章節 38: omen
(POV Qhorin)
"!!!!!!!!"
A horn sounded from Qhorin's mouth, who looked out over the large wild village.
"This place still gives me the creeps, even when that cursed boy is gone."
"Shut your mouth Stiv, we'll have to spend the night, and I don't want you bothering me with your nonsense."
"Better shut up both of you, you've already opened the doors, let's go."
Qhorin silenced his men, as he watched the south entrance doors open.
"I don't understand the reason for your complaints, Stiv, the beds in this place are better than the ones in Shadow Tower."
Ser Jaremy Rykker spurred his horse to keep up the pace, continuing the conversation.
The beds they were referring to, were feather-filled fur mattresses, which achieved a very good softness.
Ser Denys Mallister had secured a permit to continue trade with the savages, making the black axe tribe friends of the guard.
As much as Lord Commander Qorgyle and many other high commanders of Castle Black had been against continuing the trade, the contributions that Ser Denys Mallister had made had greatly improved the overall condition of the Night's Watch, purchasing new equipment that allowed them to perform maintenance on the wall, distributing new furniture to the 3 strongholds, replacing old armor and purchasing new horses for the sworn brothers, and even allowing Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to maintain a new ship, a large trading galley called a whitecrow, with which Denys shipped goods to the free cities.
According to Maester Aemon, the Night's Watch had not had a restructuring of this level since the time of Queen Alysanne.
(We have kept our oaths for a long time, but now we face an enemy we cannot defeat with our swords and determination alone. There are fewer and fewer of us sworn brothers that we protect from the great wall, and I fear that if this continues, the extinction of the Night's Watch will soon come).
With these shocking words from Maester Aemon, the Night's Watch decided to continue trading with the Black Axe tribe and thus improve the general state of their castles.
Denys Mallister had assured that the goods they manufactured in the Black Axe tribe had reached such a high quality that it would soon be possible to recover other fortresses that had been abandoned, such as Stonedoor or Sable Hall. But, even so, he was still viewed with skepticism as they said he was sullying their vows.
From Castle Black, 100 scouts were moved to Shadow Tower, to improve defenses and keep vigil over the black axe tribe, which had been growing worryingly fast.
"I'd be more than happy to come to sleep in those beds, but it would be much better if Benjen hadn't snatched that ornate longbow from my hands."
Ser Jarman Buckwell said, giving Benjen a sharp look.
"Will you keep pestering me about that, Ser Jarman?"
Benjen flashed a slight smile as he replied, the longbow they were referring to was on display in the black axe tribe's workshop. When Benjen asked about it, Oswin told him it was one of the last pieces of work his son Blake created before he went to placate the Ice-river clans.
"10 fucking head of cattle, I couldn't believe when he only asked you for that for a weapon that could have been a family heirloom, I get how Ser Denys seems to shit gold."
"It was a nice gift for my brother after his eldest son's second name day."
Benjen continued to banter with Ser Jarman along the road until Qhorin shushed them.
"Ten head of cattle may not seem like much since you grew up as members of large families, but here in the cold north, beyond the wall, it can mean the difference between life and death."
Qhorin looked at the settlement of the black axe tribe, which seemed even larger than the last time he visited.
"And look at what these people have accomplished, even though we have swindled much of the goods they distribute to us. It makes me feel so ashamed that it is difficult for me to show my face before Oswin. I don't want another word said on this subject, that's an order."
As the walls and towers of the settlement grew larger as they approached, Qhorin spoke, silencing his men.
Before, the Night's Watch kept 70% of the profits from selling the Black Axe Tribe's wares, but after Blake requested better deals from Lord Jeor Mormont, and he, in turn, mentioned it to Ser Denys Mallister, this margin had dropped to 55%, which was merely a small improvement.
The reason they were coming was to make a trade with the black axe tribe. Since Oswin had sent them a messenger, warning of a new attack by the Ice-river clans and their inability to continue to trade a year ago, Ser Denys instructed his scouts to take the initiative to go to the black axe tribe themselves.
They carried about 10 wagons filled with the goods Oswin normally requested, and had made this exchange at least a dozen times over the past year.
"Qhorin, I hope the trip was safe!"
Oswin waved to the caravan with open arms, and Qhorin dismounted, squeezing his arm from his elbow, answering the greeting. Oswin had all the appearance of a lord, wearing impeccable armor of leather and steel, plus gold and wooden ornaments holding up his red hair and beard.
