The training to learn Warging continued, with an hour before breaking fast spent on mastering meditation. And with Bran and Ned spending another two hours training their pups. Lord Father didn't need to do much of training with his Familiar, as Frost is fully grown, and Father and Frost can already share their intentions with each other clearly and she followed his orders willingly, two days after forming their bond Father decided that Frost needs to meet his remaining children personally, so Lya and Ben were introduced, Frost after doing her usual inspection approved of them and allowed them to play with her pups. Berek said that remaining two pups will probably become Lya and Ben's Familiars, but it is too soon for them to awaken their gifts and forming a bond. To that Father said, " That may be the case but it isn't too soon for them to learn meditation and having years of practice in meditation will only help them learn Warging faster when the time comes"
With that Lya and Ben started joining in the morning sessions, they weren't very good at it, but they will learn with time.
As the days went by Ned started to observe a marked change in Bran, he was more focused during lessons, joined Ned in Library more and more. Even began to work on his own project, which he said was a secret when Ned enquired about it.
A week before Neds return to Eeyrie Lord Father called them to his solar. After comfortably seating themselves Father began speaking.
" I want both of you to know I am incredibly proud of men you are becoming. Ned, I thought of boon you have asked before visiting the Wall, and I have decided to grant it, when Ben begins his training at arms in a year, I will offer the same training to Lya. Brandon, I have noticed you are working on something these past days, are you ready to share it us?"
" I am Father, I just finished outline of the plan today. Your remark about how you verified authenticity of the letter from Lord Reed got me thinking, why don't we secure our communication with a code only we know the key to. And It is remarkably easy to make such a code too. We just assign random numbers to alphabets, only we three will know which number corresponds to which alphabet. We can even create multiple code languages. Writing letters this way will be time consuming, but we need not write all of our correspondence this way, only sensitive ones. Another idea of mine is establishing a spy ring using Wargs, from how Berek talks there should be lot of potential Wargs in the North, I will go on a tour through the North with him, we will identify the potentials, and those who are still young, below thirteen old years or less and above eight years old, be they boy or girl, I will offer to take them on and train them in arms for honorguard I am establishing for House Stark, they will be housed in the Old tower in Wolfswood, half a days ride from Winterfell, everyone who will wonder why we are collecting young boys and girls will think that we just want to train our men at arms little younger, and when questioned why we are training even girls, we will just say that they will be bodyguards and companions for Lyanna, they will just assume we are overprotective of Lya. During their training we will identify who are absolutely loyal to House Stark, only for those we will awaken their gifts. A single Warg can reliably spy on a Castle, if said Warg is bonded with a Raven or another bird and taught to write his reports in code I have mentioned earlier, we will have nigh undetectable spy ring, and messenger birds which can be trained to deliver letters to a person instead of a Castle. Even if those messengers are shot down and their letters fall in to wrong hands, those hands won't be able to make any sense of what is written" , Bran finished in a giddy tone.
After Bran finished silence followed, Ned stared at Bran in shock and Father with a thoughtful look. Bran always came across as brash, impulsive and reckless, Ned had known that his brother hid a inquisitive mind, brilliant pranks he pulled and thought he put into them made it obvious to anyone who would look. But even knowing his brother as he does, Ned didn't think his brother had the patience to think up a plan in such meticulous detail.
" This is an excellent plan, Brandon. We will have need of a spy ring. House Stark is going to be making some unconventional moves that go against tradition to strengthen the North in near future, these moves will make some of our bannermen discontent with us, for example if Ironwood venture succeeds, Umbers, Whitehills and even Forresters may grow displeased with us, Umbers because they hate Wildlings with a passion, Whitehills and Forresters because traditionally they are the Houses which dealt in lumber trade in the North, House Stark entering business will make them feel like we are encroaching on their territory. We will need to have a finger on the pulse of the North if we don't want to be blindsided by any of these discontented Lords if they make any moves. I will review your plans, you have my approval for this initiative, we will iron out details, but existence of this spy ring and even our own abilities should be carefully kept secrets, when we are accompanied by our direwolves, people will wonder, but we should never confirm these thoughts, that means never Warging where others could see, you both have seen when Berek Wargs his eyes turn milk white, when you are sending instructions to your wolves through the bond, you will accompany them with verbal commands so others will think they are merely well trained, when others ask about them, you will just say that they are a gift from Old Gods, sent to protect House Stark, which is true enough. Understood?", Father questioned in a commanding tone.
" Yes, Father", Bran and Ned chorused.
" Good, for the next seven days you will have no lessons with Maester and no training with Master At Arms, you may still spar in the yard at your discretion, but you are not required to, Lya and Ben will not have any lessons either, it is my wish you enjoy this break, after that you will both go back to your fosterages. You are dismissed " , Lord Father commanded.
" Thank you, Father" , Bran and Ned replied and were out of the door soon after.