第一百五十三章
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Weshouldstartback，”Garedurgedasthewoodsbegantogrowdarkaroundthem.
“Thewildlingsaredead.”
“Dothedeadfrightenyou?”SerWaymarRoyceaskedwithjustthehintofasmile.
Gareddidnotrisetothebait.Hewasanoldman，pastfifty，andhehadseenthelordlingseandgo.“Deadisdead，”hesaid.“Wehavenobusinesswiththedead.”
“Aretheydead?”Royceaskedsoftly.“Whatproofhavewe?”
“Willsawthem，”Garedsaid.“Ifhesaystheyaredead，that’sproofenoughforme.”
Willhadknowntheywoulddraghimintothequarrelsoonerorlater.Hewishedithadbeenlaterratherthansooner.“Mymothertoldmethatdeadmensingnosongs，”heputin.
Mywetnursesaidthesamething，Will，”Roycereplied.“Neverbelieveanythingyouhearatawoman’stit.Therearethingstobelearnedevenfromthedead.”Hisvoiceechoed，tooloudinthetwilitforest.
“Wehavealongridebeforeus，”Garedpointed1out.“Eightdays，maybenine.Andnightisfalling.”SerWaymarRoyceglancedattheskywithdisinterest.“Itdoesthateverydayaboutthistime.Areyouunmannedbythedark，Gared?”
WillcouldseethetightnessaroundGared’smouth，thebarelysuppressedangerinhiseyesunderthethickblackhood2ofhiscloak.GaredhadspentfortyyearsintheNight’sWatch，manandboy，andhewasnotaccustomedtobeingmadelightof.Yetitwasmorethanthat.Underthewoundedpride，Willcouldsensesomethingelseintheolderman.Youcouldtasteit;anervoustensionthatcameperilousclosetofear.
Willsharedhisunease.HehadbeenfouryearsontheWall.Thefirsttimehehadbeensentbeyond，alltheoldstorieshaderushingback，andhisbowels3hadturnedtowater.Hehadlaughedaboutitafterward4.Hewasaveteranofahundredrangingsbynow，andtheendlessdarkwildernessthatthesouthroncalledthehauntedforesthadnomoreterrorsforhim.Untiltonight.Somethingwasdifferenttonight.Therewasanedgetothisdarknessthatmadehishacklesrise.Ninedaystheyhadbeenriding，northandnorthwestandthennorthagain，fartherandfartherfromtheWall，hardonthetrackofabandofWildlingraiders.Eachdayhadbeenworsethanthedaythathadebeforeit.Todaywastheworstofall.Acoldwindwasblowingoutofthenorth，anditmadethetreesrustle5likelivingthings.Allday，Willhadfeltasthoughsomethingwerewatchinghim，somethingcoldandimplacablethatlovedhimnot.Garedhadfeltittoo.WillwantednothingsomuchastoridehellbentforthesafetyoftheWall，butthatwasnotafeelingtosharewithyourmander.
Especiallynotamanderlikethisone.
SerWaymarRoycewastheyoungestsonofanancienthousewithtoomanyheirs.Hewasahandsomeyouthofeighteen，grey-eyedandgraceful6andslenderasaknife.Mountedonhishugeblackdestrier，theknight7toweredaboveWillandGaredontheirsmallergarrons.Heworeblackleatherboots，blackwoolen8pants，blackmoleskingloves，andafinesupple9coatofgleamingblackringmailoverlayersofblackwoolandboiledleather.SerWaymarhadbeenaSwornBrotheroftheNight’sWatchforlessthanhalfayear，butnoonecouldsayhehadnotpreparedforhisvocation10.Atleastinsofarashiswardrobewasconcerned.
Hiscloakwashiscrowningglory;sable11，thickandblackandsoftassin.“Bethekilledthemallhimself，hedid，”Garedtoldthebarracksoverwine，“twistedtheirlittleheadsoff，ourmightywarrior.”Theyhadallsharedthelaugh.Itishardtotakeordersfromamanyoulaughedatinyourcups，Willreflectedashesatshiveringatophisgarron.Garedmusthavefeltthesame.
“Mormontsaidasweshouldtrackthem，andwedid，”Garedsaid.“They’redead.Theyshan’ttroubleusnomore.There’shardridingbeforeus.Idon’tlikethisweather.Ifitsnows，wecouldbeafortnightgettingback，andsnow’sthebestwecanhopefor.Everseenanicestorm，mylord?”
Thelordlingseemednottohearhim.Hestudiedthedeepeningtwilight12inthathalf-bored，half-distractedwayhehad.Willhadriddenwiththeknightlongenoughtounderstandthatitwasbestnottointerrupthimwhenhelookedlikethat.“Tellmeagainwhatyousaw，Will.Allthedetails.Leavenothingout.”
WillhadbeenahunterbeforehejoinedtheNight’sWatch.Well，apoacherintruth.Mallisterfreeridershadcaughthimred-handedintheMallisters’ownwoods，skinningoneoftheMallisters’
ownbucks13，andithadbeenachoiceofputtingontheblackorlosingahand.NoonecouldmovethroughthewoodsassilentasWill，andithadnottakentheblackbrotherslongtodiscoverhistalent.“Thecampistwomilesfartheron，overthatridge14，hardbesideastream，”Willsaid.“IgotcloseasIdared.There’seightofthem，menandwomenboth.NochildrenIcouldsee.Theyputupalean-toagainsttherock.Thesnow’sprettywellcovereditnow，butIcouldstillmakeitout.Nofireburning，butthefirepitwasstillplainasday.Noonemoving.Iwatchedalongtime.Nolivingmaneverlaysostill.”
“Didyouseeanyblood?”
“Well，no，”Willadmitted.
“Didyouseeanyweapons?”
