Jon Snow. Near the Wall.
Our advance to the North was going very smoothly. We were walking fast, as the number of men in the group and the lack of supplies allowed it to be. From time to time we came across patrols of the Night's Watch and houses subject to the Starks, which we safely bypassed, remaining undetected.
We reached the Twilight Tower, one of the castles of the Night's Watch. It stood at the foot of the mountains, with the Wall at its end. The snow-covered Twilight Tower was relatively small, with a tall tower and flags on the roof, and lights in its windows to show that it was still active and on duty. The entrance was on the side with a low staircase leading up to it and guarded by a low gate.
Cid stopped our group in the woods almost adjacent to the Tower and, hiding behind the trees, ordered us to wait.
- We need to go near the castle," Mara said, not turning her head and somehow noticing my lack of understanding, but obviously addressing me, "There's a hidden path right behind it that bypasses the patrols and goes straight to the Bridge of Skulls, as you call it.
- I see," I nodded, "But why are we waiting? I don't see anyone.
In response, Cid silently pointed with his head a little east of the Twilight Tower. Nothing changed for a few seconds, the same snow-covered landscape, but then the lights of torches appeared in the distance.
After waiting a moment longer, I saw a group of three brothers of the Night's Watch, apparently making their rounds. They were exchanging a few words with each other, laughing or pausing from time to time, but doing their duty, though without much sensitivity or focus.
- How did you know that they would come out of there and now? - I whispered to Sid.
- The order and route of the patrols change every two months," Mara answered for him, 'It's useful to be 'silly savages', you know. You worshipers are, to put it mildly, blind and stupid.
Well, she's partly right. Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms is used to seeing and portraying wildlings the way Mara described. No one but the Night's Watch, I suppose, has thought about how wildlings cross the fabled Wall.
On the other hand, even if the Night's Watch raises the issue, there's nothing they can do about it. Remembering what Lord Stark has said about its current state, this is not surprising.
The current roster is for the most part made up of political criminals, deserters, murderers, rapists, and other such rabble. Only a small fraction of men join the Night's Watch for the noble purpose for which it was formed.
In addition to this problem, there is another, at least there was. It takes money to supply the brothers of the Night's Watch with weapons, armor, and food. Robb, who once substituted for my father and at that time knew of my intentions, told me and the rest of the siblings that the amount of money allocated by the Crown for the needs of the Night's Watch is extremely small. And the Starks, as the ruling house of the North, are taking on the task.
Well, in any case, none of this makes Mara's words any less right.
- Well, that's just the way it is," I shrugged. "I guess we wait for them to pass and then we move out?
- Yes." Sid said, and then he stopped talking.
A couple minutes of silence passed while the patrol disappeared into the Twilight Tower. We came out from behind the trees and followed Sid. Just as he had said, we passed dangerously close to the castle walls, about two hundred paces away.
From this position, I revised my opinion on the size of the castle. It now seemed tall and massive, and the night sky made it look intimidating and mesmerizing.
Quickly and cautiously our group passed the Tower, until at one point Sid stopped abruptly. His eyes studied his surroundings as if searching for something, and Mara and I didn't know what was wrong, but we reached for our weapons just in case. After a few seconds, Sid drew his bow and, turning sharply, aimed into the darkness just behind us. Mara and I did the same and prepared for a possible attack. However...
Ten men dressed in leather, bronze, and steel armor, judging by their colors, and black cloaks emerged from the darkness-covered forest thicket. The same ones worn by the brothers of the Night's Watch.
Standing slightly ahead of the entire group was an old man. He had a long gray beard, his head was nearly hairless, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles. His clear gray-blue eyes almost shone in the light of the night moon. In addition to the usual Night's Watch garb, his collar and sleeves of his black velvet doublet were trimmed with sable, and a silver eagle held the folds of his cloak together.
It was a good thing I had prepared myself before the journey. If my memory serves me correctly, his appearance and the symbol of the eagle corresponded to what the commander of the Twilight Tower looked like. I believe his name was Denis Mallister, a member of House Mallister in the Riverlands. And their crest was a silver eagle on a purple field.
- Calm down, wildlings," the old man began, looking at our group, Sid and Mara to be exact, "If you hand over the young man, you can leave in peace. I don't want to spill blood if it's not necessary.
- Oh? 'What a generous offer,' Mara said in her usual tone, 'But I'll surprise you, old man, he's not a hostage.
- Not a hostage? - Ser Denys raised an eyebrow - What do you mean, wildling?
- Not "wildling," but "free-" Mara wanted to object, but got a sharp look from Sid and was silent.
- It's just as she said," Cid said after a few seconds, his eyes shifting from one Night's Watch brother to the other as he held up his bow, "Ask him yourself.
Ten pairs of eyes were instantly directed at me, as if demanding an answer. Cid and Mara didn't move, but their gaze was running around, looking for ways to get around in case of emergency, while Ser Denys looked at me calmly and waited for an answer.
The rest of the brothers behaved differently than their commander. I could sense their tension and anxiety as none of them bared their swords, most likely on Ser Denis' orders. If a skirmish suddenly broke out, two of them would definitely get wounded, which wasn't a very pleasant prospect.
I took a deep breath and returned Durandal back to its scabbard, then stepped forward with my hands raised.
- Greetings, Ser Denys of House Mallister. I am Jon Snow, bastard of Eddard Stark, the Silent Wolf and ruler of the North. And the girl told the truth, I'm traveling with them willingly, as our paths are currently aligned. - Deciding that the truth would be preferable to a lie, I said.
- Lord Stark's bastard? - Ser Denys said, surprised. "In that case, would it be a problem if I sent a raven to Winterfell to confirm your words, young man?
