"How about we expand the area of our huntin' and mappin', Ivar? We've almost scoured the land around us clean, and we still haven't found any trace of Jorund or this Sylas aside from the scattered remains and survivors of the clans they destroyed," Hilde asked while looking down at the crude map spread across the ground, made from snow, branches, and scattered leaves.
Every time they went out to hunt, they also spent time memorising the layout of the surrounding land before reporting everything back to Ivar, which eventually resulted in the rough map before them. Hilde still did not fully understand why they needed to do such a thing, but by now she was already used to following whatever Ivar asked of them. So she and the others carried out the task without question.
Ivar did not lift his head and continued studying the crude map spread across the ground. It was far from a complete map of the True North. Instead, it only covered the lands from the Antler River, then northward from the Hollow where they had stayed for four years, with the Frostfangs to the west and the sea to the east. It was not even a tenth of the True North as a whole, but Ivar still wanted to memorise every part of the land they had already traveled through, as he had already decided to delay his journey south and remain here for a few more years.
The information he had gained from the crow had truly saved him and his band from blindly crossing beyond the Wall and risking slaughter at the hands of the northern houses. Before learning the timeline and confirming his suspicions about where he truly was, Ivar had only planned to head south as quickly as possible, gather information about the world while hiding from the northern houses and blending in, and perhaps slowly make their way farther south while looking for a place to settle along the journey.
But now, now that he knew the timeline and where he truly was, he chose to delay the journey south and plan their crossing more carefully instead of blindly crossing the Wall and hoping for the best.
Especially since, a few years from now, war would break out and a certain prince would come north seeking allegiances and armies. If things unfolded the way Ivar remembered, then he and his band might be able to cross the Wall through its gates instead of climbing over it like monkeys waiting to be slaughtered. He simply had to play his cards right for it to happen.
And of course, he would also need a contingency plan in case things did not unfold as he expected. Ivar had already begun thinking about that while looking at the eastern part of the map toward the sea.
After making sure he had memorised the map, only then did Ivar lift his head and look toward Hilde, who was still waiting for him to answer her question. "We can't afford t' leave the people behind fer more than a few days. If we do what ye asked, then the people here would have nothin' t' defend themselves with while we're gone. In order t' do what ye suggested, we'd first need a place safe enough t' leave them behind, somewhere like the Hollow, but with enough food that they won't starve while we're out."
He paused for a moment, deep in thought, before asking, "Speakin' of our people, what did Skapti say about sendin' her an' the others back t' the Hollow?"
Torren, who was chewing on a strip of jerky, answered Ivar with a snort before Hilde could. "That woman wouldn't give us a proper answer no matter how many times we asked. She kept sayin' they needed more time t' decide. Bet she just wants t' fleece us fer more food… or maybe she wants t' join us instead and's just too afraid t' ask in case we refuse."
"Right." Haldor backed Torren up from beside him. "That woman just keeps orderin' her lot around while doin' no work at all."
Ivar frowned at that before looking back toward Hilde. "Tell Skapti that ye'll escort her and her lot back t' the Hollow on the morrow. If she refuses t' go, then tell her she either follows our rules and works like everyone else, or we'll hand her an' her people over t' Jorund or Sylas once we find 'em. Bring Ylva or Freya with ye when ye go."
Hilde nodded before asking, "Now?"
"Not yet," Ivar replied. "We still need t' decide where we'll place our settlement now that we might have t' remain here far longer than we first anticipated."
Now that he had changed his mind and decided to stay beyond the Wall for a few more years, and with Jorund still alive and at large, they would need a secure settlement where they could safely leave their people behind for days, sennights, or perhaps even a fortnight while him and the hunters were away.
Ulf leaned in from where he was sitting and looked down at the map spread across the ground before speaking. "How about the east, near the sea? We could feed the whole settlement with fish caught from the water. I still remember ye being good at fishin' back at the Antler River."
Ivar considered the suggestion for a moment before shaking his head. "Fishin' in a river and fishin' in the sea are two different matters." He paused briefly before adding, "Still, we'll check the east. Maybe we'll find somethin' there. Where else?"
