Teen Wolf: Dragon Among Wolves] Chapter 209: The Free Folk's Choice
July 1
The Flying Carpet soared through the grey sky, cutting through the biting wind. Below them, the frozen landscape stretched endlessly—snow-covered plains, jagged mountains, and the distant glimmer of frozen lakes.
Samwell looked at Jacob and said, "Your Grace, that crater you created with your fire—it's filled with dragonglass. I think we should mine it. It can kill White Walkers."
Jacob nodded. "Oh, I forgot about that. Sure, we can come back and get it later. And I can always create more with my fire—or we can go to Dragonstone and get it. That island is empty right now, and it's filled with dragonglass."
Stiles asked, "How big is the army of the dead anyway?"
Jon said, "Maybe sixty thousand or so."
Benjen shook his head. "No, more. There are more than a hundred thousand. Or even more."
Jacob said, "Actually, there are probably millions of them. I mean, the Night King has been trapped for eight thousand years beyond the Wall. Think about how many White Walkers and how many wights he has by now." He paused. "It should be millions."
Samwell, Edd, Jon, Benjen, Bran, and Meera thought about that. They looked at each other and saw the shock and fear in each other's eyes.
Stiles, however, smiled. "The more the merrier, I guess. I'll ask Cogman to make me a machine gun that shoots dragonglass bullets, or..." He looked at Jacob and begged, "Can you please give me a Spartan Laser? Or your energy machine gun?"
Jacob shook his head. "You can't have a Spartan Laser. I only have ten, and I've already given five to my wives." He paused. "As for the machine gun, I'll lend it to you to play with when we face the army of the dead."
Stiles pointed at him. "Remember what you said. Don't go back on your word."
Jacob smiled. "I won't."
Stiles looked at Tormund. "By the way, Firebeard, why do they call you Giantsbane?"
Tormund smirked. "Firebeard? I like it." He puffed out his chest. "As for why they call me Giantsbane? I killed a giant when I was ten. Then I climbed right into bed with his wife. When she woke up, you know what she did?"
Stiles leaned in. "What did she do?"
Tormund's grin widened. "Suckled me at her teat for three months. She thought I was her baby." He laughed. "That's how I got so strong—giant's milk."
Everyone laughed.
Stiles shook his head. "That's a lie. But it is a good origin story."
Jacob smirked. "I think only the part about him killing a giant is a lie. I think he was kidnapped by a giant and was forcibly nursed by her as her baby."
Tormund's eyes went wide. "How did you know, Your Grace?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "So I guessed right?"
Tormund stammered, "N-no... that's not... what happened..."
Jon laughed. "So that's how you really got your name? I should've known, because you like to make up stories." He looked at everyone who was smiling. "He once told me he slept with a she-bear."
Everyone burst out laughing.
After the laughter stopped, Jacob asked, "By the way, Tormund, what does a female giant look like?"
Tormund shrugged. "Female giants look very similar to male giants—massive, with beards and rough, deep voices. You can't tell if they're females or not."
Jacob sighed dramatically. "That's a disappointment."
Stiles grinned. "Were you hoping to marry one if they were beautiful?"
Jacob nodded. "To be honest, yeah." He sighed again. "But there's no such good thing."
Allison and Sansa just rolled their eyes and said nothing.
Malia asked, "Jay, can we go gather some animals—like mammoths—to take to Serendell after your talk with Tormund's people?"
Jacob nodded. "Sure. We'll also look for giants."
---
They kept talking until they reached Hardhome and landed on a frozen mountain overlooking the Free Folk settlement.
Jacob stored the Flying Carpet in his pocket dimension and joined the others in looking at Hardhome.
Nestled along a frozen coastline beneath towering snow-covered mountains, Hardhome was home to nearly one hundred thousand Free Folk. A handful of sturdy wooden longhouses stood among tens of thousands of tents, forming a sprawling temporary city that stretched for miles. Campfires dotted the icy landscape. Crowded docks lined the shore. The surrounding cliffs and grey sea emphasized the harsh beauty of the frozen wilderness the Free Folk called home.
Stiles shivered. "Man, it's cold out here. Firebeard, how do you guys keep yourselves from freezing to death living in a place like this?"
Tormund smirked. "Out here, you got to keep moving. That's the secret." He winked. "Walking is good. Fighting is better. And fucking is best."
Sansa's voice was sharp. "Hey, we have kids with us. So mind what you say, Tormund."
Tormund looked at Arya, Bran, Meera, and Rickon. "When I was their age, I was already—"
Sansa cut him off. "If you finish that sentence, I swear I will push you from this cliff."
Tormund raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, I'll shut up, Your Grace."
Jacob said, "Okay, let's go."
He teleported everyone to the shore of Hardhome.
---
The Free Folk who were there were confused by the sudden appearance of Jacob and his people—and three direwolves. They started gathering around them, looking at them with hostility.
Jacob, his wives, Aray and Stiles didn't care about the unfriendly stares, but Jon and the others were nervous.
Especially Tormund. He looked at Jacob and said, "Your Grace, please don't mind them. They hate crows and southerners. We were enemies for thousands of years." He swallowed. "So please don't kill them. At least let me talk to them first."
Jacob waved a hand. "Don't worry. I'm not a murdering maniac. I came here to recruit these people, not to kill them."
Tormund nodded. "Follow me."
He walked ahead, and Jacob and the others followed. The Free Folk recognized Tormund and gave way.
They kept walking until they heard a whistle. The people in the front started moving aside as a man wearing a giant skull helmet, leading a few people, appeared and walked toward them.
Tormund walked to him and greeted him. "Lord of Bones. Been a long time."
Lord of Bones looked from Tormund to Jon and said, "Last time I saw you, the little crow was your prisoner." He turned back to Tormund. "The other way around now. What happened?"
Tormund shrugged. "War."
Lord of Bones scoffed. "War? You call that a war? The greatest army the North has ever seen cut to pieces by some southern king."
Tormund said, "We should gather the elders. Find somewhere quiet to talk."
Lord of Bones said, "You don't give the orders here."
Tormund's voice was firm. "I'm not giving an order."
Lord of Bones looked him up and down. "Why aren't you in chains?"
Tormund said, "Because I'm not a prisoner."
Lord of Bones said, "No? Then what are you?"
Tormund met his eyes. "I'm a free man."
Lord of Bones looked at Jon. "Then why did you bring these crows with you?" Then he looked at Jacob. "And who is the pretty boy?"
Tormund said, "He is my king."
