Garon had not immediately learned of Catelyn's decision.
He had gone several days without skinchanging into the weirwood.
War was drawing ever nearer, and Garon had been busy drilling the soldiers at Deepwood Motte and coordinating supplies.
He was swamped every day and mentally exhausted.
So as soon as night fell, he quickly sank into sleep, with no energy at all to trigger his Skinchanger gift.
It was nearing noon.
Garon had gathered all the soldiers at Deepwood Motte on the training ground. Excluding the laborers and servants, as well as the hundred men Newgate had taken away, there were six hundred in total.
These six hundred were divided into two hundred cavalrymen and four hundred infantrymen.
Because of its location, Deepwood Motte had always been short on horses. The more than two hundred sturdy mounts they had now were the fruits of years of hard work.
At that moment, the six hundred men stood in sixty rows of ten before Garon.
Behind him stood the Steel Fist Company, which he had spent half a year painstakingly training.
Garon strode steadily among the rows of soldiers and the Steel Fist Company, with Robett following close behind in full armor.
Everyone watched Garon intently, their eyes bright with anticipation and excitement.
Suddenly,
he halted, turned his back to the Steel Fist Company, and faced the sixty rows of soldiers.
"I imagine you've all heard why I've gathered you here today."
"War is imminent. I'm going to select five hundred-man captains from among you to drill and train the troops."
As soon as Garon finished speaking, a buzz rose among the soldiers on the training ground.
They were visibly excited, gazing at Garon with eager anticipation and hoping he would choose them as a hundred-man captain.
It was no wonder the soldiers