Entry Twenty-Two

Date: 299 After Landing, Winter

Location: Faircastle, Fair Isle

She lives.

It was really touch and go for a while. Dacey's leg, no matter how often I cleaned her wound and sterilized the bandages, just seemed to get worse and worse. The maester believed "corruption," infection, had seeped into the wound, probably brought on by the weapon that cut her. He also suspected amputation was the only course left, but the She-Bear refused it, and said she would rather die. But as her temperature started to spike and sweat poured out of her like a sponge, I had to do something. I know that whatever Mr. Erskine put in me was special, and I prayed that whatever it was would be able to help her. I cut my hand and drained some of my blood onto her wound, then re-wrapped it. She seemed to get worse during the night, but by morning Dacey's temperature was back to normal. When she opened her eyes and smiled at me, I was so happy…I kissed her.

Anyway, her leg is good as new. Only the smallest of scars remains, and she is able to walk and run as before. I think she is even faster than before, stronger somehow, but that could just be my imagination. Then again… during my time at the Wall I read many things. Among them was something called "skinchangers," a person with the ability to enter the mind of animals and control them. The 20th century American in me thinks this is all just a story, something to tell children, but the Super-Soldier who has seen the power of the Tesseract and spent two years in these lands wonders what else might be possible here. There are rumors of Dragons in the far east, wargs to the north…what about Werebears? Dacey once joked that Mormont women turn into bears and find mates in the woods. Was she joking, or was that cleverly hidden truth?

Truth? The truth is I don't care. I'm just glad she lives.

I'm sure you noticed the "Location" at the top of my new log entry. I realized that as often as I move around, it might make things easier on the reader to list where I am when I write something. I don't know who will read this, or when, or ever, but if someone does I would like the whole story told.

I received a raven from Tyrion just a few hours ago. The Ironborn have given up the Crag. It seems that while I was putting the pressure on Faircastle, Jamie Lannister was leading the remaining Westerland armies on the Crag. Then, for no apparent reason, the Islanders set fire to the castle and abandoned it, choosing instead to fall back on the Banefort. I didn't like not knowing about Jamie's push on the Crag, and I made it clear in the return letter that he can't expect me to do my job without all the information, but ultimately it wouldn't have changed things here. I still needed to clear this castle and break up the growing Ironborn army.

But what I find more interesting is the Islander decision to hold the Banefort. Politically it makes little sense, as the surrounding lands are only good for mining and grazing sheep, but tactically it is brilliant. The Banefort is only two days sail from the Ironborn capital of Pyke, high mountains limit the land approach to a thin path along the coast from the South that will be difficult to cross, and since it was originally designed to repel amphibious assaults and has had months of time to prepare it will not be an easy fight.

Maybe Greyjoy is preparing for peace with the Westerlands, and getting ready for the coming war with Stannis. A fleet from the Reach should arrive in another few days, unless Stannis thinks the Westerlands still need to be punished. I guess we will see what happens next. Repairs to Faircastle are underway, and I should soon get my new orders from Tyrion.