Version 2.0
Brandon and his army continued to shadow Connell's force, maintaining a steady but distant pursuit across the plains and through the scattered and raided villages of the north. As the days and weeks passed Connell struggled to keep his army intact. Supplies were running low, and the cracks were starting to show. The early loyalty Connell had built on charm and promises of a better future beginning to falter.
More and more of Connell's followers began to peel away, deserting his cause in search of food or shelter. Brandon's scouts reported seeing entire groups quietly slipping off in the night, not seeing the cause he went on about when they continued to starve.
One evening, as Brandon's army set up camp overlooking a valley where Connell's men had gathered, Brandon gathered his commanders around a campfire. The flames flickered in the cold wind, casting long shadows over their tired faces.
Halvar, leaned forward, his voice low to not wake the men. "Connell's is falling apart as his men starve. Every day more of them slip away." Halvar shakes his head. "He gave a good talk, but it seems that is all he can do."
Brandon nodded; his eyes fixed on the distant campfires of Connell's remaining force. "I thought he was something more than that. He's losing control and he won't last much longer."
Edric grunted in agreement. "He might still have a few fanatics left, but without food or supplies, they'll either desert or die. We should strike now, end this before it drags on any longer."
Brandon shook his head. "No need, we don't need to waste the men. Let him keep falling apart on his own. He's too weak to mount any real threat to us now."
He paused, staring into the flames, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. "I don't believe that Connell is a threat to the Winter Kingdom, but we will shadow for just a while longer. Then we can leave him and focus on our other problems of Ironborn and the damage that Artos caused."
Everyone nodded before heading off to bed.
Over the next few days, they continued to shadow Connell's diminishing army, watching as more and more men drifted away. By the time Connell reached the borders of the Slate King's lands, his force was a shadow of what it had been.
Brandon watched from a hill as Connell and his remaining followers disappeared into the Slate King's territory after crossing the river, leaving the Winter Kingdom behind. He felt a sense of finality settle over him.
Turning to Halvar, Brandon spoke with a hint of dismissal in his tone. "Connell is no longer our concern. He's the Slate King's problem now. Send a raven to warn him about Connell, but as far as we're concerned, this is over."
Halvar nodded, and the raven was sent fluttering into the sky.
/
Bradon marched back home stopping at villages in the direction of home giving food and spending some days getting the entire army to repair homes, plow fields, and give them samples of the cold-resistant crops. Though many questioned their effectiveness but accepted their king's grace.
Finally, Brandon returned to Winterfell under bleak skies and mounting problems.
The first was the remnants of the scattered Ironborn raiders to the south. These marauding groups, though weakened, were still causing trouble. Small bands of Ironborn raiders continued to harass villages and though the numbers dwindled from those defeated or returning home some still stayed for their iron price.
The second issue was the food situation. Despite the initial success of the winter-resistant crops, the harvests were still insufficient to feed the people beyond Winterfell's walls. While the new crops had yielded enough to stave off immediate hunger within the village, they needed another full harvest with all farmers fully committed to the new methods. The people in the surrounding villages, however, were already feeling the pressure and were quick to come to Brandon for help.
Benjen was still working to make the crops stronger and more resilient. However, it was a slow process and needed more harvest and growth periods.
This shortage of food began to ripple through the economy, causing other problems that quickly demanded Brandon's attention. With less food available, the number of traders visiting Winterfell, and its surrounding villages had sharply decreased. Without surplus crops to trade, there was little reason for them to venture around in other lands. The markets, which had once been bustling with activity, were now quieter, and more people were starting to complain.
"We used to get traders with iron ore, pots, and fine timber," one village leader explained, shaking his head. "Now they barely come, and when they do, they charge twice as much because the roads are more dangerous with these raiders about."
The villagers relied on foreign traders for extra metals and tools as although there were local sources of metals and tools there were not enough to feed the growing people of the kingdom. Without the food to trade, the economy of Winterfell and its surrounding lands was slowing, and discontent was growing among the people. There were constant complaints from village leaders and farmers about the difficulty in acquiring tools, quality wood, and other resources for their daily lives. Prices were rising, not only in Brandon markets but all the Kingdoms markets as when times were good people splurged on what they wanted.
The lack of food had also impacted the availability of mercenaries. Many of the hired swords who once patrolled the north or fought in small skirmishes had left, in search of more work to feed themselves along with every trader wanting them for protection and they were in short supply. And though there were still ones like the ones who helped repel Connell in his attack they did ask a steep price for their help.
Without enough food or mercenaries, and with trade slowing to a trickle, the people of the north were becoming more anxious. If Benjen's agricultural experiments didn't produce better results soon, and as Ironborn and bandit's raids become more prevalent, Brandon feared that discontent could grow into unrest.
Brandon rubbed his temples as he looked at Halvar and his reports of the final problem. The two larger Ironborn warbands had yet to be fully dealt with. One had been riding along the Northwestern coast, in the lands of the Warg and Glover kings having great success in raids. And the final one was still raiding in the Ryder King's lands though it had been pushed back to Jarl Fisher's lands and seemed to be on the back foot.
They were not heading for Winter Lands but Brandon feared that once they left and with two of the warbands having success it would only be time before more of them arrived.