"Oswin, you look in good health, it seems that staying so long within the tribe has its benefits."
"You're telling me Qhorin, that damn kid still isn't back from the war, if he keeps this up, I'll leave all the work to Dean and go finish this thing myself."
From Qhorin's memories, Dean was a crippled boy who had returned from the war about 6 months ago after losing a leg while fighting the Ice-river clans.
"You won't try to create more trouble for young Blake instead, besides, that boy Dean lost a leg in battle, he could be dangerous if you leave him in charge."
In Qhorin's eyes, though Oswin had proven to be a trustworthy friend, the savages as a whole were still dangerous to command, and to do so would take a very powerful warrior.
"No, you don't know him as well as I do, Qhorin, that boy has a talent for this. Anyway, let's go inside, they're already preparing food."
Qhorin nodded, leading the caravan inside.
Inside, the group saw the bustle of the tribe, everyone seemed busy, and there was a lot of movement.
"Dean managed to expand the tribe's growing area while Blake was away. We're harvesting right now, watch this."
Qhorin watched as Oswin approached a wagon covered with skins, pulling out a carrot and tossing it toward Benjen.
The carrot was thick, long, and still attached to the stalk.
"Go ahead taste it."
Oswin crossed his arms, looking at the young Stark.
Several of the knights present made a slight frown, for Benjen was until recently a nobleman belonging to one of the most prestigious families in all of Westeros, and should be treated with more care, but they soon remembered where they were, a wild village on the other side of the wall, and the one who had done the deed was the leader of those savages, nothing good would come of taking it against him in this place.
"It's very sweet, as sweet as my home crops, but we didn't make it to this size."
Benjen took a bite of the carrot, responding.
"According to Blake, the soil in the Haunted Forest is very good for growing, the other vegetables are a similar size. It took us some time, by now we're getting the hang of this growing thing, soon we won't need any more vegetables in the exchanges, see if you can get me those horses."
A bead of sweat trickled down Qhorin's forehead despite the cold weather.
Even they were having trouble farming in the Gift, so many that many farmers preferred to abandon the land and seek better luck in the south, and yet these savages were succeeding in farming in a much more difficult place.
"Let's eat first, then talk business."
Oswin, accompanied by a dark-skinned wild woman, led the group toward the dining halls.
The animosity of the black axe tribe towards them had diminished over time after their constant visits, and although few even looked at them, they no longer did so with murderous intent or anger, just a sign of wariness not unlike the one they had when they looked at them.
The dishes they were served were fried fish, grilled onions and carrots, a piece of cheese, and a slice of bread. A very extravagant meal if you asked Qhorin.
"This is something I want to show you, the latest product of the tribe!"
Oswin, in the middle of the meal, pulled out a small chest, opening it and revealing a thick red substance, then, used his dagger to smear some of the substance on a piece of bread, eating it in one bite and urging everyone to try it.
"It's very sweet."
"It tastes like honey, but not at the same time."
"It has a curious taste."
Qhorin also gave it a try, to him, it tasted just as sweet as honey, but had a stronger flavor, like a good fruit tart.
Oswin watched as everyone ate the substance, making a conspiratorial smile.
"It's the latest product of my tribe, it's called red honey."
"Honey? In the north? How the hell did you do that?"
Benjen Stark was the first to show his bewilderment, it was known to everyone in the north, that bees did not survive in such cold climates, making it impossible to create honey after the collar.
"My son found a way to do it. What do you think, did you like it?"
Qhorin gave an inward sigh, in this strange godforsaken place, stranger and stranger things were happening. He wondered, if after a few more years, would this town reach the opulence of the southern cities, and if so, would they need to keep the savages out of the great wall?
More and more savages were flocking to the gates of the black axe tribe, and rumors were spreading throughout the lands beyond the wall, causing them to constantly receive refugees. A year was enough for them to see with their eyes the dizzying speed at which they were developing.
Qhorin thought he should talk to Ser Denys Mallister and convince him to find a way for Oswin and his tribe to get over the wall. The black axe tribe seemed to be riding on a dragon, flying at great speeds, if they kept this up, even for them it would be very difficult to stop them if they became their enemies.
創作者的想法 
papudepapus
papudepapus Hi, unfortunately I couldn't finish today's chapter since I was at a family reunion and I only got home a couple of hours ago. I will leave the teaser of the day's chapter, which is what I could write, tomorrow I will post it complete and I will also post 2 more chapters, sorry.
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