In thee NORTH

/Winterfell/

Rickard Stark was looking at the administration matters of the North.

A month ago, Brandon had come here with 8 million gold, boasting how much gold they had weaseled out of the crown, but got humble down when he listened to Ser Rodrick that the Lannister had come 2 days earlier than them with 6 million dragons.

The North had been paying the smiths, shipwrights, and builders coin out of their own pocket and things would have not looked good if they did not know that money would be coming.

The Iron Bank administrator had come in the next week since Mimirsen had left, and Rickard had taken a loan of 2 million off them.

Initially, Rickard was confused about why they had to take loans and not started the business of something, as loans were never a good thing.

He was not doubtful but asked Jim for the reason.

/Flashback/

"Taking loans would show the South that we are weak, which would make them place significantly less importance on us when dealing.

We just need this cover for a couple of years till we grow enough powerful so that they fear retaliation for taking action against us. We won't have to repay the coin given to us by the crown, for you know the rebellion."

Rickard nodded in understanding, the North was just taking money for nothing. Mimirsen continued his explanation.

"Lannister gold would come us in way of payment so we don't have to worry about that, what we have to worry about is the deal with Tywin could either make us grateful to him, which has a very small chance of happening, or make him suspicious of us and send spies along our servants and such."

"Then there is the Tyrells, which I am doubtful of extorting any gold but I need something else from the vicinity of the Highgarden, something important for our plans. I have plans of visiting Dorne, but they are not set in stone."

"As for our deal with Iron Bank, frankly we don't need their money, but we need them for our booze." Jim picked up Asgardian rum, the pure one for him, and poured the watered-down version for Rickard.

"They currently have one of the best reaches in the realm which would make this very popular among the populace.

Their reach is what we need for our business to boom early on and make more money. Having them loan us would make them think they have leverage against us on some matters such as common trade and the new port, but in reality, we would become economically independent."

"When you get the coin needed, start with the construction of the port at Widow's watch. The Flints have a close association with the Starks as Brandon is a quarter Flint, which would make the negotiation somewhat easier."

"But the Widow's watch is rough terrain and it does not have a deep-rooted river in the Northern mainland, which is why the main port I the North is the White harbor." Rickard countered the proposition.

"That is true, but with the rebuilding of Moat Calin, I would control the whole sea of the bite with its navy. Widow's watch would be somewhat easier to access for the Bravos and a whole lot of western sea traffic, earning them a day's worth of time, serving as a port for the reception from there. Afterward, Moat Calin port would serve as the main port of the North, where a canal from west to east would allow our Western houses to access the Eastern cities with ease. We would be easily earning coin from the toll while controlling the sea travel of half the Westeros."

"The Lannisters and Tyrells would save weeks' worth of time by this, while we earn coin off them. The overall picture would make Moat Calin the biggest port city in the whole West and East while being a mainland city. The Widow's watch is just a temporary station, this would earn some gold for the house Flint but also divert the traffic from the main Ancestral Stark seat for good."

"What do we name the Port city at the Flints," Rickard asked.

"I have a name for it, but give it a try and name it yourself after all it would serve many uses over the years."

Rickard eyed Mimirsen, who really wanted to name the city himself. His expression was really giving it away, almost as if he was intentionally doing so.

"I would like you to name it, ALLFATHER," Rickard said in a very subtle sarcastic way, which was noticed by Jim, but ignored.

"Heimdall. It would serve as the watching port city in the North, reigning the East of Westeros as the first shield of protection on the sea when we build our fleet."

"And what does Heimdall mean?"

"The same, the first shield of protection in Asgard, who has eyes everywhere in nine realms.

/Flashback end/

That was three months ago, and the new Port, Heimdall was under construction while the Flints were informed of the basic plans for it. The Moat Calin project had not started for now, as Mimirsen himself would initiate whatever plans he had for there.

The Steel ship had its raw material gathered, with the smiths beating steel, shaping each piece very carefully as described in various papers the Chief Smith had received from Jim.

The Northen Rum was very popular with the people in the south and elsewhere, and the Ironbank was buying whole lots of barrels from the Starks, each priced at 75 silver a barrel.

It had been a hit with the nobles of southern free cities, Vale, Dorne, and crownlands, and even made their way down to the Tyrells. It was alcohol on the somewhat expensive side, but not far for the common drunkards and nobles, taking place of the wine from most private drinking. The wine was still the official drink at official events though.

Rickard was happy with the changes happening in the North. There was also this girl with whom Brandon had come, Rose, now pregnant with his child. There was some love between the two of them, Rickard could easily discern that much.

Jim had told Brandon to not tell her his identity, which was taken care of as they left for the Dustins as early as Brandon was free of the work at Winterfell. Brandon who introduced himself as a son wealthy merchant, came honestly to him saying he was just a guard at Lord Dustin's, but Rose's love for him was not diminished. She was sad and hurt, true for the dishonesty and cheating but she was too into him to leave him now.

Rickard had privately married both of them at the news of her pregnancy. After two months, Brandon had repeatedly pestered his father for revealing the truth and giving his wife the adobe of the LAdy, the one she deserved for being his wife, for which Rickard refused till the first boy was born, or Jim asked him himself, whichever one was early.

There was a letter from Mimirsen about his travel to Dorne after the matters of money failed at the Tyrells, while there will be a Maester or more precisely an exiled Maester coming for Winterfell in a month.