Although An'she's healing spell failed on Bran, Robb, Maester Luwin, and Jon saw that Aldric had done his best, so they didn't refuse his request.
In the northwest corner of Winterfell lay a Godswood, occupying a third of the castle grounds. It was where the Starks prayed to the Old Gods.
Escorted by a guard, Aldric left the Great Keep, crossed two heavy walls, and arrived at this small Godswood.
In the center stood a tall Weirwood, with a face carved into its trunk, smiling yet not smiling.
Though not as massive as the one Aldric saw in the Haunted Forest, it was majestic enough.
Aldric wondered if this Heart Tree had stood for thousands of years like Winterfell itself.
Under the guard's wary gaze, Aldric walked to the Heart Tree and circled the thick trunk.
Finding healthy bark on the side, he scraped a small piece with his nail and chewed it, making the guard grimace.
Yes, as expected, the bark contained traces of mana.
Then he picked a drop of green sap oozing from a cut. The familiar, overwhelming bitterness hit his forehead like a heavy punch, restoring a large chunk of mana.
So Aldric dawdled, licking drops occasionally, until his mana was full, then left the Godswood.
Leaving, the guard couldn't help asking, "What were you doing?"
Not wanting to reveal Sun Power needed sap, Aldric lied, "Using Sun God's miracles in the North requires communicating with the Old Gods for understanding."
The guard nodded thoughtfully. "Greeting them makes sense... but I've never seen Old Gods show miracles, nor communicated by eating bark."
Early next morning, Aldric went to the Wolf's Kiss tavern and met Howard.
He sat at the bar. "Long time no see, Brother Howard."
Howard smiled sincerely. "Over two months? The usual?"
"The usual."
Howard handed him a rye ale. "Recruiting again?"
Aldric shook his head. "No. Eddie recruited some youths from the Wolfswood. Enough for now; can't feed more. I'm looking for work suitable for a twenty-man team."
"Let me check."
Howard pulled a notebook from under the counter. "A few. Hmm... Barrowton area. A village resisting taxes. The sheriff is hiring a team for armed collection. Thirty Gold Dragons, leftovers are yours."
"Authorized to kill?"
"Of course. Just a mob."
Aldric sneered internally. "Pass. Others?"
Howard flipped a page. "Bolton lands. A band of horse bandits appeared recently. They attack caravans in neighboring lands, killing and robbing cash only. Lords aren't very concerned, but merchants pooled twenty-five Dragons for a bounty."
Bolton lands... Aldric recalled unpleasant memories. Another bastard scheme?
Aldric smiled bitterly. "I fear after wiping them out, I'm next. Anything else?"
Howard sensed Aldric knew something but didn't ask. "Sigh, rest are small jobs... Here's a bandit suppression job. Interested?"
"Tell me."
"Foot of Northern Mountains, border of Karstark and Umber lands. Purple Wisteria Village. Harassed by bandits suspected to be Wildlings. They offer eleven Gold Dragons to wipe them out."
"Eleven Dragons? Odd number."
Howard laughed. "Why else? Poor."
"Is the client in Winter Town?"
"Yes, been here a few days. Pay too low, no one takes it. If interested, I'll call him."
Aldric thought mosquito legs are still meat. "Okay, trouble you."
Howard called a snot-nosed kid outside. "Little Hoan, go to Blackstone Alley, find old Maldan Yate. Tell him his mercenary group is found. Come over."
Waiting, Aldric chatted with Howard.
"Howard, anyone come specifically asking for me recently?"
"Specifically you?" Howard looked puzzled. "Why such a stupid idea?"
Aldric was awkward. "I brought back an Ice Spider, beat the Hound in Winterfell. Shouldn't I be famous?"
"Famous? Heh."
Howard laughed. "That was two months ago. You expect people to remember? Hiring a bad carpenter means a crooked house. Hiring bad mercenaries means losing your life. People with money won't trust lives to stories. That's why middlemen like me exist. When the Silver Foot is as famous as the Golden Company, people will come."
"...Silver Hand."
Aldric corrected feebly.
After a drink, a thin but spirited old man entered. "Howard, my man is here?"
"Here. Aldric, this is Roland, a veteran from Purple Wisteria Village, representing Sheriff Gage Solag. Talk."
Aldric raised his glass. "Hello, Mr. Roland."
