"Lord Arthur, Septon Arles is inside." Two young novices at the door ushered the group into the sept.
The front of the sept was dominated by statues of the Seven. Rows of wooden benches lined the aisle on either side.
The wooden shutters on all sides were half-open, allowing sunlight to flood in, brightly illuminating the interior—especially the long table placed beneath the statues of the Seven.
Seeing Arthur enter, Septon Arles waved the novices out and hurried to Arthur, bowing deeply.
"Lord Arthur, my liege, welcome. What do you think of the venue I've prepared for the negotiation?"
Arthur withdrew his hand and nodded. "Not bad. If the negotiation goes well, I'll consider replacing the wooden shutters with glass panes."
Septon Arles' eyes lit up. "Glass panes! That would be magnificent."
Arthur sat on one side of the table and had Edric sit beside him.
Arles lit incense in two censers nearby, and the fragrance slowly filled the sept.
Edric: "Cousin, will the knights who went to the Red Mountain tribes as hostages be safe?"
Arthur: "Though the wildling tribes are barbaric, they worship strength and respect warriors deeply."
"They will be fine. At least, their lives will not be in danger."
To meet with the chieftains of the Red Mountain tribes and facilitate this negotiation, Arthur had exchanged hostages, handing over captives of equivalent status and number to the wildlings.
Septon Arles: "Is it possible the wildlings won't come to negotiate and just tricked us into handing over the captives?"
Arthur looked at him calmly. "If they don't want to come to the negotiating table, I'll send them to the chopping block."
About a quarter of an hour later, the doors of the sept were pushed open again.
"My Lord, the wildling chieftains have arrived."
A young novice led five wildling chieftains, along with Stone-Drum of the Stone-Goat Tribe, into the sept.
After the chieftains were seated and names exchanged...
Arthur learned that the leader of the wildling delegation was Bjorn, chieftain of the Stone-Bear Tribe.
Bjorn was an old man draped in a complete bearskin. His beard was white, and his hair was covered by the bear-head hood.
According to information Stone-Drum had given Arthur, this Bjorn was incredibly fierce in his youth. He had hunted and killed the bear whose skin he wore single-handedly with a spear.
However, as his body aged, Bjorn had become cautious and wise. He had once been a key strategist for the Vulture King.
Septon Arles, seated beside Arthur, spoke first. "We provided hostages first, demonstrating our sincerity in these negotiations."
The Stone-Crow chieftain retorted, "We came here in person, which also shows our sincerity."
Arthur: "Tell me what you want."
Bjorn: "Stop enslaving our people. Release the clansmen you captured in the Battle of the Highlands and let them return to the Red Mountains."
Arthur simply looked at him quietly, waiting for more.
Bjorn: "We promise not to raid or attack Starfall's lands in the future. We can return to the old ways—trading goods."
"There is no going back, Chieftain of the Stone-Bears," Arthur shook his head. "Let me tell you what I want. I want the wildlings of the Red Mountains to swear fealty to me."
The Stone-Crow chieftain stood up in agitation. "Free Folk and their tribes kneel to no one!"
The other three chieftains murmured angrily, expressing their agreement with the Stone-Crow leader.
"A man should be responsible for his actions."
Arthur signaled Wick with his eyes.
Wick understood and took a roll of parchment from his pack, unrolling it in the center of the long table.
The chieftains fell silent the moment they saw the contents of the parchment.
"Turncloak!"
The Stone-Crow chieftain glared hatefully at Stone-Drum, who was sitting on Arthur's side, then sat back down with an ugly expression.
The parchment was a map of the Red Mountains, marked with the geography and the locations of every wildling tribe.
Arthur: "Chieftains, in the past year and a half, you have harassed and raided Violet Canyon and other lands on the west bank of the Torrentine several times."
"You should have clearly noticed that with the establishment of watchtowers and hillforts, your raids have become increasingly difficult, resulting only in futile casualties."
"Your greatest reliance is nothing more than the Red Mountains—high peaks and dense forests, an environment unfamiliar to us. But now..."
