Chapter 162: The Moment of Decisive Battle

Mance Rayder stood on the encampment in the Frostfangs, gazing at the columns of smoke beneath the gray-blue canopy of the southern sky.

Tens of thousands of Wildlings had fled from the southern forests, valleys, and riverside fishing villages to the Wildling camp on the upper reaches of the Milkwater; most were mothers clutching infants, underage children, and white-haired elders, with very few able-bodied Wildlings fit for battle.

The Wildlings who had first responded to Mance Rayder's call and gathered in the northern valleys of the Frostfangs and the upper Milkwater had also brought their families, but at least they had brought grain, cattle, and sheep; now, those driven to the camp by the North cavalry and Rangers were mostly empty-handed and starving, as their livestock had all been seized by the North cavalry and Rangers.

Tormund Giantsbane said indignantly, "Mance Rayder, the Free Folk villages in the south are scorched earth. The damn Crows and wolf-pups are burning the homes where the Free Folk have lived for generations, destroying hearths, and ruining farmland. They are abducting the Free Folk's women and children and raping the Free Folk's daughters. We must have revenge!"

Mance Rayder cleared his throat. "Tormund, we will have revenge, but the Free Folk's weapons are too poor. In a head-on clash, it is hard for us to defeat armored cavalry. We must attempt to take the Fist of the First Men, block the enemy in the north, and then the Others will make the enemy suffer heavy losses."

Styr the Magnar said disdainfully, "Your plan is fine, but the Wolf King and the Old Bear will not be fooled. After these past few days, can you not see it? The Rangers and the North cavalry are either abducting the Free Folk or driving them north; they chase for a bit and then turn back."

Styr was tall and thin, bald, and had no ears. He was the "Magnar" of the Thenns; in the Old Tongue, Magnar means "Lord." The Thenns lived in the Thenn Valley and were the only tribe among the Wildlings who knew how to smelt metal, capable of crafting scale armor and weapons of bronze.

The Thenns revered their Magnar like a god and emphasized obedience, making them the most disciplined of the Free Folk. The Thenns' territory bordered the Land of Always Winter, so they often dealt with giants and were one of the first tribes to be plagued by the Others.

In the war where Mance Rayder unified the tribes Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder defeated Styr three times before Styr was forced to submit.

Because the Thenns' combat effectiveness and discipline far surpassed other tribes, Mance Rayder ordered Styr to lead the Thenn warriors in the north to be responsible for guarding against the incursions of the Others and wights.

Styr said gloomily, "Recently, the Others have appeared in the north with increasing frequency, and the weather is growing colder. Once our people die, they turn into blue-eyed wights and become slaves of death. Mance Rayder, you intend to use the Others to deal with the enemy, but the Others want to make you a servant!"

"We have the Others in the north and the damn Crows and wolf-pups in the south; we are caught in the middle. If we do not march south to fight a decisive battle with the enemy, the Free Folk will either die at the hands of the Others or at the hands of the wolf-pups and Crows."

Val stepped forward. "Moreover, our food is dwindling, and more and more Free Folk are fleeing here. The Frostfangs and the upper Milkwater are barren and produce very little food. If this drags on, large numbers of Free Folk will starve to death, and when the enemy arrives, we will have no choice but to resort to cannibalism."

Mance Rayder braced himself. "The King-Beyond-the-Wall, Harma the Doghead, went to hunt Benjen. According to intelligence provided by Orell, Eddard's bastard Jon Snow is also in the party. As long as we capture Benjen and Eddard's bastard, we can lead our army south. By then, with our previous hostages, Eddard will surely agree to our terms."

Everyone looked at Orell. The warg said awkwardly, "Mance Rayder, the King-Beyond-the-Wall and Harma the Doghead were defeated. I am sorry."

Mance Rayder's face darkened. "How is that possible? We had wargs following them, Tigris's saber-toothed cat, Samantha's terrorbird..."

Orell said helplessly, "Benjen used torches. Animals fear fire; Tigris and Samantha could only flee in the face of the flames. Eddard himself is a warg; ordinary people cannot tell, but a warg can see it at a glance, so it is not strange that the enemy knows how to deal with wargs."

The Eagle King McCain arrived riding a mule. "Mance Rayder, the Wolf King's cavalry ambushed the Free Folk camp in the Haunted Forest. The Free Folk suffered heavy casualties, and Morna White Mask was captured."

McCain was an old man with snow-white hair and beard. He was a warg even more powerful than Orell and was the leader of the Eagle tribe, controlling an owl, a falcon, and an eagle. Mance Rayder had let McCain's falcon patrol the area around the Haunted Forest to maintain battlefield visibility.

Mance Rayder felt the world go dark. Because he held the trump card of wargs, the Free Folk had successively captured three North nobles: Wull, Jory Cassel, and Fellan. Mance Rayder had once thought victory was within reach, but he had not expected the situation to change so drastically.

