Fire and Ice was a trilogy when it was born, and later it was expanded into six (the current news is that the original planned Raven's Feast is too long and has been split into two; So it may be seven in the future); As J.R.R Tolkien said, stories grow with telling.
These books are set in the continent of Westeros, a world similar and different from ours-the seasons there last for many years, sometimes even decades. Westeros is close to the sunset sea on the western edge of the known world, extending from the red sand beaches in Dorne in the south to the frozen mountains and frosty Yuan Ye in the north, where it will still snow even in the long summer.
The sons of the forest at dawn are the first known inhabitants of Westeros: they are a short race, settled in the green forest, and carved strange faces on the bone-white weirwood. Then the first people came, and they crossed the continental bridge from the bigger continent in the east with bronze swords and horses. They fought against the sons of the forest for centuries until they finally got along with the older race and accepted their nameless ancient gods. The Contract marks the beginning of the heroic age. The ancestors shared Westeros with the sons of the forest, and hundreds of small kingdoms rose and died.
Other invaders came in turn. The Andals sailed across the narrow ocean. They used iron and fire to sweep the kingdom of their ancestors, drove the sons of the forest out of their forest, and cut down many fish and beams. They brought their own beliefs and worshipped a god with seven appearances, and the seven-pointed star was his symbol. Only in the far north, the ancestors were led by the Stark family in Winterfell to repel newcomers; Aandahl won in other places and established his own kingdom. The sons of the forest gradually declined, and at the same time, ancestors and their conquerors began to marry.
Rhoynar appeared thousands of years after the arrival of Aandahl, not as an aggressor, but as a refugee; They sailed across the sea on10,000 ships to escape from the growing hereditary aristocratic forces in Varelia. Valeria's hereditary aristocracy ruled most of the known world. They are wizards and knowledgeable. Of all human races, only they know how to raise dragons and make them obey. However, four hundred years before the fire and ice opened, the end came to Valeria, and the city-state collapsed overnight. Since then, the powerful Valerian Empire has fallen apart, with constant disputes, barbarism and ignorance, and the war began.
On the other side of the narrow ocean, Westeros escaped the worst part of the ensuing chaos. Of the hundreds of kingdoms that existed at that time, only seven survived-but they could not last long. Egon Aegon Tangeryen, a descendant of the lost Valera, landed at the mouth of the Heishui River with a small army, his two sisters (also his two wives) and three dragons. On the dragon's back, Egon and his sisters won battle after battle, and conquered six of the seven kingdoms of Westeros through fire, sword and negotiation. The conqueror collected the melted and twisted weapons of the defeated opponent and used them to cast a terrible and tall throne of thorns: the iron throne. He sat on the throne and ruled in the name of Egon I, the king of Andals, Roenas and their ancestors, and the monarch of the seven kingdoms.
The dynasty established by Egon and his sisters lasted for nearly 300 years. Dai Lun II, another king of Targaryen, later incorporated Donne into the territory and put the whole continent of Westeros under one ruler. He achieved this goal through marriage rather than conquest, because the last dragon died half a century ago.
Trial reading:
"Since the savage is dead," Gary urged, "let's turn around."
"Did the dead scare you?" Sir waymar royce asked with a shallow smile.
Gary didn't fall for it. He is an old man in his fifties. He has seen too many aristocratic children come in and out in his life. "Death is death," he said. "We don't have to deal with the dead."
"Are you sure they are really dead?" Royce asked softly, "Where is the evidence?"
"Will saw it," said Gary. "I believe what he said."
Will knew that they would get involved in the dispute sooner or later, but not so soon. "My mother said that the dead can't sing." He interrupted.
"Will, my wet nurse said the same thing," replied Royce. "Never believe what you hear in a woman's arms.
Even if people die, we can learn a lot. "His voice echoed in the twilight forest, a bit loud.
"There is still a long way to go," Gary pointed out. "It will take eight or nine days, and now it's getting dark."
Sir Wilfield Royce scanned the sky listlessly. "This is not a day? Gary, you're not black, are you? "
Will could see Gary's pursed lips and pent-up anger under his thick black cloak. Gary has been a night watchman for forty years, and this qualification is not just for fun. But Gary wasn't just angry. Under his wounded self-esteem, Will can vaguely detect some hidden anxiety, a kind of tension similar to fear.