Lord of Bones's eyes widened. "You fucking traitor. You fight for southern kings now? And you're friends with the crows?"
Tormund took a step forward and met his eyes. "I'm no traitor. And you better get out of the way."
Lord of Bones started tapping Tormund on the chest with a staff topped with an animal skull. "Did you get down on your knees and suck the cock of your pretty king—"
Tormund had enough. He snatched the staff from Lord of Bones and started beating him with it brutally until he killed him.
Then he threw the staff aside, looked at the Free Folk who were watching, and said, "Gather the elders. Let's talk."
He walked away, and Jacob and the others followed him.
Jacob said, "Quick thinking, Tormund. If you hadn't killed him, Malia would have. And things could have turned ugly very quickly."
Stiles asked, "Why didn't the people around stop you from killing him?"
Jacob answered, "Free Folk culture dictates that fights remain strictly between the individuals involved."
Tormund added, "And no one liked him. He was a treacherous, bloodthirsty bastard."
---
Tormund led the way through the camp. The Free Folk stared at the newcomers with curiosity and wariness but didn't stop them. He led them to a large, driftwood longhouse where they waited for the clan leaders.
Soon, the clan leaders arrived. There were about twenty of them—men and women. They gathered around a fire, sitting on rocks and frozen logs, or simply standing, their eyes fixed on Jacob.
A woman with dark hair named Karsi looked at Jacob and his wives, then at Brienne, then at the others, before turning to Tormund. "Tormund, who are these people?"
Tormund pointed at Jacob. "This is my new king. And his... people."
Karsi's voice was flat. "So it is true. You bent the knee to a southern king."
Tormund shook his head. "He is my king. But I didn't bend the knee or anything like that. I just chose to follow him."
Karsi looked at Jacob, her voice unwelcoming. "So, little boy, why are you here? Do you want us to kneel to you and follow you as our king?"
Jacob shook his head. "I don't want you to kneel to me. But I do want you to swear allegiance to me as your king. I want you to become my people. Not my slaves."
He held up his hand, cutting her off before she could reply.
"First, listen to what I have to say. I will bring you south of the Wall. All of you. The fighters, the women, the children, the old. No one is left behind."
The clan leaders shifted uncomfortably. Some looked skeptical. Others looked hopeful.
"I will give you good land. Land with trees and rivers and game. Land that isn't frozen. You will have food, warmth, and safety. Your children will go to schools. They will learn to read and write. They will become traders, craftsmen, healers, or whatever they want—not just warriors who die young."
A murmur rippled through the group.
"You can build your own city—a city in my kingdom. And you can keep your traditions, as long as you follow my laws and don't hurt other people. There will be no raiding other cities. No fighting with other people from my kingdom. The moment you decide to join me, you all become my people. I don't care if you were southerners before or Free Folk or from wherever. You will all become fellow countrymen in my kingdom."
Karsi's voice was sharp. "And what do you get out of this? No one gives something for nothing."
Jacob met her eyes. "Like I said, I get your allegiance. You will call me your king. Your warriors will become my warriors and will fight my wars when I need them to. That is all I ask."
Another clan leader—a bald man with scars covering his head and cheeks—spoke up. His name was Loboda, and he was the leader of a clan called the Thenn. "And if we say no? What then?"
Jacob shrugged. "Then you stay here. You freeze. You starve. Your children die of cold and hunger. The Night King comes, and you become part of his army." His voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "I won't force you. I won't threaten you. I'll simply leave you to your fate. You see, I don't need you. I just think it's fun to create a kingdom. And since you guys are miserable and would die if you stay here, I thought of doing a good deed and saving you."
The clan leaders didn't like that. They all got angry. One of them—tall with a red beard—said, "We don't need saving, especially from a southern little twat like you."
Jacob stared down the clan leaders, letting his gaze linger on each of them. "Don't let your pride turn you into fools. The Night King doesn't care about lines on a map or who wronged who a thousand years ago. I know your people have bled. The south has bled too. But this isn't about the hatred between southerners and Free Folk—that hatred won't bring the dead back to life, no matter how tightly you cling to it." His voice hardened. "This is about your children."
Loboda said, "We are Free Folk. We will die as Free Folk. And so will our children. We will not follow a southern king."
Jacob ignored him and looked at the others. "Don't choose your so-called freedom over the lives of your sons and daughters. That hollow concept of freedom you're so proud of won't mean a damn thing when you're all mindless puppets in the army of the dead."
Tormund stepped forward. "I know you don't trust southerners. I know you don't trust kings. But this man isn't a southerner. He is not from Westeros. And when he said he doesn't need you, he means it. I've seen what he and his people can do." He looked around at the clan leaders. "I saw him turn a thousand men into ash without breaking a sweat. I saw his wives and his people fight the southern king Stannis and his army—the same army that destroyed ours. And you know what? They won that war. In fact, they slaughtered Stannis and his army. And there were only nine of them and a cat against an army of thousands. A cat that talks like a person, by the way." He pointed at Kitty on Malia's shoulder. "Her. She is stronger than a thousand men."
The clan leaders looked at Kitty. She waved at them and said, "Hi."
They were all stunned.
Tormund continued, "Did you guys hear a loud thundering sound yesterday and see a bright light?"
Karsi said, "We heard and saw the light. What about it?"
Tormund pointed at Jacob. "It was him who caused it. He turned into a dragon and fought a giant tree monster. He burned it, causing that light and thunderous sound, and created a hole in the earth a mile wide."
Tormund let that sink in. They didn't believe him—and he knew it. Something like that needed to be witnessed to be believed. But they had also seen the cat talk, so they didn't think he was lying either. They just thought he was exaggerating.
Tormund looked at all the clan leaders one by one. "He's not like the others. He doesn't want to rule you like cattle. He wants to give you something you've never had. A home. A future. A chance to live without fear."
Loboda looked at Tormund and asked, "Where is Mance?"
Tormund said, "He died."
Loboda demanded, "How?"
Jon stepped forward. "I put an arrow through his heart."
Almost all the clan leaders stood and raised their weapons, shouting to kill Jon. The giant Wun Wun was growling too.
Tormund stepped in front of Jon, holding up both hands. "Hey, hey, hey! Stop for a second!"
Loboda snarled, "I say we kill them all, starting with the crows first."
Tormund's voice was cold. "Loboda, say you want to kill my king one more time, and I promise you—you will die." He looked at the others. "Calm down, everyone, and hear me out. None of you saw Mance die. I did."
Everyone finally calmed down and listened.
