-0-

Naruto

His heart raced in his chest. Thundering thumps that deafened him to the world. A world that was a green blur as Ember darted through the northern Barrowlands. Wicked winds whirred, whipping by, carrying stinging rain in a torrential downpour. There was a storm upon them. There was a storm in his mind.

Three days of hard riding. Two nights of dour dread. Chances were that whatever the bandits had planned, whatever mad machinations, were already in motion. The Lady Dustin was due in her hold yesterday, it was clear now the danger she was in. She was a catalyst in forging his Wolves. She was the first to accept his charge, her nephew and brother in Dom and Roose who rode next to him, bled in his name. Yet, he had failed her.

Even with the dark, desperate grey of the clouds above, Naruto could make out the ominous orange of the setting sun. In the distance, Barrowtown climbed into view as they rode up the hill that led to its northern most gate. Being the second largest town in The North, Barrowton sprawled out in all directions, storied buildings circled behind its walls. They rose in dull brown with shingles of mouldy green, a phalanx guarding the smaller buildings of the interior.

He had sent the contingent of Wolves who had accompanied them to Deepwood Motte off to the waystations in the area to gather men. His intuition told him that there was to be need for them.

As they broke into the town they were met by panic. Men, women, and children darted through the streets. There were screams and shouts as carts were upturned in the market, he could hear the clangs of swords behind the telltale whinnies of northern chargers in the distance.

They were slowed some by the swarming cloud of people but pushed on through. Ember reared and barrelled over a woman when she ran into him yelling for aid. He would have apologised, offered her aid, picked her off the ground, that was his nature, but he was more focussed on what lay ahead.

"Ho there, ho there!" a man on a grey horse rode towards them. He wore the garb of a man-at-arms with the dual rusted long axes of house Dustin blazoned upon his chest. He was bleeding heavily, his left arm hung limps and red ran down from his chest onto the fur of the beast beneath him. "Roose Ryswell?" He asked as recognition dawned in his brown eyes "My Lord, is that you?"

Roose kicked-on his charger and closed the distance between them quickly.

"Alyk?" Roose quizzed "Alyk, what's happened here? My sister, where is she?" He reached out and held the man steady before turning to Naruto "he was among Lord Dustin's men before his passing in the war, he's served my sister since."

"The Lady" Alyk cried out "She sent me to get help. You must save her. They ambushed us on the road from Torrhen Square. We fought them off but more awaited us in the castle. They were here, Roose, waiting. We are betrayed, do not trust anyone. Leave me and be away to my lady!"

Roose eyed at Dom and a grim look took them over. "Quickly then," He commanded and surged his stead on into the throng of people. Naruto, Dom, Gar, and Will were not far behind. In a moment they arrived at the gates of the keep in the middle of Barrowton. It was grey and angular with jutting towers all about its walls. The main keep at its middle was surrounded by a modest courtyard beset with fierce fighting. The town was entirely circular, and all roads led to the castle.

Even at its gated entrance the household guard hacked and slashed away at each other. Some wore the yellow of House Dustin, others the browns and orange stallions of house Ryswell. Even Dom and Roose who spent years with some of these men could not tell them apart in the melee.

"This is madness!" Roose cried.

"I don't see her" Dom followed with a degree of panic in his voice.

What struck Naruto was that it seemed that one group was fighting their way into the castle while the others were fighting their way out. Ladders stood at the walls; four great doors had been driven open as the defenders made a desperate attempt to hold back the waves of attackers. The clash of their swords was deafening, with great heaves the men inside began to force their issue inch by inch. By the time Naruto had arrived he could make out the difference in earnest. In truth he didn't really need to be discerning.

A trio of shaggy men in Dustin colours charged at his horse. He drew Thunder and cut down the first man. Ember kicked out and created a sucking dent in another's chest. The third was felled quickly by Gar's dagger thrown into his neck. It made sense now. The bandits infiltrated the town as household guard when the lady Dustin was away and awaited her return upon which they overwhelmed her guard. They didn't seem successful. Somehow, they had managed to barricade themselves inside the castle. A strange turn. Yet, why were they trying to fight their way out. Wouldn't it be best to secure the castle and await relief? There were about two score bandits outside. He had four men.

"We'll cycle charge along their flank!" He said over the sounds of battle and raced towards the enemy. He and his men formed a line and one after the other they cut across the back line of the attackers. He lanced his sword into a man's shoulder and kept riding. Another lost his head soon. He fell six on his first pass. Roose did the same behind him. After that most of the bandits turned to face them, halting their forward charge and giving the defenders a chance to pour out and get into their lines. Naruto and his Wolves retreated, daring the enemy to give chase and leave their comrades to the mercy of the better trained and equipped men-at-arms. Their numbers meant naught now.

He held Thunder up high and readied for another charge. this time the five of them galloped under the castle walls, breaking the men manning the ladders. Ember bit into the face of a brigand stupid enough to stay his ground. Arrows from Will screamed overhead. He plucked them from their climb, one by one, relieving the guards on the parapets. A man fell bodily from the walls, catching attention. He was twisted and broken with an arrow bursting from his chest.

"Where is my sister!" Roose bellowed up the wall.

"She is taken!" A man roared down. "The servants betrayed us! The southern road, quickly and you will catch them!"

Roose whirled around on his horse and broke into full gallop out of the town. Naruto and the others followed closely. The rain had come now. Heavy and cold. Lightening cracked the sky like a whip and thunder howled in its wake.

-0-

He had changed into his padded leathers some nights ago but even in his ranger's garb he was soaked to the bone in moments. It was as if the sky had poured out an ocean all at once. The dusty road under foot quickly became loose mud that sprayed out under-hoof. He rode Ember for all he had and pulled well ahead of Roose and the others.

This road forked many times further ahead and he did not want to lose their trail to the rain. Ember almost lost footing in the mud as their path wound sharply when they came to the deep gorge that met the southern road and forced it east around the Saltspear. He absently thought of Flints Finger, it was directly across from them on the other side of the inlet.

