Robett
Lord Commander’s tower. That was his place. Well, that was where he did his job. He served Jolly Jack’s meals, changed his sheets … moreand kept the fire burning in his chambers. Just a year ago he had been stuck in the cells of the Red Keep, well for a fortnight at least. When the brother in black had approached him and offered a chance to take the black he couldn’t imagine what kind of place the Wall would be. Growing up in Flea Bottom he hadn’t heard that much from the Wall, only that it was somewhere far away in a cold place where the Seven Kingdoms ended. And when he saw it the first time he had to admit it was amazing. However that changed quickly. It was always cold and dark and everywhere he looked there were men who were chained to live here for the rest of their lives. And he was now one of them. In Flea Bottom he had been one of the orphans, one of the best pickpockets. He had been the Weasel. Well he was still Weasel, but that… [view original content]
Robett
Lord Commander’s tower. That was his place. Well, that was where he did his job. He served Jolly Jack’s meals, changed his sheets … moreand kept the fire burning in his chambers. Just a year ago he had been stuck in the cells of the Red Keep, well for a fortnight at least. When the brother in black had approached him and offered a chance to take the black he couldn’t imagine what kind of place the Wall would be. Growing up in Flea Bottom he hadn’t heard that much from the Wall, only that it was somewhere far away in a cold place where the Seven Kingdoms ended. And when he saw it the first time he had to admit it was amazing. However that changed quickly. It was always cold and dark and everywhere he looked there were men who were chained to live here for the rest of their lives. And he was now one of them. In Flea Bottom he had been one of the orphans, one of the best pickpockets. He had been the Weasel. Well he was still Weasel, but that… [view original content]
I won't close the vote just yet but I can tell you that the next part is already done, it will take us again to the Haunted Forest, and it will be very important part for a certain character.
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildlings of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you can go live somewhere south of the Wall.” Keran wasn’t sure if that really was a good idea but it was all he could figure out.
“You promised no harm would come to me!”
“And that is why I took you!” Keran was starting to lose his patience.
“You are just another stupid crow! You think you own the world, that you can decide who gets to live where and do what.” Tarna spitted on the ground after she spoke. Keran shook his head and let out a sigh.
“I from all the people do not believe I own the world. I’m practically a prisoner.” Keran said quietly.
“Why? Why do you want to be a prisoner? You could be free you idiot, you are just too proud to do it! You crows just think you’re better than the Free Folk with your vows and high words.” Tarna said with a mocking tone and looked Keran to the eyes. She was a skinny and messy young woman but she did have beautiful blue eyes. I shouldn’t think about that. Keran turned his eyes away and Tarna gave him a mocking little laugh.
“If I would’ve know how weak you are I wouldn’t have told you anything…” Keran ignored Tarna’s bitter words. They sat there in the middle of the forest, silently waiting for Rambton to return. More than once had Keran thought if it would have been wise just to go back to Castle Black with Ramsay and Edric. Well at least Jolly Jack would surely get the news from them. He looked at the sky. Dark clouds. It would rain soon.
-
“There was a group of three wildlings, probably scouting for a bigger group. Maybe even for the army.” Rambton said with a serious tone.
“You shouldn’t go there crows, Raymun kills you if you go.” Tarna’s words were quiet but angry. Rambton made his contemptuous look on the girl.
“Is Raymun Redbeard your daddy, wildling whore?” He mocked and smiled behind his rough beard. Tarna spitted into his feet. “Wow, you really do like to spit. Don’t you ever run out of spittle?”
“Alright, enough both of you. Rambton, take us to that group you were talking about.” Keran spoke with tiredness in his words.
And so they started to move again as quietly as they could. It started to rain, just like Keran had expected. As they got closer to where Rambton was leading them a troubling feeling started to fill Keran’s head. Now and then it felt like something was watching him. The rain got heavier all the time and the wind started to wave the trees. None of them said a word. Then something happened. Dark flash flying through the air. Rambton Snow fell into the ground. There was a shadowcat atop him, ripping his face. Rambton screamed and Keran took out his sword. He managed to make a small cut to the shadowcat as it jumped off and vanished to the rain.
“What in seven hells was that?” Keran said as he got down to his knees next to Rambton. The other half of Rambton’s face was ripped apart, he had lost his right eye. Rambton didn’t manage to say anything as Keran tried to stop his bleeding.
“It was a warg, crows. You have been noticed.” Tarna said with a voice that could barely be heard.
Keran got back to his feet and somewhere from the rain an arrow flew and hit him into the right leg. He fell to his knees and dropped his sword. Wildlings started to come out everywhere around them. One of them walked right in front of Keran.
“Welcome, Ser Crow.” He said and knocked out Keran.
-
His little sister was running under the sun, in green fields. “Keran!” She shouted “Keran! Come here!” And he went, but as he came closer the light of the sun disappeared and his sister’s voice turned into screams of horror. And he heard the laugh. The laugh of the lord. His sister's crying filled the whole world but somehow the laugh was even louder. He took out his sword. And swung it. Again. And again. The laughing stopped but the crying didn’t. The tears fell to his face…
“Time to wake up crow!” It was a wildling woman with brown eyes and wavy auburn hair, a little bit older than Keran. They were in a tent. Keran wiped the water out of his face. As he tried to move he remembered the pain in his right leg.
“Don’t worry, we’ve taken care of the wound, that’s the least of your concerns.” The woman said with a cold tone.
“Who… are you?” Keran asked with a weak voice, having trouble finding it at all.
“That’s not your business crow, let’s go.” The woman pulled him up and dragged him to the door of the tent.
