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"Stop!"
A pair of teens suddenly emerged from the rocks in front of them and stopped them in their tracks.
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The three boys were young. Too young to be warriors, tall but thin and had no weapons. However, they must be hiding here, keeping an eye on their team.
It was like a scouting party of wilding boys. A weak scout party in terms of fighting power.
"We had a deal with you crows. But now, you gathered all the crows and are going to attack our village? Crows…. I knew we can't trust you," the older boy, barely fourteen nameday spoke harshly and spat on the ground to show his disgust.
Ser Alliser was going to say something, but Jorah spoke first.
"We are here for our duty. Not a war unless you provoke one. The army is for the trees not for you. So, you can be on your way," Jorah tried to calmly settle the situation.
"Brother, I will call Nan!" The younger brother whispered to his elder brother and then ran away. These two boys however still stood bravely in front of Jorah and Ser Alliser knowing that they were in danger and could be cut down easily.
Jorah couldn't help but notice their age and their bravery. Maybe the harshest cold trains the hardest bone in Westeros.
After Jorah and Ser Alliser dismounted from their horses and walked towards the Weirwood tree but they were soon surrounded by a bunch of women and kids carrying pitchforks and stone axes.
Ser Alliser wanted to take his sword out but Jorah again stopped him by grabbing his hand.
"Once you do that, it will only increase the tension. The sword should come out only after the words have failed," Jorah spoke calmly and smiled. Patting the shoulder of Ser Alliser, he again walked forward.
He simply ignored all the hostile gazes around him and kept walking towards the weirwood tree. The biggest one he had ever seen with the scariest face carved upon it.
"Gods, no wonder the face scared the Andals, and they began to cut down these," Jorah couldn't help but speak involuntarily after looking at the scary face with sharp 'teeth' and hollowed-out eyes.
"You are here for worship? Then why bring the large army?"
A voice broke Jorah's chain of thought and Jorah saw an old woman, with her head filled with white hair, just like the snow and the body, thin like the dead trees.
"I came here to worship the Old Gods and not to attack your village. So, your worries are needless. Besides, you know if we want to attack you, you can't stop us with these broken weapons."
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Jorah looking over the lady spoke and walked forward ignoring the crowd and keeping his steps calm and composed. Watching the man walking towards the tree, fearlessly and without any hostility, the old woman gave a signal and the crowd left a path open for Jorah.
Ser Alliser had his grip on his sword and he was ready to attack these wildings if any one of them thought tried to attack the young lord from behind.
"Are you there, the Old Gods?"
Jorah walked closer to the tree and put his hand on its thick branches and thought these words but there was no reply. Jorah was not disappointed but felt relaxed.
If there was a reply from the Old Gods, he might have been more confused and worried. Gods have never been so easily approachable. However, there are always accidents in life. Just like now.
"Swoosh!"
A strong wind started blowing suddenly around the tree, scaring and making all the wildings run far from the weirwood tree. Only Jorah stood still, waiting for the reveal. His eyes kept looking in several directions, trying to find out the mystery but the wind came and went away after a few minutes.
"So, it was a reply. Somehow, this unsettles me more."
Jorah thought and then walked away from the weirwood tree. If the Old Gods really wanted to talk to him, then they must have more subtle methods than a grand show. Besides, he came outside the wall as they asked. Now, it was their turn.
Jorah gave a nod to Ser Alliser and they quickly mounted their horses and left the village. While riding back, Ser Alliser felt northerners were really troublesome.
Just for a few seconds of prayer, he might have lost his head.
"Ser Alliser, did you notice something?" Jorah suddenly asked.
"What?"
"There were no men. Not a single man that can actually put up a fight." Jorah replied startling Alliser who turned his head to look back at the fading crowd.
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"These wilding men won't leave their village without any reason." Ser Alliser spoke with a very serious tone.
"Aye! Something so important that they left all the women and kids behind. Is it a war with another tribe or something against the wall?" Jorah was also thinking the same thing and spoke.
"I think Qhorin will have his hands full with this!" Ser Alliser spoke while shaking his head.
When it comes to scouting and tracking, there is no one better than legendary Qhorin Halfhand on night's watch. Hopefully, he would have some answer.
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As the sky grew dark and the day passed, the army and men of night's watch left the forest and hurried off to the wall. Behind them were more than 100 large trunks and the haul of the first day was quite fruitful.
The men who came from Winterfell were more excited as they did a lot of heavy work which meant more coppers for them. Jorah and Ser Alliser were just thankful that so far, there had been no attacks and everyone is just safe.
Meanwhile, Qhorin was leading a team and they were watching a large group of wilding men marching towards the Frostfangs closer to their own castle, the Shadow Tower.
"What in the world of shit snow are these wildings doing?" Qhorin spoke to himself while moving his band of scouts towards their own castle and sending one rider back to Castle Black.