Skagos, The North, 9th moon of 276 AC
( 1 Year time-skip)
"M'lord, You have a few things to take care of today; the builders said that the demand for new houses has decreased exponentially. After you introduced the "Beezehome houses," they have been building those nonstop; now, they say almost everyone has a house. The amount of work is decreasing… the miners say precisely the opposite; they claim the mines need more workers and that the Gold and silver mines were way bigger than predicted." Said Davos.
After arriving in Skagos, Ragnar had to solve many problems, including housing, which he solved by making all builders under his command build Beezehome like houses.
"Offer the builders work on the mines, tell them about the benefits; mining will probably be a thing for thousands of years. The initial stage of this mass migration is done; there are houses for most people the builders are not needed that much. Now there will be working for only a thousand or so of them. What about the whalers?" Asked Ragnar
" The Whalers are supplying us with food in abundance, your decision to make them fish more things other than whales brought a lot of seafood variety into everybody's table. We've got food in abundance. The trade agreement you made with Ibben will end next moon, but even within the food they provide, we will be able to feed ourselves and even sell some food to the rest of The North." Davos Replied.
Another thing Ragnar had to solve was food. There was no food for everyone in the beginning. To avoid hunger, he had to send Midstinul beyond the wall to hunt some mammoths on the first moon. Ragnar then sent a raven to Ibben, proposing them a year-long trade agreement. They would supply them with food, and Ragnar would pay in gold. The contract cost Ragnar 1,4 million gold dragons. He gladly paid… gold wasn't a problem. He could transmute iron into gold.
"What about the farms? How are they faring?" Asked Ragnar
"The farmers could farm the new seeds you gave them, and the last harvest was prosperous; the ideas you gave, crop rotation and fertilizer made it a success," Davos replied.
" Good… I have plans to build glasshouses in the future. Now that the island is stable, we will be able to begin to produce glass in abundance." Replied Davos.
"The taxes for this year, and the gold for the mines, will give me back all I have invested, but I don't want that money to go unused. Tell Lord Crowl and Stane that they are allowed get loans from my House… if they use the money to develop their land. There's little to no potential in their land other than fishing. There is a copper mine in Lord Stane's lands and 2 Iron mines on Lord Crowl's lands. I don't know how they don't know about them but make sure they are aware of them" Ragnar said as he looked at his Maester, who was seated in front of him, by Davos side. It was a common thing for Ragnar to have these reunions with Davos and the Maester. Davis was now an adviser and loyal friend to Ragnar, he would pass on Ragnar's words to the smallfolk and would bring the small-folks concerns to Ragnar.
" My Lord, I believe the mines were a known fact to them, but due to the lack of food and workforce, they could not work the mines." Replied the Maester.
"Good, tell them I want them to work on developing their lands… and offer them to foster their heirs here… they have the right to deny; that is not a command but an offer. It is time for Skagos to have more capable lords other than me." Instructed Ragnar.
"Yes. My Lord." Replied the Maester.
"What about the schools? How is it working?" Asked Ragnar.
" It's working well, m'lord. 45% of the families have someone who can read. The history of the north class made the children admire House Stark and worship House Dovahkiin. The foreign children are picking up the Skagossi customs, and most of them pray to the old gods. Ever since that incident with the ill child, the Old faith has increased tremendously." Reply Davos.
*Flashback*
Ragnar was seated in his high chair in Castle Volkihar; he's been holding court for the last 3 hours. It was then that a crying woman's time came; she looked awful and had a child in her arms; she was probably a Skagossi, judging by her features.
"M'lord, my child has been ill for the last week, the maester said she would not survive this night, but I've seen and heard of your power. I ask you to cure my child's illness. Please m'lord. It's not fair that after we survive hunger together, the child dies of illness; she's everything I have." Said the crying woman.
"Aye, I can cure wounds and fatal injuries, but I cannot cure illness; that is not a power I have." Replied Ragnar; his face was grim. He was faking it; the child would be all right. He had tied all the heart trees in Skagos to his divinity (his soul was of an Akatosh's child and all); if the woman prayed to the heart three, the child's illness would be cured.
The woman, who was already crying, felt a numbness inside her; life was not worth it without her child
"Do not despair, woman. What have I told you all a long time ago? The old gods have forgiven Skagos' heinous crimes. Pray to them; you will see that your gods have not abandoned you… at least not anymore." Ragnar answered. He wanted the old faith to be the only faith in Skagos; the religion didn't demand money or service. They had good rules such as no incest, no kinslaying, and respect the guest's rights. Ragnar could get behind that.
The woman did as she was instructed and prayed to the old gods… the child was cured, and ever since, the old faith had gotten stronger
Flashback end.
"Good. That's good news. Anything else?" Replied Ragnar.
"Yes, my lord. Lord Tywin Lannister will host a tourney in honor of Prince Viserys's birth. It would be wise to send a gift to the prince." Replied the Maester.
"It is time for Skagos to come back to the eyes of the realm. Davos, warn my household about my decision. We depart for the Westenlands in three days time"
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A/N: Here it is… one of the chapters of the day…
The plot is working towards the meeting of Ragnar and his future wife. My plan was to marry Ragnar to Elia Martell but I'll let you guys vote.
Elia Martell
Ashara Dayne
Barbrey Ryawell
Dacey Mormont