[Chapter Size: 4000 Words.]

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Third Person POV

Arctic, 299 AC.

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The city was silent, as always that morning, just like in the last seven moons. He was heading to the castle’s entrance with a platoon of royal guards, with Val and Seryna right behind, all wearing their armor.

The horses were already prepared by order of the king, by the castle’s own servants along with the guards who escorted them for protection, while they simply mounted and headed toward the gate. Each of the royal guards kept their eyes on the sky at any sign of any blue-eyed, feathered enemy, holding a new Arctic weapon in their hands.

Jon had created a new crossbow model for Arctic, one that could fire several projectiles through a ring where multiple darts were placed, stacking one on top of the other as they were loaded.

As the mechanism was triggered, it launched a dart and was easily readied for the next round of ammunition, prepared for the next shot. This was a system with new spring and pulley engineering that he had managed to develop over the last moons.

These seven moons had not been applied only to battles against the dead, but Jon seemed to have developed for the kingdom a new form of engineering, especially for military use—perhaps due to the need to create new weapons—and ended up producing something that seemed to change everything: pulleys, which allowed the weight or pressure of any mechanism to be reduced when applied, making the strings turn between them.

When Jon was studying ways to reduce the pressure necessary to pull certain mechanisms, he ended up developing his own pulleys. This technology was not entirely new—it had long been used in construction to raise walls, wells and move objects, especially heavy stones—yet Jon had an idea no one had had before: to apply this engineering directly to weapons of war.

His harpoons now had two giant pulleys on each side, pulling toward a third one below the main structure, making them much easier to handle even for common men, and not only for giants anymore. Still, the giants had greater strength and could easily use the heavier models Jon had created for war, intended to reach farther distances than normal harpoons could.

The pulley concept immediately caught the attention of the dwarven race, and Jon, along with Thor and many engineers, began developing them for smaller objects. Thus, they created the new crossbow, called the composite crossbow, also using Yi-Ti technology, which could reload shots as they were fired; while one dart was released, another was already positioned much more easily, without needing to use a claw to pull the string to its limit like the crossbows of Westeros, which were slow and difficult to handle. One only needed to move a lower piece, and the pulleys did the heavy work.

In addition, Jon applied a new sight above the weapon to make hitting targets easier, using magnifying-lens technology, creating an optical system that increased shot accuracy with a much greater range than the eyes could normally achieve.

This model had been developed exclusively to eliminate aerial creatures that roamed the city. Any suspicious bird that came toward important people — which had already happened — was immediately shot down.

The White Walkers, at a certain point, tried to begin killing key figures of the kingdom, especially those in command. Jon, the royal family and the ministers were no exception: they were the first targets. In the beginning, everything was a bit dangerous, but as soon as these crossbows began being distributed among the royal guards, they started spotting the threat from afar, after it passed through the aerial defense above the city formed by the dragons, who, as useful as they were, could not take care of everything.

The undead birds were easily taken down, one after another, before they even came close. Since the mechanism for pulling the pressure string was quick and easy with just two movements of the hands, the crossbow was always loaded.

This was something that would shock the whole world, a technology that did not exist in Westeros nor anywhere else. You could be an extremely skilled archer, but you would still need to prepare the bow, pick up the arrow, draw the string, aim and shoot, always relying on your body’s strength and tiring your muscles.

With this crossbow, everything was simpler: you only needed to ready the crossbow with a movement that did not strain your muscles much, pulling the bottom part forward and then bringing it back to the bow, with the dart already ready to be fired. With the improved sight and with a force capable of reaching up to two hundred meters lethally, each projectile took only a few seconds to be armed, with little muscular fatigue for whoever was handling the weapon.

Having an entire line of such crossbows positioned on the walls of a fortress would drastically increase the difficulty of conquering it. If before the normal ratio for a siege was three attackers for each defender, now it could easily be five or even ten to one — until the ammunition stock ran out, of course. Still, this would take any war to another level.

Jon was eager to see the southern nobles pale as soon as they saw his new weapons. And now he was creating a new type of bow, using the same pulley technology to ease the shot and allow the creation of bows with even greater pressure.

He called the invention the compound bow, due to its structure being much more resistant than that of a common bow. Besides being easier to pull, it also provided the archer with much more stability. Instead of someone struggling to keep their aim for long — as happened with traditional bows — this compound bow kept the pressure so light that the archer could hold a steady aim for long seconds or even minutes before shooting.

