the drop bear, and howled with laughter at story of the wombat, or "Arse Badger" discovered by Ser Ryman Frey. He claimed to witness a wombat retreat into its burrow and use it's hardened rump to block its attacker, a sort of monitor lizard from the description. He gave it the name "Arse Badger" when it lowered itself slightly, allowing the intruder to force its head over the wombat's back, before using its powerful legs to crush the skull of the predator against the roof of the burrow. Literally killing the predator with its arse.
Later on, Myrra and I enjoyed ourselves dancing with each other and our guests. She danced with mostly Westerlords and Northerners and I danced with Myrra's friends, family members like Elsa, Yara, and Mariah, most of the Northern ladies, Shiera Lannister, and Malora Hightower.
Speak of the devil, a servant opens the door and in walks Lord Leyton Hightower, his daughter Malora with the crow perched on her shoulder, and son Humfrey accompanied by Marwyn the Mage. All three Hightowers have the platinum blonde hair of the Valyrians, though only Malora has their amethyst eyes in contrast to her father and brother's pale blue. Lord Hightower and Marwyn greet me with wide grins, Malora with a shy smile, and Humfrey with a nervous look. I stand to greet them and gesture to the seats prearranged before their arrival and they take their seats.
"Lord Seastark, the pulled pork last night was delicious. I hope it isn't too much to ask for the recipe?" Lord Hightower asks in a jolly tone despite signs of being hungover after matching Wyman and I drink for drink.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lord Hightower. It'd be no trouble to give you the recipe. How has the company treated you and Oldtown?" I asked, engaging in a bit of small talk.
"Loss of the Grapevine and my goodson aside, the trade company has been good to my house and Oldtown. The city has always been a center for trade and now sees more from the North and Summer Islands and I look forward to hosting Oldtown's first Director's Meeting in two years' time. The Citadel has been quite happy with the map and specimens brought back by the voyage." Lord Hightower responds.
"Aye, the Gray Sheep were so enamored with the map of Ulthos, that they're planning to sponsor future expeditions with not just your trade company but the Royal and Dornish Trade Companies as well. They intend for maesters and acolytes to join the voyages, record they're findings and collect specimens for the Citadel." Marwyn chimes in, using his favorite name for his fellow archmaesters.
"You've become quite the source of interest for the Citadel with your inventions. I've talked with my son and he has told me how you currently have him working on the construction of a sewer system. This is good to hear because while my eldest son, Baelor, is a capable heir, he will need assistance in ruling Oldtown and keeping bannermen in line. Humfrey's elder brothers Garth and Gunthor's strengths are more… martial than administrative and thus I look to him to be Baelor's future castellan." Lord Hightower continues before looking towards his youngest son.
"Truly, father?" Humfrey asks stunned by his father's admission.
"Aye. You shall take what you learn here and apply it in assisting your brother's rule and there is much to learn from Lord Seastark." His father says in a firm tone.
"I will, father!" Humfrey says with determination and I take that as my cue to transition to the matter at hand.
"And learn much he shall but something I want to learn is how he discovered my secret…" I say looking to Humfrey, knowing he told his father about me being a skinchanger and he looks at me sheepishly.
"Actually Lord Seastark, it was Asher that first suspected. When each of us worked on the sewers, we heard smallfolk in the city talking about the spotted whales. Amidst the praise for their cooperation with the fishermen and whalers, we heard talk of a 'milky-eyed spotted whale'. Asher was the first to suspect you and brought his suspicions up with us. Tyrion and Patrek dismissed it initially, but I, knowing about my sister, didn't. What convinced me was a few weeks ago was when I was working on the sewers, I heard a fisherman fell over board and was rescued by the milky-eyed spotted whale. I tracked down the fisherman and asked him about it and the comment that stuck with me was how he found it odd to see the milk-eyed spotted whale in the afternoon instead of dawn. I remember talking to Jonnel and he mentioned you took a nap in the afternoon and suddenly it all fell into place. My sister takes 'naps'whenever she skinchanges into her crow and I realized you were doing the same thing with spotted whales." My fosterling explains nervously, his eyes flickering between me and his father.
"Have you told your fellow fosterlings? Do they know?" I ask in a grave voice and he hesitates before answering.
