After finishing the job, Thorfinn finally took a moment to look at the corpses.
The metal armor used by the Free Folk are mostly scraps scavenged from the bodies of fallen Night's Watch Rangers. Most of the Free Folk wear leather armor sewn from tanned hides or sheepskin, and carry round shields woven from willow, some covered with human skin and painted with patterns like skulls and bones, venomous snakes, bear claws, monstrous twisted faces, and severed heads.
In terms of arms and gear, the Thenn tribe's weapons and equipment were better than those of most other Free Folk. At the very least, they possessed bronze helmets, axes forged from bronze or stone, short spears with leaf-shaped points, leather jerkins stitched with bronze scales, and crude copper-rimmed leather shields. The gear on the five bodies before Thorfinn proved this point.
However, it seemed something was afoot; there appeared to be far too many Thenns moving about in this area.
It was only then that Thorfinn noticed the woman standing beside him, still visibly startled. She was beautiful, but seemed a few wits shy of a raven. Thorfinn figured in a classic rescue like this, the lady should at least be grateful, if not offer herself to her savior. Instead, as he approached to assess her, the woman grew agitated.
The woman was trembling, clearly terrified. "Don't come near me! Don't... don't kill me." Thorfinn found this odd. Did he look so frightening?
Thorfinn: "It's all right. You are safe now. I am no villain."
Val didn't believe him. The sheer ferocity he'd shown in the fight proved he was no gentle soul; even the most ruthless men struggled to match the speed with which he had dispatched five lives. Yet, Val forced herself to calm down. She was not unacquainted with the sight of killing, but the chilling efficiency of this boy was something she rarely saw.
Val managed to force a small smile to face the grim-faced killer. "Well, I suppose I'm safe, then. I am Val. Thank you for your intervention."
Thorfinn was speechless. Was he the one who intended to intervene? If it weren't for her, he would have been long gone from this trouble spot! But on the surface, Thorfinn maintained a gracious facade.
"It's nothing, Val. I am Thorfinn. But what is the meaning of these Thenns being here? This isn't their usual stomping ground. Don't these bloody lot usually stick to the high mountain valleys deep in the Frostfangs? What brings them this far south?"
Val replied, "I don't know, but they have been very active lately. They seem to have sent many out, searching for something. Who knows their plans? We never get a chance to talk to them, you know. That lot won't listen to anyone but their Magnar."
Thorfinn nodded in agreement.
The people of Thenn are called Thenns. They believe they possess the last blood of the First Men. Their primary tongue is the Old Tongue, and most only know a word or two of the Common Tongue. Their leader is the Magnar, whom they regard as a god, not merely a chief.
The Thenns are said to be the most civilized of the Free Folk, closer to the men south of the Wall because they have a system of laws and a lord. They are ferocious warriors, but because they treat the Magnar as a god, they are absolutely obedient and possess a far greater battle discipline than other wildlings.
It was probably because of the Others. Thenn is quite close to the Land of Always Winter. If the Others were truly rising, they would surely be the first to suffer.
Thorfinn: "Then why would they be after you, Val?"
Val hesitated. "I was just out walking when I unexpectedly ran into this lot. Who knew there would be so many of them? If it had only been one or two, I wouldn't have feared them."
Ignoring whether Val was just puffing up her chest, Thorfinn continued, "We should burn them. Help me pile them together, quickly."
Val was puzzled. "Why? Leave them here, and they'll be picked clean in a few days. If a pack of wolves finds them, there won't be a bone left."
Thorfinn explained, "I fear they'll stand up and walk away themselves before nightfall. The land Beyond the Wall is undergoing a great change. The Others are waking."
Val first found the notion amusing, but when she saw Thorfinn's serious expression, she stopped smiling. She retorted sharply, "Are you simple in the head, boy? The Others are just nursery tales! They don't frighten children anymore."
Thorfinn remained unfazed. He never expected these folk, who had grown up Beyond the Wall, to believe him instantly. It sounded too much like a fairy tale, and they would need time to accept it. Thorfinn remained calm and repeated, "It is true. The Others are coming. They reanimate the dead, turning them into wights to fight for them. Every living person is their prey."
Val clearly still didn't believe him, but she did not refuse Thorfinn's request. As she struggled to drag the still-warm bodies of the Thenns, she asked, with a trace of emotion, "And how are we meant to kill them, our great prophet, Lord Thorfinn?"
Lord? There were no lords Beyond the Wall; Val was clearly annoyed. Thorfinn merely smiled and answered, "Only two things work against the Others: Dragonglass and Valyrian steel weapons. It should be the same for wights, but they also fear fire. Fire has a cleansing power. Once the bodies are burned, the Others cannot use them."
