Casta received Jon Snow in his own hall, beneath stone pillars carved with deer and lions, and carpets embroidered in gold. In the beauty of the carvings, the arrangement of weapons on the walls and benches, it was just like their father's great hall in the palace at Winterfell. Robert allowed Casta to have his own hall built, where he could live when winter came. They might as well have met in the ornate, large tent set up next to the hall, but his brother insisted they be behind thicker walls. His brother greeted him in a long-sleeved yellow and red robe, not unfamiliar to Jon Snow, which Tywin Lannister had given him on the day of their initiation, along with a burgundy, lion-tipped leather belt with gold trim. Many said that the two of them were exact replicas of each other. But this strange resemblance was a deceptive one, for Casta, unlike Jon Snow, had southern features, a striking difference. Whenever Casta spoke at length or conferred, he often dragged his left leg, which made his gait strangely limp. "Infantile injury..." said Robert, once pulling Jon Snow aside, "he's been badly wounded."
- "I didn't like the look on his face," said Casta, when the brothers were finally alone. "Did you see, brother, how Robert looked when he was talking to Tywin? He was hiding something. I see something ashamed in him!
Jon Snow rubbed his forehead. Robert had only once mentioned to them the conflict between Eddard and Tywin, though Jon Snow had guessed from his father's utterances what might be behind it.
- 'I think it out of the question,' said Jon Snow, 'that the Lord of Casterly Rock would attempt what you have in mind.
Casta snapped his head up.
- 'What was I thinking, brother?
- If Tywin Lannister himself had indeed sent the Dothraki against us, as you think he did, to weaken Robert by dividing our forces and trap us, why did he not do so when we were defenceless? Why did he not have us killed immediately on our visit to Casterly Rock? Or would he have disguised the murder as assassination when he invited us into his tent?
Casta's face remained straight, only his eyes squinted slightly.
- No, he couldn't have done that because there were too many people watching. The great houses would not have forgiven him if he had acted so openly. You and I are both Cregan Stark's blood. And ancient blood cannot be spilled in the eyes of the chiefs without vengeance.
- I know that.
- At Dorne, near the South Lawn, Tywin's hands are free. He expects us to be in the clutches of the enemy. There, the bloodthirsty hordes of Khal Drogo roam free. There's talk of tribes hunting with poisoned arrows, treacherous ways. Have you heard of them, brother?
Jon Snow nodded.
- Barbarians wearing necklaces made of human bones. Both men and women fight. Women sometimes cut off their breasts to make it easier to stretch their bows. They show no mercy to anyone.
- According to Robert, the countryside behind the Wall is full of treacherous marauders. Rebellious wildlings, agents of the khalasars, who are generous when their aim is to stir up strife between the freemen and us.
Casta reached for a mare's milk jar and took a long drink.
- The Lord of Casterly Rock fears us, Jon Snow. He fears us as he feared our father. Our forefather was Cregan himself. Remember, brother, Eddard is Rickard Stark's eldest son. Our father could have succeeded him as King of Winterfell, as our grandfather willed. Tywin, however, considered that will null and void! He used violence to force our father to step down.
Jon Snow noticed that Casta's hand trembled as he clutched the milk jar. Perhaps his brother himself feels unfit for the task of leading a battalion. Or maybe he just doesn't want to do it as Tywin Lannister's subordinate.
- You want to antagonise the Lord of Casterly Rock? You swore an oath to him when you were made a man! And what else can we do? King Robert will listen to Tywin's proposals. There's nothing to suggest the Lord of Casterly Rock is out to spill our blood. You would defy his command?
Casta drank slowly.
- I know more than you think, dear brother. I know more than you! I've been watching Robert for some time. And his inactivity worries me more and more. It's you who hasn't kept your eyes open well enough. You forget about Robb and Oberyn Martell. Our Father has another grown son. If the three of us acted together, Tywin's power would be shattered, his hands paralyzed. After Father's resignation, he appointed our brother King in the North. Why do you think that is? Robb remained a vassal, a grand vizier, while Tywin took control of one by one the houses once sworn to Winterfell, so I sent allies to Robb. Roose Bolton marched north the day Tywin's first battalions arrived here. And I know well, brother, that King Robb has gathered our allies around him.
Casta suddenly stood up from the high-backed, gilded chair, straightened up and walked to the window.
- "My wife has a bad feeling," he said, still looking out of the window, "Aliandra told me she saw a snake in her dream. A snake crawling between Valyrian blades. They tried to strike the snake's head off, but then it suddenly disappeared and bit into Robb Stark. What do you think it means?
