chsdbacks Chapter 32 Jon Snow 2
Chapter 32 Jon Snow 2
Jon remembers every word Colin said:
"They will make you cut the black cloak to pieces in front of everyone, and make you swear in the name of your father's grave that you will forever despise and curse your brothers and the Commander-in-Chief."
"No matter what they ask you to do, you must not disobey them, do it all... but in your heart, you must remember who you are, remember your vow."
"You will march with them, eat with them, fight with them, until the time comes, and your task is—to observe."
"Observe what?" Jon asked.
"I don't know either," Colin said.
"Your wolves saw them digging in the Milk River Valley. What could they possibly be looking for in that remote, cold wasteland? Did they find it? That's the answer you must seek, and you must find out before you return to Commander Mormont and your brothers."
"Remember, this is my entrustment, Jon Snow."
Jon remembers replying with a forced sigh, "I will not fail you."
"But...you will tell them the truth, won't you? At least tell Old Xiong? Please tell him that I have never broken my vow."
Colin, with his severed hand, glared at him through the flames.
"Next time we meet, I'll tell him I swear."
He gestured towards the fire: "Add some more firewood, to bring more warmth and light."
And so their conversation ended.
May the gods protect the one with the "severed palm" and prevent him from dying.
Jon prayed silently.
Otherwise, no one will be able to testify for me, and even bathing in boiling dragon blood will not be able to wash away the mark of a traitor on my body.
Thinking of the dragon, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart again.
The fact that the wildlings have dragons is terrible news for the Night's Watch; compared to that, what Mance is looking for in the Milk River Valley has become less important.
Could Lynn Morningstar be a descendant of House Targaryen?
The name "Lynn" is not commonly seen. Jon can only recall one: Ser Lynn Cobray of House Cobray, a noble family in the Vale, the second son of the former Earl of Hearthold.
Legend has it that Lynn Cobbry killed as many people in the tournament arena as he killed on the battlefield.
He received his knighthood for aiding Robert's rebellion.
Initially, he fought against Lord Jon Arryn outside Seagulltown, but later joined the rebels in the Battle of the Trident, where he killed the famous Kingsguard, Prince Lewyn of Dorne.
At the Trident River, when his father was cut down, Lynn Cobra grabbed the Valyrian steel sword "Lady of the Empty" to avenge his father.
The eldest son, Leonor Cobley, then escorted his father to the rear to seek medical help from the maester, while the second son, Lynn, led a charge, not only defeating the Dornish army that threatened Robert's left flank but also killing their leader, Levin Martell.
Because of this, before his death, the old Earl of Cobley passed the clan sword "Lady of the Void" to his youngest son Lynn, leaving the fiefdom, title, castle, and all the wealth to his eldest son Leonor.
However, the older brother was not appreciative and always felt that his rights had been violated.
While telling these stories, Eddard told Robb and Jon that when Prince Levin finally faced Corbry's famous sword, "Lady of the Empty," he was already badly wounded and unable to continue.
In other words, Lynn Cobbry's victory was not honorable.
But he then added:
"If you ever have the chance to meet again, you must never mention these words to Sir Lynn. Anyone who asks him about the truth of his battle with Martell has been sent to hell to question his opponent."
These words left a deep impression on young Jon.
Jon knew that the dragon tamer in front of him could not possibly be Ser Lynn Cobbry, but he didn't look like a Targaryen either.
He had black hair and black eyes, and his features were gentle, unlike anyone else in the Seven Kingdoms.
Even dressed as a wild man, he possessed an unusual air of tranquility. Moreover, his handmaids were exceptionally beautiful, surpassing all the girls he had ever seen, including his half-sister Sansa and her companions.
Perhaps he comes from some distant land, such as the lost dragon king family of Valyria?
But Jon Snow was a bastard, and the aristocratic education he could receive was always limited. Perhaps Robb and Sansa, who had received a complete heraldic education, would have heard of this surname...
The Guardian's Hall fell silent. Jon suddenly realized that his thoughts had wandered too far, which was not a good thing in the current situation.
"A brilliant summary, Jon Snow."
Jon Snow's voice, "Star Child," was a relief. He had just assured Ygritte that he wouldn't harm him, so he seemed to be a kind person.
