Game Of Thrones : Merchant of Two Worlds

The news of Lord Jason Easter's arrival spread quickly throughout Wintertown, and soon more and more people gathered to watch as he made his way to Winterfell for the upcoming banquet.

Merchants who had come from various parts of Westeros paid particular attention to the large steel carriage that Jason was riding in. Meanwhile, the townspeople and nearby villagers, who had come to the market, were more interested in the beautifully wrapped gifts being carried by young soldiers and girls, either on their shoulders or being carried by two people.

"Such beautiful wrapping, I wonder what's inside," one onlooker remarked.

"I heard these are gifts that Mr. Jason brought from his homeland for the Stark family," another person said, curiosity evident in their voice. "I can't imagine what they could be. They must be more valuable than the pens, paper, and soap sold in the Easter store."

"As expected of a high-ranking nobleman. The entrance Lord Jason is making is really grand!" someone else added.

The crowd gathered along the road, pointing at the soldiers and girls carrying the gifts. They whispered and speculated, admiring the wealth of the East family, all the while guessing the contents of the elegantly wrapped gifts.

The path, which was barely a thousand meters long, became crowded as the people blocked the way. The noise and excitement grew so intense that Bud and McCann, who were riding at the front, had to shout to clear the path for the procession to continue.

It took the East family's entourage a full twenty minutes to make its way through the throngs of onlookers before finally reaching the gates of Winterfell.

Behind them, hundreds of people lingered, unwilling to leave, still engrossed in the spectacle unfolding before them.

Robb Stark, the young lord of Winterfell, came out to greet the party at the gate, offering a warm welcome, which was a clear sign of respect to Jason Liu.

"Open the gates!" Robb commanded.

With a slow creak, the tall wooden gates of Winterfell began to open. Jason Liu's impressive steel carriage passed through the gates and into the courtyard behind them, followed by the young girls carrying gifts and a number of soldiers acting as attendants.

The moment the grand, four-wheeled steel carriage came to a halt in front of Winterfell's main castle, it instantly captured the attention of the busy servants in the courtyard, as well as the nobles and guards waiting nearby.

The beautifully wrapped gifts, carried by Lena, Martha, and the others, caught the eyes of many maids. No matter where they were, women were always drawn to delicate and beautifully presented things.

Word soon spread that Lord Jason East, the Earl of Starfire City, had arrived in Winterfell, riding in a magnificent carriage made of steel. He had also brought many fine gifts for the Stark family, wrapped in beautiful paper and carried by dozens of attendants.

Inside Winterfell's main castle, discussions were taking place regarding recent events in King's Landing. Eddard Stark, who had been busy with northern affairs, overheard his attendants talking about Jason East's arrival in Winterfell.

With little else to focus on, Eddard became curious about this foreign nobleman, who was becoming famous not only in Winterfell but throughout the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

Jon's involvement also piqued his interest. Jon had expressed a willingness to swear loyalty to Jason, so Eddard wanted to see for himself if this man was as noble, generous, and kind as the rumors suggested.

"Go and bring my wife and the others. We will welcome this guest from afar," Eddard instructed his attendant.

The northern lords, seated on either side of the hall, looked at each other with curiosity after hearing Lord Eddard's words. They wondered who this guest could be and why Lord Eddard would go so far as to personally lead his family to greet him.

The aristocrats in the hall began whispering among themselves, each trying to figure out who this mysterious guest might be. The buzz of conversation grew louder once again.

Ruth Bolton, the Earl of Dreadfort, narrowed his eyes slightly. His face remained calm, giving the impression that he was unfazed by the murmurs of the other lords around him.

Among the chatter, the loudest voice belonged to Earl Jon of the Amber family. "Does anyone know who this foreign guest is? Even up here in the far north, I've heard about Winterfell lately. They say there are some truly interesting goods being brought into the town, and the merchants are delivering them to my hearth city!"

Wyman Manderly, the Earl of White Harbor, shifted his hefty body in his chair and smiled broadly. "Haha, Lord Amber has a point! Those pens that don't need ink, and the soap—those have all come from Winterfell's market town."

Manderly laughed heartily, raising a hand to gesture toward his housekeeper. "Those clever merchants sent these products to my housekeeper. I even know about them because of her!"

"Honestly, though, I have to say that these pens that don't require ink and the white paper have made handling my government affairs much easier," Earl Wyman said with a satisfied nod. "I couldn't hold a quill properly before, but now I can use a pen without any trouble!"

He chuckled again and continued, "And my wife and children love the bath soap. I've spent a small fortune just buying more of it!"

Lord Seven, the Earl of Seven Cities, joined in with a grin. "Even though these products are great, those greedy merchants are charging way too much. My purse is already feeling the strain from all their overcharging!"

"Ha! Lord Seven, that's a good one," Countess Dustin laughed, covering her mouth. "How could something so beneficial to women and children empty your purse?"

Countess Dustin, ruler of the northern wastelands, had lost her husband in the battle against the usurpers. Her late husband, Earl Willem Dustin, died alongside Lord Eddard Stark at the battle at the Tower of Bliss. As a result, Countess Barbara-Leswell Dustin now managed all matters of the barren fief.

She had come to Winterfell for the banquet to continue overseeing her duties.

"Lord Seven is right," Countess Leshan Flint, a widow who oversaw her own fief, added with a slight smile. "Though a little expensive, these things are indeed useful. For a noble like us, it's really no big deal!

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