Back in Castle Black, Jon was giving orders to the members of the Watch as Gared approached. "Gared."
"What's happening?"
"We're heading north of the Wall, to deliver justice to brothers turned traitor. They're hiding in the woods, at a place called Craster's Keep. I've been looking for volunteers. The cowards murdered Commander Mormont." Jon revealed, furious.
"I'll volunteer to go." Gared said.
"I thank you for that. I need every sword I can get." Jon smiled before looking grim. "But Britt's going too. He took his vows in the sept. He's a brother now." Gared seethed as Jon gave him a look of sympathy. "I understand why you hate him, but bad blood could jeopardize this mission. Too many unknowns out there. I can't have my own men killing each other."
Gared took a breath. Well, what happened out there, would depend on Britt. Gared knew this was bigger than a grudge. "I'm a ranger now. I've left my past behind me. Britt included."
Jon gave Gared an imploring look. "Until you're standing next to him with a sword in your hand. That's the real test. If you do come, I need to know there won't be any trouble. Even if he provokes you. Can I count on you? I need your word, Gared. I'd be taking a chance."
Gared knew the risks. Unless Britt would try to cut his head off, Gared was not going to give two damns about him. "I understand. You won't have any trouble from me."
"I'll hold you to that." Jon seemed unconvinced but was willing to give Gared a chance. "It's a hard road to Craster's. We leave tomorrow at first night." He turned to Finn and Cotter. "Now why don't you go talk to those two? They volunteered to go too, make sure they're ready."
Jon went to give more orders as Gared approached Finn and Cotter.
"Well, what'd Jon Snow say?" Finn asked, folding his arms. "I don't think he likes us much."
"Definitely doesn't like you, Finn." Cotter drawled as Finn glared at him.
"He wants us ready for the march tomorrow." Gared said.
Finn looked enthusiastic about it. "Just give the word. Tired of being under Frostfinger's boot all the time."
"You do know we're heading off to fight a band of murderers, right?" Cotter reminded.
"That's why you bring a ranger." Finn said.
"Point is, he doesn't want any problems with you going to Craster's." Gared said.
Cotter looked sheepish. "Well. There's something you should know then. I, uh… borrowed this from you." He showed in his hand a paper and Gared's eyes widened. The page from Lord Gregor's journal.
"What?" Gared glared.
"I just got curious! I wanted to know why your uncle was here." Cotter said.
Finn shook his head in frustration. "It never ends with you!"
"Didn't mean no harm – honest! I just wanted a quick look! Wasn't stealing." Cotter protested.
Gared ripped the page off Cotter's hand. "You can't keep doing this, Cotter. Next time, ask."
"Well, I did try. And you said he was just visiting." Cotter reminded before looking at Gared curiously. "But I think there's more to it than that. Isn't there? I noticed this part here…" He pointed at the note about North Grove.
Finn snorted. "'North Grove'? That's just some shit story for little kids. A rumor."
"No, it's not." Cotter said.
Finn laughed. "'Course it is. I heard it's a witch's den where they turn children into giants." He turned to Gared. "Gared, you don't actually take it seriously, do you? It's a fairy tale. For idiots. Everyone knows that. Didn't think you were that gullible."
"Lord Forrester knew all about it." Gared said. "He said it's a place of great power. Power that could save my House."
Cotter nodded. "And this says it's somewhere in the north… on the other side of the Wall."
Finn shook his head, looking at Gared and Cotter as if they were both stupid. "And here I thought you might have some brains, Gared." He walked off. "You two deserve each other. Have fun chasing your tails!"
Cotter glared and snorted in satisfaction. "Good. Didn't need him anyway."
"What do you mean?" Gared blinked as he followed Cotter.
Cotter shook his head. "Finn doesn't know about the mammoths, or Whitewalkers, or how to sneak past a giant—"
"What, and you do?" Gared asked, skeptical.
Cotter looked sheepish as he folded his arms. "You know… they're things you hear about. They're rumors is all. I wouldn't know myself. How could I?"
Gared's eyes narrowed. Cotter had already proven to be a poor liar. "Rumors my arse. You're hiding something, Cotter."
"Am not. Just things I hear 'round Castle Black is all. People talk, you know." Cotter said, looking around.