When no one else around the tent spoke up, Hilde finally voiced another suggestion herself, though she sounded somewhat hesitant. "Further north?"
"Hmm?" Ivar raised an eyebrow at her before asking, "What's there?"
Hilde shook her head and replied quietly, "Nothin'. I just thought… Jorund and Sylas seem t' be clashin' around us, in the Frostfangs and south o' here. It should be safer further north, though I don't know about the food."
That was true, but Ivar also knew that the farther north they traveled, the scarcer food became. He knew it well because that was where the Hollow lay, where they had spent the last four years surviving. Still, perhaps they had overlooked something back then. They had never traveled beyond the Hollow before because of his fears of the dead, but now that he knew the timeline and it was summer, perhaps the lands farther north might prove more livable than he thought.
He nodded toward Hilde and said, "We'll consider it." Then he looked around the tent once more before asking again, "Where else?"
The discussion continued for some time after that. Some suggested settling near forests thick enough to provide wood and game year-round. Others preferred the hills and rocky terrain westward, believing it would be easier to defend against raids or wandering bands. A few even proposed remaining where they already were and simply fortifying the camp itself.
Ivar listened to every suggestion carefully without dismissing any outright. Even the foolish ones held some value if looked at from the right angle. In the end, after hearing everyone out, he decided not to make a final choice yet.
"We'll split up an' check these places first," he finally said while looking around at the gathered men and women. "Take a few people with ye when ye go. Look fer game, water, and whether the place can actually be defended an' secured well enough if someone attacks. Once ye return and confirm the places ye suggested truly have those things, I'll go and check the areas meself before we decide anythin'."
The others nodded in agreement. None of them argued against it. Choosing poorly could very well doom them all.
Once that matter was settled, Ivar leaned back slightly and allowed the others to talk among themselves for a few minutes before moving on to the next matter for the meeting. His gaze slowly shifted toward Haldor. "How're the people ye recruited settlin' in, Haldor?"
Hearing the question, Haldor first carefully studied Ivar's expression. Once he saw that the man did not seem angry, he answered cautiously. "They're… settlin' in well enough. The younger ones already joined us, while some o' the adults wanted t' join the band too. But I refused and had 'em work on makin' arrows instead, along with cleanin' around the camp."
Ivar nodded upon hearing that before speaking to everyone gathered inside the tent. "I've decided that we'll increase our numbers. That's why, from the morrow onward, while ye're out huntin' or carryin' out yer tasks, I want ye t' start recruitin' as well if ye come across any strugglers. Just make sure there're plenty o' young ones among 'em and not too many older folk. Aye?"
While the others looked unsure if they had heard Ivar correctly, Haldor was the first to react after hearing what he had said.
"Yeh!" he shouted, immediately throwing one hand into the air.
For some time now, many of them had been wondering why Ivar was not increasing their numbers or recruiting more people after saying they would have to deal with Jorund before heading south. Now, at last, they could finally breathe easier and stop worrying about it. With more people joining them, they might truly stand a chance against Jorund. There were plenty of strugglers wandering the lands every time they went out hunting. All they had to do now was find them and hope they were still alive by the time they arrived.
Ulf, however, frowned before asking, "Ye sure 'bout this, Ivar?"
The moment Ivar looked toward him, he immediately understood what Ulf was worried about. He replied, "Aye. I've been thinkin' about it long and hard. We'll deal with the issue o' food when it comes. I've been holdin' back on recruitin' because I know how hard it is t' feed more mouths, but we really do need more men if we're t' deal with Jorund."
And while it was partly true that he had been holding back recruitment because of the issue of food, another reason was that he had originally planned to deal with Jorund through secret assassination rather than open conflict. But that was no longer a viable path. In fact, he now needed Jorund alive for a few more years. As long as the man remained at large, Ivar had a reason to keep everyone beyond the Wall without having to explain why they suddenly needed to remain in the True North for years longer after previously deciding they would soon head south.
More importantly, he needed people now because he had to begin building an army for the certain prince who would one day come north seeking one, years from now. The only real question when that time came would be whether the prince would accept them or not. Still, Ivar had a few years to plan how he would make the prince see their value, so for now, he was not overly worried about it.