He saw their lanterns first. The kind one would hang on the corners of carriages to see in the night. Then he made out the rest of them. The carriages pulled by two horses each. Behind and Infront of them were a force horses sat by men in pitch black robes with a pair of goat horns protruding from their heads. Matted fur hung around their collars. Naruto and his few gave chase. Roose roared on next to him. Soon they had covered the ground between them.

The men before them turned and drew gleaming steel. The wolves with him did the same. He felt Thunder's hum in his hand as the torrential rain sizzled against its blade. When Ember rode close one of the men lashed out at the blond. Naruto parried expertly and a short duel began at speed in the rain. An arrow streamed from behind him and lodged itself into the rear of the carriage ahead. A glance backward saw a disappointed Will. The rain and wind made it almost impossible to predict where his arrows would land.

With a frown he slung the bow over his shoulder and reached again for his sword. Roose had engaged the other rider next to the man who he himself clashed with. The road was slim and slippery. On one side a deep ravine and on the other, jagged, rocky hills and thick forest.

Occasionally a heavy branch would crash against the wheelhouses and force the horsed men to duck low soon after. He held Embers leathers tight in his left hand as his right darted about in precise movements trying to find and opening in his opponent's guard. Fair play to the man, he was capable enough with a sword. He definitely had training, mayhaps he was someone of note in a past life.

A heavy blow from Naruto's blade sent shockwaves through the man's arm and he pulled away in pain. Taking that chance the young man cut through the brigand's gut, spilling its contents across the fur the mare beneath him. When he fell with the reigns in has grip his horse pulled up sharply, lost its footing and tumbled head over foot in a crash of mud.

Naruto wanted to ride on, get ahead of the wheelhouses and force a stop. But the road would not permit. It was too tight, too many obstacles. He would have to be canny to work this out.

Roose's sword burst through the back of the other bandit in gory red. The man let out a gargled cry before tumbling off the blade and crumpling on to the floor beneath. It was the four of them now, riding as one in the wake of the giant wheelhouses ahead.

Naruto had an idea, "Gar!" He yelled "take the reins!"

Gar looked at him in confusion which turned to astonishment when the blond suddenly leapt up and stood on Embers saddle. He held his arms out wide for balance. The wind rushed over and around him giving a strange floating feeling.

"You're fucking mad!" Roose screamed out. It was barely heard over the drumming in his chest.

As soon as Ember was close enough Naruto shot across the gap and onto the roof of the trailing wheelhouse and landed with a thud. He could not find purchase however and spilled across it to its edge and but for a grasping hand luckily tangling in some rope he'd have been cast over the side and dashed onto the cliff side.

With a tug, he righted himself and began to scale around the edge of the wheelhouse until he was at its window. The wheels rumbled over the divots and stones on the road sending him jockeying against the slick wood. When he came to the window, he yanked it off its hinges and dived inside as quick as he could. In a flurry he was forced to block a punch to the gut at the cost of sharp set of knuckles to his jaw. He repaid the man with a crunching headbutt to the bridge of his nose then winced when an elbow dug between his ribs.

He jolted backwards to let a punch fly past and into the side of another man's head. The man slumped into the plush cushion unconscious. Naruto took his bearings as he began a grapple with his closest assailant. There were four of them. Black cloaked and rugged. Sitting in between the bandits was a woman, she was covered from head to toe in a black robe. Her hands bound tight with woolly old rope.

"My lady" Naruto yelled out at her as he fended off three men. His sword was sheathed as he didn't not want to risk harming the Lady Dustin. There was a resounding crack when he broke a shoulder from its joint. The man's yell of pain was cut short by an elbow that shattered half his face.

A divot in the road sent the wheelhouse careening off kilter and slammed them all to one side. The Lady let out a yelp as she tumbled from her seat. Naruto found himself pinned against the backdoor by the two remaining men as they clawed and punched at him. They were bigger than him and for all his strength he struggled for leverage. A dagger flashed out and sent fire coursing through his veins when he felt slide against his leathers and part the skin on his lower back.

A yell and an almighty push and they were off him. But only for a moment. They both came charging back. The blond readied, dug his feet and drew up his fists. A melee ensued when they came at him, daggers drawn. He ducked and dodged and parried in the small space he had. Batting away a fist he replied with two quick jabs and an uppercut that lifted the man's head into the shallow roof of the wheelhouse with a crack.

The remaining bandit recovered quickly and attacked again. Flailing wildly, he was unprepared for Naruto's boot as it drove into his groin. The man went cross-eyed for a moment and fell to his knees with a squealing whimper. Naruto grabbed the man's dagger and drove it into his chest. Blood pooled under him and filled the small space with a coppery taste. Catching his breath he then approached the lady Dustin.

"My Lady" He said and reached down to her "Barbery" He knelt "You are safe. It's me, it's.." He pulled the cloak from her head and recoiled in shock when a screeching wretch of a woman lunged at him from the mirage of Lady Dustin. She had blackened teeth and gums that foamed with yellow spittle. Her skin was pale and gaunt.

It was a trick, a trap. He had fallen right into it. Jumping back as quick as he could he tried to find his footing but slipped on the blood behind him. No sooner had he lost his balance was the wretched woman upon him. His back collided with the door once more but this time he went through it.

When he landed half of him was hanging over the back of the wheelhouse while the offer half was straddled by the clawing creature as she readied to bury a knife in his neck. He caught her hand on its way down but was subject to the gritty sting of her nails as they raked down on his face. He was never fond of hitting women, but instinct took over. A short jab to her ribs took the air from her and allowed him to flip her over his head and out of the wheelhouse.

She hit the wet floor with a thud and bounced harshly. Roose's horse caved her head in with a hearty gallop when she spilled under it. As he looked up to see his friends, they crossed a junction in the road where a winding path lead into their road. A troop of bandits came roaring down behind them. They reacted quickly and a melee broke out on horseback. Frantic and viscous, both sides swung at each other, and horse rammed against horse. Wills was pushed to the edge of the cliff and Naruto's heart stopped for a moment, but the redhead used his bow as a bludgeon to unhorse his opponent before righting himself.

Deciding to carry out his own mission, Naruto once again found himself atop the wheelhouse. He scrambled to the front and looked down at the man whipping the two rounseys that dragged them along. He looked panic stricken and ashen. Choosing to let the man be, lest he swerve or stop suddenly and drive his friends off the path behind him Naruto drew up and leapt as high and far as he could.

