A man was walking along a muddy path while riding his horse, right next to another person on horseback. The man on the right was Dannel, while the one on the left was named Aron. Both wore all-black clothing with swords on their hips. They were clearly men of the Night's Watch. These two were deputies of the watch; they are responsible for a variety of critical functions and provide vital services for daily life. They hunt and farm, care for horses, gather firewood, cook, make clothes, maintain weapons, and bring in supplies needed by the Night's Watch from the south. They also collect certain taxes.
Presumably, they already knew the location where they had a target. However, what their eyes saw was different from what they remembered. The trees on either side of the path were the same, to a certain extent. The muddy and dirty path, however, ended before them, right where a large open gate stood.
"What..." Aron couldn't finish his words. Nothing came out of his open mouth.
Dannel, on the other hand, exclaimed in surprise. "What the hell happened here, for gods' sake!"
Great white stone walls rose before them, imposing yet undeniably beautiful. Every few meters, a sigil of a shield with a black background and a wolf howling at the sky was painted.
Both delegates looked at each other in obvious shock; they could see it in each other's eyes. Only eight months ago, they had arrived here for the taxes. Generally, taxes are paid in gold, but for the guard, it was different; the towns within the Don and the New Don paid in kind or all kinds of rations. Now, however, the fortress they knew had become much larger. In fact, the castle itself in the center seemed larger.
"Is this the work of the new guard?" Arón asked aloud.
"Perhaps... but we'll have to see. Even if the Lord Commander gave his approval for this new guard to be stationed here, he hasn't had a chance to meet him. He doesn't feel entirely safe, he says."
The two advanced on their horses before being stopped at the gates. Two guards waved their lances and crossed in the middle, preventing the two delegates from passing.
"Who are they?"
Arón frowned. It should be obvious, he thought. Dannel, on the other hand, was surprised to see a familiar face on one of the guards.
"Yory?"
"Hello, Dannel. It's been a while since we last met. Collecting taxes?"
"Yes..." Dannel nodded and then looked ahead, clearly surprised. The main road wasn't dirt or mud, but stone a shade between gray and white.
"Surprising, isn't it?" Yory asked as he moved his spear, and looked at his companion, nodding.
"Yes... I mean, what exactly happened? This wasn't like this last time!" Dannel said as he looked at his acquaintance. Yory was grinning from ear to ear; he looked truly happy.
"Lord Snow is what happened. At first, no one had too many hopes for a young guardian with a twelve-day name. But look now! Our village can now be considered a small town!" Yory said proudly as he looked inside the walls.
"For the first few months, Lord Snow helped us with the crops and livestock. In fact, now we have people working raising bees and obtaining honey from the clover crops that attract them. Our young lord decided to teach the people to read and write, then gave them jobs to teach others. We've been trained for battle and guard duty."
"Honestly, it was like a blessing for us. The streets were improved, these walls were raised, and even the castle expanded a little."
"That much?" Dannel asked, not believing that all this had been the work of a twelve-day-old youth. This was simply too much to believe without seeing it.
"You can come in and see. I'll ask someone to guide you to Lord Snow."
"Good. Thank you, Yory," Dannel nodded, looking forward to this meeting. After all, if things were so good here, then perhaps they could get more than usual in taxes. This would be very helpful for the guard.
Yory moved to the side, yelling up. Shortly after, a young man descended the stairs leading to the top of the walls. This young man looked to be about 18 days old, had brown hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a blue doublet with Jon's sigil on the right side of his chest. He also carried a sword at his hip. Interestingly, he was wearing black shoulder pads, as well as metal gloves and bracers. His legs were etched with metal, all in black.
"This is Jack. He will guide you to Lord Snow."
"Greetings," Jack greeted respectfully. Arón and Dannel just nodded as they began to be guided.
"Can you tell us something about this Lord Snow?" Arón asked curiously.
"He's the best," Jack said with a serious nod. "Well, at least for us. I've heard of some guardians or lords who stay inside the fortresses or castles, keeping order. Lord Snow is different. Since he arrived, he's not only helped with the crops, but also with hunting and livestock. I think he's the type of man who enjoys working at what he does."