“Someswords，afewbows.Onemanhadanaxe15.Heavy-looking，double-bladed，acruelpieceofiron.Itwasonthegroundbesidehim，rightbyhishand.”
“Didyoumakenoteofthepositionofthebodies?”
Willshrugged16.“Acouplearesittingupagainsttherock.Mostofthemontheground.Fallen，like.”
“Orsleeping，”Roycesuggested.
“Fallen，”Willinsisted.“There’sonewomanupanironwood，half-hidinthebranches.Afar-eyes.”Hesmiledthinly.“Itookcaresheneversawme.WhenIgotcloser，Isawthatshewasn’tmovingneither.”Despitehimself，heshivered.
“Youhaveachill?”Royceasked.
“Some，”Willmuttered.“Thewind，m’lord.”
Theyoungknightturnedbacktohisgrizzledman-at-arms.Frost-fallenleaveswhisperedpastthem，andRoyce’sdestriermovedrestlessly.“Whatdoyouthinkmighthavekilledthesemen，Gared?”SerWaymaraskedcasually17.Headjustedthedrapeofhislongsablecloak.
“Itwasthecold，”Garedsaidwithironcertainty.“Isawmenfreezelastwinter，andtheonebefore，whenIwashalfaboy.Everyonetalksaboutsnowsfortyfootdeep，andhowtheicewindeshowlingoutofthenorth，buttherealenemyisthecold.ItstealsuponyouquieterthanWill，andatfirstyoushiverandyourteethchatter18andyoustampyourfeetanddreamofmulledwineandnicehotfires.Itburns，itdoes.Nothingburnslikethecold.Butonlyforawhile.Thenitgetsinsideyouandstartstofillyouup，andafterawhileyoudon’thavethestrenhtofightit.It’seasierjusttositdownorgotosleep.Theysayyoudon’tfeelanypaintowardtheend.Firstyougoweakanddrowsy，andeverythingstartstofade，andthenit’slikesinkingintoaseaofwarmmilk.Peaceful，like.”“Sucheloquence19，Gared，”SerWaymarobserved.“Ineversuspectedyouhaditinyou.”
“I’vehadthecoldinmetoo，lordling.”Garedpulledbackhishood，givingSerWaymaragoodlonglookatthestumps20wherehisearshadbeen.“Twoears，threetoes，andthelittlefingeroffmylefthand.Igotofflight.Wefoundmybrotherfrozenathiswatch，withasmileonhisface.”
SerWaymarshrugged.“Yououghtdressmorewarmly，Gared.”
Garedglaredatthelordling，thescarsaroundhisearholesflushedredwithangerwhereMaesterAemonhadcuttheearsaway.“We’llseehowwarmyoucandresswhenthewinteres.”Hepulleduphishoodandhunched21overhisgarron，silentandsullen22.
“IfGaredsaiditwasthecold…”Willbegan.
“Haveyoudrawn23anywatchesthispastweek，Will?”
“Yes，m’lord.”Thereneverwasaweekwhenhedidnotdrawadozenbloody24watches.Whatwasthemandrivingat?
“AndhowdidyoufindtheWall?”
“Weeping，”Willsaid，frowning.Hesawitclearenough，nowthatthelordlinghadpointeditout.
“Theycouldn’thavefroze.NotiftheWallwasweeping.Itwasn’tcoldenough.”
Roycenodded.“Brightlad.We’vehadafewlightfroststhispastweek，andaquickflurryofsnownowandthen，butsurelynocoldfierceenoughtokilleightgrownmen.Mencladinfurandleather，letmeremindyou，withshelternearathand，andthemeansofmakingfire.”Theknight’ssmilewascocksure.“Will，leadusthere.Iwouldseethesedeadmenformyself.”
Andthentherewasnothingtobedoneforit.Theorderhadbeengiven，andhonorboundthemtoobey.
Willwentinfront，hisshaggylittlegarronpickingthewaycarefullythroughtheundergrowth.Alightsnowhadfallenthenightbefore，andtherewerestonesandrootsandhiddensinkslyingjustunderitscrust，waitingforthecarelessandtheunwary.SerWaymarRoycecamenext，hisgreatblackdestriersnortingimpatiently.Thewarhorsewasthewrongmountforranging，buttryandtellthattothelordling.Garedbroughtuptherear.Theoldman-at-armsmutteredtohimselfasherode.
Twilightdeepened.Thecloudlessskyturnedadeeppurple，thecolorofanoldbruise26，thenfadedtoblack.Thestarsbegantoeout.Ahalf-moonrose.Willwasgratefulforthelight.
“Wecanmakeabetterpacethanthis，surely，”Roycesaidwhenthemoonwasfullrisen.
“Notwiththishorse，”Willsaid.Fearhadmadehiminsolent27.“Perhapsmylordwouldcaretotakethelead?”
SerWaymarRoycedidnotdeign28toreply.
Somewhereoffinthewoodawolfhowled.
Willpulledhisgarronoverbeneathanancientgnarledironwoodanddismounted.
“Whyareyoustopping?”SerWaymarasked.
“Bestgotherestofthewayonfoot，m’lord.It’sjustoverthatridge.”
Roycepausedamoment，staringoffintothedistance，hisfacereflective.Acoldwindwhisperedthroughthetrees.Hisgreatsablecloakstirredbehindlikesomethinghalf-alive.
“There’ssomethingwronghere，”Garedmuttered.
Theyoungknightgavehimadisdainfulsmile.“Isthere?”
“Can’tyoufeelit?”Garedasked.“Listentothedarkness.”
Willcouldfeelit.FouryearsintheNight’sWatch，andhehadneverbeensoafraid.Whatwasit?
