Tower of the Hand

Qhorin has Jon build a fire, a sign that the end has come. They are the only two left. Dalbridge was not able to hold the wildlings long, and soon after his death, the eagle spotted the others. Qhorin ordered Ebben to make for the Fist by the fastest route while the others tried to draw off the pursuers in another direction. After several days of this, Stonesnake's mare took a fall and broke a leg. Qhorin decided to send Stonesnake over the mountains to try and reach the Fist. Qhorin tells Jon that if they are taken, Jon must yield and join the wildlings to act as a spy. Qhorin says they will double back and hope the fire leads their pursuers past them. They stop in a hidden cave beyond a waterfall that Qhorin says goes all the way through the mountain. If they are not discovered, they will press on that way. When they emerge the next day, the eagle is waiting. Soon, they can hear horns in the distance. Fourteen wildlings and eight dogs approach along with the eagle. Their leader, Rattleshirt, the Lord of Bones, rides forward and Qhorin greets him. Rattleshirt shows them Ebben's head and says their fate will be the same. As the wildlings begin to taunt them, Qhorin tells Jon to remember his orders, and Jon yields. Rattleshirt does not want to take him in, but Ygritte is there and vouches for him. The eagle is furious. Ygritte explains that the mind of the man Jon killed in the Skirling Pass¹ is trapped in the eagle and hates him for it. Rattleshirt orders a woman named Ragwyle to kill him anyway, but the woman says he should be allowed to prove his worth. Rattleshirt orders him to kill Qhorin, and the Halfhand leaps to the attack. They fight for a while until Ghost bites Qhorin and Jon uses the opening to kill him. Rattleshirt still wants to kill him, but the others shout him down, and he is accepted. Jon asks if they are going back to the Skirling Pass, but Ygritte tells him that Mance is already marching for the Wall.