Chapter 11: City of bats and steel

Eldric Nocturna, 298 AC –Port Rapture, Godswood

The paved road around Port Rapture's godwood was Eldric's favorite route to train and run. The mandates of his house and nation declared that training the body was as important as training the mind.

Running alongside him were five of his closest friends: his cousin Jason d'Acosta the heir of Whaler's Solace; Edwina MacLachan eldest daughter of the lord of Final Legacy and one of the candidates for his betrothal; Brandon Dustin the eldest son of Lady Barbrey and Lord William Dustin, Karlon Atkins the middle child of Lord Atkins of Sunset Beacon and finally Lysara Ryswell granddaughter of Lord Rodrik Ryswell of The Rills, another possible future wife for Eldric.

They were his 'wolf pack' as the term was used in the North to refer to groups of children of noble birth raised together as friends in order to cement loyalty and alliances between their houses.

It had been a tradition started by House Stark centuries ago, when the children taken as wards or in other words hostages were raised next to the Stark children in order to foster a deep friendship between them and their houses, perhaps later sealed by marriage.

For the Nocturnas maintaining good relations with their allies, vassals and most important Houses Dustin and Ryswell was paramount to the wellbeing of their house and Port Rapture.

-.

Despite all the knowledge and progress the terrans had brought into the North, their arrival was not received with open arms by all of the northerners.

Centuries ago House Nocturna landed and took as its lands the shores of the Rills which for thousands of years had been under the rule of House Ryswell while the Bronze Citadel the seat of House Norris another family of terran origin was built in the shores of the Barrowlands that previously belonged to House Dustin.

Six centuries ago when Port Rapture was barely more than a large port town, houses Dustin and Ryswell united against House Nocturna. They saw their people as invaders and usurpers of their shores, and swore to push back into the sea or at least submit them into vassalage; when the Starks of Winterfell offered to intervene, House Nocturna refused their help and decided that the only way to earn their place in their new home was to earn the respect of the rest of the northern houses by force of arms.

Three thousands men organized as the first Legion to march under the purple banners of House Nocturna made their stand near a hill on the barrowlands attempting to cut the army of House Dustin from joining that of House Ryswell and march together on Port Rapture. A small army composed of cavalry of 400 horsemen and 600 pikemen of House Dustin clashed against the shield wall of the legionaries of House Nocturna who maintained formation against their foes with true discipline and valor; the balance of the battle was certainly determined by the fact that the legionaries had planted wooden spikes on the muddy ground to disrupt the charge of the horses.

In the Battle of the Barren Hill for each man of house Nocturna to fall, eight men of House Dustin died. When the victorious legion crossed the barrow river into the Rills, House Ryswell refused to meet them in the battlefield and made their stand on their ancient castle, which fell in mere weeks under the constant shots of ballista siege weapons designed by the engineers of House Nocturna.

With the defeat of the Ryswells and the capture of their castle and family, House Dustin asked the Starks for help who in term acted as mediators, sealing peace between the two ancient northern houses and the new terran northern house: daughters and sons were exchanged as hostages and marriages were sealed. The triumph of the house of bats over the Dustins and Ryswells earned the Nocturnas the respect and admiration of the rest of the North. With the passing of the centuries Port Rapture grew into a large city and House Nocturna rose into becoming the second most powerful house in the North while the expansion of the industrial prowess of the terrans reached every corner of the North or the Boreal Lands as the terrans used to refer to the realm.

Houses Dustin and Ryswell took great advantage of the new wave of progress, new roadways paved by workers and engineers connected each village and keep; with heat steam generators brought warm to homes and castles during winter. The new harvests also brought a population boom to the lands of the Rills and Barrows.

Marriages and the foster of children finally united House Nocturna and the rest of the terran houses with the old northern houses. With their ways mixing with the culture and traditions of the northerners: for example marriages between cousins or close relatives (like uncles to nieces) for long seen as something normal were later considered to be as shameful as incest between brothers and sisters, as the terrans believe that blood diversity was a key in producing healthy children and bloodlines.

New techniques of metallurgy and industry improved the armies and infrastructure of the North but most important of all, the terran value of skill and wisdom over family and the northern ways of prizing loyalty, honor and strength over simple birthright mixed together bringing upon a wave of social progressivism: serfdom gave way to peasants owning and improving their own lands, extended literacy and education improved the quality of living for the common folk, trade and industry made the economy of the North blossom, a sense of national identity and service was taught on the common people with military training and service in the armies of the noble houses of the realm rewarded with tax dispensation or other benefits to those families with distinguished sons and daughters in the armies or in the branches of the state like the University or the Natural Academy.

