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Chap 14
Jon finished nailing the final board onto the wall of the barracks before setting down his tools and going to the main hall for supper.
It had been nothing but long days and hard work since he and the men sent to Hoarfrost Hill arrived. They had spent their time continuously repairing the buildings and clearing the tunnel that lead north of the wall. Thus far they had repaired a majority of the buildings to a livable condition, clear more than half the tunnel and fix several of the wall's emplacements.
He had arrived with 300 other members of the night's watch under the command of the newly appointed commander of Hoarfrost Hill, Ser Endrew Tarth. The others were a mix of experienced and newly sworn brothers, the former training the latter daily to ensure they were prepared to face wildlings and to survive the cold.
He arrived at the main hall and sat down at the table with Grenn and Edd after getting his food.
"The last of the barracks are finally repaired, should make the nights a little better for everyone now that we don't need to pile into just one building."
"Thank the gods." said Edd, "I don't think I could take another night of Rol's snoring."
"Same here," chimed in Grenn, "He makes more noise than a anvil falling down stone stairs!"
Jon smirked at their responses "I won't disagree with you on that. Did the Commander say anything about what he wants to work on next?"
Grenn shook his head "Not yet, but I reckon he will probably have us work on the fortifications down here or the ramparts on the wall."
"Fook that, I'd rather work on the tunnel than the wall." Edd interjected "at least you don't have to deal with the wind down there. Willing to wager my ale rations against yours we'll end up working on the wall."
"Why do you always have to be so pessimistic sod Edd?"
"Experience. And if you think I'm just being pessimistic Grenn, then take the wager."
"Fine, I'll take your wager. Just to prove you wrong."
They shook on it just as commander Tarth entered the hall, shaking the snow from his hair.
He took his food before seating himself at the head table. After he ate his meal he stood up and addressed the room at large.
"Good work today brothers, as we currently stand the main buildings of the fort are completely repaired and cleaned. Which means we can now focus more on the defenses."
"Wait for it." Muttered Edd
"We will have the first, second and third work parties begin work on the top of the wall, while the fourth and fifth work on the fort's walls. Sixth and seventh parties will continue the work on the tunnel. Understood?"
"Yes commander." Replied the room, Grenn with a grumble as he pushed his ale over to Edd's waiting hand.
"We have also received word from the shadow tower that a ranger returned from beyond the wall with news that a group of wildlings was seen making their way east along the wall. They are anticipated to pass by us in a few week's time. The tunnel is scheduled to be completed by then and, once it is ready, we will make use of it to either track or ambush this party in hopes to find out what has been occurring beyond the wall"
This news was greeted with grim looks on the older brothers who had run ins with the wildlings before.
"We have passed on the news and our intentions to Castle Black so that they can be prepared should we not be able to catch them in time. Are there any questions?"
Hearing none he bid them goodnight and left the hall. His brothers returned to their meals before leaving for their beds.
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Robb Stark looked up at the leaves of the Heart Tree from his seat leaning against the trunk. He had wondered why his father had done this while he was still alive. Now he understood.
It was quiet and the ancient woods gave off a comforting feeling that he didn't get anywhere else and it also gave him a chance to take a break from being the Lord of the North for a moment.
His peace was interrupted when Greywind caught a familiar scent. He had practiced using their bond and now he could feel and sense things through him. So when he heard footsteps approaching he already knew who was.
He looked over and saw the newest member of the Winterfell household approaching.
Wearing dark green robes that had a large hood covering his head and with an owl perched upon his shoulder the Green man of Winterfell entered the glade.
He was of average height, but built like a bear, with a large brown bread and brown hair hidden beneath his hood. His arms and face both bore tattoos of various symbols and animals.
"Good evening Lord Stark."
"Evening Corbec, is something the matter?"
"Unfortunately there is, we have a visitor requesting an audience with you."
"Who are they?" Asked Robb as he pulled himself to his feet.
"The man's name is Ril, he says he has a message from Lord Magnar."
Robb stopped walking and blinked several times in surprise. In his entire life he had never once heard of any of the Houses of Skargos sending men to Winterfell. Ever.
"Did he say anything else."
"No My lord, Maester Luwin requested that I fetch you while he escorted the man to your solar."
"Very well, let's see what he has to say." With that the two of them made their way into the castle.
They entered the solar and found Luwin as well as the Skargos man. He was a short man with long wild hair and a bushy beard, hanging from his nose and ear were what looked to be rings of beaten bronze. His clothing looked to be made entirely from sealskin with bones woven in intermittently. When the man saw Robb he eyed him up and down.