He felt the rush of air around and under him as he flew like an arrow between the wheelhouses. When he landed, he skid and slipped and rolled across its roof. The rain had made it slick. He concentrated and focused on that special place in his mind. That place where the unexplained happened; the place of visions, flaming swords, and world trees. The place where the fox lived. When he did that, the rain did not matter, his feet planted and stuck.

There was no slipping, no sliding when he walked, he was sure and strong. He allowed a momentary smile. It was becoming easier and easier. He raised an eyebrow when the windows on the side of the carriage opened and so did the back door. A set of burly men climbed atop the wheelhouse ready for battle. They, however, looked unsure. Their feet failed for footing. Heads hung low against the rushing wind and slapping rain. A shaky few steps later and they were in range. He had the advantage so didn't risk rash movements. He waited for them. Now they were close. All three, in a triangle around him. As usual the first strike was aimed at his back. He side stepped into the guard of the man closest. The blade at his back made a wailing screech through the air at his absence. Thunder, however, was gleeful and greedy when it crashed through his opponent's sword and into the top of his head. Naruto yanked his blade away in a bloody a movement before batting away two unsteady swipes. His extra sense went off and he ducked quickly enough to avoid a large over-hanging branch that struck one of the bandits with force enough to send a powder of bloody mist spewing from his head as he went careening away.

The other man was lucky enough to see the branch coming and so he too avoided it. He looked up at Naruto with something akin to fear.

"You don't have to die" Naruto said against the rush of the wind.

"No," The man said. His voice muffled within his hood "but you must, for him, for his Pein"

With that he rushed at Naruto. A deft turn and the blond took the man's head, hood and all. He watched it roll across and off the edge of the wheelhouse. Not thinking too much on the words of a madman the blond grabbed the edge of the carriage and with all his might swung his body down and kicked in the wooden back door. There was a flurry of splinters that hung in the air, frozen in diluted time as Naruto readied for attack. The carriage bobbled under his surprise when none came. It was empty. No swords. No bandits. No Lady Dustin.

He took a step forward and was returned to alertness when the carriage driver opened the small hatch that allowed him access to the interior. A small green vial came rocketing through towards him. Naruto turned and wrapped his heavy cloak about him as the glass made a clang and cracked against him. A vicious smell filled his senses. He unwrapped his cloak and made for the door, but he could not see. His vision filled with black hot pain. He sputtered and coughed and gasped. The air left him in fits and spurts. Heavy liquid caught in his chest and ran down his lips in thick globs. His world felt upside down and particular.

Then there was an odd jerking motion and then he felt like gravity had left him. It came back with a crash of darkness.

-0-

Will

Brave fool. Will thought. Naruto was a foolhardy child. Will had hoped lordship had tempered him some and in a lot of ways it had. But he was prone to moments of mad valour that awed and dismayed in equal measure.

He watched as the blond cambered onto his saddle and jumped to the back of the wheelhouse. Brave fool. Brave courageous fool. Will Garner would do his part. Let Naruto live his hero's tale. Save the princess. I am at your back. With that he rode on, hard in the wake of his friend, his brother. Naruto made quick work of those in his path. It almost caught Will off guard when the blond tumbled out of the back of the wheelhouse, a spectre of a woman astride him. When Roose's horse crushed her under hoof he winced audibly. He never liked seeing women hurt.

A moment later a rush of horsed bandits rode down on them from one of the many paths that bled out onto the main road. The redhead was immediately on the receiving end of a long sword that rang against his own. More and more bandits poured from the inky green of the forest that straddled them against the deep cliff to their right. Fighting broke out all around him. Gar, quick as always, slammed his gelding into a what amounted to a pony and sent its rider sprawling. He looked to Will with something akin to relish behind his eyes before attempting the same again. Roose, with his bastard sword cleaved through a man's leathers and deep into his chest. He was almost pulled form his horse as the man's limp body dragged against his sword when his charger stopped abruptly. Ryswell was quick to recover his balance before riding to his nephew's side to aid his fight.

A man charged at him and rammed his horse against Will's with force enough to send him careening to the right. Slick stones underneath almost cost his mare her footing as one of her shoes skidded over into the nothingness of the deep gorge that bounded them. He yanked her reins to the left and leaned as hard as he could to rebalance her. Luckily, she recovered. His heart thumped and he could not hide his fear. The drop that awaited him was a long one with the freezing sea so far below.

They hacked and slashed at each other for what felt like an eternity. The rain and wind picked up whipping at them, spurring them on. Stinging them into action. Thunder cracked and rolled over them, shaking the fear from his bones. His sword arm was numb. His horse bled freely from an enterprising bandit who thought to cut the beast from under him. He had failed. But only slightly.

The body of a man came flying from above and became pulp as the horses paid him little heed. He had cut down three men. Gar and Roose and Dom had done their duty also. A trail of corpses and horses were strewn in their wake as they raced down towards the King's Road. The Saltspear was coming to an end. Soon the land would level out and he would be able to get ahead of the carriages and force a stop. If Naruto didn't do it before him.

That was when it happened. The great wheelhouse Infront him hit a divot in the road, hard. Its left wheel exploded and sent its bulk into the floor with force enough to kick its rear into flight. The whole thing crumpled in on itself sending knives of wood and timber exploding around them. He took one to the chest. Air left him and a sharp stabbing pain took its place.

He covered his face. Naruto, he thought as his horse bounded over the detritus of the once carriage. He focused on the one remaining. He could just make out the blond from the hole he'd kicked through the back of it. His friend flailed and choked as odd smoke filled the space around him. Will kicked his horse to move faster. But the beast was spent. It bled freely from gashes and wooden splinters. Gar rode ahead of him, but he was too late. In a moment that would live with him forever the carriage jerked right sharply and disappeared over the edge.

-0-

Naruto

The sun was setting when the vision returned to him fully. His lungs still burned, and his throat was aflame. He could only smell…well he didn't know what that smell was. It was akin to blacksmith smoke and the copper iron of blood. He had strength enough to walk now at least. His first few steps were unsure, unsteady but he pressed on.