Mance Rayder was depressed. "What about Borroq? He and his boar should have been with Morona."

McCain shrugged. "Borroq and his boar were captured together. I reckon the enemy on the Fist of the First Men is enjoying a boar feast right now! That boar killed too many enemies."

The Wildlings had no writing, so naturally, they had no ravens to send messages. Mance Rayder used the wargs' birds to obtain battlefield intelligence, which had originally been an advantage, but now, the news brought by the wargs was getting worse one after another.

Hundreds of spearwives and Wildlings gathered around.

The leading spearwife was covered in dried blood. "Mance Rayder, we honor you as the King-Beyond-the-Wall. Now the enemy is raiding and killing Beyond the Wall and burning villages, what are you doing?"

An old man said, "Mance Rayder, you promised to take us south to see the warm and fertile lands south of the Wall. That is why we abandoned the homes and fields we had lived in for generations and joined your ranks. Now, our homes in the south have all been burned and we cannot return. Can you actually lead us to victory?"

A burly man wearing a fur cloak and holding a stone axe said in a rough voice, "If you cannot lead us to revenge, we will have to fight on our own!"

"Yes, Mance Rayder, take revenge!"

"Coward, show some courage!"

Shouts and curses were everywhere. Mance Rayder knew that he had no choice but to march south for a decisive battle.

Mance Rayder waved his hand to signal, and the surroundings quieted down.

"Free Folk, you have gathered under my banner, and I will surely lead you to the warm south. The despicable Wolf King, he burns our halls and fields, rapes the daughters of the Free Folk, and sells the Free Folk into slavery in the south. Blood debts must be paid in blood!"

"Tomorrow, we will immediately march south along the Milkwater, capture the Fist of the First Men, and feast with the skulls and blood of the enemy!"

The Wildlings erupted in shouts, and the entire Wildling camp boiled over. Everyone dispersed, returning to their respective tents to pack up and prepare to break camp.

Dalla stroked her pregnant belly. "Do you think we can win? The other side has thousands of fully armed, well-trained cavalry."

Mance Rayder smiled bitterly. "It is difficult, but there is no other choice."

Dalla said sadly, "We could kneel and surrender."

"And put on the shackles of slavery?" Mance Rayder shook his head. "The Free Folk chose me as their leader, not to kneel."

Late at night, Mance Rayder was in his tent, filled with worry.

A cold wind blew in, and a wizard dressed entirely in black walked in. His face was wrapped in a black towel, revealing only a mouth of bloody teeth, and he held a staff of withered bone in his hand.

"Who are you?"

The black lips beneath the scarlet teeth moved. "I am Ogbeta, a necromancer serving the Great Other."

Mance Rayder was startled. "I have heard of you. I have nothing to do with your god."

Ogbeta revealed a terrifying smile. "You are leading the Wildlings into a war with no chance of victory. Rather than sacrificing them in vain, why not let the Great Other bring you victory? The Great Other can use sorcery to help you and the Free Folk enter the Seven Kingdoms."

Mance Rayder was somewhat tempted. "Really?"

Ogbeta's bloody teeth and black lips opened and closed. "Sorcery has a price. Offer one hundred Wildling infants immediately, starting with the infant in your wife's belly."

Mance Rayder said in horror, "Evil wizard, are you tired of living?" Mance Rayder drew his longsword and struck off Ogbeta's head with one blow. A puff of black smoke sprayed from the wizard's neck, and he immediately turned into a pile of withered bones. Only then did Mance Rayder realize it was sorcery.

On the Fist of the First Men, Borroq fed his boar, while Ygritte and Jon took care of the wounded Longspear Ryk together.

At first, Borroq had no intention of surrendering, but in the war where the North cavalry attacked the Wildling camp, Borroq's three sons and two wives were all captured. Helpless, Borroq had to surrender.

Morna White Mask surrendered along with her captured followers. Morna explained to Eddard, "We do not wish to kneel, but compared to the Others and the winter, we would rather accept the direwolves."

Borroq and Morna knelt before Eddard in front of the Heart Tree and swore to the Heart Tree that they would serve Winterfell and the Starks for the rest of their lives. Borroq and Morna each had a child who was taken in by Eddard as a fosterling.

The first day Ygritte was captured and brought up the mountain, she was disarmed, but in the following days, she quickly learned how to bandage and care for the wounded from the nurses. Aside from the time she spent working, Ygritte stuck to Jon every day.

These past few days, Eddard had been in high spirits. Every day, hundreds or thousands of Wildling captives were escorted to Crown Town and from there to be settled in the lands of Winterfell.

