There were about twenty riders resting in the clearing; they all wore heavy black fur cloaks and carried longswords and longbows.
They were Rangers of the Nights Watch.
Almost the moment Ghidorah appeared above them, a commotion broke out in the Ranger camp below.
"Captain, look." A young, thin-looking Ranger named Will pointed to the sky, his voice trembling.
Qhorin looked up, his grey eyes instantly constricting.
Qhorin Halfhand was an exceptionally skilled Ranger within the Nights Watch. They were currently on orders to patrol Gift, seeking out Wildlings who had crossed The Wall to wreak havoc in the south.
The reason so many were moving together was primarily because Wildlings capable of scaling The Wall on their own were difficult opponents. They had already lost many brothers to such people.
Ghidorah was not flying very high at this moment; the golden dragon shimmered in the sunlight as its three heads slowly turned toward them. Even from a distance, the sheer pressure made it difficult to breathe.
"Seven Gods..." a Ranger muttered.
Qhorin quickly regained his senses and reacted swiftly. "Sound the horn! Signal The Wall! Quick!"
"But Captain, how many blasts should I blow?" The Ranger with the horn hesitated, as there was no precedent for this.
"That's a dragon," Qhorin said sharply. "Far more dangerous than Wildlings. Blow three times." In his view, dragons and White Walkers were both creatures of legend; equating them was perfectly reasonable.
The Ranger hastily blew three blasts; the horn of the Nights Watch could carry for a great distance.
Qhorin stared intently at the dragon in the sky, but his hand only rested on the hilt of his sword without drawing it. He had experienced countless life-and-death struggles, faced all kinds of Wildlings, and even seen legendary giants, but he had never felt as powerless and insignificant as he did now.
The three-headed dragon in the sky clearly heard the horn, but it did not attack. Instead, it merely glanced at them before flying off toward The Wall.
"It's heading for Castle Black," Qhorin said grimly to his men. "We won't make it back in time, but the horn signal has been sent. I hope the Lord Commander and the others are prepared."
He turned to his subordinates. "Mount up! The appearance of a dragon means a major upheaval is coming. We must return to the castle to understand the situation."
"But Captain, what if that dragon attacks The Wall..."
"That is not for you to worry about," Qhorin interrupted as he vaulted onto his horse. "Remember, the duty of the Nights Watch is to guard The Wall, whether the enemy is Wildlings, White Walkers, or dragons."
The Rangers exchanged uneasy glances but followed Qhorin's lead.
The Wall was truly a spectacular sight when it finally appeared before them. The seven-hundred-foot-high wall of ice seemed to bridge heaven and earth, stretching endlessly to the east and west until it vanished at the horizon. The ice face shimmered with a cold blue-white light in the sun, carrying an ancient chill.
The Nights Watch's Castle Black sat at the foot of The Wall, looking like a pile of black building blocks huddled at a giant's feet. The wooden main keep and other buildings were scattered haphazardly, surrounded only by a crude wooden palisade, clearly unprepared for an attack from the south.
However, it seemed quite large, not as small as depicted in the show; after all, it was a castle capable of housing thousands.
At this moment, the castle was clearly in chaos due to the Rangers' horn signal and the golden dragon rapidly approaching in the sky.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"It's a dragon! There's a dragon in the sky!"
"Seven Gods preserve us, that thing has three heads!"
Viserys saw many black-clad figures armed with weapons pouring into the courtyards and onto The Walls of Castle Black, but every face was pale. Faced with such a legendary creature, their spears and bows seemed laughable.
Some of the Nights Watchmen already on The Wall pushed the scorpions toward the south; though few in number and looking quite old, they at least provided some peace of mind.
But Viserys did not want to give the Nights Watch too much time to prepare an attack; he didn't want the panic to escalate into a bloody misunderstanding.
Viserys did not land immediately. He guided Ghidorah to circle Castle Black three times, allowing the Nights Watch to see clearly that there was a rider on the dragon's back and that Ghidorah had no intention of attacking.
The Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, Jeor Mormont, had been in the hall listening to a report from a steward. The Old Bear was advanced in years, but his eyes remained very sharp. The Nights Watch was currently short on men and supplies, and wildling attacks were becoming more frequent, leaving him quite overwhelmed.
Just then, the warning horn and a clamor came from outside.
"Dragon! There's a dragon in the sky!"
Mormont initially frowned, thinking it was the drunken nonsense of some fool. But soon, more shouts followed, accompanied by panic and chaos.
He strode out of the hall and into the courtyard.
The sight in the sky caused him to freeze in place.
A golden dragon was circling above The Wall. Its size was immense, its three heads turning as six eyes scanned the castle below. Sunlight hit the dragon scales, reflecting a dazzling light. Even more shocking was that someone was sitting on the dragon's back—a silver-haired figure wearing black and red armor.
Because the Nights Watch was almost isolated from the outside world and rarely sought news—aside from asking Winterfell for supplies—they only sent men south once a year for recruitment. However, the current recruiter, Yoren the "Wandering Crow," was a lazy man, and most who came to The Wall were the dregs of society.
Thus, they knew very little about the news of the Targaryens having dragons across the Narrow Sea; only a few high-ranking members and nobles of the Nights Watch knew a bit more, and even then, it was mostly hearsay.
"Lord Commander." Donal Noye, the Master Armorer, ran over when he saw Mormont, a battle-axe in hand. "What in the hell is that thing?" He had been at The Wall for nearly thirty years and was among those who knew little of the outside world.
Mormont did not answer. His gaze was fixed on the person on the dragon's back. Silver hair, a three-headed dragon... Viserys Targaryen.
"It's a dragon. Tell everyone," he ordered grimly. "Do not attack him without my command."
At that moment, the dragon began to descend.
The black brothers crowded into the courtyard, looking up at the massive creature slowly descending from the sky. Some gripped their swords, while others traced the seven-pointed star across their chests. Fear continued to spread; dragons were legends, stories, creatures long extinct. But now, one was appearing vividly before their eyes.
The gale whipped up by Ghidorah swept through Castle Black, making the banners snap loudly, and the Nights Watchmen couldn't help but retreat. Ghidorah finally landed in the clearing outside the castle.
The silver-haired man on the dragon's back spoke, his voice carrying clearly throughout Castle Black: "I am Viserys Targaryen, Dragonlord of Valyria and rightful heir to the iron throne. I have come here to discuss matters with your Lord Commander."
Dear Reader,
A special 60% discount offer available Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy your favorite stories at a greatly reduced price.
The offer is available for a limited time only — grab it before it ends!
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn luffy1898