Hardhome
Harbor
1st moon
258 A.C.
Haval
'Hardhome is changing fast' Haval the Shipbuilder thought to himself as he was sailing back towards the Harbor of Hardhome.
He was making his way back after a day of fishing with his former aprentices.
'Ragnar really wasn't japing when he said the easterners knew how to build' Haval thought to himself.
The proof was right in front of him.
The Easterners had managed to build a fortified harbor in six moons.
Haval could honestly say that such a feat was beyond him.
They had managed to put two massive stone towers on each of the peninsula that hugged the bay of Hardhome.
These towers were garrisoned by the Watchmen and served as an excellent spot for Grinvild's lot to use their magic longbows and greatbows on any ship foolish enough to approach Hardhome with less than pure intentions.
Especially since the Watchmen were more deadly than ever.
Ragnar trained more of the lot when he came back from Braavos.
The Watchmen now numbered exactly at 300 men and women.
Ragnar refused to train more of them and had been waving off the ones that were trying to join after he reached his goal.
Each tower had a secondary purpose as a lighthouse.
It was a very creative solution to a problem that plagued his sailors before. The sailors of Hardhome could now find their way home, even in the night.
And in between these lighthouses was a barrier. A crude rock wall that stood no taller than a man, above the water. They would not keep an army out but that's not what they were meant to do.
They would stall a navy long enough for the Watchmen to pick them off.
There was only one harbor entrance within the wall which served as the exit as well. No more than two war galleys could fit in the opening side-by-side. The entrance was also dead in the center of the wall between the two towers. The perfect position for the Watchmen should they feel the need to halt passing ships wishing to enter the city. Should the ships refuse to conduct themselves within the law of Hardhome, they would find themselves between the two towers and multiple magic greatbows.
And to top it all off, Hardhome's wooden walls now extended towards these towers, meaning the entirety of Hardhome was now protected.
Haval doubted anyone would be able to pass the walls of Hardhome at this point.
But Ragnar believed differently.
'Though I doubt Ragnar would be satisfied with Hardhome's security, even when he eventually managed to raise a stone wall around Hardhome' the man cynically thougth.
The harbor had taken all of Ragnar's attention once he returned. He and the easterners had only managed to complete it a short while ago.
And powerful Ragnar may be but building walls on his own seemed to be something still outside his abilities.
Although the rocks that Ragnar summoned from nothing, served as the building material, it was the easterners who used it to make the crude wall where Ragnar could only throw the rocks.
Those same walls made quite a foreboding sight when entering port.
And Hardhome's lighthouses were quite unique as well.
Although that was more because of Ragnar's magic in Haval's opinion than any knowledge gained from the easterners.
No doubt the towers were proof of the impressive architecture these easterners were capable of, but no matter how impressive, the true beauty of the towers lay in the beautiful flames that lit the night sky.
These flames originated from the lighthouse.
The purple flames that Ragnar called the flames of St. Trina were truly the most beautiful sight Haval had seen in his long life.
But they were not only beautiful.
They were deceptively deadly.
Any ship that thought they were just for show, would be in for a quite the shock once they saw the light could be weaponized as a curtain of flames by the Watchmen.
Ragnar had once demonstrated to the council just what exactly lay in store for any fool that tried to take the towers or rush the wall in numbering ships.
And it was equal parts terrifying and merciful.
All that awaited those willing to test the towers was just a peaceful slumber as the purple flames spread across your ship.
Haval did not quite know which was worse, drowning in your sleep or burning to death in such a state.
Once again, Haval was quite impressed with the easterners.
They managed to do all this while helping him build Hardhome a proper fleet.
The same fleet Haval was looking at, as he was making port inside the walls of Hardhome.
He was quite proud as he looked out and saw the numerous longships and cogs anchored at port.
'Ragnar did say that one day he would make me build him a fleet' The shipbuilder thought to himself amusedly.
The man then walked from the dock as his sailors unloaded the catch of the day.
And as he walked, he saw a distinctly familiar young man standing in his path seemingly waitinng for Haval.
The shipbuilder wondered what this was about. He had hoped to go home early, he had a spearwive waiting home and the sailor was feeling a bit randy on this day.
"Ragnar's called a council" Steigir replied to the unasked question.
"Are you sure? Did we not have one less than four days ago?" Haval asked the man.
Even knowing that Steigir would not be here without direction from Ragnar, Haval did not know what the cause for Ragnar would be to call two meetings within one week.
Haval was proud to be one of Ragnar's councilmen. And with that post came duties.
The councilmen were the people Ragnar trusted to help him with the ruling of Hardhome. Each had a unique position and role in Hardhome. They served the Magnar and were oath- and dutybound to him.
And one of those duties were that all the councilmen gathered for a meeting once at the end of every seven days.
"I'm sure Haval. Most of the others have gathered" Steigir replied to the shipbuilder. "They're just waiting for you" Steigir said as his words made any hope of going home flee from Haval.
"This isn't going to be a happy meeting, is it?" Haval accidentally asked out loud.
"You're right about that old man" Steigir answered Haval as they made their way from the docks to the Great Hall.