"You are the wolf lord?' asked Ril in a harsh voice
Robb simply nodded and replied "I am"
Ril gave him a quick martial bow then spoke again. "Magnar has sent me. Something is wrong in the land of ever winter."
"Wrong in what way?"
"Old things are stirring. Things thought dead." Ril ran his hand through his hair. "We have traded with the clans of the far north, they are saying they are all moving south. Fleeing south."
"Fleeing? Did they say what from?"
Ril looked uncomfortable as he spoke. "They say they are fleeing the dead."
Luwin looked sceptical at this while Corbec had a hard look manifest on his face.
Robb kept his face neutral as he looked at Ril and asked "They say they are fleeing the dead? And this is why their clan is moving south?"
"No Wolf lord," Ril shook his head as he spoke. "Not one clan all clans. All clans of the ever winter and fleeing south."
That gave Robb pause, if it was all the wildling clans moving south then it not a minor thing. Nor was that something anyone in the North would jest of. Especially the people of Skargos.
"Thank you for delivering the message Ril, you will be housed and feed here to recover from your journey. I will also give you a message in reply for Magnar."
Ril thanked Robb and was lead away by a guard. Once he left Robb turned to his two advisors.
"What do you make of the message?"
Luwin answered first, "I confess scepticism towards the reason for them moving south, however I believe that this matter must investigated"
"I agree with Luwin. This mass migration of the clans cannot be taken lightly. I have no doubt that we can expect raids to rise in numbers in the days to come."
"Maester Luwin, Send a raven to Lady Mormont, Lords Karstark, Umber, the mountain clans and castle Black as well. Let them know that the Wildlings are moving south and they will need to be ready for any raiding parties that may cross the wall."
Luwin bowed to Robb then left.
Once the door closed Robb turned to Corbec.
"Is this what you had hinted at when you first arrived?"
Corbec crossed his arms across his chest before answering.
"I do believe it is, my dream was of a frost crawling southwards that drove all manners of creatures before it. That definitely sounds like what is happening now."
Robb frowned and thought about what this would mean for him. If Corbec was correct about what was coming then he and the North had to prepare. They would need to call upon the south for aid as well, hopefully King Stannis would be willing to believe them.
"Send word to the other green men and women. We have to get the whole North alerted and I feel your companions are best suited for spreading the word about this particular threat."
"I'll go to the godswood and notify them at once. May I take Bran with me?"
"Bran? Why?"
"I have been talking with him recently and he has become quite taken with the idea of connecting with the weirwood. I was hoping to show him how I do it."
Robb saw no harm in it and gave Corbec his leave to do so. Then sat down at his desk and began to write a few letters. He knew that the south wasn't going to rush to the wall if he told them what they anticipated. However, he knew of a few lords that may be able to help him convince the others to at least hear him out.
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"What do you mean they have to vote again?!"
Argilac looked at the young septon who had come to speak with him with incredulity.
"This is the fourth vote they've held to elect a new high septon! You mean to say they are incapable of selecting their new leader?!"
"It's ... complicated my Lord Hand," The young man seemed very nervous as he spoke, "the most devout have tried several times but there is still no majority. The ones who were favoured to be the successors had died due to food poisoning. There isn't anyone with enough reputation to win the election at the current time."
Argilac sighed as he pinched the nose.
"So we can expect the faith to be without a leader for this week and maybe the ones after that?"
"I'm afraid so my Lord, unless someone new enters the election."
"Very well, thank you for telling me this."
Your welcome Lord hand, Seven blessings upon you."
He bowed and left to return to the Sept of Balor.
Argilac wished he could say that the lack of a High Septon wasn't important, but the reality was the position held a lot of influence on most of the continent. The High Septon was able to loan and raise vast sums of money to help the causes they choose. They held sway over most of the small folk due to their religious station. They had the second largest collection of knowledge outside of the citadel and the second largest collection of people capable of reading and writing as well.
They also had the ear to nearly every major lord and lady, due to the practice of lords having a septum or septa in their household. Giving them a network of information from across the kingdoms that the Queen of thorns would be proud of.
So leaving the seat open for the taking was not something he found desirable.
Especially now, as the passing time gave others a chance to bribe and blackmail someone of their choosing into the office. He may have to start looking for a candidate of his own to place in the office. If only to prevent anyone else from doing so.
He walked back to his office and was surprised to see another septon talking amicably with the guard at the door.
"If this is about the vote I have already been informed."
But when the septon turn to face him Argilac stopped in his tracks.
His hair was greyed, his beard had been grown out and his face was tanned with more lines across it, but he still recognized him.
"Hello Argilac, it's been awhile but I'm glad to see you."
Argilac slapped the offered hand to the side and embraced his old friend.