Thorfinn pulled the blood-stained arrows from the corpses and put them back in his quiver. Then he checked his spoils. There was nothing of great value, only some food and weapons that caught his eye. He strapped a single-edged hand axe to his waist, slung a decent round shield on his back, and found a longsword that he particularly liked. The rest was crude junk, best left alone.
Finally, they piled the bodies, and Thorfinn expertly built a fire and lit it. As the flames rose high, Thorfinn sighed with a hint of sadness. This was the rule of the game Beyond the Wall. If they had gotten close, Thorfinn would have been no match for them, as they were grown men and outnumbered him. To save himself, he had to strike first.
Thorfinn was not the type to entrust his life and death to others.
Seeing Thorfinn a bit downcast, Val stood nearby and asked, "You won and killed them all. Why the glum face, Thorfinn?"
Thorfinn turned to Val. "All because of you. I never intended to kill anyone, let alone five."
Val was nonchalant. "Didn't I try to warn you of the danger behind me? Besides, with your skill, why would you fear them? It seems to me you could handle a few more men."
Thorfinn pressed on. "You can leave now. I'm going home. And a word of advice: you better move quickly. The firelight and smoke will draw more people." With that, Thorfinn quickly walked away.
Val was taken aback for a moment. She looked left and right, then finally grit her teeth, stomped her foot, and secretly followed him.
Thorfinn walked for a while before realizing Val was still trailing him. Initially, he thought she was just going the same way, but after a time, he knew for certain. This lass was following him! What, does rescuing a life Beyond the Wall mean a man is saddled with a debt?
Thorfinn crept up behind her and gently tapped Val's shoulder, causing her to jump sideways, the very picture of a startled hare.
Realizing it was Thorfinn, Val snapped, slightly embarrassed and annoyed. "What was that for? Do you know you nearly frightened me to death? You are truly tiresome! Men like you are never well-liked."
Thorfinn smiled. "In fact, quite the opposite. The girls rather like me."
"You, of all people?" Even though Val was defiant, she had to admit to herself that Thorfinn was certainly handsome; if his hair were longer, he might even be mistaken for a girl.
"Me, of all people."
"Hmph. Don't go swelling your head, boy."
Thorfinn: "Seriously, why are you following me? Don't tell me you want to come home with me? I've never taken a girl home before, but if you want to... I don't mind."
Val huffed angrily. "I'm merely following the path. The Thenns are still about. Sticking with you is the only way to ensure my safety. Even if you are a savage in a fight, you are the only person I can rely on right now."
Thorfinn looked confused. "Was I savage in the fight?"
Val nodded. "Not only savage, but you looked like a veteran, utterly merciless."
Thorfinn sighed, resigned, and let Val continue to follow him. "To be honest, that was my first time killing a man. If they hadn't been shouting, 'We're going to butcher you!' I wouldn't have reacted so violently. I was truly scared. Some Thenns have rather nasty habits, you know."
Val was surprised. "That was your first time killing? Impossible! No one is that calm their first time. You must be lying to me."
Thorfinn didn't bother to explain. What could he do if she didn't believe him? Thorfinnhad been a little afraid, and there was no shame in that. Thinking of the rumors of Thenn cannibalism and their cruel ways, striking first was the only sensible choice.
As they walked, Thorfinn suddenly let out a sharp whistle. The girl next to him rolled her eyes, convinced Thorfinn was trying to scare her again. But Thorfinn's intent was different. He had sensed Alpha nearby and was summoning her—the special connection shared between a Skinchanger and their animal companion.
Before long, a massive, shadowy shape—a shadowcat—darted out of the woods. Alpha was now fully grown, more aggressive and more imposing than ever. Her black stripes, fluid curves, strong muscles, and piercing eyes all announced that this was not a creature to be trifled with.
Thorfinn completely ignored Val's fearful glances and began to playfully greet Alpha, who had just returned from hunting. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Val's tentative movements toward them.
Val watched Thorfinn and Alpha interact affectionately, like old friends. It was then that a possibility dawned on her.
"Are you... a Skinchanger?" Val asked, surprised.
Thorfinn: "What of it? This is my animal companion. His name is Alpha. He was out hunting. If he had been with me just now, dealing with those Thenns would have been even easier."
Val looked at the young boy with increasing fascination. His uncanny archery skills, coupled with his identity as a Skinchanger, made Thorfinn an excellent warrior. With this thought, Val's mind began to spin with new calculations, and her gaze upon Thorfinn grew steadily warmer...