The Mountain of Ice and Fire
#497 - Emergency Wedding Killing
"My Lord Duke, King Joffrey's wedding is approaching. As the Master of War for the Seven Kingdoms, Duke of Dragonstone, and Warden of the West, shouldn't you be heading to King's Landing?" asked Grand Maester Bancroft, the acting castellan of Lannisport.
"It's too late to go to King's Landing now," said Lady Sharlotte.
"It's not too late. The Mountain's Red Smoke Beast is a magical creature that can travel a thousand miles a day. If he were to leave for King's Landing now, he would arrive in just a day and a half. And the King's wedding is still seven days away."
The Mountain felt a slight chill in his heart!
His surprise attack that killed Tywin and his hundred-man entourage was carried out from a thousand miles away, using the Red Smoke Beast's speed to kill undetected and return. He originally thought it was airtight, but Bancroft's words alerted him. If anyone suspected him of killing Duke Tywin, or if even a hint of it leaked out, they would connect it to the Red Smoke Beast's speed.
"The Red Smoke Beast is fast, but its speed and combat power are still being exaggerated," said the Mountain.
Bancroft was slightly puzzled. Why did the Mountain say that the Red Smoke Beast's speed and combat power were exaggerated? According to his understanding, he hadn't exaggerated the Red Smoke Beast's speed at all. The Mountain had been boasting about the Red Smoke Beast's thousand-mile-a-day speed and its superior combat power compared to lions and snow leopards before the meeting!
Bancroft immediately understood, assuming that the Mountain was unwilling to go to King's Landing to congratulate the King's wedding, so he made excuses that the Red Smoke Beast's speed was average.
The scandal that King Joffrey was Cersei and Jaime's bastard son had already spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms. The Mountain must have his own reasons for refusing to attend the King's wedding.
Bancroft stood up: "My Lord Duke, esteemed sirs, Miss Rosamund Lannister has gone to King's Landing to attend the King's wedding. Lannisport will be under my care as acting castellan. The meeting has successfully concluded today, so let's all have a drink together. What do you say, My Lord Duke?"
"Then bring out all the good wine from Lannisport!" said the Mountain. "All of it! No one is allowed to leave until we're all drunk!"
"Hooray!" the knights cheered in unison.
The Mountain knew very well that the knights' cheers were less from genuine joy and more to flatter him. But it didn't matter. Conquering the Westerlands was just the first step, and the steps to come would only become more numerous and larger.
Soon, under the guidance of Maester Bancroft, the knights entered a dining hall that could accommodate over a thousand people in order of their rank. Bancroft gave an order, and servants brought out all kinds of fine wine, all kinds of pastries, all kinds of steamed, roasted, and boiled meats, all kinds of vegetables and fruits...
Lannisport was the largest, most prosperous, most populous, and most trade-concentrated wealthy city in the Westerlands. Even though the Westerlands had been at war for two years, the Audibert family of Lannisport's tax revenue from merchant ships from all over the world had not declined sharply...
The hundred or so knights from the Westerlands sat at a long table, while hundreds of guards from various Westerland families sat at another long table. The Mountain's officer, Chiswyck, led hundreds of Clegane foot soldiers to sit at two separate long tables. The Mountain drank from a large, crude bowl. He raised the bowl and tapped it lightly on the table, making a 'clink, clink, clink' sound: "Esteemed knights, esteemed sirs, esteemed soldiers, let us all raise our glasses, bowls, and cups, and unite to toast to the glory of revitalizing the Westerlands!"
"Hooray!" the knights, sirs, and soldiers shouted in unison. Everyone raised their drinking vessels and tapped them on the table, 'clink, clink, clink!' Gradually, the tapping sounds became less chaotic, and soon everyone's rhythm was the same. The tapping sounded like war drums: 'clink, clink, clink! Clink, clink, clink!'
The atmosphere for drinking was building. Before long, the men's wariness would gradually relax, their sense of closeness would increase, and the distance between them would fade away in the alcohol and conversation... This was exactly the scene the Mountain hoped to see...
The Mountain stopped tapping, raised his bowl high, and shouted, "Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, bowls, and cups and shouted together, "Cheers!"
The atmosphere in the dining hall instantly ignited!
In this world, there were few petty people. Most knights and sirs were true men. With fine wine in hand, the sound of tapping on the table was like war drums, and iron blood and courage returned...
Half an hour later...
Bancroft approached the Mountain with a glass of wine: "My Lord Duke, I toast to you."
The Mountain told his adopted son, Landon Garre, and his little attendant, Kom Warner, to make way. He gently lifted Bancroft across the table and placed him on his own bench, whispering in the Maester's ear: "Maester, I'll tell you a secret. I will attend the King's wedding."
"Oh? When does Your Grace plan to depart?"
"Tomorrow, or tonight," the Mountain's thick lips were close to the Maester's ear, and the alcohol fumes made the Maester feel uncomfortable.
"Oh, could I trouble Your Grace to bring some dresses, rouge, and perfume to our Miss? She was too excited and rushed when she left."
