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.

第一百五十三章

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.”

第一百五十三章

“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.”

第一百五十三章

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.

第一百五十三章

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.

第一百五十三章

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.”

第一百五十三章

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.

第一百五十三章

WillheardthebreathgooutofSerWaymarRoyceinalonghiss48.“Comenofarther，”thelordlingwarned.Hisvoicecrackedlikeaboy’s.Hethrewthelongsablecloakbackoverhisshoulders，tofreehisarmsforbattle，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.

第一百五十三章

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.