New students start from 'Game of Thrones'

Chapter 7 The Night's Watchman

Jory walked into the training yard and called out loudly to the crowd gathered around Owen, seeking advice: "All right, lads! Go gather your weapons and gear, saddle your horses, and get ready to ride out with Lord Eddard to the hills!"At Jory Cassel's order, the guards clustered around Owen turned and hurried to their quarters to pack their gear. Some rushed to the stables to saddle their horses and feed them fresh hay."My lords, you're coming along too. I'll have the guards ready your horses," Jory Cassel said, turning to Robb and the others."Thank you, Ser Jory," Robb Stark replied, offering Jory a slight bow."Owen, you're coming as well. Go sort your gear and feed your horse—we leave soon!" Jory Cassel said, raising his voice to catch Owen's attention."Yes, Ser Jory!" Owen bowed slightly, then turned and headed in the same direction the guards had gone.Harris was waiting for Owen not far away. The two walked to their quarters together, where Hiley was fast asleep on his bed. Harris stepped forward, grabbed the water jug from the table, and splashed its contents straight onto Hiley's face."Wake up, lazybones! We're riding out!" Harris shouted."Dammit, I just fell asleep! What now?" Hiley grumbled, clearly annoyed."Lord Eddard's heading out. Ser Jory wants us ready with our gear to accompany him," Owen said, fastening a mace to his belt as he spoke."Oh! Gods above! I'm up, I'm up—trust me, I'll be ready in a flash!" Hiley scrambled to his feet the moment he heard this, hastily pulling on his boots and fumbling with his gear.Owen and Harris were already fully equipped—their preparation was simple: strapping on their swords and donning their leather armor. Owen, however, added his mace, his longbow, and a quiver of arrows. He also wore his chainmail under his leather armor. Though Owen knew the plot—this trip was to hunt down Will, the deserter from the Night's Watch—the distance from Winterfell to the hills was no short ride. It would take at least half a day to get there, and the wilds of the North were still home to many wildlings. No one could say for sure if they might run into trouble.So Owen thought it wise to be cautious.Once Hiley was ready, the three made their way to the stables. The stable hands had already fed all the horses fresh hay. Owen approached his own horse, stroking its neck gently, then pulled eggs and coarse salt from his pack to feed it. They didn't know how long they'd be gone, and warhorses were delicate creatures—they needed to be well-fed. Though the hay was mostly alfalfa, Owen believed supplementing the horse's diet with grain, eggs, and salt would better prepare it for the long ride ahead.When everyone was ready, Jory Cassel led the guards to the courtyard in front of the main keep. They mounted their horses, the wolf banner of House Stark flying high.Eddard Stark was already waiting in the courtyard with his sons. Guards led horses over to them. Eddard Stark mounted first, while his Valyrian steel sword, Ice, was carried by his personal guard, Vayon Poole."Move out!" Eddard Stark said, glancing at the guards and waving his hand."Thunder rumble... rumble..."The sound of hooves filled the air as dozens of horses, urged on by their riders, filed out of the courtyard in order, galloping swiftly northward.The group rode hard across the wilderness for most of the day, finally spotting Will—the Night's Watch deserter—on an exposed, unnamed hilltop.A squad of guards on horseback, spears in hand, stood watch below the hill, keeping Will under guard. Will was clearly terrified: his face was a mask of horror, his eyes vacant, and he paid no mind to the spearpoint pressed to his throat.Eddard Stark stood atop the hill with his five sons. The other guards dismounted and spread out around them. As Bran's archery instructor, Owen stood close to the Stark family—just a short distance behind Bran. Jory Cassel and Vayon Poole were also nearby.Harris and Hiley, meanwhile, stood farther out in the perimeter.The guards brought Will up to the hilltop, where a simple execution block had been set up: a wooden post with a groove hacked into it, just wide enough to fit a man's neck."Wights... I saw them... Wights... ghosts... I saw them..."Will mumbled these words over and over as two guards escorted him up the hill.He was led before Eddard Stark, his breath coming in ragged gasps. After a moment, he spoke:"I know I broke my oath. I'm a deserter. I should've run back to the Wall to warn them, but... I saw them. I really saw the wights... You have to warn them..."When Will met Eddard Stark's cold, unflinching gaze, his voice trailed off.After a pause, he tried again: "Can you send a letter for me? Tell my family I'm not a coward. Tell them I'm sorry..."Eddard Stark looked down at Will, who was begging now. He nodded slightly, then glanced at the two guards beside Will.At Eddard's silent signal, the guards pushed Will to his knees and forced his neck into the groove of the execution block.Eddard Stark turned and drew the greatsword Ice from Vayon Poole's hands. He planted the sword's tip on the ground and spoke in a loud, clear voice:"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. I, Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentence you to death."As Eddard Stark read the sentence, Bran could not bear to watch. He turned his head away."Don't look away. Father will know," a