"Alright. But I have a big secret to tell you in advance. I'm not going to King's Landing to celebrate the King's wedding," the Mountain whispered. "I'm going to kill someone."
"...Kill...who...?" The Maester's face changed, and his voice trembled.
"Kill the Red Viper. He escaped from my wife's hands last time. This time, I will personally kill him, right at the King's wedding."
"............"
The Maester stared at the Mountain in astonishment.
The Mountain was going to beat the Red Viper to death at the King's wedding!
Only the Mountain could do such a brutal thing.
That brutal, terrifying, and bloody Mountain was back?!
"Don't be afraid, Maester. I also want to bring back a Lannister for the Westerlands."
"Who?" Bancroft's voice trembled.
"A Lannister from Casterly Rock?" the Maester asked in a low voice.
There were nearly a thousand people drinking and making merry in the dining hall, and it was so noisy that even people at neighboring tables wouldn't notice if you spoke loudly.
The Mountain smiled: "Maybe it's Lord Audibert. He's my best partner. Audibert's noodle shop makes a lot of money."
"............"
Bancroft looked at the Mountain. Of course, it would be best if Lord Audibert could return. Randyll Tarly would naturally take the Riverlands. If he took the Riverlands and then led his army to attack the North or the Vale, Lord Audibert might also die in battle outside.
"Maester, I have a concern."
Maester Bancroft looked at the Mountain in surprise and uncertainty, without responding. He didn't respond because he knew that since the Mountain had taken advantage of his drunkenness to tell him the secret of going to King's Landing to kill someone, he would definitely continue to talk about it.
"I'm going to King's Landing to kill someone, and I have to do it on the day of the King's wedding. Time is tight, and I can't lead my army with me. The commander of the King's Landing city watch, Bronn, was my and the Hound's swordsmanship teacher. He was the head of Duke Tywin's guard and is most loyal to the Duke. Although I didn't kill Duke Tywin, I forced him to wear the black and go to the Wall. The Brotherhood Without Banners killed the Duke on the way to the Wall. If Bronn wants to make things difficult for me, I may not return. He has thousands of city watch soldiers under his command."
Bancroft looked at the Mountain, feeling terrified. The Mountain was so thoughtful. Was this the same Mountain as before? No wonder the Mountain defeated the Westerlands army personally commanded by the Duke during the battle in King's Landing. He was not only brave, but he also had a very meticulous ability to think.
"Since Your Grace has already thought that there might be a conflict with Ser Bronn, you must have a way to deal with it."
The Mountain laughed and raised his glass, tapping it against the Maester's glass: "I don't have a way to deal with Ser Bronn, Maester."
Bancroft watched the Mountain drink the wine in his bowl in one gulp. He knew that what the Mountain had just said was a lie. Was this guy planning to beat Bronn to death as well?
*
Night, Maegor's Holdfast, Queen Regent's chambers.
"Captain Osney, I'm here to see Her Grace the Queen Regent," said Grand Maester Qyburn with a cordial and amiable smile.
"Grand Master, I am no longer Captain Osney," Osney Blackwood said, stepping aside.
"Oh?!" Grand Maester Qyburn's expression was one of appropriate surprise.
"Ser Jaime has returned. Tomorrow, I will apply to transfer from Her Grace the Queen Regent's guard to become an officer in the city watch," Osney said without any embarrassment.
*
The people closest to the Queen Regent knew about his relationship with Her Grace, and this relationship was also the capital Osney used to brag about outside. The people he bragged to were not the riffraff on the streets, but prominent nobles with status.
This earned him a reputation among the courtiers and military officers.
Among the nobles, the trend of having lovers was already popular. A man who could be on the Queen Regent's bed indeed had the capital to be proud and the superiority to be envied by other knights.
*
Grand Maester Qyburn nodded with a smile, walked past Osney, and came to the door of Her Grace the Queen Regent's chambers. He knocked on the door.
The door was opened a crack, and a handmaiden revealed a pair of bright eyes: "Grand Master."
"I have something very important to see Her Grace the Queen Regent about."
"...Uh...come back early tomorrow morning...can you?" The handmaiden spoke stammeringly, as if she had something to hide.
"I know Her Grace the Queen Regent is with Ser Jaime, but this matter is no small matter. If something goes wrong, you will be beheaded. Go in and tell Her Grace that the matter is related to the Mountain," Grand Maester Qyburn said with a smile.
The Mountain?
The beautiful eyes of the handmaiden clearly showed panic. The Mountain was very evil, but she thought Grand Maester Qyburn was even more terrifying. The handmaidens passed on stories about Grand Maester Qyburn's laboratory, and they were all filled with fear for the Grand Master. It was said that it was a living hell on earth...
The Grand Maester Qyburn's smile made the handmaiden shudder!
"...Grand Master...please wait a moment..."
"Thank you for your trouble," Grand Maester Qyburn's manners and etiquette were always so humble. But the handmaiden's heart was even more terrified.