"You old bastard! It's been to long!"
Ray laughed out loud as he replied,
"That it has been, you've been busy of late from what I hear. Lord hand? I guess being a Noble wasn't enough for you?"
"Well you know us highborns, we're never satisfied with what we have. But look at you, was this disguise really necessary to gain an audience with me?"
"It's not a disguise," replied Ray, "I have really became a septon."
"Well fuck me sideways, I never would have guessed that you would become a man of the cloth." He opened the door and lead his old friend into his solar. Pouring them each a glass of wine before sitting down with him.
"When did you decide to make such a change? Last time we met was after the battle of Fair isle and you were still wielding that spear of yours then."
"Aye, it was the last time we spoke. After Fair Isle I went to Great Oak and we took the island as you know. While on there I lost all my comrades when we stormed some no name hold. After that, I felt tired, tired of the killing, tired of burying those I trusted, tired of war.
I decided I wanted to do some good instead, I wandered the Riverlands for a few months till I met a wandering septa and she taught me about faith. The true faith, not the crap those posh lards spout while trying to fill their own pockets with money meant for the poor.
The faith that preached helping others for nothing, that encouraged simple lives free of greed, gluttony and indulgent behavior.
We had become good friends and I made sure to teach her how to defend herself as much as she taught me how to serve others.
Because in reality even the most kind hearted are not shown mercy at the hands of brigands.
After nearly two years of following her around she decided it was time for me to go my own way.
So she gave me a book of the teachings, I dawned the robes, then started wandering from village to village throughout the south. Helping where I could, preaching to those who asked me for advice on the faith.
I'm probably not the most well versed but I like to feel I have done a good job steering the people right."
"Sound like you are content with your current life, I'm happy for you."
"Thank you, but unfortunately I didn't come here with the sole purpose of getting reacquainted. I was hoping to ask you for a favor."
"Of course, I'll help any way I can."
Ray set his cup down "I need your help in raising funds for rebuilding septs in the Riverlands. The nobles are rightly using their money for crops and rebuilding homes. So the septs are being neglected to the bottom of the list, and for small communities it is an important building. They serve as market centers, hold meetings, trials, feasts for celebrations. I could go on but I think you understand my point."
Argilac nodded, "I do, so you looking for iron, lumber, stone, craftsmen and smiths to help build them?"
"No we have the craftsmen and smiths already in the villages. I've also secured the lumber from the local lords, so all I need is the money for the iron."
Agrilac raised an eyebrow "You've been busy with this campaign of yours, the iron is for the nails and tools yes?"
"Precisely, lumber is easy to gather, but iron is obviously something no one wants to hand over for free. And without it we can hardly get started on the building efforts."
Argilac thought over his friends proposal and a idea came to him. A odd one, but one that could work out well if it came to fruition.
"Well we have amour and weapons confiscated from the Lannisters we can give you to offset the costs of buying iron. Then you could use any surplus to spend how you see fit. However,"he added, with a raised finger,
"I need your help with a matter concerning the faith, you are aware that the most devout have failed to select a new high septon?"
"Oh yes, the news is spreading up and down the roads with some impressive speed."
"Well I need help in trying to figure out how to get the process moving along."
Ray lowered his goblet with a suspicious look in his eyes.
"And how would I do that?"
"By going to the Sept of Bealor and doing what you do best, talk to them. Learn what they are split over and more importantly how to get them to work together."
He could see Ray think it over a moment before shrugging.
"I'm not sure what help it will do, but I will gladly go first thing in the morning."
Agrilac thanked him and the two sat reminiscing for the next two hours before McShane left to a spare bed to sleep.
After he left he Argilac sat down and prepared a half dozen letters for lord Roger's to deliver as discreetly as possible. Then sat sipping his wine contemplating how else to move his plan along.
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Two weeks, it only took two weeks for it all to come together.
Two weeks and he was watching his old friend swear the vows of the high septon. It was easier to achieve than he had anticipated. The biggest obstacle to achieving his goal was Ray, who felt that he could do more good wandering the countryside than in Kingslanding.
Fortunately luck was on Argilac's side.
It turned out that Ray's old mentor was no other than Andraste. Who had be elated at the thought of her friend taking the position and proceeded to hound him for two days till he gave in and accepted the nomination.
He had been shocked at the fact he won with nearly 9/10ths of the votes, but he set his shoulders and bore it with grace.
He wore the diamond tiara for a single day then the next day proceeded to break it apart, sold the diamonds and used the profits to fund the rebuilding of the destroyed septs and opened up a several bakeries for the poor in flea's bottom.
