The Force of the North - Chapter 91: News from Beyond the Wall

... a constant, heavy presence that coated the ancient, black-barked pines and turned the world into a silent, freezing maze. In years past, a ranging deep into these woods was considered a desperate, miserable affair, undertaken by half-starved men wearing threadbare cloaks, jumping at every shadow.

Today, the patrol moving through the dense timber was a different beast entirely.

Ser Kaelen rode near the head of the column, his breath misting rhythmically in the freezing air. He le ...