The flames of revelry illuminated the night sky above the Wall.
The Free Folk celebrated the birth of their new King and the end of their suffering in the most primitive way.
Tormund hugged a massive cask of ale, drinking against several Thenn chieftains. His broad face was flushed red, and thunderous laughter erupted from him periodically.
More wildlings danced a rugged, powerful war dance around the bonfires, singing ancient ballads, their voices desolate yet joyous.
Lynn did not join their revelry.
He stood alone on the balcony of the Lord Commander's Tower, overlooking the boiling sea of people below.
The cold wind whipped the black cloak symbolizing his status as Lord Commander, yet he felt no chill.
An unprecedented sense of satisfaction filled his heart.
This was the taste of power.
"Aren't you going to have a drink with them?"
Jon Snow had walked up beside him at some point, smelling faintly of ale.
"They need a King more than they need a drinking buddy."
Lynn's gaze remained fixed on the scene below.
Jon was silent for a moment, the joy on his face gradually replaced by worry.
"Lynn, we're running low on food."
Jon kept his voice very low.
"The stores at Castle Black, plus what we got from Mole's Town, are only enough to feed these hundred thousand people for half a month at most."
"And those stone houses you mentioned... House Manderly of White Harbor did send a raven back; they are willing to provide masons and stone, but the price..."
A pained look crossed Jon's face.
"It will almost empty the entire North's tax revenue for a year."
"Money and food are not problems."
Lynn's tone was calm.
He turned and walked into the study, signaling Jon to close the door.
Under the dim candlelight, Lynn sat in a chair and closed his eyes.
Jon looked at him in confusion, unsure of what he was doing.
In this moment, Lynn's mental power spread out like a tide.
Passing through cold stone walls, crossing vast snowy plains, over swamps, over the Twins...
His consciousness extended south at an unprecedented speed.
The entire continent of Westeros seemed to transform into a boundless starry sky.
Every living being was a star emitting a faint light.
Some bright, some dim.
He saw Robb in Winterfell, practicing troop formations in front of a sand table, brows furrowed tight.
He saw Lysa Tully in the Eyrie, neurotically breastfeeding her son.
Lynn did not linger.
He passed through everyone's dreams.
Finally, his consciousness arrived at the city filled with desire and conspiracy.
King's Landing.
In that ocean of souls, he searched for a familiar bright light.
Found it.
Sansa Stark was sitting by a window, looking at a ledger in her hands, her small face filled with a worry unsuited to her age.
Since Lynn left King's Landing, her business there had suffered quite a bit.
Most importantly, Lynn hadn't written to her in a long time.
That bad man, has he been seduced by some wild woman in the North?
As her thoughts ran wild, an idea popped up from the bottom of her heart without warning.
It's really unsafe to keep all these Gold Dragons I've earned recently on hand.
If the powers in King's Landing turn against us one day and purge House Stark, this money definitely won't be safe.
Why not...
Why not take all these Gold Dragons to the Iron Bank's branch in King's Landing and exchange them for the most secure bank drafts!
The Iron Bank has an excellent reputation; their drafts are accepted all over the world.
Moreover, I heard the Iron Bank is currently funding development in the North. By depositing the money, it's a way of indirectly supporting Lynn.
Yes!
That's what I'll do!
The more Sansa thought about it, the more she felt this idea was simply genius!
She even felt a little pride in herself for coming up with such a comprehensive plan.
She immediately got up and began packing, preparing to go to the Iron Bank's branch first thing tomorrow morning.
On the other side, Lynn saw Arya again.
Since he left, Arya had become much quieter, resting her chin on her small hand in a daze, lost in thought.
Far away in the North.
Lynn slowly opened his eyes.
The method the Three-Eyed Raven taught him was indeed effective.
"Feel, do not control."
Forcing a command would only trigger the soul's most instinctive resistance.
But silently implanting an idea, making the other person think it was their own brilliant notion, was the highest realm of a Skinchanger.
Moistening things silently.
"What is it?"
Seeing Lynn's expression, Jon asked curiously.
"Nothing. Our money is on its way."
Lynn stood up and patted Jon on the shoulder.
"By the way, the matter of the Blessed Items still falls to you. Gather as many as you can, still one of each kind."
"Jon, I entrust these matters to you."
"I trust you. Don't disappoint me."
