Chapter 21: Jon Rides South

The third raven had gone south eleven days ago.

Jon had composed it with the same careful economy he brought to all official correspondence, paring the language down to what was necessary and nothing more, because in his experience the Wall had a way of making everything seem urgent and the Small Council had a way of treating everything northern as a regional peculiarity. He had learned, over two years of garrison command, to be precise. He had learned that men who wrote in capital letters were read last.

The third raven had said, in its entirety: The situation at Hardhome has materially worsened. I require a response at your earliest convenience, as I have made a decision that requires either official sanction or official awareness before I act on it. Yours in service to the realm, Jon Snow-Stark, Commander, Northern Garrison, Hardhome Watch.