Chapter Thirty-Nine - Jon 8 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Jon sends Val to Tormund Giantsbane with terms. In a shocking turn of events, Jon’s advisers disagree with the plan. Simon and Mackelly would like to remind Jon, well his advisers actually, of what befell Janos Slynt, and why.

Chapter Review:
Lord Commander Jon Snow escorts Val through the Wall. She’s headed north to find Tormund Giantsbane and offer him safe passage through the Wall if he’ll follow the expected rules - don’t kill everyone and help defend the Wall. She’s confident that she’ll find him, but less sure of how he’ll receive the message. She wants Jon to look after the baby, whom she’s dubbed Monster, as she’s certain that Melisandre has seen through the baby-swap deceit.

Back at the Wall, Jon’s breakfast is disturbed by Bowen Marsh, Othell Yarwick, and Septon Cellador. They don’t like to complain about everything, but the men are grumbling. They don’t want Leathers as the new Master-at-Arms, nor Satin as Jon’s steward. Jon doesn’t care. They don’t like Val’s mission. Jon doesn’t care. They don’t think more Wildlings should be admitted. Jon doesn’t care.

They worry about Jon’s (as yet unspoken) plans for Hardhome, a haunted town north of the Wall where it is rumored that the refugee free folk are amassing. Again Jon has to remind them that anyone who dies north of the Wall is going to come back to haunt them. They just don’t get it.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Val - Sister-in-law to Mance Rayder. Wrongly perceived as a princess by Stannis.
Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward of the Night’s Watch and oft-times critic of Jon Snow’s decisions.
Othell Yarwick - First Builder of the Night’s Watch.
Septon Cellador - Septon of Castle Black.
Iron Emmet - Ranger of the Night’s Watch and Master at Arms of Castle Black.
Dolorous Edd - Brother of the Night’s Watch and friend and steward to Jon Snow.
Ghost - Jon’s direwolf.
Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night’s Watch.