Ned Stark knew the truth behind it all, and he approached Lynn of his own accord.
Complex emotions churned in his eyes.
There was gratitude and awe, but more than anything, the helplessness of a father.
He had failed to protect Jon, and he had failed to guide Theon.
Of the two children he regarded as his own, one had been left bewildered by his parentage, while the other had ventured to the edge of the abyss of desire.
He considered himself a failure as a mentor.
And the one who had resolved all of this was, of all people, Lynn.
Daenerys showed little interest in what had just happened.
Her attention still lingered on Lynn's description of that new continent.
Gold mines, primitive tribes, riches ripe for the taking.
Those words interested her far more than gaining another relative.
"Stannis..."
Lynn's voice broke the silence as he looked at Ned.
"The man on Dragonstone should be ready by now."
Ned's heart tightened.
Stannis Baratheon.
Robert's second brother, who now considered himself the eldest, was a man as hard as iron and as cold as winter.
He never compromised, never yielded, and was never liked.
But he was the only member of House Baratheon who truly understood responsibility.
Still, his fixation on becoming king seemed rather deep.
"He will declare war."
Ned's tone was certain.
"There are two kings in Westeros now."
"Once he confirms Joffrey's parentage, he will never stand by and watch a bastard born of incest sit on his brother's Iron Throne."
"What should we do, then?" Catelyn could not help asking.
The shame and remorse she had just experienced left her thoughts in turmoil, but as the lady of Winterfell, she forced herself to consider the situation at hand.
Since they had chosen to support Lynn,