On either side of him were the curtain walls of the Saltsepar. Towering white cliffs, jagged and sharp in most places but sloping and rolling in others. That's how he survived. Probably. The current carried him to where the sea lapped against the end of the inlet. A small river, The Fever, fed into the sea here. It sloped down gently. Carving a path upwards that he could walk along. He knelt and took in a gulping handful of the fresh, icy water.

A familiar wind slunk over and through him. He sighed.

"What use a King without his crown?" It half asked.

Naruto looked up from the river groggily, "Show me a useful king and I'd give him a crown." He straightened, slow and ponderous "King's and their crowns are the least of my worries".

"True crowns are bounded by blood" The wind whispered all around him.

"Aren't they all?"

"No" The fox replied. Ice in his eyes and fire at his feet. He walked along the blond as he began his way up the river. "A crown of the flesh, Steel and smoke. Is easily given." It paused "You have grown strong ningen"

"Forgive me, I don't feel particularly strong at the moment".

"Not in the way of the body but in mind, in spirit."

"Who are you fox? What are you?"

"I am an echo, a part of a greater whole, long lost, long forgotten.

"Please" The blond almost pleaded "The riddles, I am not a mystic or half learned enough to decipher them".

"Would you ponder the trees of the forest, the waves of the sea, the depth of mountains?"

"No, but they are some who do" Naruto said. "But I have thought on and I think I understand now, you are a spirit, akin to the old gods of the forest".

"Yet older still, ningen."

"You speak in riddles and shadows, help me to understand and I may be of some use".

"I'd have you understand this; Wicked Winter stirs, fire rides upon black wings, and darkness lurks behind the iron tide. The three heads will swallow the seven. The old powers awaken. An age of wonder and terror will soon be upon us. A time of gods and heroes."

As the spirit spoke his senses were assaulted with sights and smells and tastes. Each punctuating its warnings. He saw visions of Snow, felt the heat of green and black and golden fire burn across a dessert sky. Smelled the scent of burning iron, saw a flash of black leather wings. Heard The Silence of a blood red ship on a sea of corpses. Finally, the taste of rich spices sparked across his tongue and filled his nose with the aroma of roses. In the corner of his vision, he saw silver strands of hair caught by the wind. They glistened upon a breeze, woven into a storm of red and black fire.

He snapped away, stumbled, found his footing and took a breath to calm himself. The spirit looked on knowingly as he processed what he had just experienced. It all felt like memories as if he'd seen it all before, yet it was as new a babes first sight.

"And what is my role in this, god or monster?" He rattled out after a moment.

"Your role is yet undefined" was its reply "A future ever changing. But the chains of calamity hang heavy about your throat."

"Calamity for who?" He came to a sudden stop "My friends? Will, Gar?"

"At your best you will save them".

"Or will I be doomed by the attempt" Naruto guessed aloud.

The spirit let out a contemplative "mmph"

"I am not for portents, old one. I carve my path. Destiny has no hold on me. You asked what use a king without his crown, I ask what use a man surrendered to fate?"

"You are an Uzumaki true, ningen. Yours is a lineage old and tested. But your tests are soon upon you. Should you bode well or ill, it will cost you."

"Whatever may come, no matter how daring, I will rise to it, this I swear."

"So be it then. Gird those words to your heart. When next we speak we shall see the limits of your resolve"

"Who are you spirit? Permit me your name".

"Names" it almost queried and tilted its great flamed head as if in thought "What is a name? I am one of none. There are no others to mistake me by" It huffed a blue, orange plume of flame from its snout "What is a name? I have been Kyubi, I have been Bakegitsune, my father named me Kurama. Though, of late I have been named Thunder."

Naruto's eyes widened with realisation.

"Now" it said after a moment "See to your crown" And pointed a look just ahead of the blond.

When Naruto followed its fiery gaze, there laid Thunder. Pristine and glimmering, the blade welcomed him with a hum. The fox had faded away by the time he looked up again. He was now at the apex of the river, where it roared down from the hills of the neck in sparkling foamy white.

A smile graced his features when a familiar scent wafted through the air. A few moments later and Ember was nuzzling at his palm. He raced a hand across his silky fur.

"Missed me, did you?" He asked.

"Yes, we did" Gar said from atop his horse as he rode down towards them.

-0-

They had made good time to the nearest waystation. A mossy tower near enough to the bogs of Moat Calin to be shrouded in its thick pale mist. Ned Stark had gifted them this tower. It had no name, built generations ago during the time after the Targeryan Civil war.

The men stationed here were fresh recruits. A mason in his middle years overseeing eight young men, boys really. The mason had taken this tower as almost a home and made it a matter of pride to make the place liveable again.

They had taken to simply calling him 'Mason', a name he appreciated it seemed. He had assured Naruto that the man he used to be had died the night his young family did. He was simply a wolf now. A collection of hands and feet to be set to any task his lord mater saw fit.

While Naruto did not set him to the repair of the old tower, he had taken to it with some vigour.

But for the middle floors which bunked the men, the rest of the tower had newly fitted doors and windows. The chimneys had been unblocked and allowed for a warm balm to wash over them as they huddled over a table in the main room.

Roose had not sat since he got off his horse. He paced the room with a snarl. His steps clanging on the bare stone beneath him rhythmically. He had left a wave of destruction in his wake. A table was left on its side and its contents spilled about his feet. Roose put his fist through an old wooden panel, he barely registered the blood dripping in audible glops on the musty floor.

The others in the room were silent. Yet their eyes followed his marauding stalk with uneasy attention. Dom rapped his fingers across the table beneath him. Pinkie first and thumb last. Each finger thumping down in turn as if he played the keys of an instrument. His fingers lithe and quick from years on the harp.

Gar rested his chin on his fist while he leant against a support beam with his other arm half crossed under his chest. His jaw clenched and his eyes glided in their sockets, well trained on youngest Lord Ryswell. Gar tapped his jaw with his index finger, a sign of stress that betrayed his pretence at showing calm.

Will stood to Naruto's right, as always, his scraggly beard had grown into a close-cropped mess of fiery orange that covered most of his face. Leaving his pale green eyes in some contrast. He scratched at his beard; it made a scraping sound against his thick bristle that joined the cacophony of sounds around him.