“Wind.Treesrustling29.Awolf.Whichsoundisitthatunmansyouso，Gared?”WhenGareddidnotanswer，Royceslidgracefully30fromhissaddle.Hetiedthedestriersecurelytoalow-hanginglimb，wellawayfromtheotherhorses，anddrewhislongswordfromitssheath.Jewelsglitteredinitshilt，andthemoonlightrandowntheshiningsteel.Itwasasplendidweapon，castle-forged，andnew-madefromthelookofit.Willdoubtedithadeverbeenswunginanger.
“Thetreespressclosehere，”Willwarned.“Thatswordwilltangle31youup，m’lord.Betteraknife.”
“IfIneedinstruction，Iwillaskforit，”theyounglordsaid.“Gared，stayhere.Guardthehorses.”
Gareddismounted.“Weneedafire.I’llseetoit.”
“Howbigafoolareyou，oldman?Ifthereareenemiesinthiswood，afireisthelastthingwewant.”
“There’ssomeenemiesafirewillkeepaway，”Garedsaid.“Bearsanddirewolvesand…andotherthings…”
SerWaymar’smouthbecameahardline.“Nofire.”
Gared’shoodshadowedhisface，butWillcouldseethehardglitterinhiseyesashestaredattheknight.Foramomenthewasafraidtheoldermanwouldgoforhissword.Itwasashort，uglything，itsgripdiscoloredbysweat，itsedgenickedfromharduse，butWillwouldnothavegivenanironbobforthelordling’slifeifGaredpulleditfromitsscabbard.
FinallyGaredlookeddown.“Nofire，”hemuttered，lowunderhisbreath.
Roycetookitforacquiescence32andturnedaway.“Leadon，”hesaidtoWill.
Willthreadedtheirwaythroughathicket33，thenstarteduptheslopetothelowridgewherehehadfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，withrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.Willmadenosoundasheclimbed.
Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallic34slitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtugged35onhissplendidsablecloak.
dfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，withrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.Willmadenosoundasheclimbed.
Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallicslitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtuggedonhissplendidsablecloak.
Thegreatsentinelwasrightthereatthetopoftheridge，whereWillhadknownitwouldbe，itslowestbranchesabarefootofftheground.Willslidinunderneath36，flatonhisbelly37inthesnowandthemud，andlookeddownontheemptyclearingbelow.
Hisheartstoppedinhischest.Foramomenthedarednotbreathe.Moonlightshonedownontheclearing，theashesofthefirepit，thesnow-coveredlean-to，thegreatrock，thelittlehalf-frozenstream.
Everythingwasjustasithadbeenafewhoursago.
Theyweregone.Allthebodiesweregone.
“Gods!”heheardbehindhim.Aswordslashed38atabranchasSerWaymarRoycegainedtheridge.Hestoodtherebesidethesentinel，longswordinhand，hiscloakbillowingbehindhimasthewindcameup，outlinednoblyagainstthestarsforalltosee.
“Getdown!”Willwhisperedurgently.“Something’swrong.”
Roycedidnotmove.Helookeddownattheemptyclearingandlaughed.“Yourdeadmenseemtohavemovedcamp，Will.”
Will’svoiceabandonedhim.Hegropedforwordsthatdidnote.Itwasnotpossible.Hiseyessweptbackandforth40overtheabandonedcampsite，stoppedontheaxe.Ahugedouble-bladedbattle-axe，stilllyingwherehehadseenitlast，untouched.Avaluableweapon…“Onyourfeet，Will，”SerWaymarmanded.“There’snoonehere.Iwon’thaveyouhidingunderabush.”
Reluctantly，Willobeyed.
SerWaymarlookedhimoverwithopendisapproval41.“IamnotgoingbacktoCastleBlackafailureonmyfirstranging.Wewillfindthesemen.”Heglancedaround.“Upthetree.Bequickaboutit.
Lookforafire.”
Willturnedaway，wordless.Therewasnousetoargue.Thewindwasmoving.Itcutrightthroughhim.Hewenttothetree，avaulting42grey-greensentinel，andbegantoclimb.Soonhishandswerestickywithsap，andhewaslostamongtheneedles.Fearfilledhisgut43likeamealhecouldnotdigest.
Hewhisperedaprayertothenamelessgodsofthewood，andslippedhisdirkfreeofitssheath.Heputitbetweenhisteethtokeepbothhandsfreeforclimbing.Thetasteofcoldironinhismouthgavehimfort.
Downbelow，thelordlingcalledoutsuddenly，“Whogoesthere?”Willhearduncertainty44inthechallenge.Hestoppedclimbing;helistened;hewatched.
Thewoodsgaveanswer:therustleofleaves，theicyrushofthestream，adistanthoot45ofasnowowl.
TheOthersmadenosound.
Willsawmovementfromthecornerofhiseye.Paleshapesgliding46throughthewood.Heturnedhishead，glimpsedawhiteshadowinthedarkness.Thenitwasgone.Branchesstirredgentlyinthewind，scratchingatoneanotherwithwoodenfingers.Willopenedhismouthtocalldownawarning，andthewordsseemedtofreezeinhisthroat.Perhapshewaswrong.Perhapsithadonlybeenabird，areflectiononthesnow，sometrickofthemoonlight.Whathadheseen，afterall?
“Will，whereareyou?”SerWaymarcalledup.“Canyouseeanything?”Hewasturninginaslowcircle，suddenlywary25，hisswordinhand.Hemusthavefeltthem，asWillfeltthem.Therewasnothingtosee.“Answerme!Whyisitsocold?”
Itwascold.Shivering，Willclungmoretightlytohisperch47.Hisfacepressedhardagainstthetrunkofthesentinel.Hecouldfeelthesweet，stickysaponhischeek.
Ashadowemergedfromthedarkofthewood.ItstoodinfrontofRoyce.Tall，itwas，andgauntandhardasoldbones，withfleshpaleasmilk.Itsarmorseemedtochangecolorasitmoved;hereitwaswhiteasnew-fallensnow，thereblackasshadow，everywheredappledwiththedeepgrey-greenofthetrees.Thepatternsranlikemoonlightonwaterwitheverystepittook.