But this was a weapon still under development by Jon. He just needed to position the pulleys in the right place, after all he was trying to apply four of them to the bow itself, two at each end, with a double string passing through both tips, although only one would be used for the shot.

He was also creating a new wood from a new tree, one that would be perfect for this type of bow, with branches firm enough to withstand the pressure of the six pulleys, allowing it to reach up to three hundred meters — a thousand feet — something revolutionary, considering that the best archers in the world could shoot a hundred meters.

Only the giants, whom only Arctic had as allies, possessed the strength necessary to shoot arrows up to six hundred meters with their own bows. The scorpions they usually handled could fire at a thousand or twelve hundred meters. With the composite scorpions, that distance would multiply.

And if we are talking about the common crossbow adapted for the giants, the composite bow created especially for them would easily reach fifteen hundred meters.

Five thousand giants firing arrows that looked more like harpoons, at such a distance, would force any enemy army to hide and think twice about how to approach the Arcticans in an open field. And by the time they managed to reach the point of clashing against the kingdom’s army, how many would fall with such heavy arrows plummeting over them? And the giants were exclusive to Arctic.

Jon could also build a handheld Berta for the giants; they could easily pierce armor like cheese with giant bolts and a fatal penetration force. It would be hell for their enemies.

Any enemy of Arctic would be doomed in the face of its military power. The South would be struck without even understanding what was happening — if a war started, they would be screwed. With this possible war in mind, Jon walked through the city. His destination was the dragons’ landing platform.

Eragon had grown even more since the war began — he could no longer enter the castle grounds without causing chaos — and therefore used the external platforms. Now the white dragon was forty meters long, having grown over ten meters in the last moons, while becoming an insatiable eater during this time.

The animals were also reaching their limit inside the kingdom. Jon had to hide all livestock meant for slaughter underground, since there was still danger from aerial enemies. He placed them in dozens of underground barns; they could no longer reproduce in these places, but at least they would stay alive. Jon had been fortunate that Arctic had been correctly designed from the beginning of the kingdom, with a huge bunker for the population, as well as the Sanctuary for the royal family, with all the land dug and structured before the city’s construction began, with the help of the dwarves.

The strategy was obvious — to hide people and animals underground — and it worked very well, leaving only the trained predator animals on the surface, helping in the war. Arctican men worked as handlers who constantly sought meat to feed the people, the animals and the dragons. Eragon had his own personal handler, as did _____, due to the amount the dragons began consuming.

Even so, even in the midst of chaos, everyone managed to eat fresh food.

In any case, Jon had to separate from his wives.

“You will remain in command, along with Ducken. I will go to the South and return soon,” Jon said.

He had been confined to the kingdom during all this time, but now he could finally breathe and head South in search of news.

“All right, Jon… just take care of yourself,” Seryna said, while Jon nodded. He would now travel alone while she and Val headed north. Jon went to the Senate, where the landing platform was larger above the structure, and Eragon landed soon after. He looked at the rising sun as Arctic shone, approaching the dragon and touching his chin.

This made Jon remember that he still hadn’t congratulated his companion. He had grown about 33% since the fight against Cannibal — something impressive.

“You’re getting bigger and bigger. I’m starting to feel intimidated, Eragon,” Jon said in the Old Tongue, while the dragon simply observed him and snorted.

Jon gave a playful smile and began climbing into his saddle. The dragon did not wear the Valyrian steel armor, since he had never needed it until now, but Jon still kept it updated. He had enlarged the plates to Eragon’s current size, in case they were ever needed; not even the White Walkers’ spears would be fatal with that armor.

It had been smart of him to use plates to make the armor, since he could continue using it even as the dragon grew, only needing to produce more plates to fit and remold some of them.

Jon climbed onto the dragon using the rope ladder and settled into the saddle, but before commanding him to fly, he noticed a small bird coming toward him.

He recognized very well the small white dove that belonged to the Children of the Forest. They always maintained communication by controlling small birds that lived protected inside the sacred grove, since no servant of the White Walkers could reach that place without losing their powers and falling as useless corpses. The children were very well protected in that place, a direct manifestation of the old gods.

Jon calmly read the message Leaf had left for him. She asked that he speak to her personally: the old gods had enlightened her with a message stating that Jon should turn to them in some way at the main tree. He was surprised by this and decided he would do it upon returning, before looking again at the rising sun.

“Let’s go to the South,” he said, and with the dragon adjusting his muscles, he prepared himself. Eragon spread his wings immediately and took off, advancing into the sky toward the sun by instinct, while Jon bathed in the light along with him. They soon began to curve over the port of Arctic, advancing South, passing through the forests and the mountain of the dragons, leaving behind the kingdom’s domain.