“Where… where are we going?”
“To Harron. You get to choose crow. Freedom or judgment.” As the woman walked him through the camp he could hear mocking and swearing everywhere around him. Would this be the end? They came to a bald man with small brown eyes, nose of a pig and brown beard. The man was holding an axe.
“Thank you, Arienne. I’m Harron Crowsbane, boy. I’ve killed many of your kind. I like to kill your kind. I would like to kill you too, but we must give you the choice. Abandon your vows, take off your crow’s coat and join us… Or die.” The man spoke calmly, looking at Keran with bloodthirsty eyes. There was no way out. Freedom or judgment.
[Die as man of the Night's Watch][Live as man of the Free Folk]
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]
I don't think Keran would do good as a Wildling, he would hate it. And he is also injured so it could end his pains. Although Ramsay...
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]I want to see how it would have gone done if Jon didn't turn cloak, but Keran would make a example of how it would have been.
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
Damn it Keran! I think he should take the chance, it's better to live as a wildling than to die as a watchman. And he can always defect back to the Watch, I guess, Jon Snow style.
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
[Live as man of the Free Folk]
Damn it Keran! I think he should take the chance, it's better to live as a wildling than to die as a watchman. And he can always defect back to the Watch, I guess, Jon Snow style.
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildling… mores of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you … [view original content]
Awesome chapter as always and really hard decision for me, but I'd go with: [Live as a man of the Free Folk] as it was mentioned above Keran really seems like a honorable man, so I'd really like to see, how that will turn out.
Keran will stay true to his vows and chooses to die as man of the Night's Watch.
The next part comes later today and it will be the second last of the first chapter! (Unless I change my mind and put one more Castle Black part to this chapter.)
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoots might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing they could already be at the Vale of Thenn. He looked at the village one more time.
“Alright Barryn, let’s go talk to them. It will be good for us to sleep one night under a roof. And soon we will be at home and I can get back to my books and you can get back to your… Well, whatever you do.” Skjorn said looking at Barryn and got an accepting grunt for answer. And so they took the leap of faith and approached the village, wishing these barefooted shits hadn’t lost their parents fighting with Thenns or anything like that.
“Stop right there! Are you Nightrunners?” An old man shouted when he saw Skjorn and Barryn coming. Skjorn raised his hands up and tried to make a hint for Barryn to do the same but he just tightened his grip to the war axe.
“No, no! Look at these bronze bracers. Or that magnificent war axe my friend is carrying. We are Thenns. I am Skjorn, also known as Skjorn the Scholar, and my traveling companion’s name is Barryn.” Skjorn was good at these kinds of situations. He could have said that he was good at diplomacy but most of the people this side of the Wall would have no idea what that word meant. The old man looked at him with a confused face. Some other people from the village had also gathered around, women and children mostly.
“And what are you doing here Thenns?” The old man asked. He didn’t sound friendly but neither was he threatening. This is going well. Skjorn had learned to hear anger or fear or anything else dangerous in one’s voice. This man seemed mostly just bored and tired.
“We are just passing by, we are on our way to the Vale of Thenn.” Skjorn put a friendly smile on his face, wishing that Barryn had the skill to do the same. “We wanted to ask if we could sleep this night here… Since it’s raining and all.”
“Fine. You can sleep with the dogs.” The man pointed to one of the smallest houses in the village and turned away.
“See? What I told you.” Skjorn said with a smile on his face but Barryn just rolled his eyes.
-
As they settled into the small kennel with five dogs Skjorn took out his bottle of poison again. He had been looking at it now and then. It was curious, how something so small could have such power. Only one small drop of it was enough to kill. A bottle with hundreds of murders. He put the bottle away and looked at Barryn. One of the dogs, a big black hound, was growling at him. Barryn gave the dog a grim look and a small growl and it turned away, tail between its legs.
“Maybe they’ll take you as the leader of their pack.” Skjorn said raising his eyebrows.
“I don’t like dogs.” Barryn’s words were just as grim and serious as always.
“Can’t say I’m surprised.” Skjorn sighed. “I guess we should get some sleep.” But before Skjorn could even think about falling asleep, one of the villagers came to the door.
“Um… Hello? What do you want?” Skjorn looked at the shadow in the doorway, seeing only that it was clearly a woman. She stepped in and Skjorn could see her more clearly. Barryn had taken his war axe, Skjorn didn’t even have to look to know that. The villager was a beautiful young woman with blue eyes and long black hair.
“I’m Alexia.” The girl said, speaking Old Tongue, with a charming smile on her face. “Most of the village wants to stay away from you… They gave you a shelter but they don’t like having you here and wait for the morning so they get rid of you.”
“Ah… Don’t worry. We will leave, first thing in the morning.” Skjorn wondered what the meaning of this girl’s visit was. She looked at them, smirking like she knew something they didn’t know. It was annoying, scary and attractive, all of that at the same time.
“Thenns don’t just leave their hidden vale for no reason. Tell me, why are you here? Does it have something to do with Raymun Redbeard? I’d figure your magnar doesn’t like a Nightrunner calling himself the king of the Free Folk.” Her words were sharp but she wasn’t threatening them, Skjorn could hear that.
“Clever girl.” He said and gave the girl a little smile. “However we are not looking for Raymun right now, our orders are to come back to magnar.”
“Really? Because I know where Raymun is. Harg the Scarface has captured him and has been gathering Hornfoot clan leaders to decide what to do with him. They are pretty close from here.” Alexia had her smirk on as she looked straight into the eyes of Skjorn. This came as a surprise, Skjorn didn’t know what to say and looked at Barryn.
