Author: Sai Longhu

Ed dines with the children in the hall.

Little Rickon was still nursing, so Catelyn asked a servant to take the meal to the bedroom.

Robb and Bran wore woolen coats with the direwolf emblem of the Stark family on their chests. Domeric wore the scarlet cloak of the Bolton family, but on his chest was the rusty crown and crossed battle ax emblem of his aunt Dustin's family.

Before Domeric came to Winterfell to become an adopted son, he was a squire to his aunt Lady Barber. On Theon's black leather armor was the golden sea monster crest of the Greyjoy family.

Jon Snow sat in the corner of the table. As the bastard son of Winterfell, he had no crest to wear.

Eddard heard from Ser Rodrik Kelso, the coach of Winterfell, that Theon has been practicing archery and swordsmanship more hard recently. In the past, Theon trained with Robb and Jon, and the eleven-year-old Robb and Jon

During sparring, Theon was no threat at all. Theon always defeated Robb and Jon with a smirk on his face.

But now, Domeric, the heir to the Dreadfort, has come to Winterfell and became Ed's adopted son. Domeric's swordsmanship, riding and spear skills are all better than Theon's at the same age. In the past, Robb and Bran worshiped their elder brother.

It has been transferred from Xion's body to Domeric's body.

Sansa always asked Domeric for music and ballad advice, and pestered him to play the harp for her; Arya originally didn't like Domeric, but seeing his excellent swordsmanship, she began to pester Domeric to teach him sword skills.

As an adopted son, Theon is far less popular than Domeric among the children, and the maids also prefer the gentle Domeric. Recently, Theon has changed a lot, taking the initiative to chat with Sansa, Arya and Bran. You know

, In the past, Theon ignored all other children except Robb. Theon's training became more diligent, and he no longer talked dirty jokes to the maids, and the number of visits to the brothels in the winter town also changed.

not enough.

Ed thought that Theon may have felt that his status was threatened by Domeric. Although Theon always smiled, he was dependent on someone else. There was someone better and more popular than him in the halls of Winterfell.

Being an adopted son makes it difficult for Theon not to change.

However, Ed had to notice that Theon seemed to have begun to please everyone around him, but his relationship with Domeric had deteriorated. Whether in the school grounds or when eating in the hall, Theon rarely spoke to Domeric.

The only thing that hasn't changed is his attitude towards Jon. Theon has always been indifferent to Jon, and it's the same now.

The servant brought a honey-glazed chicken, and Robb tore off a leg.

"Dad, I heard from Sir Rodrik that the barbarians from Skagos Island attacked the Umber family's salt camp by the sea and killed more than twenty people."

Ed said sadly: "Yes, news spreads really fast."

Theon said: "Lord Eddard, the people in the winter towns are filled with indignation! When I patrolled with the guards, I heard many people saying that Lord Eddard should gather the northern army and teach those cannibals a lesson."

Sansa was so frightened that her face turned pale. She wore a sea-green dress, and her red hair was spread over her shoulders. "Cannibals? How can there be cannibals in the world? It's too scary. It's not mentioned in the ballads."

"Only a fool would believe the ballad." Arya was skinny and had disheveled hair. She never bothered to dress herself up, so she wore a brown top and black woolen pants.

Sansa glared at Arya, who ignored Sansa and turned to Eddard.

"Dad, those cannibals came to the Amber family's territory, burned, killed and looted. Did they eat people?"

"Probably not." Ed didn't want to discuss such horrific things as cannibals with the children at the dinner table.

Robb smashed the table and said, "Father, we must kill those Skagos pirates and avenge those who died. Can I go to the battlefield?"

Ed smiled and said: "Robb, you are too young. You are not even considered summer grass, at most the buds of spring. Have you seen the little milk dog in the stable? Do we have to turn to the little one?"

Has the milk dog gone to the battlefield?"

Robb was a little angry, "I will be an adult in three years."

"Me too." Jon agreed, "Lord Eddard, Robb and I can go to the battlefield. We often defeat adults on the training ground."

The younger Bran was eating a cake, "Can I go too?"

Theon laughed and said: "Are you little brats going to fight the Rockseeds and deliver food to those cannibals? Skagos Island is plundered by ship and harassing the coast of the North. Who else is better than me?

Am I qualified to lead the army? I am the heir to the Iron Islands, not Lord Balon. I am Lord Balon’s son, born of the iron race.”

"Let the iron type defeat the rock type. Is there anything more perfect than this?"

