The festive flames illuminated the night sky above The Wall.
The Free Folk celebrated the birth of their new king and the end of their suffering in the most primitive way.
Tormund, hugging a huge barrel of wine, was having a drinking contest with several Thenn leaders.
His big face was flushed red, and he occasionally burst into thunderous laughter.
More of the wildlings gathered around the bonfire, performing a rough yet powerful war dance, singing ancient songs that were both desolate and joyful.
Lynn did not participate in their revelry.
He stood alone on the balcony of the Lord Commander's Tower, overlooking the fervent sea of people below.
The cold wind stirred the black cloak, a symbol of the Lord Commander's status, but he felt no chill.
An unprecedented sense of satisfaction filled his heart.
This was the taste of power.
"Aren't you going to have a drink with them?"
Jon Snow had approached him at some point, carrying a faint scent of alcohol.
"They need a king more than a drinking buddy."
Lynn's gaze remained fixed on the scene below.
Jon was silent for a moment, the joy on his face gradually replaced by worry.
"Lynn, we don't have much food left."
Jon's voice was very low.
"The provisions at Castle Black, plus those from Mole's Town, will only last these hundred thousand people for half a month at most."
"And about the stone houses you mentioned, House Manderly of White Harbor did send a raven back, they are willing to provide craftsmen and stone, but the price…"
A hint of pain flashed across Jon's face.
"It would almost deplete an entire year's tax revenue of the North."
"Money and food are not a problem."
Lynn's tone was calm.
He turned around, walked into the study, and motioned for Jon to close the door.
Under the dim candlelight, Lynn sat in a chair and closed his eyes.
Jon looked at him in confusion, not knowing what he was about to do.
Lynn's mental power spread out like a tide at this moment.
Through the cold stone walls, across the vast snowy plains, over the swamps, past the Twins… his consciousness extended south at an unprecedented speed.
The entire continent of Westeros seemed to transform into a boundless starry sky.
Every living being was a faintly glowing star.
Some bright, some dim.
He saw Robb in Winterfell, practicing troop formations in front of a sand table, his brows deeply furrowed.
He saw Lysa Tully in Eyrie, nervously breastfeeding her eldest son.
Lynn did not linger.
He passed through everyone's dreams.
Finally, his consciousness reached that city full of desire and intrigue.
King's Landing.
In that ocean of souls, he searched for a familiar bright spot.
He found it.
Sansa Stark was sitting by the window, looking at the account book in her hand, her small face filled with a worry unsuited for her age.
Since Lynn left King's Landing, her business in King's Landing had been significantly affected.
Most importantly, Lynn hadn't written to her in a long time.
That scoundrel, he couldn't have been seduced by some wild woman in the North, could he?
As she was lost in thought, an idea suddenly emerged from her heart without warning.
All these gold dragons she had recently earned, it was too unsafe to keep them on hand.
What if one day the powers in King's Landing turned hostile and decided to settle scores with House Stark, these funds would certainly not be safe.
Perhaps… perhaps she should take all these gold dragons to the Iron Bank in Braavos and exchange them for the most secure letters of credit!
the Iron Bank enjoyed an excellent reputation, and their letters of credit were accepted worldwide.
Moreover, she heard that the Iron Bank was currently funding development in the North, so depositing her money there would also be a way to indirectly support Lynn.
Yes!
That's what she'd do!
The more Sansa thought about it, the more she felt this idea was simply a stroke of genius!
She even felt a small sense of pride for coming up with such a comprehensive plan.
She immediately got up and began to pack her belongings, preparing to go to the Iron Bank's branch in King's Landing first thing tomorrow morning.
On the other side, Lynn saw Arya again.
Since he left, Arya had become much quieter, idly propping her head with her small hand, lost in thought.
Far away in the North.
Lynn slowly opened his eyes.
The method the Three-Eyed Raven taught him was indeed effective.
"Feel, don't control."
Forcing commands would only provoke the soul's most primal resistance.
Silently implanting an idea, making the other party believe it was her own brilliant idea, was the highest realm of a Warg.
Subtle and imperceptible.
"What's wrong?"
Jon asked curiously, noticing Lynn's expression.
"Nothing, our money is already on its way."
Lynn stood up and clapped Jon on the shoulder.
"Oh, and about the blessed items, I'll have to leave that to you all to collect, still one of each."
