Chapter 21: The Northern Trade
The plaza's market square hummed, booths in neat rows, rune-etched banners snapping in the chill wind. The scent of fresh bread mingled with steel's tang, and Elias, at a table laden with turnips and frost-resistant wheat, felt triumph. His patched cloak brushed a crate, knocking a turnip to the dirt, its thud muffled by the crowd's chatter.
"Your crops are gold, Elias," Harlon said, his eyes scanning the produce, his voice a rumble weathered by storms. "We've not seen a harvest this good in years. Not with the cold coming."
"My System makes them grow," Elias replied, a small smile on his face. He held a golden ear of wheat, its kernels plump, and activated the DGS, its light enveloping the grain.
[TRADE ANALYSIS: NORTHERN TRADER MOTIVES: SECURING FOOD AND GOODS. OFFER: CITY CROPS. COUNTER OFFER: IRON AND FURS.]
This is it, Elias thought, pulse racing. The DGS isn't just a construction tool. It's an economic engine. The DGS revealed Harlon's desperation—food for iron, a lifeline.
Larra haggled with Harlon's men, her voice sharp. "Harlon thinks we're fools with a fancy box," she said to Elias, eyes locked on the trader. "He's offering a pittance. We need better."
Corax, on a barrel, cawed. "The greedy caravan wants to rob us blind," he quipped, a playful glint in his eyes. He spotted a Valyrian coin on Harlon's pouch, etched with a weeping sun. "That one's special, Elias. It's got a story to it. A story about a cult."
Harlon gestured north, his face grim. "We hear rumors of the cold ones. They move fast, take what they want. You'll need more than food to fight them." Elias's stomach twisted. Steel, not just crops. A child nearby dropped a loaf, giggling as she retrieved it, easing the tension.
The council chamber hummed with mystical energy, wax and ink heavy in the air. Elias stood before a glowing console, pride swelling. He was building an alliance, not just a city.
"Your trade saves us," Jon Snow said, his voice earnest, his boots scuffed from patrols. "The Night's Watch is starving. We're losing men every day."
"My System builds bridges," Elias replied, a weary smile on his face. He activated the DGS, its light enveloping the console.
[TRADE PACT: NORTHERN ALLIANCE FORGED. ECONOMIC GROWTH: +200%. RESOURCE GAINED: IRON AND FURS.]
This is it, Elias thought, sweat beading. The alliance. The pact. The key to our survival. The DGS confirmed the pact's strength.
Corax landed on a glowing map, its routes pulsing. "The shiny coins have a story," he quipped. "Look at the map, Elias. They're coming. From everywhere."
Larra stood at the entrance, her voice a low hum. "We'll need more than one caravan. A network. A web of trade routes. To keep us alive."
A courier stumbled in, clutching a bloodied scroll. "White Walkers… closer than we thought," he gasped. Elias's heart raced. Time's slipping away. A cracked inkpot on the table leaked, staining the wood. Another mess to clean, he thought, frustration flaring.
The forge roared with fire and hammers, the air thick with iron and sweat. Elias held a blade, its Valyrian runes shimmering, his hands aching.
"These blades cut ice," Elias said, a grim smile on his face.
"My System tuned them," Corax quipped. "Hope they cut egos too."
[WEAPON FORGED: ANTI-WHITE WALKER BLADES. RESOURCE COST: 50 IRON ORE. COMBAT ABILITY: ICE COUNTER.]
The blades work, Elias thought, sweat beading. A weapon against the darkness.
Tormund shared tactics, his voice a growl. "This is how you fight them. You hit them hard. You don't stop."
Larra organized supplies, her voice a hum. "We'll need more iron, more lumber."
A hammer slipped, sparking on the anvil. Corax cawed, "Clumsy smith's lighting fires!" Laughter rose, but Elias's mind raced. The White Walkers are coming, and we're only half-ready. A frayed bellows hissed nearby, its leather worn thin. We're fraying too, he thought, gripping the blade tighter.
Love [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ]? Unlock More Chapters and Support the Story!
Dive deeper into the world of [ Game Of Thrones I Own Floating City ] with exclusive access to 35+ chapters on my Patreon, plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $5/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [Grimm, Teen Wolf ,blacklist,Game Of Throne ,MCU and Arrowverse].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!