“Take us there, woman.” Barryn said suddenly with a decisive tone.
“What? No, Barryn! We’re not going there, we are returning to magnar!” Skjorn shouted, making some of the dogs bark. Barryn didn’t seem to care about his words.
“You can go back, but I will go and see this Raymun myself. Take the bottles, I didn’t like that idea in the first place.” Barryn’s words were strong, ones that were hard to argue against, but magnar had ordered Barryn to follow Skjorn’s orders, not the other way around. Damn bullheaded idiot.
[Command Barryn to return to the Vale of Thenn with you][Let Barryn go][Go to Raymun with Barryn]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Very good to hear I've managed to write him so that you're pleased! And I must say Skjorn is one of the characters I enjoy the most to write, so thank you very much for submitting him
As always, this was a great chapter! Skjorn is great, exactly how I imagined him
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
Even though it might be a mistake, I'm quite interested in seeing more of Raymun. I just hope that Barryn won't do anything stupid.
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoo… morets might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing th… [view original content]
Jonk sat in a large tent eating a rabbit. He liked rabbit’s meat. He liked almost any meat that could be found from the Haunted Forest. Once he had been in the southern parts of the Haunted Forest and eaten pig’s meat. That had tasted weird and made him a little sick. He liked rabbits much more.
“You’re still eating?” Harg asked in a disbelief when he stepped inside the tent. Jonk laughed and tapped his stomach.
“There is plenty of room here!” He said with a happy tone. Harg just shook his head and sat next to him.
“Today is the day, Jonk. We decide that bastard’s destiny.” Harg had a vicious smile on his face.
“That king?” Jonk asked, mouth full of rabbit.
“Yes, Raymun Redbeard, who the fuck do you think I would be talking about?” Harg’s voice was angry. “And don’t call him king. He is not a king.” Jonk looked at Harg and scratched his head.
“So are we going to kill him or what?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, finish your meal and come out.” Harg the Scarface said as he left the tent again. Jonk was proud to work for Harg the Scarface, one of the most feared clan leaders there was. Harg was strong and big. Jonk himself was muscular and over six feet tall, but Harg was much bigger and little bit stronger too. Harg’s father, Kroen, had found Jonk abandoned in the forest when he was just a baby. He was raised in their clan and so he had seen the rise of Harg the Scarface. He had seen how those scars had been cut to his face in all those fights he had fought beside him. And now, 44 years after Kroen had found Jonk crying in the snow, he was the guard of the greatest Hornfoot clan leader. That’s something to be proud of.
Jonk stepped out of the tent. Their camp was in an open valley, there were hundreds of Hornfoots gathered there. Some of them were from the mountains, some from the forest. If Jonk looked to the west he could see the Frostfangs reaching the sky and in close to the east was the river and on the other side of it the Haunted Forest. Just behind a couple days of travel to the North there would be the Vale of Thenn. Jonk could see everyone coming out of their tents, moving towards the place where the decision would be made.
“Jonk, we should go.” Dogga, another one of Harg’s guards said as he came next to him. Dogga was in many ways different to Jonk. Jonk was already quite old, Dogga in his early twenties. Jonk had blonde hair, Dogga’s was as black as night. Jonk had bright blue eyes, Dogga’s were black. Jonk was big and strong and fought with axe or even with bare hands, Dogga preferred to use his bow. Dogga didn’t wait for Jonk’s answer but kept walking so Jonk had to take a couple of quick steps to catch him up.
“Do you think Harg will kill him?” Jonk asked with a carefree tone, smiling happily. Dogga’s face was less joyful.
“He should. The damn Nightrunner should’ve been killed already.” Dogga was almost always serious like this. That was another thing that they had in differ.
“I think Harg should be king. He is strong and feared. We could kill the southerners with his lead.” Jonk said. He hadn’t really thought about it much but it seemed like a good idea.
“And join with Nightrunners? Hah.” Even if he did let out a laugh there was no joy or even amusement in Dogga’s face. “I’d rather let Ice-River men eat me than fight side by side with Nightrunners.”
“Really? I wouldn’t like to be eaten by…”
“That was not the point, you idiot.” Dogga looked frustrated.
“Hey! Be careful what you call me, boy. If I wanted I could kill you with my bare hands.” Jonk spoke with a proud smile on his face. Dogga just sighed and shook his head.
“Not if I hit you with my arrows first.” He said with a cold smile on his face.
“Bow is a coward’s weapon. Besides, a couple of arrows wouldn’t be enough to stop me.” As Jonk finished talking they arrived to the place where all the clan leaders and many, many other Hornfoot men had gathered to, standing in a big ring. Jonk and Dogga made their way to Harg. Now they could see inside the ring. Raymun Redbeard was standing there unarmed and clearly tired of all these days he had been captured. However Raymun didn’t show any fear. He stood there, fire burning in his eyes. Jonk couldn’t help but give some respect to that man. True warrior.
“I bring you Raymun Redbeard!” Harg the Scarface shouted as he stepped inside the ring. “This man dears to call himself your king. He brought his Nightrunner army to Hornfoot lands.”
“It is not your land, Harg the Scarface. The Free Folk does not own lands, we are all free to move where we please.” Raymun said with a menacing but still calm tone of voice.
“Be quiet! You came with an army! And call yourself our king! A king! You will not get away with that…”
“So, Harg, what do you suggest we do with him?” One of the Hornfoot men asked.
“It is for us all to decide.” Harg started to walk around the ring as he spoke. “What this man deserves is death. He deserves a slow death. The question is that is there any way we could make him useful?”