"If ye say so," Ulf replied after a moment of thought before adding, "But ye really need t' build the settlement near a river or the sea where there're plenty o' fish t' feed everyone, Ivar. Game alone won't be enough once our numbers start growin'."
Ivar frowned slightly at that, though he knew Ulf was right. Truthfully, he really wanted to know how Jorund and Sylas managed to keep growing their numbers without constantly worrying about food. In the end, he simply gave a silent nod and continued listening as the others began voicing their thoughts as well, from how they were supposed to arm so many future warriors to the many other problems that would come with increasing their numbers.
By the time the discussions finally ended, the light outside had already begun dimming. It was not truly dark yet, but it was still better to eat before night fully settled in. Especially since many of them would have to leave early on the morrow to carry out the tasks assigned to them.
People stretched their stiff limbs, grabbed their cloaks and weapons, and slowly began heading toward the fires where food was already being prepared. Soon enough, the camp filled with the familiar sounds of chatter, crackling flames, and the smell of cooked meat drifting through the cold air.
After eating his share, Ivar quietly excused himself from the others and began making his way back toward his tent. He intended to check whether his beast companions had returned yet from their own hunting for food.
But before he could reach the tent, hurried footsteps crunched through the snow behind him.
"Oi! Ivar!"
He stopped and turned slightly.
Alfyn was approaching him quickly, his face carrying a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
"Heard ye decided t' help me with me revenge against Jorund," the man said as soon as he got close enough. "Is that true?"
Alfyn had been busy hunting with what remained of his clan in order to gather food and repay the so-called "food debt" they had borrowed from Ivar before. Only now had he finally found the time to listen to the gossip spreading around his own camp and the camps around them. The moment he heard that Ivar intended to fight Jorund, he immediately went looking for him to confirm whether the rumor was true. Thankfully, he had found him quickly as he could barely contain his excitement. At last, it seemed he might not have to wait years before getting his revenge.
He had already spoken with Arvid about joining forces when the time finally came, and the man had agreed. But both of them knew that, with the number of warriors they currently had who were still capable of fighting, it would take a very long time before they could ever challenge Jorund head-on. They had also begun speaking with some of the wandering strugglers they encountered, but most of them demanded food first, something they themselves barely had enough of to begin with. Because of that, they could not truly begin recruiting yet, at least not until they solved their current food problem and repaid the so-called 'food credit' he owed to Ivar.
Ivar studied the excited man standing before him. Truthfully, he had expected Alfyn to hear about it eventually, especially after Haldor had practically shouted in front of everyone in his band that they intended to fight Jorund. Still, he was somewhat surprised that Alfyn had only learned of it now.
Even so, it was probably for the best. His original plans regarding Jorund had already been thrown aside, and now he needed to discuss terms with Alfyn moving forward. After a brief moment, Ivar gave a small nod toward the man and said, "Come t' me tent. Let's talk there."
After saying that, he turned and walked toward his tent with Alfyn following closely behind him. Once they arrived, Ivar removed his heavy furs and set them aside before sitting down on one of the logs meant for seating. Alfyn quietly watched his every movement as Ivar gestured toward the other log and said, "Ye can take yer seat there."
Alfyn gave a small nod before sitting down as well. The excitement he had shown earlier had mostly faded now, replaced by a far more serious expression. He knew that whatever they were about to discuss would decide whether he could truly gain the support of the young chieftain sitting before him.
He looked toward Ivar, who remained silent before him. When the younger man still said nothing after a while, Alfyn forced down his growing irritation and asked again, "I came here t' ask if what I heard was true, Ivar. That ye're preparin' t' fight Jorund? That's why Haldor brought those strugglers here a moon ago, t' add t' yer numbers?"
"Not really." Ivar shook his head. He did not want to appear too eager about fighting Jorund, which was why he had remained silent earlier and allowed Alfyn to ask again instead of answering immediately. Then he added, "Haldor acted on his own back then, and I was still hesitating t' fight Jorund at the time. Only now have I finally made up me mind to fight him."
