Regarding Maester Aemon's doubts, Roman certainly wouldn't admit it.
"Maester Aemon, have you ever seen a dragon that can speak? I am Roman Rivers, of Harrenhal. You really do love talking nonsense."
Maester Aemon shook his head. The moment Roman had touched him just now made him even more convinced that the magic of the Wall was connected to Maester Aemon along with Roman.
With two magical constructs resonating as they stood together, Maester Aemon didn't believe Roman's ghost stories at all. However, since Roman didn't want to admit it, Maester Aemon didn't expose him, merely handing him some documents.
The training grounds outside the castle.
There were enough men at Black Castle now. Harrenhal had brought over 1,000 cavalry, including 500 Ironmen, as well as 2,000 infantry.
The total force of the North was 9,000, and this battle at Black Castle was significantly easier compared to the War of the Five Kings in the original story.
With Roman as an external factor, combined with a fully-rested Northern army, it would be hard to lose.
However, the first priority was to scout the enemy's situation. The few available entrances needed to be patrolled, and the movements of the main Wildling force had to be observed.
But none of this was difficult for Fili; the Mistress of Ravens displayed her terrifying strength to the Northerners at this moment.
Because of the continuous strengthening of Roman's power, Fili, as his apostle, was also affected.
Previously, she still needed to listen to the ravens reporting to her, but now, as long as Roman was by Fili's side, the girl could directly read the ravens' memories.
Roman even wondered if, after he grew wings, Fili would be able to connect to the vision of animals just like a Warg.
"A Warg?"
Roman suddenly remembered that there seemed to be such figures among the Wildlings, and he hurriedly called out to the girl.
"Fili, go and search to see if there are any suspicious animals near us."
"Suspicious animals?"
"There are people among the Wildlings who can control animals and share their vision. Have the ravens look around to see if there are any owls or birds that have been staring at us."
Fili nodded heavily upon hearing this. She herself was the one who manipulated the ravens and knew best how strong this power was.
Eddard and the Nights Watch watched in shock as the ravens circled around Fili; these birds were as orderly as an army.
Landing, reporting, resting, rotating shifts—the ravens gathered around Fili like a black cloud, yet there was not a hint of chaos, but rather an oppressive order.
Intelligence flowed in like water. The ravens had a relay system in the air; if one raven discovered an anomaly, it didn't need to fly all the way back, but could report to a companion while it continued to monitor.
In just half a day, Fili had stripped the Wall of all its secrets.
"Lord Roman, there are small groups of Wildlings harassing the east and west, but no large force has been seen. It is suspected to be a feint."
Jeor: "That's likely the Wildlings trying to lure us into patrolling, so they can concentrate their forces to attack one specific point."
The Lord Commander's wrinkled face remained sharp as he gave his orders: "Go search the villages to the south for traces of Wildlings. Perhaps some have already slipped in!"
Roman also had Fili dispatch ravens to search to the south. He knew Mance Rayder would definitely concentrate his forces to launch an attack. There were no reports of attacks on the logistics troops, so the Wildlings were still hiding.
———— South of the Wall, a small village.
Scattered farmlands and houses were located here. Living in such a northern location, the lives of the locals were quite difficult.
But in recent years, their lives had improved somewhat. Various goods from Harrenhal had circulated here, greatly improving their heating, housing, and diet.
A group of old men sat on a mound chatting: "The Seven above! Thanks to Stark, our lives have become much better now."
"This is also thanks to Lord Roman of Harrenhal. Without him, Lord Eddard wouldn't have been able to help us even if he wanted to."
"Indeed. I heard that the troops of those two lords have come to the Wall together this time. I'm afraid something major is about to happen."
Hearing this, the others nervously looked at the surrounding wilderness. Their small village could not withstand any upheaval.
"Could it be the Wildlings?"
"Wildlings? Impossible. The Wildlings wouldn't come to this place; at most, they would raid in the north and then leave."
But before the old man could finish his sentence, a woman's miserable scream came from afar: "Wildlings! The Wildlings are here!"
"What?!"
Everyone looked around and immediately saw dozens of Wildlings surging up from the low-lying areas.
Those people from Beyond the Wall had fierce gazes, brandishing weapons and baring fangs, rushing toward the village with ghostly howls.
The villagers were as if facing a great enemy, rushing home to pack their things and flee. The entire village was thrown into chaos immediately.
Various sounds, mixed with screams and pain, filled the air. Some patients or elderly people unable to move could only watch in despair as the Wildlings approached step by step.
"Charge! Kill them all, and burn the houses!"
The Wildlings grinned ferociously; they could already smell the scent of fear.
But just at this moment, the sound of a horn reached people's ears. The Wildlings felt confused; they didn't have such a signal.
"Not good! It's an army, run!"
One Wildling realized what was happening and hurriedly called for his companions to flee, but it was too late.
A unit of Light Cavalry clad in iron armor charged directly out from the hills. They wore uniform armor, and their banners were printed with nine black bats.
The cavalry of Harrenhal had arrived.
The Wildlings didn't know why these people had arrived here so quickly; they had clearly avoided their scouts!
But thinking about this was useless now. The Harrenhal Light Cavalry had already charged in front of them, and the smell of horse musk and iron armor filled their nostrils.
Then came a one-sided slaughter. The Light Cavalry used sabers, spears, horse bows, and flails to harvest the lives of the Wildlings.
Some Wildlings wanted to draw their bows to resist, but their bows and arrows were too poor; they couldn't even pierce the enemy's armor.
In the end, the small squad of dozens was killed until only 5 remained. These few would be taken to Black Castle.
The remaining soldiers dismounted and asked the local villagers: "Are you alright? Is anyone injured? I have medicine here."
The villagers had heard that the soldiers of Harrenhal were friendly to others and could be said to be the model army of Westeros; seeing them today, they were indeed extraordinary!
After treating several villagers who had been injured in the panic, the soldiers refused the villagers' hospitality and rode away directly.
Such scenes occurred in multiple settlements in the south, and the reputation of the Harrenhal soldiers spread throughout the North in an instant.
When the last unit of cavalry returned, the interrogation began.
This time, only 20-something Wildlings were captured; the others were fellows who would rather die than submit. The soldiers couldn't be bothered to capture them and killed them on the spot. These few clearly had a greater desire to survive.
Roman had the soldiers tie them to chairs. Thunder crackled around his hands, illuminating the terrified expressions of the Wildlings.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Pah! Who cares who you are! If you want to kill, then kill!"
Roman toyed with the thunder, gently brushing past the Wildlings' faces, scorching their fine hairs until they curled.
"Tell me the intelligence you know, and I will spare your lives."
The Wildling did not answer, but spat a mouthful of blood at Roman, which was instantly burned away by the White Flame.
Roman couldn't be bothered with nonsense; he grabbed the Wildling by the shoulder, and electric current instantly surged through their bodies.
"Ah!!!"
The long interrogation began.
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