“If we kill him his army will attack us.” One of the clan leaders said.
“Let them come, we’ll kill them all!” Another shouted.
“Maybe we could demand something of them in change of this man’s life.”
“What kind of shit is that? Let’s just get over it and torture him to death!”
“Listen to me!” Raymun Redbeard shouted suddenly with power in his words, making everyone else shut their mouths. “There is no need for you to call me a king. My goal is not to take your freedom, my goal is to bring us all, the Free Folk, together and give us freedom.”
“We have freedom, you shit!” Harg the Scarface shouted anger boiling in his words.
“Do we? What has this freedom gave us? We are fighting each other while the crows sit on their wall laughing at us, keeping us away from the lands that should be ours! Is that freedom my brothers?” Raymuns words made the all the hundreds of Hornfoots go silent. Until Harg the Scarface spat on his feet.
“You are not my brother, Raymun Shitbeard! You think you have the power to give us the lands in the south. Fuck you and your dreams.” Harg came closer to Raymun and took out his sword.
“Power… Yes.” Raymun said first with quiet words before turning away from Harg and starting to point at him while looking at the men and women in the ring. “You see this man as someone powerful, someone worth following. You are wrong. He is afraid and weak. Too weak to lead his own brothers to freedom. If you believe he is strong then let me prove that you are wrong! Give me a sword and I will show you that the man who has the power in his heart wins the one who has the fear in his heart.” Again, no one said a word. Then whispering could be heard everywhere.
“Harg should fight and kill him.” Jonk could hear Dogga say next to him. For a moment nothing happened, Harg looked at Raymun, his mind clearly boiling of anger.
“Jonk! Give that man a sword! I will show him my fury…” Harg commanded and Jonk happily gave the man a sword. He would enjoy seeing a fight. Harg would of course win, and it wouldn’t probably even be a long fight.
Raymun twiddled the sword in his hands. The two man looked at each other, both of them with eyes full of hate and anger. And then it began.
Harg made the first move, trying to hammer Raymun, but the red bearded man kept dodging and parrying. The steel hit the steel again and again.
“Stop running and FIGHT!” Harg screamed with rage. He swung his sword in fury and Raymun danced away, finding a moment to strike while Harg was defenseless. Raymun’s slash hit Harg to his left flank. Harg let out scream of agony but found his defenses again. With screaming Harg started to hammer Raymun again. Raymun parried his swings but after one of them Harg managed to land a punch on Raymun’s face. His nose was bleeding and clearly broken but he stayed up and fighting. I would have been on the ground after that punch.
Raymun was clearly distracted from the punch, now was Harg’s chance to finish him. Somehow the Nightrunner still managed to dodge all the moves. Harg screamed in frustration, trying once again to slice his enemy in two with a powerful swing.
“You have the fear in your heart! And you try to hide it with rage!” Raymun shouted as he kept parrying and parrying.
“FUCK YOU!” Harg’s scream was overwhelming but as he made a desperate swing Raymun managed to dance too close to him. And the sword cut through the stomach like a hot knife through butter. Harg fell to the ground, no life in his eyes, and Raymun raised his bloody sword to the air. Jonk could feel the shock in the air. Harg had fallen. The other man had proven his strength in a fair fight.
“Listen to me brothers and sisters! Follow me, as free men and women, and I will give you the true freedom!” Raymun started to speak, pointing everyone in the ring with his sword. “And I’m not only going to make you free! I’m going to bring you the riches of the south, the gold and the silver of the lords! All of that shall be ours! I’m going to make you all the princes, OF OUR NEW WORLD!”
For a short moment nothing but wind could be heard. Then one of the clan leaders started to chant. “King! King! King!” And one by one more joined. “King! King! King! King!” This man was strong, he had proved it. “King! King! King! King! King!” Jonk raised his fist, and joined the chant. “KING! KING! KING! KING! KING! KING!”
Raymun's small speech in the end is kind of a tribute to one of my favorite characters on TV, can you guess which series and which character? (it's not GoT) ;D
Jonk
Jonk sat in a large tent eating a rabbit. He liked rabbit’s meat. He liked almost any meat that could be found from the Haunted Fore… morest. Once he had been in the southern parts of the Haunted Forest and eaten pig’s meat. That had tasted weird and made him a little sick. He liked rabbits much more.
“You’re still eating?” Harg asked in a disbelief when he stepped inside the tent. Jonk laughed and tapped his stomach.
“There is plenty of room here!” He said with a happy tone. Harg just shook his head and sat next to him.
“Today is the day, Jonk. We decide that bastard’s destiny.” Harg had a vicious smile on his face.
“That king?” Jonk asked, mouth full of rabbit.
“Yes, Raymun Redbeard, who the fuck do you think I would be talking about?” Harg’s voice was angry. “And don’t call him king. He is not a king.” Jonk looked at Harg and scratched his head.
“So are we going to kill him or what?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, fini… [view original content]
Jonk
Jonk sat in a large tent eating a rabbit. He liked rabbit’s meat. He liked almost any meat that could be found from the Haunted Fore… morest. Once he had been in the southern parts of the Haunted Forest and eaten pig’s meat. That had tasted weird and made him a little sick. He liked rabbits much more.
“You’re still eating?” Harg asked in a disbelief when he stepped inside the tent. Jonk laughed and tapped his stomach.
“There is plenty of room here!” He said with a happy tone. Harg just shook his head and sat next to him.
“Today is the day, Jonk. We decide that bastard’s destiny.” Harg had a vicious smile on his face.
“That king?” Jonk asked, mouth full of rabbit.
