The red faced Aoza Lee hefted the reigns of his ostrich-horse in the correct direction as the assortment of beasts marched through the six to seven-inch-deep snow.
The journey to the headquarters of the Night's watch order was... arduous to say the least. The 'road' which was claimed to supposedly connected the two branches of the order was mostly covered from the near-continuous snowfall of the mainland. The vague path itself was winding and uneven.
Even the faithful and steady ostrich-horse; a war beast used both by the fire nation and the earth kingdom forces due to its suitability in a wide range of climates and topography, struggled with the terrain. His groin and back ached and strained as his steed struggled to tread the land.
As if that wasn't all, he was freezing despite the layered heavy coat he wore. The light bouts of hail and heavy snowfall didn't help. Comparatively, his fellow Fire nationals were doing much better; though not in the same class as their Night's watch escorts or Stone islanders.
"You don't look so good Mr. Lee. Try loosening up your waist and back and give the ostrich-horse a little freedom manoeuvre." Lieutenant Min Seok advised from his own steed.
"Ugh, I'll be fine." He grunted while attempting to follow the advice of the concerned man.
"That's it, allow your body to follow the undulations of the animal to reduce the shock."
"Hmph!" Aoza grunted while forcing his body to relax. Though the military man's advice was valuable and helpful; it would take weeks at least until he could actually become accustomed to riding on ostrich-horseback.
He was an infantryman during his service and he originally had no intention of rising up the ranks or taking a more martial role in the war since he only entered the fire army for the military benefits.
Aside from civilians like himself, this delegate convoy was populated by either veterans who were once stationed in the Earth kingdom hinterlands or trained and blooded Fire Rangers.
All of whom were better accustomed to the bitter climate and rough mainland. While Lee himself was once a member of the fire army, he was better suited in scholarly pursuits than martial ones.
"You're improving well, but if things continue like this we'll have to stop and allow you civilians to rest." Min Seok mumbled- no doubt eyeing the others who were struggling as well.
Aoza shook his head. There would been no more stops... not when the mainland escorts claimed they were already so close to their destination. This Sozin-damned journey was already horribly sluggish and overextended.
Honestly, the massive wall of ice and snow served to be the only marvelous thing which kept the trip somewhat bearable. The looming white structure reminded more him of the fabled icy wall of the Northern Water Tribe isolationists than the dusty walls of Ba Sing Se.
Though he wondered just how many skilled Waterbenders would be needed to erect such a lofty structure over such a wide area of land.
It was a marvel of engineering and construction, something only possible with the application of advanced mathematics, efforts of countless individuals and machines pared with insurmountable determination over a significant amount of time without the use of bending.
He found it hard to believe that this wonder was erected by the natives. Judging by what he's seen of them so far.
The order which manned the wall was more advanced than the stone islanders yes; but they utilized fairly primitive methods of construction. For example, the 'castle' he left at the coast was poorly maintained and crumbling.
The natives offered a fantastical story of the wall's construction. They attributed the icy structure's creation to an ancient, talented builder who was aided by wood spirits, giants and their colossal, furry steeds of all things.
'A wall, designed by a man countless millennia ago. A structure which doesn't need to be repaired or maintained? If these people possess such knowledge of construction, how are they so backwards?'
He didn't wish to jump to conclusions but he was fairly certain these people were far behind even compared to the Earth kingdom in most fields. He would have to make sure to send word back to the prince about this after a bout of thorough investigation.
"Castle black's just up ahead." He heard one of the black clothed men riding just ahead of their team.
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'They're wary of us...' He locked eyes with Min Seok.
This suspicion of them began few days ago. While travelling the black brothers found evidence of mainland savages known as wildlings. These men were much like the berserkers on stone island but were more numerous and dangerous as they were sometimes armed with metal weapons. So formidable these savages were that if left unchecked, they would become a threat to the southern lands.
When they made camp in the evening, their escorts warned them of potential barbarian attacks. In light of this, the fire nation soldiers volunteered to help with the watch and possible defense of the camp through the night.
As expected, they were attacked in the dark by these savages and during the ensuing battle, Firebending was used to dispatch the enemy assailants, by shooting blasts to burn and frighten them.
The strategy worked far too well as even though they frightened the savages, they also served to frighten their escorts and incite suspicion. After the battle's conclusion the black brothers treated the fire nationals as if they were primed barrels of blasting jelly.
Where they once regarded them with curious eyes, they now looked at them with unsettled expressions and even fear. Thankfully, they were nearing the end of this dreadful journey.
It took a while for him to see the outline of the castle in the distance. Though that was mostly his own experience as he wasn't wearing his glasses due to them constantly getting foggy or blocked with snow and his breath.
But now it wouldn't hurt to wear them after they dismounted. Though he couldn't see well, he did note the prevailing brown colour before him. He could barely make out the rope and cages of primitive elevators which seemed to serve the purpose of ferrying men atop the wall.
As they approached, he noticed there was no wall of any kind similar to that of Eastwatch. One would expect a 'castle' to be surrounded with defensive fortifications. This 'fortress' was only defendable from the north.
How peculiar...
