A/N: Hope you all are feeling safe and the worst will pass soon. For those who were disappointed at Jon not fighting, I hope this is a good alternative. And don't worry, there will be plenty of other battles for him to fight.
Benjen swung his sword across the belly of a Jogos Nhai just as he tried to make a pass at him on his zorse. The force was so strong that it knocked the large-headed man off of his mount and with a deep cut in his abdomen.
But unlike some of the troops in his brigade, the former First Ranger knew what it was to kill and he had to move on from one Jogos Nhai to the next. Again, he had to appreciate the irony of his current situation. From fighting wildlings to fighting men on black and white horses, both of whom hate southerners, he mused lightly.
The purpose of the flying column was to advance ahead of the main army to scout out enemy presence and disengage when faced with large threats. The column's mixture of light infantry and cavalry allowed them much greater flexibility than most brigades in the army, and from the manuals that he read, the black powder weapons would help them fend off all of the threats from the steppes.
But following Lord Joon's orders and not taking their heavy weapons such as the hwacha with him, they had to rely on the tanegashima and ceramic casings filled with black powder. The hwacha would have been quite useful for them in scattering the large-headed mounted men.
What struck Benjen more was how the Jogos Nhai fought. Usually, they would conduct a skirmish with an imperial patrol and disappear back into the plains, knowing full well that they didn't stand a chance against the organized might of the Yi-Ti armies. However, they were just charging on his brigade in full bands, one hundred at the most, and kept coming. Something's driving them to fight like this. Maybe they really want to avoid the winter, but this is something else.
Knowing that they were not on favorable terrain and it was likely that there were more Jogos Nhai out there, Benjen made the decision to order a fighting withdrawal back to the main camp. Directing the battalion captains to organize their men into squares, with pikes arranged in two rows and the missile troops positioned between them, he also had the cavalry arranged along the flanks. Remembering something that he had learned from his ranging beyond the Wall, he told each of the battalion captains to step back a few paces after they fended off a band of mounted Jogos Nhai.
Seeing the first band of Jogos Nhai emerge, he nodded to Lieutenant Lim, who wiped the sweat from his brow. "At two hundred paces, ready repeating crossbows!" he ordered.
There were fifty men armed with those repeating crossbows in each of the three squares, each carrying ten bolts. A good characteristic of them was that they could let off a constant volley and cause much damage to the enemy quickly. However, their main drawback was that while the bolts could be easily loaded, their fast rate sometimes sacrificed accuracy, which they sorely needed against their adversaries.
The first band of Jogos Nhai entered the effective range of the crossbows, their large bronze swords and spears lowered to strike at their enemies. "Loose!" Lieutenant Lim gave the command.
A score of crossbow bolts flew through the air before striking at the Jogos Nhai, cutting down many and forcing several of their zorses to stop. Seeing how many of their brothers were dying, the first band of Jogos Nhai fell back and galloped back into the plains.
The troops cheered as they saw their adversaries run away, and their spirits rose as they got their first kills after suffering from their previous commander. However, Benjen remained silent, knowing that it was not over. "Lieutenant, begin the withdrawal."
Lim nodded, also knowing that they couldn't stay in the plains indefinitely and away from the main army. Relaying his orders, the infantry took a few paces backwards while keeping their weapons pointed at the opposite ends of the steppes. It might have been a slow process of rejoining Lord Joon's main formations, but Benjen kept saying to himself, "Slow is fast. Fast is slow." If we tried to make a run for it, our rear will be exposed.
Surely enough, another band of Jogos Nhai charged towards them. Crossbow bolts flew through the air and more of the zorse-mounted men became corpses on the ground, allowing them more paces backwards. However, while only one hundred men charged at them, it was continuous and more anxiety spread among the ranks as it seemed to never end. There has to be a larger force out there, Benjen thought, knowing from the wildlings that such people did not stop attack no matter the scale.
"Lieutenant, get a messenger to Lord Joon. Tell him we might need reinforcements and fast," he told Minoru Lim.
"You think something big is coming?"
