Chapter 44

Version 2.0

As the party lingered within the now eerily silent bandit camp, boredom quickly set in. The morning day, turning to late evening, then to the next day and the next. Halvar, having sent his Golden Eagle into the skies, sent it far up the river searching for the boats.

Time seemed to stretch as the party anxiously awaited its return. Halvar, descending from the hillside with a sombre expression, delivered the news. "They're not coming back. I found their boats it's far up the river, but they have been hacked up and broken."

An irritated silence settled over the party as the annoyance of wasted time set in. The opportunity for answers and revenge slipped through their fingers like melting snow. Brandon clenched his jaw for a moment before relaxing again and sighing.

"We won't get the answers we want," Halvar said. "There is no way to chase them."

"Feels bittersweet now," Brandon sighed. "We got what we came for but only managed to grab the tail of the snake."

"Let's go back. Get the last of the villages that need to join and move onto the next stage." Jon suggested.

"Alright, but first, bury that man. Burn the rest," Brandon commanded.

/

With the abandoned burning bandit camp behind, Brandon and his company embarked on a journey, traversing the snow-covered expanses of the North. Their mission, far from over, took them village to village, uniting the simple but hardy people against the looming threat. Each village presented its unique challenges, and Brandon worked hard for all of them.

However, they were not alone, for in the next village Brandon and company heard of a large man helping people out and only asking for volunteers and food for his help. He had come to the village to help them with some Ghouls.

With more details, Brandon heard more of Hother from his expanding group of men to the odd comments the villagers asking why they would carry obsidian weapons and that they are hunting for something called a White Walker.

As Brandon and his company ventured through the northern expanse, the landscape unfolded before them like a vast, pristine canvas painted in hues of white and silver. Endless snow-covered hills rolled beneath a serene sky, their peaks glistening in the soft sunlight that filtered through the winter clouds.

The air, crisp and biting, carried with it the invigorating scent of pure snow and the untamed wilderness. The distant mountains, their jagged silhouettes piercing the sky, as their backdrop.

The party navigated through the rolling hills and snow fields. Snowflakes danced in the air, caught by the winds, before landing on the company and burning their open skin. It was only occasionally, that a lone tree would break the monotony of the snowy expanse, its skeletal branches adorned with delicate icicles that sparkled like crystal ornaments.

Finally, as the journey neared its completion, the party made its way back to Winterhaven. The familiar sights and sounds welcomed them, like grandma welcoming her grandkids. With any good home, there is good family, with tight hugs, and loving kisses everyone returned home for warm meals and cozy beds.

/

In the heart of Winterhaven, the village chief, Jorah, and the wise Elder Oak gathered at Brandon's behest. The meeting took place in a sturdy wooden hall, the warmth of a crackling fire contrasting with the cold winds that howled outside. The trio gathered around a worn table.

Brandon, his gaze unwavering, began the discussion about the next steps in their arduous journey. "We've successfully united all the villages around us. Now, we have a strong standing we need to focus on two things – rallying more of the children of the forest and establishing connections with the other petty kings."

Jorah nodded along. "Aye, Brandon, but how do we go about convincing the other groves of the children of the forest to join our cause? They can be a wary bunch."

Elder Oak spoke with a calm voice. "I shall take care of that, young Brandon. I will send Hawthorn, to establish alliances with our brethren." His eyes quickly unfocused and then focused again. "I believe that he can convince and get the others to join. I shall also send the ravens to more of my friends."

Brandon nodded along. "And as for the human kings, I propose we bring them together for a meeting. We have no animosities between them, and by this point, they have seen the oddities of what is happening around them."

Jorah raised an eyebrow. "A meeting of kings? It's a bold move, Brandon. How do we ensure they'll all attend and not dismiss it as a folly?"

A confident smile played on Brandon's lips. "With our entire region united they will see me as a threat. They will come just to see who I am. They may not trust each other entirely, but if I can get just some of them on my side then I can work the others in time. We shall also send for Hother he should be a part of this meeting."

Jorah does not look entirely convinced. "Alright I shall trust your judgment on this, you know more than I."

Elder Oak added his support. "The unity of the North is paramount, and such a gathering could lay the foundation for the final pushing force for all things to gather. I shall work on convincing our brethren, and Hawthorn will carry our message."

They continued their deliberations late into the night, working ways to convince the kings or at least finding the more open-minded ones to support each other.