WillheardthebreathgooutofSerWaymarRoyceinalonghiss48.“Comenofarther，”thelordlingwarned.Hisvoicecrackedlikeaboy’s.Hethrewthelongsablecloakbackoverhisshoulders，tofree hisarmsforbattle，andtookhisswordinbothhands.Thewindhadstopped.Itwasverycold.
TheOtherslidforwardonsilentfeet.InitshandwasalongswordlikenonethatWillhadeverseen.
Nohumanmetalhadgoneintotheforgingofthatblade.Itwasalivewithmoonlight，translucent49，ashardofcrystalsothinthatitseemedalmosttovanishwhenseenedge-on.Therewasafaintblueshimmertothething，aghost-lightthatplayedarounditsedges，andsomehowWillknewitwassharperthananyrazor.
SerWaymarmethimbravely.“Dancewithmethen.”Heliftedhisswordhighoverhishead，defiant.Hishandstrembledfromtheweightofit，orperhapsfromthecold.Yetinthatmoment，Willthought，hewasaboynolonger，butamanoftheNight’sWatch.
TheOtherhalted.Willsawitseyes;blue，deeperandbluerthananyhumaneyes，abluethatburnedlikeice.Theyfixed51onthelongswordtremblingonhigh，watchedthemoonlightrunningcoldalonhemetal.Foraheartbeathedaredtohope.
Theyemergedsilentlyfromtheshadows，twinstothefirst.Threeofthem…four…five…SerWaymarmayhavefeltthecoldthatcamewiththem，butheneversawthem，neverheardthem.Willhadtocallout.Itwashisduty.Andhisdeath，ifhedid.Heshivered，andhuggedthetree，andkeptthesilence.
Thepaleswordcameshiveringthroughtheair.
SerWaymarmetitwithsteel.Whenthebladesmet，therewasnoringofmetalonmetal;onlyahigh，thinsoundattheedgeofhearing，likeananimalscreaminginpain.Roycecheckedasecondblow，andathird，thenfellbackastep.Anotherflurryofblows，andhefellbackagain.
Behindhim，toright，toleft，allaroundhim，thewatchersstoodpatient，faceless，silent，theshiftingpatternsoftheirdelicatearmormakingthemallbutinvisibleinthewood.Yettheymadenomovetointerfere.
Againandagaintheswordsmet，untilWillwantedtocoverhisearsagainstthestrangeanguishedkeeningoftheirclash.SerWaymarwaspantingfromtheeffortnow，hisbreathsteaminginthemoonlight.Hisbladewaswhitewithfrost;theOther’sdancedwithpalebluelight.
ThenRoyce’sparrycameabeattoolate.Thepaleswordbitthroughtheringmailbeneathhisarm.
Theyounglordcriedoutinpain.Bloodwelledbetweentherings.Itsteamedinthecold，andthedropletsseemedredasfirewheretheytouchedthesnow.SerWaymar’sfingersbrushedhisside.Hismoleskinglovecameawaysoakedwithred.
TheOthersaidsomethinginalanguagethatWilldidnotknow;hisvoicewaslikethecrackingoficeonawinterlake，andthewordsweremocking.
SerWaymarRoycefoundhisfury.“ForRobert!”heshouted，andhecameupsnarling52，liftingthefrost-coveredlongswordwithbothhandsandswingingitaroundinaflatsidearmslash39withallhisweightbehindit.TheOther’sparrywasalmostlazy.
Whenthebladestouched，thesteelshattered.
Ascreamechoedthroughtheforestnight，andthelongswordshiveredintoahundredbrittle53pieces，theshards54scattering55likearainofneedles.Roycewenttohisknees，shrieking56，andcoveredhiseyes.
Bloodwelledbetweenhisfingers.
Thewatchersmovedforwardtogether，asifsomesignalhadbeengiven.Swordsroseandfell，allinadeathlysilence.Itwascoldbutchery.Thepalebladesslicedthroughringmailasifitweresilk.
Willclosedhiseyes.Farbeneathhim，heheardtheirvoicesandlaughtersharpasicicles.
Whenhefoundthecouragetolookagain，alongtimehadpassed，andtheridgebelowwasempty.
Hestayedinthetree，scarcedaringtobreathe，whilethemooncreptslowlyacrosstheblacksky.
Finally，hismusclescramping57andhisfingersnumb58withcold，heclimbeddown.
Royce’sbodylayfacedowninthesnow，onearmoutflung.Thethicksablecloakhadbeenslashedinadozenplaces.Lyingdeadlikethat，yousawhowyounghewas.Aboy.
Hefoundwhatwasleftoftheswordafewfeetaway，theendsplinteredandtwistedlikeatreestruckbylightning.Willknelt，lookedaroundwarily59，andsnatcheditup.Thebrokenswordwouldbehisproof.Garedwouldknowwhattomakeofit，andifnothim，thensurelythatoldbearMormontorMaesterAemon.WouldGaredstillbewaitingwiththehorses?Hehadtohurry.
Willrose.SerWaymarRoycestoodoverhim.
Hisfineclotheswereatatter，hisfacearuin.Ashard50fromhisswordtransfixedtheblindwhitepupilofhislefteye.
Therighteyewasopen.Thepupilburnedblue.Itsaw.
Thebrokenswordfellfromnervelessfingers.Willclosedhiseyestopray.Long，eleganthandsbrushedhischeek，thentightened60aroundhisthroat.Theywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.
brushedhischeek，thentightenedaroundhisthroat.Theywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.
防盗章节请勿订阅，恢复之后刷新即可
Weshouldstartback，”Garedurgedasthewoodsbegantogrowdarkaroundthem.
“Thewildlingsaredead.”