"Yes, Lord Seastark, I told them about your nap. It convinced Tyrion and Patrek while Asher felt vindicated…" He replies and I mutter a curse, pinching the bridge of my nose with my thumb and index finger. "…I wrote to my father because my sister shares the same gift." Humfrey answers solemnly.
"I'm going to have to speak with them…" I mutter to myself before responding to Humfrey. "Aye, I briefly spoke with your sister last night when we danced." I say, my eyes flickering to Malora.
"Lord Seastark asked me if I enjoyed the Director's Meeting and I confessed to skinchanging into Onyx and eavesdropping." Malora says in a soft voice.
"No doubt telling my wife you were 'tired from the long journey' and wished to take a small rest." I snort and Malora grins slyly.
"I may have told her something along those lines." She says with a giggle.
"So…" I turn my attention back to her father. "… You know my secret and I know yours. What do you want exactly?" I finally ask him the question that I've been dying to have answered since they arrived yesterday. Lord Hightower takes a moment to collect himself.
"Well, as you know, my house are firm believers in the Seven-Who-Are-One and have been proud patrons of the Faith in the days since the Coming of the Andals. So, imagine my surprise when my daughter begins to show signs of being a skinchanger, something the Faith demonizes as witchcraft and foul sorcery. If word ever got out, it would be more than a mere embarrassing scandal, Lord Seastark. I could very well have a riot in Oldtown and the Starry Sept calling for my daughter's head or exile. Despite my piety, there is one thing I hold above the Faith, my family. I could never do that to my daughter, not when we can learn so much about magic with her gift. So, I kept it secret, going as far as to make sure she doesn't marry. Couldn't run the risk of the secret getting out due to any of her children inheriting. I eventually told Marwyn so he could help her better utilize her gift." Lord Hightower begins to explain.
"I have read much on skinchangers and knew some things, but unfortunately, as I'm not a skinchanger myself, there is only so much I can do to help her." Marwyn chimes in.
"Then my son wrote of you and your connection with the spotted whales. Word of spotted whales assisting fishmen and whalers in Sea Dragon Bay has travelled as far as Oldtown, but many, including the Citadel were skeptical. When Humfrey mentioned skinchanging, it suddenly made sense! You control the pod of spotted whales like a pack of wolves to do your bidding!" Lord Hightower continues excitedly. "I asked Marwyn before he left for his travels and he told me that whales were incredibly difficult to skinchange into and that only those particularly skilled in skinchanging could even hope to accomplish such a feat. Surely someone as skilled as you can mentor my daughter in her gift?" The lord of Oldtown looks at me with hopeful eyes.
I blink owlishly, stunned he thinks I bonded the entire pod. "I… think there's been a misunderstanding, Lord Hightower. I don't skinchange into the entire pod, just one spotted whale. While I know it's possible to skinchange into multiple animals at the same time, I've never done it and don't know how." I inform with a shrug.
The guests scrunch their faces in confusion. "You didn't bond with the pod? Ah, so you must have bonded with the pod leader and then had him coordinate the pod!" Marwyn guessed and I shake my head.
"Nope. I bonded with her grandson, who I've named Driver. I told him about my idea to get spotted whales to cooperate with the fishermen and whalers. He relayed it to his grandmother and we came to an agreement. The pod assists in the hunts and they feed first. Since then, his grandmother has led the pod in the hunts, as Driver is on the cusp of maturity at almost ten namedays old." I politely correct him.
I named him Driver simply because I've been calling him "The Driver" for years now and decided to drop the "the" part. His mother I named Orca because while it maybe a bit of a cliché name for a spotted whale, I wanted to bring the word to a world where it didn't exist.
"Wait, grandmother!?" "An agreement with spotted whales!?" "Then how are you leading the hunts?" Malora, Leyton, and Marwyn inquire respectively.
"Yes, spotted whales are matriarchal in social structure. Yes, they are creatures intelligent enough that one may negotiate simple deals. Though I wouldn't expect them to sign any treaties anytime soon." I answer Malora and her father with a jape, receiving chuckles from the Hightowers and Wyman. "As for the hunts, I'm usually not involved because they usually happen during the day and I tend to skinchange at night in my sleep. I only participate when I take a nap but I'm usually too busy with my lordly duties. The grandmother, who I've named Old Gladys, leads her pod in the hunts with usually little to no direction from me." I turn to Marwyn writing in a brown leather-bound journal with a piece of charcoal.