Lynn had no idea what was swirling in the other's mind; he simply assumed the other was too young and intimidated by the dragon.
"Sit down and let's talk. Don't be too reserved. It seems the King of the Frontier has a lot to say to you."
Mance gestured for Jon to sit across the long table, then he drew the wolf-headed sword Ygritte had left behind and examined it closely.
"The Valyrian steel sword, the old bear's long claws, I saw it once when he first became commander-in-chief."
He held the sword upside down and examined the counterweight sphere, a pale white stone with lead added to balance the weight of the sword. The sphere was carved into the shape of a howling wolf's head, with two small pieces of garnet for the eyes.
"It was burned; the handguard and hilt were replaced."
He said it with certainty.
"What happened? Why would the old man give you his family heirloom sword? It's a rare item that no amount of gold can buy."
The original bear head was replaced with a wolf head, the intention of which is self-evident.
"I saved the Commander-in-Chief's life, so he gave me this sword."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
The King Beyond the Wall seemed quite interested in this, and Jon, unsure if the test had already begun, honestly replied:
Earlier, we found the bodies of two rangers who were under Benjen Stark's command, a few miles from the Wall.
They were pale and cold, their hands and feet black, and their wounds did not bleed. We brought them back to Castle Black, but they got up in the middle of the night to kill people. One of them killed Ser Jeremy Lake, and the other went to kill the Commander-in-Chief.
My wolf found him...it! And then saved Old Bear's life, that's all.
Jon noticed a change in Mance's expression, and Lynn Morningstar also sat up straight.
"You mean, ghouls have appeared in Castle Black?"
Jon nodded in confirmation.
He noticed that Mans and Lynn exchanged a glance, but there was no emotion in their eyes.
Mance then returned the sword to Jon, saying:
"Do you understand why I knew that General Xiong gave you his sword?"
"Of course, it's because of the wolves..."
Jon answered instinctively, but quickly realized that no one had mentioned he was the bastard son of the Duke of Winterfell since he entered the hall.
"Did the Bellskin give prior notice?" (The Bellskin is a derogatory term used by the Night's Watch for the Bone King because his bone helmet armor makes a jingling sound when he walks.)
He asked, "Is this the only explanation?"
"With birds? We don't have trained crows. No, I remember your face, because I've seen you before, twice."
That doesn't make sense.
Jon thought hard and finally figured it out.
"Back when you were still a brother of the Night's Watch..."
"Absolutely right! Yes, that was the first time. You were just a child then, and I was dressed in all black, one of the twelve guards of the former Commander Kogel, escorting him to Winterfell to visit your father."
I was strolling along the inner city walls around the courtyard when I bumped into you and your brother Robb. It snowed the night before last, and you two had piled up a huge snowflake on the city gate, waiting for some unlucky soul to pass by underneath.
In fact, Lynn had already learned Jon Snow's identity through Oriel's hawk, but for some reason Mance deliberately ignored this fact.
"I remember now!"
"Jon said with a surprised smile. A young man in black walking on the city walls, yes..."
"You swear you won't expose us."
"And I kept my vow, at least, I kept this vow," Mans said with a smile.
"We poured snow on Fat Tom's head; he was the slowest-witted guard in my father's army."
Jon was lost in memories, and later the two of them were chased all over the yard by Tom until their cheeks turned as red as ripe apples.
"But you said you've seen me twice. When was the other time?"
"When King Robert came to Winterfell and appointed your father as Hand of the King," the King Beyond the Wall said softly.
Jon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How is that possible?!"
"That's true. After your father learned that the king was on his way, he wrote to his brother Bunyan on the Wall, asking him to return to Winterfell for the banquet."
The dealings between the Black Brothers and the Free Citizens are far more complex than you realize, so the news quickly reached my ears.
I can't resist this temptation. Your uncle has never met me, so I'm not worried about him, and I don't think your father would remember a little crow that flew by so quickly many years ago.
I intend to see Robert in person, king to king, and also to learn more about your uncle Benjen, who was then the chief ranger and a scourge to my people.
So I mounted the fastest horse and set off on my own.
"But," Jon objected, "the Wall..."
"The Great Wall can stop armies, but it cannot stop a lone man."
