The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 836: The Faceless Men's Wise Man - The Mountain Approaches Daenerys

The Mountain watched Missandei walk out of the hall, his gaze returning to the son in his arms.

The little one was staring intently at the Mountain, his little finger in his mouth, black eyes, brown hair, milky white skin, very smooth, the touch like the smoothness of polished jade.

"Gregor Clegane," the Mountain said.

But this wasn't the little one's real name; his mother, Jeyne, had named him 'Gawen Clegane.' This was Jeyne paying homage to her father, Lord Gawen Westerling.

The chubby little one didn't know he already had two names, one called Gregor with a touch of slag, and one called Gawen that could match the identity of a prince. This future great prince was still staring intently at the Mountain, making a soft 'hmm' sound from his nostrils, as if responding to his father's words, or perhaps just a casual murmur.

"I'm going to pick up girls tonight. When you grow up, you'll know the painful pleasure of being a man." The words 'I' and 'pick up girls' were out of place and didn't fit the setting of this world, but it didn't matter, because besides the Mountain, the guards, nuns, and maids in the hall couldn't understand them at all. The Mountain was speaking the Earth Huaguo language from before his transmigration, a celestial sound even more difficult to understand than Valyrian.

As a God-chosen one with the identity of a king, the Mountain sometimes uttering incomprehensible celestial sounds only increased the others' sense of mystery about him and his own little bit of dark humor.

At the entrance, an agile shadow appeared: Arya Stark entered.

She was the Mountain's closest personal guard when he traveled and resided at home, but this didn't really conform to the consistent royal tradition.

In royal tradition, only the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and the members of the Kingsguard were the king's closest armed guards. The Kingsguard were completely responsible for the safety of the royal family; they were the royal family's people in life and the royal family's ghosts in death. Besides this, the armed force closest to the royal family was the Royal Guard, led by Bronn.

But the Mountain didn't really like this tradition. He actually preferred his own Clegane guard, an armed force that had grown up with him, and he completely trusted every soldier. So as long as the Mountain left the royal palace, left King's Landing, and went out to do things, he still preferred his own Clegane guard to accompany him. After attending Sansa's and Ser Reynard's wedding, the Mountain would set about vigorously reforming his royal security guard. This would encounter resistance, first of all Jon Connington's resistance, but the Mountain had his own methods.

The personal guard Arya Stark was already an exception.

In the royal palace, Arya had more authority and freedom of action than even the Kingsguard; she could freely enter and exit any room in the royal palace, and conduct autonomous inspections of everything and everyone without having to report to the king and queen in advance, let alone Prime Minister Jon Connington, and she didn't have to report to any other military officer at all.

This was an existence that had never existed in past royal families! If she suspected someone, she could have the authority to mobilize the royal soldiers without prior authorization from the king and prime minister.

"Your Majesty, I am going to the Alchemists' Guild tonight with Lady Melisandre. I hope to gain some insight into my questions from the wisdom of the Grand Maester."

"Lady Melisandre and Lady Jeyne are on the Street of Silk; they went to the tailor to customize wedding clothes and probably won't return to the royal palace until very late."

"I will wait for Lady Melisandre outside the gate of the Alchemists' Guild at dusk, and then we will go together to see the Grand Maester."

"Did you and Lady Melisandre make an appointment in advance?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Arya was just here to notify the Mountain, not to report. Her leaving the royal palace had to be known by the king. When the king needed her to appear, the king would arrange for other personnel to replace her.

"What do you want to do with the Grand Maester?" the Mountain asked directly. He was the king and had the power to inquire about anyone and anything in the kingdom, even though Arya wasn't his real personal guard.

"About the creation of flame creatures and the control of flames, Your Majesty, you wouldn't really want to understand. The things we want to ask the Grand Maester about are related to magic, not to politics."

The Mountain looked at Arya's sharp eyes, and he suddenly had a bad feeling. He felt that things might not be as simple as Arya Stark said. This feeling was very mysterious, similar to a woman's sixth sense.

"Peaceful conversation?"

"Of course!" Arya looked at the Mountain with a strange expression.

"You won't bully the Grand Maester, will you? Their wildfire substance is very powerful, but in other aspects, they are very fragile."

