After Mance spoke, silence fell in the Hall. Mance looked intently at Thorfinn. He knew that while Thorfinn looked the youngest, he was the one who held the authority. He began to probe, testing Thorfinn and Merek. A man's words can reveal much, and Mance knew his new companions were far from simple.
From their earlier conversation, Mance knew that while Merek had a bit of cunning, he was still just a boy at heart. The most difficult one to handle was the young man named Thorfinn before him.
Thorfinn said expressionlessly, "Mance Rayder, you were once a member of the Night's Watch, and a capable one at that. We don't trust the Crows; everyone Beyond the Wall knows that, and you should too. Friends? It seems rather laughable. If you can betray the Crows, why wouldn't you betray us? Mance, are you truly free?"
Mance heard Thorfinn's words and gave a helpless smile. "You know quite a bit."
Thorfinn shrugged. "Not much. Just a few Crows whose names are worth remembering. They're our ancient enemies; we have to remember some of them. It just so happens I know you."
Mance spoke calmly. "Do you know why I betrayed my sworn brothers? I was once one of their finest."
Thorfinn: "For a woman?"
Mance sighed, his emotions complex. "For a cloak."
"I have the blood of the Free Folk in my veins, yet I was raised by the Night's Watch. Perhaps returning to my people was simply my destiny… I was wounded in a fight—if grappling with a shadowcat counts as a fight. I thought I was a dead man, but the Gods hadn't abandoned me this time. In the end, I was saved by a Free Folk woman. It's ironic, isn't it? A wildling, as the Crows call them, saved me. Ha.
But what truly sealed my decision was what happened when I returned to the Wall. I wore a Free Folk cloak when I went back. The first thing my sworn brothers did upon seeing me was to tear off my cloak and put me back in black… I didn't want to lose the right to even choose the color of my clothes. Do you understand that feeling?"
Merek: "But you still broke your vows."
Mance scoffed. "I've never denied it. I admit I broke my vows, but so what? The lords of the South break their vows constantly, and they don't seem to suffer any consequences."
Merek said, "If you can break your vows, how can your word be trusted?"
Thorfinn said, "Breaking a vow is not the biggest matter. What I'm most concerned about is why you want to befriend us? You originally sought out Varamyr, so why have you set your sights on us now?"
Mance still smiled faintly. "I was looking for a well-known man to join me. Varamyr certainly had a bad reputation, but he held some authority. What I intend to do requires the strength of many people."
Thorfinn: "What do you intend to do?"
Mance: "I have discovered something that requires uniting the strength of all the villages and tribes."
"What you discovered… is it the Others?"
Mance was somewhat surprised. "You know?"
Thorfinn suddenly understood some things. "I see… I think I know what you're planning."
Mance looked at Thorfinn with amusement, saying casually, "Oh? Do tell..."
Thorfinn said in an easy tone, "It's true you left the Night's Watch, but you were raised among the Crows. Southerners often have a relentless pursuit of power and wealth. The men who become Crows are either political prisoners, rapists, or thieves. I imagine you were influenced by them, at least a little.
My guess is that after becoming a Free Man, you found you weren't satisfied—not satisfied with a life of mediocrity. When you found evidence of the Others, you decided to use that to unite the Free Folk and become the King-Beyond-the-Wall. It's a godsend opportunity for you, isn't it? You have the ability, and you have the courage. If you set your mind to it… you can always persuade people."
As Thorfinn spoke his analysis, Mance's expression gradually became less natural. Though he didn't want to admit it, his inner thoughts had indeed been laid bare by Thorfinn.
Mance was rarely caught off guard. Having visited many Free Folk, this was the first time he'd been embarrassed like this. How could such a clever boy be a Free Man? Mance felt a flicker of guilt, but his inner pride prevented him from showing any dismay at having his mind read. Even Tormund was looking at Mance with a hint of suspicion.
Mance: "That's an interesting tale, but I'm not a man obsessed with power. All I do is for protection—to protect my woman and my kin."
Thorfinn continued to stare into Mance's eyes, as if trying to divine something. "If not obsessed with power, then are you greedy for glory? No, not entirely. Perhaps… you are simply restless."
Mance: "..."
Thorfinn then said, at the right moment, "I don't dislike men like you. Perhaps it's good fortune for the Free Folk that a man like you, who wants to achieve something, has appeared now. After all, Free Folk who fight as scattered bands are only meant to be slaughtered, and I don't want to bother trying to convince these blockheads with heads full of sawdust. Ugh, I've had too many troubles lately."
Saying this, Thorfinn rubbed his brow with a look of slight distress, completely oblivious to the fact that this demeanor did not suit a thirteen-year-old boy at all.
Mance asked with some doubt, "Are you truly a boy? I've met the Stark children, and even they didn't have this kind of mind at your age. Is it possible that those 'raised wild' are better than those 'raised well'? I find that hard to believe."
