The Wall rose out of the snow like a frozen god — built by n, giants, and the Children of the Forest, hardened with ice and old magic. Nothing short of dragonfire could break it. It was the only thing standing between the realms of n and whatever waited in the dark beyond.
At Castle Black, Lord Commander Mormont, Maester Aemon, and Benjen Stark sat close to the fire, still shivering under thick bearskins.
"Word from Winterfell," Mormont said. "Your brother says the king and young Tony Stark will be here soon."
Benjen stared into the flas. "I need to ride south. We're running low on n and good steel. The wildfire Tony promised can't co fast enough."
He rubbed his hands together. "The deserter my brother executed… he wasn't a coward. He saw sothing out there. Sothing worse than wildlings."
Mormont grunted. "Winter is coming."
Benjen nodded once. "It always is."
---
The royal party rode north together. Robert led from the front like a charging boar. Most of the others followed on horseback — Tony, Jai, Tyrion, and the three royal children. Only Cersei stayed in her carriage.
Myrcella had barely left Tony's side since last night. She kept begging for another story after the way he'd told The Lion King.
Tyrion rode beside Tony, peppering him with questions. "Tell , how would you fix King's Landing's sewers? The whole city stinks like a dead whore."
Tony didn't hesitate. He spoke about terrain, rainfall, street layout, and how to build proper channels so waste didn't back up into the streets or let enemies sneak in during a siege. He talked for nearly twenty minutes without pausing for breath.
Tyrion listened with real interest. Jai caught maybe half of it. Joffrey understood none of it and looked personally offended that soone could know so much.
Tomn tugged Tony's sleeve. "Does King Arthur's sword really exist? The one in the stone? Can it cut through anything?"
Jai raised an eyebrow. "How would it compare to Valyrian steel?"
Tony smirked. "Valyrian steel? My family has one. Ice. And it's better than anything your house ever owned."
He glanced at Jai. "Didn't you lose a Valyrian blade once? Brightroar, wasn't it?"
Jai's head snapped around. "How the hell do you know that?"
Tony shrugged. "Books, Ser Jai. The Citadel keeps all kinds of secrets if you know where to look."
Tyrion burst out laughing. "He's got you there."
The dwarf leaned closer, eyes gleaming. "When we reach Winterfell, you and I should visit a brothel together. I've never tasted northern won. I hear they're built sturdy."
"Careful," Jai warned. "Myrcella's right there."
Tony kept his face perfectly straight. "I'm not that kind of man, Tyrion."
Tyrion nearly fell off his horse. "You're not—? I saw you climb out of that maid's carriage with your shirt half open! Diana, wasn't it? Don't tell you were just keeping her warm."
"I was," Tony said solemnly. "She gets cold easily."
Tyrion stared at him for a long second, then started laughing so hard he had to wipe his eyes. "Gods, you're the most shaless liar I've ever t."
---
A sudden roar split the air up ahead.
"Wildlings! Die, you bastards!"
Robert's voice.
Jai spurred forward at once. Tony whistled for Victor and the two of them galloped after him.
"Joffrey, Myrcella, Tomn — with ," Tyrion ordered, turning his horse.
Joffrey ignored him. "Hound! Let's go see the fun."
Sandor Clegane gave a low grunt and followed the prince.
Tyrion swore, sent the other guards to escort Myrcella and Tomn back to their mother's carriage, then rode forward alone.
By the ti he reached the fight, Robert, Tony, Jai, and Victor were already cutting through a small band of wildlings. The Hound stood near Joffrey, watching the chaos.
"How the hell did wildlings get this far south?" Tyrion muttered, dismounting.
Joffrey sneered at him. "Co to play the hero, Uncle?"
Before Tyrion could answer, three wildlings ca crashing through the trees behind them.
"Down!" Tyrion shouted.
He shoved Joffrey hard to the side. An axe whistled past the prince's head and buried itself in the snow. Tyrion rolled, ca up with the weapon, and charged the nearest wildling with a roar that didn't sound like it should have co from his small body.
The wildling froze for half a second — just long enough. Tyrion's first swing took him in the leg. The second took his head.
"Joffrey!" Tyrion grabbed the boy and hauled him upright. "You hurt?"
Joffrey stared at his uncle like he'd never seen him before. The color had drained from his face, but he was alive.
"I… I'm fine," he managed. "Uncle… you saved ."
For once, the prince didn't sound arrogant. He just sounded young.
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