“Yes, Raymun Redbeard, who the fuck do you think I would be talking about?” Harg’s voice was angry. “And don’t call him king. He is not a king.” Jonk looked at Harg and scratched his head.
“So are we going to kill him or what?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, fini… [view original content]
Comments
Thanks for the heads up! Not that much TWD fan but I guess I could try this one out.
[Try to calm them down]
[Try to calm them down] Great chapter!
[Calm them down]
Please, don't fight!
I won't close the vote just yet but I can tell you that the next part is already done, it will take us again to the Haunted Forest, and it will be very important part for a certain character.
Alright, looks like there are no more votes coming, and it is clear enough anyway, so voting is closed.
Robett will try his best to calm everyone down.
And in the next comment comes the next part...
Keran
”What are you going to do with me?” Keran heard the familiar voice asking. He turned his eyes to the girl. He had left the wildlings of that village alive so he thought that the only option to keep the girl safe was to take her with him. Rambton didn’t like the idea very much. And Edric of course had said that it was best just to kill them. Keran had sent Edric back to Castle Black along with Ramsay.
“Do you hear me crow?” The girl said, this time a little louder. First days the girl had been mostly crying. It was six days before she even told her name, Tarna. And after that she had been saying that Keran had stolen her and she was now Keran’s wife and she kept asking what Keran was planning to do with her. He didn’t have the answer for the girl.
“You stole me! I’m yours! Now tell me, what are you going to do with me?” Tarna shouted and Keran could see tears in her eyes again.
“I’ll take you to Castle Black, okay? Maybe you can go live somewhere south of the Wall.” Keran wasn’t sure if that really was a good idea but it was all he could figure out.
“You promised no harm would come to me!”
“And that is why I took you!” Keran was starting to lose his patience.
“You are just another stupid crow! You think you own the world, that you can decide who gets to live where and do what.” Tarna spitted on the ground after she spoke. Keran shook his head and let out a sigh.
“I from all the people do not believe I own the world. I’m practically a prisoner.” Keran said quietly.
“Why? Why do you want to be a prisoner? You could be free you idiot, you are just too proud to do it! You crows just think you’re better than the Free Folk with your vows and high words.” Tarna said with a mocking tone and looked Keran to the eyes. She was a skinny and messy young woman but she did have beautiful blue eyes. I shouldn’t think about that. Keran turned his eyes away and Tarna gave him a mocking little laugh.
“If I would’ve know how weak you are I wouldn’t have told you anything…” Keran ignored Tarna’s bitter words. They sat there in the middle of the forest, silently waiting for Rambton to return. More than once had Keran thought if it would have been wise just to go back to Castle Black with Ramsay and Edric. Well at least Jolly Jack would surely get the news from them. He looked at the sky. Dark clouds. It would rain soon.
-
“There was a group of three wildlings, probably scouting for a bigger group. Maybe even for the army.” Rambton said with a serious tone.
“You shouldn’t go there crows, Raymun kills you if you go.” Tarna’s words were quiet but angry. Rambton made his contemptuous look on the girl.
“Is Raymun Redbeard your daddy, wildling whore?” He mocked and smiled behind his rough beard. Tarna spitted into his feet. “Wow, you really do like to spit. Don’t you ever run out of spittle?”
“Alright, enough both of you. Rambton, take us to that group you were talking about.” Keran spoke with tiredness in his words.
And so they started to move again as quietly as they could. It started to rain, just like Keran had expected. As they got closer to where Rambton was leading them a troubling feeling started to fill Keran’s head. Now and then it felt like something was watching him. The rain got heavier all the time and the wind started to wave the trees. None of them said a word. Then something happened. Dark flash flying through the air. Rambton Snow fell into the ground. There was a shadowcat atop him, ripping his face. Rambton screamed and Keran took out his sword. He managed to make a small cut to the shadowcat as it jumped off and vanished to the rain.
“What in seven hells was that?” Keran said as he got down to his knees next to Rambton. The other half of Rambton’s face was ripped apart, he had lost his right eye. Rambton didn’t manage to say anything as Keran tried to stop his bleeding.
“It was a warg, crows. You have been noticed.” Tarna said with a voice that could barely be heard.
Keran got back to his feet and somewhere from the rain an arrow flew and hit him into the right leg. He fell to his knees and dropped his sword. Wildlings started to come out everywhere around them. One of them walked right in front of Keran.
“Welcome, Ser Crow.” He said and knocked out Keran.
-
His little sister was running under the sun, in green fields. “Keran!” She shouted “Keran! Come here!” And he went, but as he came closer the light of the sun disappeared and his sister’s voice turned into screams of horror. And he heard the laugh. The laugh of the lord. His sister's crying filled the whole world but somehow the laugh was even louder. He took out his sword. And swung it. Again. And again. The laughing stopped but the crying didn’t. The tears fell to his face…
“Time to wake up crow!” It was a wildling woman with brown eyes and wavy auburn hair, a little bit older than Keran. They were in a tent. Keran wiped the water out of his face. As he tried to move he remembered the pain in his right leg.
“Don’t worry, we’ve taken care of the wound, that’s the least of your concerns.” The woman said with a cold tone.
“Who… are you?” Keran asked with a weak voice, having trouble finding it at all.
“That’s not your business crow, let’s go.” The woman pulled him up and dragged him to the door of the tent.
“Where… where are we going?”
“To Harron. You get to choose crow. Freedom or judgment.” As the woman walked him through the camp he could hear mocking and swearing everywhere around him. Would this be the end? They came to a bald man with small brown eyes, nose of a pig and brown beard. The man was holding an axe.
