Ch 47: The Mysterious Meeting

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As Jorah watched the bird eating the meat, he realized the solution to his predicament—a small army of skin changers.

"It may be the perfect time to reconnect with my peculiar uncle," Jorah muttered to himself as he contemplated the possibilities.

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In the heart of Bear Island, where the ancient forest loomed with its towering trees and murmuring brooks, Lord Jorah Mormont met with his Aunt Maege. The dense canopy of leaves filtered the sunlight, casting dappled shadows upon the forest floor.

"You seriously won't tell me why the urge to meet him again?" Lady Maege couldn't help but ask her nephew again as they walked through the verdant wilderness.

"Aunt, it's something I must keep secret, and it's something you better not get involved in now," Jorah replied with a touch of sternness in his voice. He knew that his aunt's loyalty to House Stark ran deep, and hiding the secret of the silver mine from the Starks was akin to treason.

Underneath the weight of his family's history, Maege had her own reservations about Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark. However, she understood the importance of loyalty.

"Fine. But I hope one day you won't come back to me with something that I can't handle," Maege sighed, realizing the futility of prying further.

"If there's something I can't handle myself, then I don't think I will pass it on to others, my dear aunt," Jorah spoke with conviction.

Deep into the Bear Forest, where ancient trees stood like silent sentinels and moss-covered rocks formed natural paths, they came upon the same old bear that had crossed their path on previous visits. Following the bear's lead, Jorah navigated the winding, mysterious paths until he finally met his uncle.

With a nod of understanding, Lady Maege excused herself, leaving the two men alone in the presence of the ancient weirwood tree.

"You shouldn't have dragged her into this condition. She is what... seven months pregnant with my pup," his uncle remarked, his voice tinged with concern.

"I had no choice. I needed a guide. But after this time, I won't need one. Besides, I know she can handle this short walk," Jorah replied, moving closer to his uncle and finding a comfortable spot under the watchful gaze of the weirwood.

 "Tell me, why are you here?" his uncle asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

"There are some things I need help with, but first, can you tell me if there are any more skin changers on my island?" Jorah inquired, his voice tinged with urgency.

"There are. No less than seventeen, as per my last count," his uncle responded, his gaze distant.

"What? That many?" Jorah couldn't hide his astonishment.

"Many? Ha Ha Ha... Lord Mormont, in the ancient days, we had entire clans of skin changers. Now, the blood is mixed, lost its power, and the magic is barely in the air," his uncle lamented, his tone filled with nostalgia.

Seventeen skin changers was already a formidable number, far exceeding Jorah's expectations. As far as he knew, the Stark family was already unique in having so many skin changers.

"I want these people. I need them to do a task secretly, and for that, I need them to skin change properly," Jorah explained, his voice low and intense.

"Hmm... I won't ask for details, but you want these men and women to skin change like I do with my bear?" his uncle probed further.

"Kind of. The more coordinated the movement, the better it serves my purpose," Jorah clarified, his mind already racing with plans.

"You know long-term skin changing is addictive and can blur the lines between man and beast," his uncle warned.

"I know. So, I hope you can help me with the task. Bring these people together, train them, and then help me in finishing my task," Jorah requested earnestly.

"And what's my reward?" his uncle inquired, his eyes keenly focused on Jorah.

"One of my nieces can have her claim to her own separate house. She can lead her own household with her own rules and chosen people.I shall provide her with all my support," Jorah offered as a reward.

"Ha Ha Ha... I think I still underestimated you, Lord Mormont," his uncle mused thoughtfully.

"I never let myself be fooled with my eyes. You might live like a hermit and pretend you don't care about my aunt or your kids, but I know what every father would want. So, shall I believe it's a deal?" Jorah asked, a note of finality in his tone as he rose from his seat.

"Deal. Give me four months, and you shall have your people ready for your task," his uncle agreed without hesitation.

"Good. I shall take my leave then," Jorah said, a sense of accomplishment washing over him as he made his way back to Bear Castle.

The idea of creating a new house for his nieces had been brewing in Jorah's mind for a long time. He recognized the fierce warrior spirit and leadership qualities within Mormont women. However, he was determined not to change the essential nature of the Mormont women, as that would be nothing short of foolishness.

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