The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 519: Ambush: A Night of Blood!

Kevan stared at the Mountain and stopped talking. He knew his proposal hadn't moved the Mountain. He needed to understand the current Mountain better.

Everyone had a price. Kevan realized that the Mountain's price seemed very high, so high that he felt he couldn't afford it.

The price of Harrenhal was enough to buy the loyalty of anyone in the Seven Kingdoms, but why was it useless to the Mountain?

If the Mountain accepted, it would be killing three birds with one stone: removing Cersei's wings; winning over the Mountain; weakening Littlefinger.

However, the Mountain didn't accept!

Kevan turned and left, without saying goodbye to the Mountain.

*

Cersei lit a candle before the Father statue, offering a reverent bow, then went to the Mother statue. The elderly chief Septa was beside her, handing her candles.

Cersei took a candle and felt a foreign object in her palm. She met the elderly chief Septa's eyes, but the chief Septa's expression was solemn and showed no abnormality.

Cersei lit the candle, closed her hand, and gripped the foreign object. When she clasped her hands in prayer, she transferred the object from her right hand to her left, and while walking towards the next elderly Septa statue, she used a handmaiden to block the view and slipped the object into her clothes.

It was a paper roll. She could feel a slight hardness when she closed her palm, the sensation of a wax seal.

Every day, Cersei went to the Great Sept of Baelor on time to light candles for the Seven Gods statues, to show her faith. She had been confined in the Great Sept of Baelor by the High Sparrow for fifteen days. Yesterday, a monk came to tell her that Margaery couldn't hold on any longer and was preparing to confess, repent, and accept the High Septon's judgment.

Margaery wanted to end the nightmare in the Great Sept of Baelor.

Cersei could still hold on. She had a bed where she stayed, unlike Margaery who slept on the stone floor. Her three meals a day included fruits, vegetables, meat, and bread. As long as she wasn't picky, she could eat her fill.

But this couldn't last long. She had to return to the Red Keep. Tommen was only nine years old and couldn't do without her care.

Cersei began to suffer from insomnia on the tenth day, and the insomnia had become more severe in the past five days, which affected her mood.

The High Sparrow came to the elderly chief Septa's tower to see Cersei every noon, persuading her to confess. Cersei didn't know how long she could last. Kevan had come to see her once on the eleventh day, rambling on without offering any concrete plans, which filled Cersei with disappointment towards Kevan.

The Hand of the King was helpless in the face of the Queen Mother and Queen being imprisoned. If Lord Tywin were still alive, he would never have allowed the High Septon to detain her.

After lighting all seven candles, Cersei slowly walked out of the Sept of the Seven. Lancel led the Starry Septons, following at a distance. Saying 'at a distance' wasn't really that far.

Lancel was also one of the witnesses who accused Cersei of having intimate relationships. Cersei denied Ser Osney's accusation and also firmly denied Ser Lancel's accusation. However, the High Septon would naturally choose to believe his devout believer Lancel rather than Cersei.

If it hadn't been for Lancel's accusation, Cersei would have already escaped.

It was also Lancel who told the High Septon about her intimate relationship with Jaime, which deepened Cersei's sins and made it difficult for Cersei to escape by sophistry and denial.

Cersei returned to the elderly chief Septa's tower and went into the toilet before daring to take out the paper roll. The paper roll was sealed with wax and had not been opened. She broke the wax seal, unfolded the small paper roll, and saw a sentence written on it: 'Queen Mother, King Tommen needs you. I have prepared to raid the Great Sept of Baelor. If you allow it, I will come to rescue you. The plan is perfect and foolproof.' The signature was the Mountain.

The words were short but full of wisdom and cunning.

The Mountain first mentioned King Tommen, which was Cersei's weakness.

Her child was Cersei's weakness.

If Cersei had any humanity, warmth, and kindness, it was her maternal love for her children.

The Mountain's opening immediately struck Cersei's soft spot, causing Cersei's eyes to moisten, revealing a woman's vulnerable side.

After opening Cersei's heart, the Mountain spoke of his plan: to raid the Great Sept.

However, the High Sparrow and his warriors were not afraid of death and dared to act. If anyone dared to raid the Sept, they would dare to kill the Queen Mother and Queen. Cersei, Kevan, the Mountain, and others who had dealt with the High Sparrow understood this.

So the Mountain then said, 'If you allow it, I will come to rescue you.' This showed his loyalty, that he would obey orders at all times and would not act on his own. However, rescuing people would be risky, so the Mountain said at the end: 'The plan is perfect and foolproof.'

The Mountain's letter was short,煽动, and had a clear goal. It expressed his loyalty and also reassured Cersei about her safety.