"Fascinating…" He mutters, not noticing a frown that creeps up on my face.
"I hope you not intending to publish my secret, Marwyn. I'd rather not deal with the Faith calling for my head." I say with slight edge. Marwyn halts his scribbling to look me dead in the eyes.
"Publish? Of course not! This is my private journal with my personal notes. Make no mistake Lord Seastark, I'm here for my own research and not the Citadel's. The Gray Sheep hate the mention of magic in any form so I wouldn't have included it anyway. Your secret is safe with me." Marwyn stares at me unwaveringly and I detect no lies in his voice or eyes.
"And what about Barneby?" I ask about the acolyte that accompanied him.
"He's here to research the history of House Blackwood, specifically their time in the North before being driven out by the Starks. The Blackwoods claimed to be 'Kings of the Wolfswood' but were always contested by House Greenwood or the 'Warg Kings' as they're remembered. I have no doubt he'll ask you about the history of Castle Warg and the Greenwoods." Marwyn replies with a shrug.
"Well, that explains why he was talking to Tytos Blackwood for most of the night. He's in luck, we know all about the Warg Kings!" Wyman says with a chuckle.
"Aye, this very castle was built on the ruins of their holdfast, the old stones still visible in the cellars. We also have the book written by Rikard the Wordsmith, History of the Greenwoods. The original, not a copy." I say and Marwyn's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
"Who? I've never heard of that book or author." Lord Hightower asks in confusion while his daughter looks at me with a perplexed expression.
"Rikard the Wordsmith is famous in the North but I'm not surprised he isn't heard of south of the Neck. He was a Northmen who studied at the Citadel to become a maester some hundred or so years ago before the Doom. It's unknown why, but he abandoned his pursuit to become a maester and instead returned to his homeland, traveling, collecting stories, and studying it's history. He would go on to write five-and-ten books on the North with one pertaining to the history of the Warg Kings." Wyman explains to the Hightowers as Marwyn grins.
"I've heard of Rikard the Wordsmith, many in the Citadel have. I'm surprised you have an original, I hear they're quite rare and all but one reside in the North. Barneby will be delighted to use it for his research and if you don't mind, I'd like to read it myself." Marwyn asks.
"You and Barneby are welcomed to read it in the castle library where it will stay at all times. Now I think we've drifted off topic long enough…" I turn my gaze back to Lord Hightower. "…You wish for me to tutor your daughter in skinchanging. But the truth is, if she's already bonded with a crow, then there's not much I can teach her. I mean sure, I can show her how to bond with a whale, that's not the issue. The issue is if she bonds with one of the spotted whales here and then returns to Oldtown, she either leaves her bonded whale here or takes it with her. But doing so is a non-starter because neither the matriarch or I will allow the pod to become fragmented or separated." I explain with a shrug.
"Who says I'll be going back to Oldtown to stay?" Malora responds with an impish smile and I raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"What my daughter means is you mentioned last night that Northerners don't see skinchanging as curse but as a gift…" Lord Hightower cuts in and I nod, vaguely remembering our conversation last night deep into our cups. "…And that had me considering…alternative marriage prospects for Malora. Mayhaps a marriage with a Northern house would be beneficial to her? I'm afraid I don't know the Northern houses that well." Lord Hightower looks at me and I seize the opportunity to play matchmaker.
"Well, Galbert Glover and Owen Fisher are both my cousins and heirs to their respective houses. They may not be as wealthy as House Seastark, but they are both ancient houses founded in the Age of Heroes." I say while gauging his reaction. I notice his eyes lit up when I mention they were my cousins.
"Don't forget about my goodbrother Jonos Slate, heir to Blackpool! House Slate is old and proud like the Glovers and Fishers but unlike them, they have a pod of spotted whales in Blackpool!" Wyman cuts in to surprise of everyone except Malora.