"Jon, I'm entrusting these matters to you."
"I trust you, don't disappoint me."
"Starting tomorrow, push forward with the construction of the Gifted Lands with all your might."
"I want all the Free Folk to live in stone houses within a year!"
"Build a brand new city at the foot of The Wall!"
Jon was dumbfounded; was the money problem really solved just like that?
Before he could react, Lynn had already walked out of the study… It was late, and the reveling Free Folk had gradually quieted down.
Ygritte did not return to her tribe's tent; instead, like a kitten, she quietly slipped into the Lord Commander's Tower.
She expertly found Lynn's room.
Pushing open the door, she saw Lynn packing his bags.
He folded the black Lord Commander's cloak, placed it aside, and changed into a light leather armor.
"You're leaving?"
Ygritte's heart sank sharply.
"Yes, to Essos for some business." Lynn didn't look back.
"Take me with you!"
Ygritte blurted out almost instinctively.
Lynn stopped what he was doing and turned around.
He looked at the red-haired girl before him; those gray eyes, always filled with stubbornness, were now full of unease and pleading.
"You can't go."
"Why?" Ygritte's eyes reddened.
"Am I a bother?"
"No."
Lynn walked up to her and reached out to smooth her wind-tossed red hair.
"You stay, there's something more important you need to do."
"What is it?"
Lynn glanced at the room next door.
"Take good care of Princess Myrcella."
"Huh?"
Ygritte was stunned, thinking she had misheard.
Her, a wildling, to take care of a golden-haired, blue-eyed southern princess?
That delicate-looking girl who seemed like she'd fall over with a gust of wind?
"You're not joking, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lynn's expression was very serious.
"She is the King's daughter, the apple of House Lannister's eye. Her presence here is a guarantee of peace between the North and King's Landing."
"I need someone I absolutely trust to watch over her and protect her."
Ygritte's heart pounded uncontrollably.
Someone he absolutely trusts… He… he trusts me?
"But… I don't know anything."
Ygritte sounded a bit unsure.
"I barely know how to read, I can only write my own name."
"You can even write your own name? That makes you an outstanding one among the Free Folk, which further proves your high talent, but none of that matters."
Lynn smiled.
"I will leave you a large sum of money."
"You go to White Harbor, or Oldtown, and hire the best etiquette teachers for her, the best maesters."
"Let her learn music, learn dance, learn history, learn the noble etiquette of the Seven Kingdoms."
"In short, cultivate her into the most elegant and noble lady in Westeros."
Ygritte was completely bewildered.
She felt her brain wasn't quite keeping up.
Her, a Free Folk who didn't even know how to use a knife and fork, to supervise a princess learning noble etiquette?
This was even more absurd than asking her to fight a giant one-on-one!
"This… this… I…"
Ygritte stammered, unable to utter a single word.
Lynn looked at her adorable, dazed expression and couldn't help but laugh.
He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and whispered in her ear:
"I trust you, girl born of fire."
The warm breath on her earlobe made Ygritte's body instantly go soft.
She buried her head in Lynn's broad chest, feeling the incredibly comforting scent and heartbeat, and nodded vigorously.
"I… I'll listen to you."
Lynn gently patted her back, then released her.
"Wait for me to return."
Lynn gazed into her eyes, making a solemn promise.
"When I return from Essos, I will come back for you."
The next morning.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, gilding the sprawling ice wall with a golden edge.
Winter, its massive body blotting out the sky, soared from the courtyard of Castle Black.
It let out a dragon's roar that echoed through the clouds, carrying its master eastward, towards that vaster, unknown continent, and sped away.
On the balcony, Ygritte, wearing a clearly ill-fitting black cloak, stared blankly at the black speck disappearing into the horizon.
Only when Winter's figure had completely vanished did she slowly withdraw her gaze.
She took a deep breath, and an unprecedented fire ignited in her gray eyes.
She turned and pushed open the door to the adjacent room.
Princess Myrcella was sitting at her dressing table, combing her beautiful golden hair.
"From today on, your etiquette lessons will be my responsibility."
Ygritte stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, and said in a stiff tone.
"I will hire the best teachers for you."
"If you don't learn well…"
Ygritte paused, thought for a long time, and finally came up with what she considered a very intimidating threat.
"I'll shoot you in the ass with an arrow!"
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