Game of Thrones: Digger of the Dreadfort

this night.

Domeric lay on the bed tossing and turning and stayed awake for a long time.

Sansa was with Lady Catelyn that night, Wilfield ran to the rear to organize food and supplies, and personal bodyguard Benita also had a mission...

He had nowhere to vent, so he had to get up and go for a walk.

The night is dark.

The cool moonlight spread across the courtyard like flowing water, covering the stone sculptures, fountains and walls in the courtyard with a layer of elegant gauze.

Domeric walked aimlessly along the deserted path and unknowingly arrived at the godswood of Riverrun.

It is surrounded by large redwoods and old elm trees, and their lush branches are like giant umbrellas.

I remember that on the first day after entering the city, Domeric and Sansa were bumped into by Lady Catelyn here...

The deeper Domeric walked into the forest, the more quiet and peaceful he felt.

Finally, his eyes rested on the weirwood in front of him.

An emaciated human face is carved on the tree trunk, and red sap flows down, as if weeping blood, making the face carved on it a little more sad and a little less determined.

Seeing it, Domeric suddenly remembered the vision he saw in Melisandre's holy fire.

The heart tree outside the Great Wall of Despair, and the mysterious woman who is like an ice and snow sculpture...

"Who?" Domeric suddenly turned around.

"It's me, Lord Domeric."

"Blackfish" Brynden, wearing a brown shirt, strode over.

He has gray hair, a weather-beaten face, and two sunken eyes, which are deep and bright, and he still looks energetic.

Speaking of which, "Blackfish" Brynden is also an old man over fifty years old, not much younger than his brother, Duke Hoster.

"It turns out it's Lord Brynden. The night is long and I have no intention of sleeping. I thought I was the only one who couldn't sleep, but it turns out you can't sleep either."

Domeric suddenly said something carelessly.

Naturally, Brynden couldn't resist this idea. He was stunned for a moment, and then he bowed and said, "Lord Domeric, thank you for saving me during the hunt a few days ago."

"With a little effort, Lord Brynden, are you feeling well?"

Domeric's expression of concern was palpable.

On the first day of the hunting conference, Brynden fell off his horse under the "savage charge" of the Wild Boar King, fainted completely, and was then sent back to Riverrun.

"Excuse me for your concern. Although I am old, my body is still strong."

Brynden deliberately drew closer to the Hand of the King, with a hint of flattery in his tone, "You have been governing in King's Landing and have won the love of a large number of people in a short period of time. I heard that you have personally gone to the slums to care for the elderly and children. , distribute bread to the homeless, and uphold justice for the innocent victims... It seems that you have a compassionate heart."

"How did you know this?" Domeric asked seriously.

Brynden was stunned for a moment, "Your reputation is well known among the nobles, and there are countless bards praising your deeds..."

"The nobles are trying to please me and seek benefits. But the bards have accepted my money and have no choice but to do things without conscience..."

"Are these stories not true?"

Brynden looked surprised when he heard this.

Domeric chuckled, "The most I can do is prevent the civilians in King's Landing from starving to death. Those civilians may sincerely support the hand of a kind king, but most of the time, they are stupid and are easily incited, or Being manipulated by people with ulterior motives..."

Brynden looked at him with a strange look at this moment.

Domeric slowed down his tone: "Lord Brynden, you must understand something clearly. In this world, strength is the most important, and the support of ordinary people is just embellishment."

Brynden was silent after hearing this.

At this moment, he seemed to have a new understanding of the Hand of the King.

Domeric saw the stubbornness in "Black Fish"'s eyes and sighed secretly.

This "Black Fish" was raised according to the education of his second son since he was a child. He is somewhat similar to Duke Ed, and politically similar to his nephew Edmure. Compared to his cunning brother, Duke Horst, he is Not even close.

…………

"Lord Brynden, the Lannister family seems to be in dire straits right now, but don't underestimate Tywin Lannister. This is a figure who has controlled the power of the Seven Kingdoms for 20 years. If we underestimate the enemy in the slightest, we may be in trouble at any time. Falling into a very unfavorable situation..."

"Blackfish" Brynden nodded silently, turned his eyes to Domeric and asked:

"Lord Domeric, can you tell me how you defeated Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal?"

At the beginning, the coalition forces in the King's Landing Valley in the hands of Domeric were only more than 2 people, while Tywin had [-] elite Lannister troops and the strong city of Harrenhal.

Brynden couldn't think of any way the Hand of the King had used to defeat Tywin. He not only captured a large number of prisoners, but also suffered very little loss.