Tormund continued, "The southern king who broke our army—Stannis—wanted to burn him alive to send us a message." He pointed at Jon. "Jon Snow defied that cunt's orders. His arrow was mercy. What he did took courage. And that's what we need today—the courage to make peace with men we've been killing for generations and choose a better future for our people."
Karsi's voice was tight. "I lost my father, my uncle, and two brothers fighting the damn crows."
Jon said, "We're not asking you to forget your dead. I'll never forget mine. I lost fifty brothers the night Mance attacked the Wall. But we're asking you to think about your children now. They'll never have children of their own if you don't stop being stubborn and accept King Jacob's offer. The Long Night is coming, and the dead come with it. You and your people can't survive them. And believe me, King Jacob doesn't need you at all. You are the ones who need him."
Karsi thought for a moment, then looked at Tormund. "You trust this king, Tormund?"
Tormund chuckled. "He's prettier than both my daughters."
Karsi looked at Jacob and smirked.
Jacob didn't care—or rather, he was smiling, thinking Tormund was praising his beauty.
Tormund continued, "But he is a man I admire. He's young, but he is a real king. He is very good to his people and very cruel to his enemies. He didn't have to come to Hardhome. He came because he wanted us to join his kingdom and be his people. But make no mistake—he doesn't need us. We do. And after what I've seen since I met him, we really need him. Because there are far scarier things out there than the Night King and his army."
Another clan leader spoke up. "You said he can turn into a dragon?"
Tormund nodded. "Aye. I've seen it. And he has two more dragons. One of them is big enough that a mammoth could fit entirely inside his jaws with room to spare. And each of her teeth is almost the size of a human."
Another clan leader asked, his voice skeptical, "And that giant hole in the earth you said he made? Is it real?"
Tormund grinned. "It's real. And I'll tell you something else—the crater is filled with dragonglass. We were talking about going there and collecting it for weapons. There's enough there to arm every man, woman, and child in the North, with a lot to spare."
The clan leaders exchanged glances. Dragonglass was invaluable against the White Walkers. A crater filled with it was a treasure beyond measure.
Loboda said, "My ancestors would spit on me if I broke bread with a crow and followed a stranger as a king."
Karsi said, "So would mine. But fuck 'em. They're dead." She walked to Jon and looked him in the eyes. Then she looked at Benjen and Edd. "I'll never trust a man in black."
Then she walked to Tormund, stood by his side, and looked at Jacob. "But I trust you, Tormund. If you say this is the way, we're with you."
Tormund looked around and said, "This is the way."
The clan leader with the red beard said, "I'm with Tormund. We stay here, we're dead men. At least with the young king, there's a chance."
The giant Wun Wun rumbled, "Tormund."
Loboda walked to Jacob. "Keep that new life you want to give us, little king." He looked around at the clan leaders. "As soon as you get on his ships, they're gonna slit your throats and dump your bodies to the bottom of the Shivering Sea."
He pointed at Jon, Benjen, and Edd with his axe. "They are our enemy. Them and southerners have always been our enemy."
Then he walked past Jacob to leave. A few clan leaders followed him.
Karsi muttered, "I hate Thenns."
Allison looked at Jacob. "Maybe if you show them a little bit of your strength, they'll follow you."
Jacob shook his head. "No. Let them leave. To tell you the truth, I was hoping that bold guy and his clan would refuse to join me."
Sansa asked, "Why?"
Jacob's voice was cold. "Because the Thenns are brutal cannibals who feast on the flesh of their fallen enemies."
Malia asked, "Should we kill them then?"
Jacob shrugged. "Nah. Let them be. They won't survive out here on their own anyway."
Karsi said, "We are willing to follow you. But can you prove what Tormund said? Can you show us your powers?"
Jacob's eyes glowed red. He let out a controlled burst of his Conqueror's Haki aimed at the clan leaders—not enough to knock them out, but enough to make them feel it. They felt an overwhelming pressure. Their hearts raced with primal terror.
Then he waved his hand. A giant, life-like fire serpent appeared, hissing at them, the heat so intense that sweat dripped from their faces before the serpent vanished.
Jacob looked at them with his glowing red eyes and intensified his Conqueror's Haki slightly—still not enough to knock them out, but enough to make them truly understand.
"Is this enough?" he asked, his voice calm and cold.
All the clan leaders fell to their knees.
Karsi looked at Jacob in terror and said with difficulty, "It's enough, my... king."
Jacob restrained his haki and helped Karsi up. "Good. Those who want to follow me and become my people, go gather your clans and pack your things. We will leave once you are ready."
The rest of the clan leaders stood up, and along with Karsi, they all swore allegiance to Jacob—that as long as he kept his word and took care of their children, women, and non-combatants, they would never betray him and would fight for him.
Then they went to gather their clans and pack their things.
Tormund went with them to gather his own clan as well. When they were outside the longhouse, Karsi asked, "Where are his ships?"
Tormund smiled mysteriously. "We won't be needing ships. You'll see."
Chapter 210: The Gathering
July 3
After Tormund and the clan leaders left, Jacob took out his compass and thought about finding giants other than Wun Wun.
The compass spun for a few moments before it pointed north.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "There are really more of them."
Allison looked at the compass in his hand. "More of what?"
Jacob said, "Giants. The compass is pointing to them."
Allison asked, "Are you going to find them?"
Jacob nodded. "Yeah. I'll see if they want to join our kingdom." He paused. "I'm going now. You girls wait for me here."
Allison said, "Okay."
Jacob looked at Malia. "I'll go collect the animals with you when I come back. We'll collect all the species we can find—giant polar bears, mammoths, direwolves, shadowcats, and giant ice spiders."
Allison frowned. "Giant spiders? Don't bring those home."
Malia, on the other hand, was excited. She raised her hand. "I want them! I want them!"
Allison said, "Malia, they're too creepy."
Stiles chimed in, "I'm with Allison on this one. I hate those creepy crawlers."
Malia glared at him. "You shut up. You don't get a say on what I want to take home."
Stiles raised his hands and shut his mouth.
Malia looked at Allison and said, "They'll be far from the palace. Besides, don't you want to see them?"
Allison sighed. "Fine." Then she smiled. "And you're right, I kind of want to see them too."
Jacob looked at Wun Wun, the last giant in the Free Folk camp. He was massive—twelve feet tall, with a thick beard and a shaggy coat of fur. He was still in the longhouse, looking at Jacob with curiosity.
"Come with me," Jacob said. "Let's go find more of your people."
He left the longhouse.
Wun Wun stood up carefully, not wanting to hit anything, and followed Jacob outside.
