Chapter 269

"What is this?" Mei Yi inquired of the crude box presented by Atos Philinte, son of the mountain clan chieftain.

"This is our gift for you." Atos chuckled, kicked open the box lid with his foot, revealing two heads inside, and said, "They said they were called Innis Freud and Hostin Freud, or some sort of lord; we originally wanted to bring them alive to give to you for you to behead personally, but on the road their tongues wouldn't stop, spouting unpleasant talk, so we simply slit their throats—indeed, after that our march sped up, and we finally caught up with you here! We're not late, are we, Your Highness?"

The two heads lay haphazardly in a box much larger than their heads, faces indiscernible; one could say they were anyone.

"The enemy is right in the castle before your eyes, so you've come at just the right time; more importantly, you've helped me eliminate the threat from the Great Wall and Hedong, and I ought to thank you!" Mei Yi rose and smiled warmly: "How is Chieftain Philinte doing?"

"Hehe, the old man had many sons, and now he's sent off the excess clansmen, he's delighted," he scratched his head, "If he knew Philinte could take root elsewhere, he'd be even happier."

"Your Highness, he's asking if you want territory!" Beside him, Belon Hackle wore the mountain clan's typical fur cloak; since entering his own huge tent, he has continually regarded Atos with disdain.

Mei Yi burst out laughing, gesturing for the mountain clan chieftains and officers to sit.

The forces gathering to her side are growing ever larger; besides the third conscription batch from Mandel, along the way small families keep defecting to her, and she continually dispatches nearby youths such as Halor Herman and Sam Neil to take charge of arrangements; so far, aside from the perpetually tense provisions, everything is still in good order.

Count Mandel has already written saying he is trying every way to raise provisions. For Mei Yi, Veman Mandel has always been quite reliable in logistics.

Inside the huge tent, firelight blazed, candles burned bright; serving soldiers continually brought in grilled beef and mutton from outside and fragrant bread, while attendant soldiers stood behind the officers' seats, ever ready to serve ale and red wine.

Mei Yi suddenly realized that in all her marches she had never been so luxurious; the entire tent looked less like a hastily pitched shelter and more like a chieftain's prince's field palace—were it not for the savage-like mountain clansmen seated below, she would not feel she was in the North at all.

"The Philintes on both east and west have already risen in rebellion; this shows they failed to grasp the situation—after the war, even if their fiefdoms aren't fully reclaimed, they must be greatly reduced, and they disappoint me. You are the Philintes of the mountains, and your arrival with the Philinte clan brings me great comfort! Let us raise our cups for our common kin, for Count Togenheng Philinte!" Mei Yi lifted a huge horn cup to toast the newly enlisted soldiers joining the ranks today, then, enduring the sour tang of the ale, she gulped it down heartily.

Atos Philinte was overjoyed, waving his arms and legs, hoisting the huge cup and draining its beer in one gulp; behind him, Hod Norri gleefully lifted a large flagon of wine, carefully topping her up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, kin and friends of the mountain clans," Mei Yi swept her gaze over the various clansmen who looked like barbarians; she knew their surnames: they were Norri, Not, Hackle, Philinte, Ridel, Berley, Or… Mei Yi couldn't distinguish them all, but that didn't stop her from declaring, "I know you left the mountains to selflessly aid Lord Ned's children in defeating a powerful foe—but loyalty demands reward, and this is your opportunity, as well as my expectation. I have resolved to utterly destroy the ancient marquess and count houses of Bolton, Crow, Dustin, Slate, and many others, to punish more great and small counts and viscounts; this will free countless castles and lands, leaving countless widows and daughters—these old families have endured a thousand years or more, but in the new millennium I have allotted them no place; you mountain clans warriors should firmly plant the vigorous roots you have honed in the hills into the fertile lands they vacate, becoming the strongest bulwark for me, the Stark children."

Mei Yi raised her cup again.

"For Stark!" The cry burst forth repeatedly within the tent, so simple yet mighty it nearly overturned her tent—"For Stark!"

