Because Lynd had written to Nymeria in advance, asking her to meet him at Summerhall, he took the Stone Giants directly there after exiting the Kingswood.
As they passed through Grassy Vale, the city gates proved too small, and the streets too narrow for the giants. As a result, they had to wade through the Blueburn River outside the castle to continue their journey.
Upon reaching Summerhall, Nymeria stood at the entrance of the town, accompanied by the stewards and managers, waiting to greet Lynd.
"You've worked hard," Lynd said, dismounting and leading his horse to Nymeria's side before pulling her into a hug.
Although managing two territories at once over the past few months had been exhausting, Nymeria felt that all her efforts had been worth it the moment she heard Lynd's words and felt his embrace.
Lynd then turned to the gathered officials of Redemption Town, taking Nymeria's hand as he addressed them. "Everyone, thank you for your hard work over the past two months. I truly appreciate how you kept the affairs of the territory running smoothly while I was away."
The crowd responded warmly, their eyes filled with admiration for him.
Over time, discussions about Lynd—both within and outside Redemption Town—had only heightened their sense of pride in being under his leadership. Their respect and devotion had grown to such an extent that even a small word of gratitude from him left them deeply satisfied.
With Nymeria by his side, Lynd mounted his horse, and together, they rode into Redemption Town, accompanied by the Stone Giants and their subordinates.
The stonemasons who had built Summerhall Castle, the settlers of Salvation Town, and the residents of nearby villages all gathered at the foot of the castle, both inside and outside the town, eager to witness the return of Lynd and to see the legendary giants with their own eyes.
Redemption Town, though newly established, was packed to capacity. People crowded the streets, balconies, and rooftops, cheering as the procession of giants made its way through the central avenue. At first, the cheers were chaotic, but soon they merged into a unified chant, the only words echoing through the town being Chosen One.
The excitement reached its peak when Nymeria announced that all drinks would be free in the town center's Redemption Square.
Lynd, however, did not linger in the town. Instead, he continued along the main avenue, heading straight for the Redemption Sept.
Septon Hullen, Holy Sister Melessa, and Elder Colin were already waiting for him, their expressions full of excitement at the sight of the giants.
Having learned that Lynd had tamed the legendary giants, they had already speculated that the creatures would eventually be placed under the protection of the Redemption Sept. After all, housing them within the sept would make it difficult for anyone to object to their presence.
Once they had received confirmation from Lynd's letter, they had wasted no time in preparing accommodations for the giants near the Redemption Sept. They had also built a separate food warehouse to ensure the creatures' needs were met.
Although the wight that Lynd had captured was deemed unsuitable for glorifying the Seven Gods within the sept, the giants were an entirely different matter. Septon Hullen had already envisioned using their presence to elevate the Redemption Sept's status to a sacred place of worship—one that could rival the great cathedrals of the Faith.
"This is Mag, the leader of the giants. I've taught him a little common speech, so you can communicate with him briefly. However, you should also learn some of the First Men's Old Tongue—it will make things much easier," Lynd said, introducing Mag to the three members of the Redemption Sept.
He then introduced the three of them to Mag, as they would be working together for a long time.
After the sept's representatives led Mag and the giants to their newly built quarters, Lynd introduced Tobho Mott to the officials from Redemption Town who had accompanied them. He then asked Malora to arrange for Tobho to be placed in the Smith's Camp, which had been constructed but had yet to receive a supervisor.
Once that was settled, he dismissed the officials and supervisors, informing them that all other matters would be addressed the following day.
As he was about to leave, Malora whispered, "When you have some free time, come to my laboratory. Qyburn and I have discovered something interesting."
Although Lynd was curious about what they had found, he knew this was not the right time to discuss it.
As for a celebratory feast, he had no interest in holding one. After dismissing the officials, he was immediately pulled away by Nymeria into a room within his temporary official residence outside Redemption Town—to settle the taxes he had neglected over the past few months.
After a passionate reunion, the two of them leisurely reclined in a bath, attended by twin female servants and several maidservants.
Leaning against Lynd, Nymeria curiously asked, "Are White Walkers really that frightening?"
"With your strength and the right weapons, you could probably defeat a human White Walker," Lynd answered honestly after some thought.
"So they're not as terrifying as people say," Nymeria remarked, handing him a cup of freshly made juice from one of the twin attendants.
"There are very few people in all of Westeros who can match your strength. An ordinary knight wouldn't stand a chance against a White Walker." Lynd shook his head. "And human White Walkers aren't even the strongest. The elven White Walkers… they are the real threat."
Nymeria reached out and smoothed the furrow in Lynd's brow. "Don't dwell on it for now. We can talk about everything tomorrow. Tonight, you should relax and rest."
With that, she lowered her head and disappeared beneath the water.
The next morning, feeling refreshed and full of energy, Lynd left his official residence with his attendant, Brienne—who had not yet recovered from her training the previous day and had been absent from his arrival.
The moment she joined him, however, she began peppering him with endless questions about his experiences and the giants, unable to contain her curiosity.