Jacob wrapped Wun Wun in his telekinesis. "Alright, let's go."
He teleported in the direction the compass was pointing. They teleported six or seven times, each jump covering more than a hundred miles, until they reached the far north—a place where everything was frozen and dead.
Except one place.
Nestled in the heart of the frozen wasteland, they found a small valley filled with life. Steam rose from the earth in lazy curls, evidence of volcanic vents and hot springs that warmed the ground and made life possible in the Land of Always Winter. Green grass covered the valley floor. Trees grew along the edges. Streams of warm water flowed through the center, feeding pools where steam rose like ghostly breath. Elk, bison, and reindeer grazed peacefully.
And in the center of the valley stood a small village—a collection of crude stone huts surrounded by mammoths.
Jacob teleported with Wun Wun a distance away from the village.
Wun Wun immediately got on his knees and started retching.
Jacob said, "Sorry about that. But if we flew, it would have taken us hours to reach this place."
He looked at the valley—the steam, the warmth, the life. 'These giants will probably not want to leave this place and follow a stranger like me,' he thought. 'But it's worth the shot.'
Once Wun Wun got a hold of himself and stood up, Jacob said, "Let's go. Tell them I want them to follow me, and I will give them good land. They will never worry about the Night King. Tell them I will take them back south of the Wall, where their ancestors used to live."
They walked to the village.
The giants saw them and grew wary. But when they saw there was just one giant and one human, they relaxed.
Wun Wun stepped forward and spoke in the giants' language. The giants listened. They looked at Jacob. Then one of them—the largest, with a scar across his chest—stepped forward and said something.
Wun Wun translated, his English rough. "He says they will not follow a weak human."
Jacob said, "Tell them—what if I prove my strength and show them that I'm stronger than them? Will they be willing to follow me then?"
Wun Wun translated. The leader of the giants answered with a laugh as he looked at Jacob.
Wun Wun turned to Jacob. "He says if you can beat him, you will be their new king."
Jacob smiled. "Then recruiting them will be easier than I thought."
He took off his upper clothes and cloak and shifted into his humanoid dragon form. Black scales covered his body except for his face. Wings spread from his back. His eyes glowed crimson. Horns grew from his head. Sharp claws extended from his fingers. And his height grew—until he was larger than the leader of the giants.
The giants stared. Their eyes widened. Some of them took a step back.
Jacob released a small fraction of his dragon aura—just enough to let them feel his power, but not enough to terrify them.
"Tell them," Jacob said, his voice deep and monstrous, "that I am not a man. I am a dragon. And I will fight anyone of them—or all of them—if they want to fight me together."
Wun Wun translated.
The giants exchanged glances. The largest one—the leader—said something. The rest of them responded. Then he looked at Wun Wun and told him something.
Wun Wun translated. "They said there is no need to challenge you. They are willing to follow you as their king."
Jacob smiled. "Good. Tell them to pack up their things as soon as possible. We need to leave."
Wun Wun translated. The giants bowed to Jacob and left to start packing their things.
Jacob shifted back to human form, put on his clothes, and teleported back to the longhouse at Hardhome.
---
Hardhome — Longhouse
Jacob appeared inside the longhouse.
"I found the giants," he said. "And they agreed to follow me." He looked at Malia. "They have mammoths and something that looks like a bison but bigger."
Malia said excitedly, "Take me! I want to see the mammoths!"
Jacob said, "Stiles, Arya, you two and Brienne keep an eye on things here until I come back."
Before Stiles or Arya could say a word, Jacob wrapped Allison, Malia, Kitty and Sansa in his telekinesis and teleported with them to the giants' village.
---
The Valley of the Giants
Malia smiled as she looked at the mammoths. "They're gorgeous!"
She ran to play with them. The mammoths, initially wary, soon relaxed around her. One of the younger ones let her climb onto its back.
Allison said, "Aren't mammoths supposed to be the same size as African elephants? These ones are bigger than I thought they would be."
Jacob said, "This is a different world than ours. You've seen the size of the direwolves in this world—they're way bigger than the direwolves that went extinct in ours."
He looked at her. "And did you notice something different when we came back this morning?"
Allison nodded. "You noticed too? I thought I was overthinking."
Sansa asked, "What did you two notice?"
Allison said, "Supernatural energy—magical energy, mana, or whatever it's called. I can feel it in the air now. It's still weaker than our world and way weaker than Serendell, but I can feel it more clearly since this morning."
Sansa asked, "And why do you think the supernatural energy is stronger now?"
Jacob said, "I think it's because I killed the Jubokko. I think that demon tree was absorbing it and feeding on it. And I think the other demons living in this world—like R'hllor—are absorbing the supernatural energy too. That's why the supernatural energy of this world is weaker now, or almost disappeared. People say dragons grew smaller before they went extinct because they got caged—but I think that's only one reason."
Allison said, "Then isn't this bad for humans? I mean, supernatural creatures will start appearing in this world. Animals will start mutating and turning into monsters now that the supernatural energy is coming back. And it will only get stronger when you kill more demons that are feeding on it."
Jacob shrugged. "I don't know. But we will protect people in our kingdom. And people will also gain supernatural powers to protect themselves—like the Starks, who can control animals, and the Targaryens, who can control dragons and are immune to fire. Maybe even shapeshifters will appear in this world. This world has its mythical and fairy-tale creatures too. So maybe they weren't just fairy tales—they were real creatures that disappeared because the supernatural energy of this world had been drained."
Malia came back from playing with the mammoths. "Jay, let's go gather the animals!"
Jacob looked at Allison and said, "We'll see what happens in the future and how this world will change after the supernatural energy grows stronger. We'll deal with it accordingly." He turned to Malia. "Now, let's catch some animals."
---
They left Wun Wun with the giants and followed the compass to find the legendary animals of the far North.
First, they found direwolves.
They discovered two different packs—massive wolves that stood as tall as small horses, with thick grey and white fur and intelligent, golden eyes. About twenty-five in total, including pups and grown adults. Jacob used his Conqueror's Haki to subdue them without harming them. Then he took them to Serendell and created an environment suitable for ice-age animals—a frozen territory far from the palace, where they could live in peace.
Next, they found mammoths.
A herd of them—massive, shaggy beasts with curved tusks and long, thick fur. Malia was ecstatic. She climbed onto the largest one and rode it around the herd, laughing. Jacob teleported them to Serendell as well.
Then they found woolly rhinos.
Sansa gasped. "Those are Ice-Horned Beasts! Old Nan used to tell stories about them!"
