Edric stared up at the stars while lying on the snow, with nothing but his black furs and cloak wrapped around him to keep out the cold. The chill still bit at his skin, but he had grown used to it by now. They had been traveling for days already, sleeping beneath the open sky more often than not as they made their way south toward the Wall.
After a while, he turned his head to the left and looked at the red-haired brat sleeping soundly not far away. The sight immediately soured his mood. He still did not know how the boy had done it, but he was certain that this Ivar had something to do with his inability to walk and abrupt recovery.
A sennight ago, the brat had informed him that they would begin their journey the following day. At the time, Edric had actually been excited. Despite being unable to walk properly, the prospect of finally returning to the Wall had given him something to look forward to. With that thought in mind, he had gone to sleep that night.
Yet when he woke the next morning, his disability had completely vanished. Just like that. As if it had never existed in the first place. But Edric knew better than anyone that it had been real. He had experienced it firsthand. He remembered the helplessness, the frustration, and the fear of realizing that his legs no longer obeyed him. Then, without warning, he could walk again.
That was the moment he became mostly certain that Ivar was responsible for everything that had happened to him. After all, the red-haired brat was the only person who regularly came and went from his tent. No one else had ever visited him often enough to be involved.
Unfortunately, certainty was not proof. No matter how certain he was, he had no evidence or whatsoever to support his claims. In the end, he could only keep his mouth shut and ponder the mystery on his own.
Eventually, he let out a sigh and pushed the matter from his mind. Whatever had happened to him mattered far less now. The important thing was that he could walk again and was finally on his way back to his black brothers.
His gaze drifted back to the stars overhead.
As they drew closer to the Wall with each passing day, another concern increasingly occupied his thoughts. He did not know how the Lord Commander would react once they arrived. Would the old man agree to ransom him back and reward the wildlings for returning one of them alive? Or would he simply see a band of wildlings approaching the Wall and order an attack immediately?
The second possibility troubled him more than he cared to admit.
If the Lord Commander chose to attack the moment he saw the wildlings, there was no guarantee he would survive the encounter. An arrow, a spear, or a panicked brother who failed to recognize him could end his life just as easily as any wildling.
The thought frightened him more than he cared to admit.
All he could do was hope that neither side acted rashly when they finally reached the Wall. Edric let out a quiet sigh and pulled his furs tighter around himself.
Above him, the stars shone brightly across the night sky. He found himself staring at them for a long while. At some point, without even realizing it, his eyes grew heavy. The stars blurred, and before he knew it, sleep claimed him.
—---------
Ivar woke earlier than the rest of his companions and quietly roamed around their camp, checking the surrounding area for any signs of a potential attack. After making a full circuit around the camp, he found nothing unusual. He had also sent his beast companions to patrol the area throughout the night, but he still preferred inspecting their surroundings personally.
After finishing his inspection, he made his way back toward the camp as the first light of dawn slowly began creeping over the horizon. To his surprise, he found Alfyn already awake.
"Up early?" Ivar asked as soon as he neared and sat down beside him.
Alfyn stretched and let out a yawn before replying, "Couldn't sleep anymore. Better t' wake up now so we can start our journey early today."
As soon as he finished speaking, he slapped one of his bandsmen who came with him on the shoulder and shouted, "Oi! Up ye go. Light's already creepin' over th' horizon."
Thanks to his shout, the rest of the camp gradually stirred awake.
After Ivar carefully separated the portion he intended to eat, he tied the fur bag shut and stored it away before beginning his meal. Around him, the others who had awakened also started digging through their packs for food.
After chewing on a piece of jerky for a moment, Ivar glanced toward Alfyn and said, "Maybe we'll find traces o' Jorund or Sylas on our way t' the Wall."
Alfyn snorted. "I don't know if they're hidin' or not, but their camps are bloody hard t' find. Even we couldn't track down their men no matter how we looked."
"We've only been searchin' fer them north and west o' the Antler River," Ivar pointed out. "And I bet ye haven't spent much time searchin' the lands south o' it, have ye?"
Alfyn grunted in acknowledgment.
After swallowing his mouthful of jerky, Ivar continued, "We'll be crossin' the main river today and travelin' south until sundown. Sooner or later, we're bound t' hear somethin' about them."
He had left the task of tracking Jorund's and Sylas's forces largely to Alfyn. His own band had been too busy building their new settlement to spend much time searching for either man. So far, however, Alfyn hadn't found any traces of them yet.
Truthfully, Ivar did not mind. With their current strength, he could not yet see them winning a war against Jorund headon.
Alfyn took a piece of jerky from one of his bandsmen and stuffed it into his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment, and only after swallowing did he reply. "I guess yer right."
He tore off another piece and continued chewing before speaking again. "It's just a bit dull these days since ye moved farther north. There's no excitement when the only neighbors ye have are the Howlers."
Ivar chuckled at that. Neither Alfyn nor the Howlers had moved from their previous camps. In fact, Alfyn had relocated his own clan into the secure place Ivar had abandoned. Still, Ivar did not mind. He had found a far better settlement in the north, one that was safer, richer in resources, and far easier to defend.