"You see how only a hundred men are attacking at a time and we pierce their bodies with bolts each time? They're probably waiting for us to use up our bolts before delivering the anvil on us."
"How do you know that, captain?"
"I've seen it happen before, lieutenant, north of the Wall. And it's what I would do if my own troops were outnumbered or outmatched," Benjen observed the situation around him. Trusting his commander's instincts, Lim had one of the cavalryman gallop southwards back to the main camp with all possible haste.
While slowing pacing backwards, Benjen saw that there were no hundred-man bands charging at them, causing him to grip his sword tighter. "Ready the tanegashima and the ceramic casings," he told Lim. "I have a feeling that our bolts will run out."
"If we have to fire those weapons, the enemy will be within reach of our pikes and blades before we get another volley off," Lim pointed out.
"I know, but best we use whatever weapons we've got when the times comes," Benjen replied. Sighing, Lim told the missile troops to ready their black powder weapons, or at least the ones they could hold in their hands.
Suddenly, a piercing blare could be heard throughout the plains, as a horn from a Jogos Nhai blew hard. Glancing at the plains around the brigade, Benjen then heard galloping of hoofs, more than a hundred from what he could make out. Eyes narrowing to get a clearer look into the distance, it soon became wide when he, and his troops could see hundreds of Jogos Nhai charging towards them.
"I count… seven hundred or eight hundred men," Lim estimated while alarmed.
"Me too," Benjen said. "But that's probably the first wave. There's more of them."
Lim controlled his shaky breaths as he unsheathed his dao and the enemy came closer to them.
Coming within two hundred paces, the crossbows released their bolts, felling many more Jogos Nhai but it did nothing to stop their charge. Seeing what was happening, Benjen told Lim, "Have the crossbows release at will and have the other missile troops to ready their arms."
"Yes, Captain," Lim acknowledged before relaying the order. No longer firing in volleys, the repeating crossbows flew through the air at a constant pace while the others steadied their tanegashima. Benjen was nervous at how they would perform in battle, having never actually seen them be fired in anger, but there was no better time than to see those weapons with promise eliminate their foes.
One of the soldiers ran up to Benjen on his horse. "Captain, we're running low on crossbow bolts."
"Prepare to fire the black powder and to engage in close combat," he told him. "This might be a long fight before we get to the main camp."
"Yes, captain."
Eventually, the crossbows stopped releasing bolts, causing the rest of the missile troops to switch to black powder, with the tanegashima readied. Meanwhile, the pikemen prepared to meet the Jogos Nhai.
"Steady!" Benjen ordered as the distance closed between them. "Steady!" he repeated. Once they were within fifty paces of the troops, very close range for them, he yelled, "Fire!"
A cloud of smoke and a storm of flash was unleashed as hundreds of iron balls were hurled from their metal rods and towards their targets. While the maximum effective range for the tanegashima was twice the distance of where they were fired from, Benjen was not going to take chances and brought the enemy close enough so that every iron ball counted.
The result might have been a shroud of smoke clouding his vision, but as it cleared, corpses laid about on the ground. They were strewn about in various positions and not even the zorses were spared, with some having landed atop their riders and crushing them from above. Holes could be seen in the torso, the head, or the limbs of their mounted foes, while a few who managed to survive were crawling away from his troops.
My gods… what did these people create? Benjen thought in wonder as he surveyed the damage.
However, defying all expectations, another horn blasted and more Jogos Nhai came charging towards them. Seeing how long it took to reload, Benjen dismounted his horse and readied to fight alongside the men.
"Captain, you can't risk yourself. You're the commander," Lim also dismounted but to stop him.
"All the more reason why I should. I suggest you get back on your horse or fight alongside us," Benjen told the lieutenant.
Groaning in frustration, Lim stepped to be at Benjen's side. "Oh, what the hell? Might as well."
Benjen nodded, approving his subordinate's decision before yelling to the troops, "Stand your ground!" The officers repeated his orders as the Jogos Nhai came closer. Then, the first were pierced by the pikes and were felled while the rest attempted to flank them, to be countered by the imperial cavalry.
