The Death Knell

In the ice and snow, there is only a vast expanse of white left in front of people's eyes. Even those tall and straight giant pines can only see a faint shadow in the blizzard weather.

The horse's hooves were tapping in the snow, but the sound was almost inaudible even to the knight, because the howling cold wind seemed to cover up all traces of movement.

Will originally thought that this vast black wilderness, which southerners called the Ghost Forest, could no longer scare him.

But tonight was clearly an exception.

When a snowstorm comes in the north, it is enough to make anyone realize their own insignificance and powerlessness.

For nine days, they rode lightly in black hooded cloaks, leaving the Great Wall in the north, then turning northwest in the middle, following the footsteps of a group of savages.

However, the environment is deteriorating day by day, and tracking has become increasingly difficult.

"Let's turn back, the savage is dead anyway."

In the strong wind, a veteran named Gary shouted suggestions to the red-haired captain at the front of the team.

Will has been a night watchman for four years and is already a veteran with hundreds of patrols. However, Gary has forty years of experience and is a real veteran.

"Where is the evidence?" The knight at the front of the team turned around and asked his deputy.

"Will saw it." Gary showed a stiff smile and threw the problem to the young man.

In fact, since three days ago, no one could see any moving animals except the three of them, and today's terrible snowstorm will only kill themselves and the savages together.

It's not worth it, but it's hard to disobey orders.

Mormont's order was to track down the whereabouts of the wildlings, so he sent this team. However, Ser Weimar had only been sworn as a member of the Night's Watch for less than half a year. This was his first patrol, and he was eager to serve.

If you know that the team's new leader is the butt of jokes during drinking sessions, you'll understand why he's so eager to prove himself.

When the former aristocratic status cannot bring authority, only strength is the value of the Northern Territory.

The red-haired Jazz pulled the reins of the horse, and the thin brown horse under his crotch spurted a faint white breath from its nostrils. It was very tired, and it couldn't even find any fodder these days.

"Will, tell me again what you saw? Don't leave out any details."

Sir Weimar took the opportunity to wipe the hoarfrost from his beard and asked the young knight flanking behind him.

"They went in this direction. You might be able to see it after climbing over the ridge. There is a mountain col over there, which is the most sheltered place from the wind. Occasionally, some people see savages there, but I didn't see them freeze to death with my own eyes this time. .”

Jazz pursed his lips and glanced at Gary, with some dissatisfaction in his eyes, and the latter looked at Will with the same look, as if he was complaining about why he was looking for trouble.

But veterans naturally have their own opinions.

"Sir, there is no fire nearby. A living person cannot withstand this kind of temperature without lighting a fire. Savages are human beings too."

"No, they are monsters. Savages will kidnap babies and women and sell them to white ghosts." Jazz withdrew his gaze and rode forward again: "I will not allow myself to return empty-handed on my first patrol, no matter what So, I want their heads."

The wind and snow became heavier, but the sky and the earth were not dark, because the aurora overhead kept twisting, bringing colorful illumination.

Neither Gary nor Will wanted to look for anything, but that was the end of the matter. The captain gave the order, and they had no choice but to follow it. This was the rule of the night watchman.

The snow at the foot of the mountain was very thick, and they didn't know where to pass, so the three of them dismounted their horses, tied them to the big rocks protruding from the ground, and chose to walk over the mountain.

Climbing up a snow-capped mountain against the wind leaves deep footprints, while descending is equally difficult and consumes a lot of energy.

They hadn't eaten anything decent these days. Apart from a few dried meats as hard as tree bark, they had only drank a few sips of bad wine. After strenuous exercise, they felt dizzy and dizzy. Going down the mountain was like rolling and climbing. .

But even so, they still found some clues in the basin on the other side of the ridge.

Some trees here have been cut down, and some stones have been piled into a fire pit, but they have not been lit. Small branches used as firewood are scattered nearby, half-embedded in the snow, and will soon be buried by snowflakes.

"Sir, this is a new savage trace, but I can't figure out why they didn't start a fire."

Will watched the commander's long red hair dancing in the wind and tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.

The traces were not covered by snow, indicating that the savages might be nearby. They might be more numerous and hiding somewhere.

His vision was severely affected, and the unknown brought fear. It felt like food that was difficult to digest in his stomach, making him swallow saliva constantly.

However, there was only cold air in his mouth, and his chapped lips already explained the condition of his body.

"Go to the trees over there and look around to see where there are still fires. They didn't light the fire here. They must have found a place more sheltered from the wind."

Jazz is not exactly an embroidered pillow. He still has some analytical skills now. Although he is eager to prove himself, he also knows that he must first find the savages before he can claim their heads with a sword.

The young Will had no choice but to obey. He handed the sword to Gary who was wearing a narrow smile, bit the holster of a dagger with his teeth, and climbed towards the top of the nearest big tree.

The pine needles on the tree seemed to be frozen hard, causing pain on his numb face, and he had to close his eyes.

A few seconds later, he heard a loud exchange between Sir and Gary under the tree.

"Why is it so cold in here?! Gary?"

"I don't know, I've never been in a situation like this!"

While answering the officer's question, the veteran tried to draw the weapon, but the sword seemed to be frozen in the sheath and did not move at all.

At this moment, dozens of white figures suddenly emerged from the blizzard behind the two.

They are tall and strong, their bodies seem to be made of translucent white ice, and the weapons in their hands are like huge ice edges, sharp and shining.

None of the three could believe their eyes. In their confused thoughts, these terrifying figures gradually merged with the images in the story.

The White Walkers, or White Walkers, were last recorded thousands of years ago.

Why do you and others meet so many at once?

They all looked the same, like shadows falling from the wind and snow. The knight's sword collided with the opponent's weapon, but the sound it made was not the sound of metal intersecting.

It was a sound that was at the edge of human hearing, high and thin, like the cry of an animal dying.

"Long live King Robert!"

In order to cover up this feeble sound, the shaking knight roared. He jumped up from the snow and struck the enemy's head with his sword.

He is indeed a qualified night watchman, at least he does not lack courage.

However, the sharp steel weapon shattered when it collided with the ice.

The next moment, the pale and transparent sword cut through the black chain mail, as if it were the best silk in King's Landing, it was really so smooth.