"Starting tomorrow, push forward the construction of the Gift with full force."
"Within a year, I want all the Free Folk living in stone houses."
"Build a brand new city at the foot of the Wall!"
Jon listened, dumbfounded. The money problem was solved just like that?
Before he could react, Lynn had already walked out of the study.
---
The night deepened, and the reveling Free Folk gradually quieted down.
Ygritte didn't return to her tribe's tent. Instead, like a small cat, she quietly slipped into the Lord Commander's Tower.
She found her way to Lynn's room with familiar ease.
Pushing open the door, she saw Lynn packing his bags.
He had folded the black Lord Commander's cloak and set it aside, changing into a set of light leather armor.
"You're leaving?"
Ygritte's heart sank violently.
"Mm. Going to Essos to handle some business." Lynn didn't turn around.
"Take me with you!"
The words almost burst out of Ygritte.
Lynn stopped what he was doing and turned around.
He looked at the red-haired girl before him. Those grey eyes, usually full of stubbornness, were now filled with unease and pleading.
"You can't go."
"Why?" Ygritte's eyes reddened.
"Think I'm a burden?"
"No."
Lynn walked up to her, raising his hand to smooth her windblown red hair.
"You stay. There is something more important for you to do."
"What is it?"
Lynn glanced at the room next door.
"Take good care of Princess Myrcella."
"Huh?"
Ygritte was stunned, thinking she had misheard.
Let her, a wildling, take care of a golden-haired, blue-eyed Southern princess?
That delicate little girl who looked like she'd fall over if the wind blew?
"You're not joking?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Lynn's expression was serious.
"She is the King's daughter, the apple of House Lannister's eye. Her presence here is the guarantee of peace between the North and King's Landing."
"I need someone I trust absolutely to watch over her, to protect her."
Ygritte's heart pounded traitorously.
Someone he trusts absolutely...
He... he trusts me?
"But... I don't know how to do anything."
Ygritte lacked confidence.
"I barely know a few words, only how to write my own name."
"You can write your own name? That makes you outstanding among wildlings. It proves your talent is high. But none of that matters."
Lynn smiled.
"I will leave you a large sum of money."
"Go to White Harbor, or Oldtown. Hire the best etiquette teachers, the best Maesters for her."
"Let her learn music, dance, history, the etiquette of the Seven Kingdoms' nobility."
"In short, raise her to be the most elegant, noblest lady in Westeros."
Ygritte was completely bewildered.
She felt her brain wasn't quite up to the task.
Let her, a Free Folk who couldn't even use a knife and fork properly, supervise a princess learning noble etiquette?
This was even more absurd than asking her to duel a giant solo!
"Th... this... I..."
Ygritte stammered, unable to get a word out.
Seeing her dazed and cute appearance, Lynn couldn't help but laugh.
He reached out, pulled her into his arms, and whispered in her ear:
"I believe in you, girl kissed by fire."
The warm breath on her ear made Ygritte feel her body go instantly soft.
She buried her head in Lynn's broad chest, feeling the scent and heartbeat that made her feel incredibly safe, and nodded vigorously.
"I... I'll listen to you."
Lynn gently patted her back, then let go of her.
"Wait for me to come back."
Lynn gazed into her eyes, making a solemn promise.
"When I return from Essos, I will come back for you."
The next morning.
When the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, gilding the endless ice wall with a golden edge.
Winter's colossal body, blocking out the sun, soared into the sky from the courtyard of Castle Black.
It let out a dragon roar that resonated through the clouds, carrying its master toward the East, toward that vast, unknown continent.
On the balcony, Ygritte, wearing a black cloak that clearly didn't fit, stared blankly at the black dot disappearing into the horizon.
Only when Winter's figure completely vanished did she slowly withdraw her gaze.
She took a deep breath, and an unprecedented fire ignited in her grey eyes.
She turned and pushed open the door to the adjacent room.
Princess Myrcella was sitting at the vanity, combing her beautiful golden hair.
"From today on, I'm in charge of your etiquette lessons."
Ygritte crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe, and spoke in a stiff tone.
"I'll hire the best teachers for you."
"If you don't learn well..."
Ygritte paused, thinking for a long time before coming up with a threat she thought was very intimidating.
"I'll shoot your butt with an arrow!"