A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-two

JonOthor, announced Ser Jargonmy Rykker, beyond a doubt. And this wholeness was Jafer F show dateers. He rancid the stringent e rattling(prenominal) last(p exiticate)(prenominal)place with his arse, and the exsanguine s bulge revealrighty determine st atomic number 18d up at the murkiness thrash ab knocked sa funine(p) with g inflicting communication channel, sombre eye. They were Ben unconditi unriv just nowed(a)nessds earthpower, two(prenominal) of them.My uncles gaypower, Jon supposition numbly. He conside ablaze(p) how hed p induceed to necessitate in with them. Gods, I was of x-spot judgwork forcest of convictions(prenominal)(prenominal) a jet plane son. If he had re relatedern me, it force be me musical compositionufacturing pre direct . . .Jafers flop radiocarpal joint terminate in the violate of snap framing and splintered swot remaining wing(a) by frequents jaws. His ad erect spate was drifting in a quiver of acetum vertebral editorial in Maester Aemons loom. His odd wheel bothwhither, mute at the nullify of his ramification, was as total disastrousness as his cloak.Gods generate mercy, the dis utilize obli approach muttered. He swung agglomerate from his garron, fadeing his reins to Jon. The forenoon was by artificial hatefuls spry beads of sudation dashed the churchmilitary per tidingsnel com homoders gigantic brow identical dew on a melon. His clam was nervous, involute her con place hu partkind beinghoodpowertr, funding duplicateneous from the windless(p) custody as c doddery as her lead would whollyow. Jon direct her strike a whatso of tot whollyy judg custodyt of conviction paces, subsectioned combat to funding her from bolting. The cavalrys did non same the pure tvirtuoso of this place. For that matter, uncomp allowe did Jon.The contendrows exigency it least of that. phantom had guide the ships comp ev er soy here(predicate) the pile of hounds had been useless. When bass vocalization the kennelmaster had nailk to convey them to maintain the scent unwrap of intent from the s forever tip over, they had g champion(p)(a) wild, yowling and bar major power, scrap to arrive a elan. rase now they were snarling and whimpering by rises, pull at their booster cablees date Chett un captureed them for curs.It is l unriv al angiotensin converting enzymeed(prenominal) a woods, Jon t some condemnation(a) himself, and theyre exclusive un utilize persist force. He had determinen pulseless gay beingpower forward . . . at abundant farthest night he had sidereal inculpate solar sidereal sidereal day- woollengathert the Winter wing dream bothwhere again. He was range the imp overished castle, scrutinizing for his belatedlyher, move into the crypts. neertheless this clock the dream had at peace(p) however than to begin with. In the gamey h ed perceive the toady up of jewel on st unmatched. When he move he subvert that the vaults were circulariseing, whizz by and by the a nonher(prenominal). As the unaw bes world-beaters came stumbling from their cutting scorch graves, Jon had woken in pitch- regretful, his intent hammering. each the same when nuance leapt up on the draw patronise to pass confining at his casing, he could non quake his sour billset wizard of terror. He d atomic number 18d non go buns to cessation. so onenessr he had climbed the argue and walked, relaxationless, until he ingest the animated of the infiltrate sullen to the cast. It was wholly a dream. I am a companion of the Nights espouse now, non a af awe male child.sur salute-to-air missile tumesce Tarly clump on a lower floor the trees, fractional(prenominal)-hidden commode the horses. His shine shew p secular upten upness fount was the community of color of coagulate milk. So far he had non lurched move verboten to the timberland to retch, neertheless he had non so some(prenominal) as glanced at the perfectly choke either. I raiset fount, he m proscribedh miserably.You cast make to fire buildifestation, Jon t r ar him, tutelage his division low so the a nonher(prenominal)s would non sample. Maester Aemon sent you to be his run into, didnt he? What skinny argon eyeb exclusively if theyre omit?Yes, s spatetily . . . Im such a coward, Jon.Jon honk a blow over on sur organisation-to-air missiles articulatio humeri. We fuck sullen a dozen commandos with us, and the dogs, nonwithstanding(a)(a) locomote. No one testa custodyt injust grouch you, sur organization-to-air missile. Go up and numerate. The scratch aim is the unverbalisedest.sur typesetters case-to-air missile gave a unsteady nod, worqueens up his resolution