Benjen kept close to the infantry, knowing that he'll be overwhelmed if he fought alone. Most of the enemy charged at them with their spears and large bronze swords, but there was no actual tactical design. They tried to run through the ranks with their zorses, only to be repelled by the pikes and them trying again. Those who were unlucky to be unhorsed, they slashed wildly at the troops. It took two or three to take them down, as the Jogos Nhai possessed considerable strength and a certain kind of persistence that carried them on even though they were outmatched in terms of weaponry.
As for Benjen, he found himself fighting with one of those big-headed men with a large rectangular bronze blade. He swung upwards to Benjen, but he reacted faster and countered with his sword. Seeing that his attack was blocked, the Jogos Nhai spun around to hit him from the other side, but he jumped backwards in time and closed the distance between them, where his sword buried itself in his foe's chest. He pulled it out just in time to see another attack him, this time with a club-like weapon similar to some that he had seen from the wildlings.
Benjen ducked beneath his swing before pushing him backwards onto the ground. Before he could get back up, he took his broadsword and swung across the Jogos Nhai's neck, severing his head. He looked up to see another Jogos Nhai charge at him, with his spear pointed downwards. But Benjen readied himself and looked as if the shaft will run through him. At the last possible moment, he stepped sideways to avoid behind run over by the zorse, grabbed the shaft as it passed, and forced it from the rider's hand as he fell from his mount, to be killed by the other troops waiting for him.
Benjen held his foe's spear in his hand as he saw yet one more Jogos Nhai charge. However, it was too close for him to pierce him with the bronze head, so he used the shaft as a club to force the rider from his zorse and then ran him through while still on the ground.
"Get back!" Benjen was grabbed by Lim as arrows started to pepper the ranks, killing some. Looking at Lim and nodding in thanks, he turned to see that some of the zorse riders had arrived with bows in their hands.
"We can't stay here forever, Captain," Lim reminded him. "We have to continue to withdraw."
"Right," Benjen agreed. "Get the ceramic casings out!"
"Yes, captain!" The missile troops were all armed with at least two. Each ceramic casing was filled with black powder, which was ignited with a fuse that could be lit by fire, and was thrown against the enemy should they come too close for comfort. Let's see how they work.
Benjen was handed one by one of the troops, who then lit the fuse. "Hold steady!" he ordered. As more of the zorse riders came at them, this time with bows and letting loose their arrows on the troops, he waited for them to close the distance, again. "Now!" He threw as hard as he could, as dozens of other casings were hurled at the enemy.
A chain of blasts was seen by the troops as the casings burst and the force of was enough to startle the zorses. Some of the ceramics then buried themselves against the zorse riders, many of which was fatal as they entered vital areas. More smoke filled the field and more corpses were strewn across it.
Benjen prepared for another charge, but to his surprise, the Jogos Nhai finally fell back and rode into the distance of the plains. Seeing the enemy disperse and despite the smoke and the smell of the dead, the troops cheered.
"We need to hurry," Benjen told Lim. "Have the cavalry cover our withdrawal and have the infantry into marching formation. They'll be back."
"Yes, captain," Lim nodded as he sheathed his dao, mounted his horse, and move to let the other battalion captains know their new orders.
As they marched back, he saw that not all had made it out of that little battle alive. Still, it was something given that only moons ago, they were addicted to substances. Hopefully, they continue to perform like this in the battles ahead. This might have been their first success, but they would be wrong to assume that it would continue.
"What are you talking about?" Benjen couldn't understand what he was hearing.
"Your nephew, Captain Stark, is a murderer and a deserter," sneered Feng Jo. "Eight of my troops are dead and he ran off with that Chogo whore and his white beast. I should have known he would show his true colors when he had the chance."
"You don't know that!" he defended Jon.
"Careful with your tone, Captain," General Taruhito warned him. "You are speaking to your superior officer."
"And I am his superior, General Taruhito, as I am yours," Joon reminded him. "But he does have a point, Captain. Be careful how you address your ranking officers."
