The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Four barrels of Arbor Gold were carried into the dining hall.

The only cook and the only housemaid in the castle came when they heard the news.

Everyone opened the sealed lids of the wooden barrels, and a fragrant aroma of wine wafted out. The wine was crystal clear and bright gold, like a jar of bright, transparent liquid gold.

Sweetmouth Ralph put the lid back on and said, "Lord Gregor hasn't arrived yet. The first cup of wine must be tasted by the lord first."

"Yes, knight!" Polliver was very envious of Sweetmouth Ralph for becoming a knight, and he kept swallowing his saliva.

Maester Halys shook his head and said, "Golden Arbor Gold wine should be served in wooden cups. I heard Grand Maester Pott say that the most exquisite way to drink it is to use wooden cups carved from the trunk of the golden grape itself, which is the most distinctive and delicious. Red Arbor Gold wine is fine in glass cups, but only the golden wine requires a wooden cup to ensure the purity of its flavor."

"There are no wooden cups!" Sweetmouth Ralph said.

"Does it need to be shaken first?" Duncen asked Maester Halys.

"Yes, shake it first. The quality of the wine is so beautiful, like golden honey," Maester Halys praised.

At the bottom of the round wooden barrel, there are three small wooden stoppers arranged in order of height. When the stoppers are turned, the wine is released. The small wooden stoppers are designed with different heights because of the pressure of the wine. If the bottom stopper is turned first, the wine will come out too quickly and may splash. Drinking in the order of the small stoppers, the wine will flow out gently and will not splash.

Only the finest Arbor wines have a three-stopper design. Wine barrels in other places only have one stopper.

*

In the courtyard.

Alan Sharlot half-bowed to Gregor, "Lord Gregor, please enjoy the wine, we should go back."

"Addam Sharlot has already left," Gregor said.

As soon as Addam Sharlot left the courtyard, he jumped on his horse, and the sound of hooves rang out. A group of cavalry quickly left Clegane's Keep, escorting him.

"Yes, my lord, Ser Addam is gone, we should go too, goodbye!" Alan Sharlot turned to leave. The four wine-carrying servants beside him immediately followed.

"You can't leave, Alan!" Gregor said lightly. His hand rested on the hilt of his greatsword.

He didn't say 'please stay', but 'you can't leave', with a tone of certainty, similar to giving an order. Gregor has always been very assertive.

Alan Sharlot stopped and looked back, "Lord Gregor, do you have any other instructions?"

"I want to invite you for a drink," Gregor said.

Gregor has never trusted Alan at all, from beginning to end.

Better to trust a criminal than a nobleman. This is what Gregor firmly believes!

"Okay!" A smile appeared on Alan's face, as if he was also looking forward to a few drinks of good wine.

Gregor looked carefully at Alan's eyes through the narrow slit of his visor. He couldn't see that Alan was up to anything.

"Bring your four brothers as well," Gregor added.

"Thank you, my lord." The four wine-carrying guards were overjoyed and said in unison, their faces filled with uncontrollable smiles.

There is no harm without comparison.

Gregor saw the four guards' delight, but Alan only had a polite smile on his face, without any eager joy.

As the captain of the Arbor guards, Alan is not qualified to drink golden wine in the Sharlot family. This kind of wine is hidden by the family's earl and only drunk by himself and his family.

Any man would be happy to drink the most expensive and best wine in the world.

Alan's smile was a little fake, but that doesn't mean anything? He may have drunk this kind of wine before, such as when he made a contribution, or when Ser Arwyn poured him a cup to taste. Or Alan may hate Gregor so much that he is repulsed by drinking with Gregor from the bottom of his heart.

Gregor, Alan, and the four family guards walked into the dining hall together. On the long, narrow table in the dining hall, a round-bellied wooden barrel had already been placed. The cook had moved the remaining three barrels of wine into the basement of the kitchen to hide them.

Every household in the Seven Kingdoms has a basement, because when winter comes, it lasts for two or three years, or even ten years. In summer, they usually have to store food for ten years. The kitchen basement is used to store food. Some large noble families have a large population, and the area of the basement is as large as the ground area.

Next to the wine barrel, cups had already been placed.

There were no wooden cups, all glass cups.

Before Gregor arrived, none of his subordinates or servants would dare to drink before him. These super villains in the eyes of others have very strict internal rules, which outsiders do not understand. The loyalty of these villains, who do all kinds of bad things and never do good deeds, to Gregor is also incomprehensible to others.

Seeing Alan and the four Sharlot family soldiers come in together, Sweetmouth and the others were all puzzled.

"Pour the wine!" Gregor took off his helmet. The helmet was very heavy, but the impact on him was negligible. He put the helmet on the table with a thud.

Maester Halys turned the small wooden stopper, and the golden wine flowed out.

The aroma of wine wafted out!

Gregor tilted his head and gestured with his mouth, signaling Alan Sharlot to drink.

Alan smiled slightly, reached out and picked up the glass, "Lord Gregor, I toast you."

Gregor nodded, and Maester Halys poured the second glass of wine.

Gregor raised his glass, signaling Alan to drink first.

Alan put the wine to his nose, sniffed it gently, and closed his eyes to enjoy the aroma. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, smiled at Gregor, who was staring at him, and then slowly sipped it little by little.

"Good wine, my lord, please." Alan praised comfortably. A little golden wine stain remained on his lips.

"You!" Gregor handed the wine to one of Alan's guards. He was tall and had long arms, and handed the glass over the table to behind Alan.

The guard hesitated for a moment, as if he couldn't believe it.

Such fine wine, is Lord Gregor inviting him to drink first?

After understanding Lord Gregor's meaning through eye contact, the guard was very excited, took the glass and slowly tasted it. It was mellow and pleasant, and then, under everyone's gaze, he drank the wine in several sips.

"Pour the wine!" Gregor said.

So, Maester Halys poured two more glasses of wine and let the other two Sharlot family guards drink it.

"Bring out a barrel of red wine," Gregor ordered the cook.

The cook didn't dare to disobey and immediately brought out a barrel of red Arbor Gold wine.

"Pour a cup for the five of them," Gregor said lightly. He sat down, and the tall stool that belonged to him groaned under his body.

He didn't take off his armor, nor did he unfasten his greatsword. The stool under him creaked lightly, as if it would fall apart at any moment.

In the gurgling sound of pouring wine, Sweetmouth Ralph and Maester Halys slowly saw Gregor's intention. The lord didn't believe that the wine sent by the Sharlot family was well-intentioned.

Alan raised the red wine and smiled, "Lord Gregor, such good wine, let's five of us toast you a cup together. What, you don't dare? Haha! Hahaha!" Alan drank the red wine in one gulp and smiled, "Mountain is a coward, not even daring to drink the wine sent by the Sharlot family, but I only regret that I didn't drink enough. Maester, pour me another cup, haha, the famous Mountain dares not drink, do you dare to drink? None of you dare to drink?" Alan shook his head, "A bunch of cowards, cockroaches, rats, stinky fish."

"I'll drink!" Polliver said loudly.

Gregor glanced at Polliver and said lightly, "Polliver, you dare to drink the wine sent by your enemies?"

"My lord, they have already drunk it, it's okay!"

"Just because their wine is okay for them to drink doesn't mean we can drink it!" Gregor said coldly.

As soon as these words came out, Alan's face finally changed.

Tomorrow is National Day celebration: 2 updates. 9 am and 6 pm. Usually updated at 6 pm every day. If the official recommendation is slightly better, there will be 2 updates every day.