Every eye fixed itself on the approaching ships.
The monastery banners snapped violently beneath the sea wind while the vessels cut through the dark waters toward the shore. Soldiers along the coastline shifted restlessly. Some narrowed their eyes trying to identify faces standing upon the decks.
Edmond stood at the front: still, and watching.
His cloak whipped harshly behind him while one hand remained tightly wrapped around the reins of his horse. Lord Martins stood nearby, though even he wisely kept silent now.
Then Newton saw him, his father, standing there at the shore waiting.
Relief struck Newton first. Sharp, sudden. For a brief second his shoulders nearly loosened. "If he is here, I do not have to go back to Snowland."
But the relief vanished almost immediately. Because Edmond was not smiling. The expression on his father's face darkened the closer the ships moved toward shore. His jaw looked tight enough to crack stones itself.
Newton swallowed hard. "Father is angry."
Newton would rather face Edmond's rage than his worry. The ships finally slowed near the shore while sailors threw ropes toward the waiting soldiers. Wood groaned loudly as the vessel struck lightly against the dock.
Before anyone could properly disembark, Edmond's voice exploded across the shoreline. "Newton!"
Every knight on the ship froze instantly. "What did you go searching for in Green Land?" The fury behind the words made even the sea breeze feel colder.
Newton stepped forward slowly. His legs suddenly felt uncertain beneath him. "My lord…" His voice nearly failed him. "I needed to help a helpless man."
Edmond's eyes hardened immediately. "Were you sent by the monastery to help helpless men?"
Newton lowered his gaze slightly. "No, my lord."
The silence afterward stretched painfully. Newton could feel the eyes of hundreds of soldiers fixed upon him now.
Monastery knights. Northern warriors. Sailors. Everyone waiting. Everyone watched the commander being scolded like a reckless child.
Newton forced himself to continue. "I am sorry."
Edmond stepped closer to the edge of the dock. "You vanished for days." His voice lowered now, but somehow became more dangerous. "You involved monastery knights in southern politics."
Newton opened his mouth carefully. "Lord Ezion was murdered."
Edmond froze.
The shift happened immediately. Newton saw it. The anger remained, but something else broke through it now.
Shock.
"Lord Ezion is dead?"
Newton nodded slowly. "He was killed by his brother, Muddock." For several seconds Edmond said nothing. The sea crashed loudly behind them.
Lord Ezion, his old friend. A man he drank with. A man he trusted was gone.
Newton noticed the slight softness entering Edmond's eyes and pressed forward carefully. "I had to help his son before Muddock reached him too."
Edmond's jaw flexed hard again. "Did it occur to you," he said slowly, "to send the boy to me instead?"
Newton hesitated. "We had no time."
Edmond's eyes narrowed.
"Muddock already had Kelvin's family imprisoned." Newton spoke faster now. "If we delayed, they would all have died."
Silence followed again: heavy silence.
Edmond stared at Newton for a long moment. Then suddenly he climbed onto the dock.
Fast, too fast.
Newton barely reacted before Edmond grabbed his ear harshly. "Aaaahhh!" Newton nearly stumbled sideways. Several nearby knights immediately looked away trying not to laugh. Others failed completely.
Edmond ignored everyone. "You reckless fool!" He dragged Newton straight off the ship by the ear.
"Father!"
"Quiet!"
Newton grimaced in pain while trying to keep up beside him. The monastery knights watched in stunned amusement as their commander was dragged across the shore like a misbehaving child.
Tywin folded his arms quietly, hiding the faint smile threatening his face. Edmond stopped beside his horse and released Newton's ear roughly.
"Get on."
Newton did not argue. Not even slightly. He climbed onto the horse immediately. Edmond mounted behind him in one swift motion before turning sharply toward Lord Martins.
"Remain here until I return." Lord Martins bowed instantly. "Yes, my lord."
Edmond kicked the horse hard. The animal screamed and surged forward violently. Newton nearly lost balance as they burst into the forest road at full speed.
Cold wind struck against them while snow scattered beneath the horse's hooves. For several minutes neither spoke. Only the sound of galloping filled the frozen woods.
Newton finally gathered enough courage to ask. "Where are you taking me?"
"Shut up."
