The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The red priest Thoros's longsword could turn into a flaming sword, but there was a problem: iron is easily deformed at high temperatures and more easily broken under heavy blows.

Therefore, the quality of Thoros's swords was generally mediocre.

Because every sword cost money, and even a high-quality sword would be damaged and weakened by the intense heat of the flames.

Thoros, who loved fine wine and women, didn't have enough money to buy good swords!

So, Thoros carried ordinary, inexpensive swords, but usually more than one.

While other knights carried only one longsword, Thoros usually carried three.

When one sword broke during combat, he had two more to use.

His flaming sword made many opponents unable to adapt.

If on horseback, during a charge, the longsword suddenly burst into flames, the enemy's warhorse would invariably be startled, allowing Thoros to seize the opportunity to kill the enemy.

For Thoros, the advantages of fire outweighed the disadvantages!

But against the Mountain, his advantages and disadvantages were irrelevant.

The Mountain's greatsword was too long and too heavy. In a single clash with Thoros's flaming sword, it snapped in two. Thoros's speed in drawing his sword was astonishing, the result of dedicated training. In the back-and-forth with the Mountain, he broke one sword and drew another, until all three of his flaming swords were in pieces.

Then, the Mountain reached out, grabbed his chest, and threw him into the Red Fork river.

During this lightning-fast exchange, the Hound's charging warhorse had only just stopped at the riverbank, and he was just turning its head.

When the Hound faced the Mountain alone, he thought he still had a chance to fight.

His lance had an advantage in armor penetration!

However, it seemed the Mountain had already planned how to deal with his lance. He grabbed a warhorse and charged at the Hound.

The Mountain's greatsword was stuck in the ground, unused.

Just like their last duel, the Mountain abandoned his sword and used only his shield to defeat the Hound.

This time, it wasn't a shield strike, but a horse strike!

The Hound, recognized as one of the seven kingdoms' most dangerous warriors, was left with only escape!

The Hound realized that in each of his defeats, the Mountain hadn't fought fairly.

The first time, the Mountain used his sword, but it was a surprise attack, catching the Hound off guard. The Hound merely blocked once and was defeated!

The second time: a shield strike!

The third time: a horse attack!

The Hound couldn't get a true, skill-based fight. His exquisite swordsmanship had no chance to be displayed. The Mountain's fighting style lacked all knightly spirit: relying on his invincible strength, he always used rogue tactics to win, and often with just one move!

The Hound silently stood beside Thoros. He and Ilyn Payne shared the same dejection, filled with a hopeless sense of powerlessness.

The three of them joining forces was a pre-arranged tactic. They thought that with their combined strength, taking down the Mountain would be no problem. But as it turned out, their exquisite swordsmanship hadn't even been used before they were completely defeated!

The Mountain's fighting style was also completely different from before.

In the past, when fighting, he would unleash a frenzy of greatsword strikes, his power berserk, his rage overwhelming, leaving huge openings.

But now, the Mountain was calm and collected, unpredictable, not berserk, not angry, good at using his advantages, and winning with a single blow!

His weapon, the greatsword, was actually used the least!

This was truly unexpected!

Thirty gold cloaks surrounded Thoros, the Hound, and Ilyn Payne, while a wary formation of over a thousand soldiers, Riverland knights, generals, and more than a hundred knights encircled the Mountain and his thirty men from a distance.

Edmure Tully was among the Mountain's group, standing with him.

The Mountain questioned who dared to seize him and bring him to justice, but among the thousands on the riverbank, no one dared to respond.

It wasn't that the ranks lacked brave men, but no one could defeat the Mountain!

Going out would be suicide!

Edmure also considered his victory at the Kneeling Man to be lucky.

If the Mountain had launched a desperate, all-out attack, Edmure would have been unable to withstand it.

The knights' bravery was as soft as tofu, bread, cheese, or eggs in front of the Mountain, shattering with a single punch, like Ilyn Payne’s warhorse’s head.

It was as if a warrior's height, a towering physique that commanded respect, instantly devolved into that of a half-grown child when standing before the Mountain.

The Mountain was simply too strong, a natural giant, unmatched!

From the balcony of Riverrun's main keep, Maester Vyman tremulously said, "Lord Hoster, Ser Gregor is so mighty, if Ser Edmure follows him, what if something unexpected happens..."

"It won't!" Lord Hoster said, "After watching the battle just now, I'm relieved instead."

"Lord? Why do you suddenly say that? You've always disapproved of Ser Edmure going to the Westerlands with Ser Gregor!"

"The control and restraint Ser Gregor displayed in the battle on the riverbank surprised me. He defeated Thoros, Ilyn Payne, and Sandor Clegane, but he didn't harm any of them. Why? The only things that died were their warhorses. Ser Gregor punished their arrogance and recklessness in not asking for the truth, and he intimidated everyone, but he didn't hurt anyone. Not a single person died, not a single person was injured. Such a fierce battle, and not even a single person bled."

Maester Vyman pondered, and a look of shock appeared on his face.

Lord Hoster revealed his admiration: "Ser Gregor is no longer the Mountain we knew. He is someone else, brave and resourceful, with extreme control. He maintained his dignity and honor, and he didn't harm the king's courtiers. The fierce battle seemed ferocious, but the situation was under his control. He knows when to advance and retreat, understands loss and gain, and keeps within bounds. This is truly a rare and valuable general!"

Maester Vyman listened, his heart filled with astonishment. The lord's words cleared away the clouds and revealed the moon, illuminating his heart, but the brighter it became, the more astonished he was!

"Ser Gregor, such a vicious and savage person... how is it possible... have we all been blinded by rumors?"

"Maester Vyman, Ser Gregor endured humiliation at the Kneeling Man without anger, which shows he knows when to advance and retreat. His silent night raid on Riverrun shows his courage. Killing Ser Ahearne to establish his authority, and drowning Edmure in the water to force me to submit, Edmure writing an apology letter and gifting horses, all of this shows not only courage but also intelligence!"

"Ser Gregor will never act recklessly. Edmure is safe with him!"

Maester Vyman was stunned into silence!

He looked at Lord Hoster, who was tormented by illness. The lord's health was deteriorating, but his eyes were still sharp, able to see people and recognize them, to discern the subtle and understand everything. He was also a truly capable man, whose wisdom and insight were far beyond those of other nobles and knights.

"The Westerlands produced an unparalleled politician in Lord Tywin, and now a resourceful and brave general in Ser Gregor. Alas, it is fortunate that this is an era of great peace in the Seven Kingdoms. Maester Vyman, help me inside!"

Since it was an era of great peace in the Seven Kingdoms, why was the lord so worried, his brow furrowed?

"Yes, Lord!"

Maester Vyman pushed the lord into the room. He turned back and looked again at the opposite bank of the river.

*

"Mountain, I am here by royal decree to arrest you. I demand that you release Ser Edmure first." Thoros, riding a guard's warhorse and wielding a guard's longsword, stepped forward again.

The Hound and Ilyn Payne also remounted, took up their weapons, and advanced together with thirty gold cloaks.

*

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