Eastwatch commander Cotter Pyke, leading the Rockborn, the Night's Watch, and the Winterfell cavalry, launched a massive counterattack into the Haunted Forest under Daven's guidance and sent a fleet to burn the Wildlings' coastal fishing villages. The Wildlings in the forest and by the sea were either captured or scattered to the north. The eastern army swept away its previous decline and was unstoppable.

On the western front, Benjen led a cavalry force and captured Screaming Pass. The giants and cave dwellers guarding the Giant's Stair were forced to split their forces to rescue Screaming Pass. Qhorin Halfhand, who was in the south, took the opportunity to lead the mountain clans' warriors and, after a bloody battle, captured the Giant's Stair.

The mountain clans' warriors rescued the captured Wull. Although he was beaten black and blue, fortunately, he had no major injuries.

The Giant King Mag the Mighty was struck by many arrows and barely escaped with his life, riding a mammoth into the valley. The Weeper and the Thorn, who rode a shadowcat, escaped. If not for the rescue on the road by Sejila, a warg who rode a goat, the Wildlings' casualties would have been even more severe.

The goat, the size of a warhorse, could move nimbly on steep cliffs. The Rangers were stunned and had to stop their pursuit.

The Wildling Raider Alfyn Crowkiller, who was rescuing Screaming Pass, fled halfway and was captured by Benjen.

Screaming Pass and the Giant's Stair fell into the hands of the North and the Rangers, which meant the Wildlings' defensive line in the Frostfangs had collapsed.

A few days later, the Rangers reported that Mance Rayder's Wildling army had begun moving south along the Milkwater. Eddard was not surprised; every day, Wildlings fled to Mance Rayder's camp, and while the number of Wildlings swelled rapidly, their grain and fodder did not increase much.

If they continued to stay there, Mance Rayder's grain would be exhausted sooner or later. Furthermore, there were the Others constantly moving south from the Land of Always Winter, attacking the Wildlings' rear.

About half a month later, the tens of thousands of Wildlings arrived beneath the Fist of the First Men, and the Rangers and the Winterfell cavalry sounded their horns together.

Mance Rayder had come; the time to capture the leader to subdue the gang had arrived.

Standing on the hilltop looking out over the northern lands, there were Wildlings everywhere: Raptor Tribe people cloaked in feathers, Hardfoot, Night Runners in black, Frozen Shore people riding bone chariots pulled by dogs, Thenn people clad in bronze scale armor, giants riding mammoths, Seal Tribe people wearing seal skins, and more.

Everywhere there were ox carts, mule carts, and tents pitched at random.

Mance Rayder came beneath the Fist of the First Men under a banner of peace.

Eddard brought a troop of cavalry, and under the protection of Dawson and Syrio Forel, he met with Mance Rayder beneath the Weirwood Heart Tree at the Fist of the First Men.

Mance Rayder said angrily, "Lord Eddard, I always thought you were a man of honor, yet you let your soldiers rape the daughters of the Free Folk and sell them into slavery."

Eddard smiled, "For those who commit the crime of rape, they are castrated without exception. Such things have happened, but they are no more frequent than what the Wildling Raiders do in the North. As for slaves, no one will become a slave; I have taken them to the North."

"Mance Rayder, that you can come to negotiate proves you still have your reason. Lay down your weapons, and I will let you pass through The Wall to settle in the North."

"To kneel before you in the North and work like a beast of burden for you?" Mance Rayder sneered, "The Free Folk never kneel."

Eddard said sadly, "I will not force anyone to kneel, but they must swear before the Heart Tree to declare their loyalty to Stark and Winterfell. I am even willing to pardon your crimes; you are a Night's Watch deserter, which is a capital offense anywhere in the Seven Kingdoms. You will not find a more generous lord than me."

Mance Rayder said disdainfully, "Listen to my conditions: I will hand over Fellan, Jory Cassel, and the Horn of Winter, and then the Free Folk will cross The Wall with their weapons to settle in the North. The North shall carve out a large territory for the Free Folk to govern themselves."

Eddard suppressed a smile. Eddard looked at Tormund, Harma, the Lord of Bones, Magnar Styr, Giant King Mag, and Eagle King McCain behind Mance Rayder, and he understood that these were the conditions proposed by these leaders, not by Mance Rayder; the King-Beyond-the-Wall was merely a mouthpiece for his subordinates.

"Mance Rayder, you know very well that no lord would agree to such terms. You should see the facts clearly: I only brought a small force of Northern Vassals this time, yet we have swept across Beyond the Wall. We have already occupied most of the land Beyond the Wall; if you continue to resist, you will surely be defeated."

"I understand that the Free Folk are born with a longing for freedom and autonomy, but freedom has a price. Is your freedom, covered in fleas, starving, and shivering, worth envying? Are you willing to let your loved ones turn into blue-eyed Wights? To become slaves of the Others?"

The leaders looked at each other in dismay. Mance Rayder frowned, "You, a Wolf King from the south, what do you know of the Others?"