"Oh yes! He told me about it last night when we danced. Said the fishermen were tossing fish to the spotted whales for good fortune." She says, her purple eyes lighting up as she recounts the night. I shoot Wyman a questioning glance.
"Word of your sermon on spotted whales being 'sea messengers of the Old Gods' has reached Blackpool. The local fishermen are already giving offerings to the local pod in hopes being blessed with a good catch!" He says with a chuckle. I blink owlishly as I didn't expect for that sermon to go beyond Sea Dragon Point. I made the whole thing up just to get the people of Wolfsport to accept the idea of working with spotted whales. I'm interrupted from wondering how far it's spread and how this could affect the North when Lord Hightower speaks.
"Sea messengers?" He asks with a confused face. I sigh and summarize my sermon on the Old Gods being gods of nature, including the sea, and how spotted whales were their messengers. Conveniently leaving out the crucial detail that I fabricated the whole thing.
"Fascinating…" Lord Hightower mutters. "…I have never heard of this side of the Old Gods. The Seven-Pointed Star has a passage chronicling how one of Hugor of the Hill's four-and-forty sons nearly drowned when his ship was struck by a storm and sank. He survived the storm, laying on a piece of driftwood and prayed to the Seven-Who-Are-One for salvation. The next morning, seven spotted whales swam to his driftwood and pushed him towards land."
"Huh… Never heard of that passage." I mutter.
"It's not a commonly used passage in sermons by septons. But if I speak with Head Septon of the Starry Sept, they could use it to get the fishermen of Oldtown more amendable to working with spotted whales." Lord Hightower responds, half talking out loud.
"Getting back on topic, I can train Lady Malora and how to skinchange into a spotted whale here in Sea Dragon Bay but she won't be allowed to fully develop a bond with them. She can practice forming a bond before fully developing one on her own in Oldtown or a Northern house. I'll see if Humfrey as any potential." I say drawing the room's attention and Humfrey's excited gasp.
"Really!? You're going to train me to become a skinchanger!" The two and ten-year-old says jubilantly.
"If you have the gift, I will train you. While your sister having the gift increases the likelihood of possessing it yourself, it isn't guaranteed." I gently correct him. His wide smile lessens but doesn't disappear. "Have you had any strange dreams lately? Particularly those involving animals?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"No, no strange dreams." He says before adopting a fearful expression. "Does that mean I can't skinchange!?" I shake my head.
"Not necessarily. You might not have awaken it yet. Lady Malora, when did you first you first start having skinchanging dreams?"
She scrunches her face, thinking for a moment. "A moon or two after my three and tenth nameday." She answers in a soft voice.
"And I didn't start skinchanging until I was seven and ten so you have time Humfrey." My words cause Humfrey to relax with the knowledge he still might have the gift before perking up again.
"Will you train the others?" He asks in a hopeful tone.
"Well since they know, I might as well see if they have the gift. I'll talk with them when the lords leave. Let them spend time with their families." I respond.
Tyrion is spending time with his brother and favorite uncle, Patrek with his father and Asher with his family. All enjoying their time her but missing their kin.
"What do you seek in exchange for training potentially two of my children?" Lord Hightower inquires cautiously.
"Well, you know the canned foods I've been making?" Lord Hightower raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, I've heard the Lord Captains speak of them and my son Ser Garth tried them in Asshai…" He speaks slowly, wondering where I'm going with this.
"To put it simply, I've expanded my canning endeavors to found the Seastark Canning Company and I seek to establish a contract with Council of Directors to supply the trade company…" I began explaining only to Lord Hightower to finish for me.
"…And you wish for me to speak in favor. Anything else?" I smile at the interruption.
"As a matter of fact, yes! When I obtain the contract I want a branch to be established in Oldtown along with Lannisport and Seagard." I answer and he hesitantly gives his agreement to my terms.
"So, we are in agreement then?" Lord Hightower inquires and I nod my head.
"Aye, I think we're finished. Unless anyone has anything to add…" I trail off but the occupants shake their heads and begin to make their way out.
"I will consider your words on a Northern betrothal for my daughter, Lord Seastark." He turns his head to me, nods and leaves after his children with Marwyn pausing at the door.
