Compared to Lady Dustin's few carts of vegetables, Lord Manderly—the "Lord Lamprey"—brought gifts that were as substantial as his girth.
His tribute filled twenty wagons. There were casks of sweet wine and reds shipped from the South, barrels of freshly caught lampreys, a herd of goats, over fifty pigs, crates of crabs and oysters, a gigantic cod, and several massive lobsters.
Lord Wyman Manderly stepped out of his custom-built litter. Seeing Lady Catelyn waiting to welcome him personally, a wide smile spread across his fleshy face. His four chins wobbled as he bowed with difficulty to kiss her hand.
"My Lady, had I known of these battles earlier, I would have curbed my appetite in my youth and ridden out to fulfill my duty personally. Not fighting alongside Lord Eddard Stark is a regret that will haunt me to my grave!"
"There is no need for that, my Lord," Catelyn said, smiling graciously as she signaled the servants to present the bread and salt. "Eddard wrote to say your two sons fought with great courage. They surely possess the spirit you had in your youth."
"Alas, now all I can do is bring this food to celebrate our warriors' triumphant return. May the Seven protect them." Lord Manderly accepted the hospitality readily. After eating the bread, he patted his immense belly and turned slightly to reveal the girl behind him.
"This is my granddaughter, Wynafryd Manderly. She just passed her eleventh nameday, so she should be two years older than your son Robb."
Wynafryd had long brown hair woven into many braids. She was slender, dressed simply but practically in a pale blue tunic and trousers. The Merman sigil of House Manderly was stitched onto her tunic, and a silver seven-pointed star pendant hung around her slender neck.
"It is an honor to meet you, my Lady," Wynafryd said, curtsying as she touched the star pendant. "While my father and uncle followed Lord Eddard south, I prayed day and night in the Snow Sept for their safety. Thankfully, the Seven protected them."
Catelyn leaned down slightly to stroke Wynafryd's smooth cheek. "You remind me so much of my daughter Sansa. You two will surely be good friends. May the Mother and the Maiden watch over you, child."
The North was dominated by the Old Gods, so Catelyn rarely met fellow worshippers of the Seven. Seeing Wynafryd's faith, she was genuinely delighted.
Chatting warmly with Lord Manderly, Catelyn led them toward the Great Keep. Lord Manderly's conversation focused mostly on Robb.
However, when he learned that Lady Dustin was currently at Winterfell, the cheerful smile that had plastered his face since his arrival vanished instantly.
"Lady Dustin has been a widow at Barrow Hall for years. What brings her to Winterfell at a time like this?" Lord Manderly found a bench to sit on, as ordinary chairs were far too small for him.
When told that Lady Dustin was here to secure a betrothal between Domeric and Sansa, he rubbed his round belly and declared:
"If that happens, I swear I shall never eat another lamprey pie as long as I live."
---
The Peach Garden Estate
Robb and Domeric had been hunting deep in the Wolfswood for three days. Guards and free riders had occasionally returned to the estate with game, but the hauls were ordinary—the best prize so far was a man-sized elk taken by Domeric.
During those three days, Arthur and Jon had successfully taught Sansa and the other girls the basics of riding.
Itching for action, Arthur decided it was time to go into the Wolfswood himself.
Jon was equally impatient. "Sansa and the others aren't going into the woods today. The gear is ready. We can leave now."
"You two are going into the Wolfswood? A stalking hunt is not a grand hunt. There are shadowcats, bears, and wolves in there," Lady Dustin warned them before they left.
"You are not experienced hunters. Taking down large game will be difficult and dangerous. Stick to the outskirts; do not go deep."
Compared to the unknown beasts of the Wolfswood, Arthur felt that Lady Dustin's whispers and the girls' shrieking were the greater dangers.
Arthur and Jon set out with two guards and a hound. One of the guards was Alebelly, who had returned from the forest earlier with game.
A stalking hunt was very different from a grand hunt.
A grand hunt was a spectacle. Guards and beaters would fan out, surrounding an area known to hold game. They would slowly close the circle, driving the animals toward the center with noise and dogs until the nobles could leisurely shoot them with arrows or finish them with spears.
