The sun blazed overhead, unrelenting in its heat as the ship sailed farther south, cutting through the waters with no mercy. The oppressive warmth gripped the deck, and the members of Rick's group—free folk and Night's Watch alike—fidgeted uncomfortably in their light, ill-fitting clothes. The heat, a far cry from the cold grip of the North, had them all struggling in ways they had not anticipated.
Even with the loose tunics and light fabrics they'd bought in Braavos, the sweltering air was unbearable. Rick glanced over at his companions. Ygritte was glaring at him, hands on her hips, as beads of sweat ran down her freckled face. Val, as always, seemed unfazed outwardly, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her discomfort. She shot Rick a sharp look that said more than words ever could. "You're going to make these work, right?" she asked, voice strained but still calm.
"I'm trying!" Rick grumbled, pulling at a strand of wood he had been carving. He muttered under his breath, tracing runes into the smooth surface, each stroke an attempt to weave magic into the wood that could ease the heat. His hands were slick with sweat, and the wood felt almost too hot to touch. "It should work, it just needs time."
"Time's something we're running out of," Ygritte snapped, her voice high with irritation, though there was no venom in it. "The heat is getting unbearable."
Sigorn, the quietest of the group, sat leaning against the rail, his expression unreadable as he endured the heat in silence. Not a word from him; he seemed content in his stoicism, though the beads of sweat on his brow betrayed the discomfort he too was suffering.
And then there was Tormund. Rick glanced at him, finding the huge man sprawled out on the deck, completely naked, as though the lack of clothing was somehow an answer to the unbearable heat. "Tormund, are you—?" Rick started, his brow furrowing.
"Aye, I'm free," Tormund boomed, grinning at the sky. "Nothing better than the air on your skin, lad! You try it, you might like it."
Rick rolled his eyes but said nothing, returning his focus to the necklace he was working on. It had to work. It just had to.
Even Freyja, his constant companion, had been forced to remain in her human form. The fur of her direwolf shape was too much for the heat, and the once imposing, towering wolf now stood beside Rick as a tall woman with striking white hair, her figure graceful and fluid. Rick shot her a sympathetic glance, watching the way she wiped beads of sweat from her brow. It was strange, seeing her out of her true form. He was used to the power and majesty of her direwolf shape.
Melisandre watched all of this in silence, her gaze lingering on Freyja. The sight of the powerful being, normally so confident in her direwolf form, struggling to cope with the warmth, surprised Melisandre. Her eyes softened, and she found herself curious about the creature's origins.
Inside, Melisandre's thoughts stirred. She hadn't expected to feel this… admiration for Freyja. She knew the Old Gods had created her, a servant and right hand in the world. No matter what gods one worshipped, there was no greater honor than to be chosen in such a way. A small part of her even envied Freyja, but she quickly quelled the feeling. She was a servant of R'hllor, and that was enough. Her devotion would be rewarded, as it always had been.
Rick, unaware of Melisandre's inward musings, continued his task. The heat made it difficult to focus, but he was determined. Finally, after much trial and error, he held up one of the necklaces. The runes were small but delicate, carved into the wood with careful precision. He handed it to Ygritte first, who put it around her neck with a sigh of relief. The coolness washed over her like a wave, and her expression softened.
"Finally," she said with a small smile. "Not bad, Rick."
Val took hers, an eyebrow quirking as she slipped it over her head. She nodded approvingly, though her expression remained composed. "Good job, Rick. I might actually keep this."
Sigorn, who had been silent through it all, drew a small, appreciative smile. He hadn't made a sound of complaint since they'd started this journey, but the faintest glimmer of contentment in his eyes spoke volumes. Even Tormund, who had been enjoying his sunbathing a little too much, stood up with a broad grin as he clapped Rick on the back. "Well done, lad! Now, let's see how I look with this thing," he said, bouncing around, his mood noticeably lighter now that the cool relief had settled in.