The system of first men feudalism, the religion of the old gods, the respect of the coming of winter and the enduring loyalty to the Starks remained as the primary pillars of northern identity however; with the new values and ways of living acting in harmony with those believes of old.

-.

The godswood was a calm place yet the sounds of the city; its factories, roads and people were heard even there. Port Rapture was according to common knowledge the third largest city in Westeros but Eldric knew better: it was as large as Oldtown and perhaps only second to King's landing in population, with 300.000 people as its inhabitants.

The place where the first terran colony town was built known as the Old City stood in western side of the Barrow River, at the shores of the waters of Saltspear. North of the Old City stood the castle of House Nocturna Eclipse Bastion, centuries ago a large deposit of coal and iron sand was discovered there and a fort was originally built to protect the mines and forges while also serving as a defensive position for the colony town.

Separating the castle and the Old City the godswood had been planted with several parks and gardens near it to serve as gathering places for the people of the city and castle. At each side of Eclipse Bastion were the two academy buildings of the city; the legion academy and the natural philosophy academy, the first trained the best officer and soldiers of the legions of House Nocturna and the second taught the engineers and natural philosophers that maintained and improved the conditions and infrastructure of the North.

The Old City hold the main port and the oldest generators and foundries of the North, but as the city grew and its population surpassed the limits originally conceived by the city planners; several bridges were constructed uniting both sides of the Barrow River and in the eastern side of the river a new city was built.

Known as the New city, soon projects of engineering were planned to expand the city's infrastructure: aqueducts, water purification plants (boiling and filtering water through stages in order to make it suitable for human consumption), foundries, heat generators, sewers and new ports and docks were constructed on the new city. And unlike King's landing Port Rapture was carefully developed with measures taken to ensure the health and wellbeing of its population. Bath houses, hospitals and common fountains to grab drinkable water were placed among the districts.

Like King's landing, Port Rapture had become a mayor center of production for the realm, with ships and roads guiding traders to the city each day, the factories of the city were never out of raw materials and coin to fuel their work. The foundry district held the factories and forges that produce the high quality steel tools, weapons and armors made of the iron and coal extracted from the mines beneath Eclipse Bastion. The fabric district held the workshops which processed wool, cotton and leather to make the warm clothing for the inhabitants of the city and the North. The apothecary district held the laboratories from where the alchemists and scholars of the city processed plants, mushrooms and other fruits of nature to make potions, drugs and treatments to treat disease and adverse conditions.

The masons district was where sand, mud and clay where turned into bricks through intense heat and treatment; to raise the building and walls of Port Rapture. And the granary district was where the food of the city prepared and conserved for the winter times.

Yet the largest and most important district of the city was the port which held the docks, whaler area and fisheries; as well as the lumber factories in where the wood was turned into ships, beams or roofs for the houses and buildings of the city. The fleet of House Nocturna was dock there most of the time from the simple frigates to the monstrous size dreadnoughts, with whaler and fisher ships traveling back and forth between the Sunset Sea and the city to unload the rewards of their journeys.

Unfortunately the port district outside the tall walls was also where the poor and desperate found themselves living; most of them were not true northerners or terrans but southerners and children of southerners who had arrived on ships to Port Rapture at first to work and trade or simply move into the city but their lack of skill and literacy made them unable to get good permanent jobs which were already occupied by Port Rapture's original citizens. These outcasts only way to sustain themselves outside begging in the streets was to take the jobs respectable folk would not take; pretty girls and boys ended in brothels, desperate men ended working on the sewers, keeping the shit and water flowing while a few fortunate or determined enough could rise to positions on the army or city guard.

And despite their dreadful conditions these outcasts were not very keen on leaving for the south as they claimed it was better to be a beggar or a whore in Port Rapture than in Lannisport or King's landing. At least in the city of House Nocturna they had clean water to drink, bath houses with warm water where to bathe and enough jobs to keep themselves afloat.

As any city in the known world Port Rapture had a dark underbelly, that place was known as the red light district where brothels and houses of pleasure stood, and the dark desires of the human flesh and soul could be satisfied. Not only whores but also drugs and powerful stimulants were sold in there freely. One time when Eldric was only six and ten name days he had gone with two friends to one of the brothels; the girls attending the establishment were young and beautiful most of them barely older than teenagers, yet there was also a secret basement where girls and little boys were prostituted as well, the youngest girl was no older than nine name days.