Will feels the same way. He has only been guarding the Great Wall of Despair for four years. When he first climbed over the wall into the north, all the legends and stories suddenly came to his mind, making him weak and afraid. Afterwards, he inevitably felt funny when he recalled it. Now he is an old hand with 100 patrol experience. Before him, he was fearless in this boundless wilderness called ghost forest by southerners.
However, tonight is an exception. This night was different from the past, and there was an unspeakable horror in the darkness that made his hair stand on end. They rode out of the Great Wall in the north and marched day and night for nine days, biting the footprints of savage bandits. The situation is getting worse and worse, and today it has reached the bottom. The gloomy north wind blows the shadows of trees like fierce living things. Will felt that he was being watched by an unknown thing, which was cold all day and had no affection for him, and Gary also felt it. At this time, Will just wanted to turn his horse's head and run back to the Great Wall. But this is an idea that must not be raised in front of the Chief Executive.
Especially like this, sir.
Sir waymar royce was born into a noble family, ranking the oldest in a family full of children and grandchildren. He is a handsome 18-year-old boy with gray eyes, elegant manners and as thin as a sharp knife. Riding his strong black war horse is much higher than Will and Gary riding a smaller plow horse. He is wearing black leather boots, black wool trousers, black mole leather gloves, black sweater, hard leather armor and shiny black ring armor. Wilma Juetu was sworn in as a night watchman less than half a year ago, but he didn't come empty-handed, at least he had a lot of clothes.
The most dazzling outfit on his body is naturally the horribly thick and soft black mink cloak. "I bet he killed those sable with his own hands," Gary told his comrades-in-arms while drinking in the barracks. "Our great soldiers, oh, screw off their little heads one by one." At that time, it caused everyone to laugh.
How can you respect your boss if he is the object of ridicule when everyone is drinking and having fun? Will is riding a horse, and he can't help thinking so. I'm sure Gary feels the same way
"Mormont asked us to track the savage, and we did," Gary said. "Now that they are dead, they will never bother us again. We still have a long way to go before us. I really don't like this weather. If it snows, we will need two weeks to go back. Snow is nothing, my Lord. Have you ever seen an ice storm raging? "
The young master didn't seem to hear these words. He looked at the fading dusk, showing his unique lack of interest and carelessness. Will has been with him for some time, and I know it's best not to interrupt him at this time. "Tell me again what you saw, Will."
Before becoming a night watchman, Will hunted for a living. To put it bluntly, it is actually poaching. When he was poaching a stag in the forest of the Heristo family, he was busy peeling the deer's skin and was caught red-handed by a homeless man employed by the Merrist family. If he doesn't choose to join the black shirt army, only his hands will be cut off. Will's stealth skills are first-class, and no one can beat him in the silent stealth in the forest, and the brothers of the Black Shirt Army really discovered his strengths soon.
"The camp is two miles away, across the ridge and next to a stream." Will replied, "I'm very close." There are always eight people, both men and women, but no children. Their backs were against the big rocks, and the snow covered almost the whole camp, but I could still see it. There is no campfire, but the embers of the fire are still obvious. They didn't move. I watched it carefully for a long time. The living will never be so quiet. "
"Did you find blood?"
"Well,no." Will admitted.
"Did you see any weapons?"
"A few swords, two or three bows, and a guy with an axe. The iron double-edged axe, which looks quite heavy, is placed on the ground on his right. "
"Did you write down the relative position where they were lying?"
Will shrugged. "Two or three leaned against the stone, and most of them were lying on the ground, as if they had been killed."
"It may also be sleeping." Royce suggested.
"Must have been killed," Will insisted, "because there is a woman hiding in the Cycas forest, who should be a scout.
"He smiled a little." I was careful not to let her see it. But when I approached, I found that she didn't respond. "He couldn't help shivering.
"Are you cold?" Royce asked.
"A little," Will murmured. "My Lord, it's the wind."
The young knight turned to face the white-haired veteran. Frosted leaves whispered in my ear, and Royce's steed was embarrassed. "Gary, who do you think killed these people?" Sir Wilma asked casually, tidying the folds of mink robes.