Jon remained alert, putting on his helmet with a visor made of glass. He did not want to encounter any undead bird on the way, even though Eragon had his own abilities to escape any pursuer, no matter how persistent — especially now, since his dragon still maintained his hyper speed. And he wanted to preserve the dragon’s energy.

Jon first went to take a look at Hardhome. As he approached some dozens of minutes later, he saw an entire camp of free folk — perhaps twenty thousand people living there — all gathered as far from death as possible, knowing it was already in the North and that anyone who tried to get close to Arctic would be killed. No one in the North would return alive. This made the last survivors retreat to the South, although they also had no ability to pass through the Wall.

Jon wondered what kind of people were there.

Some who never believed Arctic could welcome them without enslaving them or demanding they kneel.

People who believed the lies spread by resentful tribes and leaders — something that had already happened in Mance’s own camp, when he heard rumors that the Arcticans enslaved any free folk who entered the kingdom. These were expelled people who held grudges and spread rumors.

Jon felt disappointed thinking about this, because the free folk were, to him, one of the most honest peoples he had ever known, even with their rotten fruits.

Some of the people down there could say they had already lived in Arctic and were expelled for committing crimes still reversible — after all, very serious crimes were punished with decapitation itself, always with a fair trial, evidence, witnesses and judges within Arctic’s legal system, created many years ago and developed over time.

There were also those Jon had forbidden to enter: the remnants of Mance, old leaders, tribes that refused to follow basic laws, and people whom he had personally listed as undesired — cannibal tribes, violent ones, too primitive to live peacefully among the people of Arctic without causing catastrophes.

All kinds of people were down there now. Many who never had the chance to go to Arctic hesitated too much, even having more than a decade to seek shelter there, yet never did and now it was too late due to the ongoing war.

Even so, Jon was determined to speak to them and ask how things were in the South. Since there were not many living beings willing to approach death at the borders, he needed to gather the information personally.

He kept lowering altitude through mental guidance. Eragon descended slowly, and as they approached the camp, several people pointed to the sky, seeing the white dragon with green patches spreading its wings to glide close to the ground.

Chaos overtook the camp in the next moment, just from seeing Eragon. Surely there were people there who had attacked Arctican ships in the past, when Jon led his dragon to exterminate them, and now they screamed in fear.

Jon stopped at a safe distance, landing the dragon calmly, indicating he was not an undead nor an enemy arriving to kill them with dragonfire.

He dismounted from Eragon and approached the camp, leaving the dragon behind for now. Jon was completely protected by the Valyrian steel armor; it was practically impossible for any common weapon to wound him at that moment. And if he were attacked, Eragon would be upon them within seconds. Jon had complete confidence in his safety — he was like a human wall advancing toward the cautious people who watched him suspiciously.

Jon walked toward them as some men approached, staring at him with caution. And even wearing a helmet, he was easily recognized.

“I know who he is! He’s the one who spoke with Mance! The one who led us to his land and then attacked us!” someone shouted immediately.

“He’s that beast who slaughters men without mercy!” another growled, his voice heavy with resentment. It was clear that some there had nurtured hatred for years — and they would not stay quiet.

Jon lifted his eyes behind the visor.

“Well, you should have thought twice before attacking our ships. How many were you back then? Twenty thousand men? Did you think that attacking our canal while our ships were away from the kingdom would make us treat you with flowers?” Jon replied firmly.

He sighed briefly before continuing:

“Anyway, I am not your enemy.” He raised his voice again, overpowering the angry muttering. “At least I’m not here for that. I want to know what is happening with the dead. Whether you know me or not, whether you hate me or not, we are fighting the dead in the North. We have been holding this battle for seven months.” The people began to fall silent, listening to him.

“Mance’s people thrive in Arctic. With them bleeding alongside our soldiers in the battles. But we are doing very well, even though we still have difficulties in achieving a definitive victory. The White Walkers hide behind a fog that never ends. Still, we are preparing to launch a direct attack in the coming moons.”

Jon finished, and the people exchanged glances, surprised. They certainly already knew the ice monsters were acting, but for seven moons none of them had advanced to the South. Some claimed the kingdom in the North had already been destroyed, and that did not seem to be the case.

Seeing Jon there, mounted on such an imposing dragon, wearing an armor that shone like salt in the sun — and Eragon, perfectly healthy, with only small scratches imperceptible from a distance — everyone began to believe his words.

