Theon Greyjoy's smile, when he saw Lynn, piled up thicker than the snow on Winterfell's walls.
He hurried forward to greet him, keeping his manner humble and his words full of just the right amount of concern.
As he spoke, he discreetly sized Lynn up.
Alone.
Travel-worn.
And was that a trace of... exhaustion on his face?
Theon's heart began to race despite himself.
Could it be... had Uncle Euron's plan really succeeded?
Had that black dragon really been controlled by Dragonbinder and turned on its master?
Once the thought took root, it spread like weeds, leaving his mouth parched with excitement.
Lynn looked at the overacting "performer" before him, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
He did not expose him immediately.
Winter's appetite had grown steadily since the red comet appeared, so Lynn had already ordered him out to sea to catch his own fish. Combined with the warning he had given Ned, this left Theon unaware of what was really going on.
Lynn promptly decided to play along with Theon's script.
He sighed and rubbed his brow, showing just the right amount of irritation and a barely perceptible hint of weakness.
"Don't ask."
"The Ironborn were harder to deal with than I expected."
"Especially that madman called Euron. Who knows where he got his hands on those sinister tricks? I nearly came to grief."
Lynn's words were vague, but every one landed like a little hammer, striking Theon precisely where it mattered.
Nearly came to grief?
Then... he hadn't?
But from his tone, Lynn had definitely taken a heavy blow!
Theon's mind raced.
He did not know everything about Uncle Euron's trump card, but he knew it was a terrifying power capable of changing the world.
*However strong Lynn was, there was no way he could face