"It should be held by someone who can make it shine again."
Mormont reached out with both hands.
With solemn care, he lifted the longsword out of the chest.
He walked over to Lynn, step by step.
"Lynn."
"I'm giving you this sword."
At that moment, Lynn's heart began pounding wildly.
Here it was!
The Valyrian steel sword he'd dreamed of!
"Lord Commander, this... this is far too precious."
"It's your family heirloom. I'm only an outsider, a man of the Night's Watch. I can't..."
"What family heirloom?!"
Mormont's furious shout cut off Lynn's refusal.
"My family was disgraced the moment my son ran away!"
Mormont's eyes widened.
The Lord Commander's commanding presence emerged once more.
"I said it belongs to you now!"
"This isn't a reward, nor is it a bargain!"
"This is an old man's thanks to the man who saved his life!"
"And a Lord Commander's hopes for the warrior he believes in most!"
"Take it!"
Mormont forcibly thrust the longsword into Lynn's hands.
Cold, heavy steel pressed against his palms.
It felt as though he were holding the very winter of the North.
With this sword, he wouldn't have to struggle so hard the next time he faced a wight.
One stroke would cleave it in two!
"Lord Commander, I..."
"If you dare say no one more time, I'll throw you off the Wall right now!"
Mormont glared at him and spoke impatiently.
As he looked at Lynn, something seemed to occur to him, and he added another remark.
"Still, the bear's head on the pommel is the emblem of House Mormont."
"It doesn't quite suit you."
Mormont fumbled inside his clothes and pulled out a small object wrapped in cloth.
He unwrapped it, revealing a wolf's head carved from pale weirwood.
The wolf's head was