No one spoke, but to his well-tuned senses, the room was deafening. Clang, Clang, clang, thump, thump, thump, tap, tap, tap, scrape, scrape, scrape. Over and over and over and over.

He closed his eyes and grit his teeth.

Clang, clang. Thump, thump. Tap, tap. Scrape, scrape.

He could not think. His sides ached and his shoulder throbbed.

"Enough" He whispered. At least he thought he whispered. The sounds echoed though and made his ears ring.

Clang. Thump. Tap. Scrape.

"Enough!" This time he did not whisper. He words crashed against the room in a wave of stillness that held every man in his place.

Looks of confusion greeted him. Roose was furious.

"Enough?" He asked. His head cocked, he almost looked confused. "My sister is in the hands of a madman, a brigand, and YOU'VE had enough?" He began to close the gap between he and the blond.

"Uncle" Dom pleaded and made a small attempt to get between them. Gar and Will eyed them sharply. Gar began to ghost next to Naruto, slowly.

"Yes" Naruto responded. He straightened and locked eyes with the man. "I have had enough. Enough pacing. Enough Chasing. Enough of this thrice damned game!" His fist rang against the table sending cracks through its frame. Sharp pain ran like lightning from his fist through his shoulder and slammed into his broken ribs. He almost winced but held straight.

"What to do then?" Dom said to the room. He had placed a calming hand on his uncle's shoulder.

"We are played for fools!" Roose raged. "And all you have for me are questions. What worth are wolves when mongrel dogs feast freely." He didn't ask a question.

"We have shielded our people for nigh on a year." Will began before Roose spoke again "And we shall ..."

"Fuck shields! It is a day for swords!" Roose interrupted he was boiling over "I will have my sister, I'll tell you what shall be done, Garner. I shall reap bloody steel through every shit hole that gives them shelter." He turned to Mason "You there, to your rookery. Ready your ravens, I'll have black wings for my black words."

Mason seemed to freeze under the gaze of the assorted nobility. "Wwhat words, my lords?"

"Let it be known; the time for calm is ended!" Roose roared "Ryswell steel has been drawn and by mount and steed on this black day I vow to run the king's road red with the blood of every man, every boy, every wench with a hand in this conspiracy. I will post their entrails as yard markers from their graves to castle black so none may question the guile of The Black Stallion of the Rylls." He finished with glower that shrank Mason to a quiver.

After a moment the man's wits came back to him, and he sped out of the room. Naruto shared a look with Dom who gave him a curt shrug and a raised eyebrow.

"Roose. You're no use to me like this, I will have you calm or not at all." Naruto said and levelled a steady look at his charge. For that is what he was in all this, a subordinate, a lesser in the order of things.

A long moment passed. Neither wavered. Gar twitched audibly as the atmosphere grew thick.

Finally, the youngest Lord Ryswell relented with a deep outbreath when he averted his gaze. That was his way and that was enough for Naruto. He walked over to Will and peered down at the roughly drawn map of the North.

Will took his que "So far we've received reports of a drastic reduction in bandit activity here, here and here" He pointed to three marked circles. They were all along the King's road ascending in a straight line above their current position.

"While it could be a trap; we did pursue the Black Goat's men easterly." Dom said "Which could put them in the Barrowlands"

"So you believe it true then? That they have rallied around this Black Goat, made a King of him, a bandit King?" Will asked.

"A King of shit and piss. Hiding in some old Barrow grave?" Gar replied, "A madman in a crown is still a madman".

"Were it only that simple. Madness is not the absence of reason; it is the inability to separate ones fantasies from reality. Be wary of the reality their fantasies have created, for in it all things are possible. What lengths would a man go to for such a world." Dom said before leaving them in thought.

"It is fitting that they have chosen the old graves then. One more king under the north. We'll bury them and their fantasies also" Gar said eagerly.

Naruto contemplated the implications of that. The Barrowlands were vast. Vast enough to cover most of the centre of the North. From Barrowton to the west, Moat Calin to the south while stretching east to border with the White Knife, and the white walls of the New Castle.

"That's a lot of ground to cover" He voiced his thoughts.

"Mayaps they kept true to the east. They could be in the Hornwood by now if they kept a decent clip." Gar said

"No, I have kept missives with Manderly's and Hornwood's, their lands are well policed. We would have heard news of a buildup of bandits on their borders. I don't think they've crossed the White Knife."

Just then Mason walked in with a rolled-up piece of paper in his hands. It bore the seal of House Glover. No doubt freshly flown in on a raven. Naruto snatched it and broke the seal eagerly.

"And they certainly haven't fled North to towards Winterfell." Dom added.

"That still leaves a frustrating large region." Will said.

"Beyond that, why the reduction in activity, do they fear reprisal?"

"They are rallying for an attack" Roose added.

"On who. Where?" Gar asked.

"From us" Naruto said.

-0-

Black wings for black words indeed Naruto thought. The message from Lord Glover struck a triumphant tone. They had broken the man he had left with them. By what means, he did not care but he did reveal the location of the bandit camp. Or at least for their sake, he hoped he had.

They had naught else to act on. Maybe Robett Glover was right. Maybe they had invited this threat. Their very existence inviting challenge. Well, let them come.

Arranged all about him in two loose rows were his men. The thundering in his chest was dulled by the roaring wind and pounding rain. It was sunrise but you couldn't tell but for the slither of orange light that peaked from the heavy grey clouds. The ground was a muddy mess underfoot, long canyons strewn across it from the many paths carved by his men as they readied for what was to come. He had sent ravens to every waystation, every old tower, abandoned barn that bore the sigil of the Winter Wolf. And they came in their tens and dozens. Tall and proud they came. His men, his beasts of winter trained and readied to retake the North.

In total their number stood at eighty and seven. With more riding to them every day. He felt a tinge of trepidation in pulling in all his men and leaving the people he'd sworn to protect undefended but when would he get another chance to strike at the heart of his enemy.

He'd charged Dom with scouting out the bandits. To ensure this was not some kind rouse or a trap. It was both. They had been set upon nightly in the two days they had been here gathering their forces. What was clear from the scout reports was that there was a large number of men hidden in what appeared to be a giant heavily fortified barrow. A few days ago, it would have been hidden masterfully. Now it's stealth was forgone for defence.