"This damn weather," Gary said firmly. "I saw people freeze to death when I came last winter. I have seen it before, when I was a child. Everyone says that the snow is as deep as 40 feet and the north wind is as cold as ice, but the most difficult thing to correct is the low temperature. It will catch you quietly, quieter than will. At first, you will tremble, your teeth will tremble, your legs will stretch, and you will dream of scalded wine and warm bonfires. The weather is very hot. Nothing is hotter than cold. But after a while, it will enter your body and begin to fill your body. It won't be long before you have the strength to resist. You will find it much easier to sit down or take a nap, and it won't hurt at all. You will feel weak and sleepy first, then everything will gradually disappear, and finally, it will be as calm as being submerged in hot milk. "
"I think you are very poetic," Sir Wilma commented. "I didn't expect you to have such a gift."
"My Lord, I have personally experienced the power of cold." Gary pulled back the windshield so that Sir Wilma could clearly see the meatballs left by the frozen ears. "Two ears, three toes, and the little finger of my left hand, so I was slightly injured. My eldest brother froze to death while standing guard. When we found him, he was still smiling. "
Sir Wilma shrugged. "I said, Gary, you should wear two more clothes."
Gary glared at his young officer and his ears were red with anger. After Maester Eamon cut off his necrotic ear, there was still a scar next to his ear hole. "When winter really comes, see how warm you can wear.
"He lifted when the hood, shrink down on a horse, no longer answer darkly.
"Since Gary said it was the weather ..." Will was about to speak.
"Will, did you stand guard last week?"
"Yes, my Lord." When did he not draw the sign of the station guard? What is this guy trying to say? "What about the Great Wall?"
"It's dripping," Will said with a frown. Now he understands. "So they didn't freeze to death. If the city wall will drip, it means that the weather is not cold enough. "
Royce nodded. "Smart. It was a little frosty in the past week, and it snowed occasionally, but it was definitely not so cold that eight people were frozen to death. What's more, they wear warm fur clothes to keep out the cold, the terrain is enough to block snow, and there are enough fireproof materials. " The knight showed a confident smile. "Will, lead the way. I want to see these dead people with my own eyes. "
Things have come to this, they have no choice. Since all orders have been given, only those who are obeyed.
Will played forward, rode his furry horse and explored the road carefully in the bushes. There was a light snow last night, and now there are many stones, roots and puddles under the tree. If you are not careful, you will trip. Sir waymar royce followed, his tall and strong horse panting impatiently. Patrol duty is the most unsuitable for horseback riding, but how do aristocratic children listen? Veteran Gary mumbled all the way behind the house.
Twilight gradually sinks, and the cloudless sky in Wan Li turns into a bruised purple, and then disappears into the darkness. The stars came out and the new moon rose. Will secretly thanked the stars and the moon for giving him light.
"We should be able to walk faster." Royce said. At this time, the moon has almost reached the zenith.
"Your horse can't do that," Will said, and fear made him rude. "Still young master, do you want to try?"
Sir waymar royce obviously disdained to answer.
Will stopped by an old iron tree full of tree tumors and got off his horse.
"Why did you stop?" Sir Wilma asked.
"My Lord, the road behind is easier. Just cross that ridge. "
Royce also stopped to look into the distance, with a thoughtful expression on his face. A cold wind rustled through the forest, and his mink coat shook behind his back, as if he had life.
"There is a problem here." Gary whispered.
The young knight gave him a contemptuous smile. "Is there?"
"Don't you feel it?" Gary asked, "Listen carefully to the sound in the dark."
Will felt it, too. In his four years of service for the night watchman, he had never been so afraid. What on earth is at work?
"The wind, rustling leaves, and wolves. Gary, what kind of sound made you fall into a travel trap? " Royce saw that Gary didn't answer, so he turned gracefully and dismounted. He tied the horse firmly to a drooping branch, away from the other two horses, and then drew his sword. This is a good sword made in the city. The hilt is inlaid with precious stones, and the moonlight shines brightly on the bright steel sword. It looks very new. Will wondered if it was stained with blood.
"My Lord, the trees here are very dense," Will warned. "It may entangle your sword. I think you should use a short knife. "
"When I need guidance from others, I will naturally ask." The young aristocrat said, "Gary, you stay here and watch the horse."
Gary got off the horse. "I'll make a fire."
"The old man, again stupid also want to have a limit. If there are enemies in this forest, shall we make a fire to draw them here? "
"Some things are afraid of fire," Gary said. "Like bears, direwolf, and ... and many other things."
Sir Wilma pursed her lips. "I am not sure, but I am not sure."