He also sold the silk wardrobe of his predecessor and wore a simple robe with the seven pointed star stitched on the chest with a cord of rope for a belt. The meals at the Sept of Bealor were no longer feasts, but stews and soups, the same that they served the homeless and the poor.
Needless to say, not all were happy with the changes the faith had under went. There were some nobles who had grown accustomed to a high septon acting at the capacity of a money lender that were shocked to find they were being refused loans. Despite their usual offerings to provide wine caskets and whores.
They also found out that High Septon Ray was not was not made of clay to be molded to best fit the noble's needs. He had a will of steel and already barred a Hightower cousin, a knight sworn to Grafton, four merchants and one knight sworn to House Rykker from the Sept of Bealor when they hinted that their house would be happy to make generous donations for the right favor
He would regularly visited flea bottom as well as the other parts of the city, shaking hands, blessing children. Twice a week he would serve soup to the poor and homeless children of the city. Making him one of the most popular figures in the Crownlands.
Argilac felt that this was the best scenario he could have hoped for, Ray not only could do the good he wanted to and help thousands of people. He also removed the faith as a competitor in the game. Something Argilac was immensely grateful for. Especially after he received Robb Stark's letter.
He had written to him informing him of a mass wildling migration south thought to be occurring beyond the wall. Stating he intended to investigate the situation and would inform them of any discoveries.
A mass wildling migration? He had never heard of such a thing. Granted, the most he heard about wildlings was that they lived north of the wall.
He had never really considered them to be a threat beyond minor raids. So for the Warden of the North to send a raven to him regarding their movements, Stark must consider it a serious threat.
He wasn't sure how they could, the Night's watch had the largest fortification in the world to hold them back. It may be possible for a few to scale it, or use boats to go around it. But the Northerners would be able to deal with them as they would the usual bandits.
Argilac thought it over and decided he was missing something, Robb Stark had marched and army south of the neck despite never experiencing a war. Delivered two brutal defeats against the Lannisters then sacked a portion of the Westerlands, to top it off he nearly surrounded Tywin Lannister in a ambush orchestrated on a grand scale before march through the Riverlands to aid in the capture of Kingslanding.
The new lord of Winterfell was clearly intelligent and knew how to wage war, so why would he consider a rabble of wildlings a threat worth notifying him.
Well he won't figure it out by looking at a letter and he couldn't just up and leave at a drop of a quill. Perhaps sending someone to go north and ask Stark was the best option. Now he just needed to figure out who to send. A Seaworth would be his first choice, but he knew that Davos Seaworth was busy with the fleet, while his sons had become increasingly involved in the shipyards Stannis bad been developing south of the city. So he would need to look elsewhere.
Argilac was thinking it over has he made his way through the halls of the Red Keep when the sound of steel on steel piqued his interest and he followed the sound to a courtyard where he found the source.
Arya Stark was standing in courtyard with her slim sword on one side while Brianne of Tarth stood on the other with her sword. Princess Shireen and septa Andraste were seated nearby with Ser Royce standing behind their bench. The sixth person there was a Bravoosi named Leonardo Montenegro. He had been part of the group that had come to collect the remains of Arya's previous instructor as well as his sword to be returned to Bravos. He had decided to stay and help instruct Arya when he had watched a sparing session between her and Brianne. Stating that she needed help learning to use her sword properly, which Brianne agreed with since she was better versed with a long sword than a rapier.
Between the advice and instruction from the two of them, as well as Arya's enthusiasm and determination, she had already made remarkable strides. She could already best or match all the squires in the Red Keep.
He watched the sparing session wind to a close, with Arya leaving alongside Shireen and Andraste.
Montenegro left leaving Brianne alone as she sat on a bench to clean her sword. Argilac walked down and called a greeting to her that she returned.
"Lady Brianne, how was Arya today?"
"She is progressing at her usual speed, I have no doubt she will only improve with time."
"That is good to hear, do you think she would be able to keep her improvement at the same speed with only one instructor?"
Brianne halted her cleaning and stood to look at him with an inquisitive face.
"She would be, but why would she only have one instructor?"
"Whether or not she has one instructor depends on if you are willing to accept a task for me."
She stood a little straighter, "What would you ask of me my lord?"
"I need someone to go meet with Lord Stark and investigate a matter that seems to be brewing north of the wall."
"I will gladly be of service my Lord. When do you want me to leave? "
"I can get you passage on one of the ships destined to White Harbor in roughly 6 days"
"I will make ready to leave at once and find out all that I can my Lord hand.
"Thank you Lady Brianne, I appreciate you doing this for me. Come to my solar tomorrow and I'll give you the details."
She bowed and left to make her preparations.
Argilac then left to inform his nephew of the content of the letter.
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