“Dothedeadfrightenyou?”SerWaymarRoyceaskedwithjustthehintofasmile.
Gareddidnotrisetothebait.Hewasanoldman，pastfifty，andhehadseenthelordlingseandgo.“Deadisdead，”hesaid.“Wehavenobusinesswiththedead.”
“Aretheydead?”Royceaskedsoftly.“Whatproofhavewe?”
“Willsawthem，”Garedsaid.“Ifhesaystheyaredead，that’sproofenoughforme.”
Willhadknowntheywoulddraghimintothequarrelsoonerorlater.Hewishedithadbeenlaterratherthansooner.“Mymothertoldmethatdeadmensingnosongs，”heputin.
Mywetnursesaidthesamething，Will，”Roycereplied.“Neverbelieveanythingyouhearatawoman’stit.Therearethingstobelearnedevenfromthedead.”Hisvoiceechoed，tooloudinthetwilitforest.
“Wehavealongridebeforeus，”Garedpointed1out.“Eightdays，maybenine.Andnightisfalling.”SerWaymarRoyceglancedattheskywithdisinterest.“Itdoesthateverydayaboutthistime.Areyouunmannedbythedark，Gared?”
WillcouldseethetightnessaroundGared’smouth，thebarelysuppressedangerinhiseyesunderthethickblackhood2ofhiscloak.GaredhadspentfortyyearsintheNight’sWatch，manandboy，andhewasnotaccustomedtobeingmadelightof.Yetitwasmorethanthat.Underthewoundedpride，Willcouldsensesomethingelseintheolderman.Youcouldtasteit;anervoustensionthatcameperilousclosetofear.
Willsharedhisunease.HehadbeenfouryearsontheWall.Thefirsttimehehadbeensentbeyond，alltheoldstorieshaderushingback，andhisbowels3hadturnedtowater.Hehadlaughedaboutitafterward4.Hewasaveteranofahundredrangingsbynow，andtheendlessdarkwildernessthatthesouthroncalledthehauntedforesthadnomoreterrorsforhim.Untiltonight.Somethingwasdifferenttonight.Therewasanedgetothisdarknessthatmadehishacklesrise.Ninedaystheyhadbeenriding，northandnorthwestandthennorthagain，fartherandfartherfromtheWall，hardonthetrackofabandofWildlingraiders.Eachdayhadbeenworsethanthedaythathadebeforeit.Todaywastheworstofall.Acoldwindwasblowingoutofthenorth，anditmadethetreesrustle5likelivingthings.Allday，Willhadfeltasthoughsomethingwerewatchinghim，somethingcoldandimplacablethatlovedhimnot.Garedhadfeltittoo.WillwantednothingsomuchastoridehellbentforthesafetyoftheWall，butthatwasnotafeelingtosharewithyourmander.
Especiallynotamanderlikethisone.
SerWaymarRoycewastheyoungestsonofanancienthousewithtoomanyheirs.Hewasahandsomeyouthofeighteen，grey-eyedandgraceful6andslenderasaknife.Mountedonhishugeblackdestrier，theknight7toweredaboveWillandGaredontheirsmallergarrons.Heworeblackleatherboots，blackwoolen8pants，blackmoleskingloves，andafinesupple9coatofgleamingblackringmailoverlayersofblackwoolandboiledleather.SerWaymarhadbeenaSwornBrotheroftheNight’sWatchforlessthanhalfayear，butnoonecouldsayhehadnotpreparedforhisvocation10.Atleastinsofarashiswardrobewasconcerned.
Hiscloakwashiscrowningglory;sable11，thickandblackandsoftassin.“Bethekilledthemallhimself，hedid，”Garedtoldthebarracksoverwine，“twistedtheirlittleheadsoff，ourmightywarrior.”Theyhadallsharedthelaugh.Itishardtotakeordersfromamanyoulaughedatinyourcups，Willreflectedashesatshiveringatophisgarron.Garedmusthavefeltthesame.
“Mormontsaidasweshouldtrackthem，andwedid，”Garedsaid.“They’redead.Theyshan’ttroubleusnomore.There’shardridingbeforeus.Idon’tlikethisweather.Ifitsnows，wecouldbeafortnightgettingback，andsnow’sthebestwecanhopefor.Everseenanicestorm，mylord?”
Thelordlingseemednottohearhim.Hestudiedthedeepeningtwilight12inthathalf-bored，half-distractedwayhehad.Willhadriddenwiththeknightlongenoughtounderstandthatitwasbestnottointerrupthimwhenhelookedlikethat.“Tellmeagainwhatyousaw，Will.Allthedetails.Leavenothingout.”
WillhadbeenahunterbeforehejoinedtheNight’sWatch.Well，apoacherintruth.Mallisterfreeridershadcaughthimred-handedintheMallisters’ownwoods，skinningoneoftheMallisters’
ownbucks13，andithadbeenachoiceofputtingontheblackorlosingahand.NoonecouldmovethroughthewoodsassilentasWill，andithadnottakentheblackbrotherslongtodiscoverhistalent.“Thecampistwomilesfartheron，overthatridge14，hardbesideastream，”Willsaid.“IgotcloseasIdared.There’seightofthem，menandwomenboth.NochildrenIcouldsee.Theyputupalean-toagainsttherock.Thesnow’sprettywellcovereditnow，butIcouldstillmakeitout.Nofireburning，butthefirepitwasstillplainasday.Noonemoving.Iwatchedalongtime.Nolivingmaneverlaysostill.”
“Didyouseeanyblood?”
“Well，no，”Willadmitted.
“Didyouseeanyweapons?”
“Someswords，afewbows.Onemanhadanaxe15.Heavy-looking，double-bladed，acruelpieceofiron.Itwasonthegroundbesidehim，rightbyhishand.”
“Didyoumakenoteofthepositionofthebodies?”
