The next day, Wright bid farewell to Jeor Mormont and Maester Aemon, traveling southward with Davos back to Winterfell.
The harsh environment beyond the Wall had taken its toll, and Wright decided to rest for a few days in Winterfell to recover his magicka.
In the castle's dining hall, Eddard Stark's family, several city officials, and the Onion Knight's family were gathered. The news of a Child of the Forest arriving in Winterfell thrilled the Old Gods worshippers present.
After exchanging polite greetings with Leaf, most struggled to find topics to discuss with her. However, Robb and the other children surrounded her, peppering her with questions. They quickly discovered that aside from her distinct appearance and magical abilities, she was not so different from humans.
The focus of the gathering soon shifted to Eddard Stark and the sword in his hands—Dark Sister. The blade was a legend in itself, and its presence captivated everyone.
Men's natural love for weapons surfaced as Eddard drew both Dark Sister and his Valyrian steel greatsword, Ice, placing them side by side on the table. "A fine sword," he remarked.
"Dark Sister's craftsmanship and quality clearly surpass Ice, though they're made of the same material," Wright observed. He had already used his enchanting skills to examine the sword, deeming it the finest he had ever seen.
By comparison, Eddard's Ice seemed more like a crude weapon. Its significant length and size compensated for its lack of decorative features, adhering to a philosophy of raw power over elegance.
Maester Luwin took the opportunity to educate the children on Dark Sister's storied history:
"This blade was brought to Westeros by House Targaryen from the eastern continent. The first recorded wielder was Queen Visenya Targaryen, wife of Aegon the Conqueror. It was then passed to King Maegor the Cruel and later wielded by Prince Daemon Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons, where it earned its greatest fame. The sword last appeared during the Blackfyre Rebellion in the hands of Brynden Rivers, after which it vanished. This sword has witnessed much of House Targaryen's history."
"Daemon Targaryen is the most famous wielder?" Robb asked Maester Luwin, curious since this period of history had not yet been part of his lessons.
Maester Luwin continued, "He was the third known wielder of Dark Sister. Prince Daemon, with his personal charisma, rallied a large number of nobles and conquered the Stepstones, crowning himself king. The Stepstones were briefly incorporated into the kingdom, but Daemon was soon embroiled in prolonged struggles with the Triarchy the Dornish."
He paused, allowing the children to absorb the information before continuing. "Daemon also reformed the City Watch in King's Landing, changing their armor to the gold cloaks you see today. During his time as Commander of the City Watch, King's Landing had some of the best law and order it ever had. He had many enemies, but he had even more friends. And these are just a few of his more famous deeds. Though Daemon never sat on the Iron Throne, his two sons became kings, and their line continued for generations until barely a decade ago."
He then suggested, "If you ever have the chance, visit the Citadel and look for the books written by Archmaester Gyldayn — The "Princess and the Queen" and "The Rogue Prince"."
Maester Luwin's gaze shifted to Wright, who had been quietly listening, and he raised an eyebrow. "So, this sword... it was given to you by Brynden Rivers?"
Wright nodded, "Yes, Dark Sister was passed on to me by Brynden Rivers."
Luwin looked at him in surprise, "But Brynden Rivers would be well over a hundred years old by now. Is he still alive?"
Wright smiled faintly. "He is a mage too. His mind is as sharp as it ever was, though his body has grown frail and immobile. That's why he passed the sword to me."
Leaf added, "He hasn't used it in decades. He prefers to wield a bow."
Wright's voice grew more serious as he continued, "Each Valyrian steel sword's lineage is carefully recorded by the Citadel. If someone were to steal one, mercenaries and nobles alike would raise the banner of justice and claim a bounty for returning it to its rightful owner. However, since the Targaryen dynasty has fallen to House Baratheon, no one will make a fuss over the sword being passed to me, especially since it was done so officially."
His words were meant to make sure Maester Luwin would spread the truth about the sword's transfer to prevent any rumors or misrepresentations from tarnishing his reputation.
During the following days in Winterfell, Wright noticed something interesting. Every day on the training grounds, he would see Ashara, Eddard's children, and some of the other youngsters practicing swordplay. When Wright wasn't around, they used training swords, of course.
Ashara, however, had a unique style. She trained with the same intensity as Wright, using real swords and fighting for real, landing lethal strikes without hesitation. No one else could replicate her method, which set her far ahead of others in skill. She had already surpassed some adults, and with her ability to use even the simplest magic, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her only weakness was her age, which meant a lack of raw strength.
Wright stood off to the side, watching their sparring.
"Ha!" Ashara's voice rang out as she fought against four opponents at once.
"Ah!" Jon yelled as he was pushed back.
Ashara skillfully deflected their attacks with her twin swords, her defense near impenetrable. In just a few moves, Jon exposed a weakness, and Asha quickly capitalized on it, sending him flying out of the ring with a swift kick.
The eldest, Theon, had the advantage of strength, but Asha continuously altered her attack patterns, leaving him unable to react in time. She knocked his sword from his hand with a precise strike.
Robb, who had started using two swords like Asha, tried to replicate her style, but without the assistance of the others, he was quickly brought to the ground within two moves.
Asha was treated differently because of her gender. She only faced Asha after the three boys had been defeated, and even then, she only ever placed her sword lightly at Asha's neck, sparing her the full force of the training.
Asha, having trained with her brother Theon on the Iron Islands when they were younger, had more experience than Robb and Jon. The two boys, despite their similar ages to Ashara, had been beaten soundly each time they sparred with her. This sparked a strong sense of competition in them, and they began training harder than ever. Asha, in turn, was happy to guide them in their efforts.
One evening, just as Eddard and Catelyn were about to go to bed, Robb and Jon knocked on their door.
"Father, Mother, Jon and I have something we'd like to discuss," Robb said.
Eddard, seeing the seriousness in their expressions, invited them into the room. The two boys sat down beside their parents, and they all waited for them to speak.
"Father, we've heard from Lord Wright that we, the Stark children, have a magical aptitude," Robb began.
"I've heard him mention it as well. Ashara is his first magic apprentice, and I can see that you've been practicing hard with her," Eddard replied, his tone thoughtful.
Robb glanced at Jon before continuing. "We want to go to the Magic School in King's Landing, to study magic."
Eddard raised an eyebrow. "When I was your age, I lived in the Vale. By six ten or seven ten, I was traveling the kingdom with Robert, participating in tournaments. But you're still too young for something like this, it's dangerous."
Jon quickly added, "But with Lord Wright, it's different. He said the Magic School is protected by magical wards. Only those meant to enter can. Anyone else who tries is lost in an illusion, and they end up wandering away from Dragonpit." He spoke with enthusiasm, his interest in the magical school, the wards, and the ruined Dragonpit clearly evident.
The mention of the school and its protections stirred both Eddard and Catelyn's curiosity, though they remained concerned for their son's safety.