"You're thinking too complicated, Your Majesty." Arya's suspicious eyes seemed not to recognize the Mountain. "The Grand Maester is the alchemist that Lady Melisandre and I respect the most. He is the most respectable senior, Your Majesty."

"Is that so, but as far as I know, the secrets of flame creatures and flame control, like the secrets of wildfire substance, are only taught to internal apprentices by the alchemists."

"Exchange, Your Majesty. Lady Melisandre is a priestess of the Red God, and the Red God is the god of fire and shadows."

"Did Lady Melisandre propose going to consult the Grand Maester, or did you?" The Mountain slightly changed his angle. This sentence contained a small trick to help understand the doubts in the Mountain's heart.

"It was me!" Arya tilted her head, showing her stubbornness and not concealing it. There was a kind of frankness that didn't speak secretly.

It was indeed Arya's idea. This matched the Mountain's guess. Since the Red God that Lady Melisandre believed in was the god of fire and shadows, then only Lady Melisandre could communicate with the Grand Maester about the secrets of fire, but this proposal came from Arya Stark. This was what didn't make sense. If Lady Melisandre herself had proposed it, it would have been smoother and more reasonable.

"Okay, I wish you success." The Mountain stopped there, rarely being confused. The Grand Maester was the maker of her dragonfire cannons and future gunpowder, and the Alchemists' Guild would also revive its reputation with the Mountain's support. Of course, maybe Arya would have some small actions, but the Mountain believed that she certainly wouldn't really do anything to the Grand Maester.

Assuming Arya had some small, out-of-line ideas, the Mountain's words could also stop her in time. As for Lady Melisandre, the Mountain deeply believed in her. But Arya Stark was a Faceless Man, possessing mysterious power and many unknown skills. The Mountain, starting from his feeling, first 'hinted' at Arya with words. This actually had nothing to do with trust; the Mountain trusted Arya just as he deeply loved Jeyne, but it didn't prevent him from liking Arianne Martell and Daenerys Targaryen.

Arya was a mysterious and unpredictable Faceless Man; this was very important!

"Your Majesty, I also wish you success tonight. I have already asked Jon Targaryen, and he told me that he and Daenerys Targaryen are innocent, and they are not in a romantic relationship. Jon Targaryen and I grew up together, and we both believe in the Old Gods. Daenerys hopes to marry Jon and give birth to a non-burning person to inherit the blood of the Targaryen family, but that is not allowed by our faith. Incest within the family, like patricide, is an unforgivable crime."

"But Jon is not a Stark; he is a Targaryen, and he has the right to follow the ancient traditions of the family."

"Your Majesty, Jon grew up in the Stark family, he is my brother, his mother is a Stark, and he still regards Lord Eddard Stark as his father."

What Arya said was true. Besides having Prince Rhaegar's bloodline, the rest of Jon Targaryen was completely Stark.

"Arya, Jon's faith can also be changed. You have already changed from believing in the Old Gods to believing in the God of Death and the Many-Faced God."

"The God of Death and the Many-Faced God are both Old Gods." Arya's tone gradually became contemptuous. "Your Majesty, the Old Gods include mountain gods, river gods, sky gods, death gods, red gods, and many other gods. The Old Gods do not specifically refer to one god, but refer to all gods except the Seven Gods, the Drowned God, the Blood God, and other specific gods."

The Mountain knew nothing about the complexity of the Old God system. He was slightly despised by Arya.

"Okay, Arya, you should go." The Mountain pointed to the setting sun outside the window, and it was time for Arya to leave for the Alchemists' Guild.

"Yes, I'm going to see the Grand Maester, and Your Majesty also needs to take the time to dress up carefully, and then go to the Maidenvault to meet Daenerys Targaryen." Arya Stark, as the king's personal guard, spoke to the Mountain in a faint, irreverent tone. There was a hint of sarcasm in her words. The people of the Stark family have this unpleasant point. They always think they are the spokespersons of integrity and honor, and they completely despise the fashion that is popular among the nobles.

"I'm on official business, it's state affairs, and it involves the national affairs of conquering Slaver's Bay in the future." The Mountain said sternly. He directly filtered out Arya's sarcasm towards him. She was a Stark, still young, forgive her!

*

Daenerys stood in front of the Maidenvault gate to greet the Mountain's arrival.

