Sword and Magic and Taxi

When the time came to set off, more than 250 night watchmen from Castle Black, carrying more than 50 carts of various supplies, passed through the frozen passage under the Great Wall of Despair and went deep into the snowfields of the north. Some of them have lived in the ice and snow for decades and are considered experienced, but some of them are complete novices, and some even only arrived at Castle Black more than two weeks ago. Mr. Xiong didn’t have time to wait for them to finish training. “The ice and snow will make them realize the danger, and the brothers will help them become men of the Night Watch!”

There are barely enough men left to operate Castle Black, and this force is currently all the strength Mormont can mobilize. This group of night watchmen in dark cloaks lined up in two columns, sandwiching the carriage in the center, and walked silently through the tunnel. The last time the ghoul was placed here and then ran out, so many people still had lingering fears when passing by.

But none of them were as frightened as Zhao Mai...

The intelligent system of the Great Wall of Despair was finally released. Zhao Mai drove his carriage and followed the night watchman cautiously. If this place was filled with swords, guns, swords and halberds enough to kill him hundreds of times in the past, now these terrible weapons finally made way, but they were still hanging above his head. Every time Zhao Mai uses natural force, psychic powers and other magical vision, he can clearly see the terrifying magic circle around him. The power of the earth extracted from a radius of more than a hundred miles has been stored in the Great Wall of Despair for thousands of years, like a huge ammunition depot full of explosives, pressing on Zhao Mai's head.

This is the first time I see you sweating and nervous. Jon walked beside Zhao Mai and said to him. As Mr. Xiong's affairs officer, he had to run forward and backward to convey instructions, and he also had to constantly report on the team's situation. No, after he completed the mission, he happened to see Zhao Mai on the way back, and there was sweat flowing down the side of his face.

Sometimes, not being able to see some things might be happiness. Zhao Mai had long confirmed that no one in the entire Black Castle could see the aura of magic. Maybe this is how magic disappears in the eyes of the world. Is it the same on earth? Zhao Mai just hopes to finish walking through these several miles of tunnels as soon as possible and get out of this depressing place as soon as possible. Jon, protect Old Bear, the safety of all the Night's Watch depends on him.

I understand. Jon nodded and adjusted the shoulder strap to make the sword on his back more comfortable. He is only sixteen years old now, and his body has not yet fully grown, so the Valyrian steel long sword is still a bit big for him and would be awkward to hold on his waist. But he will grow up during this journey.

Zhao Mai knew what would happen to him, and knew that this action would be Jon's coming-of-age ceremony. His body, mind, and emotions will all be tested. When he returns to Castle Black again, he will no longer be a boy, but a real adult.

With Jon's brisk footsteps and Samwell's heavy and dragging legs, the entire team finally passed through the tunnel and extended all the way deep into the snow. On the north side of the Great Wall of Despair, there is a vast area of ​​about twelve miles without a single tree. First of all, these trees were cut down and used as firewood for the night watchmen. In addition, this was also in accordance with the general rules of the city guard. There is no obstruction to the view in the open area, and the enemy cannot use wood to build siege equipment nearby.

Do wildlings make siege engines? Many Night Watchmen ask this question, but eventually they realize that it is just another rigid rule of the Night's Watch. Passing through the open area, a vast coniferous forest lies across the path. This is not a dense, impenetrable forest, where the trees need enough space between each other to get enough nutrients to fight the freezing weather here. A large car and two rows of soldiers can easily find the road.

There are five maps in Mr. Xiong's backpack, all of which Sam found from the pile of old papers. They are the basis for their progress. Mr. Xiong was worried that some landmarks could no longer be found, so he had been praying for this matter. The seven gods believed by southerners are of no use here. How can those domestic gods from warm lands understand the severe cold in the north. Only the old gods, or the ancient gods believed by the ancestors, are the masters here.

Old God, lead us on the right path. We are the descendants of our ancestors, the descendants under your care. We are the night watchmen of the Great Wall of Despair, people who have dedicated their lives to protecting the land of mankind. When we are here When I’m lost, I need your guidance.”

This prayer only sounded in Mormont's heart. He would not let his soldiers feel any panic. Perhaps the ancient gods actually heard his prayers, and the first landmark appeared, a place once called White Tree Village.

In the eyes of most people, this is really not a village. The four simple houses still have stone walls, but the roofs made of wooden beams, branches and stone flakes have collapsed. The house is surrounded by an empty sheepfold in the center and a well. The wooden bucket for collecting water has long since disappeared.

There is no one in the house, and there is nothing left. The inquiring scout came back and reported: The people inside were moved away. They brought clothes, grain, furs, and possibly livestock.

Do you know how long you've been gone? Old Xiong frowned and asked.

It's definitely not a recent thing, but I can't tell how long it's been since everything was frozen. The scout replied after thinking for a while.

I must have seen this tree with a human face, but it's a pity that it can't speak. Mr. Xiong pointed to the big tree next to the small village, turned to Jon and said: Notify it, so as not to disturb those young men from the south. I don’t know. This big tree with a red crown and a white trunk is called a weirwood, also called a heart tree. It must not be cut down at any time, and it is best not to even peel off the bark. If someone does this, it is against military orders. I understand. ?

Yes, Commander. Jon hurried to convey this order.

Zhao Mai has heard about weirwood trees for a long time, but he has never had a chance to see them. This is the first weirwood tree he has encountered. There is one on the Eagle's Nest City, but it has died long ago, leaving only the shiny remains of a trunk that has taken off its bark. The one in Winter City was huge enough, and the canopy was higher than the city wall, but Zhao Mai only saw the leaves from a distance and did not visit Winter City.

The tree in front of me has a trunk nearly three meters wide, and its leaves are lush and expanding, covering the entire village under it. The red leaves, white trunk and black roots give this tree a sacred feel. But the face on the tree trunk is indeed quite scary, with empty eyes and a wide mouth, and the sap flows out of it and then solidifies. The sap of the weirwood is red, and the amber it forms is also the same color, so no matter how you look at it, it looks like a big face with bleeding from all its orifices.

According to legend, these faces were carved by the children of the forest, and each expression is different. As for why they do this, no one knows except themselves.

To others, this was just a tree with a terrifying head, but Zhao Mai saw something different. The force of nature gathered on the weirwood, and the trees' eyes glowed slightly, as if they were really watching. Fluorescent runic words continued to emerge from the tree's mouth, flew into the air and slowly dissipated. The power contained in the words is far less than the Great Wall of Despair, but it is clearer.

He suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity and closeness to this place. Just as he was about to get closer to take a closer look, the food reserve bit his trouser leg.

Do you think I'm in danger? Zhao Mai asked in confusion.

Reserve Liang tilted his head and pointed at the carriage. Zhao Mai looked back and saw Xiaohua lying at the window, shaking her head and leaves vigorously.