Missives had also been sent to all major lords in the vicinity and to Winterfell. Best they all know what was to come. Men-at-arms had been pledged by the Glovers, Tallharts, Ryswells and Forresters. Lord Flint was riding with a host and even the Manderlys had mustered men along the border of the White Knife to cut off any retreat.

He did not have time await further numbers. Surrounded as they may be, The Black Goat and his bandit army still held the Lady Dustin and spirits only knew how many others. Was she even alive? No, perish the thought. He needed her, she was his only bargaining chip. Mad as he was, even he must be smart enough to have some sort of plan. No one would do what he had done over the past year without an endgame. Then again, who could reason why a mad man does what he does.

The scuttle had begone to die down. Turning from dishevelled shouting to more orderly arrangements. Battle lines had been formed. Finally. It had taken far longer than he had hoped but these were rangers, not soldiers, well they were now. There was a honed streak of individualism in each wolf. Better together but ravenous all the same when alone. He had arrayed two lines.

The ground was too uneven, too soft for a calvary charge. plus, the majority of their horses were shaggy Northern palfreys, more suited to surviving the cold that smashing into enemy lines. The loose smattering of wooden pikes hammered into the ground around the entrance of the barrow also discouraged the use of horses. He stood at the centre of the van; twenty of his most experienced and hardened fighters, flanked on either side by twenty others. Sixty in total with short spears and shields in hand. Behind them, the ever-trusty Will Garner was at the tip of his arrows. He would command twenty archers and act in reserve to plug any gaps that would open in the line when the battle started.

The rain stalled to a drizzle then it was gone. The clouds that had carried it began to move on. In their wake the sun had taken an interest in their little lives and lit up the stage of the upcoming slaughter.

A loud horn blasted far in the distance. One by one they began to trickle out. The stream of dirty men became a river then a flood. Hundreds of them in a deep shaggy blob marched to fill the space in front of his wolves. The horn continued. It played a regal marching tune. Whoever was blowing it had spent some time at court. When the marching tune ended. The Reyne's of Castamere bellowed out. He only recognised the melody because it was sung drunkenly at the docks by the sailors who had visited Lannisport on occasion. A moment passed and after that the crowd of men parted to allow three people to walk to the front.

Two men and a woman. Lady Dustin, he would recognise her from any distance. She had been kept well. A tragedy of a dress was draped about her, black with tattered fur around its high collar. Upon her back was the crude embroidering of a horse. A mare. Even in this situation she held her head high. Across from her was a man clad in black leather armour. A heavy cloak wrapped around him that was covered in curly black fur. Goats fur. On his head was a horned helm with a pair of curving horns atop it.

The second man positioned himself between lady Dustin and the man in black. Another song began form the trumpet. The crowned stag. Naruto knew who the man was now, the Black Goat. And he knew what was happening. He was cautious not to begin a march and create a situation that might cause harm to the lady.

When the crowned stag finished. The second man in his dirty tattered robe began to speak, he was too far to hear but it was obvious, it was wedding rights. He gestured to the goat, then to the mare. And the cloak was removed from Barbery and the goat removed his own cloak and wrapped it about her shoulders. She did not resist. Good, play along my lady, you shall be a widow again soon enough.

A rousing cheer erupted from the bandits and the trumpet blasted out thrice to complete the ceremony. Barbery was grabbed and kissed heartily before she was given to a man who dragged her back through the army and back into the barrow. Thankfully Roose, her brother hadn't been here to witness that. His temper would have caused issue.

Naruto clattered the steel of his Thunder against the iron buckle of his shield. It was a distinct sound.

"My warriors!" He shouted. His voice carrying further that it had any business to "My soldiers! My wolves!" Again, a clanging thud rounded from his shield. "Today a beast gathers before us. It says that there is a new order. That this is its time. A time of madness. That goats now feast upon men! And we are to cower as darkness sweeps over these lands of Winter. I say nay! I say, today the old order rises once again! By cold steel and flaming heart, I say Winter is a time of wolves!"

They clanged their shields like haughty drums of war that shook the ground beneath them. Thump, thump.

"Onwards my wolves of Winter. Onwards to vengeance, onwards to victory!" He bellowed and began the march.

His horn blower let out a furious roar and their shields clanged and clashed with every step. A lock step legion of man -wolves ready deliver cold reprisal upon the up-jump goat lord. He was at their centre. Steely eyed and calm. One step then another. Thunder held fast in hand. The heat emanating from it sending wavy streaks through the air around him. A few steps more and they were before their great enemy. Who had the decency to arrange into a somewhat respectable formation. He thrust sword into the air and his horn blower changed to a quick burst that signalled the battle had begun.

"Loose!" He heard over the clang of his men's shields.

Whistling arrows took the sky in screaming fury over head and swooped down a score at a time into the enemy ranks. Some raised shields, others broke formation. Some cried in agony as arrow heads found their mark.

They retaliated in kind with a slurry of slings and arrows.

"Shield, march!" The blond ordered and as one their blue painted shields were raised. Their marching thrum was replaced by the patter against their shields.

"Loose!" again Will demanded. The assault on his men paused as the bandits braced and cowered away from his own assault. Once more again his wolves volleyed death down upon them before they could even retaliate.

The battle drums against their shields began again. This close he could see the effect it was having on the dirty men across from them. Each clang sent a wave of trembling fear awash over them. Good. He thought. Let them know fear, let them know Naruto Uzuamaki had come and death was ever his companion.

He stopped and his army stopped with him. He raised his sword and willed it to life. "For the North!" A great flame took it and lit up like he held the dawn itself in his hand.

The clash of the small armies was a dull thunderous sound as spears and shields and swords and hammers collided. Two fell quickly before him and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. Cries and screams of pain whirled around him. His line had held. The short spears keeping the bandits at bay. He cut through a shield and deep into the torso of the man who held it. His own shield took clanging from a hammer that rattled his arm. The man readied again but a spear took him in the eye and yanked away to let him fall, dead.

A flock of arrows went over head and into the enemy's rear. A mite close for comfort but Will knew what he was doing.

