Deepwood Motte.
Roughly twenty kiloters north of Deepwood Motte lay a horseshoe-shaped beach extending from the land into Ice Bay.
When the tide receded, nearly eight or nine kiloters of beach would be exposed.
Because of this, Horseshoe Beach had long been the closest landing point for travel between Bear Island and Deepwood Motte.
It was morning.
The weather was clear, sunlight shone brightly across the sea, and the gentle ocean breeze carried the sound of crashing waves from Ice Bay, making Garon feel unusually relaxed.
Behind him stood fifteen mounted soldiers, each leading two horses.
Like Garon, they silently gazed toward the sea while waiting for the people arriving from Bear Island.
Ever since Garon discovered the Ironborn landing at Sea Dragon Point during his patrol, he had imdiately sent word to Winterfell.
When Robb Stark received the letter, another raven from Bear Island arrived almost simultaneously.
Lady Maege Mormont inford Robb that Ironborn had landed upon Bear Island, killed two islanders, and escaped back to sea.
At that ti, Lady Maege had already learned about Theon Greyjoy's death at Winterfell.
Thus, in her letter, she speculated that the Iron Islands were likely seeking revenge for Theon and believed that the Ironborn who landed on Bear Island were rely an advance force.
Robb was greatly alard after reading the report.
He had not expected retaliation from the Iron Islands to arrive so quickly.
After carefully discussing the matter with Maester Luwin, Robb imdiately sent ravens to both Deepwood Motte and Bear Island, ordering them to strengthen defenses and maintain mutual communication.
If they encountered Ironborn raiders again, they were to show no rcy and strike first.
After Garon and Lady Maege received Robb's reply, they coincidentally sent letters to each other at nearly the sa ti, exchanging information regarding the Ironborn.
Thus ca Lady Maege Mormont's visit to Deepwood Motte today.
After waiting for another half hour, a tiny black speck gradually appeared upon the azure sea.
Garon narrowed his eyes and slowly made out the shape of a longship rowing toward shore, its mast flying a black banner bearing a green bear.
It was the sigil of House Mormont.
The ship continued approaching for so ti.
Once the warship neared Horseshoe Beach, Garon dismounted and walked toward the shoreline.
Roger, captain of the guard who had recently returned from Winterfell, also led five soldiers behind him.
The remaining n stayed back to watch the horses.
Soon, the Mormont longship reached shore.
A gray-haired woman with a small but powerfully built fra leapt down from the ship first.
"Lady Mormont!"
Garon smiled warmly and stepped forward to greet her.
The mont Maege Mormont saw Garon clearly, surprise imdiately appeared on her face.
Compared to half a year earlier, Garon now looked almost like a completely different person.
"You've changed so much in only half a year."
"You've even grown taller and far more imposing."
"No wonder your reputation has already spread all the way to Bear Island."
"Giant Bear Slayer!"
When she spoke that title, relief and satisfaction appeared upon her face, as though she were pleased that Galbart Glover had left behind such a worthy son.
"If I had a choice, I certainly wouldn't want to fight a giant bear."
Garon shrugged helplessly before speaking intimately,
"It was genuinely dangerous at the ti."
Ever since Jorah Mormont fled overseas in disgrace, Maege Mormont had beco the head of House Mormont and had continuously strengthened ties between House Mormont and House Glover.
The territories of both houses bordered Ice Bay, and for centuries they had relied upon one another while resisting Ironborn raids.
The relationship between the two families could truly be described as being as close as lips and teeth.
In fact, had Galbart Glover not already proposed a marriage alliance with House Stark, Maege once intended to marry one of her daughters to Garon.
Without question, Bear Island was House Glover's staunchest ally within the North.
Thus, Garon did not behave formally with Lady Maege and instead treated her with complete sincerity.
Maege Mormont imdiately burst into hearty laughter.
"How can a Northern man fear danger?"
She heavily patted Garon's arm before joking loudly,
"Co visit Bear Island soday. I'll personally teach you how to hunt bears."
At that mont, several more mbers of House Mormont disembarked from the longship.
Leading them was a slender black-haired woman whom Garon had already t previously during Galbart's funeral.
It was Dacey Mormont.
Behind Dacey stood another black-haired girl who looked only eight or nine years old.
Maege turned and introduced them proudly.
"My eldest daughter Dacey. You've already t her before."
Then she pointed toward the young girl beside her.
"And this is my youngest daughter, Lyanna."
