Chapter 35: Aegon IV
The north was a lot colder than Egg had thought it would be. Though the more he thought about it, the more that made sense. After all it was further north and closer to the caps of ice at the top of the world. The land of the north was rugged, barren and harsh, there were areas where there was plenty, but where they were now, there did not seem to be much. The war itself seemed to be contributing a lot to that, with the northern lords burning down houses, villages and anything else that might aid their enemy. Egg and Ser Duncan had joined the side of Beron Stark, and had joined a company fighting under Lord Tallhart's command.
They were eating food, as Egg listened to one of the sergeants, a man named Dorren speak. "We've got another twenty leagues to march before we actually get toward some form of battle now. I think my lord of Tallhart has grown weary after the last battle."
There had been a fierce battle at the White Knife between Tallhart and Cerwyn Forces on the one hand and Hornwood and Karstark forces on the other. They'd had to retreat, and Egg had witnessed the fighting first hand. Ser Duncan, who was a sub sergeant and reported to Dorren spoke then. "Do you think we will need to engage properly this time?" Ser Duncan had not been happy with the way they'd fought at the White Knife, it had been 'too chaotic' according to him.
Dorren laughed. "Engage properly? I don't know what you consider engagement in the south, but the way we fought on the White Knife is the way you fight in the north. It isn't organised, nor is it a melee either. It is an organised chaos. A mess but one that plays into our strengths."
"And that is right to you? To send the weakest men first?" Ser Duncan asked, Egg knew his master had had a very hard time keeping his mouth shut on that.
"Yes. The weakest men are the ones who would be a burden otherwise. Here they are serving a purpose and ensuring that nothing else goes wrong." Dorren replied briskly. "Why, what would you do?"
Egg wanted to pull on Ser Duncan's sleeve to tell him not to respond, but he couldn't, here he was a squire, not a prince. "I would ensure that there was an equal division of labour. To ensure the weak and the strong fought together, so that the weak had the smarts to know what they were worth." Ser Duncan paused then continued. "There is nothing noble in allowing the weak to think they are sacrificial."
Dorren snorted, but Egg did not hear his response, for another one of the squires-though the northmen did not refer to them as squires- came up to him. "Egg, come on we've got to get some of these shields polished." Egg turned and saw that it was a boy named Benfred, he was a squire for Lord Tallhart's brother. Egg nodded and followed the boy to where the other squires were polishing the shields, they contained various crests and emblems. "Why does your master keep arguing with Dorren?" Benfred asked.
"Because he believes, and I agree with him, that the tactics used here are not right. Why should the weaker soldiers not get the support of the stronger soldiers during the melee?" Egg responded.
Some of the squires exchanged looks, and nobody responded to his question, instead, Benfred said. "We think that there will be another battle, and this time it will be closer to Winterfell." Egg wasn't sure, but Benfred was his uncle's squire and usually knew more about these sorts of things.
"What makes you say so?" Egg asked, not for the first time he wished that he could reveal just who he was, but that would make things even more complicated.
"Well, there have been reports that the scouts have seen Bolton, Hornwood and Karstark forces moving nearer to the northern entrance to Winterfell, and that has gotten all the lords very nervous. They're wanting to do something right now, but Lord Beron remains neutral on the matter." Benfred replied.
"Why?" Egg asked. "Surely he'd want to act right away?" Beron Stark from what he had heard appeared to be a calm and reasonable man, but he also appeared to be very cautious.
"I am not sure. Some think it is because he wants to tempt his uncle out into the field. Others think it is because he is worried that the Company of the Rose might well take the field." Benfred replied.
Egg pursed his lips, then spoke. "Are they really as intimidating as their reputation suggests? They've not been used in a battle whatsoever so far." At least as far as he knew, but there was much he'd not been told.
"My uncle says they are even more intimidating." Benfred responded. "Something to do with their ability in a forced march." Egg wondered at that, then Benfred changed the conversation. "I heard a rumour earlier."
"Oh?" Egg asked interested.
"Yeah, apparently, there's a member of the royal family in the north." Benfred whispered.
Egg felt his heart hammer. "Who?"
"I'm not sure who the member is, but apparently, they are here, overseeing some sort of project for the throne, or they're here to spy on the goings on of the north." Benfred replied.
"Who told you that?" Egg asked, unsure over whether to be worried, or relieved.
"Lord Tallhart." Benfred replied.
Egg almost wanted to curse, but before he could, Ser Duncan found him. "Come on lad, we need to prepare."
"Prepare, Ser?" Egg asked.
"Aye, the horns are about to be sounded." Ser Duncan replied.
Egg got up, said goodbye to Benfred and followed Ser Duncan, as they made their way back to their places, Egg said. "I think they know we're here."
"What do you mean?" Ser Duncan asked.
"Benfred said there's a member of the royal family here." Egg explained. "Heard it from Lord Tallhart."
Ser Duncan looked at him, but could say nothing for the horns of war sounded, they hurried and grabbed their weapons.