Game of Thrones: The Wolf of Deepwood Motte

Garon stood silently in place, listening to the members of the Steel Fist roar out the motto of House Glover.

At that moment, he understood clearly that the Steel Fist standing before him had been reborn.

In order to avoid suffering the humiliation of losing their honor again, these young men would desperately obey every command he gave them.

Even if that obedience eventually demanded their lives.

"It's time for the next phase of the plan."

Garon silently thought to himself.

At that moment, the thunderous shouting gradually faded away.

Once silence returned to the training grounds, Garon looked over the Steel Fist, whose spirits had completely transformed, and spoke in an authoritative voice.

"I hope every one of you remembers this moment!"

His sharp eyes swept across the crowd while his powerful voice echoed throughout the North Bailey.

"You desire honor."

"You crave battle."

"And I can tell you this clearly."

"War is coming soon!"

The moment those words fell, the Steel Fist immediately stirred with excitement before quickly forcing themselves back into silence.

Jon, remembering everything that had happened with Theon and the Iron Islands, instinctively believed Garon was referring to a future Ironborn invasion of the North, and his expression immediately became serious.

Garon noticed Jon's reaction.

After a brief thought, he suddenly shouted,

"Jon Snow, step forward!"

Jon froze briefly before immediately stepping out from the formation, with Ghost closely following behind him.

Garon walked to Jon's side and introduced him to the Steel Fist.

"From today onward, you will have a new brother among your ranks."

"Jon Snow."

"He will share honor with you."

"And he will face life and death alongside you."

The members of the Steel Fist looked toward Jon, who had just completed punishment together with them, and traces of approval gradually appeared in their eyes.

Garon did not further elaborate on Jon's identity.

After signaling for him to return to formation, he changed the topic.

"Beginning tomorrow, all of you will divide into two teams for training."

"You will compete once every two days."

"The losing team will lose the right to dinner that evening and will instead serve food to the winners."

"The teams will be determined by drawing lots."

"As for the competitions themselves, they may involve archery, combat training, wilderness survival, and many other things."

At that moment, a blond man walked over from the western side of the fort.

After noticing Garon still speaking, he stopped near the wooden fence and silently leaned against it while watching.

Garon's eyes shifted slightly.

He immediately recognized the newcomer as Edward Newgate, one of his trusted guards.

After briefly glancing at him, Garon turned his attention back toward the Steel Fist and called out,

"Laurence, step forward!"

Laurence Snow immediately rushed out from the formation.

Thinking Garon intended to assign him some important responsibility, he became so excited that he no longer even noticed the mud still covering his body.

"Go to the kitchens immediately and tell them to prepare several barrels of hot water so everyone can wash themselves."

The moment he heard this, Laurence froze.

Then he immediately protested unwillingly.

"Garon, I want to draw lots too!"

"I want to participate in the competition as well!"

But Garon rejected him without hesitation.

"You're still too young."

"Wait another two years."

Laurence immediately looked dejected.

Still, he did not dare argue with Garon and could only leave unwillingly.

Garon glanced toward Laurence before continuing.

"The method for dividing teams is simple."

"Begin counting silently from the front of the line."

"Odd numbers will form one team. Even numbers will form the other."

"Now."

"Split into teams immediately!"

The Steel Fist instantly began reorganizing.

This time, their movements were far faster and more orderly than before.

"Very good."

Seeing the completed formations, Garon nodded with satisfaction.

"Each team will choose one captain."

"As for how you choose your captain, that decision belongs entirely to your team."

"You may vote."

"Or you may determine it through combat."

"That choice is yours."

"But by dinner tonight, both captains must already be decided."

After seeing that neither team had objections, Garon finally waved his hand.

"Dismissed."

"Go wash yourselves."

The exhausted youths immediately began dragging their weary bodies toward the kitchens near the South Bailey while discussing excitedly how they would choose their captains.

Jon naturally followed along as well.

However, because he knew nobody here, he could only walk somewhat awkwardly in silence.