"Generals," Benjen calmed down. "I am aware of what Jon did, regarding his words on the crossroads. He gave sound tactical advice despite him being green and you all repelled the enemy. Can a turncloak be able to achieve that?"
"How did he know the enemy would strike there?" Adjutant Dae posed. "If anything, he might have known where the enemy was because he was in communication with them via that Chogo bitch he had with him."
Joon sighed in annoyance. "Adjutant, there are many problems with what you're saying and it shows that either you don't remember how long the Chogo and the Jogos Nhai were at war with each other, or you're just looking to point fingers. Whatever the case, do not baseless accusations without proof."
"What more proof do we need, general?" cried out General Jo. "Eight imperial soldiers are dead. If Captain Stark's nephew and his Chogo bitch were innocent, why did they disappear?"
"Probably because those men were Goi, and they would've harmed them anyway," Benjen shot back. "General," he added, but with disdain lining it.
"And why were those men out of position?" Quartermaster Shin asked. This surprised all of them, especially Benjen given their last serious conversation at headquarters. "The crossroads were a long distance away from where they died and very far from the main enemy advance. There was no reason for them to be there, unless they were there to settle scores."
Out of all of the people to side with Benjen, or at least point out the facts, it had to be the quartermaster, who didn't hide his disdain for him, Sam, and Jon for being white devils. At the same time, he was a professional soldier and the officers working under him acknowledged his ability and relative lack of bias. Gods, I hate when this happens, Benjen thought.
"They could've been scouting," Feng Jo offered weakly.
"But why them? From what I got, one of the cavalrymen dead was the same one that the Chogo woman struck three moons ago," Shin said. "In addition, Jon Snow was acting as the scout, so why the redundancy?"
"Oh, so you're siding with the white devils now?" Adjutant Dae scoffed. "Of course you would. Common litter working with white litter. How convenient."
"What did you say?" Shin bit down on his jaw in anger.
"Enough!" Joon stopped them from trading blows and also stopping the discussion before it devolved into more personal attacks. "This bickering is pointless. Our focus remains on the repelling the renegade jhats and recovering the Crown Prince. However, the disappearance of Jon Snow and Chanhee," he made sure to remind them all of the woman's name despite their prejudice against the Chogo. "Is a pressing matter. Whether they killed imperial soldiers in cold blood or had extenuating circumstances will be determined once they return to camp. For now, I shall order the provosts to find them and arrest them both. Should they resist, I'm giving them permission to kill them."
Benjen's eyes widened in shock, while the officers nodded in agreement. Lord Joon then dismissed them back to their brigades and duties. As Benjen exited the tent, head slumped, Joon stopped him. "Captain Stark, a moment if you will."
The officers grumbled at the "white devil" having a personal audience with their commander, but they left the tent without another word.
"You're going to kill them?" Benjen's main concern at that point was his nephew, all that was left of Lyanna.
"Your nephew is making my life very difficult," Joon bluntly told him. "And now, he's being accused of murder and desertion. I don't have to tell you what the consequences are for both."
"General, please," Benjen pleaded him. "You've known Jon for six moons now. He would not do this unless he had good reason to."
"Then why not come back to camp and explain himself? Why run?"
"Given that the dead men are Goi, he must've assumed that you would be forced to kill him, because they were imperial troops. Also, he might have been killed if he did try to return, as there will be plenty of others who want to do him harm because of Chanhee," Benjen supposed.
"Well, he will have plenty of opportunities to defend himself once he surrenders to the provosts."
"Please don't do this," Benjen pressed on.
"There are consequences to every action," Joon replied. "But if you're so sure of your nephew's innocence… go find him."
"General?" Benjen became very baffled.
"Relax," Joon poured him a cup of tea, which Benjen refused. "It's bad manners to refuse one's offering of tea, especially if it came from a lord. Drink it."
Reluctantly, he took the cup and drank it before setting it on Joon's table.
"You're his kin and I understand the need to defend him," Joon said. "I also know what happens if I try to stop kin from protecting other kin, so if you really think that your nephew wouldn't do this without reason, go find him then."
