The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Ser Barristan Selmy, are you willing to don the white cloak?” the Imp, Tyrion Lannister, said.

The white cloak, the highest honor among knights, is the ultimate dream of all true knights.

Ser Barristan Selmy was overjoyed, a little dazed, and incoherent: “I am willing to don the white cloak, to exhaust my strength and intellect, and swear allegiance to His Majesty the King.”

The Kingsguard is loyal to only one person: the King. They only serve one family: the Royal Family!

Their status is one level higher than that of officials. On the battlefield, if the commander falls, the white knight is the highest-ranking commander in the entire army.

White knights have many privileges and a respected position, but of course, there are also quite a few disadvantages: they cannot marry, cannot have children, cannot own private land, and cannot betray the King. Once they don the white cloak, unless they commit a crime or are pardoned by the King, they will wear it for life!

This is similar to the Night’s Watch on the Wall. They cannot marry or have children and dedicate their lives to the Wall, but in fact, very few Night’s Watchmen don't visit brothels. Mole's Town and Backcrown have brothels specifically for the Night’s Watch. Outside the Wall, there is a village called Whitetree, which also has another name: Bastard Village. This is the evidence of the rangers of the Night’s Watch and the free women outside the Wall engaging in passionate encounters. For example, Jaime Lannister, a Kingsguard for seventeen years, committed incest with Queen Cersei and had three children under the King's nose.

In the eyes of the transmigrated Mountain, there are two unreliable things in this world: the Old Gods and the New Gods, and all kinds of oaths.

But there is no shortage of people who believe in gods and oaths. Even the most vicious people will pray to the gods for protection in the dark of night and swear to make offerings to the gods! When people get used to deceiving themselves and others, deceiving the gods is nothing.

Undoubtedly, Ser Barristan Selmy was very excited. He probably never thought he would have the opportunity to don the white cloak and become a person who would be written into the annals of history by the court scholars. For the Kingsguard, there are two pens recording the deeds of each member, one pen is held by the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and the other pen is held by the court recorder.

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard has a book that is as long and wide as a coffee table when opened: the White Book. The White Book is a book that records the stories of each member of the Kingsguard.

The Kingsguard has existed since the first year of Aegon's Conquest, before 299 AC. To this day, the Kingsguard has never been interrupted and has gone through 299 years of history. All the Kingsguard from these 299 years are recorded in this ever-thickening “White Book”.

The White Book is now an extremely large book, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is responsible for recording it every day. The White Book is kept in the round room of the White Sword Tower, a four-story building located east of the Red Keep in King's Landing, facing Blackwater Bay. The official name of the “White Book” is “The Book of the White Knights”. Each member of the Kingsguard has a page in the book, recording personal history and deeds. The Kingsguard is the exclusive royal guard, and many outstanding figures have been members of the Kingsguard, so the White Book of the Kingsguard can be said to be a book that has recorded all the major historical events of the Westeros royal family.

In addition to the White Book being written by the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard himself, the royal family also has a court recorder who specializes in recording the affairs of each generation of the Kingsguard. They describe and evaluate the merits and demerits of each member from another perspective.

Ser Barristan Selmy knelt on one knee excitedly and swore allegiance to His Majesty the King.

The Selmy family is a noble family from the Dornish Marches, and their castle is Stonehelm, located at Cape Wrath. The Selmy family's coat of arms is two swans fighting each other, one black and one white.

The Selmy family is loyal to House Baratheon of Storm's End and is a very powerful family in the Stormlands.

“Ser Barristan, your father, Corlys Selmy, is feigning illness in Stonehelm and did not join Renly's rebel army, but your brother, Donnel Selmy, has sworn allegiance to the rebel king, Renly Baratheon. If you meet your brother on the battlefield, I want you to cut off his head. Will you do it?” Joffrey suddenly became interested, with a playful smile on the corner of his right mouth.

“Where the King's command lies, there is no mercy.” Barristan Selmy said resolutely.

Joffrey nodded, the little boy's green eyes full of mischievous smiles: “You are very good, Her Majesty the Queen Mother was right about you.”

But the person who suggested that Ser Barristan Selmy be added to the Kingsguard was not Queen Cersei, but Joffrey's uncle, the Imp, Tyrion.

The Imp was used to being ignored and resented by his nephew the King. He came here as Hand to discipline the little boy King and correct Cersei's mistakes.