"I enjoyed our conversation last night Lord Seastark. It's rare to find a lord so well read and not dismissive of magic. I particularly enjoyed discussing your theory that the Children of the Forests and the Ifequevron or Woodswalkers of northern Essos are the same people. Mirri and I will be staying for the next few moons. Myself to study your bond with the spotted whales and Mirri will train several godswives for her people settling your lands." Marwyn says with a grin.
"Aye, and I found your theory of the Deeps Ones building and ruling from Asshai before it became the capital of the Great Empire of the Dawn intriguing. Mirri told me plans last night after she visited them and realized they didn't have a godswife. As for the bond, I invite you to attend a whale hunt in Sea Dragon Bay. See how man and spotted whale work together to bring down larger prey like our ancient ancestors did with wolves." I say matching his grin with one of my own.
"I think I'll take you up on that offer, Lord Seastark!" Marwyn laughs before exiting my solar. After a moment Wyman speaks.
"So…Who out of the fosterlings do you think has the gift cousin?" He asks, turning his gaze to me.
I consider it for a moment. "Hmm… With his sister being a skinchanger, Humfrey has decent odds. Asher's a good bet too, but I doubt Patrek has the gift. Tyrion's a stag card." I answer honestly.
A stag card is my version of a joker or wildcard in the warden's deck. The difference is that there's only one stag card, representing the king's power and unpredictable authority over the wardens. Wyman slowly nods his head.
"I agree with you that Humfrey and Asher are the most likely but I think Patrek has a better chance than Tyrion…" Wyman starts before we start debating amongst ourselves…
Five days later…
A cold gust of wind sweeps through the western docks of Wolfsport, the worst of it's bite shielded by my ushanka bearing the Seatstark banner. Southron and Northern lords readying themselves to board ships back to their homes.
I spot Humfrey, Malora, and their father speaking with Jonos Slate and his father Lord Artos. The lord of Blackpool's eyes meet mine and he gives a grateful nod. I grin and return the nod, content with Lord Slate owing me favor for making such a prestigious match for his house possible. While the wedding in Oldtown is still six moons away, Jonos and Malora will stay in Castle Warg while I train her. Jonos will be staying to prevent any scandalous rumors of Malora's presence in my home, with him and his father told of my gift and sworn to secrecy.
The frigid blast draws a grunt from my conversation partner Lord Gerion Lannister, wearing a matching ushanka but with the Lannister lion.
"I don't know how you Northerners can survive this cold." He grumbles with a shiver.
"Why do you think the North is sparsely populated and traditionally poorer than the other kingdoms? Our winters have always been longer and harsher, killing more people and costing more coin to survive. It's lands may be vast but its farmland is limited and the quality, passable at best But we endure regardless because we are Northerners." I explain with a wry grin. I see the Lord Director nod his head in understanding.
"Makes sense, though the North isn't as poor as it once was, is it?" Gerion asks already knowing the answer.
I let out a chuckle. "No, it is not."
Between my inventions and the trade companies, the North has grown wealthier as a whole with the western shore houses, Dustins, Starks, and Manderlys being the biggest winners. The rest of the North, from the Umbers to the Reeds have benefitted from my actions and their ripples but to a far lesser extent. Midwives were using forceps as far as Barrowton, Ice Harbor, and Winterfell, saving babes and mothers. Farmers were using my plows, harnesses, and seed drills as far as Moat Cailin, currently sitting idle waiting for spring. My canned food production has expanded with the founding of the Seastark Canning Company, now contracted to supply canned food to the Sunset Trade Company. The ice trade from the Northern Mountains, a new big moneymaker, is currently in hibernation since no one wants ice in winter but when spring comes again, so too will the demand. Cheaper grain from my dealings with the Hightowers have, not just my house, but all the western shore houses better prepared going into this winter. From talking to my fellow lords, their food situations remain strained if stable, with no reports of any widespread hunger or famines. Quickstone has been spreading throughout the North and once spring arrives on top of paving the Wolfswood and Kingsroad thanks to a deal with Lord Stark for tax breaks. Next year will be the last of my tax-free years but thankfully I'll still have five years of half taxes after that. And that wasn't getting into future plans for a whaling company…
"Are you coming to Lannisport when your cannery is established?" Gerion yanks me from my thoughts. Mentioning one of the future branches of my canning company, the others being Seagard and Oldtown
"Aye, I'm heading to Oldtown for a wedding and to inspect my cannery there. Myrra would kill me if we didn't stop at The Crag, Fair Isle, and Lannisport along the way!" I say with a chuckle.
