Early the next morning, just as dawn began to break, Galon opened his eyes after returning from the heart tree.
His first glance was toward Asha, still bound and asleep after a night in captivity. Then he rose and stepped outside.
Jon was just climbing down from the watchtower.
"My lord!"
The worry on Jon's face had not faded. Winterfell still weighed heavily on his mind.
"Jon, good. I'm sending a cavalry scout team to inform Captain Roger of what happened here," Galon said. "Once that's done, we return to Deepwood immediately and prepare to ride for Winterfell."
Jon's eyes brightened.
"I'll arrange it at once!"
Without waiting for further words, he strode toward his mounted hundred.
Soon a ten-man scout team rode out, hooves crushing frost and snow as they vanished into the trees.
After watching them disappear, Galon dispatched another soldier back to Deepwood Motte with advance notice.
Then came the waiting.
The men rested and talked, boasting of yesterday's victory and laughing that the ironborn were nothing special after all.
Galon did not share their cheer.
The real trial lay at Winterfell.
It was nearly afternoon when the sound of returning hooves echoed through the trees.
The scouts brought Roger's report.
The captain of the scout team, exhausted but upright, delivered the news.
"Captain Roger completed the burning of the ships. He is currently hunting down the scattered ironborn."
After leaving the previous afternoon, Roger had led four hundred men through the Wolfswood day and night.
By morning they had reached Sea Dragon Point and engaged the three hundred ironborn guarding the longships.
Outnumbered, the ironborn were defeated. Some fled toward the Stony Shore.
All one hundred longships were burned.
"Some escaped?" Galon asked, frowning slightly.
But he did not press the matter.
Roger had marched through forest and snow in a single day and struck decisively. To demand complete annihilation would be unreasonable.
The ships were gone. Asha's army destroyed. The threat to Sea Dragon Point ended.
"That's enough," Galon said. "Rest. We return to Deepwood shortly."
After a brief moment of thought, he issued orders.
"Leave a few scouts at the tower. Assemble the men. We go home."
The army formed up quickly, prisoners and spoils in tow.
To prevent escape, Galon placed Asha on his own horse, bound before him.
The ride back was uneasy.
Asha caught the scent of him and remembered their conversation from the night before. It unsettled her more than she wished to admit.
Whenever the horse jolted over uneven ground, she would fall back against his chest, which only deepened her irritation.
Inwardly she cursed.
'Damn you, Galon. If I ever return home alive, I will make you regret this.'
By evening they reached Deepwood Motte.
The garrison and smallfolk erupted in thunderous cheers at the sight of victory and the captured enemy commander.
"Gods bless Glover!"
"Long live Lord Galon!"
The gloom that had hung over the castle vanished. Galon's reputation reached its height.
He acknowledged the cheers with calm gestures.
Asha, eyes dark, curled her lip before being led away by Steward Mormont for confinement.
After a brief pause in the training yard, Galon summoned all officers of hundred rank and above.
"Winterfell remains in danger. There is no time for celebration."
He scanned the hall.
"At dawn tomorrow, I ride with all cavalry. Jon, you ride with me."
Jon suppressed his excitement and bowed.
"At your command."
Galon turned to Ron.
"Roger should return from Sea Dragon Point tomorrow.
When he does, you and Mihawk lead three hundred archers and five hundred infantry. Depart the following day. Reach Winterfell within three days."
Ron nodded solemnly. "We will arrive within three days."
Galon began to speak to his uncle Robert about holding Deepwood, but he caught the faint dissatisfaction in his eyes.
He understood immediately.
Galon dismissed the others and kept Robert behind.
When the hall was empty, he smiled faintly.
"Uncle Robett, ironborn stragglers still roam. I trust no one else to secure Deepwood."
Robert's expression darkened further.
"Deepwood is no longer threatened," he said bluntly. "Let Ron or Roger stay. House Stark has shown House Glover great kindness. I wish to ride to Winterfell as well."
Galon shook his head.
"There is another matter more important."
Robett frowned. "What matter?"
Galon lowered his voice.
"Guard Asha."
"She is bound. How could she escape?"
"She is invaluable," Galon replied. "Especially the information she holds. I want you to place that man Joel in the cell beside hers. Quietly have him tell her the truth of Theon's death."
Robett stared.
"What difference does it make if she knows the Lannisters were behind it?"
Understanding dawned slowly in his eyes.
"You intend…"
Galon nodded.
"Asha is Balon's only surviving child. She is likely heir to the Seastone Chair."
"If she learns her brother was manipulated and silenced by the Lannisters, what will she do?"
Robett considered it.
"Even if she turns against the Lannisters, that matters only if we release her," he said slowly. "You mean to send her back?"
"She attacked Deepwood," he added, incredulous.
Galon gestured eastward.
"Unless we kill her now, once Winterfell learns she is captured, Maester Luwin will use her for exchange."
Robett fell silent.
Two of the ironborn's three armies had already succeeded in their objectives. Robb's situation remained uncertain.
Maester Luwin would prefer negotiation over total war.
After a long breath, Robett nodded reluctantly.
"I understand. I will arrange it."
Galon smiled.
"There will be other battles."
He did not reveal all his thoughts.
Not from mistrust, but because the time had not yet come.
"No matter why Euron returned, the dragon horn in his possession will be mine," Galon thought. "Asha is a useful bargaining piece."
"If handled properly, she might even help control the Iron Islands."
His vision of the coming war sharpened.
Robett, who now trusted Galon without question, accepted the plan.
"Yes. No need to rush."
"Rest well," Robett said. "You ride at dawn."
Galon nodded.
They left the Thousand Beasts Hall together, then parted ways.
The night passed quietly.
At dawn, the gates of Deepwood Motte opened once more.
Galon rode first, Jon close behind, five hundred cavalry surging forward like a river of steel toward Winterfell.
At the same time, Cerwyn Castle fell to Euron.
After reorganizing his forces, he marched north.
Winterfell lay less than a day away.
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