"Ah... he's also quite serious. He's not one to ramble on in conversation."
"How did they build those walls in such a short time?"
"Ah... that's one of Lord Snow's ideas. He's implemented many of them, like the four-field rotation. He's also found a use for our bitter crops. In fact, he even created a drink that he claims freezes less quickly during winter. It hasn't been proven so far, but damn, it's a strong drink."
"How strong?" Arón asked with a small smile.
"Enough to make your head rumble the next day from a bottle."
The three men continued their conversation along the stone paths until they reached a bridge. The two delegates looked surprised to see a large ditch created in front of the castle gate. In fact, it was even clean, clear water. As they passed inside the inner wall, they came across a large courtyard where some guards were training, and some children were also watching with excited smiles.
"There's Lord Snow," Jack pointed to a young man training with an inexperienced adult man. Both delegates watched the precise movements of the black-haired young man. His sword moved quickly and aimed at fatal locations before stopping before striking and retreating. However, he looked at them and raised his hand.
"Gerold, I want you to continue training them! It seems I have guests."
"My lord..." the man named Gerold nodded seriously.
Dannel looked more closely: black hair tied at the back of his head, surprisingly clear, silver eyes. He was a young man tall for his age and had a slim but powerful build. His walk showed confidence, and his smile was definitely charismatic.
"You must be deputies of the Night's Watch," Jon said as he approached and stopped in front of the two men who dismounted their horses.
"I am the Keeper of Aeternum, Jon Snow. I would like to know your names."
"I am Dannel, one of the deputies of the watch," Dannel introduced himself seriously and pointed his hand at his companion.
"This is Arón, also a deputie."
"Dannel and Arón. Good. Please follow me," Jon nodded and put his sword in the sheath at his hip. Jon led them around the outside of the castle, to where there was a stone door from which they descended. There were torches on the walls, and the interior was a dungeon. Jon had no need for a prison, so he used this place for many supplies.
"Since I arrived, I've ordered that this place be taken care of as best as possible. I don't want things to rot," Jon commented quietly. "Besides, I didn't know when they might arrive, so things are put in order every month."
"Here..." Jon stopped in front of what looked like a cell. There were no bars or doors; it was as if they had been removed, leaving several sections where things could be left.
"This is for you. Do you think it's enough?"
Dannel and Arón opened their mouths before looking at each other with wide grins. In front of them were large sacks of provisions. There were grains of rye and wheat, as well as some flour. Dannel could smell the typical scent of some spices, causing her appetite to flood her.
"Are you sure, Lord Snow? This is much more than we expected!"
"I can't promise these amounts should winter come, but as long as the weather stays the same or close to this, it'll be normal."
"By the way, do you need a wagon to transport it? I can lend some guards as well."
"Yes... yes, that would be appreciated," Arón nodded as he ran his hand over the back of his head. "Honestly, we can always carry things on horses. It's never been so much that it required a wagon."
Jon frowned slightly.
"That's... certainly not enough for the guard. But know that you have allies with us. My father entrusted these lands to me, so it's my duty to help."
"I'll ask for this to be moved. I think you should get some rest."
"Thank you, Lord Snow. Rest would do us good," Dannel nodded with a smile. This trip had actually turned out to be incredible, he thought. They never expected to receive so much.
"I'll show you the way to your guest rooms. Oh, I'd also like you to try a few things and give me your feedback," Jon smiled as he looked at them expectantly. The delegates just nodded.
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Dannel opened his eyes and groaned. He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so snug and warm. The bed in his guest room was comfortable, as were the bedspreads. Getting up was a small challenge compared to the coldness of the wall, which prevented him from sleeping so comfortably.
Still, it took several minutes before he got out of bed and dressed in his clothes. He put on his boots before leaving the room, placing his sword on his hip. When he stepped outside, he saw Arón coming out of the next room.
