Wright led the Greyjoy siblings, Asha and Theon, into the underground crypt.
Walking ahead with three rotating flames hovering around him, Wright's imposing presence only deepened their unease. Memories of the king storming their home and executing their family were still fresh. After all, this was the king's younger brother — the same man who had frozen their uncle into an ice sculpture.
The deeper they ventured, the darker it became. Asha gripped Theon's trembling hand tightly and summoned her courage.
"Lord Wright, what do you want from us, bringing us here?"
"There's no need to fear. The king pardoned both of you long ago. I've brought you here to discuss something in private."
"Please speak, my lord." Asha braced herself for a fight, ready to defend her brother if it came to that.
Wright smiled, casting a few magical lights onto the walls of the crypt. Instantly, the room lit up as if it were daytime.
"Darkness breeds fear. Now that it's bright, you can set your worries aside. What we're discussing is serious business."
With the room illuminated, their fear eased slightly.
"The old Greyjoy line is gone," Wright continued. "The lands that were once yours belong to others now."
The siblings' faces darkened at the reminder of their family's downfall.
"The kraken flag will never rise again. Look at yourselves — dressed in heavy, fur-lined northern garb. You're indistinguishable from any other Northerner. Is this what you want? To remain fosterlings in House Stark forever?"
The siblings glanced down at their black winter clothing. Indeed, they no longer bore any resemblance to Ironborn.
"Eddard Stark may treat you as his own," Wright said, "but you should carve your own path. Achieve greatness, and new lands, castles, and vassals will be yours! Do you wish to become the founders of a new Greyjoy lineage — the first lords of a restored house?"
Their eyes lit up at the prospect.
"Take this opportunity," Wright urged. "Imagine what your future family banner might look like. It's a rare chance!"
With Wright's mix of pressure, denial, and the offer of hope, the siblings began to envision a new future.
"I've decided! Our new banner will have a mermaid on it!" Theon exclaimed excitedly.
Asha frowned, recalling what Maester Luwin had taught her about noble heraldry. "House Manderly of White Harbor already has a white mermaid as their sigil. It's redundant."
Theon smirked. "Theirs is a male mermaid! Ours will be a female one — with a stunning figure!"
Asha nodded in agreement. The legends of mermaids on the Iron Islands were ancient. "So, when do we leave?"
"You're far from ready," Wright said sternly. "If I gave you tasks now, you'd die without even knowing how it happened. Lord Eddard will arrange for you to undergo proper training. Once you're qualified, you'll be assigned your missions."
He led the siblings out of the crypt and took them to meet Eddard Stark.
\---
Two days passed. The health of the two wives hadn't improved much. Healing spells didn't work, though their condition wasn't life-threatening. It was merely the body adjusting to the northern climate, much like altitude sickness. They had to endure it on their own.
Lady Catelyn Tully had assigned personal maids to care for the two women. Though two rooms had been prepared for them, the sisters insisted on sharing one bed, which made Catelyn marvel at their closeness.
That morning, Eddard gathered Robb, Jon, Theon, Asha, and Ashara in the great hall. Before Catelyn and the children, he made an announcement:
"Ashara Dayne is my illegitimate daughter."
The entire family was stunned. Eddard was formally acknowledging a bastard. Ashara herself was too shocked to close her mouth — she'd never guessed the honest and reserved Lord Stark was her father.
Eddard began to explain: "Her mother and I were once… involved. Catelyn was originally betrothed to my brother, but everything changed because of the war."
Catelyn had heard fragments of these stories before and was prepared for such a revelation.
"I understand Ashara's situation," Catelyn said calmly. "But what about Jon Snow? Who is his mother?"
Eddard fell silent, refusing to answer. Annoyed, Catelyn snapped:
"Like Robert, you've left bastards all over the realm!"
\---
Wright, Eddard, and Catelyn walked together toward the training grounds to watch the children practice.
"I wanted her to stay in Winterfell," Eddard admitted, "but she refused."
"You expected her to stay here, learn embroidery, and marry when she's grown?" Wright scoffed. "Of course she refused. She was raised by the Daynes in Dorne. She was practically born with a sword in hand."
On the training field, Ashara had already adjusted to the revelation about her parentage. Confirming her suspicions about her father had only solidified her resolve.
