Chapter Summaries

Suleiman’s troops struggled with discipline and the fear of desertion as officials in House Deddings’ towns refused to let them enter. He promised to provide for the families of any soldiers who died beside him, ending with a solemn oath before the Seven.

• Town officials turned Suleiman’s group away, so he ordered a fortified camp and more scouts.
• Suleiman observed that Lushen’s soldiers were tightly controlled while Roslyn’s formation was lax, but he let both men learn through experience.
• Roslyn told Suleiman that Toman planned to flee because he feared his mother and two sisters would be left without support if he died.
• Suleiman gathered both formations and told the soldiers he understood their fears and that there was no way back after conscription.
• Suleiman opened a chest of silver stags and swore to provide land and a home for the family of every soldier who died fighting beside him.

Suleiman secured the conscripts’ loyalty by giving them Silver Stags and promising them half the campaign’s spoils according to military merit. The soldiers embraced the chance to improve their lives, and Toman began to hope he could save his impoverished family.

• Suleiman offered a Silver Stag to each man who accepted his promise and became his soldier, and the conscripts took the coins.
• Suleiman promised to keep half the campaign’s spoils and distribute the other half according to military merit.
• The soldiers’ fear gave way to ambition as they believed the spoils could transform their lives, and Suleiman urged them to seize wealth together.
• The soldiers roared their support for Suleiman and waved their swords.
• Toman clutched his Silver Stag and thought of his family, seeing Suleiman’s offer as a chance to change their desperate circumstances.

Walker, Son of Nego led the Burned Men as they prepared to attack two hundred unarmored Flatlanders surrounding their village. At dawn, the Burned Men found their way blocked by a ditch, a spiked fence, and disciplined troops ready to fight.

• Val, Son of Nango warned Walker, Son of Nego that two hundred armed Flatlanders had surrounded the village.
• Walker, Son of Nego dismissed the threat and rallied the Burned Men to charge at dawn.
• The Burned Men spent the night boasting about their strength and anticipating the battle.
• At daybreak, Walker, Son of Nego led more than forty warriors toward the village exit.
• The Burned Men stopped short when they saw a ditch and spiked fence separating them from orderly Flatlander archers and spearmen.

Suleiman prepared defenses at the village entrance for the Mountain Clans’ Burned Men, but their warriors halted when they saw the barricades. When one warrior demanded a fair fight, Suleiman ordered the archers to kill him, and the Burned Men prepared to retaliate.

• Suleiman ordered his soldiers to dig a trench and build barricades at the village entrance.
• The Burned Men warriors stopped short when they saw the defenses and faced the Riverlands soldiers waiting behind them.
• A scarred Burned Men warrior walked to the trench and demanded that the Riverlands leader step forward for a fair fight.
• Suleiman ordered the archers to loose, and their volley killed the warrior.
• The Burned Men grew furious as Suleiman ordered the archers to nock another volley.

Suleiman’s defenses trapped the Burned Men in ditches and against fences, where his archers and spearmen inflicted heavy casualties. Walker ordered a retreat, but Suleiman held his soldiers in place and prevented a dangerous pursuit as the Burned Men withdrew.

• Walker, Son of Nego, led the Burned Men in a furious charge against Suleiman’s defenses, where ditches and fences stalled them.
• Suleiman ordered his archers to target the Burned Men’s eyes while spearmen guarded the fences and wounded those trying to climb over.
• Walker, Son of Nego, ordered his warriors to retreat, but the crowded ranks and raging fighters made their withdrawal chaotic.
• Suleiman ordered Lushen and Roslyn to tell the troops to hold the defenses and keep firing at the retreating Burned Men.
• Suleiman recognized that the withdrawal could be a trap and kept his soldiers from pursuing; the troops rested, and Toman laughed over the enemies he had wounded.

After repelling the Burned Men Wildlings, Suleiman explained to Roslyn why inexperienced troops could not safely pursue them and planned to weaken the Wildlings besieging Valleydeep Town through guerrilla warfare. The chapter ended with Suleiman hinting that Roslyn would soon get his chance to fight the Wildlings in the village.