"Well," Domeric said seriously: "It's actually very simple. I got a formula from a mysterious magician, developed a powdery potion, and used it to blast open the walls of Harrenhal. , Duke Tywin did not expect this situation, and was defeated by me in a sneak attack at night..."

"Blackfish" Brynden will be the great lord that Domeric relies on to fight against the Lannister in the future. There is no need to hide this from him.

"Is it that simple?" Brynden frowned.

This was different from what he expected. Brynden originally thought that the Hand of the King defeated the prestigious Tywin Lannister through various clever tactics and a series of hard battles.

"Oh, of course the quantity of the potion must be sufficient." Domeric added, "You also know how thick the walls of Harrenhal are. It is not easy to blow a hole."

"Then can we attack Golden Teeth City in this way?"

Brynden had an idea flash in his mind and asked tentatively.

"Of course." Domeric smiled, "But Tywin must be on guard. Unless our troops can crush the Lannister army, even if we blow up the Golden Teeth City, we won't be able to gain much advantage."

"I see."

Brynden suddenly changed the subject, "By the way, I heard that there is a red-robed witch of the Red God in your army?"

"Yes, Lady Melisandre of Asshai."

Domeric nodded and admitted, "She is Lord Stannis's messenger and is temporarily staying in my army for some reasons."

"I heard that the Red Witch treated Lord Gyles Rosby who was suffering from malaria in King's Landing, and snatched the dying 'Hound' Sandor Clegane from the Stranger... She seemed to have borrowed the red The power of the King of Divine Light.”

Domeric stared into Blackfish's eyes, "Lord Brynden, what exactly do you want to say?"

"I want to say... borrowing the power of the gods often comes with a price."

Brynden had a stern look on his face with a worried expression:

"For mortals, the power and curse of the gods are like two sides of a coin. You cannot find a coin with only one side. Likewise, you cannot only obtain benefits from the gods..."

Brynden is obviously worried that Domeric is too "addicted" to the power of the Red God and cannot extricate himself.

This is unacceptable to the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms who believe in the old and new gods.

Domeric nodded thoughtfully.

"I know what you are worried about, but even if it is true as you said, the price should be borne by Earl Gales and the Hound.

After all, I have never received anything from the Red God..."

…………

this day.

Domeric was handling official business at a large oak table.

Bachelor Qoben urgently seeks an audience.

He hasn't returned to King's Landing yet, and Maester Coben's human experiments have not yet been carried out. I don't know what there is that makes him so anxious to see him.

"What makes you so panicked?" Domeric asked curiously.

"Sir, it, it's lit, it's lit!" Coburn said urgently.

Domeric's heart "thumped"...

Cobb didn't have time to say anything and took Domeric directly to a secret room.

The entire secret room has no windows.

Domeric quickly noticed the tall black candle placed on the oak table in the center of the chamber.

It was the only light source in the room, and it was uncomfortably bright and disturbing.

The flames emit an uncomfortably bright light and cause strange color changes in the surrounding area.

The white is as bright as falling snow, the yellow shines like pure gold, the red becomes flame, and the black is so deep that it can be mistaken for the hollowness of the world.

"This is?"

Domeric had already guessed what it was and just wanted to make sure.

"Glass candle." Bachelor Qyburn said solemnly.

Domeric came closer and looked carefully at this magical glass candle.

It was more than three feet tall, as thin as a sword, with spiral edges as sharp as a knife, and it was emitting an inexplicable and strange light.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, before the end of Valyria, four glass candles were brought to the Citadel from Valyria.

One green and three black, all long and twisted, but I don't know if all of them are like this.

Everyone who takes the oath to become a maester must keep vigil in the crypt and carry no light but a glass candle.

He must spend the night in darkness unless he can light the candle.

According to the bachelors, this is to warn the new bachelors: Even if a person is full of knowledge, he is not omnipotent.

Legend has it that wizards on the other side of the Narrow Sea used this glass candle to allow their sight to travel across mountains, oceans and deserts.

Sitting in front of this kind of candle, they can enter other people's dreams and show illusions, or exchange information half a world away...

There have also been reports of glass candles being lit intermittently in the school city.

But according to rumors at that time, the candle only showed a little spark and almost invisible light.

And the glass candle in front of me burned so brightly, blooming with such dazzling light.

"Maester Qyburn, do you know what this portends?" Domeric's tone became serious.

Bachelor Coburn shook his head subconsciously, but then emphasized: "Sir, if I guess correctly, this indicates that the ancient mysteries that have disappeared are back, and they are about to reappear in the world..."

Domeric fell into thinking and pondered in his heart.

Calculating the time, it seems that the time for the red comet to arrive and the demon tide to return to its peak is just in these few days...