There were laws in the city that protected children younger than sixteen from being threat like that. After Eldric reported to his father, the brothel was closed and the children taken into the custody of the orphanage of the city, as they could later enter the academies. Eldric from time to time tend to visit the orphanage in order to keep an eye on those kids, some of them could even reach to become soldiers, engineers or even elite praetorians; but he wasn't naïve enough to believe that would be the end of it, he knew that closing that brothel have changed little, as long as people with coin, influence and dark whims remained there would be places like that brothel in Port Rapture where children and young women would be used as slaves.

But the city of Port Rapture was one of the true wonders of Westeros, a beacon of progress, wisdom and wealth for the people of the North.

-.

The six nobles kept running across the road, bag packs filled with a few rocks on their backs serving as added weight; for everyone other than Lysara and Edwina. Physical training was a necessary mandate for both noble and common folk; it is strength as much as wisdom and hope that keeps you alive through winter and war.

Eight guards were following them closely on horseback, keeping an eye on the young nobles protecting them from the rest of the people or any if possible crazy assassin aiming to kill the heirs of six noble houses.

Eldric looked around after wiping the sweat on his forehead stopping it from reaching his eyes, he was on the lead, Jason d'Acosta was covered in sweat and breathing heavily, Brandon was barely keeping the pace also gasping for air. Karlon was at the rear, his face red and exhausted; Edwina and Sara were also tired even though neither of them had the added weight on their backs the boys had. Eldric was also closed to exhaustion; they had been running for about two hours with the rocks on their backpacks reminding them just how much training they still needed to become strong; Eldric's side hurt in pain, his spleen was apparently as exhausted as the rest of his body.

"Enough" he conceded, raising his hand and pausing the race. "Let's… rest for a minute" he added without breath.

"Yes please" Karlon added falling to his knees in exhaustion.

"What? Are you tired Atkins?" Brandon asked in mocking tone even though he was also completely drained.

The two girls also fell to their knees with Jason following them suit, he laughed with joy as he fell into the ground and took off the leather back carrying the rocks.

As the mounted guards surrounded in a defensive circle Eldric and Brandon collapsed into the ground taking a seat in the dirt; one of the guards took a water canteen and gave it to Eldric who in turn gave it to Edwina without taking a sip, who smiled to him in gratitude.

The rest of the guards also remove their canteens and gave them to the nobles, who drank with joy, their throats sore and dry, from all the running. In the ground after taking a long sip of water, Eldric removed the binds around his shoulders and took off his backpack.

"I could use a drink of something stronger now" Brandon joked in the ground looking at his friends, Eldric released a short laugh and the others did as well.

Their moment of rest was interrupted when another rider wearing the colors of House Nocturna with his cloth being purple with white trims came through the road.

"Lord Eldric, your father has called for a meeting on the conference room of Eclipse Bastion, you are to attend" the rider explained, nodding with respect at the sitting nobles.

"Very well" Eldric answered, rising to his feet. "Bring our horses, we will go to the castle" he ordered to the guards.

All of them nodded in answer while his friends also stood back to their feet; four of the guards left and rode hard to the stables, after a few minutes they returned with their horses. Eldric's mount was a stallion of golden brown fur and a strong back he had called Hoarfrost. The stallion neighed happily in the presence of his master.

Climbing to his mount quickly he rode across the godswood, crossing the stretch towards Eclipse Bastion. As they left the tress and small channel crossing the forest, the tall towers and walls of the fortress of House Nocturna appeared on the horizon.

Eclipse Bastion had started as little more than a wooden fort, keeping the mines and forges from which they made their steel swords, tools and machinery. But as the wealth and population of Port Rapture increased with the centuries so did improve the state of the 'ancestral seat' of House Nocturna. Tall walls being 50 meters tall standing above a large hill, and immense towers the largest of which once was use as a lighthouse for the ships of the fleet; before a taller and more respectable lighthouse was built near the shore centuries later.

Smoke rose to the sky, coming out of the furnace generator that had brought warm to the halls of the keep for centuries and countless winters; forges inside the castle consumed the coal an iron sand extracted from the mines beneath were powered by steam produced by the generator. Beneath the castle, as mines had been dried and abandoned, the tunnels were claimed by the colony of spectral bats whose shapes adorned the banners of House Nocturna.

As a terran designed fortress the castle was shaped like an octagon, eight perfect sides with towers on each pointy edge. Inside were the halls of the house of bats, a palace in all but name without the distasteful ostentation of the south; simplicity and elegance were enough for the true northerners.