Thorfinn smiled with a hint of amusement. "If I told you I was nearly forty, would you believe me?"
Mance paused, then burst out laughing. "I didn't realize you had a sense of humor."
Thorfinn: "The lands Beyond the Wall are a magical place. The people born in this land are particularly resilient. It's not so hard to believe a 'strange one' would appear once in a while, is it?"
Mance laughed. "True. Though I grew up on the Wall, I have traveled South. No other place has giants and skinchangers. The lands Beyond the Wall truly have a unique magic."
Tormund listened to the two of them speaking words he barely understood. It was as if he knew every single word, but put together, he couldn't make heads or tails of it. This left the man, who was used to solving problems with his fists, quite frustrated. In contrast, the younger ones, Merek and Varl, listened with great interest, occasionally frowning or pondering.
As he spoke, Mance took an object from his bag and tossed it to Thorfinn.
Thorfinn caught it and looked: it was a gold armlet, a treasure even in the South, yet Mance gave it away so casually.
Thorfinn: "What is this?"
Mance laughed. "A gift for a friend."
Thorfinn gave a wry look. "Are we friends now?"
Mance raised his cup with gusto. "Drink this ale, and we are." Without waiting for Thorfinn's reply, he 'glug-glug-glugged' the whole mug of ale down. Thorfinn was momentarily stunned. Was he resorting to being a rogue now?
After drinking, Mance sat down and spoke frankly. "You are a skinchanger. I need skinchangers, and I need men of sense. Come join me. Instead of hiding and surviving day-to-day, only to be killed by my former Crow brothers one day, I, Mance, want to do something great. Perhaps in the end, I'll even earn the title of King-Beyond-the-Wall, but I will not betray my people again."
Thorfinn was stunned. Mance's invitation was a surprise. He had thought exposing his ambition would anger him, but that didn't happen. Perhaps only a man like this can become the King-Beyond-the-Wall—one who doesn't care about appearances, who is persistent in his persuasion. Only then can you move those blockheaded fools.
Should he join Mance? That was the question.
Thorfinn hesitated, but this was a good opportunity. He could use Mance to spread the news about the Others.
Thorfinn pondered for a moment before speaking. "I cannot give you an answer today, but I will keep the armlet. As a friend, I must tell you something about the Others."
Mance: "About the Others?"
Thorfinn said, "I can tell you plainly: the Others have returned. They resurrect the dead to fight for them. Burning the dead can prevent them from rising as wights… Also, if you know where any of the dead are buried, it's best to dig them up and burn them, or the Others will do the work for you. The only things that can kill the Others and wights are dragonglass and dragonsteel—that is, obsidian and Valyrian steel. Fire has some effect on wights, but it is rather weak."
Mance was silent for a while before saying, "I understand. That information is very valuable… but how do you know all this?"
Thorfinn: "That's a long story. I found it in an old book. It recorded some things, and after repeated verification by my wizard friend, I confirmed the information was true. I hope this news helps you."
Mance nodded. "I understand." Mance knew how valuable this information was. If it was true, his task would be much smoother, and he could prevent many more casualties. While dragonsteel was impossible, obsidian could be found if one was truly determined to search.
Tormund now understood the importance of the news. This might be the only way for men to fight the Others. The value of this information was beyond measure. Thinking of this, Tormund's eyes were warm as he looked at Thorfinn. He realized that the seemingly green young man was not only a clever boy but one who understood what truly mattered. He found himself liking Thorfinn more and more.
Mance now genuinely accepted Thorfinn as a friend, even if this new friend was still a bit green. After that, the previously tense atmosphere grew much cheerier, and everyone loosened up. Varl brought out a pot of fragrant wolf meat—Varamyr's wolves, that is. Thorfinn rolled out the ale barrel, and they all drank, ate meat, talked about everything under the sun, and exchanged interesting ideas.
Amidst the eating and drinking, Tormund couldn't resist testing the waters again. "Thorfinn, why don't you just accept Mance's offer? That way, we'd have enough skinchangers among us."
Thorfinn explained, "I am not a solitary man. Something like this must have my parents' consent. Besides, if I were to go alone, my mother and father would never be at ease; they're always like that. So, if I go, not only Merek but also my brother will come. If you tally it up, you'll be making quite a profit."
Tormund then said, "In that case, we can wait. We've already gathered quite a few people. With your help and the help of more people, even the unsociable ones like the Thenn and the Cave-Dwellers will likely choose to join. They may be difficult folk, but they are still a fighting force worth winning over."
Thorfinn: "They will join. If they don't stick together, they will only find death. The Others don't care if they are Thenn or Cave-Dwellers."
Tormund laughed. "You speak the truth."
The table was laden with rich food, mirroring the joyful atmosphere in the room. The men were in high spirits, laughing heartily, and Merek even bonded with Tormund and the others. The cold outside was kept away by the fire and the laughter of the hosts and guests, and the warm Hall was filled with their cheerful merriment.