To satisfy her relentless questioning—and to get some peace—Lynd decided not to go straight to his office in the Redemption Town Hall. Instead, he took Brienne to the Redemption Sept, where the giants were now housed.
As he had hoped, Brienne fell silent the moment she saw the giants—not out of fear, but out of sheer curiosity.
Elder Colin and Holy Sister Melessa had remained in the Redemption Sept since the previous day, working to familiarize themselves with the Old Tongue of the First Men, which they already knew to some extent. Their goal was to help the giants become accustomed to their presence more quickly.
To everyone's surprise, it was not Holy Sister Melessa or Septon Hullen who first managed to establish normal communication with the giants, but Colin, despite being bound by a vow of silence and unable to speak. Using a series of hand signals, he quickly found a way to converse freely with them.
Lynd informed Septon Hullen that the High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor had already agreed to fund the creation of bronze armor and weapons for the twenty-six giants. He instructed Hullen to discuss the details with Tobho Mott.
After inquiring about the well-being of the giants, including Mag, Lynd left the Redemption Sept with Brienne, who was still brimming with energy. Together, they made their way to the Town Hall of Redemption to address the backlog of affairs that had accumulated in his absence.
Although Lynd had granted Nymeria full authority over all matters of governance before he left, there were still decisions that only he could make—particularly those concerning the Miracle Fleet.
During the construction of Miracle Harbor, Lynd had prioritized the docks and warehouses, opting to complete the castle portion at a slower pace. Before his departure for The Wall, word had come from the harbor that the docks were nearing completion. In response, Lynd had arranged for the ships that were still in Oldtown to be sent to Miracle Harbor, intending to assign captains and fleet commanders upon his return.
What he had not anticipated was that his journey to The Wall would take several months. The docks had been completed just a month after he left, and by now, hundreds of longships and armed merchant vessels had already been transferred from Oldtown and were docked at Miracle Harbor.
The process of appointing captains for these ships was relatively straightforward. While still in Oldtown, Lynd had commissioned House Hightower to recruit a group of captains and sailors for him. These captains were the ones who had sailed the ships from Oldtown to Miracle Harbor. All that remained was for Lynd to formally sign their commission orders.
This was the first task he attended to upon his return. He signed and sealed the orders but did not immediately deploy the captains to their ships. Instead, he stationed them at the naval barracks in Miracle Harbor, where they would serve as instructors for a time.
Lynd had no intention of forming a single, unified fleet from the longships. Instead, he planned to take 300 of them and divide them into three separate groups, forming three distinct fleets. These fleets would be placed under the command of three Ironborn captains—Dagon Harlaw, Baelor Blacktyde, and Asha Greyjoy. Their mission was twofold: to continue the Ironborn tradition of raiding in the waters around the Stepstones, preparing for the eventual conquest of the islands, and to escort ships traveling from Miracle Harbor.
Lynd called the three captains into his office and handed them their signed orders. "Here are your appointment letters. Report to Miracle Harbor today and assume your duties. Each of you will be responsible for 100 longships. You may select and recruit your captains and crew from the Miracle Harbor naval base. Additionally, each of you will receive an armed merchant ship as your personal vessel. You may choose its name."
He continued, "Of course, you're free to recruit captains and sailors from elsewhere if you prefer, but all recruits—whether captains or crew—must undergo five months of training at the naval camp. Only those who meet the full requirements will be allowed to board. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord," the three of them answered enthusiastically, their excitement evident.
Although they had long suspected that Lynd was grooming them for leadership roles within his fleet, it was only now—holding the appointment orders in their hands—that they truly felt secure in their positions.
Lynd went on, "After the supervision period imposed by the Iron Throne, if any of you wish to leave, you may do so. Just inform me, and your ships will be yours. But don't let ambition blind you—I won't tolerate anyone attempting to take all the ships and deserting. If that happens… you'll have to consider how to face my wrath."
"We will never betray you, my lord," Dagon Harlaw declared loudly, thumping his chest.
"Yes, we will never betray you," Baelor and Asha echoed with equal conviction.
Lynd made no comment on their oaths. Instead, he signed three separate material transfer documents and handed them over. "Additionally, I will provide the initial funding for the fleets. Six months from now, you will be responsible for securing your own financial resources."
"Ah? We have to raise our own funds?" The three captains exchanged bewildered glances.
"Your future area of operations will be the Stepstones. Use your wits to figure out how to raise funds," Lynd said, looking at them expectantly.
"You mean… we can raid?" Asha asked cautiously.
"I didn't say a word," Lynd replied smoothly. "You're Ironborn—I respect Ironborn customs."
His answer was both an acknowledgment and an evasion.
"No matter how you acquire your funds," he added, "half of your profits must be turned over to me. The rest is yours."
Dagon immediately protested, "Ah, my lord, half is too much! Taking that much at once—"
"If you don't like it, you don't have to do it," Lynd cut him off, then turned to Asha and Baelor. "What about you? Do you think it's too much?"
"No, we think it's completely reasonable," Asha and Baelor replied without hesitation, not even sparing Dagon a glance.
