The tall blonde woman stood up and raised her sword against the Crow backing away in horror of what he was witnessing. I raised a hand, and she relented. Gesturing across the battlefield, I silently commanded the undead hordes to part, clearing a pathway to the city gates. The army also withdrew from the city itself, leaving the besieged defenders confused and relieved at the same moment.

My dragon, having fallen from the sky when the army collapsed, roused itself and flew quickly to land behind me. It growled softly at the Crow.

"What be your name, Crow?" I asked.

"You're not a White Walker," he said without answering.  "What are you?"

"I'm something else now," I explained. "I would speak with you and those who command here. You may go and tell them this. We shall wait for your return only until the morrow. If you will not hear my words, we shall begin again, and this time, nothing shall stop us."

The Crow took my message and quickly withdrew to the city. The warriors who'd survived the battle outside the wall also regrouped, uncertain about the sudden cessation of hostilities.

   ***   

It only took the defenders of the city an hour to decide. A small procession approached, and I looked them over in an attempt to decide who they were and how they'd respond. Two figures were in the lead, the white-haired woman and the Crow. I knew nothing about her except her command of the dragons. Her two beats following slowly behind the group of humans, letting out an occasional snarl or snap of their jaws, clearly eager for the fight to resume.

I knew what to expect of the Crow. He'd taken in many of the Free Folk from north of the Wall, something none of his kind would've even considered before, so I expected him to be cautious but open minded. He mostly likely wouldn't interfere until it was too late.

A red-haired girl among them looked to the blonde woman, now a wight, standing guard at my side. When her eyes returned to me, there was clear hatred. I suspected the blonde was someone she knew and wanted revenge over her death and turning. I also suspected the girl would object to anything I had to say on that basis alone. Traveling beside her like a shadow was a younger girl, a very slender sword at her hip. She seemed to be the dangerous one of the pair for her expression was blank. It wasn't indifference or apathy as far as I could tell, simply a formidable emotional control that let nothing slip past. I didn't know how she'd respond to what I was about to do, but I suspected it would be violent.

Three men walked nearest to the white-haired woman. The first was a dwarf clad in armor. A significant scar traced diagonally across his face. I knew any dwarf who could survive battles against foes twice his size was someone to be taken seriously. Two paces behind and to the left of the dwarf was a man in flowing robes. His round and bald head didn't make him look intimidating in the slightest. Unless he was a magic user, the bald man was most likely here for his intelligence and not his physical prowess, so I suspected he might discern my true intent for calling this meeting.

The last man nearest the woman was clad in the same black armor as the large battle formation I'd seen outside the city wall. He was most likely their commander, and the look in his eyes showed a readiness to dive in front of any attack directed toward the woman. His devotion to her was so extreme, it was obvious.

The group stopped a few paces away, and the white-haired woman was either their leader or chosen representative because she was the only one to speak at first.

"Who are you, and for what purpose do you wish to speak to us?" she questioned. Her voice was strong and unwavering, delivered in the tone used by those in the south to command their followers, but I was no servant of hers.

"My name is Garuk," I told her. "The purpose of this meeting is to discuss an end to our conflict. I was also curious to see if my dragon would remember you and the others."

I looked over my shoulder as my dragon came forward. The human group tensed for an attack, and the woman's two dragons hissed slightly. The woman reached out a hand, and the massive head of my dragon lowered until it touched the tip of its nose to her palm. Bypassing her outstretched hand, it nuzzled up against her and nearly knocked her over in the process.

With everyone focused upon the dragon, no one had seen me take a step closer. Another step, then another, still no notice. The first to check on my position was the bald man, but he was too far away to do anything about it. He shot an intense look toward the Crow, and when the Crow began to face in my direction, I had to act. Lunging forward, I reached out both hands and touched the remaining two dragons, their eyes changing to glacial blue as I turned them.