But then, in typical Ygritte fashion, she slapped his sunburned backside, causing Tormund to yelp in surprise and spin around in a whirlwind of motion. "That's for not wearing clothes like the rest of us," she teased with a grin.
Rick couldn't help but laugh at the sight. It was a welcome relief from the tension of the past few hours. Even the stoic Sigorn let out a small chuckle.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Rick shifted his focus. There was more to be done, more to learn. He remembered a detail from the book his uncle Aemon had given him—the air in Valyria was toxic. He had to be ready for it, for whatever lay ahead. He turned to Freyja, his voice more serious now. "Is there a rune for cleaning the air? I've read that Valyria's air could kill us if we're not careful."
Freyja regarded him thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the question. "No rune exists to simply clean air. Air is too volatile. But it's possible, with a combination of runes, to manipulate air flow and purification. It's a more advanced form of rune work, but it's doable."
Rick frowned slightly, the weight of the challenge settling on his shoulders. "I'm not there yet. I haven't learned that much."
Freyja gave him a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "Then you will have to learn. Valyria awaits, and time is a luxury we do not have."
Rick sighed. He had barely scratched the surface of his sword and spear training, but now the runes were his priority. He had to master them. The journey ahead could only get more perilous, and he would need every advantage. With a reluctant, inward sigh, Rick set the carving tools aside for the moment, turning his thoughts entirely to the art of the runes.
As he looked out at the horizon, Rick's mind drifted back to Freyja's words. Benjen had magic in his blood, enough, she claimed, to make runes work—something Rick hadn't considered before. He had his doubts. Benjen was, after all, of the North, not of the First Men. But Freyja's knowledge was hard to ignore.
He watched Benjen, still standing off to the side, arms crossed as he looked out at the vast ocean. Benjen had tried more than once to engage with Rick, but the younger man had always kept his distance. Now, with the weight of the runes pressing on him, Rick saw an opportunity to learn, or perhaps even teach.
"Benjen," Rick called, his voice cutting through the heat. The older man turned, his eyes curious but unreadable.
"What is it?" Benjen asked, stepping over to where Rick was sitting on the deck, his posture still wary but open.
"I've been thinking," Rick said slowly, running a hand through his hair. "About these runes... Freyja says you have enough magic to make them work."
Benjen raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "What do you mean?"
Rick paused, then began to explain. "The magic used in runes comes from the blood of the person who carves them. Not from the world itself. Not many have magic in their blood anymore, but I think you might be one of the few who could learn."
Benjen stayed quiet for a moment, considering the words. "I've never been taught anything like that."
"Yeah, I know," Rick replied with a small, rueful grin. "But I was thinking about how I taught Jorelle and Brenda Mormont multiplication when their Maester failed to do so. Maybe I can do that with you too and find a way to my problem."
Benjen's eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and something like apprehension. He had tried to reach out to Rick in other ways, but this was different. The look in Rick's eyes made it clear: this wasn't about family ties—it was about survival. And perhaps, just perhaps, Benjen had enough magic in him to help.
"Alright," Benjen said, finally uncrossing his arms. "But I'm no scholar. You'll need to be clear."
Rick nodded, his tone a little more serious. "I won't waste your time, I promise. But I think it might help both of us."
Benjen nodded in return, standing beside Rick, ready to listen.
For the first time in days, Rick felt something other than frustration—an inkling of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Benjen could help him unravel the mystery of the runes, and perhaps find a way to use them before they reached Valyria.
Benjen listened carefully, his brow furrowing slightly as Rick explained the basics of the runes—their uses, their origins, and the delicate magic that only a few could channel. Surprisingly, he was attentive and asked a steady stream of questions, showing a curiosity that Rick hadn't expected.
"Strengthening a shield, you say?" Benjen asked, leaning in a little closer, his voice tinged with interest. "How would that work? Could a shield carved with runes last longer in battle?"