“Ser Barristan Selmy, because of the riots in King's Landing, the High Septon and the monks suffered heavy losses. Your inauguration ceremony cannot be held traditionally in the Great Sept of Baelor to don the white cloak for you. We can only simplify it here. We have invited the Archbishop to perform the ceremony for you in the Throne Room. Please understand.” The Imp had respect for true loyal and brave men, and he was polite and appropriate, making Ser Barristan Selmy feel very comfortable.

“I will obey the arrangements of the Hand!” Ser Barristan Selmy said respectfully.

“Good, Ser Barristan, please rise first.”

“Yes, Lord Hand.”

The Imp's eyes swept around and landed on the Hound: “Sandor Clegane, Commander, please step forward.”

The Hound strode out, facing the Imp with unfriendly eyes, as if the Imp was his enemy.

“Sandor Clegane, you fought bravely in the riots in King's Landing, doing your best, and rescued His Majesty the King's fiancée, Sansa Stark, from the hands of the rioters, preventing her from being harmed by the rioters. This is a great achievement. His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Mother unanimously believe that you should be granted the sacred knighthood.” The Imp turned to Joffrey, “Your Majesty the King, please personally grant Sandor Clegane knighthood.”

The honor of being personally granted knighthood by His Majesty the King is very rare. Historically, there have not been many knights personally granted by His Majesty the King. As fierce as the Mountain, Duke Tywin only invited Prince Rhaegar to grant the Mountain knighthood.

The higher the rank and the more respected the person who bestows the knighthood, the more glorious the knighthood.

Being personally granted knighthood by His Majesty the King is already the highest honor among knights.

The Hound snorted, not enthusiastic about the honor of knighthood.

The Hound once said that he would rather be a dog than a human. Being a dog, at least he has a bit of loyalty, but being a human, the Hound believes that too many people are worse than beasts. The name Sandor Clegane, the Hound, was given by himself.

Joffrey stood up and drew the golden sword from his waist. This was a ceremonial sword specially equipped for granting the Hound knighthood today.

Joffrey admired the Hound very much. The Hound was highly skilled in martial arts and was better than several Kingsguard and other red cloaks. The Hound was loyal, and he would not hesitate to kill or beat people when asked. Of course, the Hound also had his own quirks. If he was asked to beat Sansa, he would not do it. The King understood this, so the King entrusted the task of beating and torturing Sansa to the other two Kingsguard—Ser Meryn Trant and Ser Boros Blount.

Joffrey walked down the seven steps with the golden sword in his hand. Although he was only thirteen years old, he was tall and handsome, but the Hound did not kneel.

“Dog, kneel!”

The smile on the King's upturned right mouth was mixed with arrogance, playfulness, contempt, teasing, and appreciation.

When bestowing knighthood, the person being bestowed must kneel on one knee.

A court scholar stood next to the King, holding the knight's declaration, ready to recite the knight's oath in a singing voice.

The Hound did not kneel. He resisted becoming a knight. Perhaps in the Hound's heart, the honor of knighthood was just a piece of shit.

“Sandor Clegane!” Queen Cersei spoke.

“Sandor Clegane.” The Hand said.

The important ministers of the court, all the courtiers and generals, were all looking at the Hound. Many nobles, knights, and ladies thought the Hound was sick. But no one dared to speak out. The Hound was not easy to mess with. He also had an older brother here, who was even harder to mess with.

“Kneel, dog!” the King said.

The Hound looked at the King, slowly knelt down, and slowly lowered his head, looking at the ground.

The scholar recited the knight's oath in a singing voice, and the Hound followed the oath, his voice slurred, and no one could understand what the Hound was mumbling, but it didn't matter. In fact, no one cared whether the Hound's knight's oath was correct.

The King happily tapped the Hound's right shoulder with the golden sword: “Rise, Ser Sandor Clegane.”

The Queen Mother and the Hand took the lead in applauding, and then applause rang out throughout the audience. The Hound got up, grinned, and didn't care.

Every soldier, every knight, wants to be granted knighthood by a high-ranking knight. As for being personally granted knighthood by His Majesty the King, that is something that no one can think of, but the Hound's attitude towards it was perfunctory. After being knighted, there was no joy on his face.

The King sheathed the golden sword, returned to the Iron Throne, and smiled, as if he was happy to have done a prank that caused others pain.

The Mountain's eyes met Sandor's. This was a blood brother who hated him to the core. The Mountain had made many efforts to bridge the hatred between the brothers, and as for the result, it could only be left to the gods.

