Chapter 157: Mance Rayder's Ambition

"You mangy bastard, don't think Samantha can protect you." The King-Beyond-the-Wall rode on a scrawny horse. "Once we see Mance Rayder, he will surely tear you limb from limb, and then your bones will belong to me."

"Rattleshirt, is that all you care about—bones? This Fellan might know a lot of enemy intelligence; a man like this is only useful alive."

The one speaking was Ygritte, a spearwife of about eighteen, short in stature, with a flat nose and crooked teeth.

By the standards of the Seven Kingdoms, Ygritte was not pretty, but she possessed a head of fiery red hair. The Wildlings believed red hair was a symbol of luck, so Ygritte had many suitors, and people called her "Kissed by Fire."

Ygritte belonged to the King-Beyond-the-Wall's raiding party, but she seemed to dislike him and often argued with him. This was the Free Folk; when a commander gave an order, every Free Folk had their own set of arguments, and discipline was lax.

The Wildlings all said Ygritte was the best archer among them, and she used a Weirwood Short Bow. After Fellan was captured, Ygritte often sought him out during breaks to discuss archery techniques. Ygritte liked to stroke Fellan's red hair.

"You can be considered Kissed by Fire, too!"

Fellan had originally thought the short bow had limited lethality, until he saw Ygritte easily kill a sparrow on a branch with it.

Shooting down a sparrow was much harder than shooting down an eagle, because sparrows were smaller.

Fellan was glad that Varamyr Sixskins had taken the Dragonbone Longbow. The Dragonbone Longbow was the best-performing and longest-ranged bow in the world. If the Wildlings let Ygritte use the Dragonbone Longbow, she would surely be able to shoot and kill more Night's Watch Rangers and North soldiers.

Fortunately, Ygritte's horsemanship was poor; she rode a half-blind plow horse. Horses were scarce Beyond the Wall, and such an environment destined the Wildlings Beyond the Wall to be unable to raise a formidable cavalry.

The King-Beyond-the-Wall trotted his horse beside the terrorbird and flashed an ugly smile at Fellan. "I've set my heart on your hand bones. These hands of yours have shot and killed countless enemies. The Forest Witch says such hands possess powerful killing strength."

"With a few more bones, your bone armor will be even uglier, Rattleshirt," said Tigris, who was riding a saber-toothed tiger. He was a young skinchanger, thick-set with a broad face. Unlike the saber-toothed tiger, Tigris was missing two front teeth; it was said that when Tigris fought a giant, the giant's wooden club had shattered his teeth.

Tigris admired Fellan's archery skills. These past few days, he always rode his saber-toothed tiger beside Samantha's terrorbird, so he had gradually become familiar with Fellan. He always loved to brag that his wife was pregnant.

Fellan did not know if his wife Barbrey, who had stayed behind at Barrow Hall, was pregnant. On their wedding night, he and Barbrey had tried many times, and Barbrey had kept praying for the gods to grant her a child.

Now Fellan was not sure if he could return alive. If he died, Barbrey's child would be a posthumous one. If Barbrey, with a big belly, were to welcome the remains returned by Duke Eddard, she would likely faint on the spot. She would become a widow of Barrowton once again and curse Duke Eddard for it.

The King-Beyond-the-Wall's bones were constantly clattering, which reminded Fellan that his own bones might one day become part of the King-Beyond-the-Wall's armor. Looking at it this way, Fellan's hope of returning home as withered bones was slim, and he could not help but fall into despair.

Fellan, tied to the terrorbird, entered the chaotic Wildling camp along with Samantha.

This was a strange troop: hundreds of Wildling cavalry riding scrawny horses, and a group of skinchangers with their fierce beasts.

Fellan had originally thought that the blood-drinking Wildlings would not fear fierce beasts, but when the terrorbird, as thick-set as a rhinoceros, the four-meter-tall snow bear, and the saber-toothed tiger with front teeth like sharp swords appeared in the camp, fear appeared in the eyes of men, women, and the elderly alike.

A few goats were grazing by the river, and a group of children chased after the raiders' cavalry. Harma the Dogshead threw out some dog meat jerky, which immediately caused a scramble among the children. The King-Beyond-the-Wall swung his whip, driving away every boy in his path.