Rick nodded, his mind working through the concepts. "Exactly. Some runes can fortify the materials they're carved into. If you carve the right rune onto a shield, it could absorb some of the blows better, making the wood or bronze stronger, so it doesn't crack or break easily. It's a subtle strengthening, but it works." He paused, thinking. "It's not like putting magic into the shield itself, but more like enhancing its natural properties."
Benjen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And you could carve something to sharpen a blade?"
"Yeah," Rick said, glancing at the weathered sword strapped to Benjen's side. "It wouldn't actually make the blade sharper in the traditional sense, but the rune could make it cut through things more easily. Think of it like increasing the edge's durability so it holds its sharpness longer, even in tough fights."
Benjen was quiet for a moment, absorbing the information. Rick could tell that his mind was racing with possibilities. Benjen had always been quiet, but there was something sharp about him—an unspoken understanding of the importance of things, even if he wasn't quick to reveal it.
"What about armor?" Benjen asked next, his gaze still fixed on Rick, his voice more serious now. "Could runes be used to protect someone wearing it? To keep them from taking a fatal blow?"
Rick thought for a moment. "You could carve runes into the armor, yeah. Strengthening the material, much like the shield. But it wouldn't stop the impact, it would only make the armor itself tougher. The rune would have to be precise to focus on that—kind of like a reinforcement of the metal or leather."
Benjen nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "So... with the right runes, we could make our gear better, more durable."
"That's the idea," Rick replied. "But it's not easy. The magic needs to be guided by someone who can use it. Not everyone has the ability."
Benjen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "So, this magic comes from within, not from the world itself?"
"Exactly," Rick confirmed. "Freyja says that very few people still have the magic in their blood. But those who do—like you, possibly—can use it. If you don't have the magic in you, the runes won't work."
The silence between them stretched for a moment as Benjen processed the information. He didn't seem surprised by the idea; instead, he looked more like someone who had been given a piece of a puzzle, his mind working out how it might fit into the bigger picture.
Finally, he spoke. "I don't know if I have that magic. But I'd like to try. We'll need all the strength we can get, especially when we reach Valyria."
Rick was impressed by how easily Benjen seemed to accept the idea. He had always thought of his uncle as somewhat distant, but now he could see the spark of curiosity and determination in him. There was a quiet strength in Benjen that Rick hadn't fully realized before, a willingness to face new things head-on, even in the midst of uncertainty.
"I think we should start small," Rick said, his voice thoughtful. "Something simple. You don't need to carve the runes perfectly. Just enough to get a feel for it. If we can work on strengthening basic things—shields, swords—we can move on to more complicated uses later."
Benjen nodded, his expression more determined now. "I'll try. If it'll help, I'll learn."
The lesson lasted for a few days, with Benjen asking more questions than Rick had anticipated. Surprisingly, Benjen was a good listener, asking insightful questions, particularly about the use of runes for weapons and equipment. He seemed to take a special interest in how runes could affect things like the durability or sharpness of a blade, or the strength of armor.
One afternoon, as Rick continued to carve the runes on a piece of driftwood, Benjen posed a question that had been floating in Rick's mind for a while.
"If I wanted to make a blade, or something like that, more durable and sharper, how does that work? Do I carve two different runes for each, or... can one rune do both?" Benjen asked, looking at the wooden piece in Rick's hands, his brow furrowed in thought.
Rick paused, running a finger along the carved lines of the runes on the wood, his mind racing. It was a good question, one that he hadn't fully explored.
"I've tried carving two runes before," Rick replied slowly, "one for strength, and one for sharpness, but they don't seem to work together. For reasons I can't fully explain, they cancel each other out." He sighed, glancing at the wood. "But if we want both effects at once, I think I'd need to create a new rune. One that could combine both ideas. But... that's not something I've tried yet."
Benjen, always keen to learn, didn't seem deterred by Rick's uncertainty. He scratched at his beard and then gave a small, thoughtful smile.
