The return to Torvald's village was quieter than the journey out. Snow fell in light flakes, dusting the rocky path with a thin layer that crunched under Cassian and Bjorn's boots. The wind, less biting than at dawn, whistled softly through twisted pines, carrying the scent of cold and resin. Cassian led the way, his black cloak pulled tight, his light pack slung over one shoulder. Bjorn followed, his spear resting against his arm, his axe tapping his thigh with each step.
"You think Hagen will agree?" Bjorn asked after a long silence.
Cassian glanced over his shoulder, his smile subtle but confident. "He'll think it over, Bjorn. That's already a victory. The Frostfangs are hungry, tired. Hagen knows it. He can't afford a war any more than we can."
Bjorn grunted, his fingers tightening on his spear's handle. "He laughed, though. Called me a dog."
Cassian stopped, turning to face Bjorn. His gray eyes, gleaming in the pale light, fixed on the Northerner with measured intensity. "He laughed because he had to, Bjorn. A chief can't show weakness in front of his men. But he listened. He gave you three days. That means your words reached him."
Bjorn frowned, unconvinced. "My words? They were yours. I just repeated what you told me."
Cassian placed a hand on Bjorn's shoulder. "And you did it better than I could have, Bjorn. You have the strength, the presence. I've only got words. Together, we're more than the sum of our parts."
Bjorn looked away, staring at the snow at his feet. "Maybe. But if Hagen refuses, it's our heads we'll lose. Torvald will make me pay, and you… you, he'll hang."
Cassian laughed, a clear sound that echoed through the forest. "Then let's make sure Hagen says yes. Come on, we've got work to do before we reach the village."
They resumed their march, reaching a small clearing where a frozen stream wound between rocks. Cassian stopped by a fallen log, setting his pack down to pull out a loaf of hard bread and his waterskin. "Let's rest," he said, sitting on the log. "Eat. We'll talk strategy."
Bjorn sat heavily beside him, taking a piece of bread Cassian offered. "Strategy?" he grunted, chewing loudly. "You mean more words?"
Cassian broke off a piece of bread, his smile widening. "Not just words, Bjorn. A plan. When we get back to the village, we need to prepare Torvald and the others for the idea that this alliance can work. They need to see you as the man who stood up to the Frostfangs."
Bjorn swallowed a gulp of water, his gaze wary. "And how do we do that? Torvald respects me, but he listens to Hilda. And she already hates you."
Cassian nodded, thoughtful. "Hilda's a problem, true. But she's also an opportunity. She's smart, observant. If we convince her, she can convince her father."
Bjorn scoffed. "Convince Hilda? Good luck. She'll look at you like a wolf looks at a lamb."
"Maybe," Cassian replied, his tone light. "But even wolves can be tamed. Finish your bread. We've got another hour's walk, and I want you ready to talk tonight."
The village came into view around a bend in the path as the sky darkened. Watchfires already burned, and the guards at the palisade let them pass without a word, though their eyes lingered on Cassian. Torvald's large cabin glowed from within, shadows dancing behind the hide-covered windows.
Inside, Torvald sat by a central fire, surrounded by Hilda, two weathered elders, and the red-bearded warrior named Gunn. The air was thick with tension, and all eyes turned to Cassian and Bjorn as they entered.
Torvald stood. "Well?" he growled. "Do the Frostfangs declare war, or did you just run like cowards?"
Bjorn stepped forward, his spear still in hand. "No war, Torvald. Hagen listened. He asked for three days to consider our offer."
A surprised murmur rippled through the room. Hilda crossed her arms, her piercing eyes fixed on Cassian. "Your offer? Or his?" she said, nodding toward Cassian.
Cassian inclined his head, his smile charming. "Bjorn's offer, of course. I only accompanied him. He's the one who spoke to Hagen, face to face, like a warrior."
Gunn, the bearded man, snorted. "A warrior? Or a dog repeating a banished man's words?"
Bjorn stiffened, his hand tightening on his spear. Cassian stepped in before things escalated, his voice soft but firm. "Gunn, if I may, a dog barks. Bjorn stood up to Hagen and his clan, alone. Ask yourself if you'd have done the same."
A tense silence fell. Gunn flushed under his beard but didn't reply. Torvald raised a hand, calling for calm. "Speak, Bjorn. What did you say to Hagen?"
Bjorn took a breath, his voice clear despite a slight hesitation. "I offered him the northwest lands for the winter. In exchange, they stop the raids and fight with us against the Ashblades. He laughed, but he listened. He's thinking it over."
Hilda stepped forward, her gaze hard. "The northwest lands? Those are our lands, even if they're poor. And you think raiders will keep their word?"
Cassian answered before Bjorn could, his tone measured. "Hilda, the Frostfangs aren't raiders for sport. They do it to survive. Give them another path, and they'll take it. As for the lands, they're useless to you in winter. It's a small price for an alliance."
Hilda narrowed her eyes. "And if your plan fails, stranger? If Hagen betrays us?"
Cassian met her gaze, his smile steady. "Then I'll be the first to pay. But I don't think Hagen will betray. Not if Bjorn convinces him."
Torvald grunted, his eyes shifting from Cassian to Bjorn. "Three days, you say? Fine. We'll wait. But if this goes wrong, stranger, you'll wish you never came to the North."
Cassian bowed his head. "I don't doubt it, Torvald."
As the assembly dispersed, Hilda approached Cassian, her voice low and sharp. "You're playing with fire, exile. If Bjorn fails, I'll make sure you fall, not him."
Cassian looked at her, his smile taking an amused edge. "And if Bjorn succeeds, Hilda? Will you thank me then?"
She stared for a moment, then turned on her heel without answering.
Outside, night had fallen, and the cold deepened. Bjorn joined Cassian near the borrowed hut. "Hilda's right," he muttered. "If this fails, we're dead."
Cassian placed a hand on his arm, his gaze serious for once. "It won't fail, Bjorn. Not if you trust me. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll talk to the village hunters. They need to believe in you before Hagen's answer comes."
Bjorn nodded, his face marked by new determination. "Alright, pretty boy. But if you betray me…"
Cassian laughed, cutting off the threat. "I have no reason to betray you, Bjorn. And we're going to win."
As they parted, Cassian lingered outside, staring at the stars through the clouds. The North was a brutal chessboard, but he was starting to learn its rules. 'Three days. And the game truly begins.'