When the letter from the Wall reached Lynd, he was preparing to go to the Stepstones, as the rotation of Dagmer Cleftjaw, the incorporation of the Sunspear fleet into the Miracle Fleet, and other matters all required his personal attention to avoid any mishaps.
However, when he saw the letter from the Wall, he changed his itinerary and instead headed for Black Castle on the Wall.
The death of Old Bear Jeor Mormont was truly beyond Lynd's expectation, because due to the expansion of personnel, Black Castle now had over two thousand people, including Stewards, Rangers, and apprentice Night's Watchmen. Old Bear had as many as ten Stewards around him, so it should have been very safe.
Yet, the letter stated that when Old Bear was assassinated, there were regular Stewards stationed downstairs and next door to his room, and they hadn't slept the entire night. No one heard any unusual movement until the Steward living next door went to wake Old Bear in the morning to announce daily tasks, only to discover that Old Bear had been assassinated.
If the Stewards living next door and downstairs were others, Lynd might have suspected they were lying, that they had actually fallen asleep the night before, which was why they hadn't heard anything. But among the Stewards living next door and downstairs were Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly, which meant there was no possibility of lying. It could only be that someone had silently infiltrated Black Castle and killed Old Bear.
At this time, who benefited most from Old Bear's sudden death: the Beyond the Wall Wildlings, the Others, or someone within the Nights Watch? Lynd suddenly thought of Willas, so on his way to Black Castle, he altered his course slightly and flew to Icehold first to meet Willas.
"Who did this, the assassination of Lord Jeor Mormont?" Lynd asked directly the moment he met Willas.
Willas was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Lynd frowned and said, "You are integrated with the Wall; the entire Wall is your domain, and Black Castle is within it. You should be fully aware of every movement here."
"I was asleep at the time," Willas gave an unexpected answer.
"Asleep?" Lynd was also completely surprised by Willas's answer and was stunned.
"I'm surprised too, because I haven't been asleep for a very long time," Willas knew why Lynd was so surprised and said, "Ever since I became integrated with the Wall, I haven't slept, always remaining conscious. But the day the Commander was assassinated, I fell asleep. Afterwards, I recalled it and also felt something was wrong, as if some force was influencing me, making me fall into sleep."
"Was it the Others?" Lynd didn't think Willas was lying, so he followed Willas's words and asked.
"No," Willas answered very certainly, "The main force of the Others is still gathering in the Eternal Winter Land; only some advance parties have infiltrated the South. They don't have such powerful abilities." He then added, "Compared to the Others, I actually suspect the Beyond the Wall Wildlings more."
"Why?" Lynd inquired.
Willas explained, "Because the Beyond the Wall Wildlings recently excavated an ancient burial ground, and they found an artifact of the cold god inside. That was a trophy captured by Brandon the Liberator after he killed The Night King. However, that artifact could not pass through the Wall, so he had to place it in the tombs of the fallen Night's Watchmen. Now that artifact is in the hands of the Beyond the Wall Wildlings. If they know how to use it, then when I am unprepared, that artifact could have a certain influence on me."
"Beyond the Wall Wildlings?" Lynd thought for a moment, then asked, "Is it possible that someone within the Nights Watch did it?"
Willas was silent for a moment, then said, "It's possible."
Lynd inquired, "Is there anyone in the Nights Watch who can make you fall asleep?"
"No," Willas gave a definite answer, but then changed the subject, saying, "But others might influence me."
"Others?" Lynd questioned.
Willas replied, "Doomsday Faith followers have appeared near the Wall. The winter horn in their hands can affect me."
"Doomsday Faith?" Lynd said in a deep voice, "Wasn't the Doomsday Faith established by Euron?"
Willas's words were astonishing: "No, Euron was just the executor. I was the one who truly established the Doomsday Faith."
Lynd was stunned for a long time before asking, "Why did you do that?"
"Because everyone doesn't take the Others seriously, doesn't take the Long Night's coming seriously. They all feel that Doomsday is too far away from them. Even if they see wights with their own eyes, they still don't take it seriously. Now they are more willing to kill each other than to prepare for the coming Doomsday." The usually emotionless Willas showed some agitation at this point, then sighed and said, "It's a pity the Doomsday Faith failed. I didn't expect it to be jointly suppressed by you and the Seven Gods Church. If it hadn't failed, then perhaps this war happening in the South now wouldn't have occurred."
Lynd was noncommittal about Willas's statement. Perhaps due to their different positions, in his view, the existence of the Doomsday Faith would only disrupt the existing social order, not make the great nobles and lords more vigilant, and it was even less conducive to the step-by-step execution of his own plans.
Lynd then asked a crucial question: "Were the Doomsday Faith followers who appeared at the Wall outsiders, or Night's Watchmen?"
"They have already left the Wall and gone Beyond the Wall." Although Willas gave an indirect answer, the answer was already a clear indication: only Night's Watchmen could pass through the Wall, and among the Night's Watchmen, only Rangers would go Beyond the Wall.
Lynd then asked, "Did they leave before or after Old Bear was assassinated?"
Willas did not answer this time.
"Willas, what exactly do you want to do?" Lynd angrily demanded.
Willas said in a deep voice, "I can tell you for sure that the Commander's death has nothing to do with the Doomsday Faith."
Hearing Willas's firm answer, Lynd was somewhat surprised. Then, a surge of magic power suddenly erupted from Willas, enveloping the entire ice cave. At the same time, he said to Lynd, who was about to activate his defenses, "Don't resist. I'll take you to see it for yourself."
As soon as Willas's voice fell, Lynd felt a pulling force appear out of thin air, and then he felt as if he was being pulled by some powerful, irresistible force, taking an involuntary step forward. And just as he took that step, the surrounding scene instantly changed from an ice cave where breath condensed into frost to a warm room. In the room, Old Bear Jeor Mormont was sitting at the desk by the bed, looking through various documents.
"This is the scene before the Commander's assassination," Willas's voice sounded beside him.
Lynd turned his head to look and saw that Willas had now returned to his normal appearance, and his feet could stand and walk like a normal person.
"Is this the Green Seer's ability?" Lynd inquired.
"Yes," Willas nodded and said, "I just imitated this power. As long as something has happened on the Wall, I can experience it again through this method." He then paused suddenly, turned to Lynd, and said seriously, "I also saw the process of humans and other races fighting against the Others when the Wall was first built. That is a forgotten history, so I know the horror of the Others better than anyone."
Lynd was noncommittal about Willas's statement and quietly watched the historical scene before him.
At this time, Old Bear had finished his Steward duties, placed the documents aside to be distributed by the Stewards tomorrow, then stood up, took off his sword, Longclaw, and placed it aside. Just as he was about to undress and lie down to rest, the door suddenly opened.
Old Bear vigilantly picked up his sword, but seeing the newcomers, he put it down again and said to them, "Why are you two? It's so late. Is there something important? Is there news of Benjen?"
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