“Ser Sandor Clegane,” the Imp said, “You are loyal, highly skilled in martial arts, and deeply trusted by the Queen Mother and the King. The Queen Mother and the King have unanimously decided to grant you the honor of a white knight. Together with Ser Barristan Selmy, you will receive the Archbishop's ceremony in the Throne Room and don the white cloak. Please do not refuse.”

The Hound was stunned and looked at Queen Cersei. Cersei nodded to him; he looked at the King again, and the little boy twisted and squirmed on the Iron Throne triumphantly. His smug smile had already explained everything.

The Kingsguard is the highest honor among knights.

In terms of title, status, and privileges, the Hound had been promoted by two levels.

But he had no intention of becoming a Kingsguard.

The Kingsguard is to absolutely and completely obey His Majesty the King's orders. Even if His Majesty the King orders you to kill a little girl or get him a pair of shoes, you have to do it.

But the Hound was not willing to be such a person.

The Hound's eyes swept across the audience and saw many envious eyes. His eyes met the Mountain's eyes. The Mountain looked at him, his eyes as calm as water. The Hound saw something in the Mountain's eyes: Accept it, kid, it's no big deal.

Yes, in such an occasion, if the Hound did not accept, the King could decree his death!

“I am the Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing.” The Hound said, “There is no precedent for the Commander of the City Watch to serve as a Kingsguard.”

The Hound refused to become a Kingsguard.

The Kingsguard—a bunch of idiots who unconditionally obey all orders from His Majesty the King. For example, ordering you to beat a helpless and pitiful little girl.

“Ser Sandor Clegane, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, His Majesty the King, and the important ministers of the court all unanimously believe that your loyalty, bravery, and extraordinary swordsmanship are more suitable for being a Kingsguard who personally protects His Majesty the King and members of the royal family.” The Imp said.

This was actually depriving the Hound of his position as Commander of the City Watch. Undoubtedly, the Imp had another suitable candidate in mind.

The Hound looked at the Queen Mother, who had an encouraging and pleading smile on her face, signaling the Hound to accept.

Obviously, the Imp had naturally persuaded the Queen Mother and the King long ago and arranged for another person to be the Commander of the City Watch.

The Hound felt uncomfortable.

As the Commander of the City Watch, he could roam around the city and go wherever he wanted, freely. Donning the white cloak meant that he was really confined to the palace, just like when he was Cersei's personal guard captain.

With the white cloak on his body, he would be even less free than the previous guard captain.

“Okay, but don't think of ordering me to beat old people or little girls. I want to kill warriors and knights.” The Hound said proudly, “Don't even think of ordering me to do things like dressing the King, putting on his shoes, or pouring wine.”

He was looking at Queen Cersei when he said this.

Cersei nodded slightly, and her eyes also agreed to the Hound's request. They had plenty of slaves to do the trivial things that the Hound was unwilling to do. The Hound was a good knife, originally used to cut hard bones.

The aftermath of the riots in King's Landing was that the Queen Mother felt that the personal protection around the King should be strengthened, and it was a mistake to let the Hound be the Commander of the City Watch. The Imp didn't take much effort to convince the Queen Mother and the King to replace the Hound.

The Imp wanted to arrange for a more suitable person he favored to be the Commander of the City Watch, and that person was, of course, someone from the Imp's own faction.

After solving the Hound, who would not listen to the Hand's words, the second step was for the Imp to solve the Deputy Commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt. Janos Slynt was rewarded by the King for his meritorious service in slaughtering King Robert's bastards and the bastards' mothers, and was promoted to a baron and granted land. Janos Slynt was the King and Queen Mother's man, a person who would resolutely carry out any order, not only bad but also poisonous.

The Imp had already probed and found that Janos Slynt would not listen to some of his private arrangements and secret black orders, not a single one. Such a person, who completely belonged to the Queen Mother, had to be dealt with.

But it could not be resolved in such an occasion. The Imp had already arranged a banquet to make Janos Slynt voluntarily resign.

Now, let's first get rid of a cowardly dog who is loyal to the King and the Queen Mother: Kingsguard Boros Blount.

“Ser Boros Blount, please step forward!” the Hand said.

Boros Blount stood up, turned around, and shot a vigilant and sharp look at the Hand. During the riots in King's Landing, his relationship with the Hand was very unpleasant.

“Take off your sword, take off your white cloak, knight, you are fired, get out. Or I will throw you into the black cells according to the law.” The Imp said lightly.

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