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As Lynn left, Alliser Thorne's voice echoed across the training yard.
"You southern weaklings! Can't even hold a sword properly, and you want to be Rangers?"
His gaze followed Lynn through the door. He didn't dare confront him directly, but the resentment festered.
Finally, his hateful eyes settled on Jon Snow. The contempt was almost tangible.
"Look at our noble Lord Snow. The Warden's bastard."
Thorne dragged out the words, malice dripping from every syllable.
"He trained in warm castles with knights teaching him swordplay. Not like you lotâunwanted whelps with no fathers."
Jon gripped his sword tightly, lips pressed into a thin line. He said nothing. Any response would only invite worse.
"Since Lord Snow is so talented..." Thorne's mouth twisted into a cruel smile. "Let him teach you what real fighting looks like."
He waved at the other recruits. "All of you. At once. Let Lord Snow educate you."
The recruits exchanged glances. Most were thieves from slums or abandoned farmhands. They knew nothing of combat.
But under Thorne's pressure, a burly boy named Grenn raised his sword first. Pyp followed.
"Come on, then."
The others closed in.
Jon's heart sank. Hostile faces surrounded him.
Ser Rodrik's words echoed in his mind: "Against multiple enemies, don't get stuck. Find openings. Break them one by one."
Jon took a deep breath. Thorne's insults ignited his anger. He lowered his center of gravity, adopting a defensive stance.
The first recruit charged, sword swinging wildly overhead.
Jon didn't block. He sidestepped, dodging easily. His blade flicked out, striking the boy's wrist precisely.
CLANG.
The sword hit the ground. The recruit clutched his wrist, grimacing.
Second. Third.
Jon moved fluidly through the mob. Using Rodrik's techniques, he disarmed them one by one, finishing with fists and elbows.
Groans filled the yard. Recruits clutched bloody noses or bruised stomachs.
Within moments, all the attackers lay on the ground, battered.
Jon stood in the center, chest heaving. No joyâonly suppressed fury.
Thorne's face darkened. He'd wanted to humiliate Jon. Instead, the bastard had shone.
"Well done." The words squeezed through Thorne's teeth. He looked at Jon, eyes mocking. "But you didn't make any friends today, Lord Snow."
He turned and stalked off.
Jon sneered. Friends? With criminals?
Training ended. Jon walked alone down the dim corridor toward the armory. Today's events left him feeling isolated.
He'd thought on the Wall, birth didn't matter. All were brothers.
Reality had slapped him hard.
Footsteps echoed behind him. Jon stopped and turned.
Grenn, Pyp, and two others blocked the corridor.
"Little bastard. You broke my nose." Grenn cracked his knuckles.
Jon reached for his belt. Empty. Weapons were confiscated after training.
He glanced at Grenn's bloodied nose. "Consider it a free nose job."
He was confident he could beat them barehanded.
But Grenn roared, and the others grabbed Jon, pinning him. He hadn't expected this. They'd planned it.
Grenn pulled out a dagger. "Time to clean your throat."
The cold blade glinted. "Wonder how long it'd take you to hit the ground if I tossed you off the Wall?"
"You're so tough, right? Why so quiet now?"
Grenn grabbed Jon's collar. The dagger pressed against his throat.
Jon stared into Grenn's eyes. He didn't beg. Starks don't kneel.
Thenâcreak.
The door opened.
Grenn froze. He and the others looked.
Lynn stepped out. He'd been waiting. As if he'd known this would happen.
"This is recruit business," Grenn said, voice shaking. "Nothing to do with you!"
Lynn ignored him. His gaze moved past Grenn to Jon.
"Scared?"
Jon didn't answer. But his rapid breathing betrayed him.
Lynn smiled. He took a step forward.
"I don't like people pointing weapons at my friends. Drop the knife. Or there'll be corpses here."
The recruits stepped back instinctively. They'd seen Lynn crush Thorne. Fear rooted them.
Grenn lowered the dagger.
Jon slumped against the wall, voice bitter. "Everyone knew what this place was. No one told me. Except you and Tyrion. My father knew. But he still let me take the black."
Tyrion heard the commotion and approached. He saw Lynn leaning by the door and pieced together what happened.
He'd witnessed Thorne targeting Jon earlier. Seen Jon beat the recruits. This was clearly premeditated revenge.
Though he sympathized with Jon, Lynn seemed to have it handled.
Tyrion crossed his arms and watched. Let's see how Lynn deals with this.
~~~~ââ~~~~~~~~ââ~~~~
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