The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 588: Plaza Judgment - Arrogant Crow's Eye

(Happy National Day! The military parade was mighty! Love my China!)

*

"Lord, the Mountain!" A guard pointed to the opposite bank.

From Riverside Avenue, the huge figure of the Mountain could be seen.

The Mountain was as tall as a giant, and his Red Smoke Beast was even taller and stronger, bigger than any warhorse. The Mountain, riding the Red Smoke Beast, stood out like a mountain peak on the plains among the surging crowd.

No matter how many people there were, they couldn't block the Mountain's radiance; instead, they highlighted his broadness and might!

The Blackwater River was wide, and only the Mountain's figure and the dense crowd of people rushing to Riverside Avenue like ants could be seen. What they were there for and what they were shouting could not be heard clearly.

Jaime's heart was heavy, and he didn't say a word.

The Royal Navy fleet belonged to the royal family, but the Chief Admiral Wagner Gahr was a tribal chief from Claw Isle recommended by the Mountain. The people of Claw Isle regarded the Mountain as their island king, upholding the will of the Blood God. The Mountain, who had conquered the island's divine beast, the unicorn Red Smoke, held the highest position in the hearts of the people of Claw Isle.

From this, it could be judged that the Royal Navy's blockade order mostly came from the Mountain!

The Mountain knew he was rushing back to King's Landing, so he ordered the blockade? If that was the case, then the Mountain's mind was very meticulous; he had considered every aspect.

Jaime had arrived in King's Landing in time. His goal was to save Kevan and stop the Mountain! However, he had rushed back in forced marches but was blocked at the docks by the Blackwater River, watching King's Landing, powerless.

This Mountain was no longer the Mountain that Jaime had known for thirty years!

"Everyone dismount and rest!" Jaime ordered.

He was now left with only the most helpless method: wait!

Three ravens flew into the Red Keep's Maegor's Holdfast. The time was short, and the feedback would come back quickly. Looking at the Mountain's shadow on Riverside Avenue on the opposite bank, the people cheered and supported him. The Mountain seemed to have controlled the overall situation in King's Landing.

Jaime looked at Bronn. Bronn saw the questioning in Jaime's eyes and shrugged his shoulders: "Lord, the Mountain must have broken into the Red Keep and controlled King's Landing."

Jaime said in a deep voice: "The City Watch and the Tyrell family's guards also have more than four thousand people. The walls of King's Landing are easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the walls of the Red Keep are the same. Even if the Red Keep is lost, Maegor's Holdfast is the most solid military fortress. It would take the Mountain several days to clear the iron spikes in the moat before approaching the city walls. Prime Minister Kevan has also experienced many battles. King's Landing, the Red Keep, and Maegor's Holdfast, three solid walls, four thousand warriors, can't he hold on for even ten days?"

"Lord, how did Tyrion Lannister escape from the Red Keep's underground black cells?" Bronn shrugged his shoulders, making a helpless expression.

"The Mountain entered the Red Keep from underground?"

"It is said that the underground passage can also enter Maegor's Holdfast," Bronn said.

Jaime's back was suddenly covered in cold sweat.

The seemingly unbreakable Red Keep and Maegor's Holdfast, if someone grasped the secrets of the underground passages, then the defense of the Red Keep and Maegor's Holdfast would indeed be as good as nothing. And from now on, King Tommen will grow up in the Red Keep, Cersei will live in the Red Keep, and everything of the royal family will take place in the Red Keep, but their safety, privacy, conversations, secrets... His and Cersei's sixteen years of secret meetings in the Red Keep must have been seen and heard by the former Master of Whisperers Varys and others, just like facing a person without clothes, but Varys did not report to the late King Robert but kept his mouth shut...

Suddenly, the safest palace became the most unsafe and completely transparent place.

Jaime was covered in cold sweat!

Actually, I should have thought long ago that the Mountain would attack the Red Keep and Maegor's Holdfast from underground!

