Conqueror's Holdfast, council hall.
Captain Corlien cautiously pointed to a specially marked dot on the southwestern corner of Skagos on the map. "As you instructed, we have built a tower of stone and timber on a relatively level clifftop along Seal Bay. We left three hundred soldiers stationed there. The tower has an excellent view, enough to watch a wide stretch of sea and part of the interior."
Morio added with a hint of pride, "There is a river near the tower. The position is easy to defend and hard to attack, and we have stored enough food to last three months."
Liu Qian's gaze lingered on the small mark on the map, and approval appeared on his icy face. "An excellent choice of location. It controls the southwestern sea route and gives us a view inland. It will serve well enough as a base for our invasion of the North.
"Send another thousand slaves there, along with enough food and the necessary tools. They have only three tasks: build stronger fortifications, kill any stone men who approach the tower, and capture live unicorns."
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Corlien and Morio answered in unison.
As the two withdrew with their orders and the heavy oak doors slowly closed, Liu Qian's gaze returned to the map.
The establishment of the tower on Skagos meant that his reach was now firmly anchored at the gateway to the North.
It was time to begin the campaign against the North.
A thought took clear shape in his mind.
He needed a key, a pawn who could stir up turmoil within the North-
A name forgotten in a dark corner sprang to mind: Jorah Mormont.
That stubborn knight of Bear Island had betrayed his family for a woman, fled across the Narrow Sea, and