They were massive creatures, covered in thick fur, with two massive horns curving from their snouts. Jacob teleported a herd of them to Serendell.
They found herds of reindeer, yukon horses, and bison. They were larger than their counterparts in the modern world—more muscular, with thicker fur and larger antlers. Jacob took them all.
They found shadowcats.
They looked exactly like tigers but with striped white-and-black fur instead of orange and black. Malia tamed them with her roar, and they followed her like kittens. Jacob took them to Serendell.
They found snow bears.
Giant bears standing ten to twelve feet tall at the shoulder. Majestic. Terrifying. Beautiful. Jacob used his Conqueror's Haki to calm them and took a small population to Serendell.
They found saber-toothed tigers.
Malia went crazy over them. She made Jacob search for sixteen of them before she was satisfied. The massive felines, with their elongated canine teeth, were the crown jewel of her collection.
And finally, they found giant ice spiders.
In a frozen cave deep in the mountains, they found them. Massive creatures—each one the size of a horse, with eight legs covered in white fur. Their multiple eyes gleamed with ancient hunger.
Malia grinned. "They're so beautiful!"
Allison said, "They're not as creepy as I thought they would be."
Sansa hid behind Jacob. "No, they're scary and creepy!" She shivered. "I feel like they're crawling on me."
Jacob said, "I think they look good."
He walked to the biggest one—a massive creature with a leg span of fifteen feet. It skittered toward him, its many eyes fixed on him. Sansa hid behind Allison.
Jacob let out a controlled burst of his Conqueror's Haki—just enough to subdue the spider. It stopped and lowered its body in submission.
He reached out and touched its fur. It was soft—like thick wool.
Malia joined him, touching the fur of the giant spider. "Can we keep them all?"
Jacob laughed. "We're only taking a few. Spiders can reproduce rapidly—one female can lay up to a thousand eggs. We definitely don't want Serendell overrun with giant spiders."
He took the biggest one and a few smaller ones to Serendell and put them in a frozen cave there.
---
After they were done collecting the animals, they teleported back to the giants' village and found them packed and ready to move.
Jacob wrapped them with their luggage and animals in his telekinesis and teleported with them back to Hardhome.
---
Hardhome
The Free Folk were surprised to see so many giants and mammoths and bison appear out of nowhere.
Jacob told the giants to wait there for a while before he would take them to find a new home. He let Wun Wun stay with them so they wouldn't have conflict with the Free Folk.
Then he, Allison, Malia, Kitty, and Sansa went inside the longhouse and found Tormund there.
Jacob asked, "Are your people ready to move?"
Tormund shook his head. "Not yet, Your Grace. They need a little more time."
Jacob nodded. "Alright. We will wait." He looked at Stiles. "There are mammoths outside if you want to see them."
Stiles ran outside, followed by Arya, Bran, Meera, Rickon, and Osha. They went to see the mammoths.
Jacob took food from his pocket dimension. "Let's eat. I'm starving."
They—Jacob, his wives, Kitty, Jon, Tormund, Edd, Benjen, Samwell, and Brienne—started eating. Soon, they were joined by Stiles and the others, who came back from seeing the mammoths with excited smiles on their faces.
The longhouse was filled with laughter and conversation.
Chapter 211: Let Them Fend for Themselves
July 3
After eating, Jacob and his group stayed in the longhouse and talked for another three hours before Karsi returned with three other clan leaders.
She looked at Jacob and said, "We are ready to leave, my king."
Jacob asked, "How many Free Folk decided to accept me as their king?"
Karsi said, "About ninety thousand. Only the Thenns and three other clans refused. They are about fifteen thousand of them."
Jacob nodded. "Alright. That's their choice. I will respect it." He stood. "Lead the way, Karsi."
Jacob and the others followed Karsi outside the longhouse and found thousands of Free Folk gathered outside, looking at them with hostile eyes.
Karsi said, "These are the Thenns and the three other clans who refused to follow you, my king. My clan and the other clans who chose to follow you are over there."
Jacob looked where she was pointing and saw tens of thousands of people waiting a few miles by the shore.
Jacob nodded and followed Karsi, telling Wun Wun and the other giants to follow them.
As they headed toward his new people—now half a mile away from the Thenns and the other clans who had refused to accept him as their king—Malia looked at the mountains above Hardhome. A blizzard was coming, turning the sky dark.
"Jay," she said, "something is coming."
Jacob didn't look back. "I know. It's the army of the dead."
Allison looked back at the Thenns and the other clans who had refused Jacob's offer. "Are we going to save them?"
Jacob's voice was flat. "No. We are going to protect our own. As for the Thenns and the others, I offered them the chance to become my people, and they refused. They have their pride, and I respect that." His voice hardened. "But I have my own pride too, Allison. Let them fend for themselves."
Allison sighed. "That's harsh... but I understand."
Jon's voice was sharp, filled with disbelief and anger. "Are you serious? There are children and women among them! And you have the strength to save them!"
Jacob didn't stop walking. He didn't look back. His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.
"I offered them a choice. They made theirs."
Jon grabbed his arm. "They're all going to die!"
Jacob stopped. He turned slowly, his eyes meeting Jon's. There was no anger in them. No sympathy. No warmth. Just cold and dangerous stillness.
"People die every day, Jon. I have no duty to save them. The only duty I have is to protect my family and my people."
He pulled his arm free.
"I'm not a hero. I didn't come here to save everyone. I came here because I wanted to build a kingdom—because I thought it would be fun." His voice hardened. "But building a kingdom is not a joke. It needs to be built on choices. On loyalty. On consequences."
He gestured toward the Thenns and the other clans who had refused him.
"Those people made their choice. They chose their pride over their children's lives. They chose their hatred over survival. And now, they will face the consequences of that choice."
Jon's voice was tight. "There are still innocent children among them."
Jacob turned and started walking again. "Do you know what happens when a king saves people who refused to follow him? They learn that they can defy him without consequence. They learn that his mercy is weakness. They learn that they can ignore his orders, reject his authority, and still be rescued when their own choices put them in danger."
His voice dropped.
"A real king does not reward defiance with salvation."
Jon opened his mouth, but Jacob cut him off.
"You were there, weren't you? You heard me when I offered them a future. I offered their children safety, warmth, food, and education. I offered them a chance to live. They threw it back in my face. They chose to stay in this frozen hell rather than follow a 'little southern twat' as they called me." His voice was cold. "So let them fend for themselves. I will not save them only for them to curse my name tomorrow."