Steigir
It wasn't long before Steigir and Haval made their destination.
Steigir could understand Haval's apprehension as they entered the Hall and passed the main hall and entered the council chamber.
Ragnar was not one to call a council without need.
And Ragnar currently needed their council.
The Magnar sat at the council table as he looked at the map that he had carved into the table.
It was quite the impressive work that Ragnar had commissioned from the eastern artisans.
It was a completely round table carved from Ironwood that showed all the mapped areas north of the wall.
All the way west from the ice rivers of the frozen shore to the shivering sea dotted with islands in the east.
From where the northern frostfangs past Thenn met the great lakes all the way south, passed even the Wall to the northern most lands of the southerners.
Ragnar had told Steigir he got the idea from a southern king and that the Magnar already had the maps to make it a reality, so he simply did.
But from the looks the artisans gave Ragnar, Steigir was unsure if that was all there was to it, rather than just a big map.
Steigir was pulled from his thought as everyone sat at the table and waited for their Magnar to talk. Steigir himself had a seat at the table as Ragnar's personal aide and took a seat, but the lad knew better than to try give his own council at the table without promptimg from one of the other council members.
"I've called this council together to share news gathered in the last few days by our wargs" Ragnar said in a cold tone as he addressed his council seated at the Magnar's table.
Ragnar gave a look at one of the other councilmen who nodded in reply and then addressed the council himself.
"The Bloodhair clan seem to be preparing for war" the councilmen named Joramir broke the news to the other members as almost everyone seated at the table seemed to react at the words just spoken.
"Seem to be?" Ornald asked the warg, clearly wanting the man to clarify his statement.
"Multiple clan members were seen hunting near Storrold's Point" Joramir pointed out.
"And this means war? It seems a tad drastic for a hunting dispute." The only easterner on the council asked confused.
"They were covered in animal blood" Joramir replied to the unasked question of Donello the Builder.
'That explains Ragnar's mood' Thought Steigir to himself 'Idiots'
"Well, well, aren't they brave" Ornald said aloud with a wide smirk that he didn't even bother to hide.
"Brave is not the word I would use here" replies Grinvild seemingly bored of the topic already.
"Foolish seems to me a better one" Haval said as he gave his own opinion.
"I'm still a bit lost here" Donnello said. It was clear to the easterner everyone else seemed to understand something he did not.
"It's a war ritual, Donnello. The bloodhair clan sacrifice the animals roaming the lands of their enemies to the gods in preparation for a battle. They mark themselves in the blood just before an attack" Ragnar said to the easterner.
"How barbaric" the easterner stated.
"You live in a kingdom full of barbarians now, Donnello. Get used to it" Ragnar said to the man.
"Wait till he hears about the ice river cannibals" Grinvild added cheerfully.
"Cannibals..." Steigir heard the man mutter.
"This means we have a moon at most before they march from the Antlers" Ragnar said ignoring the byplay between Donnello and Grinvild. This time it seemed that he was talking to everyone.
"And we'll be waiting for them on the walls" Grinvild stated as she seemed excited at the thought.
"No" Ragnar states causing Grinvild to frown.
"I will face them on my own accord. Not theirs." Answers Ragnar.
"And what have you got in mind, Ragnar?" Ornald asked the Magnar.
"Joramir and the other wargs have been busy since Torvik's men were sighted. We know where they have set camp. And we know their numbers." Ragnar told his council members.
"It seems the Bloodhair clan have not been idle since you have left the Antlers, Ornald" Joramir stated.
"They make camp along the mouth of the Antler River with no less than twenty thousand men and women. Although only two thirds of them seem to be marked with blood. All-in-all I would say a fighting force of almost fourteen thousand." Was the answer Joramir gave when prompted about the numbers.
"Can the walls even repel such a force?" Donnello asked Ragnar.
But it was not him that answered but Grinvild.
"Of course. We would not only repel them, but we would also make them bleed" Grinvild said to the easterner with a smile.
"The walls of Hardhome would hold, but why give them the satisfaction?" Ragnar asked
"The Watchmen cannot leave the city. We would not be able to take the fight to them. This is the order you gave the Watchmen, Ragnar" Grinvild says to their leader as she looked quite put out with the idea of not participating in a battle.
"It is not the Watchmen's job to march to war. It is your duty to protect the city from war" Ragnar stated looking Grinvild in the eyes as he said so.
"Have I not trained, armed and armored over four thousand men and women?" Ragnar asked his council in reply to Grinvild's words.
"Aye" said Ornald.
"Four thousand is not fourteen thousand, Ragnar. They have ten thousand more fighting men than you" Grinvild challenged.
"Do you really believe those numbers are enough to kill me?" Ragnar asked as if the idea of his death was utter madness.
"Had I not known it was your bloodlust compelling you Grinvild, I would find your lack of faith disheartening" Ragnar asked Grinvild with a raised brow.
At which the woman bloody pouted.
"Don't be like that Grinvild, there'll always be another bloodletting for you to join in on" the Magnar told his Head Watchmen.
"Leave this one to me" Ragnar said with a beaming smile aimed towards the mad shieldmaiden.
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