They were outnumbered more than two to one. It was not wise to overextend themselves. No, this was to be a churn. Superior training and discipline would win the day. Or at the very least keep the enemy engaged long enough for the real plan to work.

-0-

Gar

The final horn had sounded, and their operation began. It was their que. The six of them had skirted around the Barrow to sight a ridge below the crest of the great mound. He had observed men coming and going all day. It was well hidden, but Gar had an instinct for these things. Let Naruto have his sword and his magic, let Will to his arrows and his tactics. Garland 'The Hawk' would keep his instincts.

Did i just name myself? He paused in thought for moment as they edged towards a group of men who looked to be guarding the hidden entrance. It sounded pretentious, even in his own head. Was it pretentious? Well, Roose did, and no one seemed to bat an eye. 'The Black Stallion', he shouted it loud enough for it stick. Still, pretention sat better under a high-born ass. Gar was as baseborn as they came, so yes, it was pretentious. He smiled at that.

Truly, he liked Roose, they had shared many a whore on occasion. The Lord Ryswell luckily lacked the stern conviction of their companions. Dom had his queer tastes but was not fully opposed to the joys found between a comely maidens' legs. Good. A maiden's cunt or a Lordling's wherever. Didn't matter much where he wanted to stick it. Life was too short not to have your cock buried in some orifice or the other. That was Gar's humble opinion on it all anyway.

Shame his friends didn't feel the same way. Both Naruto and Will had held onto their virtue tighter than a septon's asshole. Bah, their loss. More for him, eh!

While his thoughts on the virtues of perversion were a welcome distraction, he was careful not to let his mind wander too far. There was work to be done. They crossed the moss-slick ground at a canter as they silently approached the guards. Roose gave the signal and he, Gar, Dom and two of their four volunteers quickly surrounded the guards and fell upon them with steel in hand. It was a short affair. It was a moment later before they breached into the cavernous entrance to the barrow stronghold. It was dark and eery, a torch lit corridor lead deep into the mound. They grabbed a torch each as they passed them and crept along swiftly.

It was Naruto's idea that they attack from as many avenues as possible. While he and the main force draw the enemy out with the obvious threat, Roose's pack would find their unguarded underbelly. The hope was that the Lady Dustin would be rescued under the distraction as the bandit army was crushed against the sloped mud walls of their barrow. So far so good.

-0-

Naruto

A bastard sword carved through the air and left a shallow cut across his cheek. He had run the man through with steaming Thunder before he felt the blood trickling down to his neck. Add it to the collection, he thought. He was littered with nicks and cuts. His cohort had locked the enemy in place, even outnumbered as they were, superior training and no lack of will had given them a clear advantage. That being said he had seen many fall. He knew their names. He had trained most of them. But now was not the time to mourn. Now was a time to fight.

A parry and a slash and another fell. His shield cracked as an axe broke through it and dug into his forearm. He let out a scream through gritted teeth before he used the sharp edges of the broken shield to gouge out a chunk of the brigand's head.

The wolf next to him stumbled as a spear took him in the leg. Naruto blocked the follow up with his sword and pulled his soldier away and then with a wicked slash he fell two more of the men in front them. Sweat and mud and blood clumped his blond hair into a filthy mess. The smell of battle was like nothing he had encountered before, it was sickly and cruel. It languished in the air, a heavy oppressive thing that weighed on his every nerve. He could hear the screams. Steel on flesh. He heard cries for help, mercy, the names old god's and spirits were heavy upon the tongues of the dying.

He hardened his heart against it all and pressed on. Now was not the time for compassion, now was not the time for humanity. now was the time of the brutal, the wicked, now was the hour of the wolf. Thunder cracked through a sword and then the man holding it. There was no one behind him. A gap had opened in the enemy line. Seeing his opportunity, Naruto pressed on and butchered the men on his right and left to widen the hole he had created. The wolves behind him spotted the opening and flowed through. In that instant the enemy's left flank was swallowed up in a roar of violence and carnage.

The bandits responded with due haste; a reserve force sped towards them, at its head was the familiar figure of a man in a goat's head helm. The Black Goat himself. He would die here. Naruto raced at him. This would end in an instant. Naruto swung, hard. His blade clattered against the Goat's with force enough to send waves of pins and needles racing up to his shoulder. His enemy had a great thick slab of shimmering steel that flashed with purple runeish markings that danced along his slick silver sword. A great numbness followed each clash, which he ignored as he was forced to lean away to avoid the Goat's follow up. He was fast with that blade, unnervingly so.

Three or four dodged strikes later and Naruto returned the assault with intent. He forces collided with the charging enemy around him yet there was still healthy distance between their forces fighting around them and their own duel. Like an arena all to themselves. The man muttered something, but it was lost in the noise of battle. It mattered little though. Naruto was not in the talking mood. He clenched his jaw and rattled Thunder against the brigand's guard. He parried deftly and spun wildly in riposte, the blond danced around him and lashed out twice. The first blow was blocked loosely but the second, a heavy upward swing, sent him tumbling back just barely holding onto his sword.

Naruto pressed at him with short, sharp lunges as he rapped his blade against his enemy's defences. He was careful not to over commit. This close to the Goat his senses screamed at him over the din of battle. It was like when he faced the Wraith in the woods, similar to the mercenary in the rain. There was something more here though, something about this man that lurked beyond the edges of his reason. Something otherworldly.

His strength and speed alone were testaments to his connection to whatever magics ran through the blond's own veins. They exchanged a rapid volley of strikes as their blades shimmered through the air. Thunder trailed a fiery orange and the Goats longsword left ghostly purple lingering behind its every swing. In time Naruto got the man's measure. He was a master at managing distance, his smaller frame and lack of reach meant he had to always keep weary of how much space he had to operate in. He pulled his enemy in close by staying at the edge of his blade and punished him with a stab to the abdomen when he took the bait. It was a superficial wound though as the man stepped back just enough to avoid taking major damage. The smell of burnt flesh was satisfying all the same.