Jacob stopped, then added over his shoulder.
"But don't worry, brother-in-law. I'm not totally heartless. I'll save the children and women—but not before that bald-headed bastard and all his extremist friends die first."
He started walking again, his voice final.
"Now, let's go to our people. Let's watch the show for now. Unless, of course, you want to go join Loboda and fight alongside him." He glanced back, his eyes cold. "If that's your choice, then you're free to go die alongside him. I won't stop you."
Before Jon could respond, Sansa caught his arm. "You will do no such thing."
Arya grabbed his other arm, her grip firm. "Jon, don't do anything stupid. Jacob said the Thenns are cannibals. Let them and the clans who chose to stay with them die."
Jon looked at both his sisters, then sighed heavily. "I'm not an idiot. I won't go there and get myself killed." He paused. "I was just asking him why he doesn't want to save them—even though he has the power to do so with ease."
Arya's voice was sharp. "Those are his powers. He can do with them as he pleases. And honestly, I'm with him. I was thinking of killing that bald bastard myself." She tugged his arm. "Now let's go. And stop asking stupid questions."
Malia walked past them, her eyes fixed on Jon. She didn't stop, but her voice carried back, cold and dismissive.
"You're a self-righteous fool, Jon. I hate people like you. And I really want to beat your ass."
Jon opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. He watched as Malia walked away, her cloak billowing in the wind.
Sansa squeezed his arm. "She doesn't mean it. She's just... Malia."
Allison smirked. "No. She meant every word she said."
Arya said, "Jon, remember—Father died because of his righteousness and honor. So stop being so noble and start thinking with your head instead of your heart."
She let go of his arm and walked after Malia.
Sansa leaned in and whispered in Jon's ear. "Piece of advice: never grab Jay's arm like that again in front of people, brother. He didn't like that. I could feel it. You're not that close to him yet, so be careful around him. He is not a normal man. He is a king and a dragon. He won't hurt you for my sake, but he will definitely hate you. And you and I both don't want that."
She let go of his arm and followed Jacob.
Stiles chuckled. "Jon reminds me of Scott. The two of them will become very good friends. Probably even best friends."
Allison smirked. "Shouldn't you be worried about losing your best friend?"
Stiles said, "No, Jacob is my new best friend. Right, Jacob?"
He was about to hug Jacob's shoulder, but Jacob pushed him away.
Jacob looked at him with disgust. "Stay away from me. And I think your new best friend is Cogman. The two of you are both crazy psychopaths."
Stiles felt offended. "Hey, don't compare me to Cogman! I'm not a psychopath like him! And he is not my best friend!"
Jacob smirked. "Are you sure? I remember what you did to that Kludde. You made him explode. Then I saw what you did to Stannis's army—you were butchering them with a maniacal smile on your face. And you actually spend a lot of time with Cogman. You guys fight like children all the time. You hang out together a lot, talking about your favorite villains from Marvel and DC. You act like a girl from time to time to try and raise my blood pressure, and you even taught that to Cogman." He paused. "So yeah, I think you two evil bastards are best friends."
Stiles said, "Hey, you are the last person who can call me evil or a psychopath. You are more evil than Cogman—" He stopped. "Well, no one is more evil than that creepy bastard. Remember when he shrunk himself and entered that old man's body, then got bigger inside his chest, making him explode, and got out of his body like a Xenomorph?" Stiles shivered. "I still have nightmares about that from time to time. I wake up in the middle of the night screaming and checking my chest."
Jacob sighed. "I forgot about that. Or more like I buried that memory deep in my mind until you idiot reminded me just now."
Malia said, "I remember. It was creepy, and I regret watching him do it." She paused. "But to be honest, I want to see him do it again." She looked at Jacob with a frown. "Does that make me weird?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Love, you are weird."
Malia shrugged. "I guess I am."
They kept talking until they reached the Free Folk who had accepted Jacob as their king. ninety thousand people stood before him—men, women, and children—their faces a mixture of hope, fear, and uncertainty. The wind howled around them, carrying the distant sound of the approaching blizzard.
Jacob stepped onto a large rock and faced them. He used his dragon voice—deep and resonant, carrying across the frozen shore like thunder.
"Listen to me."
The crowd fell silent.
"My name is Jacob Alexander. I am your new king. I am not a southerner. I am not a northerner. I am not even from this world."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"I am a dragon."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"I know you have seen strange things today—giants, and mammoths appearing from nowhere. I know you have heard Tormund and the elders speak of my power. I know some of you still fear. Some of you still doubt."
His eyes swept across them.
"That is fine. Fear is natural. Doubt is natural. But know this—I am not here to enslave you. I am not here to use you and discard you."
"I am here to build a kingdom. A kingdom where your children will not freeze. Where your old will not be left to die alone. Where your women will not starve or die during childbirth. I am here to give you something your ancestors have never had—a real home. With warmth. With food. With safety."
"But a kingdom is built on more than just promises. It is built on loyalty. It is built on trust. It is built on laws."
His eyes swept across them again.
"I ask you to obey my laws. Do not harm the innocent. Do not steal from your neighbors. Fight for me when I call. I will not send you to die for nothing. I will not waste your lives. But if I call, you will answer. And be loyal. I will give you everything I have promised and more. But if you betray me..."
His eyes flickered red.
"...I will not show mercy."
He let the words hang in the air.
"That is the price of joining my kingdom. That is the price of my protection. That is the price of a new life. And I promise you, it is a price worth paying."
He gestured toward the distant mountains, where the blizzard was growing darker.
"The army of the dead is coming. I can feel them. They are marching toward us even now. But you do not need to be afraid. You do not need to fight today."
He smiled—a cold, confident smile.
He looked at Allison and the others. "My family and I will deal with them."
He turned back to the Free Folk. "You wanted to know if I could keep my promises. You wanted to know if what Tormund and the elders said about my powers was true."
He spread his arms.
"Then I will let you see that you chose the right king."
His voice rose, carrying across the frozen shore.
"Stay behind me and my family. And enjoy the show."
He turned to face the approaching darkness.
"You are my people now. And I protect what is mine."
The Free Folk watched their new king, their eyes wide, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation.
Chapter 212: The Battle of Hardhome – Part 1
July 5
Jacob stood on the frozen shore, his eyes fixed on the distant mountains. The blizzard was almost upon Hardhome, a wall of white and grey that swallowed the sky and turned the world into a frozen nightmare.
Behind him, ninety thousand Free Folk watched in terrified silence. They clutched their children, their weapons, and each other. The wind howled, carrying the distant sound of shrieks and screams.