Newton obeyed immediately. The ride continued deeper through the forest paths until the nearest village finally appeared ahead beneath the fading daylight.
Smoke rose from small chimneys while villagers hurried away nervously seeing the northern lord approach so aggressively. Edmond dismounted immediately once they stopped.
Newton barely touched the ground before Edmond grabbed his ear again.
"Father!"
"Move."
Newton groaned while being dragged toward the village inn. The villagers stared openly now. Some whispered. Others quickly pretended not to watch.
Edmond pushed through the inn door with Newton still trapped firmly in his grip. Warm air and the smell of roasted meat filled the building instantly. A startled woman behind the counter nearly dropped her cup.
Edmond threw coins onto the table carelessly. "I am taking the second room." The woman nodded quickly. "Yes, my lord."
By now Newton already understood exactly why they were here. And honestly? That terrified him more than the shouting.
The moment they entered the room, Edmond shut the door hard behind them.
Newton wasted no time. He immediately removed his helmet. Then carefully untied the cloth wrapped around his head.
The moment the fabric loosened, strands of red hair spilled free again. Longer now. Far too visible.
Edmond stared at it silently. His jaw tightened immediately. "I hope nobody saw your hair."
Newton shook his head quickly. "Relax, father." He forced out a nervous laugh. "I kept it tied tightly."
Then he hesitated briefly. "And I avoided sleeping close to the men."
Edmond exhaled sharply through his nose. "Good." The word sounded more relieved than angry.
Newton watched his father closely now. The fear in Edmond's eyes disturbed him. Not fear for himself, but fear of the hair. Fear of what it meant.
Edmond reached beneath his robes and slowly pulled out the thin shaving blade. The sight alone made Newton straighten instinctively.
Edmond sat heavily upon the bed. "Come here."
Newton obeyed quietly and sat before him. For a moment neither spoke. Only the faint crackling from the fireplace filled the room.
Then Edmond began shaving carefully. Slow precise movements. Every strand mattered. Every strand was dangerous.
Newton finally broke the silence quietly. "You came all the way to the monastery because I missed one weekend."
Edmond did not stop shaving. "You disappeared."
Newton lowered his eyes slightly. "I am sorry."
Edmond remained silent another moment. Then finally spoke. "From now on, you no longer need to return to Snowland for this."
Newton blinked.
Edmond's eyes remained fixed on the shaving. "I will come to the monastery instead."
Newton turned slightly in surprise. "No, father." He shook his head immediately. "You rule the North already. You have enough burdens."
Edmond continued shaving without looking up. "I said I will come."
Newton tried again carefully. "But the journey alone is—"
"Shut up."
The words cut through the room instantly. Edmond finally looked directly at him now. "I am not risking you wandering into another kingdom again."
Newton went quiet immediately. Arguing further would only worsen things.
Edmond resumed shaving. The room fell silent again except for the scraping sound of steel against hair.
When he finally finished, Edmond inspected Newton's head carefully from every angle. He nodded in satisfaction.
Then he gathered every fallen strand meticulously from the floor. Not one escaped him.
Newton watched quietly while Edmond placed the hair into the fireplace. The flames swallowed the crimson strands instantly. Edmond stared at the burning fire for several seconds longer than necessary. As though making certain the hair truly disappeared. Only then did he finally rise.
"Come."
They returned to the shore shortly afterward. The monastery knights had already begun preparing horses for the journey back to the Wall while the northern soldiers waited nearby.
The moment Newton returned, several knights smirked knowingly after noticing how red his ear had become. Newton ignored them completely.
Edmond stopped before him one final time. "The grand master is worried sick already."
Newton nodded. "I know."
Edmond studied him carefully. For a brief second the harsh northern lord disappeared again, leaving only a father staring at his son.
"Do not disappear like that again." The words came quieter this time.
Newton swallowed slightly. "Yes, father." Edmond nodded once. Then stepped backward. "Go."
Newton mounted his horse while the monastery knights gathered around him. Tywin watched the exchange silently from nearby, his thoughts unreadable.
Soon the riders separated. Newton and the monastery knights headed north toward the Wall. Edmond and his soldiers turned back toward Snowland.
The distance between them slowly widened beneath the gray northern sky.