Chapter 09

Ned's POV (Age 27), 286 AC

Eddard Stark sat back in his chair watching as his of six almost seven namedays walked into his solar. While showing nothing on his face, Eddard looked at his son and could easily tell he was nervous about whatever was on his mind. This immediately made Eddard nervous in return, as whenever Robb was afraid to tell him something, it usually meant a headache that he would have to deal with.

"What did you do this time, boy? Out with it, you have that look about you." Ned said, hoping to get this over with quickly.

"I didn't do anything, Father! Cregan is lying, it wasn't me!" His mother giggled at hearing that.

"I wanted to talk to you about something else. That's why Mother and maester are here. You see, I had this idea about a really easy way for us to make more coin and expand trade…."

"Stop right there son. You know why we have to be careful about new trade ideas." Eddard interrupted.

"That's the thing, Father. My idea isn't going to cost us anything. And it can even be done even better in winter."

"Oh? And just what is this magical good that we harvest in winter? We can't dig any mines right now, if that's what you are thinking Lord Robb, the ground is frozen solid. There's not much worth mining that we aren't mining already anyways." Maester Luwin said skeptically.

"We are not going to dig in the ground, we are going to dig in the snow. All of you have visited South. I have read that it gets hot. Imagine how much sweaty Lords in their big castles with few windows would be willing to pay to have ice chips in their wine glass ?"

Ned sat back and thought for a moment, it sounded crazy to him at first but the more he thought about it, the more he could see it working. He could well remember the oppressive heat of Dorne. The Lords of the South and the Magisters of Essos probably would pay good gold for blocks of ice in the heat of the summer.

"We can get the Mormonts to cut out blocks of ice from The Frozen Shore beyond the wall, and store it in crates filled with sawdust and straw. When winter ends, and the Manderlys send their ships to trade fur, wool, and coin for seeds for crops, they can fill the space of their ships with ice. If it doesn't sell, we don't lose anything but some time." Robb added.

"Ned, we should try his idea" his wife urged.

"My lord, I also think we should use this ingenious idea. We can sort out any problems that arise." Maester Luwin said.

"Okay. We send out ravens for this today. What's the distribution of profits we should make Robb?"

"I think forty percent each for House Mormont & Manderley and twenty percent for House Stark would be good for this one."

"Okay. Old Gods willing this just might work. Anything else ?"

"Father, I would like to go to Citadel to study. And no, I am not joining Order of Maesters."

"No, Robb you are just a child." Catelyn interrupted.

"My lady, I think we should let him," Maester said quickly.

He stayed silent and stared at his son for a few minutes and he stared back. "When? And how much time would you stay?" he asked in his characteristic low voice.

"As quickly as possible. I would have liked to see my new sibling before departing for Citadel. However, they have sent out white ravens, and autumn can be very short. So as quickly as possible before roads are blocked by snow. As for staying anywhere between two to three years."

"Prepare then, you ride out in a fortnight. Cat, Maester Luwin give us the room." Luwin dutifully went away after bowing but Catelyn hesitated before going too.

"Tell me, boy. Were you preparing for this while staying in the room this past moon?"

"Yes, Father." He nodded.

"Do you wish to tell me something ?"

Robb took out a big piece of parchment and laid it on his desk. "Father, this here is what I call paper. I have figured out a way to create two things that could be revolutionary. The first is to create a better-quality parchment. A sample of which lays on your desk."

Robb pointed his finger at the paper. After indicating that he should continue.

"Second is a way to make books faster. Instead of transcribing a book every other generation, what if we stamp them? The machine I have created is a modified design of Wine Press, that I found in a book.

As much as I desire to learn from Maesters, my true reason for wanting to go to Oldtown is to access their vast library. According to Luwin, the Citadel boasts between forty thousand books. And I aim to bring back as many as I can.

By selling paper and books, we will have three direct benefits, namely, bringing us much-needed gold, destroying the monopoly of Citadel, and spreading knowledge." Robb finished.

As much as Ned was amazed by his heir's claim, what he didn't understand was why it was necessary. "For what reason do you want all these books, lad ?"

"Because knowledge is power, father, and I aim to give that power to House Stark. As of now, Maesters hoard all the information for themselves, thus forcing the realm to be beholden to them. They tell us when winter is coming. They tell us what things can and can't be done. They hold the secrets of treating the sick and even growing bountiful crops."

He reluctantly came to a decision nodded at his son, and said "Very well, lad. I'll make you a deal. You have till the end of the week. On the morrow, you will start working on this machine if this device of yours does what you claim. Then I'll arrange with Luwin to send you to Oldtown. But if it didn't, then you will wait for a few years before going."

Robb grinned and nodded his head in agreement. "That sounds more than fair, father."

"And don't think I forgot about whatever it is you supposedly didn't do. That cregan never told me about it." He added, giving his son a stern look. At least the boy had the grace to look sheepish, he mused.