Jaime realized that his quick wit was very poor; he always remembered it only after things happened. He hated that he was a typical 'hindsight is 20/20' person. In this aspect, the Imp was better than him. The Imp had a strong predictive ability...

*

On the walls of Riverside Avenue, the Reach soldiers and the City Watch soldiers were silent, watching Prime Minister Kevan being driven by the Mountain's warriors under the city walls. Many dockworkers threw bread, stones, rotten cabbage, branches, short sticks, and rotten eggs at Kevan.

There were many kinds of workers in the more than one hundred docks of the Blackwater River, and a large number of people from Claw Isle poured into the docks to find work, forming a powerful dock force. These people were close to the Mountain and regarded the Mountain as their king.

Smack!

A stone hit Kevan's forehead, and blood flowed instantly.

Kevan instinctively raised his hand to protect his head. A piece of black bread came whistling and hit him in the mouth. This piece of black bread had expired and deteriorated, as hard as a stone. With a smack, Kevan's lips were broken.

The Mountain, riding the Red Smoke Beast, did not stop everyone from humiliating Kevan. He had no intention of killing Kevan. The hundreds of beautiful young boys from the Westerlands that he had sent to the Rhoyne River in Volantis were returning, bringing hundreds of brides from the Rhoyne River who were good at raising silkworms and weaving. In Castamere, Tarbeck Hall, and New Clegane Village, he had completed the preliminary preparation of the land. He had his own new agriculture and new technology to do. What he wanted to change was an era, not to compete with Kevan for personal gains, but Kevan had to die!

The tree wants to be quiet, but the wind doesn't stop!

Since that's the case, he didn't mind letting Kevan die first!

Kevan hadn't walked far when his body had already been pelted with feces, eggs, rotten cabbage, stones, sticks, and some intangible but substantial slanders and abuses. Kevan was very embarrassed. At first, he maintained the dignity and prestige of a prime minister, but before long, the low blows of the people made his prime minister image disappear.

"Duke, if this goes on, Lord Kevan may not be able to reach the Rainbow Plaza of the Great Sept of Baelor and will be smashed to death by the excited people," Captain Alyn said in a low voice beside the Mountain.

Northerners were always very upright and could not bear to see the dignified prime minister and a great noble with the Lannister surname walk so embarrassingly to the Great Sept of Baelor and then accept a public trial. The physical harm was secondary. The damage to Kevan's dignity and glory by various workers, servants, vagrants, poor people, refugees, etc., was enough to drown Kevan!

"After passing Riverside Avenue and entering the Iron Gate, there won't be so many people chasing and scolding him," the Mountain responded.

On Riverside Avenue, many of the excited people came from Claw Isle and refugees and poor people.

"There are also many refugees and poor people in the city," Alyn insisted.

"Okay, go and protect him!" The Mountain decided to accept Alyn's suggestion.

Don't bend the advantage of the Northerners' uprightness! They respect their enemies and do not humiliate prisoners. This is a good tradition. The Mountain didn't understand why the Westerlanders, the Reachmen, the Dornishmen, and the Crownlanders basically looked down on the Northerners and extremely despised their uprightness.

Captain Alyn took off the round shield on his back: "Citizens, Lord Mountain has ordered that you do not attack Lord Kevan Lannister. He has the right to be respected and protected. His crimes will be judged by the Seven Gods and the national law together. We will publicly try him in the Rainbow Plaza of the Great Sept of Baelor. Please go to the Great Sept of Baelor Plaza first."

The sound of horses' hooves rang out. The Mountain's eight guards galloped out and, under Alyn's command, protected Kevan.

Kevan looked up at Alyn. The Northerner whom he despised the most and was full of hostility and prejudice—whom he evaluated as 'dull and stupidly upright'—gave him the last dignity and protection.

The late King Robert, who used to indulge in pleasure, the only brother he trusted was not Renly and Stannis, who were related by blood, but the Northerner Eddard Stark.

*

Maegor's Holdfast.

"Your Majesty, Lord Gregor asks Your Majesty to move to the Great Sept of Baelor Plaza. Lord Gregor has already captured Kevan," Count Rossby said respectfully.