Varamyr Sixskins rode on a snow bear, with three wild wolves leading the vanguard and a shadowcat bringing up the rear. The shadowcat's size was only slightly smaller than the saber-toothed tiger beside it; it was a terrifying carnivore.

These were all fierce beasts as terrifying as Duke Eddard's direwolves. Fellan prayed silently that if Winterfell's direwolves, Night and Sunshine, faced the snow bear, shadowcat, terrorbird, and saber-toothed tiger, he hoped the direwolves could win.

In the Wildling camp, there were all sorts of Wildlings. Fellan looked in surprise at the Hardfoots walking barefoot in the snow, the Thenns clad in bronze scale armor, the four-meter-tall, bearded female giant with a pregnant belly, the Cave Dwellers with their faces painted in various colors, the Frozen Shore people riding in bone chariots pulled by dogs, and the Rivermen wielding ice hammers.

They arrived in front of the largest tent in the middle of the camp, and several Wildlings lifted Fellan, who was tied to the back of the terrorbird, down.

Samantha dismounted from the terrorbird with the grace of a swan and leaned in close to Fellan.

"Fellan, if you want to live, beg Mance Rayder. Although Mance is not a king, he is the leader elected by the various tribes of the Free Folk. Remember, you can beg, but do not kneel; the Free Folk despise those who kneel."

Fellan sighed, "Mance is a deserter from the Night's Watch. In the Seven Kingdoms, such a person is an oathbreaker, a chameleon, and is reviled by all. A chameleon has no honor to speak of; I fear that no matter how I beg, I will not escape death."

Samantha said helplessly, "If you are in a hurry to die, you can go ahead and accuse Mance of being a chameleon. You are a captive; Harma the Dogshead and the King-Beyond-the-Wall are dying for you to die. What good does playing the hero do? Softening your stance will at least keep you alive. If you won't consider yourself, please think of your wife at Barrow Hall."

Barbrey. At the thought of Barbrey, Fellan's heart broke.

When the King-Beyond-the-Wall and Harma the Dogshead dragged Fellan into the hall, Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, was playing a lute and humming a tune.

Samantha, Tigris, and Varamyr, those skinchangers, filed in, and Ygritte followed them inside.

"The Dornish wife sings when she bathes with her lover; her tone is like honey. The Dornish sword, however, has its own notes, as sharp and cold as a blade."

Fellan had originally thought Mance was a rough man; he had not expected him to possess the refined temperament of a bard.

The King-Beyond-the-Wall kicked Fellan to the ground.

"This is Eddard Stark's scout, Red-Mane Fellan."

Mance plucked a sorrowful note. "You are the famous master archer? The Rock King wrote to me, and in the list of North warriors he cursed to kill, your name is always near the top."

Fellan raised his head. "The Rock King should have told you that I have killed many of his Rockborn enemies who followed him, just as I will kill many Wildling enemies."

Harma the Dogshead swung his lance, striking Fellan in the face, and blood spilled from Fellan's mouth.

"This guy is not honest; we should have slaughtered him long ago!"

Ygritte squeezed over. "Fellan is a very useful hostage; he can be used to negotiate with Eddard Stark later."

Harma the Dogshead's ugly face grew long. "This is a meeting of leaders, Kissed by Fire. Who the hell do you think you are, running into Mance's tent to attend a meeting?"

Ygritte made a face. "The Free Folk go wherever they want and have the right to attend any meeting."

The pregnant Dalla spoke up, "Ygritte often hunts birds to nourish my body. She is my friend, and Mance's and my tent cannot refuse Ygritte."

Harma the Dogshead glared at Ygritte. "Kissed by Fire, don't think that just because you have Mance's woman backing you, you can do whatever you want. I rarely kill women, but I don't want you to become a cold corpse in the snow; then you'd be 'Snow-Kissed' to death!"

Ygritte drew her short blade. "You can try."

Mance put down his lute and stood up.

"Ladies, I still have to receive our guest Fellan. If you want to argue, please leave my tent, otherwise, I will have to show you the door."