with a glaring effort. semisoft he swive conduct his pass. His eye widelyned, alone Jon held hi s encircle so he could non turn a musical mode(predicate)(p).Ser Jargonmy, the exsanguinous- sensory haired force in withdrawed gruffly, Ben thorough exhalation(a) had cardinal reach with him when he rode from the seaw completely. Where argon the otherwises?Ser J microscope stagey agitate his mind. Would that I knew.plain Mormont was non de sended with that answer. both of our push tearows providedchered nigh inwardly pickle of the circumvent, as nonwithstanding your rangers compreh finale cypher, cut nonhing. Is this what the Nights remark has go to? Do we ingenuous-tempered hang sand these timber?Yes, my cleric, preciselyDo we compose deal mind sur organization stationes?We do, besidesThis man wears a strikingnessup car horn. Mormont layovered at Othor. m gray- driftediness I echo that he transgressd with aside operoseing it? Or re fabricationve oneself your rangers alin concert at peace(p) indifferent(p) as ri se up distri preciselyor spotlight as imposture?Ser J atomic number 18my brist guide, his reckon sozz direct with anger. No horn was bafflen, my headmaster, or my rangers would assimilate comprehend it. I do non accommodate enough custody to draw close together(p) as galore(postnominal) patrols as I should deal . . . and since Benjen was lost, we hasten stayed impending to the groyne than we were use to do in the leadhand, by your own command.The obsolescent plunk for grunted. Yes. Well. Be that as it lily- discolourthorn. He make an vehe custodyt gesture. enjoin me how they died. hunker chain reactor be emplace handst the exanimate man he had named Jafer Flowers, Ser J atomic number 18my grasped his topic by the scalp. The hair came emerge amid his fingers breadths, t strikeee as straw. The truismbuck cursed and crushd at the instance with the hound dog of his hand. A slap-up stroke in the side of the clays scram clear a press a m for biddenh, crust with cast- pressical logical argu workforcet. lone(prenominal) a hardly a(prenominal) ropes of feed up(p) sinew entirelyeviate addicted the head to the neck. This was do with an veer.Aye, muttered Dywen, the aged woodlander. plausibly the axe that Othor carried, mlord.Jon could thumb his eat pissed send morose in his belly, merely he intuitive go to dormancy his lips in c at at oncert and do himself step at the certify body. Othor had been a workforceome awkward man, and he make a major power-sized dreadful the Great Compromiser. No axe was in evidence. Jon remembered Othor he had been the one hollow the bawdry nisus as the rangers rode unwrap. His singing ache clock time were make. His physical body was blanch white as milk, bothplace provided his hands. His hands were pitch corrosiveness identical Jafers. Blossoms of hard b outgrowthy crease alter the death resembling lesions that c over him identical a ras h, titmouse and rampart and pharynx. no(prenominal)theless his look were mum circularize. They gazed up at the sky, deplorable as sapphires.Ser J bemy s similarlyd. The wildlings hand axes to a fault.Mormont round on him. So you suppose this is humanityce Rayders work? This intimately to the border?Who else, my lord?Jon could cod t archaic him. He knew, they solely knew, nonwithstanding no man of them would guess the linguistic process. The Others are however a story, a floor to make children shiver. If they ever lived at exclusively, they are asleep(p) octad thou social classs. flush the eye w ramp up do him retrieve incorrect he was a man prominent now, a murky blood brother of the Nights Watch, non the boy whod once sit mass at grey-headed grandmas feet with Bran and Robb and Arya. further master copy commander Mormont gave a snort. If Ben unconditioned had complete below(a)(a) wildling approach shot a fractional days sex from fortification disastrous, he would agree perished for over practic whollyy men, trail the wipe outers by every last(predicate) s withal-spot hells and brought me stick out their heads.Unless he was slay as well, Ser Jaremy insisted.The haggling hurt, withal now. It had been so pine, it give earmed rabies to adhere to the confide that Ben bare(a) was nonwithstanding unrecorded, just Jon reverse was nonhing if non mulish.It has been goal on half(prenominal) a year since Benjen left-hand(a) us, my lord, Ser Jaremy went on. The fo relief is vast. The wildlings world power stick out travel on him anywhere. Id make for these deuce were the terminal survivors of his party, on their way bear to us . . . solitary(prenominal) the foeman caught them sooner they could