Deepwood Motte, the dungeons.
Joel was curled up in the corner of his cell, his whole body trembling. Bruises of blue and purple covered him from head to toe, and he lay unconscious.
Galon stood outside the cell, silently observing his condition. Behind him, the guard captain Roger stood with one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
After a moment, Galon turned his head and asked the guard, "How did he end up like this?"
The guard replied uneasily, "My lord, you previously orderhed that he be starved for a few days."
"Later, Lord Robett was worried he might starve to death, so he instructed us to give him one meal a day. But one time, this fellow tried to ambush us, so we beat him."
Galon noticed the guard's expression and knew there was likely more to the story. But now was not the time to pursue it.
"Bring a brazier. Warm him up a bit," Galon ordered.
The guard hurried off to prepare it.
Soon, as the brazier was brought in, Joel's condition improved slightly, and he soon regained consciousness.
The moment he woke, he clenched his fists and struggled to his feet, his expression filled with extreme vigilance.
But when Joel saw Galon standing there, despair washed over him.
"The Bear Slayer…" he murmured weakly.
It was as if all resistance left him. He slowly slid down the wall and collapsed to the ground.
Galon waved his hand, signaling the guards to withdraw.
"It seems you recognize me," Galon said as he looked Joel up and down, getting straight to the point. "Then you should also know why I am here."
"Joel... if you do not wish to suffer more, tell me everything."
Joel gave a bitter smile and said weakly, "My lord, what do you want to know?"
"Everything."
Hearing that, Joel's eyes darted around as he tested the waters. "If I tell you, will you spare my life, Lord Galon?"
Galon's lips curved slightly, his tone calm. "That depends on whether your answers satisfy me."
For some reason, a chill ran through Joel's heart. Looking at Galon, he felt like a fish laid out on a chopping board, ready to be butchered at any moment.
So he decisively sold Joffrey out.
"My lord, it was Prince Joffrey who ordered me to assassinate Lord Stark's son.
But I hadn't even begun before you discovered me. My crime does not deserve death!"
Joel clung to what he thought was his last chance at survival, spilling everything Joffrey had tasked him with, piece by piece.
Including the payment.
When Galon heard that Joffrey had generously promised him one hundred gold dragons, his eyes lit up.
"Where is the money pouch?"
"When your men chased me, I hid it somewhere in the Wolfswood in a hurry…"
Galon turned to Roger and instructed him, "Take some men and retrieve the pouch based on what he says."
Roger nodded and left the dungeon.
Galon looked back at Joel. "You had better not be lying to me. Otherwise, I will show you the price of deceit."
Joel shook his head frantically. "I wouldn't dare, my lord. I swear everything I said is true."
Galon had no interest in lingering. He turned and walked away.
Before leaving, he still ordered the guards, "Get him some food and take good care of him. I hope the previous 'accident' will not happen again."
The guards bowed repeatedly, agreeing at once.
Galon left the dungeon, oriented himself briefly, and headed toward the northern bailey.
Later, he still needed to assess Jon and the others on their recent training.
"Lord Galon!"
Hearing the voice, Galon turned and saw Maester Beckman jogging toward him from the direction of the rookery.
"Maester Beckman, what is so urgent?" Galon asked.
After Beckman came closer and caught his breath, Galon asked with pleasant surprise, "Has there been progress on the armor-piercing arrowheads?"
Beckman shook his head, took a few deep breaths, and said, "Not yet. It is something else."
He pulled several letters from his sleeve and handed them to Galon. "Dreadfort, White Harbor, Bear Island, Oldcastle, and Hornwood have all sent letters. My lord, please have a look."
"Oh?"
Galon accepted the letters with some curiosity and opened them one by one.
The letters from Dreadfort, Bear Island, Oldcastle, and Hornwood all congratulated Galon on winning the trial by combat and on his betrothal to the Starks.
Galon was not surprised by most of them.
Bear Island, Oldcastle, and Hornwood had long been on good terms with Deepwood Motte, especially in recent years, with frequent intermarriages.
House Glover had once married their eldest daughter to Jorah Mormont of Bear Island.
Unfortunately, she later died from complications in childbirth, and Jorah eventually fled overseas after selling slaves to please his new wife.
Now the head of House Mormont was Jorah's aunt, Maege Mormont. Half a year ago, she had come to Deepwood Motte for Galbart's funeral.
At the time, Maege had even wanted to marry her daughter to Galon, but later gave up after hearing that Galbart had already proposed to the Starks.
House Locke of Oldcastle had also married their daughter into House Glover, becoming Galon's Aunt Sybelle.
Although Hornwood had no marriage ties, Galbart had adopted Hornwood's bastard as a ward, keeping relations between the two houses close.
House Glover's relations with White Harbor were average, and they had even less contact with Dreadfort.
"Roose Bolton, Wyman Manderly…"
Galon murmured the two names, growing more curious as to why White Harbor had written to him.
The letter from White Harbor also began with congratulations on his victory in the trial by combat, but then went on to relay Edward Newgate's request.
"Newgate missed the king's party?"
Galon frowned slightly. After thinking for a moment, he said to Maester Beckman, "Reply to White Harbor. First, thank them for their letter, and then…"
He paused briefly before continuing, "Have White Harbor inform Newgate that he is to garrison Moat Cailin for five months.
If there are no further orders after five months, they may return to Deepwood Motte for the time being."
"As for supplies…"
Galon gazed southward, thought for a moment, then turned back.
"Ask White Harbor to provide them with some provisions. Say that the archers are stationed at Moat Cailin by Lord Stark's order."
Beckman nodded and asked, "And the replies to the other houses? Shall I handle them together?"
Galon smiled. "Yes. I'll trouble you with it, Maester."
They parted ways, and Galon continued toward the northern bailey.
By the time Roger returned with the money pouch, it was already nearing afternoon.
Galon brought Roger to the study and personally questioned him about what had happened.
"My lord, following Joel's description, we found the pouch buried underground."
Galon took the mud-stained pouch from Roger and weighed it in his hand. Noticing the crowned stag embroidered on it, a bold thought sprang into his mind.
'What would happen if I gave this pouch to Catelyn and told her that Joffrey was also one of the conspirators?'
'With her temperament, she would never be able to remain calmly by Bran's bedside.
In a moment of impulse, she might even rush south to King's Landing to warn Ned.'
His gaze deepened.
He knew Catelyn had never been someone who calmly considered the larger picture.
Once she left Winterfell, the Starks remaining there would only be Robb, Sansa, and the still-unconscious Bran.
When matters erupted in King's Landing and Robb marched south, Galon could then, in all legitimacy, hold Sansa and command the North.
After reaching this conclusion, he took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and then gave Roger detailed instructions.
Only after Roger had no further questions did Galon wave his hand, sending him off to Winterfell with the letter.
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