Behind them, Daemon heard Qotho give a dry snort of amusement. "It does," he agreed, sparing another wink for his Dothraki companion. "But I think we should probably observe at least one tradition during our reign, so let this be it, eh?" The gods knew he was planning to turn them all on their ears over the course of his lifetime.

Due to the Storm King setting a grueling pace, the contingent made good time on the road to Winterfell. Robb Stark himself, along with his mother, Lady Catelyn, rode out to meet them, and greetings were exchanged all around. It pleased Daemon to see his wife reunited with her family, and he kept to his manners when he gave his mother-by-law a fond embrace and a modest kiss to her unlined cheek.

"My Lady Stark," he bowed, though his customary swarthy smirk still hovered, ever cheeky.