Willshrugged16.“Acouplearesittingupagainsttherock.Mostofthemontheground.Fallen，like.”
“Orsleeping，”Roycesuggested.
“Fallen，”Willinsisted.“There’sonewomanupanironwood，half-hidinthebranches.Afar-eyes.”Hesmiledthinly.“Itookcaresheneversawme.WhenIgotcloser，Isawthatshewasn’tmovingneither.”Despitehimself，heshivered.
“Youhaveachill?”Royceasked.
“Some，”Willmuttered.“Thewind，m’lord.”
Theyoungknightturnedbacktohisgrizzledman-at-arms.Frost-fallenleaveswhisperedpastthem，andRoyce’sdestriermovedrestlessly.“Whatdoyouthinkmighthavekilledthesemen，Gared?”SerWaymaraskedcasually17.Headjustedthedrapeofhislongsablecloak.
“Itwasthecold，”Garedsaidwithironcertainty.“Isawmenfreezelastwinter，andtheonebefore，whenIwashalfaboy.Everyonetalksaboutsnowsfortyfootdeep，andhowtheicewindeshowlingoutofthenorth，buttherealenemyisthecold.ItstealsuponyouquieterthanWill，andatfirstyoushiverandyourteethchatter18andyoustampyourfeetanddreamofmulledwineandnicehotfires.Itburns，itdoes.Nothingburnslikethecold.Butonlyforawhile.Thenitgetsinsideyouandstartstofillyouup，andafterawhileyoudon’thavethestrenhtofightit.It’seasierjusttositdownorgotosleep.Theysayyoudon’tfeelanypaintowardtheend.Firstyougoweakanddrowsy，andeverythingstartstofade，andthenit’slikesinkingintoaseaofwarmmilk.Peaceful，like.”“Sucheloquence19，Gared，”SerWaymarobserved.“Ineversuspectedyouhaditinyou.”
“I’vehadthecoldinmetoo，lordling.”Garedpulledbackhishood，givingSerWaymaragoodlonglookatthestumps20wherehisearshadbeen.“Twoears，threetoes，andthelittlefingeroffmylefthand.Igotofflight.Wefoundmybrotherfrozenathiswatch，withasmileonhisface.”
SerWaymarshrugged.“Yououghtdressmorewarmly，Gared.”
Garedglaredatthelordling，thescarsaroundhisearholesflushedredwithangerwhereMaesterAemonhadcuttheearsaway.“We’llseehowwarmyoucandresswhenthewinteres.”Hepulleduphishoodandhunched21overhisgarron，silentandsullen22.
“IfGaredsaiditwasthecold…”Willbegan.
“Haveyoudrawn23anywatchesthispastweek，Will?”
“Yes，m’lord.”Thereneverwasaweekwhenhedidnotdrawadozenbloody24watches.Whatwasthemandrivingat?
“AndhowdidyoufindtheWall?”
“Weeping，”Willsaid，frowning.Hesawitclearenough，nowthatthelordlinghadpointeditout.
“Theycouldn’thavefroze.NotiftheWallwasweeping.Itwasn’tcoldenough.”
Roycenodded.“Brightlad.We’vehadafewlightfroststhispastweek，andaquickflurryofsnownowandthen，butsurelynocoldfierceenoughtokilleightgrownmen.Mencladinfurandleather，letmeremindyou，withshelternearathand，andthemeansofmakingfire.”Theknight’ssmilewascocksure.“Will，leadusthere.Iwouldseethesedeadmenformyself.”
Andthentherewasnothingtobedoneforit.Theorderhadbeengiven，andhonorboundthemtoobey.
Willwentinfront，hisshaggylittlegarronpickingthewaycarefullythroughtheundergrowth.Alightsnowhadfallenthenightbefore，andtherewerestonesandrootsandhiddensinkslyingjustunderitscrust，waitingforthecarelessandtheunwary.SerWaymarRoycecamenext，hisgreatblackdestriersnortingimpatiently.Thewarhorsewasthewrongmountforranging，buttryandtellthattothelordling.Garedbroughtuptherear.Theoldman-at-armsmutteredtohimselfasherode.
Twilightdeepened.Thecloudlessskyturnedadeeppurple，thecolorofanoldbruise26，thenfadedtoblack.Thestarsbegantoeout.Ahalf-moonrose.Willwasgratefulforthelight.
“Wecanmakeabetterpacethanthis，surely，”Roycesaidwhenthemoonwasfullrisen.
“Notwiththishorse，”Willsaid.Fearhadmadehiminsolent27.“Perhapsmylordwouldcaretotakethelead?”
SerWaymarRoycedidnotdeign28toreply.
Somewhereoffinthewoodawolfhowled.
Willpulledhisgarronoverbeneathanancientgnarledironwoodanddismounted.
“Whyareyoustopping?”SerWaymarasked.
“Bestgotherestofthewayonfoot，m’lord.It’sjustoverthatridge.”
Roycepausedamoment，staringoffintothedistance，hisfacereflective.Acoldwindwhisperedthroughthetrees.Hisgreatsablecloakstirredbehindlikesomethinghalf-alive.
“There’ssomethingwronghere，”Garedmuttered.
Theyoungknightgavehimadisdainfulsmile.“Isthere?”
“Can’tyoufeelit?”Garedasked.“Listentothedarkness.”
Willcouldfeelit.FouryearsintheNight’sWatch，andhehadneverbeensoafraid.Whatwasit?
“Wind.Treesrustling29.Awolf.Whichsoundisitthatunmansyouso，Gared?”WhenGareddidnotanswer，Royceslidgracefully30fromhissaddle.Hetiedthedestriersecurelytoalow-hanginglimb，wellawayfromtheotherhorses，anddrewhislongswordfromitssheath.Jewelsglitteredinitshilt，andthemoonlightrandowntheshiningsteel.Itwasasplendidweapon，castle-forged，andnew-madefromthelookofit.Willdoubtedithadeverbeenswunginanger.
