The following days saw Thorfinn and his companions growing closer, but he hadn't forgotten the other reason for his return: settling his family. Yet, in the vastness Beyond the Wall, where could one truly call safe?
Thorfinn fell into deep thought. Now that Reynar had witnessed the changes here, living in this spot was no longer secure. Where should they move? Thorfinn's mind wandered to bigger ideas.
Leaving the lands Beyond the Wall was simple enough, really. There was only one path: leading his family across the Wall. But would they agree? Though Reynar and Darie typically let him make his own decisions on many matters, they would absolutely not easily approve of something this monumental. Beneath Reynar's mild temper and Darie's gentle nature lay a stubbornness rooted deep in their bones.
If the Northmen were hard as stone, the Free Folk Beyond the Wall were like cold iron—more resilient, yes, but also far more obstinate. Once they set their minds on something, no one could change it.
Thorfinn had casually brought up the idea of crossing the Wall with Reynar, but the answer he received was disheartening. Reynar, without a moment's hesitation, flatly refused.
In Reynar's view, if the coming of the Others, as Thorfinn claimed, was truly happening, then he absolutely could not sneak away like a thief. That would be the act of a coward and a betrayal—a betrayal of his people and a betrayal of his friends.
Thorfinn could only settle for a temporary, safe haven. But where was there such a place? When the Others' army of wights arrived, even a castle would be no defense against the dead, and there were no proper stone castles Beyond the Wall.
These past few days, Thorfinn was preoccupied, constantly muttering about a "safe place." Val, who missed nothing, took note of all this, and her calculations grew.
Though coming here was not her plan, Val truly had no immediate intention of leaving. The reason, naturally, was that Val had taken a liking to Thorfinn—not in the way of romance, of course, but she saw the brilliance in him.
She knew her restless brother-in-law was busy rallying the various tribes and villages. What he lacked most wasn't warriors, but a clever mind who could offer counsel in a pinch. In Val's estimation, an individual like Thorfinn, who wielded mysterious power, possessed that wisdom.
He commanded arcane magic, was a powerful Skinchanger, and was principled yet loyal to those he cared for. He was, quite simply, the perfect right-hand man for Mance.
Thorfinn had been getting agitated recently. Beyond training his siblings, he was desperately seeking a secure location. As it happened, Val knew just the spot. Come to think of it, Mance was apparently heading to seek out that person as well. If Thorfinn could take that place, it would surely catch Mance's eye.
Right now, Thorfinn was in the woods, helping Orrik and the others train—fostering their mutual understanding, teaching useful small tricks, but most importantly, helping them conquer their animalistic side. These were the lessons Boro had imparted to him, and now Thorfinn could only refine and simplify them for the rest, for time was not a luxury they possessed.
Finally, during a moment of rest, Val approached Thorfinn.
"Thorfinn, loafing about, are we?" Val greeted him with a smile.
Thorfinn cast a glance at the woman, whose cunning was known, and retorted, "What's it to you?"
Val scooted closer, sitting on a tree stump much like Thorfinn. "Why wouldn't it concern me? I've been eating and drinking here for quite a while without lifting a finger. I was thinking of offering some help."
"So you are aware," he said. "I thought you were just mooching off us and never planning to leave."
Val's face fell, and she snapped, "If things weren't so restless lately, I wouldn't have stayed this long! You make it sound like I wanted to be here. But it seems you're looking for a safe place. I happen to know one and was going to tell you. Hmph. Wasted goodwill."
Thorfinn's eyes lit up. "You know a place?"
Val crowed triumphantly. "I do, indeed. I was going to tell the handsome boy, but now... Hmph-hmmm."
Seeing Val acting so casual, Thorfinn had no choice but to offer a placating smile. "Val, my lady, you are a person of great stature; let bygones be bygones. Just tell me. Consider it payment for your stay, and I'll even add a special dish to dinner tonight."
Val's eyes immediately sparkled. After eating Thorfinn's cooking these past few days, all other food seemed to lack something. The special preparation and meticulous care in the cooking were things Val had never experienced. Novelty aside, the taste truly was excellent.
Considering Thorfinn had just conceded, Val immediately said, "You promise."
"Agreed."
Only then did Val speak. "I know of a great hall. It's certainly sturdy, and the terrain around it isn't suited for large-scale movement. Plus, it has the cover of the forest. If your concern is the Others, it should meet your needs."
Thorfinn narrowed his eyes and pressed, "But...?"
Val gave Thorfinn a helpless look. "But... it's occupied by a powerful Skinchanger named Varamyr. He has the hall all to himself, and the tales say it's filled not only with treasures he stole from South of the Wall but also stocked with provisions contributed by nearby villages. Oh, he also goes by the moniker..."
