The flight from the Wolfswood to Bear Island took less than two hours. The wild deer clutched in the Great Dragons' talons were already barely clinging to life from fright. So after arriving at Mormo Keep, Danyla had the Great Dragons quickly set them down beside a nearby wood.
Once freed from the dragons' talons, the wild deer suddenly perked up and darted into the trees. Though the wood was small and the surrounding vegetation sparse, it was enough to shelter the few deer.
Bear Island's harsh living conditions had long since driven House Mormont to hunt down every wild beast they could find. These deer would therefore encounter almost no natural predators here.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The men of House Mormont were all out hunting at sea, so it was Earl Mormo's wife and her four daughters who came out to greet Danyla.
They all wore dark leather robes with fur collars. Their hair was simply coiled atop their heads, and they wore no unnecessary adornments, the typical dress of women in the North.
Clearly, though, the women of Bear Island were even more plain in their ways. Even the Earl's wife and daughters dressed much like ordinary smallfolk in the North. Axes or short blades hung at all their waists, leaving their fierce, resolute temperaments and ways plain to see.
After presenting her gifts, Danyla followed them into the hall of Mormo Keep. Compared with the castles of other nobles, House Mormont's hall was altogether too "plain."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Danyla told Lady Mormo about the five wild deer she had released in the nearby wood.
"Sorry for the trouble, my lady, but please arrange for someone to look after them for a while. I'll send a ship to collect them later."
With that, Danyla