When they say that the North is cold, they are not joking. If not for my magic, my balls would be frozen right about now. The winter should be at the end, but it looks like winter will last quite a bit in the north.
Maybe for another few months, maybe half a year. I don't know how these people can survive this place.
"White Harbor! White Harbor! White Harbor!"
The captain shouted, and true to his word, I could see a massive city not too far away from us. This is one of the biggest cities in the North and the richest one just under the Stark. The Stark have the old money from the day of old while the White Harbor has new money from all the merchants coming.
When we arrive, Dany, Rhae, and Ari get out of the ship with the three dragons flying above us. I can see the people look at our dragons in fascination and some fear before looking at Dany and me with wide eyes.
I cannot blame them.
We are Targaryen, and we have our dragons who are already the size of a horse, a war horse. That is not including their wings, which are bigger than their body—combined with their tendency to spew fire every now and then when flying. It was an intimidating sight.
It did not help that we arrived on our biggest ship, and there were three hundred soldiers on the ship. That did not include the marine who took care of the ships. There are four hundred men total on the ship if we include the servants.
"Woah~ This is so white!"
"En. Lots of snow!"
"Brrrr. Too cold."
Even with the help of a warm rune on her clothes, Ria still feels the cold. Dornish cannot get used to colder weather as even in the fall in Lunaria, she already wears thick clothes.
With a wave of my hand, I increase the heat from the rune on her clothes.
When we step onto the ground, I can see a rather fat middle-aged man walk toward us. I guess he is Wyman Manderly? He fit the description the other told me. He smiles brightly at me and says,
"Welcome to White Harbor, Your Highness! Please follow me to the castle. I have already prepared a feast for you."
~Sometimes later~
The feast is filled with fatty food and some vegetables. It is good but, at the same time, not healthy. The only reason why I force myself to eat more food is that I don't want to offend Lord Manderly.
After eating as much as food my body can carry, I look at Lord Manderly and say.
"How is the north, Lord Manderly?"
"The north, your highness?"
"Aye. How is the situation in the north? Lord Stark invites us to his castle to discuss food shortages. I want to know how severe it was because we already sold a lot of food to the North. I read the report about the increasing demand of food in the north for every sale and got curious about it."
"You read a report your men write to you?"
What do you imply with that question?"
Does he think that I'm an incompetent ruler? Does he underestimate my ability to rule? I hate being underestimated by others, especially by the people in Westeros.
"I'm sorry to offend you, your highness! I don't mean to ask about your competency! I was just surprised to read the report that was considered not important."
"All the reports given to me are important. Anything that involves my people is important. My advisor needs to report to me even though that report is seemingly unimportant. I'm their ruler and as their ruler I need to take care of them. I'm a king not a tyrant."
"Ahhhh… I'm sorry, your highness."
"Anyway, tell me the situation in the north. I already noticed there is a lot of snow, more than usual here."
"Aye. That is the reason why we ask for more food. The people will die if this continues. The northern town and village were hit the hardest. The lake froze so thick they cannot pierce it using their tools and the lake is their only source of food."
"Hmmm, I understand. We bring a lot of food for the Starks."
"Truly? Can I have some of them? But, of course, I will pay a higher price."
"No. You can pay with the usual rate but I will limit your purchase."
"Of course, your highness."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eddard Stark - Lord of Winterfell and Lord Paramount of the North|
My family and I wait in front of the gates. We are waiting for our guess. Even in this snowstorm, we need to greet our guests. It was common sense in the north, especially when your guest is someone really important.
They are the people that are very important for the survival of my people.
After waiting for a few more minutes, I can see a group of people coming out of the snowstorm. Just like Lord Manderly said in his letter, there are at least a few hundred. I can see one carriage, but that's it.
There is not a single cart being pulled by a horse. Does he not bring some food that we can buy? Did he decide not to sell some today?
I shake my head and decide to focus on this meeting. We can still last for another week or two weeks if we are careful with our food. Securing this trade will be the most important.
"Welcome to Winterfell, King Targaryen."
"Call me with my given name. King Viserys or just Viserys will do."
"Of course, King Viserys."
My family and I lead him and a few of his companions to the dining room, where a relatively small feast has been prepared for them. While the feast is small and not really fitting for a king, I make sure it is prepared using the best items we have.
We did not have the quantity, but I will compensate for it with quality.
"Please take a seat, King Viserys."
I led them to take a seat in the opposite direction of us.
"Let's eat."
While eating, I take a look at Viserys, who occasionally helps her sister and companion clean their face and takes food they cannot reach. He is really different from his father and his brother. Even when Rhaegar ends up marrying my sister, I still hate him for starting the tragedy.
However, Viserys is different. He did not have the same craziness in his eyes as his brother and father.
After eating the food, he looks at me and says,
"Lord Stark, how much food do you want to buy?"
"All of them."
"That will cost you a lot of money."
"That is why I want to ask you to reduce the price by a quiet amount."
"And why should I do that? What can you give me for this?"
And that is the question. The main trade of the North is Timber and Iron, but the Lunarians already have them. With Myr now part of Lunaria, they have a lot of timber and a lot of pasture for sheep and cows.
They have all of our export trade. The only thing I can think of is that they did not have any fish.
"How about this?"
I snap from my thoughts and look at Viserys, look at me right in the eyes.
"For the next three years, the tax for all my merchants will be cut by fifty percent. In exchange, we will sell you food-related goods for seventy percent lower than the original price. Before you say something, that is the final price. I will not lower the price anymore."
Seventy percent. That is a lot. I originally wanted to ask him to lower the price by twenty percent, but he decided to lower it by seventy percent. Just how cheap is the food in Lunaria? Did they not want money? Or does he have other intentions?
"Very well. I agree. I will tell the Maester to write the contract."
"Nay. I don't want to know about this agreement. I will write the contract myself."
Does he not trust the Maester? I want to tell him that Maester Luwin is a trustworthy individual, but I will not risk this agreement.
"Very well. Is there anything else? As long as it was not an outrageous request, I will do it."
"Hmmmm. There is one thing I want to ask."
"I want to see my nephew."
"What?"