Game Of Thrones : Merchant of Two Worlds

It wasn't too surprising to hear about a deserter from the Night's Watch. After all, life at the Wall was brutally harsh. The freezing cold, insufficient supplies, and a hard, joyless existence made the Night's Watch far from desirable.

Once, centuries ago, the Night's Watch was seen as an honorable order. But those days were long gone. Now, people across Westeros looked down on it. No one joined willingly unless they had no choice. Members of the Watch were bound for life, forbidden to leave, marry, or father children. They could never reclaim titles or land. Most either died of old age or fell in battle against wildlings or other dangers beyond the Wall.

Because of this grim reality, the Watch had become a dumping ground for criminals. Lords would offer their prisoners a choice: lose their heads or take the black. Most chose the latter. Murderers, thieves, robbers, and all manner of outcasts made up the bulk of the order. It was no wonder the people of the Seven Kingdoms looked down on them.

Boris, a middle-aged healer, overheard the guards talking about the captured deserter. One of them, a young soldier with a freckled face, sneered, "You know, Boris, this old guy here is a bit crazy. When we caught him, he kept ranting about ghosts and ghouls. Said they were chasing him! You'd think he's lost his wits."

Another soldier, older and gruff, chimed in with a chuckle, "Ghosts and ghouls? More like he's been listening to too many old wives' tales. Maybe his brain froze out there in the cold!"

The captain, Hayden, waved a dismissive hand. "He's scared out of his mind, that's all. He knows he's done for, so now he's spouting nonsense."

Turning to Boris, Hayden asked, "What about you, Boris? Are you heading back to Winter Town to avoid the worst of the winter?"

Boris nodded, eager to change the subject. "Yes, Captain. We've finished our rounds of treating the sick, and we're out of supplies. It's time to head back."

"Good timing," Hayden replied. "We'll go with you. The roads aren't safe lately. Wildlings have been crossing the Wall, raiding villages. Best to stick together."

Relieved to have the soldiers' protection, Boris agreed. "Thank you, Captain. It's true; the roads are dangerous. We were lucky not to run into trouble on the way here. I'll stick to Winter Town for a while—no more venturing out until things settle down."

The group set off together, heading south along the King's Road toward Winterfell.

The next afternoon, Jason Liu spotted Boris and his group returning to Winter Town. Jason was standing outside his shop when he saw Boris riding in with the soldiers, a tired look on his face.

"Boris! I'm glad to see you back safe," Jason called out.

Boris managed a weary smile. "My lord, it's good to see you too. The journey back was nerve-wracking. I kept imagining wildlings jumping out at us from the trees. But luckily, we made it without incident."

Jason grinned. "You missed the celebration! We moved into our new home yesterday and had a grand banquet. It's a shame you couldn't join us."

"Ah, that's unfortunate," Boris replied.

Jason patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, though. I've got some good news for you. I've set aside a place for your hospital. It's right next to my shop, in the house that Lena and Martha used to live in. They've moved into the castle with me, so the house is yours now."

Boris's eyes lit up. "Our own hospital? That's wonderful news, my lord!"

Jason nodded. "Yes, you'll have a proper place for treating patients. I'll arrange for the renovations soon."

Meanwhile, Captain Hayden and his men prepared to return to Winterfell. They tied the captured deserter securely to a horse. The man, gagged and bound, struggled weakly.

Jason's curiosity was piqued. "Who's that?" he asked, nodding toward the prisoner.

Boris glanced over as he helped his assistants unload their medical supplies. "Oh, that's a deserter from the Night's Watch," he explained. "The captain and his men caught him during their patrol. Apparently, the Watch has been sending messages to the northern lords, asking for help in capturing runaways."

Jason frowned, his thoughts racing. A deserter from the Night's Watch? Something about this felt oddly familiar. Then it hit him: this was the beginning of a major storyline. He remembered it clearly from the Game of Thrones series and the A Song of Ice and Fire books.

Trying to hide his sudden realization, Jason shrugged. "I suppose it's a capital crime to desert the Watch," he said casually. "But it seems foolish. If you know you'll be executed, why try to run?"

Boris didn't seem to notice Jason's change in demeanor. "Who knows what he was thinking? Maybe he thought he could get away and start a new life somewhere far from the Wall."

Jason watched as Hayden and his men rode off with their prisoner. His mind was already working, piecing together what this development could mean.

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