They didn't give the Night's Watch ranger a warm welcome. Lord Galbart Glover of Deepwood Motte scoffed. He had been busy driving the Ironborn from his lands, which, fortunately, meant he hadn't attended the wedding at The Twins.
Like Lord Wyman Manderly, he was one of the lucky few who didn't need to appoint a new, young heir.
Hearing the ranger's report, Lord Galbart grumbled, "If Jeor Mormont was still alive, he wouldn't let you all look so pathetic!"
The Night's Watch ranger didn't dare argue. He felt ashamed.
"Ahem... well," Lord Wyman Manderly said, shifting his massive body in his chair. "The election of the Lord Commander is an internal matter for the Watch. It has nothing to do with us." He looked at the ranger. "Tell us the situation with the damned Wildlings."
Lord Galbart shut his mouth. All eyes turned to the soldier.
Jason sat in the main seat, listening quietly.
The ranger, a man from a minor noble family who could read and write, swallowed nervously and gave his report.
"The Wildlings have united under Mance Rayder," he began. "Tens of thousands are camped just outside the Wall. They even sent a small group to climb the Wall, trying to attack us from behind. Fortunately, we spotted them and... dealt with them."
He continued, "What's more, Mance Rayder claims he has the Horn of Joramun. The legend says it can wake giants from the earth and bring down the Wall. He's threatening to blow it if we don't let his people pass. He says if the Wall falls, the Wights will kill us all."
"Lies!" one lord shouted.
"That damn Wildling king is using children's stories to scare us!"
"The Horn of Joramun? To collapse the Wall? Hehe, what a joke."
"Only a fool would believe that thing is real!"
The Northern lords sneered, convinced it was a bluff.
Jason wasn't so sure. He tried to recall the stories he knew. Mance did find a horn, didn't he? But he never blew it before Stannis's army captured him.
Was it a bluff? Or did it require some special magic to use? Maybe a witch or a Red Priest?
Magic was returning to the world, but it had been gone for centuries. There couldn't be many people left who truly understood it.
Jason decided it didn't matter. Whether the horn was real or not, it wasn't the immediate problem. His 50,000-strong army could easily handle the Wildlings.
The lords at the meeting agreed. They didn't take Mance or his horn seriously and quickly drew up a simple battle plan. They were strong, and the enemy was just a poorly armed rabble.
With the meeting over, the lords went right back to feasting, drinking, and dancing, relaxed and confident.
Jason watched them with contempt. He had no expectations for these feudal lords. They only cared about tournaments, banquets, wine, and women. They were liabilities, and he'd get rid of them eventually.
But first, they had to deal with the Wights.
Early the next morning, the army marched. 50,000 soldiers—Jason's First and Second Northern Army Corps—headed for the Wall.
Maester Qyburn left the Dreadfort in the hands of Morris and the others. He joined Jason in his carriage, acting as his advisor. Qyburn was very interested in Jason's stories of Wights and White Walkers.
He wanted to see with his own eyes if these undead monsters truly existed.
After more than a week, the army reached Last Hearth, the seat of House Umber. They joined with the Umber forces, camped for the night, and marched north again the next day.
More than ten days later, they finally saw it.
The majestic, 247-meter-high Wall stretched across the horizon, as far as the eye could see. As the army approached, its sheer size became even more overwhelming.
Jason left his carriage and mounted a mare. He rode with Qyburn, and they were escorted by 50 elite bodyguards.
"It's unbelievable," Jason said, staring up the towering sheet of ice. "That people built this thousands of years ago."
Qyburn was bundled in thick furs and his maester's robes. Snowflakes settled on his shoulders.
"Legend says Brandon the Builder raised the Wall with the help of giants," Qyburn said, his breath fogging in the cold air. "He did it to resist the monsters beyond it."
He paused, then added, "But that's just a legend. For thousands of years, no one has seen any Wights. It's hard to believe such monsters really exist."
Jason just smiled. He knew that no one would believe it.
Not until they saw the army of the dead with their own eyes.
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