Some grand hunts were even safer, with servants restraining the beast with ropes before letting the noble deliver the killing blow. Some even sat in caged wagons, shooting tigers from safety.
A grand hunt guaranteed the noble's safety, provided entertainment, and displayed their power.
A stalking hunt, however, was dangerous. Especially in a place like the Wolfswood. The hunter faced the prey alone, or in a small group. The roles of hunter and hunted could reverse in an instant.
But Arthur wasn't unprepared. He had crafted a new bow.
The bow was made of ironwood from the Wolfswood, with a string of twisted animal sinew, wood, and horn. It had excellent elasticity and power.
Arthur had successfully applied the Equipment Card [Dragonbone Bow] (Original: Qilin Bow) to it.
[Dragonbone Bow]: When concentration is high, provides assisted aiming against high-speed targets like horses and beasts.
Besides the bow and a quiver of arrows, Arthur carried a hunting knife, two daggers, and a bone whistle for signaling.
Jon was similarly equipped with a bow and daggers. Alebelly and the other guard, Cayn, were more lightly armed, carrying only longswords and some throwing stones.
The four of them quickly moved through the outskirts of the Wolfswood. The area was busy with smallfolk digging for roots, picking berries, and chopping wood.
Most were women, old men, and children; the able-bodied men had gone south with Lord Eddard.
"Too many people from the winter town," Alebelly said, scanning the area. He was an experienced woodsman. "Game is scared of people. There won't be anything worth hunting on the outskirts."
"What are Robb and Domeric hunting?" Jon asked from his pony. "We haven't seen any sign of them."
"They went deep. Robb wants to bag a bear or a shadowcat," Alebelly said, hacking at a dense branch with his longsword to clear the path for the boys.
"When we came back, we hadn't seen any shadowcats, but we did find bear tracks."
Cayn, the other Winterfell guard, led the way with the hound. "For the four of us? We'd be lucky to get an elk or a boar."
Hearing "boar," Arthur asked sharply, "Has anyone been drinking?"
Only after receiving a firm 'no' did he relax.
"I want to shoot down a raptor—an eagle or a hawk—to train," Arthur said, stroking his [Dragonbone Bow]. He had only used it on targets, never on a living thing. "Do you know where I can find birds like that?"
"You'd have to go very deep. I don't recommend it," Cayn said, plucking some berries from a bush and chewing them as he walked. "Those birds usually live in the hilly areas deeper in the woods. That's where the cave bears and wolf packs are."
"We're heading to a watering hole now. We have bows and stones; our chances are better there," Alebelly added. He clearly didn't want to take risks. despite his size, he was cautious. In the Wolfswood, his sword never went back into its scabbard.
Arthur took their advice. They knew the woods better than he did.
Soon, the four arrived at a spring deep in the foliage. The vegetation here was lush, and they had spotted fresh tracks on the way.
They left Alebelly to secure the horses and set up a small camp.
Arthur followed Cayn and the hound, and soon they spotted their prey: two rabbits.
"Jon, one each?" Arthur crouched, eyeing the two grey rabbits drinking by the stream. He whispered, "I'll take the left, you take the right."
Jon didn't speak, just nodded nervously.
Cayn kept the hound calm and silent, his eyes scanning the perimeter for danger.
Seeing Jon nod, Arthur didn't hesitate. He raised the [Dragonbone Bow] and aimed at the left rabbit. As he focused, he felt a strange sensation—the rabbit's movements seemed to slow down, as if time itself was dragging.
Thrum—Thrum—
Two bowstrings twanged in quick succession.
Jon fired first. His arrow thudded into the vegetation next to the rabbit.
The noise startled the rabbit Arthur was aiming at. It leaped into the air reflexively—but it never landed. Arthur's arrow caught it mid-jump, piercing clean through its neck.
To the others, it looked like Arthur had predicted the rabbit's movement perfectly.
As for how it felt to use the [Dragonbone Bow]?
Well, Arthur couldn't claim he never missed, but… let's just say he could shoot the wings off a fly.