"They're here," Jacob said calmly. "Let's watch and let the Thenns and the other three clans fight them for now."
In the distance, above the mountains, the army of the dead appeared from the blizzard.
They came like a wave of rot and cold—a tide of blue-eyed corpses that spilled over the cliffs like water. They didn't climb down. They didn't slow. They simply fell, tumbling down the rocky slopes. Some of them had their bones shattered, lost arms, jaws, legs, ribs—but most of them rose from the snow-covered ground unharmed, while those who lost their legs crawled on their hands.
There were tens of thousands of wights. They advanced through the snow toward the Thenns and the three other clans, as they were the closest to them, their blue eyes glowing like cold stars.
White Walkers rode down the mountain on dead horses, their ice blades gleaming, and joined the wights.
The White Walkers looked up at the cliff, where the Night King appeared with his generals riding on horses and watching the battlefield.
The Night King raised his spear, and the White Walkers down the mountain shrieked. The army of the dead charged.
Loboda stood at the front of his people, his axe in his hand, his scarred face twisted with defiance.
He had seen the dead before. He had fought them. He knew what they were capable of.
But not like this. Not this many.
"Form a line!" he roared. "Shields forward! Spears behind! Archers, nock your arrows!"
The Thenns and the other three clans scrambled into formation. They were warriors—fierce, proud, bloodied by a lifetime of fighting. But their hands were shaking. Their eyes were wide.
"Get the children and the non-fighters to the back!" Loboda shouted. "Move them toward the shore! If we fall, they swim! They survive!"
The children were dragged toward the Shivering Sea. The old and the weak followed. Women clutched their babies, their faces pale with terror.
Soon, the first wave of wights hit the Thenn lines like a hammer.
They didn't fight like men. They didn't feel pain, fear, or exhaustion. They just kept coming—clawing, biting, tearing. Their rotten fingers ripped through flesh. Their teeth found throats. Their bodies piled on top of each other, forming mountains of corpses that climbed over the shield walls.
The Thenns fought back with desperate fury. Axes cleaved through rotting skulls. Spears pierced chests. Swords severed limbs. But for every wight that fell, two more took its place.
A White Walker rode through the chaos on a dead horse, his ice blade gleaming. He swung, and a Thenn warrior fell—dead before he hit the ground. The White Walker rode on, carving a path through the defenders like a scythe through wheat.
More White Walkers followed. Their shrieks cut through the wind, freezing the blood in the veins of the living. Their ice blades shattered steel and bone with equal ease.
And what was worse, the White Walkers used their magic, and the dead Free Folk rose with blue eyes and joined the ranks of the dead army.
---
High above the battlefield, on a rocky outcropping, the Night King watched.
His face was pale and ancient, carved from ice and hatred. His blue eyes burned with cold intelligence. He sat on a dead horse, his spear in his hand, his generals gathered around him.
He watched the Thenns and the other three clans fight, watched them die, and then join his ranks as wights.
Then his gaze shifted to the far shore, roughly three miles from the battle, where Jacob and the ninety thousand Free Folk stood.
His glowing blue eyes swept over them. He looked at the giants and mammoths with greed, then his gaze moved to Jacob and his family, studying each of them in turn. Finally, his gaze settled on Jacob himself—who was staring back with crimson eyes and a mocking smirk.
The Night King's eyes flickered with something that might have been interest.
He raised his spear.
The White Walkers on the ground shrieked in response. The wights attacked with renewed fury, pouring over the wooden walls that the Thenns and the others tried to hide behind like a tide of rot and bone.
---
Jacob disappeared and came back a moment later with Victoria and Chris.
He said to Chris, "Those are the army of the dead. You should learn how they fight."
Then he waved his hand, and a space portal appeared next to him. Soon, Lydia came through from Serendell, and the portal closed.
Lydia looked at the chaotic battlefield, then looked at Jacob. "Jay, why did you call me?"
Jacob said, "I want you to tell me what you feel about the Night King and his generals." He nodded with his head toward the cliff where the Night King was. "They are on that cliff."
Lydia's eyes glowed white as she looked at the Night King and his generals for a few moments. Then she said, "They are not dead."
Samwell asked with wide eyes, "Not dead?"
Lydia nodded. "They are definitely not dead. I know how the dead feel." She looked at the chaotic battlefield. "Those skeletal ones attacking that camp over there are dead. They are just puppets with no soul. But the ones riding horses and looking like they are made of ice, and the ones on the cliff, are definitely alive. They are just no longer humans—they are supernatural creatures."
Stiles said, "So the Night King was just a man, but when the Children of the Forest wanted a weapon against humanity, they shoved dragonglass into his chest and used dark magic to turn him into a supernatural creature that can control corpses like puppets and turn people into White Walkers—just like an alpha werewolf turns people with a bite."
Lydia said, "Yeah."
Jacob smirked. "I think that kind of power would suit you, Stiles. You could control the corpses of beautiful women. Too bad we killed all the Children of the Forest."
Stiles groaned. "Come on, will you guys stop with the necrophilia jokes?"
Jacob, Allison, Lydia, Malia, Victoria, Chris, and Kitty laughed.
---
Loboda fought with everything he had.
His axe was wet with rotten black blood. His armor was torn. His face was streaked with grime and gore. He cut down one wight, then another, then a third. But they just kept coming.
"Hold the line!" he shouted. "Hold!"
He caught a glimpse of the Night King on the cliff above. He saw the pale figure raising his spear. He saw the wights surge forward like a wave.
And he knew.
They weren't going to make it.
A wight tackled him from the side. He threw it off, but another grabbed his leg. Then another. Then another. They swarmed him like ants, their frozen hands tearing at his armor, his flesh, his face.
Loboda screamed.
And then he was dead.
Without Loboda to lead them, the warriors of the Thenn and the other three clans broke. They scattered, running toward the shore, toward the sea, toward anything that wasn't death.
But there was nowhere to run.
The wights swarmed them. They dragged them down, tore them apart. The White Walkers rode through the chaos, their ice blades flashing, their shrieks freezing the air. They used their magic, and the corpses of the dead stood and turned into soldiers in the army of the dead.
The women, the children, and the non-combatants—who had been standing on the shore of the Shivering Sea and watching the massacre in fear—were the only ones left now, about seven thousand.
They were about to jump into the frozen water when a giant fire snake, thirty meters long and ten meters thick, came and burned all the wights heading for them and stood there protecting them.
The White Walkers shrieked, and the wights stopped attacking and backed away from the giant fire snake.