"Have you tried carving one rune on top of the other? I mean, if the runes work next to each other, maybe they could work together if they're layered? That's what we want, right? Two runes acting at the same time?"
Rick's eyes widened as the idea hit him. Layering the runes… Of course, why hadn't he thought of that? If placing two runes next to each other worked, surely placing one atop the other might allow them to function together.
"That's a great idea," Rick said, his voice quick with excitement. "Why didn't I think of that before?"
Without wasting time, Rick carefully carved the first rune into the piece of wood, a hardening rune. After completing it, he carefully layered a second rune, the cold rune, on top. The two runes were intertwined, their lines merging where they overlapped.
Rick held the wood up, examining the delicate overlap of the runes. He could sense the faint pulse of magic as the two symbols interacted. It wasn't the same as when the runes were carved individually, but something about this felt different—more... unified.
Rick had carved a strengthening rune first, followed by a cold rune layered on top of it, carefully inscribed into the piece of wood. The cold rune, he knew, was working; the unnatural chill seeped into his fingers as he held it, the wood now feeling frigid and almost alive in his hands.
But it wasn't the cold that mattered now. He needed to test the durability. The wood was thin, and in normal circumstances, Rick would have been able to snap it in two with little effort. He took a deep breath and flexed his fingers around the edge, pressing down with all his strength.
To his surprise, the wood didn't give easily. It resisted, bending under the force but not breaking. He pushed harder, his muscles straining as he fought against the strength that seemed to hold the wood together.
Finally, with a grunt, he managed to snap it, but it took more effort than he had anticipated. The cold rune had done its part, and the strengthening rune had worked as well. The wood had held together longer than it should have, more resilient, more durable than it had been before.
Rick stood there for a moment, staring at the broken pieces in his hands. A grin slowly spread across his face.
This... this was progress.
Rick thanked Benjen for his excellent idea, appreciating how it opened up a whole new line of thinking for him. His suggestion of layering runes on top of each other had pushed Rick to experiment in ways he hadn't thought possible.
Rick's focus shifted entirely to experimenting with different combinations of runes. He carved them onto pieces of driftwood, testing various sequences. He started simple, combining basic runes like strength and cold, to see how they interacted. With each trial, he learned something new—how the runes affected the wood, how they worked or didn't work together, and which combinations made a noticeable difference. It was slow progress, but he was learning.
After trying several combinations, Rick came to a frustrating realization: maybe two runes wouldn't be enough. The results were unpredictable, and the changes were often small and fleeting. His mind raced. What if he needed something more complex to achieve the protection he was hoping for—something that could handle the toxic air of Valyria, or the dangers of the Smoking Sea?
Determined, Rick pushed forward. He tried adding a third rune, stacking them one by one. Some of these combinations worked, but others failed spectacularly. Some sequences didn't produce any change at all, while others caused the wood to warp or crack in strange ways. But with every failure, Rick began to notice patterns—things that he hadn't considered before, like how the positioning of each rune mattered.
That's when it struck him: the order of the runes, the sequence in which they were carved, was crucial. The effectiveness of the runes didn't just depend on the symbols themselves, but on how they interacted with one another based on their position.
Rick spent several more days carefully studying and adjusting his sequences. He experimented with different orders, tested combinations, and took notes on every result. He worked late into the night, drawing and redrawing runes on pieces of driftwood, until, finally, he believed he had found the correct sequence.
With a sense of quiet triumph, he knew he was closer than ever to a solution. The right sequence of runes could protect against the toxic hair of the Smoking Sea, and the dangerous air of Valyria. All that remained was to test it in the real world—but for now, Rick felt confident in his progress.
Before Rick could make any test, they needed the right equipment. The ships made a stop at Volantis, where Rick purchased masks, along with food and water to stock up for the journey ahead.
