The sun finally came up, showing the awful sight of the hundreds of refugees stumbling toward the little outpost. They were exhausted, frozen, and almost starved. But they were free. They were the Winter Lord's new subjects.
Cedric was leaning against the stone wall, absolutely drained. The Cryo-Mage magic had almost used up all his Mana, and he was dizzy. But he couldn't show it. He had to look strong for the 200+ people who were now depending on him.
Steven and the few remaining loyal soldiers rushed out to meet them. Steven was shocked by the sheer number of people. He had expected maybe twenty, not a whole village.
"Commander, we don't have enough food," Steven whispered urgently, his eyes wide. "We have rations for maybe twenty more men for a month. This many people will eat us out in three days!"
"They won't," Cedric said, his voice husky with fatigue. "They are not just mouths to feed; they are hands to work. They are the key to our survival."
He walked right into the crowd, ignoring his exhaustion. The people immediately stopped moving and looked at him. They didn't see a disgraced lord; they saw the man who had commanded the cruel cold to set them free.
"Welcome to the Northern Outpost," Cedric announced, making his voice loud and clear. "You are no longer captives. This is your home. But to live here, you must work. The Frost Elf Lord Kaelen will be coming for you, furious that his slaves are gone. We must be ready."
A man who looked strong, with scars on his hands from years of labor, stepped forward. "We saw your power, Lord. The Winter Lord," he corrected himself, saying the new title with respect. "We will work. We know how to mine, how to chop wood, how to haul stone. Just tell us what to do."
"Good," Cedric said, feeling a wave of hope. His plan was working perfectly. "I have tasks for all of you."
Securing the Foundation
Cedric immediately set up a system, using his Intelligence stat to organize the chaos. He split the refugees into four main groups:
The Stone Crew: The people who knew how to mine and work stone, led by the man who had spoken up. Their new job was to haul rock and bone from the secret caches and start building the Dry-Stonework defenses. This would be the main labor force for the Dwarves.
The Logistics Crew: Mostly women and older teens, tasked with managing the meager food supplies, patching clothes, and, most importantly, fetching water and keeping the small hearth fires going. They would keep everyone alive.
The Bone Crew: A smaller, tougher group led by some of Steven's soldiers. Their dangerous job was to quickly and carefully transport the remaining Drake Mother bone and hide from the freezing cellar and into the Dwarven forge in the mountain. This had to be done in small, hidden groups, to avoid being seen by Kaelen's scouts.
The Scout and Guard Crew: A small group of younger, faster people, who knew the mountains. They were to be trained by Steven to spot the white-clad Frost Elves. They were the outpost's new early warning system.
Cedric sent a quick, urgent message back to Thoric Stonehand at the Dwarf forge, carried by one of his most trusted soldiers. The message wasn't written; it was a rough drawing of two hundred sticks being added to the existing lines.
Thoric immediately understood: The labor force had just multiplied. The construction could go ten times faster.
The New Forge and the Old Lies
Cedric then went to the secret entrance of the Dwarven forge. He walked into the intense heat, bringing the good news.
"Thoric Stonehand, I have secured the labor force," Cedric said, out of breath. "Over two hundred willing workers, led by men who know stone and ore. The Dry-Stonework can begin immediately outside the outpost walls. We need the schematics now."
Thoric looked up from hammering a piece of Drake bone. He wiped sweat and soot from his eyes. He didn't look happy, but he looked satisfied.
"Humans are soft," Thoric grumbled, "but two hundred soft hands are faster than ten hard ones. We will give you the schematics. But you must bring the bone faster. We are ready for the core of the rams."
The partnership was solidified. The Dwarves had their material and their labor, and Cedric was getting his defenses.
The Winter Lord's First Command
Back outside, Cedric found a quiet spot and watched his new subjects work. They were moving quickly, even in their exhausted state, grateful to be free and working for their survival. They were all calling him the Winter Lord now, and it felt right. It wasn't a title from the Queen; it was a title earned from the cold.
Suddenly, a loud, sharp noise echoed from the mountains. It was a hunting horn, a high, clear sound that was full of anger and speed.
"Commander!" Steven shouted, running toward Cedric. "It's the Elves! Kaelen knows the captives are gone. The horn means they've mobilized. They're coming."
Cedric felt the familiar chill of his Cryo-Mage magic rising to meet the threat. He had a population, he had the blueprints, and he had the workers. But they weren't done building the walls yet.
"Steven, send out the new Scout Crew. They must keep track of every move Kaelen makes," Cedric ordered, his voice ringing with authority. "But do not panic the people. Tell them their first job is to finish the outer trench defenses. They must trust the Winter Lord to protect them from the ice."
Cedric knew this was the true test. Lord Kaelen was coming, and he was going to be furious. Cedric had to make the Frost Elf Lord believe that even though the walls were half-finished, the outpost was already an unbreakable fortress of ice and steel