Chapter Seven - Jon 1 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

The next phase of Qhorin Halfhand’s plan begins, as Jon is marched through the enormous wildling encampment and meets Mance Rayder. They bond over not really belonging. Mackelly and Simon wonder if the old crow might be a bit too trusting.

Chapter Review:
Jon Snow and Ghost are escorted through the wildling encampment on the banks of the Milkwater. Jon cannot count the cookfires. The numbers are extraordinary. With his training he does notice that the structure and defenses are pitiful. Even 300 brothers of the Night’s Watch could inflict incalculable losses on the wildlings, unless they tighten things up.

He’s shown into Mance Rayder’s tent and mistakes Styr for Mance. The king-beyond-the-wall turns out to be the musician. Rattleshirt repeats his misgivings about Jon. Mance tells Jon that they’ve met before. Most recently when disguised as a singer, Mance entered Winterfell while King Robert Baratheon visited. Mance describes his desertion when he was saved by a wildling woman who repaired his tattered cloak with red silk. On arrival back at the Wall, he was reissued the regulation black cloak. So he left.

In return, Jon concocts a decent cover story, Mance would have seen where Jon was seated at the feast, a row after the dogs. Mance buys it and welcomes Jon into the fold.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Member of the Night’s Watch. Acting as a traitor to spy on the wildlings.
Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall. A former brother of the Night’s Watch who defected and is now treated as a leader by the wildlings.
Ghost - Jon’s direwolf and constant companion.
Qhorin Halfhand - Killed by Jon as part of the ruse to prove his bona fides to the wildlings.
Ygritte - Wildling girl who has taken a shine to Jon.
Tormund - Lieutenant of Mance Rayder.

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