"How, general? I don't know where he is."
"Neither will the provosts. It also doesn't help that my current provost-general was demoted for incompetence in Asabhad but he was able to come here because his father spoke to another man well-connected to court," Joon grunted in disgust while pouring himself a cup.
Benjen became more puzzled. "Wait, if your provost commander is what you say he is, then—"
"The provosts will have much difficulty even in getting started," Joon scoffed.
"Ah," Benjen began to understand. "So, you ordering the provosts to find or kill Jon was merely cover?"
"Can't have my officers be too curious of why you, your nephew, and his friend are at my house in the first place," Joon stated. "Besides, I am aware of what may happen should Daeron die. His dragon might become uncontrollable if he were to pass on and that's an outcome that none of us wish to have."
Benjen nodded, accepting the cold logic of Lord Joon. "So, you're not doing just because you care for Jon's safety? His dragon might burn down Kushiro if she's without a bond companion?"
"Precisely," Joon admitted. "There is value in having a Targaryen under my roof, even though his name means nothing out here, and more so because of his dragon. I've left Sam with specific instructions on how to feed the dragon and I told my lady wife to keep everyone quiet for the time being."
Benjen exhaled, being reminded that their host didn't take them in out of the goodness of his heart. "Any idea on where I can start?"
"If I were them, I'd head towards the Shrinking Sea," Joon pointed on the map. "It's the only place in the plains that is hostile to any horses or zorses due to ot uneven surfaces. I'd make camp there and plan out my next move while relatively safe from any Jogos Nhai and imperial patrols."
"And that's where I'll go," Benjen stood up to leave the tent.
"Make sure to keep your men in the dark," Joon warned him. "They might not be as amenable once they realize that you're going there for family reasons."
"Will do," Benjen acknowledged.
"And understand this. This conversation never happened," Joon told him. "Should you mess up or should the provosts find Daeron before you do, I'll deny all knowledge. Can we agree upon that?"
He bobbed his head. "Yes, general."
"On another note, you've done well, Captain. Your execution of that withdrawal was quite exceptional from what I've heard, and you only sustained some casualties," Joon changed the topics momentarily. "Off you go."
Benjen finally left the tent, but with another purpose in mind. Going back to his brigade's tents, he found Lieutenant Lim making reports in their own command tent. "Ah, Captain Stark."
"How soon can we march?"
Lim became surprised. "So soon, Captain?"
"I've received word that the enemy was striking from the Shivering Sea," Benjen lied. "I ask again. How soon can we march?"
"The infantry need more rest," Lim said. "But… half of the cavalry can be brought up."
"I'll take that and lead them to the Shivering Sea," Benjen chose.
"I'm confused. We just withdrew back to the main camp. Why not let the enemy come here?"
"It's important. General Kitara has tasked me with a special assignment, and I need to move as soon as I can," Benjen partially lied.
"I see," Lim knew that something was going on, but decided not to ask further. "Then I guess I will command until you return." Benjen nodded. "Well, nothing I am not familiar with."
"Good man," Benjen patted his shoulder. "But I promise. I'll be back soon."
"But exercise caution, Captain. It would be a shame if you left after leading us through our first battle," Lim smiled good-naturedly.
"Don't worry. You'll see me soon enough," Benjen grinned back before leaving the tent.
The next morning, Benjen and one thousand cavalry, half of them being armed with ceramic casings and tanegashima strapped to their backs after the missile troops gave it to them, galloped back into the plains. Hang tight, Jon. I'll find you.
Jon scooped up some water from the crystal-clear lake in the Shrinking Sea. He was smart enough not to drink it immediately and took it to the fire, boiling it to kill off any impurities. It was something that Hoon Ti taught him when he recollected his time as an officer in the army, which wasn't exactly surprising to Jon given how much he knew about fighting.
"How long did you serve in the army?" Jon asked.
"Eleven years," Hoon answered. "Before that, I trained for six years at a shrine in the Bone Mountains, the edges directly controlled by the empire. That's where I learned combat arts and studied for the military examinations."