“Thetreespressclosehere，”Willwarned.“Thatswordwilltangle31youup，m’lord.Betteraknife.”
“IfIneedinstruction，Iwillaskforit，”theyounglordsaid.“Gared，stayhere.Guardthehorses.”
Gareddismounted.“Weneedafire.I’llseetoit.”
“Howbigafoolareyou，oldman?Ifthereareenemiesinthiswood，afireisthelastthingwewant.”
“There’ssomeenemiesafirewillkeepaway，”Garedsaid.“Bearsanddirewolvesand…andotherthings…”
SerWaymar’smouthbecameahardline.“Nofire.”
Gared’shoodshadowedhisface，butWillcouldseethehardglitterinhiseyesashestaredattheknight.Foramomenthewasafraidtheoldermanwouldgoforhissword.Itwasashort，uglything，itsgripdiscoloredbysweat，itsedgenickedfromharduse，butWillwouldnothavegivenanironbobforthelordling’slifeifGaredpulleditfromitsscabbard.
FinallyGaredlookeddown.“Nofire，”hemuttered，lowunderhisbreath.
Roycetookitforacquiescence32andturnedaway.“Leadon，”hesaidtoWill.
Willthreadedtheirwaythroughathicket33，thenstarteduptheslopetothelowridgewherehehadfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，withrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.Willmadenosoundasheclimbed.
Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallic34slitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtugged35onhissplendidsablecloak.
dfoundhisvantagepointunderasentineltree.Underthethincrustofsnow，thegroundwasdampandmuddy，slickfooting，withrocksandhiddenrootstotripyouup.Willmadenosoundasheclimbed.
Behindhim，heheardthesoftmetallicslitherofthelordling’sringmail，therustleofleaves，andmutteredcursesasreachingbranchesgrabbedathislongswordandtuggedonhissplendidsablecloak.
Thegreatsentinelwasrightthereatthetopoftheridge，whereWillhadknownitwouldbe，itslowestbranchesabarefootofftheground.Willslidinunderneath36，flatonhisbelly37inthesnowandthemud，andlookeddownontheemptyclearingbelow.
Hisheartstoppedinhischest.Foramomenthedarednotbreathe.Moonlightshonedownontheclearing，theashesofthefirepit，thesnow-coveredlean-to，thegreatrock，thelittlehalf-frozenstream.
Everythingwasjustasithadbeenafewhoursago.
Theyweregone.Allthebodiesweregone.
“Gods!”heheardbehindhim.Aswordslashed38atabranchasSerWaymarRoycegainedtheridge.Hestoodtherebesidethesentinel，longswordinhand，hiscloakbillowingbehindhimasthewindcameup，outlinednoblyagainstthestarsforalltosee.
“Getdown!”Willwhisperedurgently.“Something’swrong.”
Roycedidnotmove.Helookeddownattheemptyclearingandlaughed.“Yourdeadmenseemtohavemovedcamp，Will.”
Will’svoiceabandonedhim.Hegropedforwordsthatdidnote.Itwasnotpossible.Hiseyessweptbackandforth40overtheabandonedcampsite，stoppedontheaxe.Ahugedouble-bladedbattle-axe，stilllyingwherehehadseenitlast，untouched.Avaluableweapon…“Onyourfeet，Will，”SerWaymarmanded.“There’snoonehere.Iwon’thaveyouhidingunderabush.”
Reluctantly，Willobeyed.
SerWaymarlookedhimoverwithopendisapproval41.“IamnotgoingbacktoCastleBlackafailureonmyfirstranging.Wewillfindthesemen.”Heglancedaround.“Upthetree.Bequickaboutit.
Lookforafire.”
Willturnedaway，wordless.Therewasnousetoargue.Thewindwasmoving.Itcutrightthroughhim.Hewenttothetree，avaulting42grey-greensentinel，andbegantoclimb.Soonhishandswerestickywithsap，andhewaslostamongtheneedles.Fearfilledhisgut43likeamealhecouldnotdigest.
Hewhisperedaprayertothenamelessgodsofthewood，andslippedhisdirkfreeofitssheath.Heputitbetweenhisteethtokeepbothhandsfreeforclimbing.Thetasteofcoldironinhismouthgavehimfort.
Downbelow，thelordlingcalledoutsuddenly，“Whogoesthere?”Willhearduncertainty44inthechallenge.Hestoppedclimbing;helistened;hewatched.
Thewoodsgaveanswer:therustleofleaves，theicyrushofthestream，adistanthoot45ofasnowowl.
TheOthersmadenosound.
Willsawmovementfromthecornerofhiseye.Paleshapesgliding46throughthewood.Heturnedhishead，glimpsedawhiteshadowinthedarkness.Thenitwasgone.Branchesstirredgentlyinthewind，scratchingatoneanotherwithwoodenfingers.Willopenedhismouthtocalldownawarning，andthewordsseemedtofreezeinhisthroat.Perhapshewaswrong.Perhapsithadonlybeenabird，areflectiononthesnow，sometrickofthemoonlight.Whathadheseen，afterall?
“Will，whereareyou?”SerWaymarcalledup.“Canyouseeanything?”Hewasturninginaslowcircle，suddenlywary25，hisswordinhand.Hemusthavefeltthem，asWillfeltthem.Therewasnothingtosee.“Answerme!Whyisitsocold?”
Itwascold.Shivering，Willclungmoretightlytohisperch47.Hisfacepressedhardagainstthetrunkofthesentinel.Hecouldfeelthesweet，stickysaponhischeek.