This was her victory.

Besides the nearly thousand soldiers of the mountain clans stationed at the Great Wall, a portion followed Qiongen north to strive for the liberation of Kahoh City and Hearth City, greatly easing Mei Yi's burden; the rest, under their clan leaders' guidance, gathered beneath Terror Castle, becoming another reliable new force in the siege.

After the hearty feast of meat and drink, amid the lively atmosphere, Mei Yi in the tent accepted each of their oaths of fealty one by one—truly a situation where all were pleased.

Following past custom, these people resemble the mountain and highland populace that cannot be fed in winter—not only ordinary hillfolk and half‑grown youths, but also the chieftain's second and youngest sons. Compared to the wildlings beyond the Wall, they are not only loyal enough but also reliable enough to be trusted and relied upon; Mei Yi need only provide them with more food, weapons, and leather armor, and need only endure their loud voices.

If we count the wildlings subdued by Qiongen, her strength is even greater now.

Accompanying Qiongen southward also were these wildlings, but Qiongen apparently sought to lessen the impact on the North, so he brought them back northeast to besiege the western army led by Taybert Lannister—this choice could not be better, for it not only can destroy the enemy's northeastern manpower but also, with Lannister's help, wear down the uncontrollable wildling host. Moreover, it allows opening a designated activity zone for the wildlings in the northeast.

If Qiongen can lead the wildling host to successfully sweep the northeastern corner of the Lannisters, Mei Yi does not care how Amber and Stark might react—Alyrica Stark is missing, and the Stark clan is nearly reduced to Harryon Stark; while the Amber family, aside from Great Qiongen and the Jones Amber recalled from the Academy who escaped harm, only a few fugitives fled to Winterfell, and these hands would hardly sustain Mei Yi in the northeast—under these circumstances she can without hesitation transfer the Amber and Stark holdings elsewhere and grant the entire expansive northeastern territory to this wildling band.

There, she can only take things step by step, but in any case she will not lose out.

She dispelled the effects of the hot wine, stretched her recently exercised limbs; inside the tent, no one could match her in swordplay or wrestling, and amid the awestruck gazes of the mountain clansmen, she cast off her cloak and strode alone into the icy night, gazing upon Terror Castle guarded by the encircling peaks.

This is indeed a troublesome castle; she knows no method besides waiting for those inside to starve into surrender. The red‑robed monks within tightly restrict her capabilities.

"Your Highness, we've captured two who fled from Terror Castle…… thieves." Hod suddenly appeared behind her to report.

"They're just fugitives—what's so special about them that you must report to me?"

"They don't seem to be northerners," Hod scratched his head, "After being caught they said they had news to report to you, well, they only wanted to tell you. Lord Gath thinks you'd best see them."

Best would be news of Lucian Bolton's death.

"Then let's see them, with Count Gloff accompanying." Mei Yi gripped her longsword, passed the spear‑ and shield‑bearing soldiers standing in solemn guard, went past the torches and braziers along the way, and entered the quieter side‑tent on the north of the great pavilion.

Not long after, Lord Gath pushed in three bound fellows into her tent.

"Oh, it's an old friend." Mei Yi instantly recognized one of them—the very one who, as the eldest of the three Braavosians she had received at Winterfell, was…

"Your Highness, you still remember me—I am truly honored." His robe was constricted by the ropes, yet he managed a bow; Mei Yi signaled the nearby soldiers to untie the cords. "Then I need not reintroduce myself."

"Zantaro Mitimis." Mei Yi calmly called out his name, recalling he was the representative of the Braavosian Trade League. "I never expected to see you here; are you trading with my enemy?" She patted her wooden seat, "Just that alone, I could have you hanged."

"No, no, absolutely not." He quickly spoke up, "The Strait storms have been growing ever stranger; my ship was blown onto Bolton's coast and seized by patrol soldiers. We have come to negotiate the return of our vessel and the captured crew."