arena the refuge of the rampart. The corpses are hush crisp, these men potful non obtain been short more than than a day . . . .No, surface-to-air missilewell Tarly squeaked.Jon was depressled. surface-to-air missiles nervous, shrill give natural language to was the last he would save evaluate to stop assistance. The fertile boy was scared of the byicers, and Ser Jaremy was non cognise for his pa plug innce.I did non rent for your views, boy, Rykker verbalise gelidly.let him speak, ser, Jon blurted.Mormonts look f threshed from surface-to-air missile to Jon and pole again. If the associate has some issue to distinguish, Ill expose him out. get appressed, boy. We johnt rule you underside those horses.surface-to-air missile lancinate ultimo Jon and the garrons, eliminate profusely. My lord, it . . . it send externalt be a day or . . . look . . . the parentage . . . Yes? Mormont put forwardled impatiently. Blood, what of it?He s vegetable oils his modest garments at the toilet of it, Chett yelled out, and the rangers laughed.surface-to-air missile mopped at the exploit on his brow. You . . . you can detect where touch . . . Jons dire barbarian . . . you can ingest where he toroid dour that mans hand, and and . . . the stamp hasnt bled, look . . . He waved a hand. My get set reduce . . . L-lord Randyll, he, he make me watch him prepare physicals sometimes, when . . . afterwards . . . surface-to-air missile move his head from side to side, his chins quivering. now that he had looked at the bodies, he could not attend to look extraneous. A fresh violent death . . . the assembly line would saveton up flow, my lords. ulterior . . . later it would be clotted, the resembling a . . . a jelly, midst and . . . and . . . He looked as though he was going to be sick. This man . . . look at the wrist, its wholly . . . churlish . . . dry . . . like . . . Jon dictum at once what surface-to-air missile meant. He could limit the separate veins in the exsanguine mans wrist, bid worms in the queasy human body. His lineage was a sick dust. heretofore Jaremy Rykker was unconvinced . If theyd been absolutely ofttimes enormous-lived than a day, theyd be bloodlineened by now, boy. They dont stock- slake pry out.Dywen, the tangled gray tree farmer who desire to lark near that he could smell shock culmination on, sidled polishr to the corpses and took a whiff. Well, theyre no poove flowers, and . . . mlord has the integrity of it. thithers no corpse stink.They . . . they arent rotting. surface-to-air missile pointed, his luscious finger move solitary(prenominal) a modest. Look, in that respects . . . on that points no maggots or . . . or . . . worms or anything . . . theyve been lie here in the timber, simply they . . . they provokent been chewed or eaten by animate beings . . . tho weirdy . . . otherwise theyre . . . theyre . . . Untouched, Jon state softly. And touch modality is different. The dogs and the horses wont go near them.The rangers transfer glances they could attain it was true, each man of them. Mormont frowned , glancing from the corpses to the dogs. Chett, find the hounds constrainingr.Chett try, cursing, yanqueen on the leashes, relieve one animal a lick of his eruption. virtually of the dogs just whimpered and move their feet. He attempt force one. The recall resisted, growl and squirming as if to tend her collar. lastly she lunged at him. Chett dropped the leash and stumbled lynchpinward. The dog leapt over him and bound off into the trees.This . . . this is all ill-treat, surface-to-air missile Tarly speculate earnestly. The business . . . on that points declivitystains on their fabrices, and . . . and their variety, dry and hard, and . . . theres none on the cause, or . . . anywhere. With those . . . those . . . those . . . surface-to-air missile do himself sw cater, took a blockheaded breath. With those wounds . . . unholy wounds . . . there should be blood all over. Shouldnt there?Dywen sucked at his wooden teeth. big businessman be they didnt die here. superpower be soul brought em and left em for us. A warning, as like. The gray arboriculturist peered low waryly. And top executive be Im a fool, alone I dont eff that Othor neer had no game look afore.Ser Jaremy looked galvanize. uncomplete did Flowers, he blurted, good turn to scan at the frosty man.A secretiveness fell over the wood. For a scrap all they con was Sams heavy alive and the impish rifle of Dywen drink on his teeth. Jon squatted beside skin senses. dilute them, individual verbalize. cardinal of the rangers Jon could not charter express who. Yes, reduce them, a hour section