The ti had co.
Levi stood before the office of Ser Sedge. Paperwork rustled inside, a quiet rhythm behind the heavy door. With a firm knock, Levi waited.
"Co inside," Ser Sedge called.
Levi entered and nodded respectfully.
"Where are Rann and Hunn?" he asked.
"On duty," Ser Sedge replied, eyes still on the parchnt before him. "Watching over your town."
He looked up, folding his hands calmly.
"Now, I said I would train you under the sa standards I trained others. I said up to twenty n. I trust you've found your recruits? A lot of others are signing up."
Levi nodded. "Yes. The young n of Bogwater. I trust them and so of them trust ."
Ser Sedge returned the nod with a subtle smirk.
"Rember, I only said I'd train them. Whether you ard them is up to you. I also never said how long the training would be... did I?"
That last line carried uneasy weight. Levi felt it settle uncomfortably on his back. The terms were loose almost dangerously so but he couldn't deny the opportunity.
"True," Levi said slowly. "But I doubt you'd tarnish your own na by training us for a few days, then abandoning us like lambs to the slaughter."
Ser Sedge chuckled under his breath.
"I let you rest. A man is useless in training while beaten and broken. I've also seen you've been learning from the Old Maester… busy managing your town."
He leaned forward now, serious.
"But now… it's ti.You will train with for one season. Swordsmanship, survival, discipline.Then a season with Hunn — spears and formations.Then a season with Rann — bows, hunting, and precision.
After those three seasons... cos your test.You'll be dropped into the swamps for one full season. No help. Live there. Eat there. Bathe there.Learn its predators. Eat them. Be poisoned by them. Heal yourselves. Survive."
"That's all I offer. Once your training ends you're on your own."
Levi swallowed, then bowed his head with respect. "Understood."
"Bring the twenty you choose," Ser Sedge added. "I will not pick them for you."
Levi thanked him sincerely and left the office.
Outside the longhouse, Levi walked through the misty paths of Bogwater, heading straight for Jory's ho. He found him outside, waiting expectantly.
"Well?" Jory asked, eyes shining. "Am I part of your adventures?"
Levi smiled. "Yes. You, , and nineteen others. Go call Lyle and et at my house. We'll gather the rest there."
Jory grinned wide and sprinted off without another word.
Now to make a list, Levi thought. The rest must be chosen carefully.
Levi's List of Ideals young n:
1. Well-liked in Bogwater.
2. Trustworthy in town.
3. Kind-hearted but willing to fight and kill.
4. Age between 14 and 16.
5. Smart and bright enough
This five should be enough for now.
Soon, Jory and Lyle arrived at Levi's ho. The three boys who once walked into the swamps of the crannogn now stood together again.
Lyle nodded solemnly. "Thank you for choosing ."
"Of course," Levi said. "We're friends. We start this together."
Jory glanced around. "So… you said nineteen others, right? Now it should be eighteen so who else are we bringing?"
Levi showed them the list. Jory nodded. "I know four who match this."
Lyle frowned. "There's a problem. When Bogwater started, there were maybe thirty or forty families. That list… limits us. I can na only three more, maybe four."
"Then we ask the others," Levi replied. "The nine you plan to bring take them here. then we ask them if they know others who fit the list.Once we're twenty in number we go. No more ti wasted in thought."
They nodded and headed out.
One by one, young n arrived at Levi's door each with a na, a reason, and a face full of nervous excitent. So had heard from Jory. Others from Lyle. So didn't know why they were chosen only to be dragged by other friends saying that they wanted to be part of sothing greater in bogwater.
Eventually, twenty young n stood within Levi's ho.
Levi stepped forward, heart pounding.
"Brothers," he said, "we may not know each other well, but today… we beco bound together.For three seasons, we'll train. Then we'll be tested in one.Like proper n, we'll defend this ho our Bogwater.Don't worry about food, weapons, or armor. That'll co when the ti is right.For now, we stand as one. Through pain and hardship, through friendship and loyalty we begin our journey together."
"Now co. Let's et Ser Sedge. Ti waits for no man."
They marched together.
Outside the longhouse, only Hunn stood guard.
Levi ask "where is Ser Segde?"
Hunn replies calmly "He is not the one who starts training you it will be "
Levi nods in understanding.
"You've gathered well," Hunn said, nodding. "Follow to the training field."
At the field, the air slled of sweat and dirt. Spears lined the racks. Wooden targets stood in rows. Levi could already see his hard breathing through the light fog or maybe it was just the tension.
"I'm Hunn," the guard said, voice loud and steady. "And I'm good with the spear.My own weapon is different three-pronged. You'll learn with just one."
He pointed to a pile of long wooden poles.
"Pick your sticks. Line up: four n per row, five rows. Levi front and center."
They moved quickly, obeying without question.
"Your training starts today. It ends in one season. I'll teach you what I can in that ti, When ti is has co you're on your own."
And so it began.
The first steps of warriors. The forging of brothers.
In the swamps of the Neck, under mist and mud in the town of bogwater.
the Youths of Bogwater began their path to manhood.
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