Theon Greyjoy, spurred by the events of the previous day, trained with renewed determination. His sister, Asha Greyjoy, had abandoned embroidery lessons and joined the others for sword training.
Robb Stark and Jon Snow, however, were still struggling to process the sudden change. Yesterday, Ashara had been a guest; today, she was their sister. They weren't entirely sure how to act around her.
Ashara, now being officially the older sister of Robb and Jon, was too thick-skinned to notice their awkwardness. Instead, she eagerly tried to assert her authority, critiquing their swordplay at every turn.
Master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel and the soldiers training nearby knew that Ashara was now officially recognized as Eddard's daughter. Watching the siblings bicker, Rodrik merely smiled.
Before long, Robb, Jon, and Theon were growing exasperated with Ashara's constant corrections.
"Just because you carry two swords doesn't mean you can boss us around!"
"I'm taller and stronger than you — what gives you the right to lecture me?"
"Yeah, all you do is brag. Have you even been in a real fight?"
"Exactly!" Asha chimed in, laughing.
Bundled in a fur-lined coat and wearing a white fur hat, Ashara looked every bit the image of a young girl preparing for winter. Her appearance made it hard for anyone to take her critique seriously.
The group immediately ceased their bickering upon noticing Wright, Eddard, and Catelyn approaching.
Ashara shrugged off her cloak, tossing it into Wright's arms. Beneath it, she wore fitted leather armor. Striding confidently back to the training yard, she challenged the others, "Come at me together. Use real swords—training blades will shatter against mine."
"Four against one?" Asha, Theon, Robb, and Jon looked to Eddard for confirmation. Seeing him nod, they retrieved real swords and positioned themselves against Ashara.
"You four aren't enough," Ashara declared. Her gaze shifted to Master-at-Arms Ser Rodrik Cassel.
Rodrik blinked in surprise.
"With Wright here, you can fight without holding back," Eddard reassured. Years ago, he had witnessed Wright's capabilities firsthand and trusted him implicitly to ensure everyone's safety.
The soldiers training nearby cleared the yard, eager to spectate.
Forming a semicircle, the five opponents readied their swords. Ashara drew her dual blades from her back with a sharp flourish and let out a battle cry, "Haah!" Without hesitation, she charged into their formation.
She wielded one sword defensively and the other offensively, seamlessly alternating between attack and defense. Her footwork was nimble and unpredictable, weaving through the group with an almost feline grace.
"That's the Arthur technique!" Eddard exclaimed in shock, memories of the Tower of Joy flashing before him.
"The Daynes spared no effort training her," Wright observed. Unbeknownst to him, the Daynes had long believed Ashara to be Robert's daughter, which was why they had invested so heavily in her upbringing.
"Has she killed before?" Eddard asked hesitantly.
"More than one," Wright replied calmly.
Eddard frowned deeply, pondering whether Ashara's time with Wright had been a blessing or a curse.
It wasn't long before Ashara adapted to the others' fighting styles. Abandoning restraint, she disarmed the four children and then focused on Ser Rodrik. She swiftly pierced his palm and shoulder before doing the same to her younger opponents, one by one.
Wright immediately stepped forward to heal them. Though humbled, the children now fully acknowledged Ashara's superiority.
Eddard observed his children carefully. All of them possessed magical aptitude to varying degrees. Robb, like Ashara, exhibited talents in both Destruction and alteration magic. Young Arya, though still a child, had natural inclinations toward illusion magic. Jon Snow, however, was unique — his illusions intertwined with something unfamiliar to Wright, something he had never encountered before.
Beyond magic, each displayed latent warging abilities — a rare gift unbound by conventional magical schools.
Wright explained, "They have potential, but magical aptitude is only the foundation. Talent varies, and that determines their limits."
He classified them using a five-tier system:
Ashara had dual third-tier talents.
Arya, young as she was, also showed third-tier promise in illusions.
Robb, though second-tier, possessed dual affinities.
Jon, trailing behind, exhibited a first-tier aptitude.
Wright turned to Eddard. "You should consider sending them to a magical academy for proper training."
Eddard was torn. The idea was tempting, but Ashara's violent upbringing under Wright weighed heavily on his mind. His traditional values dictated that boys should grow to be honorable and brave, while girls were meant to marry and raise families. The thought of his children becoming ruthless killers under Wright's tutelage clashed starkly with his beliefs.
"They're still young," Eddard finally said. "I need more time to think about it."