Gavin thought for a moment and said slowly, "Yes, in addition to food, I can also offer you three ships' worth of weapons."
At that moment, a flock of crows flew over Hardhome, circling high in the sky. Gavin felt a strange sensation, as though something was watching him. He turned his gaze to the crows, and a sudden chill ran down his spine. He suspected that the Three-Eyed Crow was observing him. The moment their eyes met, the crows swiftly scattered and flew away.
Gavin turned his attention back to Osha, who stood beside him. They continued to chat, and Gavin learned more about the current state of the wildlings.
At this point, Mance Rayder had not yet proclaimed himself "King Beyond the Wall," but his persuasive speech and leadership skills had already united nearly half of the wildling tribes. However, tribes from the far northern lands near the Land of Eternal Winter were exhibiting strange behavior. Many began migrating south, and Mance Rayder claimed to have discovered evidence of the White Walkers. To the wildlings living in Hardhome, however, this seemed unbelievable. They hadn't seen it with their own eyes, and so they were doubtful of Mance's story.
Speaking of the White Walkers, Osha suddenly asked, "Southerner, do you believe in the White Walkers?"
Gavin felt a weight in his chest. After a moment's pause, he answered, "I believe. And in a year or two, you'll be forced to face them."
Osha's brow furrowed with skepticism. "Why? How can you be so certain?"
Gavin met her gaze with unwavering seriousness. "The White Walkers are real. As the weather grows colder, they will press southward. The wildling tribes in the north will have no choice but to follow. You will be driven further south, and eventually, when the White Walkers reach the Wall, your people will be trapped. You'll be forced into a siege. Most of you will perish in that battle. The rest will be left to die north of the Wall."
Osha stared at him, wide-eyed, disbelief written across her face. "How can you guarantee that what you say is true? Why should I trust a southerner?"
Gavin remained calm and resolute. "You don't need to believe me, Osha. Time will reveal the truth. I offer you a way out. You don't have to wait for the White Walkers to come; you can act now. The wood I want to buy must be treated with anti-corrosion paint, so I've set up a transfer station on Skane Island, not far from here. I will leave ships there. If you find yourself in danger, unable to escape, you and your people can take refuge there on my ships."
Osha eyed him cautiously. "Why would you help us? Free folk don't kneel. Are you trying to sell us as slaves?"
Gavin's lips curled into a small, reassuring smile. "If I wanted you to kneel, I'd bring you to my territory, the Stone Step Islands. As for enslaving you—there is no need for such tricks when my power speaks for itself."
As he finished speaking, Gavin raised his right hand, and a ball of fire—more than a meter in diameter—shot forth from his palm, soaring over the sea. When the flames touched the water, steam erupted in a cloud of mist.
Osha recoiled in shock, drawing her weapon, her expression wary. Gavin lowered his hand, his face impassive, and calmly addressed her once more. "Leaving you to die would only serve to strengthen the White Walkers. I don't want that. I give you a chance—whether you take it is up to you. But when the White Walkers come, I hope you'll remember my offer."
Without waiting for her response, Gavin turned and walked away, leaving Osha standing on the shore, still uncertain and guarded.
On the Belerys, after Gavin had given instructions to several of the captains, he retreated to the cabin. Inside, he found Daenerys, who was playfully teasing Viserion. Gavin smiled and joined in, his thoughts momentarily diverted from the heavy matters at hand.
Daenerys ran her fingers along Viserion's scales, and a nostalgic expression crossed her face. "When I was a child, I always listened to Viserys tell me about the magic of dragons. Gavin, how long do you think it will take for Syndor to grow to the size of Blazing Shadow?"
Gavin fell silent for a moment, pondering the question. He had speculated on Syndor's age many times, though its true age remained a mystery. The dragon had been deprived of food in the dragon lair of Valyria, and malnutrition had stunted its growth. It was a miracle Syndor had survived.
Over the past two months since Syndor's upgrade, it had grown rapidly, now reaching approximately 26 meters in height. However, it had outgrown the ship, and Gavin could only keep it aboard in certain conditions during long voyages.
"It will likely take at least ten years," Gavin mused.
The stone tablet from the dragon lair contained records of the Belerys family's history and the techniques used to train dragons. But much of the knowledge had been lost to time. The Targaryens, on the other hand, had spent over a century studying and nurturing dragons, resulting in a more substantial body of knowledge. Still, Daenerys was unaware of much of this, as her brother Viserys had never shared it with her.
Gavin suddenly recalled someone: Aemon Targaryen. The elderly maester at the Wall, Daenerys's great-uncle, might hold answers to many of her questions. The Black Castle was not far from their current location.
He turned to Daenerys, his expression thoughtful. "Do you know your great-uncle Aemon Targaryen?"
Daenerys looked puzzled at first, then Gavin explained.
After hearing his explanation, Daenerys's face lit up with excitement. "Gavin, I want to meet him! He could be the last of my family, the last of my people."
A worried look crossed her face. "But what if seeing him puts him in danger? The usurper will kill him once he learns."
Gavin reached out and gently patted Daenerys's hand, reassuring her. "Don't worry. The usurper won't harm an old man who is nearly a hundred. Besides, we can disguise you as my servant. He won't suspect anything."
Daenerys's eyes brightened. "Really? When can we go?"
Gavin thought for a moment, then nodded. "We should be able to go soon. It will take about ten days to finish things here."