Bang! Clang! Crash!
One challenger after another was easily defeated by Aldric with a wooden stick no longer than his thigh.
Whether the recruits came singly or together, charged openly or used dirty tricks, no one lasted three rounds against Aldric.
When the last recruit, shielding his face, was poked in the back of the knee and knelt with a thud, this tragic (one-sided) tag-team battle finally ended. Around him lay his teammates in various poses of defeat.
"What? Is that all you've got?" Aldric threw away the stick, scanning their faces. "Seventeen of you against one, and you get beaten looking for teeth on the ground? Can you do this or not? If not, go home and farm; you can't eat this bowl of rice!"
Aldric's voice grew stern. Under his questioning, all recruits—whether lying down or standing aside—covered their bruises in shame, silent.
Seeing no rebuttal, Aldric softened his tone. "Good. At least no one said they can't."
"Men cannot say they can't!"
"Martial arts can be learned, discipline trained, perseverance honed. But the will to desire victory and never admit defeat relies only on yourselves!"
He took another five Silver Stags from his purse, added them to the previous five, and gave them to Juan. "Juan, take two brothers to the market. Buy two live sheep, roast them fresh. Buy some fresh ale. Let the brothers have a good meal."
"Remember, spend it all. Don't leave a copper."
Juan pressed his right hand to his chest, shouting, "Yes, Commander!"
Seeing expectant smiles on the recruits' faces, Aldric nodded in satisfaction. "That's it for today. Rest and prepare for tonight's feast."
"Conrad, Eddie, let's talk aside."
Pulling his two assistants to a quiet corner, Aldric asked Eddie, "These lads are decent. How much to recruit them?"
Eddie recalled, "The ten Gold Dragons you gave me are gone. Fifteen Silver Stags signing bonus each, plus food and tents... came to just under thirteen Dragons. Conrad and I chipped in to cover the rest."
Aldric nodded. "How's their gear?"
Conrad answered, "They brought their own from home. Familiar to use, but poor quality. Better-off ones have leather armor; poorer ones wear un-tanned sheepskin."
"Honestly, we couldn't afford those with good gear."
Need to upgrade their equipment, Aldric thought. Another expense.
Aldric asked about training. "What's the schedule been?"
Since Eddie was a hunter, Conrad handled training. "Mostly combat skills. These brats have guts and don't fear death, but their combat power is weak."
"Some don't even know how to hold a sword properly. Without proper guidance, they're just fodder on the battlefield."
Sigh, a group of brave, hot-blooded youths volunteering.
Aldric reminded, "Combat skill is important, discipline more so. Wars aren't won by one or two men's bravery."
"Only strict discipline twists soldiers into a rope to defeat strong enemies."
"Starting tomorrow, I'll handle their training."
"But let them sleep in tomorrow morning. I need to go to the Wolf's Kiss to check for suitable jobs. If any, we'll take them—train while marching."
He took out six gold coins. "Eddie, Conrad, thanks for maintaining the team while I was gone. These six coins cover what you advanced plus a bonus."
"Juan should get a share too; you handle the split. I rely on your continued effort."
Seventeen recruits plus supplies for under thirteen Dragons was cheap. Aldric giving sixteen made Conrad and Eddie very satisfied.
As for Aldric taking over training, Conrad didn't mind.
The Silver Hand was Aldric's corps. Training it his way was expected.
If he left it entirely to Conrad, Conrad might doubt Aldric's commitment to running the company.
Just as they were about to sit back in camp, Rennel rushed over. "Aldric, Theon Greyjoy is here. Wants you at Winterfell."
Aldric felt annoyed. "What now? Didn't I sell the Ice Spider to the King?"
"Not the spider."
Rennel bent his right middle finger. "This."
The day after returning to the Wall, Aldric healed Rennel's broken finger.
Seeing the gesture, Aldric guessed a VIP in Winterfell was hurt and needed healing.
Expected. Since healing Benjen openly, he knew requests would come.
He was prepared—Winterfell had a Godswood. If true, mana wasn't an issue.
Let's go. Face destiny's challenge.
Aldric stood up, telling the recruits preparing the fire, "Brothers, apologies. I must go to Winterfell. Eat and drink your fill, rest well."
"Kevin, you stay and have dinner with everyone."
Amidst sincere farewells, Aldric and Rennel returned to the courtyard. An old acquaintance waited with Brother John.
"Master Theon Greyjoy, you again. Not another duel, I hope?"
"Winterfell doesn't have that many people for you to beat."
Theon, seemingly forgetting Aldric snatched ten Dragons from him, smiled. "Bran fell from the broken tower, hurt his back. Recovery is poor."
"Jon told Robb today you healed First Ranger Benjen at the Wall, so they want you to try."
He lowered his voice, making a pressing motion with his hand. "Can you really rub gold light with your hands to heal people?"
Aldric lowered his voice too. "A little. But I must see the patient to be sure."
Theon nodded. "If true, I can introduce you to patients."
Aldric was noncommittal, distrusting Theon's character. "Later. Let's go, isn't the young lord waiting?"
Aldric rode Lightning to Winterfell with Theon, leaving a dumbfounded John and amused Rennel.
This was Aldric's second visit.
Compared to before, the castle was much quieter. Stables empty, smithy silent.
Only a few warriors trained in the yard.
Led by Theon, Aldric entered a high tower, went to the third floor, and was ushered into a room.
A seven-or-eight-year-old boy lay in bed. Jon sat by him, holding his hand, whispering something that made the boy giggle.
A robust teenage boy stood by, watching gently.
Seeing Aldric, Jon stood and bowed. "Teacher, you're here."
"En."
Following Theon's hint, Aldric bowed to the robust teen. "Young Lord, I report as ordered."