*
A few days ago, a handmaiden who broke a jade bowl given by a prince from across the Narrow Sea while preparing for the King's wedding was handed over to Grand Maester Qyburn by Her Grace the Queen Regent. In just one day, the Grand Master had completely peeled off the handmaiden's face...and the handmaiden was still alive...This information, which was so terrifying that it made one's scalp tingle, was said by Her Grace the Queen Regent in a soft voice while chatting...
There have been more terrifying legends about the Grand Master recently, all of which were revealed intentionally or unintentionally by Her Grace the Queen Regent. Perhaps Cersei was afraid that the handmaidens would be lazy or the male servants would steal jade artifacts recently in preparation for the King's wedding, or perhaps Cersei felt unsafe recently and wanted to use her confidant Grand Maester Qyburn to scare some people.
*
The handmaiden knocked on the door of Her Grace the Queen Regent's bedroom. The door opened silently, and the beautiful faces of two handmaidens appeared. One of the handmaidens asked, "Muriel, what's wrong?"
"The Grand Master wants to see Her Grace the Queen Regent. It's an emergency. The matter is related to the Mountain!"
The Mountain?!
The two handmaidens, who had smiles on their faces, trembled when they heard the Mountain. But the Grand Master was more terrifying than the Mountain in the handmaidens' hearts. The Mountain was far away, but the Grand Master was right in front of them.
A trace of fear flashed in the eyes of the two handmaidens: "The Grand Master is here?" The two handmaidens said in unison.
"Yes, he insists on seeing Her Grace the Queen Regent," Muriel said in a low voice, glancing at the backs of the two sisters. She couldn't see Her Grace the Queen Regent's bedroom from here, but there was no longer a dividing door.
Muriel's eyes made the two sisters understand. There was a man in Her Grace the Queen Regent's room, Ser Jaime. These things couldn't be revealed, or the family would be exterminated. However, the Grand Master was not easy to provoke either. He was very terrifying...and the matter he wanted to report was also related to the Mountain...
The Mountain, synonymous with brutality and terror...
"Muriel, you wait a moment," one of the sisters said. Her voice was very low, as if she was talking about a terrible secret.
Muriel nodded!
One sister turned and left, stepping on the thick carpet without making any sound, like a nimble cat.
The Queen Regent's bedroom was very large, requiring several turns and passing through several curtains. The cat walked silently, listening carefully. The Queen Regent and Jaime did not make any sound. Obviously, they were already asleep.
The cat lifted the last curtain, not daring to look inside. She knelt down first, with one knee on the ground: "Your Grace the Queen Regent, the Grand Master has something very important to see you about. He says it's an emergency. The matter is related to the Mountain!"
There was no response!
The cat didn't dare to look up and raised her voice a little: "Your Grace the Queen Regent, the Grand Master has something very important to see you about. He says it's an emergency. The matter is related to the Mountain!"
There was still no response!
The cat lowered her head even further and raised her voice again: "Your Grace the Queen Regent, the Grand Master has something very important to see you about. He says it's an emergency. The matter is related to the Mountain!"
There was no response, but there was a sound of turning over.
The cat waited for a while and did not wait for Her Grace the Queen Regent's inquiry.
The cat had to say it again in a normal person's voice. This time there was a response, a man's voice: "The Mountain? What's the matter?"
"Ser Jaime, the handmaiden Millie does not know what the Grand Master wants. He is waiting outside the door, requesting an audience with Her Grace the Queen Regent. He says it's an emergency."
"I understand. You can leave. Tell the Grand Master to wait outside," said Ser Jaime.
"Yes, Ser Jaime."
"No, call Grand Maester Qyburn in," Her Grace the Queen Regent's voice sounded. "Let him wait in front of the second curtain first, and then have Wendy pour three glasses of Arbor Red."
"Yes, Empress Dowager," Millie answered respectfully, then rose, took a few steps backward, and turned to leave. From beginning to end, she spoke with her head lowered, not daring to look up.
"Three cups of wine?" Jaime asked Cersei, "You want me to go out with you?"
"The Grand Tutor is my confidant, and you are my strength. Since there is a most urgent matter, and it's related to the Mountain, of course you must be present!" Cersei slid off the bed, her skin in its pristine state as beautiful and radiant as silk.
You'll Also Like
-
Online game: Kill me, you will die
Chapter 82 1 hours ago -
The Mountain of Ice and Fire
Chapter 593 2 hours ago -
Age of Calamity in Swallowed Star
Chapter 488 5 hours ago -
The most powerful system in the world of fantasy.
Chapter 4505 8 hours ago -
Depressive Screenwriter
Chapter 356 8 hours ago -
Weird Resurrection: From Teddy Bear to Dread Bear!
Chapter 218 8 hours ago -
Let's start by analyzing the sun
Chapter 1048 8 hours ago -
Naruto: I, Naruto, Start With The Full-Level Shining Fruit
Chapter 122 8 hours ago -
Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation
Chapter 153 8 hours ago -
Rebirth In The Apocalypse: Start By Building The Strongest Base
Chapter 1022 8 hours ago