Gary's cloak covered his face, but Will could still see him staring into the knight's eyes. He was once afraid of the old man's impulse to draw his sword and use force. Although the old man's sword is short and ugly, the hilt has been soaked with sweat for a long time, and the blade is full of gaps due to long-term use, if Gary really draws his sword, Will will know that this noble dude will die.
Finally, Gary bowed his head. "Then forget it." He said with a wry smile.
Royce took him as a compromise. "lead the way." So he said to Will.
Will took him through the dense bushes, climbed the gentle slope and walked to the ridge, where he had previously found a favorable hiding place under a tree. Under the thin snow, the ground is wet and muddy, and it is very easy to slip, and there are stones and hidden roots that trip you. Will didn't make any noise when he climbed the mountain, but from time to time there was a metallic clash of armor on the guy's body, a rustling of leaves, and curses when the forked branches hooked his sword and hooked his beautiful mink cloak.
Will knows that the Great Sentinel Tree is located at the highest point of the ridge, and the lowest branch is only one foot from the ground. So he climbed into the bush, lay flat in the snow and mud and looked down at the empty ground.
His heart stopped beating, and for a time he was afraid to breathe. The moonlight shone on the clearing, reflecting the embers of the bonfire, the snow-covered rocks and the semi-frozen streams, and everything was exactly the same as what he saw a few hours ago.
The only difference is that everyone has left.
"Bless the gods!" He heard a voice behind him. Sir waymar royce cut the branch with his sword and finally climbed to the top of the glass. He stood by the whistle tree, holding a sword in his hand, his cloak was blown whirring, and the bright star light clearly outlined his noble posture.
"get down!" Will whispered anxiously, "Something strange has happened." Royce did not move. He looked down at the clearing below and smiled, "Will, all the dead people you mentioned seem to have moved." Will seems to have suddenly lost his ability to speak. He tried in vain to find the right words. How come... His eyes glanced back and forth in the empty camp and finally stopped on the axe. Such a huge double-edged tomahawk should stay where it is. It is said that such a valuable thing ...
"Will, stand up." Sir Wilma ordered, "there is no one here. What a scandal! " Will reluctantly agreed.
Sir Wilma looked him up and down discontentedly. "I don't want to go home from my first patrol. We must find these people. " He looked around. "Climb to the tree and have a look. Pay attention to whether there is a fire nearby. " Will turned around silently, knowing that excuses were useless. The wind is getting stronger and stronger, like a knife. He went to the towering blue-gray sentry tree and began to climb. Soon he was lost in pine needles and his hands were covered with tree juice. Fear is like a indigestible meal. He prayed silently to the unknown god of the forest, then pulled out his dagger and bit it with his teeth, so that he could climb with his bare hands. The cold weapon in his mouth made him a little nervous.
Suddenly there was a cry from a young aristocrat. "Who's there?" Will recognized the uneasiness in his threats, so he stopped crawling, listened attentively and observed carefully.
The forest gave him the answer: the leaves rustled, the cold stream gurgled, and the snow owl crowed in the distance.
The ghost appeared silently.
Will saw a white figure through the Woods out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and saw a white shadow in the darkness, and then disappeared. The branches stirred slightly in the wind and stretched out their fingers to scratch each other. Will opened his mouth to warn, but his words froze in his throat. Maybe he is wrong, maybe it's just a bird, or a reflection in the snow, or an illusion caused by moonlight. What did he see?
"Will, where are you?" Sir Wilma shouted to his head, "Do you see anything?" He suddenly became alert and slowly turned around with a sword in his hand. He must have felt it as well as will. However, there is no one around. "Answer me quickly! Why is it so cold here? "
It is really cold here. Will trembled and hugged the trunk, his cheek pressed against the bark of the sentry tree. He felt the sticky sweet sap flowing on his face.
A shadow suddenly appeared from the dark forest and stood in front of Royce. It is tall, gaunt and determined, like old bones, and its skin is as white as milk. His armor seems to change color with the movement, sometimes white as new snow, and sometimes black as the shadow of the sun, covered with gray-green in the depths of the forest. Every step it takes, the pattern changes like the neighbor's moonlight on the water.
Will only heard Sir Wilma Royce gasp. "Don't come over!" The noble young master warned each other, but his voice sounded like a little boy. He turned the long mink coat back to make room for activities, and then held the sword in his hand.