(-)
Lord Commander Qorgyle gazed at the strange men riding even stranger beasts into the courtyard. The latest reports from Eastwatch, informed him much of what to expect from these men of the 'Fire/Burning kingdom.'
But seeing them in the flesh was far different. It was a spectacle to behold as the mystery men with Yitish features rode in tandem with the ever-elusive Skagosi.
Apart from the towering Stoneborn in brown and black, the foreigners all wore well-made crimson heavy coats only the rich and lordly would wear. The accompanying armoured forces were covered head to toe in dark scale armor and draped in crimson furs.
And the things they rode... 'By the gods old and new, truly giant birds?' Qorgyle had to keep his surprise hidden, even as the Skagosi settled their single-horned steads. It was possibly the first time the beasts left the island.
The trainees paused their tasks to watch as the foreigners dismounted and approached the Lord commander under the guidance of their Eastwatch escorts.
"Lord commander!" The brothers from the coast saluted to him in greeting. He nodded at them. Though he noticed something dark in their expressions. He would have to ask later in a more... private setting.
Instead, the commander focused on the stranger at the forefront of the foreigners- the leader of the group. The man was on the shorter side as most of the fire men were. He recognized this foreigner as the leader by the strange device framing his face. According to maester holt, it was a too which served to aid the man's vision.
"Welcome to Castle Black. I am Lord Commander Qorgyle." He greeted the foreigners before introducing them to his attendants in the form of Maester Aemon, Allon the First builder, Donnel hill the first steward and First ranger Mathar Mugg.
"Greetings Lord Commander! I am Aoza Lee of the Fire kingdom..." Qorgyle listened to the heavily accented man as he went on with his greeting and introduction of his foreign and Skagosi fellows.
Afterwards, the head steward brought a platter of salt and bread forward and presented it to them.
After the group ate the salted bread, he bade the group in; briefly hearing the enraged shouts of trainers spurring the still gawking trainees to get back to work.
"I'm sure you wish to rest up before we discuss anything. My men will take you to your accommodations." He signaled the Eastwatch brothers over while the strangers were lead away.
They wordlessly navigated the castle until they reached his solar.
"What do you have to say." He asked them while taking a seat.
"Lord Commander! These... Yitish men are vile Maegi!" The foremost brother shouted.
"Maegi you say? Maester holt reported the foreigners claimed their sail-less stone ship's function wasn't due to magic."
"That mus' be a lie Lord commander! How could a stone vessel float, much less sail without a canvas? These men used fire magic! Saw it with me own two eyes!" The brother was backed up by his fellows who nodded along.
"How did you see this? Under what circumstances?" Maester Aemon spoke up.
"A few nights ago, maester. Our group was set upon by a pack o' wildlings. Some o' the foreigners flung balls o' fire from their palms, and a few o' them covered their blades fire!" Aemon listened to the report with a serene look of contemplation on his face.
"Commander! We must drive these vile maegi and their Magicks out! The are an afront to the seven!" Another brother shouted before the maester could speak.
Qorgyle frowned and sternly regarded the man so that he would shut up and allow the learned man to speak.
"...These strangers claim to originate from a 'Kingdom of Fire.' In your travels with them, did they leave any hints of where this could be?" Internally, qorgyle was shocked the maester didn't ask or say anything about the magic.
"No- no maester, my men and I stopped interacting with them closely after they used their spells." The brothers seemed to have lost their fervour for a moment.
"You did keep a close eye on them, yes?" the old Targaryen questioned.
"Of course maester! We didn't know what they could do-" The man began anew.
But the maester cut him off, "Did you see them burn anything in sacrifice?"
The brother shook his head, his face pale.
"Hmmm." The maester's almost blind eyes glazed over in thought.
"They also collectively wear red clothes as well?"
"Aye maester. These Maegi, they mostly clothe themselves in reds and orange." The man nodded.
Qorgyle and the brothers waited with bated breath; wondering where the maester's questions would lead.
"...I never managed to forge my Valyrian steel link at the citadel, however, from what little I know, the most skilled of those who claim to be pyromancers reside in the far eastern Essosi city of Asshai. They are the followers of R'hllor: the lord of light.
"I briefly studied this religion during my visits to a small wharfside temple in old town during my younger years. His followers are said to wear red and light flames.
"The religion is a fairly popular one in the free cities. They are said to draw their powers of fire magic from this god by making sacrifices to him."
"So they are followers of a mad God!" The black brothers began whispering to each other
"Their banners are of a black flame on a red field, correct?" Aemon didn't acknowledge their claims.
"Aye maester! Is that the banner of this god?"
"No, it is not. The symbol of the R'hllori faith is that of a fiery heart. These foreigners do not seem to be followers of the Red God." Maester Aemon concluded.
"These strangers, Maegi or not are under guest right and have done no harm or broken any of our laws. We will watch them closely. But we will take no action against them." Qorgyle spoke firmly as he regarded the brothers.
"But, comma-"
"You will not take any action against these men! That's an order! The men's protest withered with qorgyle's official command.
"You've travelled far, go rest up." He bade them leave.
As the door closed behind the brothers, Qorgyle pinched the ridge between his brows and sighed.
"I'm getting too old for this..."