Arthur pointed to the map. "That sole reliance will cease to exist."
Bjorn's expression remained unchanged. "We can move our tribes. Your map is useless to us."
The other chieftains, whose momentum had been waning, found their backbone at these words and began to clamor:
"Yes, we will fight you on ground we know!"
"Once you enter the Red Mountains, don't expect to leave in one piece!"
Screech— Screech—
A sharp cry from overhead silenced the sept.
A giant vulture flew in through the skylight at the top of the dome.
The sudden arrival of the massive bird threw the wildling chieftains into panic. They scrambled out of their seats, dodging to the side.
The vulture flapped its wings and landed on the long table in front of Arthur.
Arthur extended his hand. The vulture obediently lowered its head and rubbed it against his palm.
Seeing this from a distance, Bjorn's expression finally changed. "You tamed it?"
He knew that the Vulture King used this bird to pinpoint targets. With this vulture, no matter where they moved their tribes, they would be found.
Ambushes and traps, no matter how well-hidden, would be spotted in advance.
The other chieftains clearly realized this too and were momentarily at a loss.
Arthur: "Chieftains, sit down. Let us discuss the terms of your submission."
The chieftains looked at the familiar giant vulture, exchanged glances, and slowly returned to their seats.
Realizing they had no bargaining chips left, the wildling leaders sat up straight, looking at Arthur with faces like ash.
The subsequent negotiation atmosphere was very friendly. After more than an hour of discussion...
Arthur reached an agreement with the Red Mountain tribal chieftains:
1. Swear Fealty: All Red Mountain wildling tribes in the lower and middle reaches of the west bank of the Torrentine shall swear loyalty to Arthur and Starfall.
2. Status Quo: The tribal system remains unchanged. Wildling tribes will continue to exist as units ruled by their chieftains. They may choose to pay taxes through military service or labor instead of coin.
3. Strengthened Exchange: Tribal chieftains shall not prevent members from voluntarily leaving the Red Mountains to work in Starfall's lands.
Wildlings hired by lords of Starfall shall receive the same wages and treatment as Dornishmen.
A trade market will be opened in Violet Canyon, selling goods without discrimination.
4. Freedom of Faith: As their liege lord, Arthur cannot force the tribes to change their faith, nor can chieftains force their tribesmen to prevent conversion.
5. Lord's Obligations: Arthur has an obligation to protect the Red Mountain tribes from harm by others.
Upon the death of a tribal chieftain, the heir must go to Starfall to renew the oath of fealty and receive recognition from Arthur and Starfall, confirming the legitimacy of their rule.
Conflicts between tribes shall be arbitrated by Arthur and Starfall; private warfare is forbidden.
Faced with such lenient terms, the ashen faces of the chieftains gradually regained color, and smiles appeared.
Except for Bjorn, none of the chieftains could read or write. After Bjorn signed his name, the others happily pressed their handprints onto the document.
At the end of the negotiation, Arthur went through the formalities, personally helping each of the five chieftains up from the ground after they knelt to swear fealty.
As Septon Arles escorted the chieftains out, preaching the gospel of the Seven in their ears...
Stone-Drum, the earliest defector, couldn't help asking, "My Lord, I don't understand. Why give them such generous terms?"
Arthur looked at his cousin and page sitting beside him. "Edric, tell me why I did this."
Edric thought for a moment and said, "Cousin, you told me: 'When men rise to challenge you, strike them down with iron and blood. But when they bend the knee, you must help them up with your own hands. Otherwise, no one will ever be willing to submit to you again.'"
Edric pointed to the vulture. "When they saw this vulture, they had already bent the knee in their hearts."
Arthur was very satisfied. He wanted to ruffle his page's hair but Edric dodged. Every boy hates getting his head patted.
Withdrawing his hand, Arthur looked at the apprehensive Stone-Drum and reassured him. "We have been together for a long time. You know I am always generous to loyal subjects."
"Even after the wildlings submit, the Stone-Goat Tribe's special status among them will not change. You will continue to manage the captives."