Ivar's final words were exactly what Alfyn had been waiting to hear. The man immediately stood up and reached out of his hands toward Ivar, almost as if afraid the younger chieftain might suddenly take back his words.
"I thought ye'd never help me with me vengeance after I asked ye so many times before and ye refused every single one," Alfyn said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "I almost lost hope, ye know. Then Arvid came… and now ye…" A wide grin spread across his face as he continued, "Welcome, little brother! T' our growin' alliance!"
Ivar looked at Alfyn's outstretched hand and could not help but think that the man was far too excited about all this. Still, he already knew he had won much of Alfyn's trust the moment he allowed the man and his remaining clan to borrow food when they had nothing left for themselves. So after a brief pause, he stood up and clasped Alfyn's hand firmly. "Aye. T' our growin' allia…."
What he did not expect, however, was for Alfyn to suddenly pull him into a tight embrace the moment their hands met.
Ivar immediately stiffened in surprise and instinctively struggled for a moment, nearly shoving the larger man away before stopping himself at the last second. He did not want to accidentally hurt the man and destroyed his tent in the process, so instead he endured the embrace for a few uncomfortable moments before finally pushing Alfyn away more carefully. "Enough!"
Alfyn merely laughed it off before patting him heavily on the shoulder. "Now it's only a matter o' time before I finally get me vengeance."
Still, Ivar knew they needed proper boundaries and rules regarding this so-called alliance if it was to last. So after swatting Alfyn's hand away from his shoulder, he replied, "But we need t' make a proper pact about what we can and can't do if ye want this alliance t' last until we finally kill this Jorund."
Alfyn stopped laughing after hearing that. A deep frown slowly formed on his face as he looked at Ivar with clear confusion. In the end, he could not help but ask, "What d' ye mean by boundaries and rules? All we need t' do is join our numbers together when the time comes t' meet Jorund in battle. There's no need fer rules! We're not kneelers!"
Ivar met Alfyn's gaze without backing down. "Aye, we're not kneelers. But d' ye think ye'd like it if I came t' yer camp one day and took enough food t' feed scores o' men, leavin' ye with nothin', all in the name o' this alliance? Or would ye like it if I walked into yer camp and took yer steel in the name o' the alliance?" He leaned forward slightly before continuing, "Think about it. We need t' set boundaries on what we can and can't do if we want this alliance t' actually last."
Now that he truly thought about it, Alfyn could not help but feel the urge to punch Ivar in the face at the mere thought of the younger man taking what little food remained for him and his clan simply because they were allies. The thought irritated him enough that he had to calm himself before he actually ended up swinging his fist at Ivar and ruining the alliance before it had even properly formed. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and steadied his breathing before finally asking, "What boundaries and rules d' ye have in mind?"
Ivar smiled faintly after seeing Alfyn calm down enough to seriously consider his suggestion regarding boundaries and rules for their alliance. They needed such things. No, he needed them if he wanted this alliance to become something reliable during times of trouble rather than a burden waiting to collapse upon itself.
He gestured for Alfyn to sit back down, and the man reluctantly did as told. Only then did Ivar begin explaining everything he had already prepared beforehand regarding the alliance between them.
Alfyn listened through it all, though not quietly. At times he argued, and more than once his voice rose into shouting whenever he disagreed with something Ivar proposed. Yet throughout it all, Ivar remained calm and patiently explained his reasoning each time until Alfyn finally settled down again.
By the time their discussion ended and Alfyn finally left the tent, it was already deep into the night.
—-----
Haldor yawned as he watched Alfyn leave their camp and head back toward his own. "What d' ye think they talked about inside?" he asked.
"Dunno," Torren replied sleepily, though there was a clear hint of mischief beneath his voice. "Maybe… maybe they were doin' that?"
"Doin' what?" Haldor asked before his eyes suddenly widened in realization. "But… but there was a lot o' shoutin', I heard."
"Heard me ma an' pa doin' it loud enough fer everyone t' hear before," Torren said while barely holding back his laughter. At the same time, he pretended to be half asleep so Haldor would not notice the grin threatening to spread across his face.
Haldor slowly turned his gaze toward Ivar's tent, and his mind immediately began to wander.