• Roslyn reported that two of Suleiman's soldiers had died in the battle, and Suleiman promised to record their service and bring their families to Foulkeep if their lands were seized.
• Roslyn asked why Suleiman had not pursued the retreating Burned Men Wildlings, and Suleiman explained that his inexperienced troops would lose the protection of their fortifications and risk being scattered in close combat.
• Roslyn realized that the Wildlings had carried off their wounded, showing that their retreat had been orderly rather than a rout.
• Suleiman concluded that he could not directly break the siege of Valleydeep Town and planned to use his small force to ambush isolated Wildling groups and reinforcements.
• When Roslyn asked what they would do about the Burned Men Wildlings in the village, Suleiman told him his chance to fight them was coming soon.

After the Burned Men’s failed attack, Walker, Son of Nego discovered that the wounded were rapidly developing severe, festering infections and suspected the Flatlanders had poisoned their weapons. As the warriors prepared to sacrifice themselves to hold off an enemy attack, Walker chose seven uninjured warriors to go with him.

• The Burned Men warriors angrily blamed the Flatlanders’ defenses for their humiliating defeat, while Walker, Son of Nego considered his next move.
• Val, Son of Nango summoned Walker, Son of Nego to see the wounded warriors’ swollen, pus-filled wounds and rapidly rising fevers.
• Walker, Son of Nego realized the Flatlanders’ weapons had been treated with poison and feared the raiding party would soon collapse.
• The wounded warriors urged Walker, Son of Nego to let them hold off the Flatlanders while the healthy clansmen escaped to the High Mountains.
• Walker, Son of Nego accepted their resolve and called the seven uninjured warriors to come with him.

Suleiman prepared to attack the Burned Men Wildlings after their wounds kept them hidden, and rallied his troops with promises of loot and a bounty on Walker, Son of Nego. The soldiers eagerly prepared to fight, with Toman fixated on the eighty-Silver-Stag reward.

• After two quiet days, Suleiman told Lushen and Roslyn that the poisoned weapons had likely left the Wildlings too sick to fight, then ordered them to assemble the troops.
• Suleiman told three hundred soldiers that the Wildlings feared them and were hiding in the village with stolen goods.
• He promised the soldiers a share of the spoils and urged them to kill the Wildlings and take everything.
• Suleiman offered a bounty for Walker, Son of Nego's head and limbs, adding Silver Stags from his own share to the soldiers' reward.
• The soldiers erupted over the bounty, and Toman gripped his spear and trembled at the prospect of earning eighty Silver Stags.

Suleiman led his army into a ruined village, where Burned Men Wildlings ambushed the troops and a hidden group targeted him. The soldiers charged at Walker, Son of Nego, drawn by the enormous bounty on his head.

• Suleiman ordered Lushen and Roslyn to return to their units and lead their soldiers from the front.
• The troops entered the burned village and found the remains of its massacre.
• A Wildling ambush struck near a farmstead, and Suleiman sent Lushen's squad into the granary while Roslyn's squad held position.
• Suleiman spotted Walker, Son of Nego, and six warriors hiding on the flank, and Roslyn led his men to face them.
• Walker and the seven warriors charged Suleiman, but Flatlander soldiers rushed to meet them, shouting that they would kill Walker and claim his body.

Suleiman's soldiers overwhelmed the Burned Men raiders, while Suleiman killed Val, Son of Nango, who had ambushed him. Walker, Son of Nego, led the remaining clansmen in a final charge and died as the Flatlanders crushed them.

• The Flatlander soldiers swarmed and killed the seven Burned Men raiders as Suleiman focused on their hidden attacker.
• Val, Son of Nango, ambushed Suleiman, but Suleiman severed his arm and then beheaded him when he charged again.
• Walker, Son of Nego watched Val die and led the surviving clansmen in a furious attack on Suleiman.
• Lushen arrived with reinforcements and ordered the spearmen to form ranks around Suleiman.
• The Flatlander soldiers killed Walker and the remaining Burned Men, and one soldier shouted that Toman had taken a head.

