Deepwood Motte, the Hall of a Thousand Beasts.
Galon led Maege Mormont and her daughters into the hall.
By this time, Steward Morman had already arranged the long table. Wine was set out, along with a small selection of food.
Lady Mormont's gaze flicked briefly around the hall.
The mounted skulls of beasts were nothing new to her or to her eldest daughter, Dacey, who had seen the Hall of a Thousand Beasts several times before.
Their reactions were calm.
Only her youngest daughter, Lyanna, was seeing it for the first time. She could not help letting out a soft gasp.
At once, it drew a few glances.
Dacey gently pulled Lyanna closer and whispered an explanation of the hall's origins.
Galon invited Lady Mormont to the long table, poured her a mug of ale, and said, "The journey was long. Would you like to eat something first and rest for a while?"
Lady Mormont shook her head. "Time is pressing. Let us speak of serious matters first."
Galon accepted this readily. "Very well. Please, sit."
Once Lady Mormont had taken her seat, Galon sat opposite her. Steward Mormann stood behind him.
Dacey and Lyanna, who had been whispering to each other, quickly moved to sit beside their mother.
"You should have received the letter from Winterfell," Galon began. "As for the Ironborn who killed two of your people on Bear Island, I encountered and killed them myself during my patrol."
"After questioning them, I learned that Balon Greyjoy's daughter seems intent on taking revenge against the North."
Galon spoke concisely, recounting what he had discovered at Sea Dragon Point a month earlier.
Lady Mormont nodded. She already knew much of this.
"The Ironborn are stirring," she said grimly. "We should do everything we can to prepare."
"Galon, I propose that our two houses organize several warships to patrol the Bay of Ice. If we find Ironborn, we destroy them at once."
Her voice was sharp with killing intent. She hated the Ironborn who had dared to land on Bear Island and kill her people, and she wished nothing more than to meet them in open battle.
Galon, however, shook his head calmly. "House Glover has only two ships, and those are meant for transport."
"Lady Mormont, I imagine Bear Island is not much different?"
Lady Mormont paused, then nodded.
Ever since Brandon the Burner had destroyed the northern fleet, the North had possessed no true navy. Even the coastal lords owned at most two or three oared warships.
To challenge the Iron Islands, masters of naval warfare, with such meager forces would be like striking stone with an egg.
"Across the entire North, aside from White Harbor, even if all the other houses combined their ships, they could not form a proper fleet," Galon said heavily.
"Lady Mormont, we cannot use our weaknesses to challenge the enemy's strengths."
After some thought, Lady Mormont agreed. "Then what do you intend to do?"
Galon already had his answer prepared. "I have set up five watch posts at Sea Dragon Point. Each post is positioned so that it forms a triangle with two others."
He dipped his fingers into his ale and drew a triangle on the tabletop as he explained.
"These watch posts are all built on high ground and spaced some distance apart. If the Ironborn attack, signal fires can be lit at once."
"I can then quickly gather troops and wipe out any Ironborn who land."
Lady Mormont listened carefully, thinking it over.
Bear Island was surrounded by sea and had three sides where landings were possible. It was nothing like Deepwood Motte, which lay within the Wolfswood.
Moreover, most of Bear Island's people lived along the coast, scattered across small settlements.
Often, by the time the Ironborn finished raiding and withdrew, House Mormont had not even managed to react.
In more remote villages, when Lady Mormont finally arrived with men, days had already passed. It was too late to do anything.
"If Bear Island followed your method, by the time I reached the site, the Ironborn would already have fled back to sea," she said. "I fear it would not be very effective."
Galon understood this well.
So he revealed the second part of his plan.
"That is why I also built a watch post at the highest point near the coast at Sea Dragon Point."
"In good weather, a Myrish spyglass can detect unusual movement on the sea."
He looked at Lady Mormont and continued steadily. "Myrish spyglasses are finely made. If you set up a few on Bear Island, you will be able to see the warning signals from Sea Dragon Point."
At these words, Lady Mormont's expression turned conflicted.
She knew well how excellent Myrish spyglasses were, and she also knew how expensive they were.
Bear Island's coffers had long since been emptied by Jorah Mormont. Even if she wished to buy one, she could not afford it.
Galon saw at once that she was worried about the cost.
After a moment's thought, he said considerately, "Lady Mormont, some time ago I captured one of the men involved in plotting against Bran in the Wolfswood.
I found a considerable number of gold dragons on him.
"I had that money sent to Winterfell and entrusted to Maester Luwin to commission several spyglasses.
He ordered a few extra. I cannot use them all myself, so you may as well take some for Bear Island."
Lady Mormont was instantly delighted.
She hesitated. "This is far too generous…"
Galon shook his head, cutting her off. "There is no need for that. Our houses have been allies since ancient times. We stand together in advance and retreat alike.
Why speak of differences between us?"
Lady Mormont was a forthright woman. Hearing this, she did not refuse again and accepted without ceremony.
"Very well. I will accept them."
"In the future, if Deepwood Motte has need of us, say the word. House Mormont will never refuse."
This was exactly what Galon wanted to hear.
His face was full of smiles, but inwardly he thought, "House Mormont has always been loyal to House Stark. I will draw them closer, little by little."
"When war breaks out, if Bear Island's forces are used properly, they could turn the tide."
With that in mind, Galon continued discussing the finer details of the watch posts with Lady Mormont.
Once plans for dealing with the Ironborn fleet were settled, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased considerably.
Just then, a loud cheer erupted outside.
Faintly, the name "Jon" could be heard, causing Dacey and Lyanna to glance toward the doors again and again.
Seeing this, Galon explained, "The two units must have just decided the outcome. The winner should be Jon Snow."
"Jon Snow? The Warden's bastard?" Lady Mormont asked curiously. She had heard a little about the duke's illegitimate son.
"Yes," Galon replied. "Lord Stark arranged for him to serve as my squire…"
He briefly explained Jon's background.
Lady Mormont understood and did not pursue the matter.
She held no prejudice against bastards.
She herself had borne five daughters, and no one knew who their father was. Their status was not much different.
Maege Mormont did not care. She gave them all the Mormont name regardless.
A few minutes later, Robett finished overseeing the training and entered the hall with his wife and children to greet Lady Mormont and her family.
He was very familiar with Lady Mormont.
After a warm embrace, they began introducing their family members to one another.
Robett deliberately suggested that his son accompany Lyanna to look around the inner keep.
Lady Mormont smiled and did not stop them.
As dusk fell, Steward Mormann instructed the servants to prepare dinner in Lady Mormont's honor.
Before long, a generous feast was laid out.
While Galon observed proper courtesy in hosting Lady Mormont, far away on the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy was also speaking with his daughter.
__________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/Xorath