It was then that a short-haired black-haired youth roughly the same height as him deliberately slowed his pace and walked beside him.

"My name is Mihawk."

"Everyone calls me Hawkeye."

"Welcome to our team."

Jon instinctively turned his head toward him, immediately noticing the youth's striking yellow eyes.

"Hello… I'm Jon…"

Before he could finish introducing himself, Mihawk interrupted him cheerfully.

"I know."

"Lord Garon already introduced you."

"Jon Snow."

Then Mihawk suddenly leaned closer and asked curiously,

"You're from Winterfell, right?"

Jon nodded.

He still had not figured out how to deal with Mihawk's overly familiar attitude.

But Mihawk did not care at all.

Instead, he grinned mischievously and asked,

"Is Lady Sansa truly very beautiful?"

"I heard even Lord Garon was captivated by her…"

Cold sweat instantly appeared on Jon's forehead.

He had absolutely no idea how to answer such a question.

Seeing Jon's awkward expression, Mihawk simply laughed and shifted his attention toward Ghost beside him.

His eyes immediately lit up excitedly.

"Is this your direwolf?"

Jon nodded quickly and added somewhat nervously,

"Don't worry."

"Ghost is very obedient. He won't attack people without reason."

Mihawk immediately laughed.

Seeing Jon's confusion, he explained casually,

"My father is chief of one of the forest clans."

"I grew up in the Wolfswood."

"It's only a direwolf. Why would I be afraid?"

Then Mihawk carefully looked over Ghost's snow-white fur and crimson eyes before nodding approvingly.

"But Ghost really is a fitting name."

"White fur and blood-red eyes."

"It suits him perfectly."

Jon instantly relaxed and happily began chatting with Mihawk.

By the time the two finished washing together, they had already become quite familiar with one another.

Meanwhile, Garon remained completely unaware that Jon had already begun gradually integrating into the Steel Fist.

At that moment, he was speaking with Edward Newgate, who had patiently waited nearby for some time.

"Lord Garon, you summoned me?"

Newgate's body was broad and powerful.

Standing at least six feet three inches tall, even Garon was now slightly shorter than him.

"Yes."

Garon nodded and spoke directly.

"Lord Ned ordered me to send one hundred archers to reinforce Moat Cailin."

"I intend for you to lead them."

Newgate did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately accepted.

"Yes, Lord Garon."

Then he asked seriously,

"How long will we be stationed there?"

Garon paused briefly before answering.

"You'll lead one hundred men there first."

"Lord Ned will soon travel south toward King's Landing."

"When he passes through Moat Cailin, you can receive further instructions directly from him."

Newgate nodded immediately.

"Yes."

"I'll organize the archers right away."

"If preparations go smoothly, we should be able to depart by this afternoon."

Then he asked another question.

"Lord Garon, should we bring the old bows or the new bows?"

Garon considered briefly before answering,

"Bring the old bows."

Then he immediately asked in return,

"Has Maester Beckman already optimized the manufacturing process for the new bows enough for mass production?"

Newgate scratched his head awkwardly as though remembering something strange.

"Not yet."

"The Maester is currently obsessed with some kind of fish glue."

"The bowyers only shape the wood according to his instructions."

"The final assembly still requires the Maester personally."

"Though yesterday he did tell me progress should be completed very soon."

A trace of surprise flashed through Garon's eyes.

"There's already progress with the fish glue?"

"Forget it. I'll personally visit the workshop later."

Then he looked toward Newgate again.

"Prepare your men."

"And make sure everyone carries dry rations for the journey."

"Yes, Lord Garon!"

Newgate immediately responded.

After confirming Garon had no further orders, he turned around and headed back toward the inner keep atop the hill.

Meanwhile, excitement appeared in Garon's eyes.

He no longer delayed and immediately headed toward the workshop within the fort.

While he eagerly anticipated the completion of the new bows, Winterfell itself was also preparing for the royal party's departure back toward King's Landing.