A moment later, in a secluded corner far from the bonfire, only the sound of the wind whistled in their ears.
Blown by the night wind, Will sobered up mostly. He completely didn't know why Lord Solomon wanted to see him alone. Facing Solomon's serious scrutinizing gaze, he appeared somewhat uneasy.
"Will, tell me what you saw again, carefully." Solomon's voice was calm. "What did its head look like?"
Will trembled nervously, trying hard to recall: "The head was very big. On it... on it grew many thick horns, curved, like old mountain goat horns, but bigger, thicker, and blacker."
"The mouth was very big and long. Teeth... teeth like giant black blades, interlaced."
"Its body was like a big mountain."
Bolin frowned deeply, turning his head nervously to look at Solomon. Isn't what this kid saying just the description from legendary stories told by commoners in the streets? Afraid his brother would be punished, he hurriedly spoke:
"Lord Solomon, words of a drunkard cannot be taken seriously. The Black Dread Balerion in the legends of people in the streets is described like this."
"Or rather, every dragon is described like this."
Solomon's expression remained unchanged, noncommittal. He just raised his hand to signal Bolin to stay calm, his gaze still locked on Will, signaling him to continue: "Didn't you say it was stone?"
Lord Solomon didn't mock him. Encouraged, Will's chatterbox seemed to open: "It was indeed stone! My Lord! I didn't lie to you!"
"Only the eyes were moving! Otherwise I would have been swallowed by it in one breath! Its big mouth could fit a big house! By the Seven!"
Will seemed to fall into his own memories, eyes unfocused, murmuring to himself: "Those eyes... its eyes were black, emitting bright light in the dark, frighteningly bright in the dark, staring at me all the time, staring at me, following me."
"Were the eyes red or black?" Bolin cursed angrily. "You kid are not allowed to drink anymore starting today!!!"
"Really!!! I really saw it!!" Will's voice suddenly rose, carrying a trace of grievance from being questioned. "I remembered, it was green! It was green!!!"
Bolin: "..."
"Didn't you say its eyes were looking at you?" Solomon hesitated a bit. This kid is a bit too unreliable.
"I was too drunk at that time... My Lord." Will blushed a bit, rubbing his hands together incessantly. "Can't remember too clearly... otherwise I wouldn't dare go up and touch its... body."
Solomon fell silent, asking no more details: "Can you still find that place?"
"Can..." Will nodded, then immediately shook his head. "Can't..."
A finger pointed at his face. It was Solomon.
"You kid better remember for me!"
"Otherwise!"
Will waved his hands in front of his chest, shaking them constantly. His hands trembled a bit, and his speech started to stutter:
"I was really too drunk at that time, My Lord..."
"Only remember, that was a cave located in the middle section of a big mountain. The entrance was covered by countless tangled dense vines. I pushed aside several layers of vines to drill inside."
"A very, very big cave entrance. I stood at the entrance feeling like an ant."
"That stone dragon coiled in the innermost part. Head at the entrance, almost filling the entire space."
"It was too dark. I only saw two dark holes, like the position of eyes."
"Then... then I seemed to see a light inside, green... or maybe illuminated by firelight, red... I don't know, I really don't know!"
"Bolin is right! Starting tomorrow you must abstain from alcohol!" Solomon grabbed Will's wine cup and gulped it down. In Westeros, or in this world, anything related to the word "dragon" might contain power to subvert everything. Countless people scrambled for it, yet unexpectedly it came out of a drunkard's mouth.
Bolin couldn't bear it anymore. He took a step forward, grabbing Will's collar, teeth grinding loudly. He hated this young man for degrading himself so much.
"You idiot! What nonsense are you talking about!" His voice suppressed anger, like a beast about to explode, but it was more hating iron for not becoming steel than anger. "Look at your ghostly appearance now!!! What have you lived to become!!!"
Will was shaken dizzy by him, eyes red, head lowered, eyes full of confusion, regret, and shame.
Solomon raised his hand to grab Bolin's hand holding Will, signaling Bolin to let go. Bolin let go, and Will immediately collapsed softly on the ground, panting heavily.
"Sigh..." Solomon sighed and squatted down, eye level with Will. He extended a finger, gently tapping on Will's forehead. "I need useful people, not drunkards. From today on if I see you drunk again..."
Solomon understood Will's experience and the idea of numbing himself with alcohol, but people ultimately have to save themselves. If even one gives up on oneself, only Heaven can help.
Bolin stood aside, face livid, watching Will sobbing and wiping tears. He only hoped Lord Solomon's words could sober up the young man.
Solomon withdrew his finger, stood up, and looked silently at the night sky. A story full of holes, an unverifiable location.
But I just happened to see a vision. Curiosity is simply impossible to suppress.
Why show the vision to me? Should I perform a "sacrifice" like last time again? He now knew why in A Song of Ice and Fire, people would get out of control after using sacrifice, just like addiction.
Sending people deep into the Mountains of the Moon, risking entering the wildling controlled area, to search for a "stone dragon" that might not exist at all for a drunkard's possibly mere dream talk—this was too stupid.
Solomon knew in his heart he was actually very curious about supernatural power. Or rather, no Easterner could resist the charm of the supernatural—magic, dragons, mystery.
Should I light a fire again? What items, movements, words are needed to light the fire? What effects will it have? I know nothing.
"Take him back, Bolin." Solomon turned to Bolin. Reason finally gained the upper hand.
Bolin breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid Solomon would cut off Will's head in a fit of rage. He dragged Will's arm, preparing to drag him away.
Just after walking two steps, Will struggled and stopped suddenly. He turned around sharply, like remembering some life-saving straw, raised a finger high, and shouted excitedly:
"Wait! Lord Solomon! I remembered! I remembered it all!"
"..." Solomon slowly turned around, covering his face with his palm. His voice leaked through his fingers with gritted teeth: "You motherfucker, what did you remember now?"
"Firelight! It was firelight!" Will was so excited his face was completely red. "It was green eyes!! That night there was firelight soaring to the sky! That's why its eyes were red! I didn't lie!"
Before his voice fell, Bolin could bear it no longer. Damn drunken talk again. At that time they were in the wildling controlled area, how dared they light a fire? If there was a soaring big fire, how could they not see it? He raised a foot, kicking ruthlessly on Will's butt.
"Get lost!"
Will let out a scream, pounced forward, was picked up by Bolin, and disappeared into the dark woods.
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