Chapter 10 - Reaching the Frostfangs
The crowd stood in stunned silence after Craster's head fell to Matt's blade. Then, the man's heavy body collapsed on the cold, packed earth and for a moment no one moved. Then the silence broke. His daughter-wives began screaming in small, broken sobs, then louder, trembling cries that echoed through the hall. Some covered their faces, others clutched their children. Their fear filled the room.
The Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, and Benjen Stark both stepped forward at once. Their hands went to their swords. Their eyes widened with alarm and even though they knew Matt, for a moment they wondered whether he had gone rogue.
But Matt only walked calmly, as if he had not just killed a man, toward the Lord Commander with the Longclaw still in his hand. He held the sword carefully, put it back in its sheath and said in a steady voice, "Here, Lord Commander. Thank you for lending your sword."
He politely passed the sword back to its owner.
Jeor Mormont took Longclaw back absent mindedly as confusion clouded his face. His grip tightened a little, as if he was unsure whether Matt was still a friend. Benjen looked troubled as well.
Benjen spoke first. "Matt, you should not have done this. Lord Commander said Craster was necessary for our mission."
Matt nodded. "Yes, I know. But his use is finished now. He is no longer useful. We are going to speak with the wildlings directly and end the ongoing war from thousands of years. We should not tie ourselves to a man like this. A man who lives in filth and cruelty, a monster in all but name."
"Monster," the Lord Commander repeated quietly. "Yes, he was a monster. But was he truly a monster to us? Unless necessary, we kept him alive. Do you think we did not want to kill him? Or that we did not know how?" He sighed. "We restrained ourselves for the sake of the mission."
Matt's eyes flashed. "I understand that. But not anymore. I do not know how you lived with it. Even for information. And how can you be sure he spoke truth? How can you be sure he wasn't selling your information to other wildlings? Or to someone worse?"
The men of the Watch began murmuring. Several people who had joined the group spoke in anger.
"The man spat at us every time we visited. We turned our eyes away."
"A man who marries his daughters and even grand-daughters should have been ended long ago."
Another one, who had come down from the northern clans, growled, "If this is what the Watch allows, then the world has truly gone mad."
The Lord Commander's face darkened. "We tolerated him because we had no choice."
"You always have a choice. Or at least you do today. And I made that choice for you."
Matt continued, "He was cruel to his daughters. He made them his wives. He had done the same to his granddaughters. And do not forget his sons."
He lowered his voice, "And please, for the love of God, do not tell me you have no knowledge about the fate of his sons. You suspected it. But I know. So let me spell it out for you. He offered them to the White Walkers."
Jeor Mormont froze. His eyes sharpened. "Do not speak nonsense, Matt."
"Ask the women. They know where the sons/brothers go."
The Lord Commander and Benjen exchanged a look. Both were alarmed. They walked slowly toward the crying women. After comforting them for a while, they asked gently, "What happens to your sons? Tell us the truth."
Most of the women stayed silent, trembling. Then the eldest wife lifted her head. She did not speak, but her eyes were full of pain.
At last, one of the youngest, barely a girl, whispered, "He gives them to the monsters."
The other women gasped and tried to shush her, but she squared her shoulders and continued. "He is dead now. We do not need to fear him anymore. He gave every son, every newborn boy, to the monsters."
Benjen softly asked, "Do you know how he did that?"
She wiped her eyes, "Some distance from here is a small clearing. There is an old stump there, carved with strange marks. He puts the babies on it at night. Then something takes them."
The women shook with fear.
The men of the Night's Watch were horrified. The old rangers stared at each other in disbelief. Even Jeor Mormont, who had seen much, looked shaken.
Matt stepped forward, "He was not giving them so they would become wights. White Walkers can raise wights from the dead. These babies, living new-born babies, are taken by the Walkers themselves so that they can create more of their own kind. He was not your friend. He was never your friend, ever. Craster was helping them grow stronger. He fed the monsters and committed evil while you begged him for information."
Several old rangers reacted strongly again.
"We broke bread with a beast!"
"We should burn this whole place."
"The Watch should have put an end to him years ago."
Matt thought that the atmosphere was suitable, so he raised his voice and spoke to the men. "If you can tolerate Craster and his cruelty, then surely you can speak with Mance Rayder, a man who grew up in the wall and was once one amongst you. A man who at least treats people with dignity and can differentiate between daughters and wives. Even if he is your enemy, he is not a monster like this one was."
The Lord Commander looked ashamed. He had no reply.
Night had already descended, the heat from the argument fading.
Matt said, "Lord Commander, we should rest. Tomorrow, two men can escort the women to the Wall. Or they may stay here until we return from speaking with the King Beyond the Wall."
Jeor Mormont turned to the women, "What do you prefer? To come with us now, or wait here until we return?"
The eldest woman said, "We will stay here and wait. We do not trust men, even if they wear black."
The Lord Commander understood. Their fear was reasonable after years of abuse. He nodded slowly.
"Very well. We will return in about a week or so. Then you will be taken to safety. From the Wall, you may travel south and live as free women."
The women bowed their heads in agreement.
The company rested that night. The fires burned low and no one spoke much.
The next morning, the rangers and the lords gathered their gear and left Craster's Keep behind. The wind cut across their faces as they marched.
For three or four days they travelled through hard snow and biting cold. The wilderness stretched endlessly. All they could see were dark trees, frozen rivers and mountains.
At last, after crossing a narrow valley, they saw smoke rising. The sight before them made even seasoned rangers stop.
A massive wildling camp filled the ground. It was covered with tents. There were thousands of people with fires burning, running and playing children and warriors who were sharpening blades. They even saw giants walking slowly between tents, towering above men, moving with slow, powerful steps.
Wildling scouts approached at once. The Night's Watch tightened their formation in caution.
They had reached the camp of Mance Rayder, King Beyond the Wall.
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End of Chapter 10 - Reaching the Frostfangs