On the way, Theon said Eddard went south, Catelyn was missing, and Robb Stark was in charge.
In Aldric's view, this was the Crown Prince Regent; respect was due.
Robb nodded. "Commander Aldric, sorry to summon you now."
"But Jon told us you showed a miraculous ability at the Wall, saving my uncle Benjen Stark from death."
"Can I believe this?"
Aldric looked at Jon. Jon lowered his head, daring not meet his teacher's eyes.
"Of course. Commander Mormont can testify too."
Robb looked joyful. "Can you heal my brother? He injured his spine..."
"Lord Robb!"
An old man interrupted. "Any treatment on the Lord's son needs verification before application."
The old man smiled apologetically at Aldric. "No offense, Commander. No one believes in magic more than Maesters."
"But since the last Targaryen dragon died, magic hid from the world. As the Maester serving House Stark, I must be cautious."
Robb was torn. He looked at Jon, Bran, and the old Maester, finally saying, "Maester Luwin is my father's advisor, serving House Stark faithfully for years. I must heed his advice."
"Commander Aldric, can you demonstrate first?"
Aldric understood the family's caution. "Certainly. Please find an injured person."
"No need."
Robb looked past Aldric to a guard. "Hog, fetch a sheep from the kitchen."
"Yes, Young Lord."
Soon, Hog returned holding a docile lamb.
Robb asked, "Is this lamb okay?"
Looking at its innocent eyes, Aldric nodded. "Yes."
Robb drew a dagger and, with help, cut an inch-long wound on the lamb's leg.
Holding the struggling lamb, Robb said, "Commander Aldric, please."
Aldric stood before Robb. Under everyone's gaze, he hovered his hands over the wound, closed his eyes, and prayed softly but audibly:
"Great Sun, you are the source of life. Your light pierces darkness, illuminating our path, giving endless hope and vitality."
"Your warmth dispels cold, filling the earth with life; all things prosper because of you."
"May your light shine forever, your warmth accompany us forever, your power protect us forever."
"Praise the Sun God An'she!"
As he prayed, gold light burst from his hands. Amidst violent struggles and painful bleats, the lamb's wound closed, scabbed, and healed.
Aldric spent two nights composing this prayer.
Since he decided to reveal Sun Power, he couldn't make it look cheap.
Proper ritual helped increase trust and respect for An'she.
Watching the shocking scene, no one spoke.
Until Aldric stepped back, Theon approached Robb, drawing a dagger. "Robb, let me see."
Robb moved. Theon shaved the bloodied wool but found no scar even after shaving the leg bald.
Maester Luwin murmured, "Old Gods... true magic."
Bran, unable to see, asked anxiously, "Jon, Jon, is the lamb cured?"
"Commander Aldric."
Luwin asked, "Why did the poor thing cry so painfully?"
Aldric replied, "Healing is a long process. Compressing it into a few breaths compresses the pain too. Unavoidable cost."
"It doesn't feel good. So I advise you all, better not get hurt."
Having verified his ability, Aldric spoke louder.
"Bran, can you endure it?"
Robb looked at his little brother.
The boy on the bed hesitated.
Jon squeezed his hand. "Bran, are you scared? Don't be. Robb and I are here."
Seeing everyone waiting, Bran gritted his teeth. "I want to play in the yard with Summer. I hate these motionless legs. Commander Aldric, please help me."
"Okay. I'll do my best."
Jon moved aside. Aldric gently turned Bran over, lifted his shirt, and asked Luwin, "Maester, is the injury here?"
Luwin checked close. "Yes, right there."
"Then let's begin."
Aldric raised his hand over Bran's lower back. "Sun, you shine brightly, warming all beings. Life is brilliant because of you. Thank you for your endless grace!"
When the light faded, Aldric patted Bran's waist. "Child, feel anything?"
Bran turned his head. "Commander Aldric, has it started?"
Aldric's eyelid twitched. "Did you feel pain or itching?"
Bran looked confused. "Pain... no. Did you use magic?"
"Strange..."
First time failing. Aldric pressed his palm on Bran's back, chanting loudly, "High Sun, bless all directions!"
This time, he felt a force inside Bran resisting the Light's grace.
He cast Cleanse, Purify (dispel magic), then Flash of Light. No effect.
Aldric raised his hand. "There seems to be a strange power in Lord Bran resisting the Sun God's gift."
Bran froze, then cried, "It's him! Must be him! The Three-Eyed Crow!"
"He said he could teach me to fly. He must have taken my legs! But I don't want to fly; I just want to ride horses with Robb and Jon!"
Bran buried his face in the mattress, his sobs hitting everyone's hearts like a battering ram.
Holy Light failing made Aldric feel guilty.
He stood up silently. "Child, I can heal trauma and disease, but I cannot dispel curses cast by others."
Aldric took a dazzling gem from his purse—a +15 Health Regen Garnet from Azeroth, meant for a socket.
He gave it to Luwin. "Maester, this is a gem from my home, blessed by gods. Wearing it makes one healthier and stronger."
"Sorry I couldn't help. Please make this into an amulet for Lord Bran."
"Though it won't help his legs, it will make him stronger."
Luwin looked at Robb. Seeing the nod, he accepted it. "I'll find a smith to make it."
Robb said to Aldric, "Commander Aldric, sorry for the trouble, and thank you for the precious gift."
"If I can help you with anything, please ask."
Aldric thought. "Lord Robb, Jon probably mentioned I run a small mercenary group, about twenty men. I request permission to build wooden barracks by the river south of Winter Town for rest and training."
Robb nodded. "As long as your mercenaries don't raise swords against us, you are Winterfell's friends. Winterfell always welcomes friends."
Aldric added, "Also, I want to visit the Godswood in the castle. I hope for your permission."