The Northlands could never escape the topic of boundless ice and snow.
The Great Wall stretching between the Snow Plains and the mountains separated the cold world, leaving the Mountain Forest to the south bathed in an icy green. Like a colossal beast, it stared toward the Northlands, preventing every snowflake from drifting southward.
There had been no snow this winter.
For many people at the Northlands Great Wall Fortress, this was tremendous news. Not only did the slaves no longer have to spend their days clearing roads to keep the ground from turning white, but the soldiers no longer needed to wrap themselves in padded coats beneath their armor for training. Otherwise, they would return to their rooms reeking of sweat every day.
Even fuel had been saved. The alchemical coal burning in the braziers along the walls gave off enough warmth to make the nearby guards drowsy.
They were delighted that no snow had fallen this winter.
Yet for the commander of the Northlands Great Wall Fortress, such weather, supposedly worth celebrating, did not bring a smile to Amay's face.
It was rare for snow not to have fallen by this point in winter, but even more unexpectedly, Lord Ryan had directed most of Frozen Earth Territory's resources toward the Great Wall Fortress.
No snow was an unusual event for the Northlands.
The sudden concern of the wise Lord Ryan was equally unusual.
Recently, the food transported into the Great Wall Fortress had been enough for the soldiers to squander for three years. That was not a pleasant sign. As a captain from the West Sea, he had considerable experience with such things.
At sea, the calmer the waters, the more likely some legendary disaster was about to strike. He had no choice but to remain fully alert.