Benjen shook his head.
"Not yet… I may need to return to Winterfell once the situation beyond the Wall becomes clearer.
I came to say goodbye.
You know the Night's Watch is poor. You saved my life, but I have nothing of value to repay you with.
After much thought, the only thing I can offer is a student."
With that, Jon stepped forward and placed his hand over his heart in a formal bow.
"Greetings, Captain Ethan."
Ethan looked at the uncle and nephew standing before him and said with faint amusement:
"You're giving me Jon as a student—probably not just to thank me."
Benjen laughed.
"Haha—of course not."
His expression then grew serious.
"Last night, after Jerome spoke with you over dinner, he returned to the council chamber and relayed the teachings of the Sun God to Old Bear and several other brothers.
Old Bear believes the An'she faith is not yet suitable for spreading within the Night's Watch.
However, the Wall truly needs this power to face the growing threats from beyond.
Therefore, we hope you will accept Jon as your student…
If you agree, the Night's Watch will be lifelong friends of the Silver Hand."
Ethan asked:
"Then in what capacity will he join the Silver Hand?
As a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, or as the bastard son of the duke?"
"As a sworn brother of the Night's Watch.
Last night Old Bear and I personally witnessed him take the oath."
Jon was actually a good young man.
Forming a solid connection with the Night's Watch was no bad thing.
Still, Ethan wanted to hear it from the boy himself.
He turned to Jon Snow and asked:
"Jon—becoming a mercenary means you never know when you might die on the battlefield.
Aren't you afraid?"
Jon Snow replied with a helpless shrug:
"It's all the same.
Even brothers of the Night's Watch die in the forests beyond the Wall."
Ethan smiled.
"Mortals all die eventually.
So come with me."
With Ethan's consent Benjen breathed an obvious sigh of relief and gently clapped Jon on the shoulder.
"Lad—work hard for Captain Ethan.
Remember my words: obey his orders as you would obey mine."
Jon Snow nodded quietly.
"I understand, Uncle."
Not long afterward Tyrion Lannister arrived at the training yard with his two servants mounts already saddled and joined the group.
When he learned Jon Snow would be joining Ethan's Silver Hand company as a sworn brother of the Night's Watch countless question marks appeared above his head.
"Captain Ethan—it seems you encountered some very interesting things in the Haunted Forest.
Perhaps you'll share the tale with me when you have time?"
Ethan replied casually:
"Next time—definitely."
Out of respect for the king and House Lannister Old Bear assigned three black brothers to serve as Tyrion's escort until he reached Winterfell safely.
Meanwhile "The Raven" Yoren had finished resting and was preparing to travel south once more to carry out his recruiting duties.
So when Tyrion departed Castle Black his party was actually slightly larger than when they had arrived.
After leaving the Wall ambient magic fell silent once more and the temperature gradually rose—though it remained bitterly cold.
This journey to the Wall had shown Ethan not only the Wall's majestic austere grandeur and the genuine threats beyond it but had also won him the friendship of the Night's Watch gained him a new student and brought him an adorable bear cub companion.
Overall—he had no regrets.
Though Jon Snow was still somewhat unfamiliar to him both teacher and student tacitly kept that distance buried in their hearts for now.
Kevin—as Ethan's first disciple—had initially been quite unhappy about the Night's Watch essentially forcing a new student upon his teacher.
But after speaking with Ethan he set aside his resentment and truly accepted that Jon Snow had become his junior brother.
As his teacher had said:
"Our cause is destined to be great and arduous.
Countless enemies will stand in our path so every friendship is precious to us.
Never push a friend toward the enemy's side.
Always remember—compared to our cause our personal preferences and honors are insignificant."
One evening after leaving the Gift lands Tyrion had his servants prepare dinner then strolled over to Ethan.
Watching Kevin and Jon practice with wooden swords in the open ground while Ghost and the snow bear cub romped nearby he remarked:
"Jon is a good lad.
