iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 627 Winterfell 6
Arya asked incredulously, "Is Grimm really that fast?"

Sirio nodded gracefully: "No one is faster than him—at least in the nine free trade cities I have traveled through, I have never seen such a strongman, curious girl."

A short distance away, Green, with his exceptional hearing, thought: "..."

Clang, clang, clang, Rickon kept swinging his wooden sword, and Green parried each time with perfect precision.

When Rickon stumbled into the snowdrift for the fifth time, his feet barely moving, Green caught him with one hand.

He smiled as if he were holding a kitten, saying, "Not bad, you're growing. Your strike today was half a beat faster than yesterday's."

Upon hearing the praise, Rickon just chuckled to himself.

The other end.

Cilio stared at them and lowered his voice slightly, saying, "Observe with your own eyes, and see, the king is not only fast, but also incredibly strong."

Arya asked in confusion, "Ricken isn't heavy? How did you 'insight' (Chapter 153) that?"

“You have to include the armor Rickon wore today.”

Sirio smiled slightly: "Girl, take a good look at His Majesty's wrist. An ordinary knight would have his veins bulging long ago. Not many people can do it so easily."

“Oh, oh, oh.” Arya nodded vigorously.

Meanwhile, Green, who was rubbing Rickon's head, was speechless.

This Braavos swordsman knows too much...

Fortunately, Green was a tolerant king.

Green suddenly turned around, his blue cloak billowing in the wind, snowflakes tumbling down from the gaps in his shoulder armor.

He beckoned and called out, "Freil, come on, let's let the children see a slightly more intense swordsmanship duel."

Upon hearing the king's invitation, Syrio, who had been wearing a good teacher's smile, froze.

After a brief pause, he bowed slightly and said, "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

……

The snow fell all night, so the king announced the cancellation of today's hunting trip.

After morning practice, Green was accompanied by Arya and Rickon, who were still excitedly jumping and laughing, while the Braavos swordsman, whose steps had become slightly unsteady, followed behind them.

"Good day, Your Majesty!"

There were many people having breakfast in the main hall of Winterfell. Green gestured for them to leave, then led the wolf cubs inside.

Lady Catelyn and Sansa were drinking steaming hot tea, served by Daisy Mormont.

Compared to the South, the customs of the North appear more rugged.

Although she married into the Stark family, Lady Catelyn "stubbornly" preserved Tully-time customs, and Sansa was a good inheritor of this tradition.

……

Seeing that they were about to bow, Green gestured for them to stop, then sat down opposite them and said, "It smells delicious."

Sansa exchanged a brief glance with her mother and smiled, "Your Majesty, the fried fish tastes quite good today. Please try it."

"it is good."

Sir Brienne and the waiters went to fetch the food, and Green generously instructed that it be distributed to everyone in the kitchen.

Arya and Rickon had been groomed by the servants, but they still looked disheveled in Lady Catelyn's eyes.

Seeing the conflicted look on her face, Green couldn't help but smile.

He patted Rickon's head: "Shall we take a bath together later?"

Rickon's chubby little body visibly trembled: "Your Majesty, may I refuse?"

Green raised an eyebrow in confusion, and then Lady Catelyn's slightly stern voice came through: "Ricken Stark, it is your honor, and you should sincerely thank His Majesty." Then, her gaze shifted to Arya, who was smirking: "You should also take a hot bath; I will have Mordance serve you."

Arya's smile vanished; her chin resting on the table, her face scrunched up in a frown.

Rickon crept closer, his chubby little hands already gripping Green's clothes, and he whispered nervously, "Your Majesty, please be merciful, can we not use the brush?"

brush?!
Green noticed the smile hidden behind Sansa's napkin; she was clearly trying her best to conceal her schadenfreude.

After scanning the area, the wise King Green quickly figured out the "secret".

The brush represents deep maternal love, which seems to be one of the childhood nightmares for most people in the Seven Kingdoms...

He suppressed a smile and said seriously, "If your dining etiquette satisfies Lady Caitlin, well, your king will consider your rather unreasonable request."

Upon hearing this, Rickon immediately sat up straight, picked up a napkin and carefully wiped his hands, then nodded to everyone.

Seeing her brother's obedient appearance, Arya's eyes widened involuntarily. She felt betrayed by her brother; he had actually started to imitate the hypocritical Sansa!
However, Arya, who considered herself tough and resilient, did not succumb to her mother's punishment. Instead, she deliberately half-reclined on the chair to show her determination.

But her mother's gaze was still so terrifying that she eventually sat down obediently.

Then, to avoid her mother's possible "hunting," she tried to make conversation with Green: "What are you planning to do after you take a shower?"

Greene thought for a moment: "Scholar Ruwen told me that he has the only handwritten copy of 'Weapons of War' in the Seven Kingdoms, and I intend to borrow it."

The book written by Imienton, a weapon of war, was originally written on Valyrian parchment scrolls.

Upon hearing this, Arya's little face scrunched up again: "Reading is so boring."

Green leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "Reading more books can keep your mind clear and sharp, and naturally, your sword will become even sharper."

Arya's eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"

Green shrugged: "Your king never lies."

Rickon, who was struggling to maintain his upright posture, leaned closer and said, "Then I need to read more books too!"

Green stretched out his palm and clapped each of their small hands: "Very good, you will definitely be invincible knights in the future."

Lady Caitlin watched all this with satisfaction, and she prayed to the gods in heaven, hoping that she could see Arya and Rickon reading gracefully every day.

Sansa gave her sister and brother a disdainful look, certain that they wouldn't be able to sit still for more than two pages.

She was incredibly grateful to the gods for the heavy snowfall the previous night, which gave her ample opportunity to interact with the king. Although she couldn't accompany him on the hunt, reading was something she excelled at.

She can use this opportunity to learn from the king's governing experience, and also to showcase her own...

Thinking of this, Sansa whispered a few words to her mother, then quietly signaled Daisy to go to the study to make arrangements.

After a short while, Sir Brienne and the others brought over the food, and fried fish, bacon, mushroom cream soup, and white bread were placed on the table one by one.

Greene picked up his large wooden goblet and had just taken a sip of ale when Maester Luwin hurried up to them.

The old scholar's thick gray cloak was soaked with cold air, and his hair and shoulders were covered with snow. A wax-sealed letter was between his withered fingers.

He first bowed to Green, then his cloudy eyes shifted to Lady Caitlin, and he nodded, saying, "The ravens of Last Hearth City just delivered a letter, which should be... Duke Ned's military report."

Upon receiving the densely packed letters, Lady Caitlin, though maintaining her composure, could not hide her nervousness.

Green wiped his mouth with a napkin, then stood up from his chair and patted the wolf cub who was munching on bread: "Little Rickon, you should use a brush next time you take a bath."

Lady Catelyn understood the King's intention. She naturally rose, took a few steps, and then gestured for Sansa to follow.

……

The lord's study.

The letter contained two main contents: one was information about Tyrion and the Red Priestess's departure to meet the King (Chapter 623).

Another piece of intelligence is...

(End of this chapter)