Game of Thrones: Lord of the Flames

The once-defiant Tigerfang brothers suddenly fell silent.

No one wished to die, especially when the chance of survival lay before them.

Had Samwell declared he would kill all three, they would likely have held their heads high, facing death with pride. But when he announced only one of them would die, leaving the other two to walk free, the mood shifted.

The mighty warriors grew meek, heads bowed, silent.

"Well? Have you three brave men made a decision yet?" Samwell prompted.

Still, none of them spoke.

Samwell scoffed. "Very well. Which of you first proposed this attack on my settlers? That man can atone."

Awkward silence ensued.

"What's this? Three fearless warriors who can't even admit the truth?" Samwell threatened. "If none of you speak up, I'll just pick one at random."

"It was Chiman who suggested it first," the second brother, Chimu, muttered.

Samwell's mouth curved into a slight smile as he asked, "And which one is Chiman?"

He didn't need an answer; he'd already found Chiman, whose furious eyes turned to Chimu.

"Chimu! Are you so eager to see me die?"

Avoiding his younger brother's gaze, Chimu stammered, "Well…you were the one who suggested the plan."

"The plan was our decision as brothers! Why should I bear it alone? Death is just death; let us face it together!"

Samwell interjected, "Chiman, now that won't do. We need your bloodline to live on, don't we? So, it's settled on Chiman, then? Chika, as the eldest, do you agree?"

Chiman turned to his eldest brother, who was now silent, eyes downcast.

With a bitter laugh, Chiman demanded, "Brother, do you wish me dead too?"

Chika said nothing.

"Silence speaks for itself." Samwell drew his sword and approached Chiman from behind. "If your brothers wish for your death, so be it."

Chiman ignored the approaching sword, his gaze locked on his brothers, as though trying to see their true selves clearly.

Swish!

The sword came down.

But Chiman felt no pain. Instead, he felt his bonds fall loose.

Startled, he turned to find that Samwell had severed his ropes.

At Chiman's bewildered expression, Samwell smiled and said, "Oh, I've changed my mind. Only one of you gets to live."

With that, he tossed the sword in front of the three brothers.

At the beginning, such a move would have been pointless; they wouldn't have turned against each other so easily. But now, things were different.

No sooner had the sword hit the ground than Chimu scrambled toward it.

A betrayal is like crossing a line—you either never do it or do it repeatedly.

But still bound, Chimu's struggle for the sword was pitiful against Chiman, who was already free.

"Brother, please, listen!" Chimu stammered, trying to flash a brotherly smile as he faced the blade pointing at his chest. "I only told the truth! It's that damned noble who wants you dead! Can't you see? He forced me to do it, forced me…!"

Thud!

The sword pierced Chimu's heart. He died by his own brother's hand.

Samwell gave a mocking clap, a blend of applause and ridicule. Pointing to Chika, he said, "There's still one left."

Chiman pulled the sword free and moved toward Chika, his voice hoarse like a soul from the depths of the underworld: "Brother, look at me."

Chika, however, kept his head lowered.

"Look at me!" Chiman roared, wounded and raging.

At last, Chika raised his eyes but looked toward Samwell instead.

Samwell met his gaze without flinching.

"You're a devil," Chika spat, seething.

Samwell returned a calm smile. "The devil was already within you; I only brought him out. Tigerfang Warriors? Brotherly love? All lies, as fragile as glass. You accuse nobles of deceit while ignoring the lies within yourself."

"Look at me!" Chiman shouted, relentless.

Finally, Chika turned to his brother, shame filling his eyes.

"Did you wish me dead just now?" Chiman asked, his gaze unwavering.

Chika didn't answer, but said softly, "Brother, kill me and flee as far as you can. Don't seek revenge. He's a devil of the mind. You'll never win against him."

Through clenched teeth, Chiman replied, "What right do you have to tell me what to do?"

Chika let out a weary sigh, lifted his head, and closed his eyes, awaiting his end.

Chiman's face flickered with sorrow, anger, and finally, determination. He plunged the sword into his brother's heart.

The hot blood spurted, covering Chiman.

He stumbled backward, frozen, like a stone statue.

Samwell's voice broke the silence.

"Very good. I keep my word; you're free to go. Tell your father I'm not a man who revels in bloodshed. Rather than destroy, I would prefer your tribe's submission. So, if he's willing to submit, let him come meet me here. I will welcome all the Tigerfang clan as my own people. But if not…" Samwell's voice chilled, "he'd best have warriors enough to face our swords."

Chiman stood as if he hadn't heard Samwell, lost in shock.

"What? Afraid to return to your tribe? Don't worry—I'll keep your fratricide to myself if you no longer stand against me."

Chiman finally looked up, his face streaked with blood, his expression ghastly.

Though his appearance remained the same, he seemed transformed, almost unrecognizable.

"My lord," he rasped, "my father may never submit to you."

"Oh?" Samwell raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why is that? Does he truly have more warriors?"

Chiman shook his head. "No. The warriors are dead or captured, and the rest are too frightened to fight. But even so, my father will not submit. To him, it would be a death sentence."

"A death sentence?"

"Yes. A Reach noble would kill him."

Samwell felt a glimmer of understanding. "Did your father once harm a Reach noble?"

Chiman nodded. "In his youth, he raided the plains and killed a member of House Hightower."

Now Samwell understood. With House Hightower's influence in the Reach, even he could not protect the Tigerfang chieftain.

"And why are you telling me this?" Samwell asked, intrigued by this wildling's intentions.

"Because I want you to know, my father will never kneel. But I will."

With that, Chiman suddenly dropped to his knees and crawled forward, pressing his forehead to Samwell's feet. He cried out in a voice that shook the ground:

"Noble and great knight, I, Chiman, swear my allegiance to you! I pledge to be your sword, to clear your path of all obstacles. Let the gods be witness, that should I break this vow, may my blood be spilled unto death!"

Samwell looked down at the wildling kneeling before him, considering.

Finally, he said, "I accept your fealty."

(End of Chapter)