Chapter 42

When Domeric had served as a page in Lady Barbrey Dustin’s household at Barrowton, Lady Dustin had once described his “bargain” father like this:

“Roose has no feelings. All those leeches he’s so fond of have sucked every scrap of warmth out of him. He doesn’t love, he doesn’t hate, he doesn’t grieve. Everything in this world is just a game to him—mildly entertaining, and mildly interesting. Some men like hunting. Some like hawking. Some like casting dice. Roose Bolton likes playing games… with people.”

Those words flickered through Domeric’s mind as he studied his father in silence, and a quiet, complicated feeling rose in his chest.