Inwardly, I raised an eyebrow.
He ignored my last words? That's rather odd. If I were him, I would have immediately inquired about the 'ways' that coincide with Lord North's bastard and the wildlings. He also didn't ask why our path led us here and not to Castle Black.
But I give him credit, he didn't take my word for it, but he didn't brand me a liar on the spot. Besides, the entire conversation, there was nothing but patience and calmness on Ser Denis' face.
- Of course. If that convinces you, I don't see a problem," I nodded, and Mara and Cid slowly lowered their bows, though they didn't put them away completely, "It takes about a day for a raven to travel from Twilight Tower to Winterfell. And since that's the case, how are we going to deal with my group? At the very least we'll have to wait a couple days, maybe more if something unforeseen happens.
- Your group can stay overnight at the Twilight Tower. I will make the arrangements. - Ser Denys replied.
- We wouldn't want to be inconvenienced," I shook my head almost immediately, "We're both well aware of the way wildlings are treated in the Seven Kingdoms. I doubt the brothers of the Night's Watch would see it any differently.
- Hmm..." he mumbled thoughtfully, and after a few moments of thought, he continued, "There's a cave in the rock near the castle. Earlier it was used as a kind of cache with supplies, but now it is empty. You can camp there, and I'll provide you with food and water.
- And you're gonna leave us unattended? Is idiocy in the worshippers' blood? - Mara intervened in the conversation, to which she immediately received a silent reprimand from Sid.
- No, I can't allow that," Ser Denys shook his head, "You'll have a couple of sentries assigned to you. No more, no less. Is that acceptable, young man?
- Yes, but I would like to be present when the letter is written and sent. These are uncertain times, and you never know who you can trust and who you can't.
- Then we have a deal? - He said, and came over to shake my hand.
- We have a deal," I nodded, and then asked the question I wanted to know. "May I ask how you found us? There was no one in the neighborhood.
Sil Denis grinned and, sticking two fingers in his mouth, whistled loudly. A moment later there was a screech in the sky, the sound of flapping wings, and a large, handsome eagle landed on his shoulder, looking at me with arrogance and confidence.
- This is Neal, - Ser Denis introduced him and scratched his wing affectionately - He noticed you on the approach to the forest, and only thanks to him we found out about you.
- I see. Thank you for answering, Ser Denys.
- Don't mention it. Neal is a very proud eagle and needs to be praised from time to time," he smiled, "Anyway, Quoren!
A grim man with shrewd gray eyes, long legs and hands, one of which was missing three fingers, came out to answer his call. His long gray hair was braided and his stiff, flat cheeks were smoothly shaven.
- He will lead your companions to the cave while the letter is being written.
- Quoren Halfhand? - Mara was surprised, and Cid was silent, but it was clear from his face that he knew the man.
- Is he known beyond the Wall? - I asked.
- Uh-huh. You could say he's a highly respected crow. It's not like any of them could fool a couple of chiefs.
- I see," I nodded and turned to Ser Denys. - In that case, I suggest we go. I don't want to inconvenience you any more than I have to
- Of course, please follow me.
A man named Quoren and a couple other Night's Watch brothers, along with Cid and Mara, headed north, while I and the others followed Ser Denys to the Twilight Tower.
Well, it's too bad we didn't manage to get through unnoticed, but it could have been worse, couldn't it?
-0-
Solomon. Braavos.
As I sat in the parlor room of the Red Temple, I thought back to the banquet and looked at the picture painted and presented by the Artist.
Throughout the painting, my gaze mainly focused on the Artist's body and her instrument. As stated earlier, the mana in her awakened magical circuits flowed so easily and smoothly, as if the girl was born to magic.
The mana centered on her hand and then flowed into her fingers, in which the Artist held a special brush. An all-white artistic brush, as if made from the bone of some beast. In addition to that, it had wavy patterns and some symbols on it that I couldn't recognize.
In any case, this brush was a full-fledged Mystic Code. Through it, the mana and colors were transferred to the canvas, and the finished painting clearly radiated magic, just like the paintings in the tavern belonging to the Artist.
It's also worth mentioning that I felt someone's particularly jealous gaze. It was strong enough to override the other emotions the guests were feeling. Unfortunately, I didn't identify who it belonged to, but it was definitely there.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened. It was Lina with her typical cheerful smile that she was holding a sealed letter in her hand.
- Oh? Am I interrupting you, "my king"? - She asked, sitting down opposite me - Admiring your beauty or the work of the famous Artist?
- More of the latter than the former," I answered and looked at the letter, which was not signed in any way - I take it is addressed to me?
- Most likely, - Lina shrugged - And you won't believe how I received it.
- Hmm?
- I was on my way to the market to try that bread you praise. A vendor who matched your description, in addition to the bread itself, discreetly handed over this letter. Without, of course, saying anything about who it was addressed to. After a little thought, I assumed it was for you. And if it isn't, I don't think it would do me any harm.
I nodded briefly and took the letter. Unfolding it, there was only one word inside - "Pearl Coast". If I'm not mistaken, that was the name of the tavern where Velano and I had our first conversation. What also caught my eye was that the ink was soaked in mana. A very familiar mana, definitely belonging to the same girl.
- Lina, do you need me tonight?
- Oh? Is that a suggestion, "my king"? - Lina giggled - I don't mind, but how will the High Priestess of Kinvara react to it? What a heartbreaker you are.
- As I understand, I don't need it. - I sighed tiredly and put the letter in my pocket.
Well, if she's decided to contact me herself, I suppose the meeting could get a little interesting, eh?
-0-
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