Cersei stayed in the toilet for a long time. The letter was handed to her by the elderly chief Septa. From this detail, it could be seen that the Mountain was using an inside-outside plan, while the High Sparrow was still in the dark. The Mountain had turned the bishop beside the High Sparrow to participate in the raid, which gave Cersei a stronger sense of security.

Whether or not to let the Mountain launch a raid?

This matter depended entirely on Cersei herself.

If Cersei believed the Mountain, she would order the Mountain to raid, but Cersei didn't believe the Mountain.

Her father Tywin had once told Cersei: 'If you believe someone, you can use him with confidence; if you don't believe someone, you should use him even more.'

Cersei looked at the end of the letter: 'The plan is perfect and foolproof.'

If she didn't order the Mountain to raid, how could she get out?

Cersei couldn't think of a way, but she decided to try relying on herself first.

Cersei tore the paper roll into pieces and flushed it down the toilet. She came out, tidied her emotions and clothes, because it was almost noon, and the High Sparrow would come every day to persuade Cersei to confess, repent, and accept judgment.

Sure enough, at the same time, the High Sparrow walked barefoot into the tower. He had short gray hair, a tall body, and a gray, tattered monk's robe.

Cersei invited the High Sparrow to sit on the long wooden bench.

There were no luxurious furs, no gorgeous carpets, no soft cushions, no brocade fabrics, simple tables, chairs, and benches, all solid wood, without any ornaments or cushions.

"Queen Mother, looking at your face, you don't seem to be well. Are you sick?" the High Sparrow asked in a gentle and concerned tone.

Lancel guarded outside the door with the Starry Septons. Eight Holy Swordsmen were arranged on the left and right, with their hands on the hilts of their swords, guarding here with two Kingsguard.

"High Septon, I am a mother. My child Tommen is only nine years old. I have been away from him for fifteen days. I miss him very much and can't sleep at night. Can you make an exception and let me go back to the Red Keep to see my child first, and then I will come back to continue to receive the High Septon's teachings? I swear in the name of the royal family's glory and the Seven Gods that I will definitely return to the Sept within three days."

In the name of a child's mother, she hoped to return to the Red Keep. This was Cersei's plan to try to leave.

This was the only plan she could think of.

She was serious about missing Tommen!

The High Sparrow read her sincerity from Cersei's face and eyes: "I am very sorry, Queen Mother, but I cannot let you leave the Sept unless you confess."

"The Seven Gods will also have mercy on a mother's breaking heart," Cersei said emotionally.

"Yes, Queen Mother, you are right. We cannot let a young child suffer mental torment and pain because of the sins you have committed. How about this, I will send someone to the Red Keep to deliver a message and let King Tommen come to the Sept to see you to comfort a mother's longing heart. I will also take the time to explain to King Tommen why his mother is being confined in the Sept. I believe King Tommen will understand me. He is a wise and kind king. I have met him, and he will be a good king when he grows up."

Cersei's heart sank. She finally realized that she was no match for the High Sparrow. The other party countered her every move, easily breaking the only excuse she had come up with in the past ten days.

Cersei's immaturity in major matters was evident from this. This was also why she was looked down upon by Lord Tywin and Count Kevan. Tywin and Kevan both believed that Cersei could not hold power, and that holding power would lead the kingdom into the abyss.

Cersei was unwilling to give up and continued to try to complain to the High Sparrow. However, the High Sparrow was a High Septon with an iron heart, and his intelligence was far above Cersei's. Cersei's various excuses were rejected by him in more ingenious ways.

In the end, the High Septon left a book of Seven Gods faith, hoping that Cersei could settle down and thoroughly read this book that persuaded people to believe in the Seven Gods. Cersei missed Tommen, it didn't matter, he would send someone to invite King Tommen to the Sept to see Cersei tomorrow to relieve her longing.

Let King Tommen come to the Sept tomorrow?

However, King Tommen was not Hand of the King Kevan. If something happened to Hand of the King Kevan when he came in, Cersei's heart would not ache; however, if Tommen was detained by the High Septon after entering and used to threaten the Red Keep royal family and courtiers, who could do anything about it?

Everyone would be subject to the High Sparrow's control, and the Mountain was no exception!

No, Cersei couldn't take this risk!

She had to get the message out and tell Tommen not to let His Majesty the King take risks and enter the Great Sept.

The High Septon was too dangerous. If he figured it out and used her to manipulate King Tommen, the risk to royal power would be too great, too great to bear. Cersei knew that Tommen was kind at heart and would come to see her because of Cersei's longing. It was easy to come in, but what if he couldn't get out?

Who could she find to deliver the message?

Cersei thought of the elderly chief Septa who had given her the note.