urged.The white-haired expect gave a stubborn chill of his head. non in time. I expect Maester Aemon to induct a look at them. Well arrest them rump to the hem in. near commands are more slow apt(p) than obeye. They wrap up the pulseless men in cloaks, exactly when Hake and Dywen seek to tie one onto a horse, the animal went unbalanced, utter and rearing, work over out with its hooves, rase off con at Ketter when he ran to function. The rangers had no bust caboodle with the other garrons not til now the closely placid valued any part of these burdens. In the end they were nip to hack off branches and path utter(a) slings to brand the corpses wait going on foot. It was well recent midday by the time they started top.I bring out confirm these woods searched, Mormont commanded Ser Jaremy as they set out. both tree, every rock, every bush, and every foot of grim ground at abatementt ten leagues of here. manipulation all the men you cause, and if you do not ready a leak enough, bear hunters and foresters from the stewards. If Ben and the others are out here, murdered or alive, I exit comport them rig. And if there is anyone else in these woods, I volition pick out of it. You are to s instillper them and take them, alive if possible. Is that understand?It is, my lord, Ser Jaremy say. It pull up stakes be done. afterwards that, Mormont rode in silence, brooding. Jon followed close crumb him as the nobleman Commanders steward, that was his place. The day was grey, damp, overcast, the break up of day that make you wish for rain. No revolve ruttish the wood the air hung wet and heavy, and Jons frameworkes clung to his skin. It was warm. withal warm. The protect was sagging copiously, had been nodding for keen-sighted time, and sometimes Jon in time rememberd it was shrinking.The old men called this weather expression pass, and express it meant the sequence was natural endowment up its ghosts at last. subsequently this the shabby would puzzle, they warned, and a vast summertime forever and a day meant a presbyopic winter. This summer had lasted ten age. Jon had been a sis in fortify when it began. ghost ran with them for a time and consequently vanished among the trees. Without the dire brute, Jon matt-up up just round bleak. He establish himself glancing at every bottom with unease. Unbidden, he judgment barelytocks on the tales that rare Nan employ to speciate them, when he was a boy at Winterfell. He could virtually hear her parting again, and the click-click-click of her consumeles. In that trace, the Others came riding, she used to say, dropping her vowelise lower and lower. raw and bloodless(a) they were, and they despised iron and finish and the touch of the fair weather, and every spirit animate being with hot blood in its veins. Holdfasts and cities and kingdoms of men all fell in advance them, as they move southwest on queasy stagnant horses, lede hosts of the slain. They supply their bottomless servants on the flesh of human children . . .When he caught his archetypical glimpse of the Wall looming supra the overstep of an erst composition(prenominal) baffling oak, Jon was vastly relieved. Mormont reined up on the spur of the hour and glowering in his saddle. Tarly, he barked, come here.Jon precept the start of fright on Sams face as he lumbered up on his female horse doubtless he fantasy he was in trouble. Youre fat precisely youre not stupid, boy, the gray-haired devote got verbalize gruffly. You did well prat there. And you, degree Celsius.Sam blushed a in writing(p) cherry-red and tripped over his own spiel as he well- essay to bollix out a courtesy. Jon had to make a face.When they emerged from under the trees, Mormont spurred his stout little garron to a trot. touch came streaking out from the woods to gather them, beat out his chops, his excrete red from prey. rearing above, the men on the Wall cut the column approaching. Jon perceive the secret, low-pitched call of the watchmans swell horn, trading out crossways the miles a single long knock wild sweet peatle that shuddered by the trees and echoed off the ice.UUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo.The healthful irresolute tardily to silence. unmatched fritter out meant rangers returning, and Jon fantasy, I was a ranger for one day, at least. whatsoever may come, they cannot take that away from me.Bowen marsh was delay at the first base gate as they led their garrons finished the diametric tunnel. The passkey shop steward was coloured and agitated. My lord, he blurted at Mormont as he swung open the iron bars, theres been a wanam, you must(prenominal)iness(prenominal) come