“Thank you, Arienne. I’m Harron Crowsbane, boy. I’ve killed many of your kind. I like to kill your kind. I would like to kill you too, but we must give you the choice. Abandon your vows, take off your crow’s coat and join us… Or die.” The man spoke calmly, looking at Keran with bloodthirsty eyes. There was no way out. Freedom or judgment.
[Die as man of the Night's Watch] [Live as man of the Free Folk]
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]
I don't think Keran would do good as a Wildling, he would hate it. And he is also injured so it could end his pains. Although Ramsay...
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]
[Live as man of the Free Folk] - I think it would be interesting to see how it turns out! And I'm looking forward to see more of Arienne!
Die as man of the Night's Watch]
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]I want to see how it would have gone done if Jon didn't turn cloak, but Keran would make a example of how it would have been.
Could be cool seeing him as a wildling but he seems to me like a guy who's true to his vows so I say [Die as man of the Night's Watch]
[Live as man of the Free Folk]
Damn it Keran! I think he should take the chance, it's better to live as a wildling than to die as a watchman. And he can always defect back to the Watch, I guess, Jon Snow style.
[Die as man of the Night's Watch] Keran strikes me as the honorable sorts.
[Live as man of the Free Folk]
Awesome Chapter!!!
[Live as a man of the Free Folk]
Keran should go guns blazing, killing every wildling that was ever born. Then go kill the Night's Watch for good measure.
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]
Awesome chapter as always and really hard decision for me, but I'd go with: [Live as a man of the Free Folk] as it was mentioned above Keran really seems like a honorable man, so I'd really like to see, how that will turn out.
[Die as man of the Night's Watch]
The voting is closed.
Keran will stay true to his vows and chooses to die as man of the Night's Watch.
The next part comes later today and it will be the second last of the first chapter! (Unless I change my mind and put one more Castle Black part to this chapter.)
Skjorn
A village of ‘barefooted shits’, as Barryn would say. Or rather did say, all the time. This would be a risk, but right now Hornfoots might not mind a pair of Thenns visiting, it was Nightrunners they had bad blood with.
“I still think we shouldn’t go.” Barryn said with his grim voice. “I’d rather sleep in the rain than trust the barefooted shits.” Ah, there it was again. Skjorn had been trying to explain to Barryn there was no reason why Hornfoots would have anything against them. Well at least not so much that they would murder them in their sleep.
“If you call them ‘barefooted shits’ they surely will kill us so it’s better if you just keep your mouth shut and leave the talking to me. Shouldn’t be hard for you anyway. And don’t worry about it; they are against Raymun, we are against Raymun. We should get along just fine.” Skjorn was tired. Tired and wet. The journey from the Hardhome had been exhausting and he kept wishing they could already be at the Vale of Thenn. He looked at the village one more time.
“Alright Barryn, let’s go talk to them. It will be good for us to sleep one night under a roof. And soon we will be at home and I can get back to my books and you can get back to your… Well, whatever you do.” Skjorn said looking at Barryn and got an accepting grunt for answer. And so they took the leap of faith and approached the village, wishing these barefooted shits hadn’t lost their parents fighting with Thenns or anything like that.
“Stop right there! Are you Nightrunners?” An old man shouted when he saw Skjorn and Barryn coming. Skjorn raised his hands up and tried to make a hint for Barryn to do the same but he just tightened his grip to the war axe.
“No, no! Look at these bronze bracers. Or that magnificent war axe my friend is carrying. We are Thenns. I am Skjorn, also known as Skjorn the Scholar, and my traveling companion’s name is Barryn.” Skjorn was good at these kinds of situations. He could have said that he was good at diplomacy but most of the people this side of the Wall would have no idea what that word meant. The old man looked at him with a confused face. Some other people from the village had also gathered around, women and children mostly.
“And what are you doing here Thenns?” The old man asked. He didn’t sound friendly but neither was he threatening. This is going well. Skjorn had learned to hear anger or fear or anything else dangerous in one’s voice. This man seemed mostly just bored and tired.
“We are just passing by, we are on our way to the Vale of Thenn.” Skjorn put a friendly smile on his face, wishing that Barryn had the skill to do the same. “We wanted to ask if we could sleep this night here… Since it’s raining and all.”
“Fine. You can sleep with the dogs.” The man pointed to one of the smallest houses in the village and turned away.
“See? What I told you.” Skjorn said with a smile on his face but Barryn just rolled his eyes.
-
As they settled into the small kennel with five dogs Skjorn took out his bottle of poison again. He had been looking at it now and then. It was curious, how something so small could have such power. Only one small drop of it was enough to kill. A bottle with hundreds of murders. He put the bottle away and looked at Barryn. One of the dogs, a big black hound, was growling at him. Barryn gave the dog a grim look and a small growl and it turned away, tail between its legs.
“Maybe they’ll take you as the leader of their pack.” Skjorn said raising his eyebrows.
“I don’t like dogs.” Barryn’s words were just as grim and serious as always.
“Can’t say I’m surprised.” Skjorn sighed. “I guess we should get some sleep.” But before Skjorn could even think about falling asleep, one of the villagers came to the door.
“Um… Hello? What do you want?” Skjorn looked at the shadow in the doorway, seeing only that it was clearly a woman. She stepped in and Skjorn could see her more clearly. Barryn had taken his war axe, Skjorn didn’t even have to look to know that. The villager was a beautiful young woman with blue eyes and long black hair.
“I’m Alexia.” The girl said, speaking Old Tongue, with a charming smile on her face. “Most of the village wants to stay away from you… They gave you a shelter but they don’t like having you here and wait for the morning so they get rid of you.”