"What did you do in the army?"
Hoon smiled sadly. "I was a spy. I reported to the Quartermaster-General of the Imperial Army in Yin while retaining a commission, allowing me to enter various situations. But I soon realized that I was disposable, as empires and kingdoms use you up and throw you away once they're done. Once I became blind, I was left to beg in the streets until Lord Joon took me to Kushiro."
"And that's why you stuck with him?"
"I don't know how lords are like in Westeros, but even without their own armies to control, lords in this empire are very barbaric no matter how much pride they take in their worldly views and possessions. At least Lord Joon understands that and he doesn't try to hide from it."
Jon crossed his arms. "So the only way to survive in this world is to be willing to step on others and possibly kill those that had done nothing to me?"
Hoon laughed in amusement. "Oh, you still have much to learn. You're a Targaryen, the last dragonlords of Valyria and heir to the Iron Throne through the most senior line. Basically, you come from a line of murderers."
That got his attention. "What did you say?"
"You think your ancestor Aegon the Conqueror forged your iron throne because he asked nicely? No. He conquered Westeros because he could and he had his sister-wives to help him. There was no reason for him to do so, but he did it anyway. I could say more about your family that did commit murder: Daemon Targaryen, your namesake, Maegor, Aegon the Unworthy, Aegon the Unlikely, Jaehaerys, and Baelon. If we're talking about both sides of your family, it's also filled with murderers," Hoon decided to push him.
"Weren't their killings justified?" Jon never questioned about killing, until now.
Hoon scoffed. "You're japing me, right? Your ancestors took the lives of fathers, sons, brothers, nephews, cousins, and much more, leaving their families with much less members. No matter how much justification you can give yourself, you still cannot ignore the fact that someone will cry and their hearts ripping out because of the life you took."
Jon gulped, having never thought of it that way.
"Murder is murder. Unfortunately, that is a fact of life that none of us can avoid. There is no such thing as innocence or justification, because no one can take a life if they really exhibited concern over their well-being," Hoon continued.
"Why are you telling me this?" Jon wanted to know the reason why Hoon was pushing him.
"Because… whether you want to or not, the blood that runs in your veins will make you a target for those that will see you as a threat. The only way to survive is to gain power and strength for yourself, but you will have to commit… actions that would run against your conscience. That's probably what differentiates between the powerful and the powerless, since the latter cannot under any circumstance kill to survive and that is why they will always be where they are," Hoon concluded.
"What about you? You don't have any power," Jon pointed out.
"That's because I know that I won't be able to survive in the long-term if I was among the powerful," Hoon admitted. "But at least this way, I can reflect on the deeper meanings of life and help those who might become victims of those with power. You, on the other hand, will need to do it and that is why I say these things."
"But how could you know if you didn't have any power yourself?"
"Through my time as a spy, I learned what it was to be among those with authority and influence. The ones who survive are the ones with no compunction in killing, even those who others see as 'innocent.' If you want to survive as a Prince of House Targaryen, that's what you must do. Be like your ancestors and focus on surviving, as you cannot do anything if you're dead," Hoon finally said.
As Jon watched the water boil, he reflected on the many things that his ancestors, both Targaryen and Stark, did throughout their entire existence. Hoon's words made sense, which only frustrated him because he never had to deal with such matters as a bastard. But as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, people will see him as a threat like Hoon said. And only days ago, he had to kill in order to survive. Before that, he had to kill in order to save Ghost from becoming a fur coat. Sometimes, I wish for when things were simpler, Jon thought wistfully. But will I have it in me the next time I have to kill to survive?
"Jon," he looked up and saw Chanhee and Ghost approaching him. "Getting some water ready?"
"Yes," Jon nodded, scratching Ghost's neck as the direwolf walked up to him. Seeing Chanhee struggle with what looked like a goat carcass, Jon ran up to her and helped set the animal down in front of the fire.
"I trust you know how to dress a fresh kill?" Chanhee asked. Jon nodded before unsheathing his dagger and began cutting open the goat-like carcass, removing its innards and its outer skin to prepare it for cooking.