The Night King turned from the battlefield to the ninety thousand far away from the battlefield, and his blue eyes focused on Jacob, who was holding a small flame in his hand and staring back at him.
The Night King pointed his spear toward them.
The White Walkers on the ground shrieked in response and turned toward Jacob and marched.
The wights charged past them toward Jacob.
Jacob watched the wights coming with a smirk.
He turned to the ninety thousand Free Folk behind him. Their faces were pale. Their eyes were wide, but they had hope after seeing him use the giant fire snake attack.
He raised his voice.
"Watch. And remember what you see here today."
He turned to face the advancing army of the dead.
"Everyone, go on. Show them what you've got. But don't use powerful attacks—we don't want to scare the Night King. I want him to still have hope of winning against us in the future."
Malia frowned. "Why aren't we killing him now?"
Jacob said, "Because I want to use him and his army to unite Westeros. But we are going to wipe out this army he brought with him today. Only he and his generals will leave here alive."
Allison asked, "Are you going to participate?"
Jacob nodded. "Yes, but not now. You guys go have fun. Kill half of them and leave half for me."
Allison rolled her eyes. "You want to show off again."
Jacob grinned. "Yes. But I will not go crazy. I will call Kisarax to show her to the Free Folk, and I will also use a move or two."
Allison drew her sword, Shusui. "Mom. Girls." A smile spread across her face. "Let's have some fun."
She charged toward the army of the dead.
Malia, Lydia, Sansa, Victoria, Arya, Kitty, and Brienne followed.
Stiles turned to Jacob. "Jacob, please give me that machine gun to play with."
Jacob shook his head. "No. Like I said, I don't want to scare the Night King too much. I'll give it to you later. If you want to fight, use a sword or an axe."
Stiles sighed. "Fine." Then he grinned excitedly. "But give me your sword. I can't kill them with normal swords."
Jacob handed Stiles his sword, Griffin.
Stiles took it and ran after the girls.
Jacob looked at Chris by his side. "Aren't you going to fight?"
Chris said, "Do you have a sword I can borrow?"
Jacob took a sword from his pocket dimension and handed it to Chris. "This sword was in Bloodraven's cave. I took it when we left in a hurry when the Jubokko was awakening."
Chris took the sword, which had a black, plain scabbard, and drew it. It was a thin, narrow, lightweight longsword.
Jacob said, "It's called Dark Sister. It's a legendary Valyrian steel sword belonging to House Targaryen."
Samwell, Edd, Jon, Benjen, Bran, and Meera looked at the sword curiously.
Chris tested the sword's balance with a few swings. "Nice sword." He hung the scabbard at his waist and smiled. "It's mine now, right?"
Jacob smiled back. "Sure."
Chris said, "Thanks. Alright, I'm going to have fun." He ran into the battle.
---
The Battle
Allison moved like the wind. Her katana, Shusui, was coated in cyan wind energy, and she sliced through wights with ease. Her wind energy destroyed them completely, so every wight she cut didn't get up again. She moved too fast—the wights didn't even react before they were cut in half.
Malia fought like a beast. Her sword, Tessaiga, transformed into a massive fang-shaped cleaver with white fur erupting from the hilt. She channeled her energy into it, and the blade crackled with lightning. Each swing sent arcs of electricity through the wights, shattering them into pieces.
Arya was a blur of motion. Her Valyrian steel dagger flashed in the pale light. She moved through the enemy like a ghost—appearing, striking, disappearing.
Kitty and Victoria also became blurs, using their vibranium daggers to destroy wights.
Stiles was having the time of his life. He swung Griffin left and right, and the enchanted blade sliced through White Walkers like butter. Then he grinned. "Let me use my famous move—Whirlwind—again!" He started spinning fast and went deep inside the army of the dead, destroying them while laughing like a maniac.
Brienne's Valyrian steel sword cut through dead flesh and frozen bone with equal ease. She fought with the discipline of a trained knight, her movements precise and economical. She didn't waste a single motion.
Chris, on the other hand, didn't bother with wights. He went straight for the White Walkers. They were stronger than wights, but Chris killed them with ease, and every time he killed one, the wights around him crumbled to dust.
Sansa and Lydia used fire, sending fireballs toward wights and burning them to ash. When they realized that White Walkers were immune to fire, they used the Firaga spell. Although it was fire too, it exploded upon impact and killed the White Walkers from the kinetic energy of the explosion.
The White Walkers ordered some wights to swarm Allison and the others with numbers, and ordered the rest to ignore them and attack the Free Folk behind them.
Allison waved her sword and sent a slash of wind energy, destroying all the wights surrounding her. Then she sent another, destroying the wights that had passed her and were heading toward Jacob and the Free Folk. She sheathed her sword and looked toward Jacob, sending him a telepathic message.
[Jay, although we're way stronger than them, we can't stop them from passing us and attacking the Free Folk if we don't use destructive attacks. Can I use my bow?]
Jacob replied telepathically, [Sure, why not. Lydia and Sansa already went crazy using the Firaga spell. If the Night King isn't already scared of us, then he never will be. Anyway, use your bow—just don't use too much energy.]
Allison took out her bow, the Emberheart. She nocked an arrow made of lightning, drew, and released. The arrow struck a cluster of wights and exploded. Fifty of them fell—vaporized by the blast. Allison fired again, and again, and again. Every arrow destroyed dozens.
Stiles killed a White Walker and watched thirty wights around it crumble to dust. He grinned.
"Malia! Arya! Brienne! Victoria! Kitty!" he shouted. "Forget about the wights! Kill the ice bastards! The corpses they control will be destroyed!"
Malia, Arya, Victoria, Kitty, and Brienne changed their tactics. They stopped playing with wights and targeted the White Walkers, cutting them down one by one. With each death, more wights crumbled.
The Free Folk watched in stunned silence. They had never seen anything like it. These few fighters were destroying an army of the dead with ease.
Benjen was shocked—it was his first time seeing them fight.
Jon, Samwell, Edd, Bran, Rickon, Meera, Osha, and Tormund watched with admiration. They weren't shocked—not after seeing Jacob's fight with the Jubokko.
Karsi walked to Tormund and said, "So our king and his people really don't need us."
Tormund, not looking away from the battlefield, said, "Yes. We are the ones who need them."
Karsi said, "I'm glad I chose wisely—unlike Loboda and his stubbornness."
Tormund nodded. "Me too, friend. Glad you didn't make the wrong choice."
The fight continued. The army of the dead was being decimated.