Chapter 5 Eddard Stark

The contest between Clay and Jon is still going on, but as the expert Sir Roderick said, the situation is developing in Jon's unfavorable direction.

Although the weapon was short and Jon's attacks were quick and tricky, he suffered the disadvantage of being too weak.

Although Clay was forced into dangerous situations several times, he was usually able to stabilize the situation, but Jon found that he was beginning to run out of strength.

Every time Clay slashed or thrust, he had to put in a lot of effort to resist in addition to dodging. It was obvious that Clay crushed him in terms of strength.

There was another violent collision, and both sides retreated a short distance. Jon looked at the several small gaps in his dagger with distress.

As an illegitimate son, he didn't have much savings, and he had to grind his teeth and stamp his feet to forge a short sword.

Holding the blade of the sword across his chest, Clay panted slightly and wiped the sweat hanging from his forehead. He keenly noticed the slight trembling of Jon's right hand holding the sword and the involuntary movements of his fingers.

He's out of steam, Clay thought.

He leaned forward and charged with his sword. Just as he swung his sword, a sword that was obviously much better made than Jon's dagger was placed between the two of them. Someone said:

"You win, my friend from White Harbor." The voice was equally young.

When someone blocked him, Clay sheathed his sword and retreated. It was not a wise thing to defeat his children on the master's territory, although he felt that given the character of the Stark family, they might not mind this.

"Rob, you don't have to do this, I can beat him!" Jon was a little dissatisfied with his brother.

Clay was a little surprised. Is the tall, brown-haired young man in front of him Rob Stark?

"Okay, go ahead and change your dirty clothes, otherwise your mother will scold you again." The young master of the Stark family smiled and patted his brother on the shoulder.

Although Jon was a little reluctant, he was well aware of his physical condition and was not a loser. He nodded slightly to Clay and immediately left the scene with a guard.

Seeing the end of the competition, the onlookers made unsatisfied sounds, but soon dispersed in twos and threes.

There were only two family guards left on the field, Rob and Clay standing together, and Sir Roderick walking over.

"Sir." Robb called, and so did Clay.

Roderick's gray eyes showed a scrutinizing look. He looked at Clay and said in a serious voice, "Sir Ed is waiting for you in the hall. Come with me."

Rob wanted to follow, but Roderick only said: "Rob, your mother is looking for Bran, and he doesn't know which tower he climbed to. I suggest you go and help her."

Rob smiled helplessly, gave Clay an apologetic look, pulled on his wolfskin cape and left in a hurry.

Traveling all the way, Clay was taken to the Stark family hall by Roderick.

This is probably the largest building besides the main castle where the Stark family lives. The vast hall can accommodate eight long tables, which can accommodate even 500 people.

On the high platform of the hall, Clay saw an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, but he knew very well that this was one of the seven most powerful people in the entire kingdom, Ed Starr, who led the Northern Guard. Duke of Grams.

Without waiting for Roderick's introduction, he stroked his chest and saluted: "Your Majesty the Duke."

Ed waved his hand, and Ser Rodrick bowed and stepped aside. Only Clay and him were left on the empty high platform. He looked up and down at the young man who had just defeated Jon.

However, he inherited the tall and burly figure of the Mandalay family. After being silent for a while, he asked in a kind voice:

"Who is your father from White Harbor?" without asking Clay's name first.

"Wendell Manderly, His Majesty the Duke."

"Hmm... Wendel, huh? Are you Wendel's son?" As the guardian of the north, he naturally knew the situation of his vassals. After thinking for a moment, he remembered who Wendel was, and soon he realized that Ke Lei’s identity is revealed, this is the third generation heir of the Mandalay family!

Roderick was also surprised when he heard Clay's words. He had a good relationship with Wendell, but he didn't expect that the Mandalay boy he regarded as a sidekick was actually the child of an old friend.

Clay took out the letter with the emblem of Earl Wyman from his arms and placed it on Duke Ed's desk.

Duke Ed was a little strange, but he still picked up the letter and recognized the unique emblem of Earl Wyman at a glance, and now he had a little more trust in Clay's identity.

After browsing the letter, Ed Stark understood what Earl Wyman meant, which was to ask him to send a letter to all the northern nobles to endorse Clay's identity.

This is understandable. When it comes to heir issues, it is very common for vassals to seek out their own lords for such operations. However, this is related to the heir to the Mandalay family, one of the most powerful lords in the north. Ed's sense of honor Ask him to be cautious.

"Clay Manderly, please stay in Winterfell for a few days. I will send a raven to White Harbor to confirm your identity." It seems that the old man mentioned his name in the letter.

Is it so troublesome? Clay frowned slightly, but he had no reason to refute and could only nod.

Seeing Clay, there was no hesitation at all. A smile appeared on Duke Ed's serious face, and he pointed to the side:

"You have already met Roderick. He has asked him to take you around Winterfell these past few days. I heard him say that you also brought your sister? That's just right. You are familiar with Robb and Sansa. .”

Clay's first impression of the brothers Jon and Rob was pretty good, so he naturally wouldn't refuse. He knew that his conversation with the Northern Guardian was over, so he bowed and followed Roderick out of the hall. .

As soon as he went out, Roderick said: "Wendel nagged me many times when he came to Winterfell. Now it seems that you have inherited your mother's appearance, but this guy is actually a qualified Mander. Le.”

Clay looked at the already very old knight and said to himself that it looked like what his father said was true. He indeed had a very good relationship with Roderick. He remembered what his father had told him before he left.

"Sir, before I came here, my father told me to give you a bottle of wine to pay off the gambling debt he owed you."

Rodrick was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly. Now he had no worries about Clay's identity, because the gambling debt was a secret only between him and Wendel, and no one else knew about it.

He hummed: "It's rare that he can still remember it. I thought he was hiding in White Harbor just for a bottle of wine."

The old jazz man was obviously in a good mood, and he put an iron hand on Clay's shoulder.

"Master Ed is right. You young people should be so familiar with each other. Let's go. You go have breakfast first, then take your sister and come to us at the school ground."

As the head coach of Winterfell, he is responsible for training the younger generation of the Stark family, and he taught Jon's swordsmanship.

After smiling, Clay walked towards his residence. He had to wake up Vera, his sleepy sister.