It could be seen that the Mountain had been carefully groomed, his chin's beard was shaved clean, and his face had also been cleaned by servants. The elegant and high-end dress had the family emblem of the Red Smoke Beast and the Ice Sword embroidered on the left chest. The clothes had been professionally treated and exuded a faint, pleasant fragrance. This was completely different from the smell of directly spraying perfume on clothes. Spraying perfume directly on clothes was too flamboyant and offensive. The faint fragrance emanating from the Mountain's clothes was restrained and light, just right, making people feel comfortable.

He was tall and burly like a giant, majestic and awe-inspiring. The usual fierce and unparalleled was gone. His eyes were humble as a virgin, and a faint, kind smile hung on the corner of his mouth. This was still the Mountain, but this kind smile made him look like a completely different person.

No armor, no sword belt, no majestic oppression and the giant sword on his back.

"Your Majesty, welcome." Daenerys was secretly amazed. The Mountain, known for his ferocity, could have such a change, from ferocity to gentleness. This was a small miracle. Daenerys had never seen this side of the Mountain. This also proved that Missandei's vision was right. He longed to please me, and he was fascinated by my beauty. My beauty is the sharpest sword.

Daenerys' confidence was invisibly enhanced. She was generous and saluted the Mountain.

Daenerys was petite, which made her even more exquisite in contrast to the Mountain. She was extremely beautiful, and her facial features were exquisitely perfect. She wore a pure silk light yellow dress, and her silver-golden hair was draped over her smooth shoulders. A pair of purple eyes overflowed with charming style.

"Your Majesty, you are so beautiful tonight." The Mountain was as elegant as a scholar. He gently took Daenerys' outstretched hand, leaned down, and his lips lightly touched the back of Daenerys' hand.

Missandei was next to Daenerys. She saw the Mountain's hidden hunger for Daenerys from the Mountain's elegant etiquette, and she was convinced of her plan. With Daenerys' peerless beauty, once an offensive was launched, no normal man could resist.

The Mountain was no exception!

In the distance, a pair of black eyes was watching the entrance of the Maidenvault in the shadow under a torch. The man had black hair, black eyes, and a black cloak. His expression was solemn, and he had a long sword hanging on his waist. This man was Jon Targaryen.

He watched the Mountain and Daenerys walk hand in hand into the Maidenvault gate. The gate closed, and members of the Royal Guard guarded both sides of the gate. After a long time, Jon did not move. And in the shadow of a forest behind the castle of Maegor's Holdfast, another man also paid attention to this scene. This man was tall and burly, with a face full of beards, and his eyes were tired and dim. He wore coarse clothes and tattered boots. His name was Jorah Mormont, a noble knight from Bear Island in the North. Now, he had been reduced to a stableman in the King's Landing garrison in the royal palace.

Jon eventually disappeared quietly in the shadows that the torch could not illuminate, while Jorah Mormont sat on the ground against the tree trunk, took out a wineskin from his arms, and took a hard gulp of inferior sour wine.

Another beautiful and charming woman appeared in front of Jorah Mormont's eyes: Lynesse Hightower.

Lynesse Hightower was extremely similar to Daenerys, with the same silver-golden hair and purple eyes, and the same exquisite facial features. Jorah once deeply loved Lynesse Hightower. In order to satisfy Lynesse Hightower's vanity, the not-so-wealthy heir of Bear Island began to sell slaves to make huge profits. Then he was hunted down thousands of miles by Lord Eddard Stark, and eventually had to flee overseas with Lynesse Hightower. In order to survive, Jorah Mormont made money by working as a mercenary. When he went out to fight the Braavosi, Lynesse Hightower, who was only accustomed to great wealth, abandoned him and eloped with a captain, leaving him forever. Later, Jorah Mormont met Daenerys Targaryen in order to obtain King Robert's pardon. His extinguished love reignited on Daenerys' body, and he could not restrain himself and was deeply involved to this day.

For Daenerys, Jorah would not hesitate to give up his life! After spending a long time together, he felt that he and Daenerys had become blood-related family members. If he could return to Daenerys' side to serve her again, he would be willing to pay any price.

Jorah, sitting on the grass in the woods, looked at the bright lights on the high tower of the Maidenvault, and he soon got drunk.

And in the Maidenvault, the Mountain and Daenerys were raising their glasses. The Arbor Gold wine in the glasses was fragrant, worthy of being the number one wine in the Seven Kingdoms.