Thorfinn's eyes grew cold, with a hint of ruthlessness, and he cut in, "Sixskins."
Val: "You know him?"
Thorfinn, with a touch of excitement, replied, "He's somewhat infamous in our circles. A complete and utter bastard."
Val sensed something and said no more.
To challenge Varmyr Sixskins now? Perhaps there was no other choice. It might be a struggle relying only on myself, but with Merek, Morla, and Orrik added to the mix, perhaps they could ensure success. Thinking this, Thorfinn couldn't help but glance at Merek and Morla. They would surely agree, and Orrik would be easily convinced.
They would pull off this risky venture—fortune favors the bold, and faint heart never won fair lady.
Thus, a few days later, as the trio's training gradually got on track and they could effectively command their beasts in combat, Thorfinn presented the scheme: a plan to help Morla and Merek take vengeance and seize Varmyr's hall.
Thorfinn, Orrik, the Merek siblings, and Val sat circled on the snow, not feeling the cold thanks to their fur pelts. Once everyone's attention was on him, Thorfinn laid out his plan.
As expected, upon hearing the name, Morla and Merek both glared with fierce intent. The siblings utterly despised that man. If it hadn't been for the shelter of Thorfinn's family, they would likely be ghosts in the snow right now.
Orrik, eager for adventure, didn't object. Instead, he looked ready to leap into action. Having a brother like this, Thorfinn was unsure whether to be proud or worried.
However, reason won out for Merek, preventing him from being blinded by the rage for vengeance. He was the most pragmatic. "I admit I crave vengeance, as does Morla. But I still have my doubts. We heard many stories about him when we lived in the village. He deserves to die, but there's no denying he is genuinely strong."
Val, who was part of the plan, was completely bewildered. She didn't know the bad blood between the Merek siblings and Varmyr, but this didn't stop her from understanding the plan that followed.
Thorfinn sighed before speaking. "He's not called Sixskins for nothing. He can control four animals simultaneously in battle—I know this. He might even be able to control more beasts now. We can't defeat him in a straight fight, but that doesn't mean we can't beat him. We have other ways to win."
Morla: "Are you speaking of magic?"
Thorfinn: "I won't hide it from you. At my current level, relying solely on spellcasting won't be decisive. But I can brew potions. I wasn't just wasting time following the forest witch. With the knowledge of alchemy, it's enough to deal with Varmyr."
Merek realized what he meant. "Are you talking about poison?"
Thorfinn nodded. "I can brew potent draughts. We can smear them on our arrows to make them more lethal, causing severe paralysis. We only need to eliminate his animal companions, and the true Varmyr will be overwhelmed. Furthermore, we have three Shadowcats—White Snow, Sunny, and Alpha. As far as I know, Varmyr possesses one Shadowcat, several wolves, and the main prize: a thirteen-foot-tall bear. We must take them out one by one. I also have some magical tricks that may come in handy... That's our final safeguard!"
Val was somewhat disappointed. She had expected Thorfinn to have a more reliable plan. Still, she had to admit this approach was sound. Val knew she couldn't demand too much; after all, their opponent this time was formidable.
The consequences of failure were severe, and Val was beginning to feel a flicker of regret.
Especially after hearing Thorfinn mention using potions and, finally, his magical tricks, Val hesitated. She felt compelled to warn him, "Thorfinn, though I know nothing of the magic, I do recall the King-Beyond-the-Wall once saying, 'Sorcery is a handleless sword, impossible to wield.'"
The implication, naturally, was to caution Thorfinn against placing too much faith in magic.
However, Thorfinn gave a rather firm response. "Val, undeniably, everyone has their convictions. Some champion power, others yearn for freedom. For me... magic is might! Magic is the weapon of the wise. I care not what the King-Beyond-the-Wall said. Even if sorcery truly is a handleless sword, I intend to master it all the same."
Val was taken aback by Thorfinn's resolution, yet she did not argue. Over the past few days, the more she learned about Thorfinn, the more she realized this youth was far from simple. Seeing Thorfinn's stubborn determination now, Val couldn't help but think: perhaps this person truly could master sorcery; at the very least, he had already proven to her that the power existed.
After a moment's thought, Val agreed. "If it's you, perhaps you can do it. But it will definitely be dangerous. You must be careful." For some reason, Thorfinn's strong words swept away the hesitation in Val's heart, leaving her with an odd sense of reassurance.
Thorfinn finally smiled. "Don't worry, I will succeed. Just wait and see!"
The group continued to deliberate for a long time, slowly hammering out the plan's details. Five people, working together, even devised several backup plans, determined to realize this seemingly impossible scheme. These five youths were all fueled by a fierce, youthful passion. Whether to call them heedless cubs unafraid of a tiger, or simply overreaching, remained to be seen...