"No one knows the Others better than I do." Eddard clenched his fist, "The Others are a threat to all mankind. The ancient King-Beyond-the-Wall Joramun, together with the Night's Watch and the North, destroyed the Night King and his Corpse Queen. Why can we not cast aside our prejudices and work together? Lay down your weapons, become subjects of the North, and we shall guard The Wall together."

Mance Rayder pondered for a long time, "The Wildlings must never lay down their weapons. The Free Folk would rather fight to the death."

Eddard turned his horse around, "Then we have no choice but to decide it by force."

Mance Rayder returned to his camp and summoned the Wildling leaders.

"The first wave of the attack will be led by Magnar Styr, with the bronze-clad Thenn warriors and three thousand strong men and spearwives attacking the Fist of the First Men from the north. At that moment, the enemy cavalry will charge down the mountain from the east because the northern slope is too steep. At this time, Varamyr Sixskins, Tigris, and Samantha, you must control your beasts to attack the enemy and spread fear."

"If Eddard attacks in person, you must kill him at all costs. If we cannot kill Eddard, we must capture the Fist of the First Men, otherwise, even if we break through..."

The sounds of battle erupted in the camp, and the horns of Winter echoed across the land.

Benjen and Qhorin Halfhand led a troop of cavalry to attack from the west. The cavalry of Thoren Smallwood and Jarmen Buckwell appeared in the east.

The two troops of cavalry tore through the camp's defenses as if cutting through tofu. The cavalry set fires everywhere; the camp was filled with flames, the cries of children, the groans of the dying, and curses.

Mance Rayder hurriedly ordered the leaders to meet the attack. Harma, the Lord of Bones, Tormund, and others rushed to summon their respective followers.

Eddard led a thousand Winterfell cavalry and charged in from the front. Some Wildlings tried to resist, but they were trampled under the horses in an instant.

The Direwolf Grey Wind bit a Thenn to death, Shaggydog bit off the foot of a Hardfoot, and the Wildlings fled in panic. Some fled toward the forest, while others chose to jump into the river to the west to escape.

Before long, the Direwolves Grey Wind and Shaggydog encountered the three wolves of Varamyr Sixskins.

Varamyr's wolves were considered large among wild wolves, but compared to the Direwolves, they were still far inferior, and the three wolves were soon defeated.

"Wolf pups, don't be happy too soon." Varamyr rode on a Snow Bear. The Snow Bear was four meters tall; even a Direwolf could only avoid its edge.

An Umber cavalryman charged at the Snow Bear but was lightly swatted by it, his brains splattering. Varamyr's Shadowcat bit a Winterfell cavalryman to death, and the Snow Bear easily bit off the arm of a Ranger.

The three wild wolves regained their courage and turned back into the fight.

Tigris's saber-toothed tiger and Samantha's terrorbird also rampaged on the battlefield, and the cavalry fell one after another.

A group of Northmen and Rangers were helpless against the Snow Bear, terrorbird, and saber-toothed tiger.

Varamyr rode on the back of the Snow Bear, "Who dares to challenge the great Varamyr?"

"I do!"

Eddard stepped forward. Varamyr urged the Snow Bear to charge toward Eddard. Eddard threw the Thunderbolt Bead in his hand at the Snow Bear.

This was a small invention Eddard had made in Winterfell, containing Wildfire from the Alchemists. Although the dosage was small, the power of the Alchemists' excrement was astonishing.

The Thunderbolt Bead exploded on the Snow Bear like a ripe fruit. Varamyr did not know what this sticky substance was.

Robb threw a torch, and the Snow Bear's hide immediately caught fire. Varamyr screamed and fell to the ground, convulsing.

The Snow Bear, wolves, and Shadowcat all lost control and began to rampage regardless of friend or foe. Tigris, who was riding on the back of the saber-toothed tiger, was knocked flying by the Snow Bear and captured by Robb.

Samantha's terrorbird was frightened by the Wildfire. She tried hard to control the terrorbird to escape, but she was shot down by Jon, and Samantha had no choice but to surrender.

Mance Rayder put on his rusted chainmail and directed the Wildling cavalry to counterattack. He saw the Lord of Bones take off his bone armor and kneel to beg for mercy from Greatjon Umber. He saw Tormund Giantsbane fall to the ground, his life or death unknown. Harma was bitten on the leg by a Direwolf and screamed repeatedly.

Everything was over. The Wildling army was routed. Mance Rayder watched the tide of enemies rushing toward him; he cut one down, then another.

A black shadow struck, and Mance Rayder was knocked to the ground, horse and all. His cloak, mended with silk, was stained with blood.

The enemy was a Black Brother whom Mance Rayder knew all too well: Qhorin Halfhand.

"Brother, I pity you, I mourn for you."

(End of chapter)