9th Day of the 5th Moon

Road to Winterfell, The Kingdom of Winter

Desmond had spent most of his trip home from Barrowton in silence. His mind was hard at work trying to string together his plan. Everything would have to be worked down to the most precise detail. Their would be many moving parts that would need to be kept track of. It would be the biggest move of Desmond's life. If he was successful it would lead his house in a direction no other lord of Ironrath had taken the House in the past.

This continued on until the seventh day of travel. On this day he sent for a runner to come to his side. The boy was young and ready to prove himself to his Lord.

You have a message you wish me to deliver?

Desmond gave the boy a smile and a quick nod.

"I would like you to ride hard to Ironrath. Tell my brother to send a letter to Master Glover and inform him that I would like to come to to Deepwood Motte and discuss possible joint building projects. Also tell my brother that, the company is light and we need to invite more to the party. He will know what you mean."

The runner gave Desmond a quizzical look.

Anything else my Lord?

"No that will be all."

As the runner galloped off Torrhen approached his father. There was something about his face that he had not seen in sometime. Passion. He continued on and rode up to take his place beside him.

Care to explain what has you in such a good mood this morning?

Desmond looked to his son and the passion subsided. Torrhen wouldn't understand the details in his plan only Sansa would.

"All in good time."

The conversation died there. Torrhen wouldn't know it but his father was purposely excluding him. The house would need to go on if he failed. It would need a better leader.

“I need you to return to Barrowton and keep an eye on things. I will meet you in Winterfell for the wedding.”