Jon POV
We're in my father's tent, with Robb, Lord Brandon Norrey, Young Brandon, and me on one side, and Lord Husil, his son and ward, and Captain Britay, all dressed in winter clothes, on the other. Despite the simplicity of their attire, the fineness of their garments was evident, so much so that they wouldn't be out of place among the wealthiest lords of the North or South. When they crossed the gate to set foot in Westeros, they arrived with a guard of about 20 soldiers, all clad in steel plate armor from head to toe, carrying shields, bastard swords, and spears—an unmistakable display of wealth and military might. In addition, two servants pushed a small cart carrying six bags. Once their entire guard and the servants were safely on this side of the gate, it closed in the same way it had opened, with a sound I wouldn't have imagined existed before all this happened.
The two delegations approached each other to start this most peculiar meeting, unaware that this would be a pivotal moment in the present and future of the continent and its people.
Lord Husil's physical appearance wasn't much different from his guards, except it was clear that he belonged to a higher class. His skin, despite his age, was smoother, and his face had a roguish handsomeness. His heir, Rishy, looked like a younger version of him, but with less mischief and more nobility. His ward, Caneba, was a lanky man with a hawkish face, surveying everything around him. He stood almost eye-to-eye with Teo, if I had to guess.
Then, he and my father approached each other, exchanged pleasantries, and offered guest rites. At first, Lord Husil seemed confused, but after a quick explanation, he accepted them with a smile. Once the greetings and introductions were done, we all moved inside the tent and sat at the table.
I still struggle to comprehend the shift in my situation, from where I was before to what I'm doing now. I still feel inadequate, like I'm stealing this position from someone more deserving. But all the work, the sweat, and the blood we've poured into this place, which was nothing more than a cave by a mountain clearing... We—no, I—built all of this with my own hands. It may not be much, but it's ours, it's mine, and at least now I know where my future lies. It's not a grand castle or The Wall, but I can see the potential here.
Lord Husil sat in the center, his heir on his left, and Caneba on his right, mirroring Robb on my father's left and me on his right. Lord Brandon and Young Brandon sat to Robb's left. Captain Britay stood behind Lord Husil, having declined a chair, saying he was there as a guard, not an emissary—understandable, given the presence of our own guards in the tent.
Once drinks were offered and served, the negotiations began with a gesture from my father toward Lord Husil, inviting him to start the diplomatic talks.
"My good Lord Stark, I imagine you've been wondering why so much effort for a simple meeting," Lord Husil began.
"I must admit it crossed my mind, Lord Husil," my father replied.
"Please, my lord, just call me Husil. We're among friends, after all."
My father paused, thoughtful for a few seconds, then responded in the same friendly tone.
"Then you may call me Eddard."
"Very well, I appreciate it. I know this may not be customary, but it's our tradition, Eddard. Now, getting back to the reason I arranged this meeting between our peoples and organizations—this galaxy is full of wonderful opportunities for those with the courage and wisdom to seize them."
My father's jovial demeanor shifted to a more serious one, reflecting the gravity of the meeting, and his face changed entirely. I've seen that look many times, what my siblings and I call his "Lord face," when he receives other lords at Winterfell or catches us doing something we shouldn't.
"Life has taught me that not everything that glitters is gold, and everything has a price to be paid, whether we like it or not. So, Husil, what is the price of these opportunities?"
"Yes, yes," Husil responded with a nervous laugh, "I can see it in your eyes, the experience that comes with leadership. Your perception isn't far from the truth; in fact, it's too close to the mark. I won't lie to you—the dangers are many, ranging from the death of a single person to the total annihilation of an entire race, nation, or kingdom."
How could such danger have been lurking under our noses without us knowing?
"How could this be?"
That's what I want to know—how is this possible? The implications of such a powerful, hidden, or unnoticed enemy are terrifying.
"I know it's hard to imagine an enemy so powerful that entire nations fall to their knees, that empires rise and crumble under their dark shadow, like an endless night leaving mankind's children in darkness for generations, in nothing more than a long night."
The nervousness in the atmosphere on our side of the table was palpable. Maybe this device isn't the opportunity we thought it was. Maybe it's best to bury it where we found it. I must not let myself be swayed by the first obstacle. We must stay calm and listen.
"I need more than that, explain yourself, please."
Lord Husil launched into a long, detailed explanation about these parasitic, serpent-like creatures that use their victims like a rider a horse, about empires so vast they cover not just continents or planets, but entire sectors filled with worlds like ours and theirs. He spoke of carriages capable of flying through the skies like the dragons of House Targaryen's ancestors, with their own equally destructive fire, of fortresses as large as Winterfell itself, able to travel through the void between stars.
To say we were disturbed would be an understatement. At least my lord father maintained the neutrality that his face reflected, though his eyes told a different story.
"Of course, I know it's difficult and a bit crazy to accept such an abrupt shift in reality," Lord Husil added.
To say the least.
"Do you have any tangible proof of this?"
"Ah, Eddard, I have plenty, both second-hand and personal. I'd like to say it would be a pleasure to show you, but I'm afraid it's quite the opposite. Don't worry, I will show you. In fact, I already know the place and the person best suited for it."