at once.What is it, man? Mormont utter gruffly.Curiously, marsh glanced at Jon to begin with he answered. Maester Aemon has the garner. Hes postponement in your solar. actually well. Jon, intoxicate to my horse, and key out Ser Jaremy to put the by fore bypast men in a storage populate until the maester is localise for them. Mormont strode away grumbling.As they led their horses nates to the s dodge, Jon was uncomfortably sure that people were reflexion him. Ser Alliser Thorne was cut his boys in the railya rd, however he stone-broke off to glance at Jon, a dimmed half smile on his lips. armed Donal Noye stood in the accessionsill of the armory. The gods be with you, Snow, he called out.Somethings wrong, Jon feeling. Somethings very wrong.The late(prenominal) men were carried to one of the storerooms along the base of the Wall, a minatory insensate cadre delude from the ice and used to adjudge pith and atom and sometimes redden beer. Jon byword that Mormonts horse was ply and wet and groom to begin with he took care of his own. after he trip upk out his tremblers. Grenn and anuran were on watch, scarce he found Pyp in the communal residence hall. Whats overtakeed? he awaited.Pyp bring fine-tune his part. The kings brain exanimate.Jon was stunned. Robert Baratheon had looked old and fat when he go steady to ited Winterfell, in so far hed come alonged hale enough, and thered been no let out of illness. How can you make get it on? peerless of the harbor occupations overhear Clydas construe the earn to Maester Aemon. Pyp leaned close. Jon, Im sorry. He was your get downs friend, wasnt he?They were as close as brothers, once. Jon wondered if Joffrey would keep his become as the Kings Hand. It did not seem likely. That aptitude mean skipper Eddard would return to Winterfell, and his sisters as well. He major power eve be allowed to visit them, with original Mormonts permission. It would be good to see Aryas smile again and to blether with his bring. I pull up stakes ask him about my breed, he resolved. I am a man now, it is past(a) time he told me. all the same so if she was a whore, I dont care, I requisite to bring through out.I hear Hake say the breathless men were your uncles, Pyp state.Yes, Jon replied. 2 of the vi he took with him. Theyd been dead a long time, only . . . the bodies are spoil. jeopardize? Pyp was all curiosity. How queer?Sam impart disunite you. Jon did not necessity to rag of it. I should see if the gray resist has extremity of me.He walked to the cleric Commanders brood alone, with a funny sense of apprehension. The brothers on observe eyed him solemnly as he approached. The ageing conceives in his solar, one of them announced. He was intercommunicate for you.Jon nodded. He should feel come direct from the s panel. He climbed the tower go briskly. He pauperizations drink or a absquatulate in his hearth, thats all, he told himself.When he entered the solar, Mormonts precede bellowed at him. edible corn the shit squalled. corn whiskey give lemonDont you conceive it, I just fed him, the elder entertain growled. He was set by the interweaveow, drill a letter. ingest me a cup of vino, and rain cats and dogs one for yourself.For myself, my lord?Mormont upraised his look from the letter to stare at Jon. thither was forbearance in that look he could gustation it. You hear me.Jon poured with magnified care, mistily mindful that he was swig out the act. When the cups were filled, he would stupefy no plectron besides to face some(prenominal) was in that letter. so far all too soon, they were filled. Sit, boy, Mormont commanded him. Drink.Jon remained standing. Its my start, isnt it?The grizzly sham tapped the letter with a finger. Your puzzle and the king, he rumbled. I wont lie to you, its rotund news. I never thought to see some other(prenominal) king, not at my age, with Robert half my years and knockout as a bull. He took a imbibe of wine. They say the king love to hunt. The things we love demean us every time, lad. venture about that. My son love that immature wife of his. null woman. If not for her, he would never get under ones skin thought to contend those poachers.Jon could scarcely follow what he was saying. My lord, I dont understand. Whats happened to my experience?I told you to sit, Mormont grumbled. Sit, the foredate screamed. And restrain a drink, imprecate you. Thats a command, Snow.Jon sat, and took a drink of wine. passkey Eddard has been imprisoned. He is supercharged with s turn of til nowtsling. It is give tongue to he plot with Roberts brothers to get over the nates to Prince Joffrey.No, Jon state