After finishing his jerky, he brushed his hands against his furs and asked, "How about we arrange mock battles between our men t' help with yer boredom?"
Alfyn frowned and looked at him while chewing. "What d' ye mean by mock battles?"
"We have our men fight each other in groups without real weapons and see who wins," Ivar explained with a smile. "Could even make it interestin' and place bets on the outcome."
Alfyn did not answer immediately. Instead, he sat there imagining the idea. A few moments later, his eyes widened. "That's actually a good idea."
He pointed a piece of jerky at Ivar. "Let's do that. What're we bettin'?"
"Anythin' we want," Ivar replied.
That answer seemed to satisfy Alfyn.
The two continued chatting as the rest of the camp finished eating and packed away their belongings. Before long, the sun was already visible on the horizon, bathing the land in pale morning light.
Not long afterward, they were on the move once more, continuing their journey south toward the Wall.
They crossed the main branch of the Antler River, and it did not take long before they entered the dense trees of the Haunted Forest. The towering pines and ancient trees gradually swallowed the open sky above them, leaving only narrow shafts of sunlight filtering through the branches. The forest was quiet save for the crunch of snow beneath their boots and the occasional call of distant birds.
They traveled steadily throughout the day, avoiding the smaller settlements and hunters scattered throughout the forest whenever possible. There was little reason to announce their presence to strangers when their destination lay elsewhere. Whenever Ivar spotted signs of people ahead, he simply adjusted their route and led the group around them. It seemed there's still many clans who Jorund and Sylas hadn't subdued based on the many settlements they passed by.
As the sun climbed higher into the sky, passed overhead, and slowly began its descent toward the west, their pace gradually slowed. The constant walking since morning was beginning to take its toll on some of the group. Even the hardier wildlings looked noticeably more tired than they had at dawn.
Especially the crow. Edric was breathing heavily now, his face flushed from exhaustion as he struggled to keep pace with the others. Every so often, he would fall a few steps behind before gritting his teeth and forcing himself forward again.
Ivar was about to call for the group to rest for a while when something in the distance caught his attention. He immediately stopped and crouched. A moment later, he raised a hand, signaling for everyone to do the same. The group halted at once and crouched as well. Ivar narrowed his eyes and focused his enhanced vision on the figures moving through the forest ahead. It was a large group, and based on his observations, they were not just hunters from any other clans. They marched together in a loose formation with weapons openly displayed and loudly at that, making little effort to conceal their presence. If anything, they seemed intent on announcing themselves to anyone nearby.
After taking in the sight, he pointed toward what he was watching. One by one, his companions followed the direction of his finger. Understanding quickly dawned on their faces. Together, they silently watched as a large band of free folk warriors marched through the Haunted Forest not far from their position.
"Where d' ye think they're goin', Ivar?" Hilde asked quietly after the large band of warriors had passed them by.
Ivar shook his head. "I dunno."
"Ivar." Alfyn looked at him eagerly, and Ivar did not like that look one bit. "I'm goin' after them and see if they've got somethin' t' do with Jorund or Sylas. They're the only ones capable o' fieldin' that many men these days. I'll follow 'em and see if I can track where they're campin'."
Ivar sighed when he heard that. He knew Alfyn could be rash whenever his desire for revenge was involved, and he also knew there was little he could do to stop him once he had made up his mind. Still, he had to try.
"Ye better not," he said. "It's dangerous, and we didn't travel here fer that. What's more, even if ye find their camp, then what? We still can't fight them head-on with our current numbers and strength."
"We just need t' know where they're campin' so we know what t' do next," Alfyn replied. "Don't worry. I won't do anythin' rash. I'll just follow 'em from afar."
Ivar took one look at the eager expression on Alfyn's face and gave up trying to persuade him.
"We won't wait fer ye here," he said. "So head back t' yer settlement on yer own once ye're done. I'll meet ye there when we return from the Wall."
Alfyn smiled at him and nodded. "That's what I was thinkin'."
He then rose from his crouch, and the companions he brought with him stood up as well. "Then, see ye when I see ye, Ivar."
He paused and glared at the crow not far away before adding, "I'd still advise ye t' just kill the crow instead o' exchangin' him fer somethin'. They can't be trusted."
Seeing that Ivar remained completely unperturbed, Alfyn let out a sigh and shook his head. "Suit yerself."
Truthfully, he had decided to accompany Ivar on this journey largely because he wanted to see for himself whether the exchange would actually work. Part of him expected the crows to attack the moment they spotted the wildlings. Another part doubted that they would receive anything in return even if the exchange went smoothly. Unfortunately, it seemed he would not get to witness the outcome with his own eyes after all.
A moment later, a smirk spread across his face. Without another word, he started off in the direction the warriors had gone, never once looking back.
Ivar, Hilde, the crow, and the others watched silently as Alfyn and his companions disappeared deeper into the forest. They grew smaller and smaller with every step until they were little more than distant figures among the trees.
