Edric Dayne barely reached Jon Snow's chest in height.
When he heard Jon's question, however, he froze for a moment as if stunned.
Then his expression changed.
His lips twitched.
A second later, he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahaha! I'm sorry—really, I'm sorry, Ser Jon!"
The young Lord of Starfall held his stomach as he laughed so hard that he nearly bent over.
"I don't usually laugh like this… but I just couldn't help it!"
Jon stood there awkwardly, watching the smaller boy laugh until tears gathered in his eyes.
Confused, Jon slowly turned his head toward Bronn, as if hoping the sellsword might explain what was so funny about his earlier question.
But Bronn merely looked amused.
He tilted his head slightly, thinking for a moment as he watched the two boys.
Then he shrugged.
"It seems pretty obvious," Bronn said lazily.
"That woman Vera probably isn't your mother."
He gestured casually.
"She's most likely just your father's lover… someone he spent lonely nights with."
Bronn spoke with the blunt indifference of a man who had spent his life around soldiers and mercenaries.
Seeing Edric laughing so hard only reinforced his belief.
He clearly didn't think Jon's guess about Vera being his mother had any chance of being correct.
Jon's confused expression slowly changed.
His eyes became clearer.
But the disappointment in them was impossible to hide.
For a moment, Jon thought he had made himself look like a fool.
However, Edric Dayne finally managed to calm down.
He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and straightened himself.
"Ser Jon, please forgive me," he said quickly.
"I wasn't laughing at you. I swear it on the honor of House Dayne."
He took a deep breath before continuing more seriously.
"But the gentleman beside you is actually mistaken."
Bronn raised an eyebrow.
"Am I now?"
Edric nodded.
"As far as I know," he said carefully, "Vera really is your mother."
Jon's eyes widened instantly.
"But…" Edric added thoughtfully, "I don't think Lord Eddard Stark ever told you that, did he?"
Jon's heartbeat quickened.
Edric continued.
"Vera is a wet nurse from Starfall."
"She has served our family for many years—long before I was even born."
The young Lord of Starfall was surprisingly perceptive.
After only a few moments of conversation, he had already guessed why Jon had come to find him.
Especially seeing the anxiety in Jon's face.
So he decided not to keep him waiting.
Instead, he explained everything he knew about the connection between Vera, Jon, and Lord Eddard Stark.
As he spoke, Jon's eyes slowly brightened again.
The disappointment that had filled them moments earlier disappeared.
"Did Vera tell you that?"
Jon asked excitedly.
"Lord Edric Dayne!"
For Jon, it felt like suddenly seeing light after wandering through darkness.
However, Edric quickly waved his hands.
"Wait—wait!"
He nervously glanced around the camp.
After confirming no one nearby was paying attention, he leaned closer and lowered his voice slightly.
"You don't have to call me Lord Edric," he said shyly.
"Actually… you can call me Ned."
Jon blinked in surprise.
"Ned?"
Edric nodded.
"It's my nickname."
Then he smiled warmly.
"After all, you're my milk brother."
Jon was slightly stunned.
"Milk… brother?"
Edric nodded again.
"When I was a baby, my mother couldn't produce enough milk."
"So Vera fed me as well."
"She helped raise both of us."
Although they shared no blood relation, Edric Dayne felt a strange sense of closeness toward Jon.
It was almost like meeting a real brother.
That feeling made him genuinely happy.
Jon was still surprised.
The name "Ned" carried special meaning in Winterfell.
There was only one person usually called that.
Lord Eddard Stark.
"That's my nickname," Edric explained awkwardly.
"I heard Lord Eddard Stark is also called Ned."
"But my parents gave me this name first."
Jon chuckled softly.
In truth, his own name also carried special meaning.
Eddard Stark had named him Jon to honor Jon Arryn.
So coincidences like this didn't bother him much.
Jon extended his hand.
"Alright, Ned."
He smiled.
"You don't have to call me Ser."
"My brother Robb and my sister Arya just call me Jon."
"I'd like it if you did the same."
The two boys shook hands firmly.
"It's nice to meet you, Jon," Edric said happily.
"The same to you," Jon replied.
"And I'm honored."
Jon felt happier than he had in years.
Not only had he finally discovered information about his mother…
He had also gained a genuine friend.
In Winterfell, only Robb and Arya had ever treated him like family.
To everyone else, he was simply a bastard.
If Ser Karl Stone had not taken him under his wing, Jon might have already joined the Night's Watch.
But now—
Here in Dorne—
He had gained another brother.
The pale-haired Lord of Starfall with bright blue eyes smiled brightly at him.
Inside the Tent
"Jon," Edric suddenly said.
"You should come inside my tent."
"It's rude to keep a guest standing outside."