Arctic shone every night; all could see the glow on the dark horizon beyond what their eyes could normally reach. It was obvious the kingdom was doing well, shining every night, even serving as a distant source of light for them.

“Your land is safe in the North? I condemned Mance when he said he would join you… I believed he had killed his people when he went to your land. I was in his camp. I heard and saw you fighting the White Walkers alongside the free folk. But when he decided to go to your land, I thought he would not survive and I left Mance…” a man said, sounding deeply regretful.

Perhaps he had listened to those who refused to go to Arctic — and now he was in a terrible situation. Even if the dead were not there, they still had no protection at all.

“Please, take me to your land!” someone suddenly exclaimed. “I… I would do anything! Just get us out of here! My family and I live in constant fear! Sometimes we see animals with blue eyes watching us, as if they’re planning to attack us at any moment!” another shouted from a corner, his voice breaking with despair.

Jon turned his gaze to the man speaking; he truly seemed on the verge of losing everything. “The White Walkers are still in the North. There is no group of them here in the South, aside from those animals. So you are safe… for now,” Jon replied.

“Still, your land is safe, isn’t it? You can take us!” the man insisted.

Jon shook his head. “There is no way to take you. The kingdom is surrounded by the dead. You know that no one from the North has returned, right?” Jon said.

The man lowered his head. Entire tribes had left in desperation toward Arctic when the sun barely stayed in the sky for three hours. None of them returned. Whether they reached the kingdom’s gates, or even came close… no one knew. But now, hearing Jon, it became evident that all of them had been killed.

“Then… if the White Walkers come down to the South, we’re going to die!” another murmured. The group’s initial anger had vanished; now only fear remained.

“We can try to cross the Wall!” someone shouted to the crowd.

“With twenty thousand people, even if half are women and children… if we still had a camp of a hundred thousand, we might have a chance! But now… now we surrender to this king who came from the North! If anyone is to blame, it’s him!” a man snarled, pointing at Jon.

Everyone turned their heads toward him at the same instant — not because of Jon, but because a deep roar tore through the air behind the king of Arctic, and red flames glimmered in Eragon’s mouth. The dragon didn’t like the way that human had threatened his father, hearing everything through the mental connection he shared with Jon.

The entire crowd took several steps back in pure terror. Jon raised his hand toward the dragon.

“Calm down,” he said. Even if his voice didn’t physically reach Eragon, the command echoed through their mental bond. The dragon extinguished the flames, stopped the growl, but kept his gaze fixed on the crowd, eyes narrowed and watchful.

“Well… Mance’s people, just like everyone else, entered Arctic seeking a way to survive. Do not blame them. I know many of you were in my kingdom, and I know many others chose not to go, listening to rumors or believing people who were not accepted. I also know that I destroyed those who tried war with us and saw their companions fall. But that doesn’t matter now.” Jon took a deep breath before continuing:

“I do not judge those who sought refuge and respected the laws that Arctic established. In any case, I have a solution for you. I cannot take you to Arctic… but I can bring weapons for you to fight the White Walkers. That way you will not be at their mercy.”

A murmur ran through the crowd. “And can you do that immediately?” many asked at the same time, clearly hopeful.

“Yes. Dragonglass kills any undead — even the White Walkers themselves. I will bring spears, bows and arrows using my dragon. As long as you use these weapons only against them… and not against Arctic,” Jon added, and his voice took on a firm tone. “If you use these weapons against my people, then I will use my dragon against anyone who threatens me or mine.” The threat was subtle, but absolutely clear.

“And what do you expect in return?” someone asked.

Jon shrugged. “You don’t need to give me anything. I’m simply giving you a chance to fight. Even if I don’t like many of you, I don’t think anyone deserves to die to the dead and become one of them,” Jon said honestly.

The people exchanged glances, divided between surprise and suspicion. The crowd had grown so large it covered the entire area — nearly twenty thousand people trying to hear the man who had arrived mounted on a dragon.

“We could give the ranger back!” someone suddenly shouted, as if offering what they thought he wanted.

“It’s true! We have a member of the Night’s Watch captured! We were thinking of flaying him… or trying to trade him for something! We can give him to you so we owe nothing to anyone!”

Jon raised an eyebrow. The Night’s Watch. He immediately thought of his uncle — and the anger he would feel upon learning that a ranger was being kept by those people.

“Let me see this ranger,” Jon said, interested.

The people exchanged uncertain looks, some hesitating, but eventually agreed, stepping aside to make way as Jon followed them.

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