*

The next morning, Cersei went to the Sept of the Seven again to light candles for the Seven Gods. Her eyes met the elderly chief Septa's eyes, and she nodded imperceptibly. The elderly chief Septa also nodded imperceptibly when she lowered her head to hand her the second candle.

Both sides knew what was going on!

Cersei gave the order to let the Mountain launch a raid.

Although she didn't understand how the Mountain would get in, she decided to take a risk for freedom.

If you had to choose a battle, a raid was the most likely tactic to succeed!

That evening, Cersei received another letter from the Mountain, saying that he would launch a raid at midnight tonight. The five High Septons in the Sept, the white-robed monks and nuns, were all internal support and forces loyal to the royal family. The Mountain's death squads would appear from unexpected places and raid the High Septon's tower and the elderly chief Septa's tower. The Mountain told Queen Mother Cersei to prepare...

After dinner, Cersei looked out from the window. Outside the tower, there were six Holy Swordsmen monitoring nearby, and near the Maidenvault Tower, Lancel was watching this side with the Starry Septons.

Cersei closed the curtains and ordered the handmaidens to close the tower door. She said to the four Red Cloaks and two Kingsguard: "You all come with me, upstairs."

The elderly chief Septa's tower was seven stories high.

Cersei walked slowly in front, all the way to the top floor on the seventh floor, before stopping. There were a total of four handmaidens beside her, holding four candles in their hands. Along the way, they also lit the torches inserted in the walls.

"Knights, tonight at midnight, the Mountain's death squads will raid the Great Sept and rescue us. The five High Septons, hundreds of white-robed monks and nuns in the Great Sept of Baelor are all internal support. I want you to prepare, not to go out and fight, but to guard the tower door and not let the Starry Septons and Holy Swordsmen rush in until we see the Mountain's people appear."

The four knights, two Kingsguard and four handmaidens were all surprised and delighted!

Balon Swann was an absolute fierce warrior, and Osmund Kettleblack was an absolute power warrior. He was more than two meters tall and very strong. A light push from him could make Balon unsteady.

Balon said: "Queen Mother, we have a total of six swords. It won't be easy for the enemy to kill their way up from the first floor to the seventh floor."

"Ser Balon, we have to quietly move all the tables, benches, and movable stone platforms to the staircase on the sixth floor, completely blocking the way up. The Queen Mother and the handmaidens will stay on the seventh floor, and our six swords will guard the staircase on the first floor, fighting and retreating, and we will definitely be able to wait for the Mountain's people to appear."

Osmund Kettleblack said: "Spiral staircases are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Our six swords will guard the narrowest part of the staircase, and no matter how many enemies there are, they won't be able to attack. Damn, I've been waiting for this day for too long. Tonight, I just want to kill people."

All six knights were itching to get started, just waiting for the Mountain to bring people in. As long as someone protected Queen Mother Cersei, they could let go and go out to kill. This breath had been held for too long.

"In case the battle is fierce, I want you to hold out at least until dawn," Cersei said with murderous intent and cold eyes.

"Yes, Queen Mother!"

The six knights said in unison.

Four Westerlands knights, two Kingsguard, six swords, six people, each of whom was an absolute master of swordsmanship. There were indeed too few of them, but they occupied the advantage of the terrain. —— Just guard the stairs. Fighting and retreating, there were a total of six floors of stairs. And the other side's Starry Septons had no pikemen; among the Holy Swordsmen, there were only knights using swords, no one using spears.

Spears stabbing, wave after wave, an inch longer, an inch stronger, it was easy to break through the six long swords on the stairs without shield protection.

*

At night, in the storage room of the Sept of the Seven, there was a soft click, as if a piece of rotten wooden board had been stepped on. In the middle of the night, at dawn, the strange noise in the storage room was alarming, however, everyone was fast asleep. The twelve Starry Septons and two Holy Swordsmen on duty were all asleep in the Sept's monks' rooms.

In the Sept of the Seven, red candles and torches as thick as children's arms were burning brightly, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

After a while, a white figure silently emerged from the storage room. It was a white-robed cultivator with a hood obscuring their face. This cultivator had a small, round, black shield strapped to their left forearm. The shield was made of pure iron, its edges gleaming with a cold, sharp light, like a blade. In their right hand, they gripped a short, glittering sword, a white bandage binding the hand and hilt together tightly.

This binding method ensured that the short sword could not be knocked away by any force, unless the arm or wrist was severed.

The five hundred deathsworn from Demon Mountain had infiltrated through the secret passage! They were all wearing white monastic robes over their black chainmail.

A bloody and cruel night, destined to shock King's Landing and shake the Seven Kingdoms.