Entering the castle, Eldric and his friends crossed the training yard and left the horses on the stables. The captain of the guards Aaron Le Croix received them and guided them to the hall, Eclipse Bastion main hall had been conceived following the designs of the ancient terran cathedrals, a similar shape to a sept only that it had eight sides instead of seven and the roof was more slanted in order to guide the weight of the falling snow.

The main hall was warmed by several braziers and the steam pipes coming from the generator, a few windows above, close to the roof let the sunlight bathe the inner area. It was a huge room, large enough to hold council with all of the captains of the legion or all the governors of the villages around Port Rapture. Most of all it was used for celebrating feasts in dates of harvest or solstice. A few spectral bats roosted on the beams of the roof; they looked like leaves hanging upside down with their wings wrapped around their bodies.

Captain Le Croix took them to the conference room near the main hall, on the other side of the inner keep. The conference room was a large living area with a huge table in the center, the walls were covered by maps depicting in great detail different areas of the North and Westeros, they were naval maps as they had writing detailing coordinates for the degrees of the compass and the main landmarks as reference points.

At the head of the table was Eldric's father Lord Alexander Nocturna, the Imperator of Port Rapture was half a head shorter than his son, but he was still quite taller than most men. Lord Alexander was 52 name days, he had a short bear growing around his chin and face that he kept trimmed neatly, a few strands of hair had already started to go grey but the man himself looked certainly capable of wrestling an ox. His eyes were golden yellow making a nice contrast with his light brown almost golden hair.

At his right side was Eldric's mother Lady Jeyne Royce nee Nocturna and Eldric's sister Saskia, Lady Jeyne had grown in the vale and despite her first men heritage she was of andal blood, her eyes were of a pale blue; the eldest of his sisters Saskia had been the only of her children to inherited her eyes. While Eldric, Merya and Daeron had the golden eyes of the Nocturna family; despite that it was said that Saskia was the closer in personality to their father, a sailor more than a lady, like lord Alexander who was say to had been born with the soul of an iron born or bravossi, preferring to fight onboard of a ship than on the ground.

On the left side was Maester Lyon the castle maester and Scholar Sophia Rune, healer and keeper of the bat hatchery from where other messages more urgent or delicate could be send through messenger bats which were faster and smarter than ravens. Scholar Sophia served as a sort of spymaster for House Nocturna.

Resting on the table was a large map of Westeros, detailed and well-kept certainly capable of rivaling the painted table on Dragonstone.

"Eldric, gentlemen" his father began looking at the rest of his friends. "Take a seat" he ordered.

They all sat on the chairs with Eldric sitting next to his sister and mother, Brandon had his wish of drinking something stronger as a servant girl brought wine for all of those present, even though Eldric and his family took not even a sip of their glasses.

"Thank you Claire" his father smiled to the servant girl, it was a terran custom to treat the servants like human beings, both as a sign of respect and equality as for the pragmatic need to maintain their loyalty.

The servant girl smiled, nodded in answer and left.

"I am going to go straight to the point" Lord Alexander declared. "We receive two concerning reports, from Winterfell and the King's road" he explained with trouble written all over his face.

"There was trouble near Castle Darry for the royal caravan" he explained, as everyone's faces lit up with concern. "Apparently the prick Prince Joffrey got into a fight with one of the Stark servants, a boy named Mycah, a friend of Lady Arya and when Lady Sansa Stark attempted to intervene, her direwolf attacked the prince taking a bite of his arm" he explained to the shock of everyone.

"The Lannister Queen apparently was so furious that she demanded the death of both lady Sansa and Arya's wolves" Eldric's blood boiled with rage, looking back at Saskia it was clear her sister felt the same; if the Stark direwolves were as important to the girls, as their spectral bats Nightshade and Phoenix meant to Eldric and Saskia respectably then they knew exactly just how distressed the Stark girls were after hearing that.

"Lord Eddard was forced to comply" Lord Alexander explained with regret. "Sansa Stark's wolf was executed by lord Eddard while Lady Arya's wolf fled into the forest before the executioner's blade could touch her. The royal caravan nevertheless is still continuing the journey to the capital"

He made a pause allowing everyone to take that in.

"As for Winterfell, we have good and troubling news" he said. "Bran Stark has awaken from his slumber after the fall" everyone smiled and exchanged gazes, all of them had visited Winterfell before and knew the little Brandon Stark they were all glad to know that the sweet boy was alright.