Once back on the ship, Rick set to work. He carefully carved his rune sequences inside the masks, ensuring they were placed around the mouth and nose, where protection would be most critical.Rick stared at the masks in his hands, deep in thought. He needed to test them properly, but how? The air around Volantis was clear, not at all like the toxic fumes of Valyria, so he couldn't rely on natural conditions for a proper test. He considered various options, weighing them in his mind. He could try creating a small controlled environment on the ship, but that would take too much time and might not provide the results he needed.
After a few moments of contemplation, he decided to take a different approach. He had noticed the crew working with some strong-smelling herbs and chemicals on board the ship, many of which produced harsh fumes. If he could find one of those substances—something that would irritate the eyes or nose without causing any lasting harm—he could simulate the conditions they'd face in Valyria.
Turning to Benjen, who had been nearby, Rick asked, "Do you have any strong-smelling herbs or chemicals on board? Something that'll test how well the masks work against fumes?"
Benjen looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "I think we have some tar and a few strong-smelling salts. Should do the trick."
"Perfect," Rick said, relieved. "Let's test them."
Rick put on his own mask first, adjusting it over his face so it fit securely. He could already feel the slight coolness in the air as the runes responded to his touch, but it was still too early to tell if they'd work. He walked toward the container of tar Benjen had set up earlier, the acrid stench still hanging in the air.
The substance was meant to mimic the toxic air they would encounter in Valyria, though in a far more concentrated form. Rick hesitated for a moment, before taking a deep breath through the mask. His chest tightened as the sharp odor reached his nose.
But to his relief, the sharp sting of the tar didn't penetrate. The mask didn't filter out everything, but it was a lot more bearable. He pulled the mask off after a few seconds, taking in a lungful of fresh air.
"Well?" Benjen asked, looking for signs of discomfort.
Rick looked up, a cautious but relieved expression on his face. "It worked... somewhat. I still felt the sting a little, but not nearly as bad. We need to test it more, though."
Benjen tried his own mask, and after a few deep breaths, he gave a grunt of approval. "Better than nothing."
Rick nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He still wasn't sure if it would fully protect them once they were in the heart of Valyria, but it was a promising start. The runes had shown that they could at least handle the first layer of the toxic air.
"I'll make a few adjustments," Rick said, looking at the masks and mentally making plans to improve them. "But we're on the right track."
In the end the mask worked as intended but it didn't completely block out the stench. As Rick pulled the mask off his face after the test with the tar, he grimaced. The runes had successfully filtered out the worst of the toxic air, but the foul smell—sharp, acrid, like decaying flesh and sulfur—still managed to seep through. It wasn't as overwhelming as it had been without the mask, but it was still enough to make his stomach churn.
His lungs didn't burn anymore, but the oppressive odor clung to the air, faintly tugging at his senses like an invisible hand. Rick exhaled slowly, wiping the back of his hand across his brow. The mask had done its job—it kept the worst of the toxic fumes at bay—but it hadn't done a thing for the smell.
"Better than nothing," Rick muttered, carefully inspecting the mask once more. The tar residue on the inside of the mask had begun to settle, but the runes had held up. There was no doubt about their effectiveness at filtering out the worst of the toxic air. But the stench was another problem entirely. It was a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead when they finally reached Valyria, and it gnawed at him.
Rick made sure to carve enough runes for every mask, ensuring that everyone who would set foot on Valyria's cursed land would be protected. He worked late into the night, meticulously carving the symbols with precision, the rhythm of the task familiar and soothing as he focused on ensuring each mask had a perfect sequence. He tested each one before placing them aside, ensuring they were fully effective against the toxic air they would face.
When the final mask was complete, he set them in a row, each one resting carefully on the ship's deck. A small sense of accomplishment washed over him as he examined the collection, knowing they were a crucial step in their preparation.
Though the masks weren't perfect, they would be their best line of defense against the suffocating atmosphere of Valyria.