The floor under them was slick with viscera, entrails squelched and squirmed underfoot when he stepped on them. Their muddy content spilt about his boot and sent a foul rush to his senses. In the split second he cast his gaze down a man came flying at him with a yell. Naruto blocked but the man's momentum sent them both stumbling. Naruto tried to raise his guard but found a pair of arms wrapped around him in a vice. For all his strength and abilities, he was still smaller than the vast majority of the men around him. The man tried to squeeze but his grip was easily broken. Naruto's follow up headbutt crushed his nose with a crunch. The blond then ducked on instinct and watched as The Goat's cleaver carved off a chunk of his own man and left a gushing stump where his upper body used to be.

He renewed his assault on Naruto in an instant. The Goat came in high, and Naruto blocked at the last second before stepping in close and slamming his heel into the man's ankle. He stumbled but brought his guard up in time to bat away Naruto's sharp thrust. The second swing however took three fingers from his sword hand. The man let out a grimaced cry and backed away quickly.

Naruto pursued and drove his opponent back into the melee around them. A naked man wielding a mace ran between them. He swung and swung at the blond, creating room enough for the Goat to disappear into the crowd of battle. Naruto roared in frustration and lopped of the man's head with a clean swing of his singing blade.

He caught a glimpse of the craven bandit king as he ducked into the half-crumpled entrance to his hovel kingdom. Bodies piled between them, Naruto regrouped with his men and shouted orders for them to close lines. One final push. And with a shriek of brass the war trumpets sent the reserve, under Young Will Garner they slammed into the enemy half a battlefield away. Naruto felt the shock rave rattle through the battle line pressed against his men.

-0-

Gar

So far so good. They were well into the belly of the beast now. A graveyard of dead bandits lay behind them. This place was a maze of winding, dipping and rising tunnels that funnelled off into dozens of snaking alleyways at every crossroad.

It would be easy to wander off into one of those tunnels to never see the light of day again. The first men liven in these mole holes before the age of heroes and buried their kings in places like this at winters end. It was an old rite, a sacrifice of sorts. To the old god's go the old kings. Their souls to keep, a reward for a survived winter. He had heard it called Winter's due. Now a new winter fell upon the barrow, the winter wolves. And they too would have their due. A bandit king, their soul to keep.

These old tunnels were bolstered with even older wooden beams and supports. Rotted, mouldy wood that had fallen from the walls was piled high along their path. It was obvious that they had excavated the majority of these tunnels to give themselves more space to operate in and possibly more points of exit and entry along the sweeping highlands that circled this place.

They were like the wind, slinking and sleuthing around every corner. Dom fell upon a ratty man with an oily torch in his claw like hand. For all his calmness the young lord Bolton was viscous with a knife. What he lacked in fighting prowess he made up for with precision. The rat man made not a sound when Dom dug his knife into his neck and twisted. He did it at an angle so as to avoid the spray of blood when he yanked out the high-quality steel of the blade.

On to the next. Their plan was to follow the lights. Even these cretins were but men. And all men needed the light. Like any village or town, one would simply follow the roads inwards.

The First Men hid their treasures by virtue of using the snaking nature of these tunnels. These men were different. They had seen cities and towns and some part of them remade this place in their image. Another crossroads. This time the ceiling was grazing against Roose's head. All three roads untravelled were dark as pitch. No lights to guide them. No wayward bandit guarding their escape. Just darkness, they paused a moment. In the dark, even with their torches the darkness seemed to crawl along the walls, closing in on them with sickly, silent intent.

Silence that broke swiftly when a hazy trail of light formed off in distance in front of them. Another quickly formed down the length of one of the other tunnels. They were like fireflies in the distance. Gar could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He barely heard Roose order them to stay alert. An arrow rocketed past him, so close he could feel the wind as it rustled his collar. It buried itself in the neck of one of their volunteers. Roddy his name was.

"Shields!" Roose barked. A series of heavy thuds echoed off the tunnel walls as arrow heads peeked through the wood of his small shield. Another wolf fell behind him with a scream.

The fires grew closer still. Men with torches. hazy in the dark. At least they were close now, closer than most men would feel comfortable enough to knock an arrow. "Now" Roose yelled. They charged. Gar drew his twin blades and whirred into combat. He cut one down, then another by dodging low and slicing his belly open. Entrails spilled in a hot mess across his worn boots.

Bodies piled into the small crossroad. He barely had room to move now. Dom's back was pressed against his, they fell into a well-rehearsed rhythm. He had lost count of the number of skirmishes he had fought alongside these two young lords. In all this chaos he felt a strange sureness. Dom and Roose, Naruto and Will. They would win. It was as simple as that. He loosed one of his short swords into a bandits chest before rolling over his corpse retrieving the blade and slitting another man's throat with it.

There was scream, unlike any another. He knew that scream. Fire, burning. One of his pack had been set ablaze. Maybe a torch, maybe an enterprising bandit, he would never know, but the man went up in a manic pillar of flame that spread wildly as he began to run the length of the tunnel before slamming into a low hanging beam with a crunch. He sprawled on the floor. Dead. In his wake raced orange flames that caught the wooden supports with eager hunger.

Gar's breath hitched. This place was a grave. Fitting.

-000-

A/N

Writers block is bitch. This was intended to be twice as long, but I thought id cut it short just to get it out. So the black goat has made himself known. A deferent kind of enemy than the boys are used to and there will be a cost at the end of all of this. Hopefully I can convey the situation as I see it in my head.

I would put up a spoiler warning but given how crap my updates are I'll just say this; for those wondering this Naruto is not a reincarnation. I touched on this with Naruto's visions/dreams but the shinobi world ended. The long and short of it is, a previous transmigrant of Indra's managed to launch the moon's eye plan and only a small group of shinobi managed to escape. They used space/time ninjutsu to escape to another dimension. They brought chakra in the form of fragments of the tailed beasts, which eventually became magic.

They formed the great empire of the dawn and ruled the world for a time. A collection of Uzumakis, Uchihas, Senjus and assorted clans. Over time they lost their power, and their descendants are substantially weaker. Only a handful of blood lines retain even the most basic of abilities, (wall walking, enhanced strength, magic resistance, etc) even the mystical dojutsu are more for show now as they've lost the majority of their abilities.

There are those however who have plans in place to restore the old powers and become God's once more.