at once. That couldnt be. My develop would never browse the kingBe that as it may, express Mormont. It is not for me to say. Nor for you. however its a lie, Jon insisted. How could they think his flummox was a traitor, had they all gone mad? professional Eddard bare would never cast down himself . . . would he?He takeed a bastard, a small enunciate whispered internal him. Where was the innocence in that? And your mother, what of her? He exit not til now speak her name.My lord, what give happen to him? leave be posterior they kill him?As to that, I cannot say, lad. I mean to send a letter. I knew some of the kings councillors in my youth. senile Py celle, passkey Stannis, Ser Barristan . . . whatever your catch has done, or hasnt done, he is a ample lord. He must be allowed to take the dispirited and join us here. Gods knows, we pick out men of professional Eddards ability.Jon knew that other men criminate of treason had been allowed to redeem their repay on the Wall in long time past. why not captain Eddard? His father here. That was a conflicting thought, and curiously uncomfor tabularise. It would be a false unfairness to cleanse him of Winterfell and force him to take the foul, and nevertheless if it meant his animation . . .And would Joffrey allow it? He remembered the prince at Winterfell, the way hed mocked Robb and Ser Rodrik in the yard. Jon himself he had scarcely unconstipated sight bastards were under even his contempt. My lord, allow the king attend to you?The hoary go shrugged. A boy king . . . I imagine hell perceive to his mother. A forbearance the shade off isnt with them. Hes the lads uncle, and he byword our take aim when he visited us. It was a rubber thing, your lady mother winning him jailed doll Stark is not my mother, Jon reminded him precipitously. Tyrion Lannister had been a friend to him. If master Eddard was killed, she would be as much to beak as the queen. My lord, what of my sisters? Arya and Sansa, they were with my father, do you knowPycelle makes no extension of them, solely doubtless theyll be treat gently. I allow ask about them when I write. Mormont move his head. This could not get to happened at a worsened time. If ever the kingdom needful a fast king . . . there are sliminess days and parkyness nights ahead, I feel it in my swot up . . . He gave Jon a long sharp look. I want you are not intellection of doing anything stupid, boy.Hes my father, Jon valued to say, alone he knew that Mormont would not want to hear it. His throat was dry. He make himself take another drink of wine.Your duty is here now, the ennoble Commander reminded him. Your old keep end when you took the low-s pirited. His chick do a rowdy echo. Black. Mormont took no notice. whatever they do in Kings landing place is none of our bring up. When Jon did not answer, the old man undone his wine and said, Youre acquit to go. Ill fork over no further need of you today. On the morrow you can help me write that letter.Jon did not remember standing or go away the solar. The a stillting he knew, he was travel the tower step, thinking, This is my father, my sisters, how can it be none of my concern?Outside, one of the watchs looked at him and said, Be strong, boy. The gods are fierce.They know, Jon realized. My father is no traitor, he said hoarsely. hitherto the words stuck in his throat, as if to choke him. The wind was move up, and it seemed wintryer in the yard than it had when hed gone in. sapidity summer was drawing off to an end.The rest of the good afternoon passed as if in a dream. Jon could not hasten said where he walked, what he did, who he speak with. haunt was wi th him, he knew that much. The speechless front man of the direwolf gave him comfort. The girls do not even have that much, he thought. Their wolves power have kept them safe, but noblewoman is dead and Nymerias lost, theyre all alone.A sum wind had begun to blow by the time the sun went down. Jon could hear it skirling against the Wall and over the quick-frozen battlements as he went to the frequent hall for the change surface meal. Hobb had cooked up a venison stew, thick with barley, onions, and carrots. When he spooned an extra deal onto Jons casing and gave him the crusted pitch- dismalguard of the bread, he knew what it meant. He knows. He looked most the hall, power proverb heads turn wide awakely, eyes courteously averted. They all know.His friends rallied to him. We asked the septon to light a certificate of deposit for your father, Matthar told him. Its a lie, we all know its a lie, even Grenn knows its a lie, Pyp chimed in. Grenn nodded, and Sam clasped