Winterfell

[barker520]

Mag had no shame of the Skagosi custom, being at Winterfell or in his own lair. Smiling, he said, "It is to please gods. To eat whole heart, you must train for it. It is great feat indeed to eat whole heart. One must do this to become Stoneborn ... " he paused, trying to remember the correct word, "citizen. Yes, citizen. To succeed means gods approve of you."

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

Maleagant decided he liked the man, and his honest way of speaking. And he was greatly interested in their customs.
Maybe i will try it once i am back in the Dreadfort.
"I see," he said, "we have many customs of our own at the Dreadfort, though not one quite like this. You have done it yourself, i assume, what was it like?"
He remembered the feeling he had back when he flayed Hendry, and wondered if Mag had felt the same.

[barker520]

Mag closed his eyes and appeared to be in deep thought. When he finally responded, his blue eyes were open and sparkling, and his words were quick and fast, and happy, though no one understood them save his fellow Skagosi. Mag had spoken in the old tongue. Turning to Maleagant, he said, "I am sorry, Bolton Dreadfort Lord... but I cannot speak of it in southern tongue. I do not know the words, or if such words exist, in this langauge."

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

At this instant, Maleagant knew the man was speaking from the heart. "I understand," he said, "some experiences can be so special, that no word can do them justice. But if there is a word in our language to come close, it would be 'divine', i think. Though perhaps, if you ever come to the Dreadfort, you could teach me some words of the old tongue?"

[barker520]

Mag nodded, as if connecting with the man's thoughts completely. "Divine," he said out loud, more to himself than Maleagant. Turning to him he said, remembering his conversation with Finny "Yes, I would be honored, Lord Eagle. I would like that very much." Drinking his ale again, he said, "You and your guard men," he said, motioning to the giant brothers, "and anyone else, would be welcome on Stoneborn island. We will hold great feast in your honor, in Oldenlove." Mag dropped down a huge portion of meat, which was quickly swallowed up by Burk.

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

"I intend to come as soon as possible," Maleagant said, "as you may know, we have fought with a group of rebels recently, so first we should restore the strenght and authority of the north. But when it is calmer, i will come to visit you on your island, i promise. It will be an honor to be welcomed by you, and a great oppertunity to restore the bonds between the northmen."
He was quiet for a moment, and his red face darkened a little bit.
"Lord Eagle," he sighed, "i was only jesting with the little nose-breaker. In truth, they know me as the vulture. And i have no problem being called that, for i am a vulture, regardless of how people call me. Though once, there was a man before you that called me lord Eagle."

[barker520]

Mag nodded. "Vulture name is not bad. Vulture is good bird, smart, hard to kill." He motioned to his left, where his fellow Magnar, Ryk, sat. "That is Ryk Magnar of Kingshouse. He is called Bloodhawk by our people." A giant hawk was actually perched on his shoulder at the moment. Many northmen could not decide whether the hawk, the mirrikai, or the Skagosi themselves were a stranger sight. Seeing them all at the same time was no doubt a true wonder. Thoughtful, Mag said, "Who was the man before me?"

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

"True," Maleagant said, "i have always liked vultures. There is something about them, you know? Something special."
He glanced at the man with this big hawk sitting on his shoulder.
"I am sure him and i would get along fine. The hawk and the vulture, bards would love to sing of us."
Maleagant was lost in his thoughts for a few minutes, before he remembered Mag's question. "Oh yes, the man before you," he said, "i am pretty sure you have heard the name at this feast already. I am sure many knights and soldiers here have told tales about him, his name was Jack Lordsbane. "
And Jack the Cook, if only for a few letters.

[barker520]

Mag nodded. "I have heard the name, but they say he is dead now. Tell me, did Lord Roose Stark kill him in single... fight? No. Single..." Valla laid a hand on his arm. "Combat, Mag," she said gently. Mag smiled at her, grateful, and said, "Yes, Lord Dreadfort. Tell me, did Lord Roose Stark kill this man in single combat?" He looked at Maleagant with the endless blue pools that were his eyes, genuinely curious.

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

"Some will say that," Maleagant said, "but it is not so. Roose Stark fought three rounds with the man before his knights intervened. They did most of the work, though the young lord did finish it by executing Jack Lordsbane. So he did slay him, but not in single combat."

[barker520]

Mag shrugged. "A brave fight, a brave death, what more does a man ask for from the gods? If a man asks for more than that, then he is a bad man and the old gods who watch us always will punish that man." He tried a bite of the meat but it tasted queer to him. Without trying to hide it, Mag dumped his plate's contents onto the floor for Burk and Finny to clean up. Mag smiled at Valla and Lhyema, who had remained standing, and turned back to Maleagant. "Lord Dreadfort has no wife? Where is Dreadfort woman, who should sit with you at feast?"

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

"As the rebels fled, Jack was the only one to stand his ground, even when he faced our advancing army," Maleagant said, "you would have liked him, i assure you. I considered him as one of my few true friends, even though we never met in person, but just by letter." You had the death you wished for Jack, i hope you are at peace atlast.
For the first time, he called for wine. Berenger tasted the wine first, before filling two cups. Maleagant handed one over to Mag, and together they raised their cups. "To Jack," Maleagant said, a brave and true man of the north. After they had toasted Jack, Maleagant talked about his wife. "Currently, she is at King's Landing," he said, "though i believe she could return any day now. Should you come to the Dreadfort, you will surely meet her."
"And what of you?" he added, looking at the women around him, "which one is yours? Or should i ask, which ones are yours?"

[barker520]

Mag grimly toasted and drank the wine, though it tasted strange to him. He saw nothing wrong with drinking in honor of a brave man. "This wife is called Lhyema," Mag said, grabbing her hand and then kissing her hard. After it ended, he turned and placed his hand on Valla's leg, wishing they were alone. "This wife is called Valla." He turned to his wives. "Wives, this is Lord Dreadfort, Mah-leeg-unt Eagle."

[Lord Maleagant Bolton]

Maleagant rose and gave a gracious bow, before giving both women a handkiss. He sure knows how to pick his women.
"Is there a custom for the number of wives a man can have on Skagos?" Maleagant asked as he sat down again.
"And do tell me, who is this little girl that wishes to be a bird," he added, pointing at the little girl under the table, who was fighting with that strange beast over a piece of meat Mag had thrown on the floor."

[barker520]

Mag looked a little confused at the question. "A man wins his wives on the island, though a man can have more, if a man wins them from mainland." He explained, with some difficulty, how Lhyema was his wife he wedded from a Skagosi clan, and then Mag had killed Valla's family during a raid against a village, therefore making Valla his own to keep. "And that," Mag said, pointing at Finny under the table, "is Finny Stoneknife, Bear Tamer, Nose Breaker, Stonemade."