"Not about the North Grove they don't." Gared would know that better than most. He had spent quite a deal to find information about it from the members of the Night's Watch.
"You do." Cotter defended. "Probably heard you talking about it. Or maybe one of the recruits. I don't know. It doesn't matter. It was nothing."
Gared was tempted to have Finn beat the truth out of Cotter. "Don't make me regret lying about the knife, Cotter. Tell me what you know."
"All right, all right." Cotter looked around to be sure no one would eavesdrop or overhear them as he lowered his voice. "I've been on the other side of the Wall, Gared. You see, I… I live there. In the north. I'm part of the free folk. What people around here call 'wildlings.'" Gared sighed and paced around, wiping his face before folding his arms. Suddenly, many things about Cotter were making sense. "I know. I know it's crazy. I… I was with some other free folk, we were looking for weapons south of the Wall. We got caught. So… so I passed myself off as a local and well… they sentenced me here to Castle Black for stealing. I shouldn't be here. This isn't my place. I didn't know what else to do."
Well, this just complicated things for Gared much more as he glared at Cotter as if he was stupid. "Cotter, every blade in Castle Black will slit your throat if they find out. You're their sworn enemy!"
"You don't need to tell me that!" Cotter snapped before calming down. "Are we… We still friends? I know it's a lot to take in."
Gared wasn't so sure anymore. Considering that Cotter had already stolen Finn's knife and gone through Gared's things without his permission… Still… "If you're a wildling, means you know your way around the north of the Wall."
Cotter nodded. "Aye. More than anyone 'round here."
"Could come in handy, then." Gared smirked.
"Cotter! What did I say? That shithouse you fixed is still leaking!" Frostfinger shouted.
"I'll be right there!" Cotter called out before turning to Gared. "I'm going back home, no matter what, Gared. I've heard stories – old tales of a secret forest within a forest. Your lord knew what he was talking about."
"You know where the North Grove is?" Gared asked hopefully.
"No, but I'll help you find it. I'm deserting anyway, heading back home. I can guide you, keep you alive. Stick wit me and I'll show you the way. Plenty of things out there want to kill you." Cotter said.
"I don't understand… Why would you want to help me? The North Grove has nothing to do with you." Gared said.
"I've got my own reasons for going." Cotter revealed.
"Cotter! NOW!" Frostfinger yelled.
"On the way!" Cotter shouted before giving Gared an imploring look. "Please… Don't tell anyone about me. The Watch'd kill me if they found out."
Back beyond the Narrow Sea, Asher, Malcolm and Beskha walked down the camp as Beskha looked disgusted and Malcolm leaned onto Asher.
"Meereen still smells like shit, even outside the walls." Beskha muttered.
"We'll find Croft here, somewhere…" Asher said as Malcolm sat down, panting out. "You alright?"
Malcolm laughed. "Never better. Back under the Mad King, they used to say: "Death by sword was a sweet kiss, but fire would fuck you hard.""
Beskha chuckled. "Funny."
"No… No, not very." Malcolm said.
"I know where Croft's tent is." Beskha said.
"This Croft… how well do you know him?" Malcolm asked.
"Too well." Both Asher and Beskha said in unison.
"I thought you said you were friends?" Malcolm asked, confused.
"Yeah! We are, we are… Great friends!" Asher said.
As they entered the tent, they met a one-eyed man, who glared at Asher in disdain and punched him, knocking him down.
"Asher fucking Forrester." Croft sneered. "Son of a poxy whore! You have some balls walking into my tent, after all these years, with that mummer monkey's grin on your face."
"Well, that went well." Malcolm muttered before turning to Beskha. "Great friends, indeed."
Asher rubbed his jaw. "You get it out of your system?"
"Not by half." Croft said as he turned his back on him. "You never understood consequences, Asher. One stupid mistake cost me an eye. But, you never learn. You figured you'd steal from me and I'd just forgive you? Not a fucking chance." Croft's men pinned Asher to a pole. "So, how are you going to pay me back?" Asher tried to free himself as Croft's men held him by his arm, while another man handed Croft a knife. "Your eye? Your hand? Or how about your tongue?"
"Croft, no!" Beskha protested.
"Be reasonable!" Malcolm pleaded.