Once they were nearly out of sight, Hilde finally spoke. "Ye sure Alfyn won't act rashly and will make it back?"
"Dunno." Ivar did not look at her as he answered. His gaze remained fixed on the direction Alfyn had gone. "It's not like I could stop him from doin' what he wants. We will see when we return from the task at hand."
After a while, he finally looked away. The brief pause caused by the passing warriors had already given everyone enough rest.
"Let's go," he said as he rose to his feet. "We can still travel a few more leagues before dark."
No one objected. One by one, they stood up and gathered their belongings before continuing south through the Haunted Forest, leaving both Alfyn and his companions behind.
The journey continued without incident after that. Day after day, they traveled south through the Haunted Forest, making camp each night beneath the towering trees or in abandoned caves they came across before setting out again at first light. They encountered a few hunters and spotted distant settlements from time to time, but Ivar led the group around them every time.
They also came across several abandoned settlements during their journey. Empty huts stood rotting beneath the trees, while long-dead campfires and collapsed tents hinted at lives once lived there. Each time, they could only wonder what had become of the previous occupants before continuing on their way without stopping.
Then, on the fourth day since they had parted ways with Alfyn, they finally saw it. The Wall.
It appeared first as a pale line on the horizon beyond the trees. At first glance, it almost seemed like a distant mountain range rising from the earth itself. But as they continued forward, the forest gradually thinned, and they crested a small rise, its true scale became impossible to ignore.
The Wall stretched across the world from east to west, disappearing beyond sight in both directions. Its icy face gleamed beneath the afternoon sun, reflecting the light like polished crystal. Even from leagues away, it towered above everything around it.
The group came to an unconscious halt as they took in the sight before them.
Even Edric, who had barely spoken since leaving the settlement, began muttering something under his breath. Ivar had no intention of finding out what it was as he knew the crow was simply excited to be nearing home.
Even Ivar found himself speechless as he stared at the immense wall of ice on the horizon. This was the first time he had ever seen the Wall with his own eyes. He had to admit that the stories and descriptions he had heard from his Ma, Pa, and the elders had not done it justice.
Beside him, Hilde quietly sucked in a breath as she took in the sight.
"Gods..." she muttered.
Their other companions eventually stirred from their stupor as well, though none seemed eager to move. Instead, they remained where they were, silently admiring the impossible structure before them.
Ivar knew that if he ordered them to continue marching now, he would earn more than a few complaints. Deciding there was no need to push them further today, he wisely gave a different order.
"We'll camp here tonight. Maera, ye can start cookin' our food now before it gets dark. Boroq, ye take the first watch. Make sure t' circle around us fer a few leagues and see if there're any settlements nearby. Bring a partner with ye."
"Aye."
"Aye."
The two immediately set about their tasks while the others began unloading their belongings. Yet even as they worked, many of them continued glancing toward the Wall, unable to stop themselves from staring at the colossal barrier of ice dominating the horizon.
Boroq quickly chose one of the hunters to accompany him before the pair disappeared into the trees to scout the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Maera gathered firewood and began preparing the evening meal.
The rest of the group spread out around the campsite, setting down packs, unrolling furs, and preparing places to sleep for the night.
Ivar had just settled down himself, positioning his bed furs in a way that would allow him to see the Wall even while lying on the ground, when Edric approached him. He noticed the man hesitate but paid him little mind as he continued arranging his bedding. Nearly a minute passed before the crow finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Ivar!" Edric called out.
Ivar looked up from what he was doing and rose to his feet. He studied the man for a moment before replying, "What?"
Edric met his gaze and said, "I want t' know how ye plan on exchangin' me fer whatever it is ye want. Ye need my cooperation t' avoid misunderstandings when the time comes."
A faint smile appeared on Ivar's face at the crow's attempt to learn his plans, but he had no intention of giving him that satisfaction. The man only needed to show his face and be recognized by his fellow crows.
"Ye only need t' show yer face when the time comes," Ivar said. "Make sure they can recognize ye easily. As fer the rest, I'll handle it."
Edric frowned and pressed on. "What if the Lord Commander, or whoever ye negotiate with, attacks the moment they see us? Ye need my cooperation fer that not t' happen. I want t' know what yer plan is."
Ivar chuckled softly. "I told ye, ye don't need t' worry."
Then he waved a hand dismissively, shooing the crow away. "Now go. I want t' admire the Wall while lyin' down."
Edric took a deep breath to stop himself from lunging at the red-haired brat and beating him senseless, even though he knew he could not. The brat still had those damned magic fingers, and Edric remembered all too well how much of a menace they could be. Instead, he turned around and walked away. He would try again on the morrow. There was no way he was going to let the brat make all the decisions when his own life was on the line.
Ivar watched the crow return to his chosen spot before shaking his head. He had already decided what he would do from here on out. All that remained was to carry it out.
If it failed, then he would simply kill the crow and return to their settlement.
If it succeeded, then all the better. Perhaps he could finally get his hands on a few hens. The thought alone was enough to put him in a good mood. Fresh eggs sounded far more appealing than a crow that was useless to him.