“Ah… Don’t worry. We will leave, first thing in the morning.” Skjorn wondered what the meaning of this girl’s visit was. She looked at them, smirking like she knew something they didn’t know. It was annoying, scary and attractive, all of that at the same time.
“Thenns don’t just leave their hidden vale for no reason. Tell me, why are you here? Does it have something to do with Raymun Redbeard? I’d figure your magnar doesn’t like a Nightrunner calling himself the king of the Free Folk.” Her words were sharp but she wasn’t threatening them, Skjorn could hear that.
“Clever girl.” He said and gave the girl a little smile. “However we are not looking for Raymun right now, our orders are to come back to magnar.”
“Really? Because I know where Raymun is. Harg the Scarface has captured him and has been gathering Hornfoot clan leaders to decide what to do with him. They are pretty close from here.” Alexia had her smirk on as she looked straight into the eyes of Skjorn. This came as a surprise, Skjorn didn’t know what to say and looked at Barryn.
“Take us there, woman.” Barryn said suddenly with a decisive tone.
“What? No, Barryn! We’re not going there, we are returning to magnar!” Skjorn shouted, making some of the dogs bark. Barryn didn’t seem to care about his words.
“You can go back, but I will go and see this Raymun myself. Take the bottles, I didn’t like that idea in the first place.” Barryn’s words were strong, ones that were hard to argue against, but magnar had ordered Barryn to follow Skjorn’s orders, not the other way around. Damn bullheaded idiot.
[Command Barryn to return to the Vale of Thenn with you] [Let Barryn go] [Go to Raymun with Barryn]
[Go to Raymun with Barryn
As always, this was a great chapter! Skjorn is great, exactly how I imagined him
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
Even though it might be a mistake, I'm quite interested in seeing more of Raymun. I just hope that Barryn won't do anything stupid.
Very good to hear I've managed to write him so that you're pleased! And I must say Skjorn is one of the characters I enjoy the most to write, so thank you very much for submitting him
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
[Let Barryn Go]
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
[Let Barryn go]
Awesome Chapter!!!
[Let Barryn go]
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
I want to see more of that king-beyond-the-wall
[Go to Raymun with Barryn] Great chapter! It would be interesting if Alexia followed them!
Alexia is the one who knows where Harg and Raymun are, so yes she will come with them
[Go to Raymun with Barryn]
Voting is closed
Skjorn will decide to go with Barryn to see the-king-beyond-the-wall. The next part comes later today and it will conclude the first chapter.
Jonk
Jonk sat in a large tent eating a rabbit. He liked rabbit’s meat. He liked almost any meat that could be found from the Haunted Forest. Once he had been in the southern parts of the Haunted Forest and eaten pig’s meat. That had tasted weird and made him a little sick. He liked rabbits much more.
“You’re still eating?” Harg asked in a disbelief when he stepped inside the tent. Jonk laughed and tapped his stomach.
“There is plenty of room here!” He said with a happy tone. Harg just shook his head and sat next to him.
“Today is the day, Jonk. We decide that bastard’s destiny.” Harg had a vicious smile on his face.
“That king?” Jonk asked, mouth full of rabbit.
“Yes, Raymun Redbeard, who the fuck do you think I would be talking about?” Harg’s voice was angry. “And don’t call him king. He is not a king.” Jonk looked at Harg and scratched his head.
“So are we going to kill him or what?”
“We’ll find out soon enough, finish your meal and come out.” Harg the Scarface said as he left the tent again. Jonk was proud to work for Harg the Scarface, one of the most feared clan leaders there was. Harg was strong and big. Jonk himself was muscular and over six feet tall, but Harg was much bigger and little bit stronger too. Harg’s father, Kroen, had found Jonk abandoned in the forest when he was just a baby. He was raised in their clan and so he had seen the rise of Harg the Scarface. He had seen how those scars had been cut to his face in all those fights he had fought beside him. And now, 44 years after Kroen had found Jonk crying in the snow, he was the guard of the greatest Hornfoot clan leader. That’s something to be proud of.
Jonk stepped out of the tent. Their camp was in an open valley, there were hundreds of Hornfoots gathered there. Some of them were from the mountains, some from the forest. If Jonk looked to the west he could see the Frostfangs reaching the sky and in close to the east was the river and on the other side of it the Haunted Forest. Just behind a couple days of travel to the North there would be the Vale of Thenn. Jonk could see everyone coming out of their tents, moving towards the place where the decision would be made.
“Jonk, we should go.” Dogga, another one of Harg’s guards said as he came next to him. Dogga was in many ways different to Jonk. Jonk was already quite old, Dogga in his early twenties. Jonk had blonde hair, Dogga’s was as black as night. Jonk had bright blue eyes, Dogga’s were black. Jonk was big and strong and fought with axe or even with bare hands, Dogga preferred to use his bow. Dogga didn’t wait for Jonk’s answer but kept walking so Jonk had to take a couple of quick steps to catch him up.
“Do you think Harg will kill him?” Jonk asked with a carefree tone, smiling happily. Dogga’s face was less joyful.
“He should. The damn Nightrunner should’ve been killed already.” Dogga was almost always serious like this. That was another thing that they had in differ.
“I think Harg should be king. He is strong and feared. We could kill the southerners with his lead.” Jonk said. He hadn’t really thought about it much but it seemed like a good idea.
“And join with Nightrunners? Hah.” Even if he did let out a laugh there was no joy or even amusement in Dogga’s face. “I’d rather let Ice-River men eat me than fight side by side with Nightrunners.”
