Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 29 The Toy Carpenter
Ed and financial advisor Kral, under the escort of Winterfell Guard Captain Jory Cassel and a team of guards, came to the market outside Winterfell.

Bran was hugging Caitlin's thigh and acting like a spoiled child, "Mom, buy this knight!"

Sister Mordane held Rickon and stood behind Caitlin. Caitlin scolded, "Bran, you're already a brother, and you still want to buy toys? Hurry up!"

Ed saw the toy Bran wanted, a pair of puppet knights from the toy dealer.The toy dealer is about 40 years old, with brown hair that has turned gray, and wears a blue-gray robe.

The toy dealer obviously didn't want to miss the opportunity to make money. He controlled the toy knight, and the toy knight began to fight. The shield collided with the spear, and Bran watched intently.

"Young master, look how much fun this toy knight is! Let me tell you, every noble young master living in the castle in the south of the Neck has this kind of toy!"

Bran begged Caitlin, "Mom, look how fun this knight is! I can play with Rickon after buying it, and Robb and Jon can play if they want to."

Catelyn was only angry when she heard Jon's name, and she said, "We have no money."

Ed and Krall came over, and Bran immediately rushed to Ed, "Dad, look at how fun this toy knight is! Does it look like the White Knight of the Kingsguard?"

The toy dealer's gaze stayed on the direwolf emblem on Ed's chest.

"This must be the famous Duke Ed, Duke Ed, buy this toy knight! The young master likes it so much."

Clare on the side said, "How much is this toy knight?"

The toy dealer smiled, "I made this with my own hands. It's a purely handmade wooden toy. A pair of knights only need two silver stags."

Ed began to understand why the toy dealer set up a stall at the gate of Winterfell. Children from common people simply couldn't afford such expensive toys.

Kral showed a flattering smile towards Caitlin, "Mrs. Caitlin, why make Bran sad? I will pay for this."

Since Kral came to Winterfell as a financial advisor, Caitlin has been deliberately keeping a distance from Kral, and has repeatedly suggested to Ed to drive Kral away.Now that Bran wants to buy a toy, Klare immediately makes a generous move, hoping to please the Duchess of Winterfell through this move.

Caitlin said coldly: "You are so generous." Caitlin took the baby Rickon from Sister Mordane, turned and walked towards the gate of Winterfell.

After Krall paid, Bran took over the puppet knight from the toy dealer and started playing excitedly.

Ed saw all kinds of toys on the toy stand, all made of wood.There are warships carved from pine wood, big bears made of elm wood, monkeys made of lotus wood, dogs made of wood, and most of the fish made of wood are knight dolls.

"Did you make these wooden toys yourself?" Ed picked up a knight doll, which was a handsome silver-haired knight doll who was charging with a long sword.

The toy dealer nodded, "Duke Ed, my name is Douglas. My family has been a carpenter for generations, and my grandfather made coffins. Since my father's generation, he has changed to make toys. When I was young, my father took me Walking around, selling wooden toys, been to King's Landing, Oldtown, Lannisport."

"My father had been to too many places back then. He just opened a stall or toy store near the castle. The children in the farm couldn't afford our toys. Many famous knights played with my father's toys when they were young, like Rhaegar Prince, Lord Renly, Ser Jaime, when he was playing with toys, he was not a 'Kingslayer'. By the way, there is also Gregor Clegane, the 'Magic Mountain'."

Ed looked at the puppet knight in Bran's hand, frowned and said, "The Mountain, Gregor Clegane? I heard that when the Mountain was a child, for a toy knight, he sent his younger brother, Sandor the Hound Clegane was thrown into the brazier and half his face was burned off. Could it be."

Douglas nodded, "That's right, it was my father who sold the Magic Mountain toys back then. The Magic Mountain was still a teenager, and Sandor might only be seven years old. Who knew he would make such a terrible thing for a toy?" At that time, our toy store opened near Fort Clegon, and when I heard about the accident, my father took his family and ran away overnight."

Ed held the toy knight in his hand, full of thoughts.Sandor the Hound was kissed by fire for a toy, and toys do appeal to children.

Look at the toy dealer Douglas in front of him again. He is wearing a black velvet coat and a jade bracelet on his wrist. Among the vendors, he obviously belongs to the rich.

Ed had an idea in his mind, "Douglas, how long do you plan to stay in Winterfell?"

Douglas sighed, "I'm afraid it won't be too long, Mr. Ed, you have too few knights in the north, and the children don't seem to like knights very much. My knight toys are not selling well in the north of the neck, even if I put the booth in In front of the lord's door, the lord may not buy it."

"When I set out to the north along the King's Road in the Riverlands, I originally regarded Desolation as the first target customer, but when I arrived at Desolation, I realized that Mrs. Ballet is a widow without children. We had no choice but to continue north, and in Torun Square and Seven City, we didn't sell many toys."

"I'm going to visit White Harbor. I heard that the Manderly family there devoutly believes in the Seven Gods. They have more than 100 property knights. Maybe I will have good business there."

Ed said, "Douglas, if I paid you to make toys for me, would you do it?"

Douglas's eyes lit up, "Of course I would. May I ask what kind of toy Duke Ed would like to order? It must be the famous direwolf, or, some king of the North? Or a savage from beyond the Great Wall?"

Ed shook his head, "You misunderstood, it's not custom-made toys. We have a lot of wood in the north. I plan to set up a toy workshop, but I haven't found a suitable person in charge. I think you can do it. How about it? Are you interested? cooperate?"

Douglas was a little confused, "Duke Ed, I have to think about it. For such a big matter, I have to at least discuss it with my children."

Ed met Douglas' three children, the oldest 17 and the youngest 14.Douglas drove a carriage all the year round, and took his three sons to sell toys in castles all over the Seven Kingdoms. The wooden toys were made by him and his sons, and his children were carpenter apprentices.

Douglas introduced the children to Ed one by one, and Ed said: "They are all great guys, where is the mother of the children?"

Speaking of his wife, Douglas was a little sentimental.

"We were in King's Landing when my youngest son was born and my wife wanted me to buy a house in King's Landing and I didn't agree and she wasn't happy, she was tired of moving around all the time. I told her, After a few years to save some more money, I will buy a house in Old Town, so that the children can study with the bachelor in the school city, and maybe even become a bachelor."

"After we left King's Landing, we went all the way north and opened a stall under Harrenhal. Mrs. He'an in Harrenhal has no children, but many of the property knights under her will patronize my business, and I have made some money. But my wife ran away one night with a hedge knight from Harrenhal."

Ed said: "Wandering the rivers and lakes for a long time is not a long-term solution, it is better to stay in my castle. In Winterfell, Maester Luwin can teach your children to read, and my children can also teach them, although they can't do it. Bachelor, but at least you will not be illiterate. If you are willing to make toys for me, the money will be good for you. You can buy a house for your children in Winterfell Town. Of course, if you are willing to live in Winterfell City, my castle also has your place."

Douglas looked at his three sons, he pondered for a while, "Well, Lord Ed, I am willing to serve you, who can refuse Duke Ed's invitation?"

Bran on the side was very excited, "Dad, Douglas has lived in Winterfell, can all these toys be played with?"

Douglas smiled and said, "Master, you can play as long as you want."

Bran got a lot of toys, Ed got a skilled toy craftsman, in the future he can use the wood from the wolf forest to make toys, and Winterfell has another way of making money.

(End of this chapter)