---
The moment I finished reading the letter, it disappeared.
Just like that.
One moment, there was a letter in my hand. The next, I was holding nothing. Another strange and bizarre event to add to the growing list.
Now that some things had been cleared up, I figured I should check the store function—see what I had access to and how much things would cost. But before I could do that, there was a knock on the door.
"My lord, it is time for breaking fast," a voice called from outside.
"Yeah, I'll be out right now. Don't go—I need your help getting there," I replied.
"Of course, my lord."
With that settled, I searched for some water to wash my face, clearing away the last remnants of sleep and the gunk in the corners of my eyes. After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, I stepped outside, where the servant waited to escort me to the Great Hall of Winterfell.
---
Lord Stark and his family were already breaking their fast, seated alongside some of the household guards. The servant led me to where the Stark patriarch sat. The moment I stood before him, he paused his meal and acknowledged me.
"John."
I returned the greeting. "My lord, my lady."
"We will talk after this," he said simply before returning to his meal. I nodded in understanding and took a seat at one of the tables.
Almost immediately, the servants brought me a plate of bread and sausages, along with some ale to wash it down. It was a hearty breakfast, one that I took my time enjoying. But soon enough, a message came—I was to report to Lord Stark's solar.
---
When I arrived, I was granted entrance right away. Inside, Eddard Stark sat behind his desk, his expression serious yet calm.
The solar itself was simple, practical—no unnecessary luxuries, just well-used furnishings that gave the room an air of quiet authority. It was what I expected. The Starks had ruled the North for 8,000 years, and for all I knew, this solar had been in use for just as long.
I took a moment to glance around before shifting my attention to the man in front of me.
The first thing you notice about Eddard Stark is his eyes. They held a tiredness that didn't quite match his otherwise youthful face. He wasn't a handsome man—not exactly—but looking into those weary eyes, one might feel a flicker of pity.
But that tiredness wasn't to be mistaken for weakness. From the moment I entered, he had been watching me carefully, evaluating.
He motioned for me to take a seat.
Once I was seated, he got straight to the point.
"You are here regarding the reward for your contributions to the North during the war."
No unnecessary pleasantries. He may not have the ruthlessness of some of his ancestors, but he still spoke like a Stark—straightforward and to the point.
"The land at Sea Dragon Point is currently unclaimed. It was my father's wish to develop it into a port city, a stronghold to protect the western coast of the North from the Ironborn. I want to grant you those lands so that my father's plan may finally be realized."
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