"He has been left a cripple, but a living breathing cripple at the very least" he added with a somber face, as everyone faces also turned sour. "Yet the really troubling news is that my sister…" Lord Alexander's face remained unreadable; Eldric knew that he was speaking of his little aunt.

"Nisai has departed from Winter City to White Harbor in order to sail for King's landing" he explained. "She means to help Lord Eddard find the truth about the mysterious sudden death of Lord Arryn the previous hand of the king and take care of the Stark sisters" he finished.

"I am not going to lie to all of you" he declared suddenly turning serious and rising from his seat. "There is trouble on the horizon; we have received reports from Lord Commander Mormont and the commander of the garrison of Frost Haven. The wildlings are gathering together under the leadership of this new king beyond the wall, Mance Rayder. On the east, Viserys Targaryen has apparently married his sister Daenerys to a Dothraki Khal named Drogo, hoping to gain the support of his horde to invade the Seven Kingdoms. And most importantly, the situation in the capital and in the rest of Westeros is complicated to say the least…"

"With the death of Lord Jon Arryn, his wife and his sickly son had taken command of the Eyre; there are rumors that Lady Arryn has lost her wits, she…" he made a pause uncomfortable. "Is still breastfeeding her sickly and weak-minded seven year old child" he said with disgust as everyone expressions reflect the same thought.

"And for time to time she goes into mad ramblings treating their servants and swore lords with contempt and arrogance; meanwhile Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun one of the most important allies of the North is old and sick and gods only know what Tywin Lannister or Doran Martell of Dorne are planning"

"The Capital is a nest of rats and spiders, the Lannisters have been grabbing power for years, while the crown is heavily indebted to the iron bank. The North is going to have to work carefully in order to secure the stability of the realm" he explained.

"As a measure of security I have discussed with Lady Kaina, I have prepare several trading ships to arrive and be dock in King's landing in the case that Lord Eddard and his family are forced to make an emergency escape from the city" he explained, walking and putting a single wood figure shaped like a ship on the position of King's Landing in the map.

Then Lord Alexander looked directly as his son and eldest daughter. "Eldric, Saskia meanwhile I want you to serve as overseers for the training of the new legionaries and sailors respectably; I want our forces to be in top shape in the case of a war" both nodded in response. "Be it either a wildling or a dothraki invasion, we will be ready" he finally sentenced.

"Now you are all dismissed" he declared as everyone rose to their feet and walked to the door, with the exception of Lord Alexander and his wife.

"Eldric, wait a minute" Lord Nocturna ordered, stopping Eldric mid walk. "Your mother and I want to speak with you in private" he declared.

Saskia and the rest of his friends smiled, they had a very good idea of what Eldric's parents wanted to talk with the heir of Eclipse Bastion. He took a deep breath preparing for the worst; in that moment he was actually longing for the battlefield be it fighting the iron born, the lannisters, the wildlings or even the fucking dothracki.

When everyone but Eldric and his parents stood in the room with the door closed; Lady Jeyne approached her son, putting her hand on his cheek.

"My son, I know that you don't like talking about this but you are no longer a child, you are a man through and through" she made a pause taking a deep breath. "We have chosen a suitable match for you; it's time for you to marry" she explained.

Eldric was not surprised; he had been waiting this moment for months after his parents had several meeting with the leaders of other great northern houses.

"And who is to be my wife?" he simply asked. "Do I even know her?" he demanded in a soft tone.

"You dance with her in the last Solstice Festival" his father informed him. "Her name is Mira Forrester, eldest daughter of Lord Gregor Forrester of Ironrath. She is six and ten and you know very well that while she is not the most beautiful girl of the realm or even the North she is strong of mind and will" he declared.

Eldric paused for a moment, he remembered the little brown hair teenager he has danced with during the Solstice Festival last year; to say she was not very beautiful would be an understatement, to Eldric's eyes Mira Forrester was skinny, coltish and small of bosom; yet she certainly was in possession of a good nature and sharp mind. She could be a wonderful wife, although Eldric was not very eager for marriage, he also remembered her younger sister Talia Forrester who was sweet and charming, even though she was but a child.

Yet Eldric was old enough to understand that for a noble heir like him the desires of his heart were always secondary to the wellbeing and continuation of his house. It was time to put his house and people over the practices and freedom of youth.

"Why are we seeking an alliance with the Forresters; they are a minor house swore to Deepwood Motte and wasn't Mira Forrester serving as a handmaiden for Margery Tyrell of Highgarden?" he asked.