Ygritte and Harma the Dogshead sat sulkily in the corner of the tent.

The King-Beyond-the-Wall said excitedly, "I want Fellan's bones!"

"After the war is won, Stark's and Fellan's bones will both be yours," Mance said with some impatience. "Rattleshirt, I know you love bones from the bottom of your heart. Rest assured, no one will fight you for them."

The King-Beyond-the-Wall turned, his bones clattering, and pointed at Varamyr Sixskins. "Mance, Varamyr snatched the Dragonbone Longbow, but he doesn't use a bow at all. He should hand the Dragonbone Longbow over to me to use."

Mance seemed quite amused. "You don't usually use a bow and arrow either; what do you want the Dragonbone Longbow for?"

"I am the King-Beyond-the-Wall, covered in human bones—hand bones, giant skulls—but I have no dragon bone. Only I, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, am worthy of possessing the Dragonbone Longbow. Fellan is my captive."

"It was clearly my captive!" Harma the Dogshead roared. "I used my lance to knock Fellan's head senseless. The Dragonbone Longbow should belong to me."

The crowd argued in a mess, and Mance ordered everyone to be quiet.

"Stop fighting, all of you. I will keep the Dragonbone Longbow for now."

Mance looked at Fellan. "If I give you your freedom, are you willing to serve me?"

Fellan spat out a mouthful of bloody foam. "I swore to serve Duke Eddard and Winterfell; I will not do anything that breaks my oath. I am not like some people who make oaths but don't take them seriously."

Mance seemed quite amused. "Are you mocking me?"

Fellan said sternly, "You are an orphan of the Wildlings, discovered by a Ranger in the wilderness and brought back to the Shadow Tower. The Black Brothers of the Night's Watch raised you and trained you to become a Ranger of the Night's Watch. Yet, you have betrayed your sacred vows. Is this not the truth?"

Mance Rayder said gloomily, "You are right. South of The Wall, people would call me an Oathbreaker who treats honor like shit, a Chameleon. Among the Free Folk Beyond the Wall, some see me as a Crow who flew down from The Wall. But what many do not know is that I abandoned the black of the Night's Watch for the sake of a cloak."

This conversation exceeded Fellan's expectations. "A cloak? What do you mean?"

Mance Rayder said calmly, "I have told this story to many people; it is no harm to tell it to you. Back then, I was a Ranger at the Shadow Tower. Once, I was patrolling along The Wall with several brothers, including Qhorin Halfhand. We patrolled all the way to the Haunted Forest on the east coast."

"There, we encountered an attack by the Free Folk. I was severely wounded, and Qhorin Halfhand saved me. The brothers realized that my condition at the time could not support a return to the castle, so they had to send me to a nearby village to seek the help of a Forest Witch."

"When we arrived at the village, the locals told us that the Forest Witch had passed away years ago, but her daughter could also treat illnesses and wounds. The brothers left me at the Wildling woman's home. That Wildling woman stitched my wounds and took care of my daily needs. She saw that my Night's Watch cloak was torn, so she used silk to mend it for me."

"Silk is a luxury item in King's Landing and Oldtown, let alone Beyond the Wall. It was an heirloom her grandmother had found from a ship that had run aground and sunk. This woman used silk to mend my cloak; it was the most precious gift, and I was very moved."

"After my wounds healed, I left the woman's home and returned to the Shadow Tower. However, the Commander of the Shadow Tower, Ser Denys Mallister, was very displeased when he saw my cloak. He reminded me that the Night's Watch can only wear black. He found a brand-new black cloak from the storehouse for me and told me that the silk-mended cloak must be burned."

"The next day I left. I went to a place where kissing is no longer a sin and people can freely choose their cloaks."

Silence spread among the people in the tent. Fellan looked at the pregnant Dalla to the side. "Your wife is the woman who mended your cloak back then?"

"No." Mance Rayder appeared very sorrowful. "Her name was Michelle. When I abandoned my identity as a member of the Night's Watch and welcomed a life of freedom Beyond the Wall, I went to find Michelle the first chance I got, but she was already gone."