Dagon was left momentarily speechless, seeing how readily the other two accepted the terms. Eventually, he lowered his head and muttered, "When I think about it… it's not excessive at all. After all, the ships and the crews all belong to you, my lord. Even if you took everything, it would still be fair. You're already being generous by letting us keep half."
Lynd nodded, dismissing them with a wave. "Go make your preparations. Set sail as soon as you're ready. I wish you success on the high seas."
"Yes, my lord," the three of them answered, bowing before leaving the room.
Brienne, who had remained silent throughout, hesitated before asking in a low voice, "My lord… will Asha be in danger?"
"The sea is always unpredictable," Lynd replied as he handed her a signed document. "Anyone who sets sail faces danger."
He instructed her to take the document to the Ministry of the Interior under the Board of Regents, ensuring that the necessary tasks were assigned accordingly.
After a year of training, Brienne had begun assisting Lynd with administrative matters. In addition to her daily training and studies, he encouraged her to challenge the knights of Summerhall township to build her combat experience.
At first, she lost more than she won. But after completing more than seventy challenges, she had reached a point where her victories and defeats were evenly matched. By now, everyone in Summerhall knew her name, and thanks to her efforts—as well as Lynd's praise at the Lannisport banquet—the knights of Summerhall had come to regard her as an exemplary knight.
"My Lord, Lord Hollis Redwyne is waiting outside," Brienne reminded him as she handed over the documents detailing the construction progress of Castle Red Watch, sent by Bryn Rivers.
"Already here?" Lynd looked up and said, "Let him in."
Brienne went downstairs to announce his arrival and then returned with a slightly short, middle-aged man with a full beard. His complexion clearly indicated his Summer Isles heritage.
"Greetings, Lord Chosen One," the man said, bowing respectfully before Lynd.
Lynd studied the man in front of him. "You are a talent personally recommended by Lord Lys. I won't waste time with unnecessary words—I'll just ask a few questions. If your answers satisfy me, you will be the commander of the Miracle Fleet."
"Understood, my lord," Hollis Redwyne nodded.
Originally, Lynd had intended to groom Asha and the others for the position, but Nymeria, Malora, Lys, and the rest advised against it. The Ironborn's reputation at sea was too tarnished—associating Miracle Harbor with them would risk damaging its standing and undermine merchants' confidence in the port.
Lys, who had made his living on the sea for years, had instead advised Lynd to establish two fleets: one visible, one hidden. The hidden fleet, commanded by Ironborn like Asha and her ilk, would handle matters best kept out of sight. The visible fleet, under the command of someone with a reputable name, would be responsible for ensuring the security of Miracle Harbor's waters.
Lynd had originally wanted Lys Falwell to take the position, but Lys preferred to remain a merchant and declined the offer. Before departing, however, he recommended a capable candidate—Ser Hollis Redwyne.
Hollis had already volunteered to serve under Lynd when the plans for Miracle Harbor were first set in motion. At that time, he had been traveling in Yronwood Castle. Upon hearing the news, he had made his way to Miracle Harbor as soon as possible and was recruited by Jon to serve as officer-at-arms and master-at-arms of the Miracle Harbor Navy Camp.
"You are a member of House Redwyne," Lynd said directly. "With your talents and status, you should have been able to secure a good position in the Redwyne fleet. Why give up everything at Arbor Island to come here?"
Hollis answered truthfully, "I come from a branch of House Redwyne, and I am also a second son. Given the bloodline on my mother's side, no matter how capable I am, becoming the commander of a fleet there would be impossible. That's why I came here—to try my luck."
"What is your relationship with Lys Falwell?" Lynd asked.
Hollis replied immediately, "I once saved his life at sea, and this time, I asked him to recommend me. Of course, knowing Lord Lys, he would never put my name forward unless he believed I was truly capable."
Lynd continued, "If you become fleet commander, what will be your next move?"
Hollis recognized this as the decisive moment. Without hesitation, he revealed his plan. "First, I will establish Miracle Harbor as the fleet's center and expand our patrols throughout the Sea of Dorne, testing the tolerance of the Lords of the Stormlands and Dorne. Then, I will send men to occupy several uninhabited islands off Cape Wrath to set up a fleet transit base. If possible, I will take control of Castle Ghaston Grey, allowing us to fully secure the surrounding waters. After that, if conditions permit, we will gradually transform the Sea of Dorne into the internal sea of House Tarran."
"A bold plan," Lynd acknowledged, "but implementation will be difficult." He nodded, recognizing that this strategy served as the prelude to his broader maritime ambitions.
Lynd's plan was to start from the Stepstones, using both fleets—the visible and the hidden—alongside himself to eliminate the pirates infesting the region. By securing the Stepstones, he would gain control over a significant portion of the trade flowing along both sides of the Narrow Sea. However, before that could happen, the Sea of Dorne had to be brought under control. Hollis's plan provided an excellent foundation for that goal.
Satisfied with Hollis Redwyne's answers—and lacking a better alternative at the moment—Lynd picked up a pen, swiftly signed a commission order, and placed it before him.
"Swear it, Ser Hollis."