His father looked at him and explained. "House Forrester is the true power on the Wolfwood, ever since we arrived and provided them with a client willing to buy their iron wood for either ships production or construction; they have increased in wealth and power through the centuries. They are one of our oldest allies and closest trading partners; our vessels are made of their iron wood as are the shields and spears of our legionaries"

"Sealing this union through marriage will earn us an important ally here in the North as well as increasing our trade and industry" his father explained and then to Eldric's surprise he smiled. "And there is also a more delicate and important reason: her brother Asher Forrester was exiled from the North and is now in Essos, holding an important position in the Company of the Rose"

"The mercenary company formed by the exiles from the North who rejected Torrhen Stark's submission to Aegon the Conqueror and thus chose exile over bending the knee?" he asked.

"Yes" his father conceded. "The Company of the Rose is one of the important mercenary armies on the known world, perhaps second only to the Golden Company in power and prestige; they are six thousand men, organized in the way of a northern legion. Its leaders are Maeron Darkstark and Alysanne Frost; they had achieved numerous victories against other mercenary groups and dothracki hordes" he explained.

"In the case of a war in the east the Company of the Rose will be an invaluable ally; gaining their support could be key in holding back the targaryens and their supporters" he explained.

"Mira Forrester has taken a leave of absence from her post in Highgarden, we will invite Lord Gregor and his family for a feast in the next moon and discuss this proposal" his mother added.

For a moment Eldric took a deep breath taking in everything. "Politics aside, you know I have been so hesitant to marry, my…"

"Yes your daughters, Lya and Mia are our granddaughters, I promise we will never stop caring for them, they are our princesses" his mother declared with conviction. "Your wife will have to accept them if she is to enter the family" she added.

"As the Starks are fond of saying, winter is coming" Lord Alexander his father said. "The preparation for your marriage does not deprive of your duties my son, we must be vigilant in our affairs on these times on instability, so carry on" he sentenced.

"Yes father, I will go to oversee the training of our soldiers" Eldric answered as he walked towards the door.

At least this will keep my mind of other affairs

After leaving the conference room, Eldric took the stairs up to reach the balcony of the main keep. With the castle standing on a hill and the height of the keep, he could see most of the city and the shore. Smoke was rising from several buildings, factories and generators in full motion.

On the port the purple sails of the ships of the ships of House Nocturna adorned the shore, with the large shapes of the dreadnoughts surpassing every other vessel in size. One of the strongest fleets in Westeros and with the Lannister fleet destroyed during the Greyjoy's rebellion, the main defense of Westeros in the Sunset Sea against the Iron Born or other raiders.

Above in the blue sky he could see a flock of birds flapping their wings, challenging the wind as they move against it yet he soon realized as the light became clear that they were not birds, they were bats, this was their city.

He heard a familiar squeak and a single winged creature dived straight for him to finally spread its wings, stopping its fall and landing on the railing next to Eldric; it was Nightshade his bat, yet to Eldric surprise several other bats landed to his. One of them looked to be a young pale grey bat that nuzzled its head gently with Nightshade; who closed his eyes in the warm embrace.

"So you got yourself a mate my friend?" he laughed.

The rest of the bats apparently just looked between Nightshade and Eldric, they were part of his colony and he was the alpha. Just like Eldric was the alpha of his wolfpack and one day would be the head of his family.

He remembered a day on a hunting trip when Nightshade and Phoenix his and Saskia's bats were attacked by a large snowy owl that was twice as big as either of them; but while the owl fought alone with talon and beak trying to make a meal out of their bats, Nightshade and Phoenix fought as one, distracting the owl for the other to strike.

Through perseverance and constant strikes of claw and fang in the end they defeated the bird, and feasted on its corpse.

Unlike the lion the strength of the wolf is not in its fangs or claws; it is in the pack, just as the strength of the bat is in its colony.

The bats and the wolves protect each other, just like the North remembers and protect each of its citizens; and we will stand together against any foe.

-.

I thought that marriage with the Nocturnas would be the best way to include both the company of the Rose and House Forrester from A game of thrones of Telltale games; it is now that I will begin diverting from cannon, hope this chapter was useful in better introducing my characters and world building.

Two chapters for the prize of one, hope you enjoyed both of them. I know you are all eager to hear more of this story but I will be force to take a short rest for now as I have a lot of work in these days, besides I have to focus my attention on my other story The End of Eternity as well.