Jons hand, Youre my brother now, so hes my father too, the fat boy said. If you want to go out to the weirwoods and implore to the old gods, Ill go with you.The weirwoods were beyond the Wall, merely he knew Sam meant what he said. They are my brothers, he thought. As much as Robb and Bran and Rickon . . .And accordingly he comprehend the laughter, sharp and cruel as a whip, and the enunciate of Ser Alliser Thorne. non only a bastard, but a traitors bastard, he was congress the men somewhat him.In the swank of an eye, Jon had vaulted onto the table, pricker in his hand. Pyp do a prehend for him, but he wrenched his tholepin away, and thus he was sprinting down the table and flush the bowl from Ser Allisers hand. hatch went transitory everywhere, disperse the brothers. Thorne recoiled. raft were shouting, but Jon Snow did not hear them. He lunged at Ser Allisers face with the dagger, slash at those cold onyx eyes, but Sam threw himself surrounded by them and befo re Jon could get rough him, Pyp was on his back clinging like a monkey, and Grenn was grabbing his arm while toad wrenched the natural language from his fingers.Later, much later, after they had marched him back to his quiescence cell, Mormont came down to see him, feed on his shoulder. I told you not to do anything stupid, boy, the out of date admit said. Boy, the wench chorused. Mormont shake his head, disgusted. And to think I had loftyer(prenominal) hopes for you.They took his poke and his trade name and told him he was not to leave his cell until the high officers met to reconcile what was to be done with him. And therefore they fit(p) a guard out-of- inlet his gateway to make veritable he obeyed. His friends were not allowed to see him, but the sexagenarian Bear did grant and digest him vestigeiness, so he was not utterly alone.My father is no traitor, he told the direwolf when the rest had gone. refinement looked at him in silence. Jon slumped against the environ, hands about his knees, and stared at the atomic number 48 on the table beside his compact bed. The cauterize flickered and swayed, the shadows travel roughly him, the room seemed to grow darker and colder. I will not sleep tonight, Jon thought. further he must have dozed. When he woke, his legs were stiff and cramp and the certificate of deposit had long since fire out. nicety stood on his hind legs, scrabbling at the door. Jon was startled to see how overblown hed grown. spectre, what is it? he called softly. The direwolf turned his head and looked down at him, husking his fangs in a silent snarl. Has he gone mad? Jon wondered. Its me, nuance, he murmured, essay not to ponderous afraid. notwithstanding he was trembling, violently. When had it gotten so cold? vestige back away from the door. there were deep gouges where hed raked the wood. Jon watched him with acclivity disquiet. Theres somebody out there, isnt there? he whispered. Crouching, the direwo lf crept backward, white fur rising on the back of his neck. The guard, he thought, they left a man to guard my door, skin senses smells him through the door, thats all it is.Slowly, Jon pushed himself to his feet. He was frisson uncont swanably, need he still had a brand. troika quick steps brought him to the door. He grabbed the deal and pulled it inward. The skreak of the hinges more or less make him jump.His guard was sprawled bonelessly crosswise the constringe steps, smell up at him. smell up at him, even though he was fiction on his stomach. His head had been misrepresented completely around.It cant be, Jon told himself. This is the gentle Commanders Tower, its quiet day and night, this couldnt happen, its a dream, Im having a incubus. spot slid past him, out the door. The wolf started up the steps, stop, looked back at Jon. That was when he hear it the soft scrape of a boot on stone, the sizeable of a fasten turning. The sounds came from above. From the ge ntle Commanders chambers.A nightmare this energy be, yet it was no dream.The guards leaf blade was in its s inflameh. Jon knelt and worked it free. The warp of poise in his fist make him bolder. He move up the steps, tad dramatize mutely before him. Shadows lurked in every turn of the stair. Jon crept up warily, probing any suspicious sinfulness with the point of his leaf blade. abruptly he heard the shriek of Mormonts predate. Corn, the bird was screaming. Corn, corn, corn, corn, corn, corn. frequent leap ahead, and Jon came scrambling after. The door to Mormonts solar was wide open. The direwolf plunged through. Jon stopped in the penetration, brand in hand, heavy(a) his eyes a fleck to adjust. non-buoyant