Willhelm Bryce Sterling

As a young child, and not a likely heir to House Sterling, he was left to his own devices. He often found himself alone in the woods, as he enjoyed watching the world discretely. He would climb trees for their vantage, or hide in the shadow of a great tree, but learned that he needed to be silent in his movements as well. His interests in the woods was noticed by Ser Matthew Joens and taken under his wing to be taught hunting. archery, general weaponry, warfare, and some of the skills of healing as well. This was thought best to keep the boy out of mischeif.

As Will grew into manhood, his skills with the bow became superb. During his fourteenth year, he entered into a tournament sponsored by the house Tully. He took the champion of the bows, besting men of much bolder experiences. This brought renown to his family and his father held a feast for this honor.

Will was instructed in all weapons, but did not seem to have the developed skills of a swordsman. This was proved regretfully during a training session with a longsword the following winter. As he was not an equal to other swordsmen of his age, his opponent was not very skilled. If the boy had been, the accident may not have happened. Will had made a parry and was twisting around with the flat of his blade to smack his opponent, but as he was turing, the opponents blade was being drawn up along Will's back and cleaved his left ear off. The master at arms realised the mistake was regretable, but just an accident.

After this incident, Will did not return to the general training. He continued his training with bows, but this was mostly practice while hunting from the woods. He could bring down most any creature he could see. He sometimes would test his skills by giving the quarry a moment or two to run before firing. He took solace within the woods. No one would react to his missing ear.

After a month had passed and he had still not returned to the training, whispers started to spread about the young mans accident. As with most rumors, these were horribly exaggerated. Ser Joens went to visit Will before he had the opportunity to leave on yet another hunt. It is not known what was said between the two, but Will returned to the training yard the next day. Although his fighting skills only improved marginally, he was not injured again. He instead seemed to be the one asked to stitch, wrap, and splint. Every injury became a lesson for him.

His life continued much in this way the next year and a half.