After the costly fight against the Burned Men Wildlings, Suleiman worried about building a loyal army and recruiting more soldiers. Lushen’s fierce loyalty moved him to tell the wounded farmer to stay alive and share in future wealth and glory.

• Suleiman assessed the heavy casualties and considered recruiting refugees because House Deddings would not surrender its soldiers and local farmers refused to enlist.
• Lushen rushed in after hearing Suleiman slam the table, fearing Wildlings were hiding nearby, and Suleiman laughed at his bandaged appearance.
• Suleiman remembered how Lushen had led the assault and taken many wounds, then realized he did not want Lushen to die.
• Suleiman asked why Lushen had charged into the farmstead first, and Lushen explained that he had wanted his men to follow without delay.
• Suleiman told Lushen not to die and promised to share wealth and glory with him, and Lushen knelt and vowed to stay alive.

After Roslyn reported the profits from selling the spoils, Suleiman prepared to fulfill his promise to divide the battle loot with his soldiers. He distributed the soldiers’ shares according to their service, then personally rewarded Toman for his bravery.

• Roslyn rushed in with an account of merchants trying to cheat his men, and Suleiman ordered him and Lushen to gather their troops.
• Suleiman made the assembled soldiers wait, then reminded them that half the spoils belonged to him and half to them.
• Roslyn and his men opened chests filled with wealth, and Suleiman announced that Lushen and Roslyn would judge the soldiers’ service and distribute their shares.
• Lushen and Roslyn gave purses to soldiers including Gate and Dell for their deeds in battle.
• When Toman found the chests empty, Suleiman gave him a small chest and praised the bravery he had witnessed.

Suleiman’s ambush caught Dell, Son of Chek’s Burned Men in the woods, where arrows and wooden spears killed and wounded several warriors. Suleiman ordered Roslyn to block their escape and led Lushen in a direct charge.

• A young Stone Crow scout warned Dell, Son of Chek that the forest seemed strange, but Dell struck him and dismissed his fears.
• The Stone Crow leader separated his warriors from Dell’s band, while an old Burned Men warrior warned Dell that Flatlanders might be waiting in the woods.
• Suleiman prepared his hidden soldiers to attack and told Roslyn to avoid hitting the Riverlands prisoners.
• Suleiman’s forces opened fire on Dell’s band with arrows and wooden spears, wounding Dell and throwing the Burned Men into chaos.
• Suleiman ordered Roslyn to cut off the Wildlings’ escape and charged with Lushen.

Suleiman’s forces defeated the wildlings and killed the wounded survivors, while he questioned the brutal army his soldiers had become. At the Mountain Clans’ camp, the chieftains argued over rumors that Flatlanders were hunting them, and Timett’s meeting ended in division.

• Suleiman led his soldiers and Roslyn’s squad in a two-sided attack that trapped the wildlings and cut off their retreat.
• Suleiman refused to take prisoners and ordered his soldiers to kill the remaining wounded wildlings.
• Suleiman saw his bloodstained, eager soldiers and wondered whether this was the kind of army he wanted.
• The Milk Snakes’ chieftain warned Timett Son of Timett and the other chieftains that Flatlanders were hunting their raiding parties.
• The Mountain Clans’ chieftains fought over whether the rumor was true, and Timett told those who wanted to keep raiding to follow him.
• The chieftains left without reaching an agreement, and each tribe decided to act on its own.

Suleiman admitted to the Riverlander captives that his orders had caused deaths during their rescue and apologized. He offered them safety and farmland at Foulkeep or the chance to take up arms, and the survivors began to step forward, driven by hatred of the Wildlings.

• Suleiman led his small force in swift raids against scattered Wildling bands, avoiding large enemy forces and covering their tracks.
• Suleiman approached the surviving Riverlanders and told them he had ordered the arrows and spears that killed more than forty of their people.
• A Riverlander described how the Wildlings had killed his children and wife, then said he did not blame Suleiman for rescuing the survivors.
• Suleiman offered to send the Riverlanders to Foulkeep for safety and farmland or let them join his army with food, armor, and weapons.
• The Riverlander men stepped forward to join Suleiman, united by hatred of the Wildlings.