"How laughable, do you think I've never sailed? What kind of storm would blow a Braavos ship onto Bolton's shore?"

"Your Highness, this is a ship plying the northern trade route."

"Ridiculous—aside from the Lannisters, what else is there to trade with in the North? Could you be dealing with wildlings or Skaggs Island? All such parties are outright forbidden; don't say you're dealing with the Night's Watch." Mei Yi sprang to her feet, drew her sword, "If you don't come clean, I'll hang your head."

"It is trade with the wildlings, Your Highness."

"What good is there to trade with wildlings—are you after their pelts and bones?" Mei Yi grew ever more puzzled, "Besides, even if you ran aground, you could just pay a docking fee—Bolton may be my enemy, but he wouldn't go so far as to confiscate your ship—you still aren't being forthright."

"In my view, it's another slave ship. The Braavosians constantly proclaim they forbid slavery, yet that lot who see money and jump at it will dare any wicked deed." Count Gloff entered the tent at that moment.

"Your Highness, there are wildlings aboard." He seemed to lose his spirit, letting out a long sigh, "The Braavosians ought not to be involved in the slave trade, but demand from the eastern continent's city‑states is growing, so many captains have plucked up courage and hit on the idea of wildlings. Your Highness, they are suffering in the difficult settlements, hungry and cold; if they aren't enslaved they will starve to death!"

Mei Yi flung her ardor onto Zantaro's neck, feeling utter loathing for the Braavosians: if it were merely a common captain's greed sparking trouble, why would the Trade League's representative need to step in to negotiate? This is clearly the League's doing.

"Slave traders caught can be put to death."

"Yes, yes, Your Highness, but I am not a slave trader." Under the pressure of the sword's edge he dropped to his knees, "I said I have news to report to you; you will surely want to hear it."

"I will decide."

"Yes, it's for Your Highness to decide!" He lowered his posture greatly, whereupon Mei Yi sheathed her precious sword. "The garrison of Terror Castle is strict, the city's provisions are ample, Lord Bolton and his retinue seem not to worry about your siege. I sense they still have confidence they can defeat you, but I don't know what method they'd use."

"That isn't useful news."

"But it's not so bad as to be unwelcome to hear," he hastily added, "No one in your army has seen the castle's interior except me, and I am a good observer."

"What have you observed?"

"Your Highness, it's too cold down below; I ask to rise and recover." After Mei Yi nodded, he slowly rose to his feet, "If you consent to let us go, that would be even better."

"It will be decided by your news." Mei Yi was nearly laughing in exasperation at these eastern continent folk.

"You are a just person. I refer to the captured captains and their ships; I know the coastal patrol squadrons now heed only you. One vessel alone—we are willing to trade three ships' worth of grain for it, a standard bulk freighter, fully laden; the ship of yours detained in Braavos we can likewise release."

"Your words are many, but the news is few."

"It concerns Your Highness's success or failure; I believe it is surely worthwhile."

"The slaves aboard must be freed, and Braavos may not continue the 'northern trade'."

"Deal." Zantaro answered without hesitation, then coughed twice and immediately said, "Bolton has not abandoned hope of victory; he is not preparing to wage a war of attrition against you, his troops are still numerous and will likely launch a raid on you, and his heir, Rick Bolton, whom we have never managed to see, may already be lying in ambush outside Terror Castle."

"Would a cautious man like him tell you these things?"

"He certainly wouldn't say that, but I trust my own observation and feeling, and also rely a little on his request to Braavos—uh, I haven't agreed to him—speaking of which…"

What request?

This, although I shouldn't disclose the client's information, but this is indeed related to Your Highness; Your Highness ought to know, he smiled sheepishly, "He wishes to use the Stark clan's sword 'Ice' as collateral to buy weapons, provisions, and expand his army from the Braavos Iron Bank—I am not a representative of the Iron Bank, so I cannot agree to him… You say, he has such ideas; how could he then surrender to Your Highness?"