Domeric Bolton, who had remained silent, spoke up, "Theon, the Skagos do call themselves Rockseeds, but we northerners usually refer to the Skagos as the 'Skagoth', which is a contemptuous term.

"Rockseed is just what the Skagos people call themselves. We northerners will not give the Skagos people such a high-sounding name."

"'We Northerners'?" Xion's smile disappeared and he grasped the word sensitively, "Boy, what do you mean?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you." Domeric apologized sincerely, "I just expressed the northerners' views on the Skagos. You may not understand the ironborn's views on the Skagos.

The name is different from us and the people in the north. This is just a cultural difference."

Theon picked up the fork he was using as a weapon, his face contorted with rage.

"Do I need your teaching? Let me tell you, I came to Winterfell when I was ten years old. I grew up here. My coming-of-age ceremony and my first kiss with a girl were all here. Lord Eddard said that I

You're half a rogue, half a sea monster. You've only been in Winterfell for a few days, and you dare to exclude me."

Sansa exclaimed: "Theon, you are so rude, how can you talk to kind Domeric like this?"

Arya echoed, "Yes, Theon, you are too serious."

Jon commented, "Domeric apologized, Theon, you shouldn't be so unrelenting."

Faced with everyone's accusations, Theon became increasingly angry. He looked at Robb for help.

Robb looked at Domeric and then at Theon. He was a little confused. "Xion, I think that Domeric is actually telling the truth. He is not targeting you. He shouldn't be so glass-hearted."

Xion collapsed and said, "Even if you say that, what have I done wrong? So many of you are targeting me."

Domeric stood up and put his hand on Theon's shoulder.

"Theon, I'm sorry, all this happened because of my inappropriate choice of words."

Theon slapped Domeric's hand down, "Skinner, stop showing off to me."

Robb shook his head and sighed, Sansa scolded Theon softly, Arya picked up the eggs on the table and threw them at Theon, Jon cursed Theon. Bran applauded, "It's starting to fight! Hurry up and do it!"

"Enough!" Eddard's voice cut through the halls of Winterfell like a sharp sword.

"The barbarians on Skagos Island are killing people in the northern lands. The savages and ironmen may be in some dark corner, planning the next attack on the north. You kids are actually in my hall.

noisy."

Xion suppressed his anger and sat on the chair.

Ed said: "Xion, you are an adult. You cannot be dominated by emotions. Being too sensitive will only expose your shortcomings to others. Domeric apologized to you just now, and you have to apologize to him."

Theon said a perfunctory "I'm sorry," and Domeric accepted it solemnly.

Sansa looked at Eddard.

"Dad, what's going on with the cannibals in Skaggs? I've never heard of them."

Ed's eyes roamed over Jon, Robb, Theon, and Domeric.

"Children, you study with Maester Luwin every day. Now it's time to test you. Who can introduce Sansa to Skagos Island and the tribes above?"

Robb and Jon were a little confused. Theon frowned and seemed to be racking his brains.

Domeric said: "Lord Ed, let me do it!"

"The Stark family of Winterfell is the king of the north. From the south of the Great Wall to the north of the Neck, whether it is the nobles living in the castle or the mountain clans living in the mountains,

, the forest tribes living in the Wolf Forest all submit to the rule of the Stark family."

"But there is an exception. This area is Skagos Island, which is located between Seal Bay and the Shivering Sea. This island is across the sea from the easternmost part of the Great Wall and the port fortress of the Night's Watch Brothers, East Sea View, which is the northern area.

The largest island. The Skagos people have rebelled many times in history to challenge the Stark family. The last large-scale rebellion occurred during the time of Daeron II."

Robb said angrily: "The largest island in the North does not obey the rule of Winterfell."

Domeric continued: "The people living on this island are the Skagos people, who call themselves the rock species. The savages living on Skagos Island are somewhat different from their neighbors, the Amber family across Seal Bay.

Similarly, they are tall and tall. It is said that they have giant blood like the Amber family. They wear animal skin fur coats that exude a fishy smell. They will kill living people and sacrifice weirwood trees. There are even legends that,

They have the custom of cannibalism."

"It is rumored that the leader of Skagos will ride a unicorn to fight. The island produces obsidian and animal pelts. The Skagos people have no currency and will barter for things when trading. Their warships are relatively backward. Winterfell

The islanders' boats were burned many times and they were banned from going to sea. However, due to the weak navy in the north, the sea ban was ineffective."
Chapter completed!