"How did you find this?" He knew that finding a goat-like creature in the desolation of the plains was incredibly difficult, especially given their competition.
"Took a few hours, from what I could guess," Chanhee answered as she cut away pieces of the flesh to cook over the fire. "Ghost helped. But don't expect to eat this every day."
"Right," Jon moved the innards away from their camp while waving away their rank smell. Seeing Ghost licking his mouth, he cut off a leg and pushed it to the direwolf, who then started devouring his meal.
He took the water off of the fire to allow it to cool while they began roasting their meat. Seeing it cooked, they each gave each other pieces while drinking the same water. It wasn't as succulent as the foods he ate at Winterfell or at Kushiro, but then again, it was their most filling meal since running.
"Chanhee," Jon swallowed a piece of the goat meat before remembering how Chanhee handled herself against the Goi. "Where did you learn how to fight like that?"
She finished her piece while taking another drink of water. "I had an uncle who had survived many encounters with the Jogos Nhai, the Goi, and the imperial army. He had to learn how to fight by himself since his parents, my grandparents, were killed by imperial cavalry. He taught me what I knew and some other things I picked up along the way."
"And that probably was enough to fight off at least four cavalrymen," Jon was still unsure of where she learned to how to fight with such fluidity.
"It's a hard life out here, Jon," Chanhee explained. "I will never be physically strong, but I could at least use the advantages I had in ensuring my own survival. Learning how to fight with weapons was not a choice, but a necessity."
"So what do we do now?" Jon asked her. "We can't just stay here. It's very possible that some others will come here eventually find us."
"I know," Chanhee scratched her head. "Maybe… we can see if there is a way we can go southwards towards my people or maybe to Trader Town. I know someone there who owes me a favor."
"Okay, then let's get to Trader Town," Jon agreed. "Assuming we can get past the imperial garrison there, who might have orders to capture us."
"I have a way to communicate with my friend there," Chanhee continued to eat. "He'll probably sneak us in."
They consume the last of their roasted goat and drank the last of the disinfected water as the winds continued to blow softly around them.
"Hey, Jon," Chanhee turned to him. "I've noticed that you talked a lot with the girls at Kushiro."
Jon laughed. "I'm sorry. How did that enter your mind just now?"
"Just saying," she shrugged. "You being a prince has increased your confidence?"
"I wouldn't say so. I just… have less doubts about who I am now that I know."
"I like it," Chanhee grinned. "A man who's sure of himself can do very much. I've known my share of men who say think they know they are but are actually insecure like little boys."
"Tell me about it," Jon remembered Joffrey.
"And my brother was no different. It's great to finally meet a man who doesn't really need others to tell him who he should be," she continued.
"I don't know about that," Jon partially disagreed. "I still have a lot to learn and I still have a lot of years to go."
"Oh, you don't have confidence?" Chanhee shifted closer to Jon while grasping his arm. "Cause I think that would be more interesting if you did."
Jon's eyes softened at the wild beauty of the plains staring closely into his grey eyes with her brown ones. "It would, wouldn't it?"
Chanhee pulled him into a deep kiss, wrapping her arms around Jon as he wrapped his around her. They both fell to the ground as their lips became sloppier and the heat between them became more intense. However, she opened her eyes, stopped kissing Jon, and sat back up. He remained on the ground, stupefied at why she stopped. "I'm sorry, Jon. I think I rushed it."
"No need to say sorry," Jon sat up with her and pulled her head underneath his. "I understand. You won't be forced into anything and you shouldn't be rushed into this. We'll take it step by step, like I promised."
Chanhee looked up, grateful. "Thank you."
"What's there to thank?" Jon smiled. "But to be honest, you do look very good. But I should always respect others."
She kissed his cheek. "Oh, my. Where have you been all my life?"
"I'm right here," Jon hugged her closer. "I'm right here. Besides, Ghost might've whined if we… went further."
Chanhee then remembered Ghost was next to them and laughed. "Right. Wouldn't want a direwolf seeing us… you know."