I took my harp and a bag of silver deer, climbed over the ice wall near the Long Chariot Tower, crossed the newly granted land, and traveled south for several miles before buying a horse.
I traveled day and night, while Robert carried the heavy Great Wheel Palace so that his queen could travel comfortably. So, about a day's ride south of Winterfell, I finally caught up with the caravan and joined the royal procession.
As you know, free riders and hired knights often flock to royalty, hoping to stay and serve at court, and my harp makes me easily accepted.
Mans' smile remained unchanged:
"I can sing all the lewd songs and ditties inside and outside the Great Wall."
"You were there at the dinner party. That evening, your father entertained Robert. I sat on a bench at the end of the hall with a group of free riders, drinking with a long harp played by Orlando of Oldtown, singing of the king who sleeps at the bottom of the sea, while eating your father's roast meat and mead."
I took a good look at the Kingslayer and the Imp... and also caught a glimpse of Duke Eddard's children and the wolf cubs at their feet.
"You are like the 'Bard' Bell."
Jon couldn't help but marvel, recalling the story Ygritte had told him on the Frostfang that night he had almost killed her.
"I wish I were like him. Ah—Bell's story is so inspiring, but I don't have the guts to steal one of your sisters."
Bell wrote his own songs, which will live on forever, while I only sing covers of compositions by those better than me. Want some mead?
"No," Jon said, "if you are discovered...if you are caught..."
"Your father won't cut off my head."
Mans shrugged.
"Because I dine in his hall, protected by the rights of a guest, the laws concerning which are as ancient as those of our ancestors and as sacred as the tree of the heart."
He gestured towards the tabletop, which was covered in bread crumbs and chicken bones left by the previous visitors, and a glass of wine he had just poured for Jon.
"So, you're a guest here too. With my protection, you won't get hurt... at least not tonight."
"Tell me the truth, Jon Snow, are you a coward who betrayed you out of fear, or is there some other reason?"
Regardless of whether he had the right to be a guest, Jon Snow knew he was walking on thin ice; one wrong step and he would be doomed, dying without a burial place.
Every word has to be carefully considered!
He kept telling himself this as he took a big gulp of mead to buy time for the showdown.
Just as Jon had expected, Mance Rayder simply waited with a smile; the king was clearly a very confident man.
Jon took another sip of mead.
It seems there's only one explanation that can convince him.
"You say you've been to Winterfell and attended the dinner my father hosted for King Robert?"
Jon asked.
Yes, I was indeed there.
"Then you should know perfectly well."
"How so?"
"Prince Joffrey, Prince Tommen, Princess Myrcella, my brothers Robb, Bran, and Rickon, my sisters Arya and Sansa,
They walked through the central aisle, attracting widespread attention, and took their seats only one seat lower than the platform held by the king and duke.
"So what?"
"But do you see where I'm sitting, Mans?"
He leaned forward.
"Did you see where they threw the illegitimate child?"
Mance Rayder stared intently at Jon's face.
"I think I should find you a new cloak."
As the king spoke, he extended his hand.
Jon Snow was eventually taken away by Tormund's men.
Lynn originally intended to hand him over to Casa for safekeeping, but Mans felt that Tormund was more suitable.
He didn't say why, so Lynn didn't bother to ask.
"You didn't actually believe his nonsense, did you?"
After Jon left, Lynn asked with some confusion.
In his opinion, this kid was a complete greenhorn, and he was sure to be lying, or maybe he was lying all the time.
"At least the last sentence is true."
Mans pondered for a moment and said:
"His eyes don't lie; I can sense how intense his resentment towards his origins is. If Eddard Stark had ignored his bastard sons like other lords did from the beginning, perhaps he would be doing better now..."
"...At least we don't have to come all the way to this freezing cold to die."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Lynn immediately became interested.
He had originally planned to use the duke's illegitimate son to his advantage, but now it seems that the chances are slim.
News came from the trading market in Eastwatch a while ago that Jon Snow's brother, the king, seems to be doing well in the south, having captured an important figure from House Lannister in the Westerlands, which Mance said is most likely the "King Killer".
The news is vague and not very timely; it may have happened a long time ago.
But this was enough to dispel all of Lynn's ideas about the Duke of the North, and also cast a shadow over the wildlings' future.