Well, I, like my father, would like to see this proof. I don't know if I could believe such an incredible tale without equally solid evidence.
"I appreciate that."
"Well, enough bad news. How about I show you tangible proof of the benefits?"
Lord Husil signaled one of his guards to bring the bags from the cart. He proceeded to open each one and, with both hands, took a handful of the contents and placed it in the center of the table for all to see.
"Wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, and these, not so small. In some places, they call them 'earth apples,' in others, sweet potatoes; I, however, just call them by what I believe to be their original name: potatoes. And from this wonderful harvest, I have a surplus that I can sell to you at a good price."
"What makes you think we want or need to buy food?"
"To be honest, I don't know. But from what my captain gathered during his last visit, you're either coming out of a hard winter or in the middle of a moderately cold one."
The good captain has a sharp mind to pick up on all that while having a conversation with my father during our first meeting. Of course, we didn't offer any information about the state of our lands or their seasons, even though we've just come through the longest summer in recorded history.
"Let's say we're interested, but that would depend on the amount this surplus represents."
"Of course, no problem. Let's say one point five."
"A hundred and fifty sacks?"
"Sorry, I tend to forget that not everyone uses the same measurements. In simple numbers, I mean enough to feed a million and a half soldiers or their equivalent in about three hundred thousand families of five, once at the start of winter and again at the end of spring."
I can't even imagine such a large number, and judging by the faces on my side of the table, no one else expected such a generous offer either, but everything has a price. I simply can't grasp it.
"Sorry, but do you have proof that you can provide such an amount of food?"
"And you said twice?"
"Indeed. In fact, it would be for the equivalent of three million soldiers or about six hundred thousand families of five every year, but we can only guarantee one shipment per year. You know, things happen—wars, famines, changes in administration, the usual."
By the old gods and the new.
"I'd be lying if I said we weren't interested."
"Excellent."
A satisfied smile crossed Lord Husil's face, like a fox smelling wounded prey, ready to pounce.
"Now, let's not rush things, Husil. As we've already made clear, everything has a price. What would that be?"
"But there's the rub, Eddard. The price might be something you don't expect or understand at first. My captain only made one request for this meeting. I hope you've managed to fulfill it."
"Oh, yes, I remember you requested samples of metals that we can supply in large quantities, in addition to steel samples, if we had any. A bit unusual, but not hard to get, so yes, we brought it".
"Excellent, show it to me".
"The most abundant metals in the north are iron, copper, zinc and false metal because when it's forged, although it looks like steel at first glance, it's so fragile that even a child can bend and break it. So, it's only used to adorn some obsidian jewelry made in the mountain clans".
When I was a child, I was fascinated by this gray powder that could apparently be turned into metal, only to discover it was nothing more than a mummer farce.
"Trinium, I'm sorry to interrupt, please continue".
"And this is our castle steel, from which most of our swords, armor, and tools are made".
"I don't have much use for armor and swords, but tools made from this are something we need in large quantities: hammers, shovels, nails, picks, axes, seeders, and plows".
"Well, then we have a point of negotiation: food for tools".
"You're right, Eddark, but before we discuss terms, let me show you concrete evidence. For that, we'll need to travel through the gate. Certainly, let's not waste any time, let's go".
And with that, we all stood up and headed toward the door, our escort and Lord Husil's. Once there, they entered a different address than ours, the one we got from the good captain before he returned to his planet the first time we met. Like last time, the event horizon was just as bright and captivating. We approached cautiously. I still couldn't fully trust this machine. I reached my hand toward the bright blue water forming the horizon; upon touching it, I couldn't feel anything on the other side.
"Come on, Snow, do you want them to think we're cowards?"
Rob stepped forward, crossing the door before I could rebut his words. So, without further ado, I took a deep breath, begged the ancient gods not to abandon me, and crossed the door. I don't know if I was disappointed or amazed by the sensation of passing through the door. What I do know is that the truth about how the door works is undeniable: the heat in the air, the radiant sun, the endless sky, and the fields of wheat surrounding the door. The fruit trees visible in the distance looked like small islands in this sea of harvest. For a moment, one might think I was in the Reach, if not for the ghostly presence of not one, but two moons in the sky.
I have no words. At this moment, I'm stepping onto the soil of another planet with just a small step for a man, but I hope we can turn it into a giant leap for the North and its people.
Planet Tatamis
Eddard Stark POV
I could see endless fields of wheat in all directions, with small hills full of trees, and these filled with fruits of various colors and shapes, like islands in this sea of harvest stretching to the horizon, only interrupted by dark silhouettes of mountains and small valleys in the distance. As I marveled at the sight before me, Husil indicated that we could have a conversation in the shade of a tree next to the door. Jon and Rob were engaging in a conversation with Husil's son and ward, so I signaled to the guards who crossed with us to stay with them, and I motioned for Brandon to follow me.
"Eddard, here are the fruits that an alliance between our organizations can yield."
"I must say, this is impressive, Husil. I have never witnessed such fertility in a land, except in the Reach."
"So, your lands don't have such abundance in their harvest?"
"No, our wealth lies in the strength of our people, in the riches of our mountains and forests, which will make an agreement between us quite lucrative for all parties."