Ghost moved to them before laying on both of their legs, as if to prove their point. They both ran their hands along his white fur and continued to watch the wind blow against the tall grasses, enjoying the ocean-like waves that it caused.
Ghost moved through the tall grass, careful not to make any extra noises as he looked out for any threat that could approach his bond companion and his lady one. Even at night, white fur can be seen easily and there was not telling what may come.
Then, the direwolf heard galloping, causing Ghost to lie down. Using his perfect vision, he saw a band of Jogos Nhai run past him as they seemed to move towards the Shrinking Sea. Worried that they might come across Jon and Chanhee, he followed them.
But thankfully, they didn't even come close to their camp and had moved further north, specifically the northern shore of the big lake among the Shrinking Sea. Remembering to keep a low profile, Ghost saw a large camp on the edge of the northern shore, with thousands of Jogos Nhai mulling about on their zorses and with their weapons. There were fires dotting the flat landscape and chatter piercing through the rather calm sky.
What was worse for Ghost was that Jon would not be able to understand what the Jogos Nhai were saying, as he didn't know their tongue. But seeing that he came across a major Jogos Nhai encampment, he decided to investigate further.
Ghost kept to the far edge of the camp, careful not to alert any of their guards. His plan was to survey the camp and see if they were threats. Once he observed them long enough, he would return to Jon and Chanhee and they would figure out what to do next.
Scanning through the various tents for more than a few moments, possibly past the hour of the wolf or whatever time they used in these lands, Ghost spotted something out of the ordinary. From their largest tent, assumedly their command one, came a well-dressed man bound with thick rope, his mouth gagged, and his hair disheveled. His clothes definitely belonged to wealth and power, judging from the black silks, golden threads, and heavy boots.
But what really drew Ghost's attention was what they were calling, something Sumeng Bu. They were jeering him on and pouring whatever they drunk onto his head while humiliating him further by throwing feces at his face and clothes.
Ghost went back to the camp as fast as possible while avoiding detection, reaching there by morning.
Jon woke up from his connection with Ghost, seeing his direwolf in on top of him before rubbing his head.
"Chanhee, we have to go," Jon stood up while he prepared Longclaw and Dark Sister.
"What's going on?" Chanhee became worried.
"I think I found the Crown Prince."
"You did?" She was fully awake.
"He's in a camp, on the northern shore of the big lake. We have to get him," Jon was determined.
"How did you find him?" Chanhee looked to the direwolf before remembering. "Right. But why should we rescue him? He's probably an incompetent bastard. Plus, his father the emperor did nothing for my people while we suffered because of the Goi."
"True," Jon took her word for it. "However, if we get the Prince, then we can go back to Lord Joon with protection. Whatever they might accuse us of will be wiped away once they see the Crown Prince in our possession."
"How do you know that?"
"It's a hunch," Jon honestly wasn't sure if they were going to be protected because of the Prince. But it's a chance we have to take.
Chanhee sighed, obviously not liking that they were risking their lives over a prince who seemed lacking. Seeing her doubt, Jon kissed her and surprising them both. "Do you trust me?"
Chanhee nodded. "But I won't treat him with any respect just because he's a prince."
"Don't worry. You don't have to. Let's just get him and get out," Jon assured her.
Chanhee stood up and tucked her dao on her waist. "Okay. Let's get him."
A/N: Benjen's actions were based on a number of tactical withdrawals that I studied. I hope this is a good substitute for the battle with Jogos Nhai, for which there will be more.
Joon is acting like a logical person, but he also knows something doesn't add up regarding Jon. That's why he sent Benjen to find him himself, since he'll have motivation to find his nephew and discover the truth.
Plus, we have more nuggets of wisdom from Hoon Ti, who is right and wrong. Nevertheless, this will be vital in Jon's development.
As for Jon and Chanhee, they're getting closer, but she still wants to take it slow, which Jon totally respects. And oh boy, they found the Crown Prince thanks to Ghost. Hopefully, Jon's reasoning pulls them through.
On another noted, we will see Meleys in action, so don't worry. And it'll be awesome :)