"...Why didn't Lord Gregor escort Lord Kevan to the Throne Room?"

"Lord Gregor wants to publicly try Lord Kevan in the plaza of the Great Sept of Baelor and execute him."

"Now?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Tommen looked at Queen Margaery. Queen Margaery nodded slightly.

*

The Mountain's momentum was very strong. His soldiers were stationed in King's Landing and the Red Keep, and it was now inconvenient to disobey him. The Mountain's two thousand Dragonstone soldiers and one thousand heavy cavalry were stationed in the Red Keep's North Barracks.

Another two thousand soldiers were stationed in the Red Keep's plaza.

The soldiers of Dragonstone were originally naval warriors and infantry warriors, but now everyone had a warhorse as a means of transportation, which looked like a brand-new four thousand-strong cavalry.

These warhorses all came from General Randyll Tarly's 'generous gift'.

Randyll Tarly's six thousand warhorses were a huge gift, helping the Mountain easily rearm a powerful cavalry force.

The Mountain's main infantry had not yet arrived in King's Landing. As soon as they arrived, the Mountain would allocate a thousand-man bow cavalry team to Anguy, a thousand-man bow cavalry team to Jory, and a thousand-man light cavalry team to the main force.

The Mountain had already prepared warhorses for a new three thousand-strong cavalry team, and now he was just waiting for the arrival of the main infantry warriors: two thousand bow infantrymen transformed into bow cavalrymen! One thousand shield soldiers transformed into light cavalrymen.

The warriors of Dragonstone, limited by geographical conditions, were either land infantry or naval warriors, not cavalry troops.

The current allocation of thousands of warhorses was just to give them a means of transportation.

Every time he fought a battle, the Mountain's military strength, material resources, and financial resources would rapidly increase. It was like a snowball. The battles became bigger and bigger, the troops became more and more numerous, the supplies became more and more abundant, and the overall strength became stronger and stronger.

In the transaction negotiation with Lord Mace, the Mountain promised to support Lord Mace as prime minister. He didn't mention a word about the thousands of warhorses seized from the Reach.

Lord Mace was also very sensible. After receiving the solemn promise of the prime minister's position, he did not propose that the Mountain return the thousands of Reach warhorses.

Even if he did, according to the Mountain's fierce rudeness, he would definitely not return them, so why bother asking for trouble!

*

Maidenvault, Lord Mace's residence.

The Mountain's little squire, Comm Warner, respectfully said: "Lord Mace, Lord Gregor invites you to move to the Great Sept of Baelor Plaza and impartially try the traitor Kevan for the crime of selling the country."

Mace was stunned, and then said in a somewhat excited tone: "Kevan was captured by Lord Gregor?"

"Yes, Duke, the traitor Kevan is being escorted to the Great Sept of Baelor Plaza by the adults."

"Good." Mace slowly stood up and walked back and forth in the hall. The Mountain was so anxious to kill Kevan, obviously worried that Jaime would come back and things would change.

"Comm Warner, does Lord Gregor know that Lord Jaime Lannister is already at the Blackwater River ferry?"

"The adults have received a report from the navy and know that Jaime Lannister has arrived at the Blackwater River docks."

"Oh?!" Mace asked with his eyes, "What does the adult plan to do?"

Comm Warner responded in silence!

Comm Warner did not say whether the Mountain had sent a boat to pick up Jaime across the river, which was subtle. Was this a dumb language? Therefore, Lord Mace decided not to ask or reply to the raven letter Jaime gave him.

The Royal Navy fleet was created by the Sea Minister Wagner Gahr, but it was completely controlled by the Mountain, which was actually a big taboo. Strictly speaking, the Royal Navy fleet, like the King's Landing City Watch, belonged only to the royal family. The commander of the City Watch and the commander of the Navy belonged to the direct force of the royal family and only obeyed the king himself. No other minister could control and mobilize them.

The Mountain was playing with fire. If the flame was too big, it might burn him.