"Well, my brother will want to meet with you about your cannery, evaluate Tyrion's progress, and host your family for dinner." Gerion explains.
"No doubt to see if I'm keeping my promise of forging Tyrion into Ser Jaime's Kevan…" I say with a snort. "…Wouldn't mind seeing your wife and Tyrone again."
My wife would certainly love to see you two again and you have yet to meet my daughter Tynisha. It was a shame I couldn't be there for her birth but she's growing fast at seven moons old and Tyrone recently had his second nameday!" Gerion says excitedly and I have to fight to not to burst out laughing at the names of his children.
"I know what you mean, feels like yesterday the twins were born and next thing I know, they're three with two younger siblings!" I say wistfully. Unfortunately, Gerion unintentionally ruins my reminiscing with his next words.
"Speaking of twins, my brother will no doubt be pleased to finally have grandsons!" My smile strains at the mention of the pair of ravens that arrived yesterday and the day before. One from Casterly Rock and one from King's Landing bearing news of the births of Sumner Lannister and Joffrey Baratheon, both blonde and green-eyed.
All of Myrra and I's best efforts, even going as far as to use Tyrion and Lucos were for nought. Ser Silence managed to find time and privacy within the labyrinth of rooms and corridors within Casterly Rock to sleep with Cersei, knocking her up with Joffrey. Shiera getting pregnant around the same time was a surprise since it meant he took time to sleep with his wife during Burton and Dacey's wedding.
Of course, Stannis finally gets an heir and it's a Lannister incest baby, man can't catch a break no matter the timeline! Joffrey's incestuous lineage presents a problem because he's set to not only inherit Storm's End, but the Iron Throne as well because despite Robert having two daughters, Stannis is still the official heir! I didn't expect this to be an issue because for all of Westeros, the rule of succession clearly stated "daughters before uncles" and I thought this would be the case.
Turns out it isn't. Why? Because of Baelor the Befuddled (like any good Northmen I refuse to call him "Baelor the Blessed"), made a royal proclamation that "No queen shall sit upon the Iron Throne while she has uncles and male cousins". This effectively reversed the traditional inheritance laws of "daughters before uncles" but only for the Iron Throne. I never knew about this because either Martin never bothered to mention it or it's a small difference between this world and canon. Hopefully the king will either have a son or designate Princess Argella as his heir.
"Yes… do pass on my congratulations to your brother." I keep my composure as Tyrion and Ser Silence himself walk up to us. Having already given my congratulations for the birth of Sumner Lannister, Tyrion and I bid farewell to his brother and uncle. Lord Hightower finishes his conversation with Lord Slate and goes to board his ship, giving me a respectful nod on the way. Humfrey, Jonos, and Malora make their way over to Tyrion and I and we in turn walk to pick up Patrek as he says his farewells to his father. Asher is still in Castle Warg as the Forresters will leave tomorrow with the Wolfswood clans by dog sleds. Along the way I make idle conversation with Jonos and Malora while three quarters of my fosterlings whisper amongst themselves. Tyrion, being the bookworm he is, has already read all the books in the castle library, including History of the Greenwoods and is quietly discussing it's chapter of skinchanging with Humfrey and Patrek. Or at least Humfrey unlike Patrek and Asher, he also read the book.
"…said the Warg Kings received their skinchanging abilities from the Old Gods after performing blood sacrifices at the same heart tree that stands in Castle Warg!" I overhear Tyrion whispering excitedly to Humfrey unease and Patrek's silent horror. Ironic because I have yet to tall them of my secret and that I'll see if I can train them in skinchanging. Humfrey's quickly glances behind him at me and meets my eyes. I simply grin and say nothing as I listen to Jonos and Malora mostly talk between themselves, leaving me as an awkward third wheel. Not that I minded since it gives me time to think about what Tyrion said about the Warg Kings and the heart tree in my castle. Maybe I can do something with blood