It's fortunate—for both of you—that he can become your student."
Ethan slowly shook his head.
"Not yet.
He will be my true student only when Jon wholeheartedly accepts the teachings of An'she."
Tyrion turned to look directly into Ethan's eyes.
"The teachings of the Sun God… I overheard some of them while you were instructing the boys these past few days.
Are you serious?
Liberty equality fraternity… how ridiculous.
Am I—a dwarf—equal to a giant like you?
Do you truly believe the bandits thieves and murderers Yoren has gathered from every corner of the Seven Kingdoms… are equal to us?"
Ethan met his gaze voice firm.
"Though I am a commoner and you a noble under the sun's rays we are all equal.
If these criminals truly atone for their sins then they are equal to any other ordinary man."
Tyrion gave a short laugh.
"If only such a world existed—but we both know it's impossible.
People are born unequal: some strong some weak; some born to inherit thrones others only unpayable debts.
How naive Ethan.
If An'she's doctrines are so childish your faith could never take root on this continent."
With that—without waiting for Ethan's reply—he turned and climbed back into his carriage to continue reading.
Ethan could only gaze at the endless plain stretching into the distance and whisper:
"Yes Tyrion… my grandmother saw it with her own eyes…"
The journey from the Wall back to Winterfell took nearly another full month.
As a guest of the duke Tyrion—having returned safely from the Wall—was obliged to report his arrival to the Warden of the North.
After all the mysterious disappearance of the heir to the Warden of the West in the North would have been no small matter.
Yoren and his three accompanying black brothers—who had returned south with him—also needed to meet the ruler of the North to explain their presence below the Wall and avoid being mistaken for oathbreakers.
Jon Snow as a sworn brother of the Night's Watch naturally had to go with them.
Only Ethan Kevin and Lennar were optional companions on this leg; they had never sought the duke's permission to leave and therefore had no obligation to report back.
So after entering Winterfell from the Kingsroad the group parted ways.
Ethan and his two companions drove their carriage back to the blacksmith's courtyard.
Pushing open the heavy wooden gate they found the yard almost unchanged—except for some new carpentry tools and scattered unfinished furniture.
The familiar sight warmed the hearts of the three men who had been traveling for more than two months.
Leaving Kevin to unpack the luggage Ethan and Lennar went to the large room that had been converted into a small sept where they saw Brother John speaking with a middle-aged man.
Seeing John still at work Ethan and Lennar quietly took seats in a rear corner of the sept and waited in silence.
Only after the worshippers who had come to pray bowed and departed did John's face light up with joy.
"Ethan Lennar—when did you return?"
Lennar smiled.
"We came straight to see you as soon as we entered the city.
How have you been? Did you miss us?"
John sighed.
"Of course… I often prayed to the Seven for your safe return.
It was really lonely being alone in this courtyard."
Ethan was somewhat puzzled.
"Lonely?
I remember when we left weren't there many worshippers of the Seven coming here with you?"
"That's all in the past.
After the king took the ice spider fewer and fewer people came.
This is the North after all… sigh…"
Lennar comforted him.
"Haha—don't be sad.
Later I'll have Ethan cook us a good meal to celebrate your endurance."
John suddenly remembered something and said to Ethan:
"By the way—didn't you send Conrad and Eddie to recruit new men?
Two weeks ago they returned with the recruits.
They asked me to tell you the new men are camped by the river where you forged Kevin's armor.
Go see them as soon as you're back."
"Then I must go."
Hearing this Ethan turned and left calling Kevin to walk with him toward the river.
It was only a ten-minute walk from the blacksmith's courtyard to the riverbank.
Crossing the patchy woodland Ethan saw several tents pitched beside the forge in the distance forming a small camp.
On the open ground nearby Conrad and Eddie were directing two young men in a wooden-sword duel while the others watched arms folded.
As he approached Ethan called out:
"Conrad Eddie Juan!"