Roland frowned. "Howard, joking? Even if short on men, don't pick a kid from the street. He has no beard!"
Aldric almost crushed his cup but saw Howard's glare and put it down.
Howard said impatiently, "Enough, Roni. With your money, expecting Lord's guards? Commander Aldric is young, but he drew with Kingslayer Jaime Lannister before the King."
He told Aldric, "Kid, brag about your record."
Aldric dusted his clothes. "Nothing much to brag... Half a year ago, I landed in Hornwood lands, helped Red Rock Village Sheriff Rodney Colbert kill sixty pirates at Single Bridge Village."
"Later, escorting Colbert caravans, repelled horse bandits, leaving eight bodies."
"In Winterfell, led five men to kill a giant Ice Spider in Wolfswood, sold the corpse to the King for dozens of Dragons."
"A month ago, beyond the Wall, killed a dozen Wildlings with First Ranger Benjen Stark."
"All verifiable."
"Benjen Stark, I know."
The old man pondered. "I met him... If you're that good, maybe you can help. How many men?"
"Twenty-three, all experienced veterans."
Roland calculated. "Twenty-three is few. Bandits have forty or fifty. Our village can provide men, but yours must lead."
"Pay?"
"Budget is eleven Dragons..."
"Sure, but..."
Under Howard's witness, after bargaining, the Silver Hand and Purple Wisteria Village agreed:
Total pay 15 Gold Dragons. 5 upfront, rest after completion.
Due to raised pay, village provides no food/lodging. Silver Hand self-sustain.
Village provides two hunters as guides; Aldric pays/feeds them.
Silver Hand is main force; militia is reserve.
Silver Hand must obey laws: no stealing, robbing, or harassing women.
All loot goes to Silver Hand.
Departure time was disputed. Roland wanted immediate departure. Aldric, with raw recruits, delayed to five days later, citing supply needs.
Contract signed, Aldric returned to camp.
Kevin and Jon were sparring. Conrad and others watched.
When Jon lost, Aldric asked, "Conrad, everyone here?"
Conrad nodded. "Yes. No training this morning per your order."
"Good. Assemble everyone. I have words."
Conrad banged a stick on a tent. "Assemble! Commander speaks! Up, lazybones!"
Waiting, Aldric gave five Dragons to Eddie. "Eddie, take Jon to market. Buy a used wagon, send to my yard. Buy a month's food."
"Jon, record prices and quantities. Give me the list later."
They left. Recruits assembled messily. Aldric frowned.
"Good news. Just accepted a big job: bandit suppression in Northern Mountains. Departure in five days."
"First contract since founding. Chance to show ability!"
"We must succeed, with zero casualties!"
"I know it's hard. You faced death individually, but as a corps, this is your first battle."
"Starting today, intense training."
"In five days, I will teach you the 'Swan Formation' invented by great General Gillette Cheney from my home, letting you defeat enemies with collective power!"
"First, squad division. Conrad, Kevin included, line up by height in two rows!"
The so-called Swan Formation was the Mandarin Duck Formation invented by Ming General Qi Jiguang.
Typically 11-12 men. Symmetrical, hence "Mandarin Duck."
Included: 1 shield leader, 1 rattan shield, 2 wolf brush (bamboo spear with branches), 4 long spears, 2 tridents, 1 cook/logistics.
Ideally suited for mountain terrain against pirates/bandits.
It lowered individual skill requirements through teamwork, perfect for Silver Hand now. So Aldric localized it.
Excluding Aldric, Eddie, and Jon, exactly 20 men remained.
They lined up messily. Aldric sorted them.
"Remember the brother next to you. Your teammate."
"Conrad, Captain of Squad 1. Pick a Vice-Captain skilled with axe-shield."
"Kevin, Vice-Captain of Squad 2. Organize election for Captain skilled with large shield."
Recruits discussed.
Soon, Vitaly became Vice-Captain 1. Philbert became Captain 2.
"Good. Captains and Vice-Captains set. Each squad needs 4 spearmen, 2 fork-men, 2 archers. Arrange by specialty."
Aldric rearranged them: Captain/Vice in front, weak spears 2nd row, strong spears 3rd, archers 4th, forks 5th.
"Remember your teammates. Except shitting, eat, sleep, train together. In battle, besides weapons, only teammates keep you alive!"
"Listen to my command!"
"Attention!"