Cregan I
The morning fog rose as it did so many a day, it felt wet on Cregan's face, he loved that feeling. The Dreadfort was a gloomy place, it had always been. To many people it seemed like nothing more than a normal castle with a simplistic build, not like Storms end or Riverrun and nothing compared to the Eyrie. Cregan knew that this was not the case. The castle was strong, it's walls could withstand enormous battering and still stand afterwards. The castle was built on a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside. Cregan had grown up along the Weeping water, the river that ran close. He had been nothing before lord Galbart Bolton had realized his wits at an early age and sent him to study at Oldtown. Before he went to Oldtown he had viewed himself as a genius, when he started his studies he realized that that was not the case, he was among the bottom half of his fellow novices and he had to study a lot to keep up. Through hard work he had forged his maester's chain and returned to the Dreadfort when the previous maester had died of the greyscale. When he was at Oldtown he had simply said that he was a northerner, but he had omitted to mention that he was a loyal servant of house Bolton. The Boltons had a reputation that was not good. Their sigil came from their old practice of flaying their captives while they were still alive. The Starks had made them give up this practice, but Cregan knew that this was not the case. There were chambers in the Dreadfort used especially for this purpose. It was even rumored by many in the North that the infamous Night's king, the man who had crowned himself while he was lord commander of the nights watch and married a female white walker had been a Bolton.
The Boltons had always loathed the Starks of Winterfell who were their liege lords. Over the last thousands of years the Boltons had started many revolts against the Starks, but none of these had been successful. It was only 59 years since lord Galbart's father lord Hother Bolton had revolted against Jon Stark, the alleged son of Bael the Bard and flayed him alive. Although the Starks had massed a large host they had not been able to take the Dreadfort or defeat the Boltons decisively, and thus a truce was made. Lord Hother had been a clever man, but he was a bit too much Bolton and the Starks kept a close eye on him after the truce was made. When he died in 8095 and he was succeeded by his son Galbart the tensions between Stark and Bolton had been relieved. Galbart was seen by most lords as being a simple man, none to witty. Even one of his own banner men had thought so and tried to claim the Dreadfort for himself. Galbart had destroyed his house root and stem and taken his holding, the place was commonly called Sheepshead hills. Even after this most people judged him to be rather simple. Cregan knew that was not the case. Galbart was a clever man, but he pretended not to be. He knew that if his father's enemies thought him to be simple they would let their guard down. He even went as far as to marry his daughter Sylene to the son of the uncle of the lord of Winterfell.
Galbart had two children, there was Sylene who was a lot like her grandfather, constantly scheming, although she was clever enough as to keep her nature to herself, her marriage had given to children of stark blood to her husband and he loved her for it. Galbart's heir was his son Eyron. Eyron was clever and he had a talent for making money and managing economical affairs, his father had appointed him to increase the production of wool, this he had been able to do to an extent that seemed impossible. It was rumored that his mother had not been the Hornwood wife of his father but rather the daughter of a Bravoosi merchant. Neither Galbart nor Eyron liked those rumors as pressing Eyron's claim for Hornwood had been in Galbart's thoughts for quite a while. Eyron had now been named master of arms, not because he was that well suited for it, but because there was a shortage of good candidates. Although Eyron was 25 he had still not been married, but Cregan knew that his father had called a counsel this very day to change that fact. Cregan realized that he been too long alone with his thoughts and he risked being late to meet with his lord, he hurried through the hallways and up the stairs to get to the meeting hall.
The meeting hall of the Dreadfort was not a very prestigious place, it was dark and gloomy, with no tapestries or anything of the sort. It was not because the Boltons could not afford to furnish their castle with that sort of things, but rather because their income was used for equipping their vast armories. When Cregan arrived he met lord Galbart and lord Eyron, he had expected more people to be there, but it seemed as though Galbart wanted few people in attendance, that could only mean that he had plans that he did not want to be shared. Lord Galbart had never been a handsome man, he was not tall, nor broad from shoulder to shoulder and the years had given him a rather fat face. Nevertheless he had a commanding look and his eyes were blue as ice, yet a touch milky. Although his voice was low and thin, whenever he spoke the room fell silent to a degree that seemed like sorcery. His son on the other hand had hair touched by fire, a large red beard covered his large jaw and his eyes were the same as the father. In stark contrast he was tall and built for combat with a thunderous voice. Although him and Cregan were friends their superficial features could not have been more different. When Cregan entered Galbart was the first to speak up.
"I see you found your way maester."
"That I did my lord. "
Eyron spoke next, "we were getting concerned that your books had swallowed you up friend."
Cregan gave him a smile back, Eyron knew quite well that Cregan was not too fond of books, it was one of the serving maids that had kept him busy and after that his own thoughts. It was known quite well that the maester did not care for celibacy but the Boltons proffered a loyal and lustful maester to one that was more correct but less loyal. Cregan had realized that most men under Bolton service who were still alive had some animal instinct that surfaced from time to time.
Galbart broke the silence again, "Well, you're here now. I do not know if you've told my son about the news the ravens brought this morning, my son the Targaryens are fighting again, a massive civil war. Rhaenyra of Dragonstone is not pleased that her younger brother became king after their father died, she has the support of House Tully, Arryn, Greyjoy and Stark, while her brother who styles himself as Aegon II has Baratheon, Lannister and Tyrell. To this purpose the wolf-pup has called his banners, he is a fine military man and he wants to show it to the world now. I will speak frankly in front of you Cregan, I will send men for his campaign, but just to fool the boy as for our real intensions. Eyron, since you are the master of arms, order 2200 men to join the Stark boy. I think Eyron that there will not be a much better time to claim Hornwood in your name than while the wolf tangles in the south."
(Lord Paramount Cregan Stark of the North.)
There was a short silence, but in the end Eyron spoke up, "Father, do you want me to go south as well, that should prove our "loyalty" to the Starks."
"I am sure you would serve him well my son, but you are my only son and wars are risky, especially when dragons are involved." "As you say father." "Cregan, I want you to send a bird to the Withered Heath and to lord Gariss Ironsmith. He has two daughters, one is 14 and the other 20. Offer the youngest one to my son and her elder sister to me, I am sure lord Ironsmith would not object to that. He fears conflict with Cley Ryswell, the lord of the Rills and I am sure he would love our swords in support."
Cregan could not understand why he would marry into house Ironsmith, they were a weak northern house, with neither a large army or substantial amounts of money. Finally he spoke up.
"My lord Galbert, why house Ironsmith, surely there are more worthy consorts for your son?"
Galbert locked him in his icy look for a few seconds, "Cregan, the reason we've lost our revolts against the Starks is not because we've lacked cunning or courage, but because we've been outnumbered every time. House Ironsmith has two castles, Skysmeet and Saltspearkeep, these strongholds control about a third of the land in the Rills and Slatspearkeep is the second largest castle in the Rills. Lord Gariss only has one son, and his two daughters, should the son die..."
It was made clear to Cregan once again that Galbart never had an idle thought.