Ashadowemergedfromthedarkofthewood.ItstoodinfrontofRoyce.Tall，itwas，andgauntandhardasoldbones，withfleshpaleasmilk.Itsarmorseemedtochangecolorasitmoved;hereitwaswhiteasnew-fallensnow，thereblackasshadow，everywheredappledwiththedeepgrey-greenofthetrees.Thepatternsranlikemoonlightonwaterwitheverystepittook.
WillheardthebreathgooutofSerWaymarRoyceinalonghiss48.“Comenofarther，”thelordlingwarned.Hisvoicecrackedlikeaboy’s.Hethrewthelongsablecloakbackoverhisshoulders，tofree hisarmsforbattle，andtookhisswordinbothhands.Thewindhadstopped.Itwasverycold.
TheOtherslidforwardonsilentfeet.InitshandwasalongswordlikenonethatWillhadeverseen.
Nohumanmetalhadgoneintotheforgingofthatblade.Itwasalivewithmoonlight，translucent49，ashardofcrystalsothinthatitseemedalmosttovanishwhenseenedge-on.Therewasafaintblueshimmertothething，aghost-lightthatplayedarounditsedges，andsomehowWillknewitwassharperthananyrazor.
SerWaymarmethimbravely.“Dancewithmethen.”Heliftedhisswordhighoverhishead，defiant.Hishandstrembledfromtheweightofit，orperhapsfromthecold.Yetinthatmoment，Willthought，hewasaboynolonger，butamanoftheNight’sWatch.
TheOtherhalted.Willsawitseyes;blue，deeperandbluerthananyhumaneyes，abluethatburnedlikeice.Theyfixed51onthelongswordtremblingonhigh，watchedthemoonlightrunningcoldalonhemetal.Foraheartbeathedaredtohope.
Theyemergedsilentlyfromtheshadows，twinstothefirst.Threeofthem…four…five…SerWaymarmayhavefeltthecoldthatcamewiththem，butheneversawthem，neverheardthem.Willhadtocallout.Itwashisduty.Andhisdeath，ifhedid.Heshivered，andhuggedthetree，andkeptthesilence.
Thepaleswordcameshiveringthroughtheair.
SerWaymarmetitwithsteel.Whenthebladesmet，therewasnoringofmetalonmetal;onlyahigh，thinsoundattheedgeofhearing，likeananimalscreaminginpain.Roycecheckedasecondblow，andathird，thenfellbackastep.Anotherflurryofblows，andhefellbackagain.
Behindhim，toright，toleft，allaroundhim，thewatchersstoodpatient，faceless，silent，theshiftingpatternsoftheirdelicatearmormakingthemallbutinvisibleinthewood.Yettheymadenomovetointerfere.
Againandagaintheswordsmet，untilWillwantedtocoverhisearsagainstthestrangeanguishedkeeningoftheirclash.SerWaymarwaspantingfromtheeffortnow，hisbreathsteaminginthemoonlight.Hisbladewaswhitewithfrost;theOther’sdancedwithpalebluelight.
ThenRoyce’sparrycameabeattoolate.Thepaleswordbitthroughtheringmailbeneathhisarm.
Theyounglordcriedoutinpain.Bloodwelledbetweentherings.Itsteamedinthecold，andthedropletsseemedredasfirewheretheytouchedthesnow.SerWaymar’sfingersbrushedhisside.Hismoleskinglovecameawaysoakedwithred.
TheOthersaidsomethinginalanguagethatWilldidnotknow;hisvoicewaslikethecrackingoficeonawinterlake，andthewordsweremocking.
SerWaymarRoycefoundhisfury.“ForRobert!”heshouted，andhecameupsnarling52，liftingthefrost-coveredlongswordwithbothhandsandswingingitaroundinaflatsidearmslash39withallhisweightbehindit.TheOther’sparrywasalmostlazy.
Whenthebladestouched，thesteelshattered.
Ascreamechoedthroughtheforestnight，andthelongswordshiveredintoahundredbrittle53pieces，theshards54scattering55likearainofneedles.Roycewenttohisknees，shrieking56，andcoveredhiseyes.
Bloodwelledbetweenhisfingers.
Thewatchersmovedforwardtogether，asifsomesignalhadbeengiven.Swordsroseandfell，allinadeathlysilence.Itwascoldbutchery.Thepalebladesslicedthroughringmailasifitweresilk.
Willclosedhiseyes.Farbeneathhim，heheardtheirvoicesandlaughtersharpasicicles.
Whenhefoundthecouragetolookagain，alongtimehadpassed，andtheridgebelowwasempty.
Hestayedinthetree，scarcedaringtobreathe，whilethemooncreptslowlyacrosstheblacksky.
Finally，hismusclescramping57andhisfingersnumb58withcold，heclimbeddown.
Royce’sbodylayfacedowninthesnow，onearmoutflung.Thethicksablecloakhadbeenslashedinadozenplaces.Lyingdeadlikethat，yousawhowyounghewas.Aboy.
Hefoundwhatwasleftoftheswordafewfeetaway，theendsplinteredandtwistedlikeatreestruckbylightning.Willknelt，lookedaroundwarily59，andsnatcheditup.Thebrokenswordwouldbehisproof.Garedwouldknowwhattomakeofit，andifnothim，thensurelythatoldbearMormontorMaesterAemon.WouldGaredstillbewaitingwiththehorses?Hehadtohurry.
Willrose.SerWaymarRoycestoodoverhim.
Hisfineclotheswereatatter，hisfacearuin.Ashard50fromhisswordtransfixedtheblindwhitepupilofhislefteye.
Therighteyewasopen.Thepupilburnedblue.Itsaw.
Thebrokenswordfellfromnervelessfingers.Willclosedhiseyestopray.Long，eleganthandsbrushedhischeek，thentightened60aroundhisthroat.Theywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.
brushedhischeek，thentightenedaroundhisthroat.Theywereglovedinthefinestmoleskinandstickywithblood，yetthetouchwasicycold.