"Dannel... How hard did you struggle to get out of bed?"
"A few minutes..." He sighed briefly before shaking his head, tacitly indicating that they should walk down the castle hallway.
"What do you think of that... vodka?" Dannel asked.
"It's strong. Damned if it's strong. But Lord Snow is right, it might help in the Watch. I might wake some people up with one drink. And if it actually takes longer to freeze, it's all the better."
"Hot chocolate?"
"Mm... a little sweet in my opinion, but Lord Snow says it can be made less sweet. But it will keep you warm."
Dannel shook her head; she didn't know how this Lord Snow came up with things like this.
In fact, Jon had been surprised by these bitter crops. It was actually cacao. Jon actually froze when he saw the elongated, orange fruits with dark spots. And when he opened them with a knife, he smiled tightly. He had read about cacao in one of the documents Rias sent him a while back. Although he didn't understand how it had been able to grow in these lands. The document said it needed a warmer climate.
He decided to ask Rias and Harry. Unfortunately, they found it just as strange. Harry could only assume that since his world sometimes had such long seasons, these plants might have adapted to the New Gift's climate. If anything, it was a blessing for Jon. This meant new crops, and therefore more rations. And also enormous possibilities for trade.
Vodka was also something he pulled from those many documents that now belonged only to him in this world. Jon shuddered when he felt his throat burn the first time he tasted it. It wasn't as if he was planning on drinking this kind of beverage; he was still young, and he knew it. He didn't want to harm himself with things like that when he could continue growing. Perhaps he would if he had enough points to splurge on a skill that would give him some immunity to such drinks.
The two delegates felt a little bitter after breaking their fast. They had slept warmly in a comfortable bed and had breakfasts of hot, healthy, and delicious food. They couldn't help but curse their lives. Both had never committed crimes; they had simply joined the guard because they had no other opportunities. And as they walked toward Jon's manor, they wondered what their lives would be like if someone like Lord Snow had appeared in the villages where they were born before. In fact, even though Aeternum City was much smaller than the capital in the south, the quality of life was simply better. That was something they could be sure of, having been in that shitty-smelling city.
When they were allowed inside, they saw Jon set some documents aside as he looked at them with a smile. Extending his hand toward the two chairs in front of the desk, Jon invited them to sit.
"I would like this letter delivered to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont." Jon placed a letter on the table and slid it across the table, right in front of Daneel.
"That can be easily done," Dannel took the letter and nodded before tucking it into his robes.
Jon nodded before looking at the two men more seriously. "I have prepared two wagons and several guards to accompany you. The second wagon is a gift from me. It has barrels of vodka, a sack of cocoa, and a few other items. I hope you will use it."
"Thank you very much, Lord Snow," Dannel bowed respectfully, thanking them for the help they were receiving.
"By the way... what can you tell me about the wildlings? I want to prepare myself in case they decide to pass through Seal Bay."
"They're damned tough!" Aron grunted slightly. "Finding a few dead bodies along the wall isn't uncommon. Those madmen teach their children to climb, but some end up dying. However, these last few moons we've seen a lot more movement. They haven't attempted any massive raids or larger than normal numbers yet, but we do know they're moving faster than normal, increasingly toward the south."
"I see..." Jon frowned. He knew the Seal Bay side was the most protected. On the other hand, to the west, it was harder to expect a raid. Besides, the mountain clans were in those directions, so raids are less common in those parts.
"They can leave at any time," Jon said before dismissing the delegates. He had things to do, and others to think about. One of them was trading. He needed to build a reputation for the city. Besides, some people would soon be leaving to sell things from the city elsewhere.
"Getting to the capital is complicated..." Jon knew that would also be a problem. Not the fact that trade would be done with the city, but the reputation Aeternum could have and the impact on the council. And while the chances weren't that high, Jon didn't want to rule out such a situation.
"I also need to prepare some gifts. Lady Catelyn and my father's baby is about to be born..." Jon sighed a little. He had to call Demian. The man was good enough to be a steward during his time at Winterfell next month.
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