Jon nodded.
"Of course."
Bronn followed them inside with a strange expression.
Edric's tent was surprisingly large.
It was nearly the size of a small house, decorated with fine Dornish carpets and furniture.
As the Lord of Starfall, Edric had been given proper accommodations.
The two boys sat down.
But before anything else could be said, Jon immediately asked another question.
"So… did Vera ever talk about me?"
"Does she remember me?"
His voice carried obvious hope.
Edric paused.
The question caught him slightly off guard.
He tilted his head thoughtfully as he tried to remember.
After a moment, he slowly shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Jon."
"Vera sometimes told stories about Lord Eddard Stark."
"But I don't recall her ever mentioning that you were her son."
Edric looked slightly embarrassed.
But he quickly brightened again.
"That doesn't mean anything, though."
He smiled.
"If you want answers, Starfall will always welcome you."
"You can ask Vera yourself."
"Or you can ask Lord Eddard Stark directly."
Edric shrugged.
"I think hearing the truth from them would be better than hearing it from me."
Jon nodded.
Even though he hadn't received absolute confirmation…
He still felt relieved.
At least now he knew something.
And several people had already pointed him in the same direction.
King Robert had hinted at it.
Prince Oberyn Martell had suggested asking House Dayne.
And now the Lord of Starfall himself had confirmed Vera's connection.
Jon felt almost certain.
Soon he would finally know the truth.
"Thank you, Ned," Jon said sincerely.
"This is already much better than knowing nothing."
He smiled widely.
"I'm really grateful you told me all this."
Jon realized something else.
He had never felt this happy before.
For the first time in his fifteen years of life…
He felt like he might truly belong somewhere.
Ashara Dayne
After a moment of silence, Jon spoke again.
"There's another rumor."
He hesitated slightly.
"In Winterfell, people often said my mother might be your aunt."
"Ashara Dayne."
As soon as Jon spoke that name, Edric's smile faded.
His expression became serious.
"Aunt Ashara died before I was born," he said quietly.
"But I know one thing for certain."
"She was not your mother."
Jon looked surprised.
"Because the child she gave birth to…"
Edric paused.
"…was a stillborn girl."
"That tragedy is what broke her heart."
"It's also why she later took her own life."
A shadow passed over Edric's face.
House Dayne had never been a large family.
Now only Edric and his aunt Allyria remained.
Thinking about it always made him uneasy.
But he quickly forced a smile.
"My aunt Allyria once told me something interesting."
"What?"
Jon asked.
"At the Tourney at Harrenhal," Edric said, "Lord Eddard Stark and Aunt Ashara were already in love."
Jon blinked in surprise.
"So if that baby girl had lived…"
Edric chuckled lightly.
"You might have had another sister."
Jon immediately felt guilty.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly.
"I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
Edric waved it off.
"It's alright."
"I just hope this helps you."
An Unexpected Offer
The two boys continued chatting for hours.
Time passed quickly.
Eventually a servant entered the tent.
"My lord," the servant said respectfully.
"The feast at Blackport is about to begin."
Only then did Jon and Edric notice how dark it had become outside.
The candles inside the tent were nearly burned out.
Meanwhile, Bronn had completely forgotten about their conversation.
He sat at the table with a cup of Dornish red wine.
His face was flushed and his eyes half closed.
"I never thought I'd drink wine this good again…" he muttered happily.
Edric smiled faintly.
"I also never expected to return to Blackport."
Jon tilted his head curiously.
"Isn't the lord of Blackport Beric Dondarrion?"
"He traveled here with us."
Edric nodded.
"Yes."
Then he explained.
"When I was seven years old, my aunt Allyria was betrothed to Lord Beric."
"So I went to Blackport with her."
"There, Lord Beric made me his page."
"I'm ten years old now."
"He planned to make me his squire."
"But I refused."
Jon looked surprised.
"Why?"
Edric lifted his chin proudly.
"Because before anything else…"
"I am the Lord of Starfall."
"That is the duty of House Dayne."
"So I returned home and gathered my banners."
He smiled sadly.
"I thought when we met again…"
"We would be enemies."
Then he looked at Jon.
"But thanks to you… that didn't happen."
"The gifts you delivered helped stop the war."
"Our friendship can continue."
Jon was surprised.
He hadn't realized his mission carried such importance.
But hearing this made him feel more serious.
After a moment, Jon stood up.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
"Ned."
Edric looked up.
"If you'd like…"
"You can become my squire."
Edric's eyes widened.
"Your… squire?"
Jon nodded.
"Ser Karl Stone made me his own squire once."
"He even knighted me before the Iron Throne."
Jon smiled warmly.
"So if you want…"
"I would be honored to have you as my squire."
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