Game of Thrones: Kings in the North

Chapter 9 Domeric Bolton
The next day, Ed was pleasantly surprised to find that the cynical smile returned to Theon's face. When he met Roose Bolton in the castle hall, he still knew how to make fun of Roose Bolton's whisper .

Robb, Jon Snow, and a group of attendants of similar age are playing in the hall, Arya is chatting with a group of stable boys from the streamland, Sansa, little Beth Cassel, and Jenny Poole are surrounded by Domeric Beside Bolton, the heir to the Dreadfort holds a harp in his hand.

Domeric Bolton's performance fascinated Sansa and all the girls in Winterfell. Sansa put her hands on her mouth and looked at Domeric Bolton with admiration.

"Did you write all these lyrics? Your voice, your talent, the notes on your strings are just heavenly. I especially love the stories in your songs, the great knights, the beautiful princesses, everything It's all so perfect."

Domilik nodded humbly, showing a sunny smile, "Thank you Miss Sansa for your compliment, I'm glad my singing can move you."

Ed stared at Domeric's handsome face and eyes as clear as icy lakes, with that gentle demeanor, it was hard to imagine that this was Roose Bolton's son.

Sansa said: "There are very few singers in Winterfell, Domeric, you are the best singer I have ever seen."

Domilik said indifferently: "Miss Sansa is overrated. I am not a professional singer, music is my hobby. I am very happy to share my songs at various banquets, but I will never sing for money."

A wave of adoring cheers drowned Domilik.Sansa said: "I hope you will live in Winterfell forever and perform for us every day."

Domilik shrugged, "I like Winterfell very much, but tomorrow, I will follow my aunt, Mrs. Ballerina, back to the Barren Tomb Hall."

Sansa, Beth Kessel Jr., and Jenny Poole were all a bit of a letdown.Sansa said: "No, I will let Dad keep you, at least for a few more days, I haven't heard enough songs!"

Ed walked over, "Sansa, Domeric is Madame Ballerina's attendant, and heir to the Dreadfort, not a singer you send at will."

Sansa pouted, "Dad, even you said that." Sansa tossed her long chestnut hair and turned to leave. Jenny Poole and Beth Cassel Jr. curtsied to Ed and followed Sansa away.

Domeric got up and greeted Ed, "Master Ed, I didn't expect Miss Sansa to like music so much."

Ed said: "Sansa is always full of unrealistic dreams of knights and princes. A girl of her age doesn't know that ballads and reality are two different things. I heard you sing the ballad of the ancestor king at the banquet yesterday, That's a story that happened thousands of years ago, do you believe it's true?"

Domilik plucked the strings and played a sad note, "I believe it is true. We have to believe something, otherwise we will lose ourselves. I like history, I like books, but unfortunately there are too few good manuscripts. Ai Lord De, I heard from Brother Chayer that there are many precious books in the library tower of Winterfell, some of which are not even available in the Academy City."

Ed said: "Yes, you must know that our Stark family has been in Winterfell since the time of the King of Winter. There are the most books about the North in the world in the book collection tower in Winterfell."

Domilik's eyes brightened, "So there are also books on the history of the Bolton family? Lord Ed, I've been talking about my grandfather's Leswell family in the streamland, my aunt's Dustin's family in the Barren Mounds, and the Bolton family's history books." Interested in history, can I borrow these books?"

Ed said: "These books are very precious. Many of them are fragile parchment or even ancient scrolls. You can go to the library tower to check them out, but you can't take them away."

These books are priceless treasures, Ed told Brother Chayer to manage them properly, and even sent guards outside the library tower door.

Domilik thought for a while, "In order to read books, it seems that I have to stay in Winterfell for a while longer. Will Lord Ed welcome it?"

Ed quite liked the young man in front of him, at least he wasn't as soft-spoken as Roose Bolton, nor as sarcastic as Mrs. Ballerina.

"Sansa and the girls in Winterfell like you so much, you can stay as long as you want. I saw you with Jon, Robb, and Theon yesterday."

"Theon and Robb are great guys." Domeric Bolton looked at Robb, Theon and Jon Snow in the distance, "Lord Ed, your house is so lively. I have always wanted to have A brother with me, but I have none. I was three years' squire to Lord Houghton Redford at Redhold in the Vale, and he has several sons."

"Lord Ed, you also have several brothers and sisters. My aunt, Mrs. Ballerina, often mentions your elder brother Brandon Stark. I had the honor to chat with your younger brother, the legendary Night Watchman Ranger Bunyan yesterday. In other words, he even invited me to Castle Black!"

Mrs. Ballerina came over, and this time she changed into a long dress as white as snow, which made Ed even more suspicious that she wore a black dress to Rickon's birthday party yesterday on purpose.

Ballerina curtsies ostentatiously to Ed and turns to Domeric.

"Domeric, what are you doing here? Have you forgotten about the martial arts competition? Ser Roderick Cassel, the coach of Winterfell, mocked you in public at the banquet yesterday. Domeric, show your hands Show them."

Domilik was a little confused, "With whom?"

Mrs. Ballet pointed to Jon, Theon and Robb in the distance, "It's these three."

Domeric frowned, "Aunt, Robb and Jon are both children, I am an adult, I am already 15 years old, what honor is there to bully children?"

This was heard by Robb and Jon, and they immediately gathered around.

Robb pulled out the wooden sword he was wearing, "Domeric, I often beat opponents who are older than me. If you say I am a child, I think you are afraid."

Jon Snow put his hands on his chest, "I once defeated Hodor, the giant of Winterfell, in the school field. He is much bigger than you."

Domilik said with a smile: "Children always think that they are infinitely powerful and invincible. It seems that I have to teach you in the end. For the sake of fairness, you can go together. I can fight two against one. It doesn't matter if you add Sean .”

Theon smiled contemptuously: "I don't participate in children's games, I can beat you one-on-one."

The servants of Winterfell, the servants of Barrowton, and the servants of White Harbor began to shout loudly. Robb, Jon Snow, and Theon surrounded Domeric out of the hall and walked towards the school grounds.

Ed was about to leave when Barbaret, a widow in Barrentown, stopped him.

"Master Ed, go and have a look."

Ed looked disgusted.

"Mrs. Ballet, I'm very busy. I'm not interested in children fighting, no, to be precise, I'm not interested in any competition. Don't say that the school field is a competition between children, even if it is a 'King Slayer' duel Barristan the Bold, I have no interest in facing Aemon the Dragonrider when the Sword of Dawn rises from his grave."

(End of this chapter)