“Really? I wouldn’t like to be eaten by…”
“That was not the point, you idiot.” Dogga looked frustrated.
“Hey! Be careful what you call me, boy. If I wanted I could kill you with my bare hands.” Jonk spoke with a proud smile on his face. Dogga just sighed and shook his head.
“Not if I hit you with my arrows first.” He said with a cold smile on his face.
“Bow is a coward’s weapon. Besides, a couple of arrows wouldn’t be enough to stop me.” As Jonk finished talking they arrived to the place where all the clan leaders and many, many other Hornfoot men had gathered to, standing in a big ring. Jonk and Dogga made their way to Harg. Now they could see inside the ring. Raymun Redbeard was standing there unarmed and clearly tired of all these days he had been captured. However Raymun didn’t show any fear. He stood there, fire burning in his eyes. Jonk couldn’t help but give some respect to that man. True warrior.
“I bring you Raymun Redbeard!” Harg the Scarface shouted as he stepped inside the ring. “This man dears to call himself your king. He brought his Nightrunner army to Hornfoot lands.”
“It is not your land, Harg the Scarface. The Free Folk does not own lands, we are all free to move where we please.” Raymun said with a menacing but still calm tone of voice.
“Be quiet! You came with an army! And call yourself our king! A king! You will not get away with that…”
“So, Harg, what do you suggest we do with him?” One of the Hornfoot men asked.
“It is for us all to decide.” Harg started to walk around the ring as he spoke. “What this man deserves is death. He deserves a slow death. The question is that is there any way we could make him useful?”
“If we kill him his army will attack us.” One of the clan leaders said.
“Let them come, we’ll kill them all!” Another shouted.
“Maybe we could demand something of them in change of this man’s life.”
“What kind of shit is that? Let’s just get over it and torture him to death!”
“Listen to me!” Raymun Redbeard shouted suddenly with power in his words, making everyone else shut their mouths. “There is no need for you to call me a king. My goal is not to take your freedom, my goal is to bring us all, the Free Folk, together and give us freedom.”
“We have freedom, you shit!” Harg the Scarface shouted anger boiling in his words.
“Do we? What has this freedom gave us? We are fighting each other while the crows sit on their wall laughing at us, keeping us away from the lands that should be ours! Is that freedom my brothers?” Raymuns words made the all the hundreds of Hornfoots go silent. Until Harg the Scarface spat on his feet.
“You are not my brother, Raymun Shitbeard! You think you have the power to give us the lands in the south. Fuck you and your dreams.” Harg came closer to Raymun and took out his sword.
“Power… Yes.” Raymun said first with quiet words before turning away from Harg and starting to point at him while looking at the men and women in the ring. “You see this man as someone powerful, someone worth following. You are wrong. He is afraid and weak. Too weak to lead his own brothers to freedom. If you believe he is strong then let me prove that you are wrong! Give me a sword and I will show you that the man who has the power in his heart wins the one who has the fear in his heart.” Again, no one said a word. Then whispering could be heard everywhere.
“Harg should fight and kill him.” Jonk could hear Dogga say next to him. For a moment nothing happened, Harg looked at Raymun, his mind clearly boiling of anger.
“Jonk! Give that man a sword! I will show him my fury…” Harg commanded and Jonk happily gave the man a sword. He would enjoy seeing a fight. Harg would of course win, and it wouldn’t probably even be a long fight.
Raymun twiddled the sword in his hands. The two man looked at each other, both of them with eyes full of hate and anger. And then it began.
Harg made the first move, trying to hammer Raymun, but the red bearded man kept dodging and parrying. The steel hit the steel again and again.
“Stop running and FIGHT!” Harg screamed with rage. He swung his sword in fury and Raymun danced away, finding a moment to strike while Harg was defenseless. Raymun’s slash hit Harg to his left flank. Harg let out scream of agony but found his defenses again. With screaming Harg started to hammer Raymun again. Raymun parried his swings but after one of them Harg managed to land a punch on Raymun’s face. His nose was bleeding and clearly broken but he stayed up and fighting. I would have been on the ground after that punch.
Raymun was clearly distracted from the punch, now was Harg’s chance to finish him. Somehow the Nightrunner still managed to dodge all the moves. Harg screamed in frustration, trying once again to slice his enemy in two with a powerful swing.
“You have the fear in your heart! And you try to hide it with rage!” Raymun shouted as he kept parrying and parrying.
“FUCK YOU!” Harg’s scream was overwhelming but as he made a desperate swing Raymun managed to dance too close to him. And the sword cut through the stomach like a hot knife through butter. Harg fell to the ground, no life in his eyes, and Raymun raised his bloody sword to the air. Jonk could feel the shock in the air. Harg had fallen. The other man had proven his strength in a fair fight.
“Listen to me brothers and sisters! Follow me, as free men and women, and I will give you the true freedom!” Raymun started to speak, pointing everyone in the ring with his sword. “And I’m not only going to make you free! I’m going to bring you the riches of the south, the gold and the silver of the lords! All of that shall be ours! I’m going to make you all the princes, OF OUR NEW WORLD!”
For a short moment nothing but wind could be heard. Then one of the clan leaders started to chant. “King! King! King!” And one by one more joined. “King! King! King! King!” This man was strong, he had proved it. “King! King! King! King! King!” Jonk raised his fist, and joined the chant. “KING! KING! KING! KING! KING! KING!”
End of Chapter 1
Sorry for no choices this time!
Raymun's small speech in the end is kind of a tribute to one of my favorite characters on TV, can you guess which series and which character? (it's not GoT) ;D
Freakin' epic ending.
Just caught up with it, amazing chapter!