As the spear training ended, Hunn addressed the boys. "Co back after a day of rest," he said plainly. "Your next teacher will tell you what to do when you arrive at the training grounds."
The young n took the words to heart but first, they celebrated.
That evening, all twenty of them gathered at Levi's ho to celebrate the end of spear training. The walls were filled with laughter, clinking cups, and shared mories. They sat on the floor, on chairs, against walls wherever they could find space. The warmth of their camaraderie lit the room brighter than any candle.
Jory made toasts. Arl told loud, saying inappropriate jokes. Munty said nothing, but nodded when his cup was raised. Even Kell managed to wrestle a song out of Lyle, which got a cheer from the entire group. Levi didn't speak much he simply watched, smiled and laughed a heart full. These were no longer boys. These were comrades.
The celebration ended with the fall of night, and one by one, the n left. Levi closed his door and rested, the ache in his body dull but fading.
Morning ca too quickly. The knock at the door ca before the sun had fully risen.
The first knock, Levi ignored in his sleep-fogged mind.
The second was louder, persistent. That stirred him.
Rubbing his eyes, he rose and shuffled to the door, wondering who it could be on his day of rest.
Outside stood three familiar faces: Timor, the blacksmith; Lysa, the iron trader from White Harbor; and Wren, the quiet rchant.
Levi blinked. All three had once been students under the Old Maester. To see them together, here, was a surprise.
"Co in," Levi said, opening the door wider.
Once inside, he turned and asked, "What brings all three of you to today? Is sothing wrong with the smithy? Or the caravan?"
Wren stepped forward and handed him a small, hefty bag. "Coin," he said simply. "From the last moons of trade till now. I figured you were too busy to collect it. Now's the ti."
Levi opened it and found golden dragons stacked within. His brows lifted, understanding now what the Old Maester ant about being a young man growing riches.
"Thank you," Levi said with a respectful nod.
Wren tilted his head toward Lysa, who stepped forward and handed him a papyrus scroll.
"A list," she said. "rchants. twelve of them. Most have failed in their own trade or been robbed in the road. Northern and southern alike. They're looking to start again. No coin, no route. But we thought you'd want to expand your caravan."
Levi unrolled the scroll. Twelve nas. Each with brief notes on their pasts.
"You want to hire them?"
"You should," she said. "We'll handle the costs for guards and logistics. Just give them work and money, and your caravan will grow and make us richer."
Levi nodded. "Then the caravan will be called the rchant Union. Let's make sothing great out of their failure."
Lysa smiled faintly. "That's all from us."
She and Wren nodded slightly and left, leaving Levi alone with Timor.
The blacksmith grinned. "My turn. Everyone brought sothing, so I didn't want to be left out."
He opened the burlap he carried and revealed two neat piles.
"Five leather armors, like you asked. And five chainmail shirts as a surprise. Took longer, but we finished the last one just last night. The leather is 100 silver each. So 500 stags in total. Chainmail is free. You gave us iron, rember? consider the hard labor free of paynt."
Levi nodded. "Give a mont."
He walked into his room and ca out with a heavy pouch of silver stags. As he handed it over, Timor raised a brow and pointed his fingers at the glint of gold coins nearby.
"Not paying in golden dragons coins?"
"Copper pennies and silver stags are easy to spend. Golden dragon coins feels like a waste, with how little I have."
Timor chuckled. "Little, he says. All right, no complaints. That's all from ."
As Timor made for the door, Levi opened it, and there stood Ulrich, the master builder.
Timor gave him a nod and stepped aside.
"Work's done," Ulrich said with a proud smile.
"Which one?" Levi asked, ushering him in.
"All of it. The houses, the towers. You asked for it. Now it's standing. That's 2,000 silvers."
Again, Levi went to his room and returned with the coin.
As he handed it over, Levi asked, "And the smith you ntioned? Any word?"
Ulrich reached into his coat and retrieved a folded letter.
"I sent your letter. Got one back."
He opened it and read aloud:
"The House of Lannister pays deep in gold. Many smiths work for them. I will co when my duty here ends."
Ulrich tucked the letter away. "So, he'll co when he's done. For now, you've got . Well… had ."
Levi tilted his head. "You're leaving?"
"My work here is finished. You don't need to pay anymore. So masons and carpenters will stay. Your town can live on its own now."
Levi offered his thanks.
Ulrich smiled warmly. "Send a letter to White Harbor if you need again. That's where my ho."
And with that, he left Levi's ho.
Levi's stomach growled.
He cooked a quick al, ate, then drew a hot bath.
After cleaning himself and dressing, he turned to the leather armor that lay waiting.
He examined the leather armor. Nothing from his cheat engine.
Then the chainmail. Still nothing.
He sighed.
But then he held them together. A flicker in his cheat engine.
Leather Armor: 1
His heart leapt.
Wearing both together triggered the effect. He renad the combo "Chain-Leathered Armor."
Wearing one dropped the count. So he mixed and matched until four more sets ford.
Then, with a grin, he manipulated the engine and increased the number.
21 Chain-Leathered Armors now sat in his room.
He donned one.
It fit well. And he felt safe.
With armor on, he made his way to one of the towers Ulrich built.
As he climbed to the top, townsfolk looked up at him, many smiling, so surprised.
From the tower, Levi gazed out over Bogwater.
The houses. The paved roads. The walls. The town square.
All of it.
He smiled.
"I built this," he whispered to the wind.
The sun dipped lower. Orange painted the swamps.
He returned ho.
Ate.
And rested.
Tomorrow, the twenty young n would return to training.
And they'd find armor waiting for them.
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