Chapter 91

The other matter of importance was the amount of spies that tried to infiltrate the town and Dreadfort during this week.

Thankfully, he had already created and completed the equivalent of the Marauder map for his lands along with the intent sensing capabilities. With it's help, his spy mistress Lyra was able to rout out each and all the spies sent to spy on him by Varys, Littlefinger, the Queen, Tywin Lannister, Olenna Tyrell, Braavosi merchants, Myrish merchants, Pentoshi merchants, etc.

His men Interrogation department captured those spies at the dead of night, interrogated them during the night and sent them packing to the Wall by morning.

Lord Jeor Mormont had been especially happy with all the new recruits he had sent them this time with the biyearly support items of food, gold and clothes.

He also had to make time to meet with all the lords of the greater houses one by one to set up business proposals with them and make them aware of the things they could accomplish with his support.

He was glad that he had people like his aunt, Celly and a host of other competent subordinates that were able to keep the castle and the whole tournament running without him having to worry about it.

He had no doubt that he would be truly lost if he didn't have these people working under him.

By the end of the Tourney, The Boltons won the melee as well as the archery contest thanks to the presence of his two sworn shields Varko and Baka.

Baka had especially earned a great reputation in the North thanks to her Herculean strength.

It had been more than a little awkward for him when Lord Greatjon Umber asked him for her hand in marriage to one of his sons.

He had declined of course. Because despite her strength and her own growing maturity, Baka was still a young and naive little girl at heart and he might not admit it out loud but had grown quite fond of her over the years. Treating her like a little sister rather than his sworn sword more often than not.

The archery contest on the other hand had been won by none other than his friend Ygritte. Though he would have to admit that she cheated a bit by using the enchanted bow he had granted her but even the bow would not work without being used by a very competent archer so he let it slide.

It had been more than a little amusing to find that both Rob Stark and Jon Snow had developed a little crush on her. Especially because she was not like the other young ladies of the North and neither showed them the respect they deserved nor gave them the time of the day.

Aside from that, the swimming competition was won by a man from the Bear Island. The Tug of war was won by Lord Greatjon Umber and his team, though they went ahead and lost spectacularly against the Gaint.

The running competition was won by a teenage girl who came from a nearby village. He had to take her under his own wing to make sure that other people won't try to kill her and take the reward from her.

The drinking competition was once again won by Lord Greatjon Umber and team though the Mormonts came a close second and both the teams had to nurse a splitting headache the very next day.

There had been a few other competitions that were won by various other people and teams.

But all good things had to end so with the end of the prize distribution, he declared the end of the tourney. Something that he proclaimed he would hold every 2 years in his lands on this very day.

The announcement was met with cheers from everyone and with that, the Tourney officially ended.

By the end of the day, he and Lord Stark held a meeting with the Lords who had lost their small folk to the grand migration that took place when people started coming to his land for work and a better life.

Lord Stark was impressed him by quickly taking control over the meeting and explaining the points that he had already discussed with the lord prior to the meeting.

When Lord Stark told them that he was willing to compensate for the displaced smallfolk, some of the greedier lords tried to bargain so that they would get more out of the deal but a single scathing and disappointed look from Lord Stark put them in their place.

By the end of the meeting, he was 200,000 gold dragons poorer but the issue had been solved once and for all.

The next day, all the lords from all over the North started to trickle out of the town and by the end of the day, Dreadfort and it's town were once again bereft of all the lords and ladies who had come to the tourney and despite the annoying nature of some of them, he felt that the Dreadfort seemed more empty in their absence.

Of course, Lord Stark had still not left Dreadfort. And both of them knew that the time to talk about the betrothal had finally arrived.