Chapter 31: The War for the Woodlands pt 1
*Big thanks to Charlie Puente-Duany for your continuous support*
It had been many moons since Arthor had been named High Chief under the weirwood tree, and the quest which he had named simply as the unification had began.
It was by no means an easy thing, many men had lost their lives to fulfil the vision their chief had. Many wanted to curse at him but held their tongue as many of his enemies now hung upon the weirwood trees of Skagos by their innards, quenching the thirst of the old gods with their blood.
Numerous tribes had in turn fallen to Arthor's might raising their numbers from a few hundred to close to a thousand. Their tribe and their goals was one the larger tribes could no longer ignore, and now the inhabitants of the of the woodlands could smell it war was in the air, not their everyday skirmish but an actual war.
"The strong arms have annexed more tribes of late barring the few settlements left we will soon share a border with them" Lagertha looked to the others around the table with a stern look, "The skirmishes between the strong arms, white tusks and red bone tribe have all but come to a halt. Meetings between them have also become prevalent but I have been unable to see much as my ravens have been shot by the dozen each day." Ronell spoke up to support Lagertha in a tone that seemed almost devoid of emotion.
Arthor who sat at the head of the table looked to Ronell barely able to hold back his concern for his brother, before diverting his attention tp the others seated at his table. The table had been expanded to include the various new faces that were included in his war council.
"It would seem as though they have finally decided to take our actions seriously", Arthor propped his head up with one arm as he drummed his fingers on a the table before him. The sound carried over the silent council, "how many steel weapons have we got Halys".
"Well there aint enough steel to arm up all yer men if its what yer asking. The rest gon be carrying dragon glass and bone." Halys let out a sigh of frustration as he crossed his arms before himself, "To many destroyed in the fighting and we can't go and mine any in this gods damned weather."
"Forget about the quality..." Arthor rose his hand to stop Halys who was about to speak up, " I know it sounds like an insult to your skills, but we don't have much time before the real war begins. So cut down the quality for quantity, the dragon glass can be used for arrow heads and the bone for shields convert the rest of the steel to swords axes and spears. We will need everything we can get."
Halys grumbled but agreed nonetheless, "Alright Benjen we are going to be relying on you, I need you to get a few hundred good men and begin a march to claim the tribes as well as meet the strong arm's" Arthor spoke up causing the people around him to look at him with surprise with one of them parting his lips and cutting Benjen who was about to speak.
"That's a suicide mission, are you truly about to send your brother out to die!" Arthor turned to him with a frosty look that caused them to come all come to a halt. "My words are final, Lothor will be moving with me, Lagertha as well as Ronell to march through the stone river into Red bone territory."
"Now meetings over, go and prepare we march in two days" the people made it to their feet and made to go out but Benjen stopped as Arthor called out to him. With the others all gone Arthor stood to meet his brother. "I won't lie to you, you are going to be bait, draw the attention from us so we can do enough damage to matter."
"I don't doubt you brother" Benjen placed his hand on Arthor's shoulder and looked his brother in the eye, "Your plans haven't failed us yet and I intend to follow them until the Old gods call me".
Arthor gave a nod with a somber look on his face which caused Benjen to continue, "hey! don't forget I am Benjen the Undying! if the gods are good, when we see each other next I'll have the head of the Strong arm chief to give you". The two broke out in laughter at those words.
"They have wargs though, more than we do they might see your march" Benjen said his concerns after they had finished laughing. "Father had the same concerns, but we have the all seeing Ronell whose better than any they have. He and our other wargs will stop any who get too close."
"Ronell huh..." A look of concern overcame Benjen when he thought about his little brother. "I'll talk to him, according to the others its because he has been sending too much time in spakr. So the quicker we put all this shit to an end the better for all us".
"Aye the better for all of us"
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