Suleiman welcomed more than twenty men into his following and hurried his troops toward a town, where they encountered a skilled swordsman who claimed to be a mercenary named Bronn. After hearing his explanation, Suleiman held off from attacking him and asked his name.

• More than twenty men joined Suleiman, who promised them new lives in his domain and ordered his troops to search for a settlement.
• Suleiman's soldiers passed two villages destroyed by Wildlings, then a scout returned battered and reported that a thin swordsman had defeated five of his companions in a town.
• Suleiman led his troops into town, where they found the swordsman rummaging through the wounded soldiers' belongings.
• The man said he was a mercenary hired by Valleydeep Town and had disguised himself as a Wildling to seek help.
• Suleiman questioned the man, who introduced himself as Bronn.

Suleiman confronted Bronn about fleeing Valleydeep Town and forced him to admit the truth. Bronn revealed that the town was nearly out of food and its exhausted defenders were close to collapse.

• Bronn watched the Riverlands soldiers and decided he needed to get away from their bloodthirsty camp.
• Lushen summoned Bronn to meet Suleiman after the wounded soldiers confronted him.
• Suleiman claimed he had a letter from Lord Grover ordering Bronn arrested for taking his fee and abandoning Valleydeep Town.
• With Lushen's dagger at his throat, Bronn admitted he had fled the town and said its soldiers were exhausted and nearly out of food.
• Suleiman ordered the guards to sheathe their swords after Bronn insisted that the rest of his account was true.

Suleiman pressured Bronn into joining his ranks by offering a share of war spoils and threatening him with execution or the Wall. After Bronn accepted, Suleiman ordered him to apologize to the soldier he had injured and told Lushen and Roslyn to watch him and learn from his swordsmanship.

• Suleiman unsettled Bronn by revealing he knew Bronn had killed a man when he was twelve.
• Suleiman offered Bronn a chance to earn money and make a name for himself, but threatened him with the Wall or a rope if he refused.
• Bronn accepted Suleiman's offer after hearing that spoils would be divided according to merit.
• Suleiman ordered Bronn to apologize to the injured soldier, then told Lushen and Roslyn to keep an eye on Bronn and learn from him.
• Suleiman revealed that the parchment was blank and described Bronn as a fine sword but not a good man.

Suleiman relied on the Wildlings’ hunger for revenge to create chaos in the besieging camp. After Flatlanders killed Wildlings near the camp, several tribes abandoned the siege to pursue them, leaving Timett Son of Timett to hold the rest back and insist they capture Valleydeep Town first.

• Suleiman reasoned that he could not relieve Valleydeep Town by force and counted on the Wildlings’ vengeful nature to distract them.
• Timett Son of Timett struggled to breach Valleydeep Town’s stone walls when screams erupted throughout the besieging camp.
• The chief of the Howlers mourned his burned son and accused Flatlanders of hunting Wildlings near the camp.
• The Howlers, Milk Snakes, Painted Dogs, Stone Crow, Black Ears, and other warriors ignored Timett Son of Timett’s orders and left to pursue the Flatlanders.
• Timett Son of Timett refused to join the pursuit and promised the Burned Men they would take revenge after capturing Valleydeep Town.

Suleiman learned that four or five hundred Wildlings were searching for his force near Valleydeep Town and devised a plan to defeat them without a direct battle. He ordered Bronn, Roslyn, and Lushen to prepare a scorched-earth trap, leaving the chapter with Bronn stunned by the sixteen-year-old lord’s strategy.

• Bronn trained Lushen and Lausman in swordsmanship and confirmed that he had apologized to the injured soldier.
• Suleiman told Bronn, Lushen, and Roslyn that scouts had spotted four or five hundred Wildlings searching for them.
• Suleiman ordered Bronn to ride ahead with five men and leave believable tracks to lure the Wildlings while keeping half a day’s lead.
• Suleiman instructed Roslyn to ruin water sources, burn farmland and food stores, and evacuate locals toward Foulkeep while compensating them for their livestock.
• Suleiman ordered Lushen to take two hundred men and build a dam whose timing would be crucial to the plan.
• Bronn wondered how someone as young as Suleiman could have devised such a strategy.