"Garlan, go to the underground secret room of Maegor's Holdfast and bring out Euron Crow's Eye. We need him to identify Kevan."

"Yes, Father."

"Remind Euron Crow's Eye to cooperate with all our questions."

"Understood, Father."

Garlan Tyrell strode out of the hall.

Comm Warner said: "Lord Mace, Grand Maester Qyburn has returned to the Citadel. Lord Gregor asked me to tell you that you may need some evidence he can provide."

"Oh!" Mace understood, "I'm going to the Citadel."

*

Blackwater River Ferry.

Jaime looked at the sky. The sky was white clouds and blue sky, and no raven returned.

It was very close to the Red Keep, just across a big river. The White Sword Tower of the Red Keep emitted white light in the sun, as if it was within reach.

It only took a few breaths for the raven to fly such a distance.

However, a long time had passed, and no raven had returned.

The letter to Prime Minister Kevan in the Prime Minister's Tower, the letter to Lord Mace in Maidenvault, and the letter to the Mountain were all unanswered.

Jaime jumped on his horse: "Brothers, I need your help!"

Bronn and other generals looked at Jaime together.

"We need to do it ourselves and tie up the rafts for crossing the river," Jaime said. "All soldiers have it, logging and tying rafts!"

"Ho!" All the soldiers agreed together, got on their horses one after another, and followed Jaime into the woods.

Clang clang clang!

Long swords were drawn out, cutting off arm-thick wooden sticks. The wooden sticks were tied up one by one and carried to the river by horses. A group of soldiers began to make rafts.

Jaime cut his white cloak with a short knife, so the soldiers cut their cloaks one after another, rubbed them into strips, picked them up, laid the wooden sticks one by one on the ground, and tied the two-meter-long wooden sticks together with cloak strips and horse reins.

Soon, the first raft was successfully tied, then the second, the third, the fourth...

Jaime left the accompanying scholar and ten soldiers to guard hundreds of warhorses, took the lead on the raft, Bronn, Podrick and other generals jumped on the raft one after another, and rowed to the opposite bank...

*

The Rainbow Plaza of the Great Sept of Baelor is the most sacred place for royal weddings, funerals, major national ceremonies, and the beheading of major criminals.

The High Septon, wearing the tall seven-pointed crown as a Son of the Seven, stood upon the steps of the plaza, accompanied by the seven High Septons and numerous Seven-Star monks and nuns. King Tommen and Queen Margaery stood with the High Septon, positioned in the very center of the steps.

Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's Justice, stood below the King with the executioner's sword on his back, his gaze chilling.

Countless faithful, citizens from all over the city, and nobles crowded the plaza, packing it tightly!

In the plaza, before the towering Baelor's Sept stone monument, Kevan stood in a wretched state with his hands bound behind him. The courtiers, led by the five prominent members of the small council – the Mountain, Mace, Qyburn, Bronn, and Boros Blount – stood on the right side of the plaza steps.

The wheels of the prison carriage rumbled, the horses' hooves clip-clopped, as Garlan Tyrell, riding his warhorse, escorted the carriage, parting the crowd to reach the plaza.

Inside the prison carriage, Euron Crow's Eye's black eyepatch covered his left eye. He grinned, his one good eye gleaming.

Euron was nonchalant, exuding an aura of wickedness!

"Lord Hand, hello, we meet again!" Euron Crow's Eye laughed. His voice was loud and full of vigor.

"Kevan, you are pathetic, a disgrace to the Lannister name." His gaze found the Mountain. "Mountain, if I had cooperated with you back then, combining our forces by land and sea, we would have been invincible in the Seven Kingdoms, and I would never have become a prisoner today. Ha ha, ha ha ha!" Euron laughed wildly. He turned his head and scanned the entire scene. "However, all of you will die soon."

He suddenly lowered his voice, a cruel smile appearing on his face, as if cursing, "You will all be burned by dragonfire! The Mother of Dragons will soon be upon you." He suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "There can only be one queen on the Iron Throne, and that is the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen! All of you will be burned by dragonfire!"