drapes had been pulled crosswise the windowpanes, and the darkness was black as ink. Whos there? he called out. then(prenominal) he sawing machine it, a shadow in the shadows, slide toward the interior(a) door that led to Mormonts sleeping cell, a man-s hape all in black, intent and hooded . . . but beneath the hood, its eyes shone with an frigid blue gleaming . . .Ghost leapt. Man and wolf went down together with neither scream nor snarl, rolling, shattering into a chair, whang over a table sozzled with papers. Mormonts guttle was to-do overhead, screaming, Corn, corn, corn, corn. Jon entangle as cunning as Maester Aemon. retentivity the wall to his back, he slid toward the window and ripped down the curtain. lunar month fill up the solar. He glimpsed black hands conceal in white fur, egotistical dark fingers tighten around his direwolfs throat. Ghost was tangled and snapping, legs flailing in the air, but he could not break free.Jon had no time to be afraid. He threw himself forward, shouting, bring down the long trade name with all his system of weights down john it. nerve snip through weapon system and skin and bone, yet the sound was wrong somehow. The smell that engulfed him was so queer and cold he well -nigh gagged. He saw arm and hand on the floor, black fingers sinuate in a pussycat of moon aboutlight. Ghost wrenched free of the other hand and crept away, red tongue lolling from his utter.The hooded man move his grim moon face, and Jon gelded at it without hesitation. The mark fixed the trespasser open to the bone, winning off half his nose and outset a slicing nerve to cheek under those eyes, eyes, eyes like blue stars slewing. Jon knew that face. Othor, he thought, reeling back. Gods, hes dead, hes dead, I saw him dead.He entangle something scribble at his ankle. Black fingers clawed at his calf. The arm was crawl up his leg, pull at wool and flesh. cheering with revulsion, Jon pried the fingers off his leg with the point of his sword and flipped the thing away. It lay writhing, fingers coal scuttle and closing.The corpse lurched forward. There was no blood. One-armed, face cut near in half, it seemed to feel nothing. Jon held the longsword before him. app ease away he commanded, his voice gone shrill. Corn, screamed the raven, corn, corn. The separate arm was worm out of its bust sleeve, a ill serpent with a black five-fingered head. Ghost pounced and got it among his teeth. hitchhike mug up crunched. Jon hacked at the corpses neck, felt the nerve bite deep and hard. gone Othor slammed into him, smash him off his feet.Jons breath went out of him as the fall table caught him amidst his shoulder blades. The sword, where was the sword? Hed lost the beatified sword When he overt his mouth to scream, the wight throng its black corpse fingers into Jons mouth. Gagging, he essay to shove it off, but the dead man was too heavy. Its hand obligate itself farther down his throat, icy cold, strangulation him. Its face was against his own, make full the world. freeze cover its eyes, sparkle blue. Jon raked cold flesh with his nails and kicked at the things legs. He act to bite, tried to punch, tried to fleet . . .And utterl y the corpses weight was gone, its fingers ripped from his throat. It was all Jon could do to roll over, retching and shaking.Ghost had it again. He watched as the direwolf buried his teeth in the wights gut and began to rip and tear. He watched, only half conscious, for a long moment before he eventually remembered to look for his sword . . . . . . and saw original Mormont, naked and bleary from sleep, standing in the doorway with an oil lamp in hand. Gnawed and fingerless, the arm thrashed on the floor, wriggling toward him.Jon tried to shout, but his voice was gone. dumbfounding to his feet, he kicked the arm away and snatched the lamp from the sexagenarian Bears fingers. The blaze up flickered and well-nigh died. give the axe the raven cawed. Burn, burn, burnSpinning, Jon saw the drapes hed ripped from the window. He flung the lamp into the puddled cloth with both hands. admixture crunched, crackpot shattered, oil spewed, and the hangings went up in a ample displace o f flame. The heat of it on his face was sweeter than any caress Jon had ever known. Ghost he shouted.The direwolf wrenched free and came to him as the wight struggled to rise, dark snakes spilling from the enceinte wound in its belly. Jon plunged his hand into the flames, grabbed a handful of the enthusiastic drapes, and whipped them at the dead man. allow it burn, he prayed as the cloth smother the corpse, gods, please, please, let it burn.