voice said from behind Bran—it was Jon Snow. He placed his hands on Bran's shoulders and gently turned the boy's head back, forcing him to stare straight at the execution block.When Eddard finished speaking, he lifted Ice with both hands and brought the blade down in one swift stroke."You did well, Bran," Jon Snow said, releasing his hold. He turned and walked back to his horse.Robb, who stood in front of Bran, turned and walked over to his younger brother. He put an arm around Bran's shoulders and led him away from the hilltop, toward the horses waiting nearby.Owen did not step forward to stop the execution. Though he knew Will was telling the truth, he had no proof to back up Will's claims.If Owen had rushed to intervene, he would only have aroused Eddard Stark's suspicion—and that would have been a loss far greater than any gain.On the ride back, Bran suddenly turned to Owen, who was riding beside him, and asked: "Did he really see wights?""I don't know. Maybe," Owen replied after a moment's thought. "After all, wights vanished thousands of years ago. No one's seen them in ages.""Then... was the Night's Watchman lying?" Bran pressed.Owen fell silent for a moment before answering: "Maybe he really saw something. Or maybe it was just a delusion."The group rode on in silence. No one wanted to talk about the deserter's death. The North was too close to the Wall, and respect for the Night's Watch had never faded with time.Executing a member of the Night's Watch had left a heavy weight on everyone's hearts.They took a shortcut back toward Winterfell, stopping only when they reached a stone bridge.Owen dismounted and helped Bran climb down from his horse. The two walked onto the bridge together.Just as the plot had foretold, Owen spotted the body of a stag lying on the ground.Eddard Stark stared at the stag's corpse, then drew his sword. He gestured for his guards and his three older sons to follow him, and they set off along the trail the stag had left.Bran followed behind the group, and Owen stayed close to him—right on his heels.They tracked the trail down to the base of the bridge, where the body of a dead she-wolf came into view. Several wolf pups huddled beneath her, whimpering softly. They were clearly hungry, nuzzling at their mother's belly in search of milk."What kind of monster is that?" Theon asked, staring at the enormous wolf corpse."A direwolf. A fierce beast," Eddard Stark said, kneeling down to examine the dead she-wolf."Direwolves haven't been seen south of the Wall in years!" Robb said, his tone serious.It was clear he had linked the direwolf's appearance to the wights Will had spoken of."Well, there's one now—with five pups," Jon said. He picked up one of the pups and held it out to Bran, who had stepped closer. "Bran, want to hold one?"Bran took the pup from Jon, his eyes wide. "What'll happen to them? Their mother's dead.""They don't belong here. We should put them down now," Eddard Stark said, picking up his sword. "Without their mother, they won't survive."At Eddard's words, Theon snatched the pup from Bran's hands, ready to kill it."No!" Bran cried out."Keep your hands off him, Theon," Robb said sharply. When he saw Bran's distress, he stepped forward and blocked Theon."Only Father gets to give orders here—not you," Theon sneered, unperturbed."My lord, the direwolf is the sigil of House Stark," Owen spoke up suddenly. "There are five pups here, and you have five children. Could this coincidence be a sign from the Old Gods? These pups are meant to be theirs."Eddard Stark froze when he heard Owen's words. He turned to look at Owen, surprised."Please, Father!" Bran begged, grabbing hold of Eddard's sleeve.The others thought Owen's words made sense. They all turned to Eddard, waiting for his decision."You may keep them," Eddard said after a moment's consideration. "But you must train them yourselves, feed them yourselves. And if they die, you must bury them yourselves." He turned and walked away.Bran and Robb let out sighs of relief. Jon picked up the remaining pups one by one and handed them to Robb and Bran."Aren't you going to take one?" Bran asked, hugging his pup and looking up at Jon."I'm not a Stark," Jon said quietly. There was a world of helplessness and sorrow in his soft words."Come on," Jon said, putting a hand on Bran's back to guide him away."Jon, there's still movement under the she-wolf," Owen said, standing beside Bran and pointing.Jon spun around at once. Sure enough, a faint whimper came from beneath the she-wolf's body.Jon knelt down beside the dead wolf and carefully moved her body aside. A small, pure-white pup was revealed, trembling slightly."Congratulations, Jon," Owen said, smiling as he watched. "The other Stark pup.""Thank you, Owen," Jon said, picking up the white pup. A rare smile spread across his face."Whoa! A pup left behind by the pack," Theon mocked. "Perfect for you, Jon.""Let's go. Pay him no mind," Owen said, clapping Jon on the shoulder and speaking softly."Thank you," Jon said, looking at Owen with genuine gratitude."Hurry up—my stomach's growling! If you really want to thank me, buy me a proper meal in Winterfell when we get back," Owen joked."Deal! I'll take you to the tavern for a good drink when we're home," Jon replied, smiling."It's a promise!" Owen said, walking ahead without looking back.The group climbed back up from beneath the bridge to the road, mounted their horses, and resumed their journey to Winterfell.