Jon Snow sighed deeply. When Casta turned back from the window, he tried to turn his face away.
- To dream of a snake is indeed an ominous omen.
- The God of Flame and Shadow sends such visions and such creatures. Serpent and dragon. They all coil at the roots of the crow-trees, at the gates of the underworld.
Jon Snow's face seems to be in shadow.
- Is your wife a nightwalker?
Casta shook his head.
- She is not.
- Then maybe her vision means nothing. The serpent is in fact Tywin Lannister, who appeared in your wife's dream to tempt you to return the task he gave you. That would only shame our Father, and you of all people, who have Stark blood in your veins.
Casta sat back in his chair. His voice rang sharply.
- Our power is waning. Have you forgotten what our Uncle Benjen said about the destruction of the Seven Kingdoms and the coming times when swords will clash in the dark? Don't you remember what he said about people who worship false gods and the Others who have human faces? Who will be the man and who will be the demon? Who will know? Why do the gods forsake us? I feel it on my skin, brother, that day by day the light in Winterfell is less and less. The gods are leaving us for good, and the Seven Kingdoms are plunged into darkness. Tywin will not be content with the power he has been given. He will want his own grandchildren to inherit the Iron Throne, not us. Do you understand that?
- You don't know him.
- Do you?
- The last time we were there, I looked into his eyes again.
- And what did you see?
- It cut like a blade. But I saw no real darkness.
- He took our father honor for nothing. He has ignored the will of our grandfather Rickard. Just as it has ignored us!
- Do you have proof against him?
Casta's eyes narrowed.
- No.
- Our father was already weak. It was no secret to anyone that Robert's wars had broken his heart. Should the king have let a man with a weak heart rule over all the Starks?
- Our father was a warrior! No one could stand against him when he chained our enemies! Tywin must have weakened his heart! It was his Lannisters that brought us harm!
Jon Snow lifted his gaze from Casta, hoping his tone would not be too harsh.
- What are you talking about? Our father has accepted the order of the gods. He voluntarily gave up power! Lady Stark told me that.
Casta stared tensely at the milk jar.
- Lady Stark has been repeating what Robert says for years. Haven't you noticed, brother? Did she have a single word to say against Robert's declaration that we must pay a visit to Tywin's kingdom?
- No.
- Because like Robert, she blindly believes that the Lord of Casterly Rock has our best interests at heart. She believes that he will let her sons live out of goodwill and make them kings of a conquered people. But I'm old enough to sit on the Dragon King's throne. I want to take the Iron Throne, Jon Snow! I don't want to be king of some savage people, I want to be king of the Karstarks! After our father, I should have been Regent King of the Northeast long ago. And after Eddard dies, the king of all Karstarks! Do you understand that?
There was something in Casta's look that held back the anger that was about to erupt in Jon Snow. He saw before him the gilded tent roofs, the rowing boats of the conquered Pentosians, and the brown eyes of the Dornish maidens. He saw before him the great king of all the Karstarks, the wolf knights, Casta himself, sitting cross-legged on his panther-skinned Iron Throne, commanding his subjects kneeling before him with his piercing gaze.
- You will be a strong king. A strong king who also has Cregan Stark's blood in him. We, the wolf race, are one family. Our ancestor was born of the breath of Eternal Winter at the dawn of time. There will be no war between us!
Casta fixed his eyes on him as if he saw a ghost. And Jon Snow knew that was what his brother wanted to hear. Uncertain. He wouldn't have the strength to really go after the Iron Throne.
- "I want you to stand by me, Jon Snow," said Casta in a changed voice. I want you to support me in everything! No matter who attacks us, we must stand together.
- I support you. You can be sure of that!
- Will you help me if things go wrong? Will you stand by me if Robert or our brother Robb turns against me? Will you support me if they try to cut me out of my inheritance? If they try to overthrow me?
- Of that you shall have no doubt, brother. If Tywin is the enemy you think he is, I'll stand by you all the way.
Casta looked into the empty milk jar for a long time before answering.
- Brother, today I appoint you my helper. What is your answer?
Despair overcame Casta. He lacked the fierce determination to really get things done. Casta lacks the true courage to act alone, like the god who moves everything. He looked his brother in the eye. Jon Snow knew that neither of them would forget the winter night when Robert stormed the home of a traitorous slave from Braavos who murdered women and children. That was the first time they fought alongside Robert. When the Braavosi attacked them in the dark, it was up to him to finish what Robert had started.
- I accept the post - Jon Snow's wooden cup banged heavily on the planed oak table.
Casta nodded.
- The gods are with us!