"Michelle's head was chopped off by the Night's Watch brothers of Eastwatch and hung together with smugglers. Just because she treated the Wildlings for their wounds and illnesses, and just because she purchased some medicinal herbs from smugglers, she met such an end."

Fellan said dejectedly, "I am very sorry."

"You are sorry, yet you still choose to fight for Winterfell and the Stark family." Mance said in an accusatory tone. "To open the gates of the North, I made preparations for a long time. Therefore, I know every noble Vassal and every new upstart of the Stark family in the North like the back of my hand."

"I know you were born a stable boy in the Rills, became a poacher in the Wolfswood for a living, and Eddard promoted you to be a cavalryman. You then shone brilliantly on Skagos, became a Baron, and married the grieving widow of Barrow Hall."

"The commoners of the Seven Kingdoms would say you brought glory to your family and changed your fate with such clichés, but in my eyes, you are not a great Warrior at all, much less a hero. You are merely fighting for titles and fame, while we are fighting for freedom."

Fellan sneered, "I have never been any great Warrior. Deep in my heart, I am still the stable boy from the Rills, the horse thief and poacher from the Wolfswood. Mance, you claim to fight for freedom, is that really so? Wildlings crossing The Wall, abducting women and children, leaving behind a trail of corpses and scars—is this your freedom?"

"I am an illiterate, rough man, but I understand that a man should protect his home and the weak. Committing acts of plunder in the name of freedom does not make the Wildling raids great; instead, it turns them into a laughingstock."

The Lord of Bones said angrily, "We should knock out Fellan's teeth one by one and see how he keeps his mouth hard."

Varamyr said, "He should be chopped up and fed to my Snow Bear and Shadowcat."

Tormund said in a rough voice, "Fellan isn't a Crow; killing him is useless. It's better to spare his life. He is Eddard's trusted general, and I heard his wife has a castle in the South. Keeping this kind of goods will surely be useful for negotiations."

Harma the Dogshead glared at Tormund. "Fellan shot my scouts as easily as you brag. Dangerous enemies must be killed to prevent future trouble."

Mance looked at Fellan. "I could have easily killed you, but I want to keep you to let you see the fall of Duke Eddard and the North. We captured Big Bucket at the Giant's Stair, captured Jory Cassel in the Haunted Forest, and captured you at the Milkwater. We are triumphant everywhere."

Fellan said disdainfully, "Go ask the Rock King. This time last year, on Skagos, the Rock King's Iron Bitch once destroyed the North's grain ships and controlled the sea. At that time, the Rock King also thought victory was within reach."

"And the result? The Northern Army soon reversed the war situation, the Rock King became a stray dog, and the Iron Bitch now serves Lord Eddard."

"A few battles cannot determine the direction of the war. The Wildlings' equipment is too poor, and their discipline is too poor. The North will definitely win."

Mance gave a light hum. "Lock this stubborn brat in a cage for me!"

Several Wildlings took Fellan away. Mance waved his hand, and the crowd dispersed one after another, leaving only Tormund, Mance, and Dalla.

Tormund said, "Mance, this brat Fellan was lured here by the Horn of Winter. Do you think Eddard will march to the upper reaches of the Milkwater for the sake of the Horn of Winter?"

Mance looked at the hand-drawn map and revealed a confident smile.

"As long as our skinchangers keep capturing the commanders of the North and the Night's Watch, Eddard will have no choice but to lead his troops north from the Fist of the First Men. Once the Fist of the First Men is empty of troops, we can occupy it and block the North and the Night's Watch in the North."

"Once the enemy's connection to The Wall is cut off, we can leave the rest to the Others. The Others coming south from the Land of Always Winter will cause heavy casualties to the North and the Night's Watch. We can then tear through The Wall and sweep across the Seven Kingdoms."

"By that time, the wolf skins of the North, the flirtatious and passionate Dornish wives, the Roses of Highgarden, the wheat and fat river fish of the Riverlands, Harrenhal by the Gods Eye, the pumpkins of the Vale of Arryn, the gold of Casterly Rock, and the Golden Wine of the Arbor—we can taste them one by one."

Thanks to "Three Realms Mad God" for the monthly ticket, thank you for your support!

(End of this chapter)