"I am reasonable! I'm letting him fucking choose." Croft shouted.
"My hair could use a trim. Take some off the top, would you?" Asher joked.
Croft glared. "Do not fucking test me."
"Croft, I deserve your anger as much as Asher." Beskha pleaded.
Croft snorted. "Don't worry, Beskha… You're next." He neared the knife to Asher. "Now choose – or I slice off your balls, Asher. A man betrays my trust. There's a price to pay for it."
"Hey, hey, hey, stop!" Beskha called out.
"Stop this, let him go!" Malcolm begged.
"Fuck you, Croft!" Asher snarled, having enough of it as he tried to struggle out but his captors were too strong.
"Have it your way. You didn't need your testicles anyway." Croft pulled his knife as Beskha, Malcolm and Asher were trying to struggle out of the grip of their captors… only for Croft to jam the blade to the pole behind Asher as he suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh, that was bloody beautiful! Fucking Asher! You were pale as a snow bear's ass!"
Asher laughed as Croft's men let him go. "Are you, are you fucking joking? You bloody bastard!"
Beskha chuckled, equally amused as they let her go. "This is why people steal your shit and take off in the night."
"Come on, you arseholes, have a drink!" Croft offered before turning to his men. "Jodan! The Khaleesi's best wine!"
"Your friend has an… interesting sense of humor." Malcolm said as Croft's men left.
"So, what in seven hells are you two doing on the arse-end of the earth, eh?" Croft asked. "You're a long way from Yunkai."
"We have a proposition for you." Malcolm said.
""We"? You're hardly the usual rabble these two travel with." Croft said, amused.
"He's Asher's family." Beskha explained.
Croft chuckled, amused as he eyed Asher and Malcolm. "That I would not have guessed."
"Your sword was always the quickest, Croft. I need you and your men to fight me in Westeros." Asher said.
"We need your Hellhounds. A hundred good men." Beskha explained.
Croft shook his head, amused, folding his arms. "And why in a harpy's tit would I ever go back to Westeros? I've got it good right here. Her grace pays good coin. I've got wine and women. I've got my own tent."
"My House is rich, Croft. When this war is over, I'll pay you. More gold than you've ever seen." Asher said.
Croft laughed even louder than before. ""Lord" Asher! A fucking highborn thief? Not a chance in seven hells would I believe a promise from you."
"Now, just a minute, he speaks the truth!" Malcolm said.
Croft calmed down before looking saddened. "Aye, well, it's not up to me. The Second Sons are sworn to Daenerys Targaryen. I've laid my sword at her feet. For now."
"Perhaps we could talk to her…" Malcolm suggested.
Croft shook his head, folding his arms. "She's a little busy right now commanding a fucking siege. Her enemies are nailing children up on posts for a hundred miles. And her bloody dragon's gone missing."
Asher laughed. "But I know where to find her dragon."
"Ha! Un-fucking-likely." Croft said, skeptical. "You expect me to believe you've just happen to have seen the one fucking dragon loose in the world?"
"Black scales all over, with a red frill running down his back." Asher described.
"That doesn't prove anything." Croft shook his head. "Enough of this nonsense. We're done here, Asher. You two back in my life… Spinning your tales again. This is all I need! Go on then, show me your fucking proof. And piss stains down your pants isn't going to cut it. The LAST thing I'm about to do is bring this stinking bastard."
"I've got proof, you old fuck." Asher reached for his pocket, pulling out a tooth. "Tell me what this is, if not a bloody dragon tooth?"
Croft sighed, shaking his head. That was Asher's proof? "I wouldn't know a dragon tooth from a basilisk's dick."
"Croft. I've seen her dragon." Asher insisted.
Croft sighed again. "Oh, bugger me with a bloody spear. If you're lying about this, it'll cost more than your balls."
"Fair enough." Asher shrugged.
Croft walked out of the tent. "Come on, you son of a bitch. The beast's name is Drogon. She'll want to hear about him right way." He gave Asher a glare. "And don't think you're going to charm her with that fucking Asher grin."
Charm her? Asher smiled in amusement. Well, this could be fun. But as Beskha and Malcolm saw the grin on Asher's face, they shook their heads, suspecting what was going to happen next. Hopefully, Asher's antics wouldn't get them all killed again.