The wind stopped and it was freezing.
The alien, with a sword in his hand, sneaked forward quietly. Will has never seen such a weapon. This is a translucent sword. It's not made of human metal at all. Like a thin crystal fragment. If you look up, you can hardly see it. It reflects the moonlight and there is a strange blue light around the blade. Somehow, Will knew that this sword was sharper than any razor.
Sir Wilma stood up bravely. "In this case, let's have a competition." He raised his sword above his head and said defiantly. Although his hands trembled because of the weight or cold, Will felt that at that moment, he was no longer a timid boy, but a real night watchman.
The alien stopped. Will saw its eyes, bluer and deeper than any human eyes, burning as cold as ice. His eyes stayed on the trembling sword held high and stared at the cold moonlight flowing on the metal blade. At that moment, Will felt that things had changed.
At this time, they quietly emerged from the shadows and looked exactly like the first alien. Three, four, five ... Sir Wilma felt the chill that accompanied them, but he didn't see or hear their voices. Will should warn him, after all, that's his duty. However, if he makes any noise, he will die. He clung to the tree trembling, afraid to speak.
The pale sword snapped in the air. Sir Wilma raised his steel sword to meet the enemy. However, when the two swords collide, it is a nonmetallic collision sound, but a high and thin sound at the edge of human hearing limit, like an animal's painful howl. Royce blocked the second attack, followed by the third, and then took a step back. After another sword, he retreated. On his left and right sides, behind him, other ghosts stood patiently and expressionless. The ever-changing details on the boring armor made them stand out in the forest, but they didn't intervene.
They kept fighting until Will tried to cover his ears. He couldn't stand the strange and harsh sound when the weapons collided.
Sir Wilma's breathing began to rush, and the exhaled air evaporated into smoke in the moonlight. His sword was covered with frost, and the alien's sword shone blue and white. Just then, one of Royce's blocks slowed down a beat, and the miserable white sword bit through the hoop armor under his arm. The young aristocrat let out a cry of pain, and blood flowed between the iron rings. The fiery red blood steamed in the cold air, and the blood dripping on the snow was as red as fire. Sir Wilma put his hand on the wound, and the mole leather gloves were soaked in bright red.
The alien said a few words in a language that Will didn't understand. It sounds like the ice on the lake broke in winter, and the tone is full of irony.
Sir waymar royce is angry again. "Long live King Robert!" He roared loudly, clasped his frosty sword with both hands and waved wildly with all his strength. Aliens don't care about him at all.
The two swords collided and the bronze sword broke.
Screams echoed in the Woods at night, and Royce's sword broke into hundreds, scattered all over the floor like a shower of needles. Royce screamed and knelt down, reaching for his eyes, and blood ran down his fingers.
The strange ghosts on the sidelines seem to have received some signals and then rushed forward. In the silence, swords and shadows, this is a cold massacre. The pale sword cut into the armor like silk. Will, close your eyes. I heard their laughter coming from far away on the ground, as sharp as an ice needle. For a long time, he finally got up the courage to open his eyes. The ridge under the tree is empty.
The moon crawled slowly through the dark sky, but he still stayed in the tree, too scared to breathe. Finally, he drove the cramped muscles and frozen fingers back to the tree.
Royce's body lay face down in the snow, with one arm sticking out. This heavy mink coat is badly cut. Seeing him die here, you will find how young he is, just a big boy.
He found the remains of a broken arrow a few feet away, and the blade was like the top of a tree shattered by lightning. Will bent down and looked around carefully before picking up the sword. He will use this broken arrow as evidence, and Gary will know what to do. Even if he doesn't know, "Old Bear" Mormont or Maester Eamon must have a way. Is Gary still guarding the horse until he gets back? Better step forward.
Will, stand up. Sir Wilma Royce is standing in front of him. His clothes were smashed and his appearance was completely ruined. A broken arrow leaf reflects that he has lost the pupil of his left eye. His right eye opened and Lan Huo burned in his pupil. Watch this.
The broken arrow slipped from Will's powerless hand, and he closed his eyes and prayed silently. Elegant and slender hand brushed his cheek, and then grabbed his throat. Although these hands are wrapped in the finest mole leather gloves and covered with sticky blood clots, they are extremely cold.
The first chapter is an overview
According to the report "Current Situation and Market Prospect of Waste Electrical and El