Garon first smiled and nodded toward Dacey before looking toward the famous little bear Lyanna Mormont with faint admiration in his eyes.
There had not been much detailed description of Lyanna in the original histories, yet her performances later during the wars of the North left an unforgettable impression upon countless people.
Whether it was her fearless declaration of loyalty to Jon Snow or her courage in facing giants and the dead, Garon deeply admired the young girl.
Thus, he smiled warmly toward Lyanna.
"Lady Lyanna, welco to Deepwood Motte."
Lyanna curiously examined Garon.
After hearing so many stories about the "Giant Bear Slayer," admiration naturally appeared in her young eyes.
Hearing his greeting, she imdiately bowed gracefully and replied boldly,
"Good day, Lord Garon."
Garon smiled once more before turning back toward Maege Mormont.
"Lady Mormont, let us first return to Deepwood Motte before discussing matters further."
Maege naturally had no objections and nodded directly.
As for the Mormont longship, it would remain docked here overnight and return to Bear Island tomorrow after Lady Maege departed.
With Mormont soldiers remaining behind to guard the ship, there was naturally no danger of anything happening to it.
Thus, Garon turned and led the Mormont party toward shore.
A short while later, the Deepwood Motte soldiers accompanying Garon handed spare horse reins over to Lady Maege and her daughters.
Everyone mounted their horses, with Lyanna sharing one mount alongside Dacey.
Once everything was prepared, Garon led the group toward Deepwood Motte.
The journey lasted four hours.
Only then did Garon finally arrive at the North Keep of Deepwood Motte together with the Mormont party.
The mont they entered, they discovered a centurion selection competition already underway inside the North Keep.
One side was commanded by Jon Snow while the opposing side was led by Ron Glover.
The two formations stood facing each other in orderly ranks.
At Robert's command, both sides imdiately shifted formations and launched probing attacks against one another.
Jon's side quickly dispatched twenty n holding spears in a sharp wedge formation, charging directly toward Ron's front line.
Ron's side remained calm.
Fifty soldiers imdiately ford a shield wall and blocked Jon's vanguard head-on.
At the sa ti, Ron split his remaining fifty soldiers into two separate flanking groups and directly attacked Jon's core formation from both sides.
Seeing his frontal assault blocked, Jon showed no panic whatsoever.
He imdiately dispatched his remaining n to intercept Ron's flanking soldiers.
The formations twisted and rotated like a whirlpool, dragging everyone into violent close combat.
The surrounding spectators excitedly slamd swords against shields while cheering loudly for their favored side.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
The deafening shouts instantly stirred Maege Mormont's blood as she entered the North Keep.
Watching the two formations clash fiercely without holding back, she exclaid in astonishnt,
"Garon, what exactly are you doing?"
Garon calmly explained,
"I fear the Ironborn may attack at any mont, so I'm training my soldiers in advance."
Maege frowned slightly.
"Aren't you afraid they'll seriously injure each other training like this?"
Garon looked toward her and replied solemnly,
"I would rather they suffer injuries during training than lose their lives upon a battlefield."
"Besides, we Northerners do not fear injury or pain."
Maege imdiately nodded repeatedly in approval.
"That's right."
"We Northerners are not soft Southern nobles."
Garon's eyes shifted slightly before he pointed toward the ongoing battle ahead and smiled.
"Lady Mormont, what do you think of my army?"
Maege carefully observed the two formations still roaring and fighting fiercely before speaking sincerely,
"Deepwood Motte's soldiers can truly be called magnificent."
"Even Randyll Tarly's soldiers at Horn Hill are likely no better than this."
If she had not known beforehand that this was rely training and that most weapons were wooden, she would genuinely have believed the two sides were fighting to the death.
Even during the fiercest clashes, both formations remained stable and disciplined without collapsing into disorder.
The commanders on both sides continuously shouted orders while constantly changing tactics and attempting to force out each other's hidden trump cards.
Hearing her praise, Garon imdiately burst into laughter.
"Haha!"
"You flatter far too much."
Seeing that neither side would determine victory anyti soon, Garon gently turned his horse.
"Lady Mormont, please follow ."
"Let's not disturb them any further for now."
Maege nodded before urging her horse forward and following Garon toward the South Keep.
anwhile, both Dacey and Lyanna Mormont stared excitedly at the ongoing competition, their eyes sparkling brightly with excitent and reluctance to leave.
Only after Maege called them several tis did the sisters reluctantly follow behind.
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