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"My compliments to the chef that was some good curried goat. And those mashed potatoes with cream and butter. Absolutely delightful. The man deserves a castle!" I said earning chuckles from a many who agreed within the hall.
After months of eating the same under seasoned, salty bland tasting, and boring meals of meat pies, porridge, roasted this and that and bread. By God's mercy. I had gotten rid of the dreadfort's chef and had him sent away to one of the newer towns as a tavern cook. I gave the man fifteen years wages, 2 acres of land and some grain so he could shut his yap about working and cooking in the Dreadfort's kitchens for over 30 years.
And to his credit he took it graciously and seemed satisfied. Had he not been so stubborn, so utterly resistant to new ideas….I might've kept him on. But he was old, set in his ways, and the kitchens needed change.
My new chef , of course …. yes you guessed it , Bravosi.
He charged a hefty fee of 4 gold dragons a month especially for a second rate like him self if I compared him to better chefs of bravos, but he could make anything within reason from cuisines well known to westerosi to cuisines of essos and in addition he was open minded about new ideas.
"It was indeed splendid my lord, a bit spicy but for climates like these I would say it would fit right in." Rigmond opinions
"Good man," I smiled before taking a sip of my chilled dornish wine.
Spices weren't necessarily unknown to the north but they were expensive and only lords wealthy enough to buy them could afford them and not many of those in the north really appreciated the taste of finer cuisine. It was no wonder Lord Manderly was as fat as he was . The white harbor lord had a spot for the finer tastes and things in life and as a lord of a mercantile city, spices had been among the many imports ships brought to white harbor.
Wyman Manderly for those who didn't know was the Lord and ruler of White Harbor . The richest city in the north. He was a amiable man who had a loud, booming laugh, along with a booming belly.
He is often mocked by his own people as Lord Lamprey. And by his own admission, and because of his physical appearance, Wyman is seen by many as craven and foolish. Though this was a clever front, however, as Wyman is shrewd, calculating, and intelligent.
Lord Manderly and his household by custom and social right were also staunchly loyal to House Stark.
"Maester Coleman," I called out to the resident maester at the table below my own raised dias.
"My lord," he bowed his head.
It wasn't really normal to have meals like this with the whole administration of the Dreadfort present, I would think it would build some sort of community which their work already did but I took comfort in seeing the minds of this great construct gathered.
"How long can I expect to receive ravens back from White Harbor?" I asked while swirling the wine in my bronze chalice.
"A day or two more my lord", he replied his chains jingling as he stood up.
"A day or two", I said back while thinking.
House Manderly were our business partners on this end of the stick, Wyman wasn't blind nor stupid to turn down a profitable proposal when offered even from a bolton like myself.
The roads in my lands were nearing its completion and by next year every major parts and places within bolton domain would be linked by smoothed paved roads. It was like a highway and from this highway smaller arteries made of paved stone led to smaller farms, mills and villages had also been created.
What I was offering the Fat Lord was a mutual investment where we combine our resources to link the Dreadfort and White harbor directly , by one highway to generate profit and expand easier land trade in the region. Ofcourse this was merely a proposition an Idea of sorts that we would need to talk about in detail and in person which I would happily look forward to but I needed to get at least some confirmation of him entertaining the Idea.
Linking trade to house bolton and White harbor not only by water but also by lands.
'Shit I wanted to take a piss. Too much wine.'
"That bravosi man that wanted to marry the farmers daughter what was his name again shanks?"
"Billy I think it was my lord," His Captain replied ever standing as usual.
"Bring him to my solar by tomorrow morn, I shall give him my approval".
"Consider it done my lord," he nodded .
"My lord," Caro called out.
"I myself could do with a wife you know?" He japed.
"I think you left off the word "another", didn't you leave several of them in Bravos", I japed back making the men at my table boom with laughter.
"Two actually", the man admitted to the glee and cheers of others.
"And not a child to your name" , Rigmond butted in making me cackle at the jape.
"Shooting arrows but nothing hitting the target", Xillan the summer islander snorted making the hall laugh even more.
"Alright , alright thats enough of you all" I called them to ease . Though my laugh had not left my face."
"A toast , to the men and women of the Dreadfort. I know the road was never easy and our continued journey would never be so. But to all you great men that had toiled and worked hard to have us achieve what we have now is a testament of our ability. Apart, nothing of lasting will ever be made, but together we could build the bridge to prosperity that would outlast the damn wall itself." I finished
"Here! Here!" Came a shout . It seemed it was from a lesser lord. Lord Stout it seemed.
"To Domeric Bolton, The Architect !" the man stood to say.
"To Lord Bolton!!!" the entire hall stood simultaneously to shout
I smiled and clapped them in cheer.
'Shit!!Now I really wanted to take a piss.'