chapter 41
After a hearty debate between the leaders their discussion calms down and they address “What is in it for us, why should we let our people risk their lives to follow you?”
“Putting aside oaths and pledges which I will not there is also the possibility for you to trade with the North”
“Trade? Do you think we have not tried before we have nothing to trade”
“You have something, is that not dragon glass I see on a lot of the weapons here, is there a mine?”
“Dragon glass, you think we're stupid, are you making fun of us? I know the North puts no value on dragon glass”
“Things are changing Winter is Coming, you send wagons of dragon glass to the Wall or Winterfell and I will send grain or even livestock to Skagos” This makes them talk to each other again.
“Why do you need dragon glass? Unless you believe in what it is meant to be used against but if you believe those things are coming why would you want to fight in the North and not the Wall”
“If the North is divided the North will fall! Whether it be to the wildlings or the Iron Throne, Rebellions or the Others” The mention of the others brings a solemn atmosphere.
“The only way the North survives the winter is if the North is united and it can only be united by Starks so it has been for thousands of years”
“If you complete the trial Magnar will follow you” The jovial giant says
“So will house Crowl my son will lead the warriors” The old man with the long beard says
“If he succeeds House Stane will follow” A Slim man with dead eyes says
“What trial?” Now they want to test me! But I have no choice but to go along for now.
Luckily the trial will not take long as I only need to tame a horse but looking at the beast it will not be so simple.
A Unicorn! A goat Unicorn? What on earth how can a being be so strange yet majestic at the same time but focus on the objective I must get on this beast and tame it to pass the test.
Walking slowly with measured steps over to it. Every day I spend time some on my Warg abilities even though I can not control other animals I have learned to gauge their feelings somewhat and seeing me the Unicorn is standoffish but not afraid or angry so keep looking into its eyes as I walk forward the closer I get the more I get to understand the size of this thing even taller than me standing on its four legs its horn long enough to stack four men on a shishkebab.
Standing face to face I let it smell my hand then touch his mane that is like that of a lion and grab it as leverage to jump on its back then it starts sprinting making me hold on for dear life using all my strength balance and horse lessons to hold on as it sprints up rocks steep hills normal horses would not dare tread on and it keeps going not even slowing down a bit as if it could never put a foot wrong.
After a while, I start taking control of the animal dictating where it should go making our return in front of Magnar who will be leading the Sagosi on as my follower.
“Never has a man ever tamed wild Ari he is a wild spirit only a true warrior could claim him he is yours now” I nod happy with this outcome just one ride and I could tell I would never find a finer steed than this.
“Give me a single female to breed as well I will take them to the ship now let us go time is of the essence”
Now sailing straight from Skagos to Bolton lands with Magnar´s ship leading the way. The Skagosi has 15 long boats surrounding the North pride all filled with warriors they brought about 1500 hundred men making us a force of 2000 thousand strong.
Soon we will descend on one of the traitors.
And using a “trick” the Skagos used when they went on raids we approached land in the dead of night one of the longboats used to sail in front and crash into the rocks to locate land.
So once we heard a crash we immediately set anchor and I took 1500 hundred to make land on Bolton´s land with 50 Unicorn riders.
The other 500 will go to the port at the white harbor and with a signed letter from me to help surround their forces.
While we march in the night we must catch some stragglers and learn more of the situation unfolding in the North.