The Issues

If you don't have money or food, what's the quickest solution to those problems?

Haldor's forces were growing, but with that came responsibilities, and it began to be a problem when there were over three thousand mouths to feed.

Starving to death is not an option, so one can only think of resourcefulness.

Strictly speaking, there were no more villages in the vicinity, and everything beyond human territory was protected by Frostgard's troops, who had been making a lot more noise in recent months.

But even Haldor's forces had only bothered to create good armor, weapons, and accessories for the maritime fleet. After all, there's an endless winter in the north, and to find good resources, one would have to cross the mountains.

To be more precise, they were closest to the wilds, the territory of the free men.

"Call Toad and Baba Voss," Haldor said as he created the design for a semi-automatic arrow weapon.

Soon, Baba Voss, who was the commander of his army, entered, followed by Toad, who was progressing well under his command.

"I want to attract the attention of the fierce creatures in the Silver Forest. What do you think are the best measures to take?"

Baba Voss, who was once a man who wandered the world, said immediately, "If we cross that forest, we'll attract the attention not only of the creatures but also of the free men near the wall."

"Hmm, then I will go personally," Haldor said, now interested in what these people could do.

Haldor had grown a lot; whatever was empowering him was getting stronger, and although he was about to turn fifteen, he looked like a man now.

He knew he was entering the age to marry, but according to the letter his father had sent him, his marriage was reserved for brighter ideas.

It's obvious that there were wild ideas about the current King of the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps he didn't want an unnecessary war and wanted to ensure peace through marriage.

It's been five months since he's been here, about eight months since he embodied the body of a dying Haldor, and many things have happened.

During the winter, many elders died. Baba Voss had created a real army of two thousand healthy, young, and strong warriors who would be at his command at any time.

The Sober Tower, under the care of Kofun and the armored bears, had regained its former glory. At this moment, its defenses were operational, the crypts had been cleaned, and it was where the armored bears lived.

Ravyn had trained a royal guard that served Haldor, while Lucian had summoned numerous sorcerers to be at the disposal of this settlement that had grown to five thousand inhabitants, not counting the armored bears.

"Going to the tower is madness; it would attract the attention of the South and put the enemy on alert." Baba Voss did not recommend that Haldor move with his dragon for now.

But the information was vital, and they needed it. They also required more soldiers and much more labor to be convinced that they could do something in the north.

Haldor wouldn't tolerate staying in this place for more than five years; the north is demanding, and although he had adapted to that kind of demand, he would prefer the south.

As someone who has enjoyed many of the things a modern world could offer, a place like this is a great hell.

Moreover, even though he liked the cold, there was no heating here; one warmed up through wood, and that generates smoke. Haldor, like everyone else, always had that smell of smoke in his clothes, and it was unbearable.

He had gotten somewhat used to it, but he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.