A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
A Storm of Swords
by George R. R. Martin
Contents
CHAPTER 7: JON
Overview
Jon arrives amid Mance Rayder’s sprawling wildling host and is brought before Mance’s inner circle. Under guest right, Mance tests Jon, recalling past encounters at Winterfell and revealing why he deserted the Watch. Jon claims he slew Qhorin and cites his bastard’s place as motive, convincing Mance to accept him.
Summary
Jon Snow rides with Rattleshirt’s party down to the Milkwater, where an immense wildling camp stretches for leagues. Ghost trails close while hostile dogs harry him. Jon notes the camp’s disorder and numbers, thinking of discipline versus numbers and the duty Qhorin Halfhand laid on him to infiltrate and learn.
Outriders led by the Weeper meet them and direct Jon to Mance Rayder. In the snow-bear hide royal tent, Jon encounters a motley “court”: the earless Styr, Magnar of Thenn; boisterous Tormund Giantsbane; the pregnant Dalla; Val; and Jarl, while a singer plays. The supposed king proves to be the singer himself, Mance Rayder, who recognizes Jon as Ned Stark’s bastard.
Mance questions Jon about the skirmish in the Skirling Pass and Qhorin’s death. Jon affirms he slew Qhorin and that only five black brothers came, satisfying Mance’s test about Craster’s betrayal. After sending the others out under guest right, Mance shares how he knew Jon from two Winterfell visits—once as a black brother escort, once disguised as a bard during King Robert’s arrival.
Pressed on motives, Mance rejects crown, woman, or “wildling blood” as reasons for desertion and recounts the true spark: a wildling-sewn red-silk repair to his black cloak that the Watch replaced with plain black, symbolizing strictures he could no longer bear. He left for freedom, music, and a life where a kiss and a colored cloak were not crimes.
When Mance asks Jon why he turned, Jon offers the tale he believes will persuade: at Robert’s feast he saw his true place—the bastard seated apart—seeking a new cloak among the free folk. Accepting the answer and Jon’s usefulness, Mance offers to find him a new cloak, signaling conditional acceptance into the wildling ranks.
Who Appears
- Jon SnowPoses as turncloak among wildlings, brought before Mance; claims killing Qhorin; earns tentative acceptance.
- Mance RayderKing-beyond-the-Wall; recognizes Jon; probes his motives; recounts his own desertion over a red-silk-sewn cloak.
- YgritteDefends Jon’s value to Mance; rides as his guard; recalls Bael’s tale contextually.
- Rattleshirt (Lord of Bones)Captures and delivers Jon; boasts of trophies; threatens him; obeys Mance’s dismissal.
- Tormund GiantsbaneBoisterous ally of Mance; jokes, eats, and praises wargs; acknowledges Mance’s cunning.
- Styr, Magnar of ThennEarless, stern war leader; initially mistaken for Mance; questions Jon’s story.
- DallaMance’s pregnant partner; extends guest right by preparing food; treated as queen.
- ValDalla’s sister; present in Mance’s tent; noted for beauty and independence.
- JarlVal’s fierce suitor; present among Mance’s inner circle.
- GhostJon’s white direwolf; intimidates wildling dogs; remains outside Mance’s tent on command.
- The WeeperWildling raider; intercepts Rattleshirt’s party and directs Jon to Mance.
- Longspear RykWildling who vouches for Jon’s role in Halfhand’s death; guards him.
- RagwyleSpearwife who notes Jon’s warg nature; part of Rattleshirt’s party.