A Game of Thrones 4-Book Bundle

the giants.”
    Stannis grimaced. “Noye made my first sword for me, and Robert’s warhammer as well. Had the god seen fit to spare him, he would have made a better Lord Commander for your order than any of these fools who are squabbling over it now.”
    â€œCotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister are no fools, sire,” Jon said. “They’re good men, and capable. Othell Yarwyck as well, in his own way. Lord Mormont trusted each of them.”
    â€œYour Lord Mormont trusted too easily. Else he would not have died as he did. But we were speaking of you. I have not forgotten that it was you who brought us this magic horn, and captured Mance Rayder’s wife and son.”
    â€œDalla died.” Jon was saddened by that still. “Val is her sister. She and the babe did not require much capturing, Your Grace. You had put the wildlings to flight, and the skinchanger Mance had left to guard his queen went mad when the eagle burned.” Jon looked at Melisandre. “Some say that was your doing.”
    She smiled, her long copper hair tumbling across her face. “The Lord of Light has fiery talons, Jon Snow.”
    Jon nodded, and turned back to the king. “Your Grace, you spoke of Val. She has asked to see Mance Rayder, to bring his son to him. It would be a . . . a kindness.”
    â€œThe man is a deserter from your order. Your brothers are all insisting on his death. Why should I do him a kindness?”
    Jon had no answer for that. “If not for him, for Val. For her sister’s sake, the child’s mother.”
    â€œYou are fond of this Val?”
    â€œI scarcely know her.”
    â€œThey tell me she is comely.”
    â€œVery,” Jon admitted.
    â€œBeauty can be treacherous. My brother learned that lesson from Cersei Lannister. She murdered him, do not doubt it. Your father and Jon Arryn as well.” He scowled. “You rode with these wildlings. Is there any honor in them, do you think?”
    â€œYes,” Jon said, “but their own sort of honor, sire.”
    â€œIn Mance Rayder?”
    â€œYes. I think so.”
    â€œIn the Lord of Bones?”
    Jon hesitated. “Rattleshirt, we called him. Treacherous and blood-thirsty. If there’s honor in him, he hides it down beneath his suit of bones.”
    â€œAnd this other man, this Tormund of the many names who eluded us after the battle? Answer me truly.”
    â€œTormund Giantsbane seemed to me the sort of man who would make a good friend and a bad enemy, Your Grace.”
    Stannis gave a curt nod. “Your father was a man of honor. He was no friend to me, but I saw his worth. Your brother was a rebel and a traitor who meant to steal half my kingdom, but no man can question his courage. What of you?”
    Does he want me to say I love him
? Jon’s voice was stiff and formal as he said, “I am a man of the Night’s Watch.”
    â€œWords. Words are wind. Why do you think I abandoned Dragonstone and sailed to the Wall, Lord Snow?”
    â€œI am no lord, sire. You came because we sent for you, I hope. Though I could not say why you took so long about it.”
    Surprisingly, Stannis smiled at that. “You’re bold enough to be a Stark. Yes, I should have come sooner. If not for my Hand, I might not have come at all. Lord Seaworth is a man of humble birth, but he reminded me of my duty, when all I could think of was my rights. I had the cart before the horse, Davos said. I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the throne.” Stannis pointed north. “There is where I’ll find the foe that I was born to fight.”
    â€œHis name may not be spoken,” Melisandre added softly. “He is the God of Night and Terror, Jon Snow, and these shapes in the snow are his creatures.”
    â€œThey tell me that you slew one of these walking corpses to save Lord Mormont’s life,” Stannis said. “It may be that this is your war as well, Lord Snow. If you will give me your help.”
    â€œMy sword is pledged to the Night’s Watch, Your Grace,” Jon Snow answered carefully.
    That did not please the king. Stannis ground his teeth and said, “I need more than a sword from you.”
    Jon was lost. “My lord?”
    â€œI need the north.”
    The north.
“I . . . my brother Robb was King in the North . . .”
    â€œYour brother was the