Hearing Ethan's voice the three exchanged quick words with the recruits set down their work and hurried over.
"Captain—you're back."
Eddie reached out and shook Ethan's hand.
"How was the Wall?
Is it really as magnificent as the legends say?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yes—the Wall is three times taller than Winterfell's walls.
Truly spectacular.
I'll tell you about the journey when there's time.
First introduce me to the new brothers—I can't wait to meet them."
Eddie nodded then turned and shouted to the young men gathered on the open ground:
"Brothers—this is 'Spider-Slayer' Ethan Cole the commander of the Silver Hand I told you about.
He's just returned from beyond the Wall.
Come greet him!"
The recruits—who had already stopped sparring and were watching closely—immediately gathered around.
Some thumped their chests others raised fists—all saluting Ethan in their own fashion.
Ethan raised both hands in a calming gesture.
Once the excited chatter died down he cleared his throat and spoke loudly:
"Comrades—I am Ethan Cole.
As leader of the Silver Hand I sincerely welcome you all.
Before coming to Westeros I commanded a company of fifty men in my homeland and won countless glorious victories.
So have no doubt—in Westeros I will lead you from one victory to the next!
Today is our first meeting so please introduce yourselves so we can get to know one another."
He pointed to a young warrior with a thick beard standing at the far right.
"Let's start with you.
Your name your preferred weapon and your proudest achievement."
The warrior—confirming Ethan meant him—stepped forward.
"I am Kory from the Riddle clan.
I favor axe and round shield.
My proudest achievement is slaying a wild boar single-handed."
"Good. Next."
"My name is Cain from the Pennington clan.
Also axe and round shield.
My proudest feat is taking down a bastard from the Koy clan—with my brother."
Oh—he's killed a man.
Ethan cast a casual glance at Eddie who raised an eyebrow and gave a subtle reassuring nod.
Ethan understood and didn't press further simply encouraging the others to continue.
As each man spoke in turn Ethan gradually formed a mental picture of this new recruit company:
Just as Eddie had described before they departed these young men from the mountain clans were simple and inexperienced.
Though a few had seen inter-clan feuds and skirmishes most of their "combat" experience involved wild beasts in the mountains.
Their tales of blood and valor mostly centered on slain animals and the struggle to survive.
They had joined for a better life and each had some skill with a weapon—spear shield-axe bow—each with his own strengths.
Whether relatively good or absolutely good Ethan didn't mind.
After several battles the weak would become strong; those truly unfit for combat could be reassigned to logistics and the mess tent.
Still Ethan wasn't certain these proud young men would truly obey his commands so he decided to demonstrate his strength and set the tone from the beginning.
He picked up a long training staff and addressed the recruits:
"Today is our first meeting and I know some of you still doubt whether I'm truly qualified and capable of leading you to victory.
Words are weak—so let's make a wager."
He took five silver moons from his purse.
"From now on I give you the time it takes to sing one song.
Form teams however you like and challenge me as squads.
No matter how many are in your team I will face you alone.
If you defeat me these five silver moons go to the winning team as reward.
But each man may challenge only once—how you organize is up to you."
The moment Ethan finished the recruits erupted in excitement.
Five silver moons was a considerable sum for these tribal warriors fresh from the deep forest.
They clustered in small groups holding heated discussions.
Some called friends to join them others tried to form one large team to overwhelm Ethan.
Still others felt a many-against-one fight was unfair and chose to form smaller squads.
Ethan stood quietly to the side listening to their talk observing each recruit's behavior—judging character intelligence and social skill—and mentally assigning potential roles.
When the recruits finished organizing the seventeen men had split into several teams—the largest four strong the smallest only one.
Looking at the eager faces Ethan asked Conrad—who stood watching:
"Aren't you three forming a team?
Five silver moons you know."
Conrad glanced sideways at him.
"What's the point?
Just to get beaten for nothing?
Forget it."
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