The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 85: Returning the Item to Its Rightful Owner

The King's public promise seemed crude and barbaric to the Citadel's maesters, a display of supreme royal power. His Majesty showed no respect for the Citadel's authority; he didn't even consult them, not even a pretense of doing so. He simply announced in the open air that he would give a dragon glass candle, a sacred relic, to the House of Black and White.

This announcement caused every archmaester in the Citadel to gasp for breath.

Lord Leyton Hightower was equally surprised and uneasy. On the surface, it appeared that he was cooperating with the King in this act of overriding the Citadel's authority, which was contrary to the Hightower family's long-standing tradition of upholding the Citadel's interests.

However, the Mountain's notoriety and unreasonable behavior had been established in the Seven Kingdoms long ago. He had won his kingdom on horseback, and his past infamy was as well-known as his current invincible martial prowess. The unreasonable Mountain was the Mountain everyone remembered.

Grand Master Muren looked at Lord Leyton, "My Lord, did His Majesty come to the Citadel to prevent the Faceless Men from stealing, or to help them take our candles? I am confused."

"Archmaester, His Majesty has revealed the Faceless Men's secret plan, which is the best way to prevent them from taking the dragon glass candles. We cannot be sure if the dragon glass candles are still in the basement of the Starry Sept," Arya Stark said coldly.

"My Lord, His Majesty clearly said he would give a dragon glass candle to the Faceless Men," Grand Master Muren said, looking at Arya in disbelief.

"Grand Master," Arya said, her tone undisguisedly impolite, "Since the Faceless Men have targeted the Citadel's dragon glass candles, do you think the Citadel can protect them the first time and also the second time?"

"The House of Black and White has its own ancient ways and traditions. If they fail, they will not come again."

Arya scoffed, "Grand Master, your understanding of the Faceless Men is naive. When a dragon glass candle is stolen after many years, how can you know who took it? In the south of the kingdom, there is a local organization more mysterious and with better intelligence capabilities than the Faceless Men, called 'The Strangers'. In the east, there is a group of remarkable wizards called the Undying. In Volantis, there is the world's largest Red Temple, and the High Priest of the Red God also desires to have a burning dragon glass candle in his temple. When a dragon glass candle mysteriously disappears one year, can you know who stole the Citadel's dragon glass candle? No one will know, and it cannot be proven."

Muren, usually an eloquent speaker, was speechless.

Indeed, if it hadn't been for His Majesty, they would never have known that the Faceless Men had entered the Citadel, and Lord Leyton would never have known the truth about Quill \u0026 Tankard. The Faceless Men had been running Quill \u0026 Tankard in Oldtown for six hundred years, waiting for the moment when the dragon glass candles would burn.

Arya's cold voice was as sharp and merciless as a sword, "Archmaester, Lord Hightower, Quill \u0026 Tankard has existed in Oldtown for six hundred years. Who among you knew it was a secret outpost of the Faceless Men? None of you knew. Similarly, when the dragon glass candles disappear after some time, who can know that the Faceless Men did it? Is there any evidence? The only purpose of Quill \u0026 Tankard's existence is the dragon glass candles."

Grand Master Muren said, "My Lord, I know it is difficult for the House of Black and White to train a Faceless Man. The number of Faceless Men is also limited, unlike the thousands of maesters, apprentices, and maester's assistants in the Citadel. There won't be Faceless Men everywhere, my Lord."

"Is that so? Grand Master, the Faceless Men will appear in many places where they are needed. Look who I am?" a very dignified voice said. It was an unfamiliar voice. Grand Master Muren and Lord Leyton turned their heads in surprise. They saw a man with an extremely resolute face on horseback, and Arya Stark was gone.

Lord Leyton exclaimed softly, "Lord Jon Connington."

That's right, Arya had transformed into the appearance of Jon Connington. Lord Leyton had seen Jon Connington at a tourney before the War of the Usurper. Jon Connington had a naturally resolute face, majestic and extraordinary, so unique that anyone who saw him once would be deeply impressed and find him hard to forget.

Grand Master Muren gaped, nearly falling from his horse.

"When you understand the secret of face-changing, my transformation will be without mystery," Jon Connington shook his head, and his face shape and hair color changed in an instant. She returned to her original appearance: Arya Stark.

Arya said, "Grand Master, Lord Hightower, when you cannot understand the Faceless Men's face-changing techniques, you will eventually lose all the dragon glass candles. His Majesty's strategy is the best. It is better to give the House of Black and White one dragon glass candle in exchange for the long-term peace of the other two candles, and the Citadel and the House of Black and White will form the most sacred alliance because of the dragon glass candles, which is beneficial to the Citadel's research into mystical studies."

Muren and Leyton were silent.

Muren was even more shocked by the aftershocks. Arya Stark was also a Faceless Man. The Mountain was capable enough to recruit a Faceless Man to be his guard?! This was too astonishing.

The rules of this world seemed to be completely changing.

White Walkers, dragons, the Seven Kingdoms' worst criminals, the miracles of the Seven Gods, the Mountain King, the Faceless Men, self-igniting dragon glass candles... All of these were signs that the world was about to undergo a major change...

"I ask you to trust His Majesty. He will not give a dragon glass candle to the House of Black and White for nothing. From now on, the Citadel will also receive His Majesty's strong support and promotion, and not just Lord Leyton's support."

Grand Master Muren and Lord Leyton were finally moved by Arya's words.

Arya spoke eloquently, her words as sharp as her Needle, "Archmaester, Lord Hightower, the situation is urgent. Rather than have the Faceless Men take the candles for nothing, it is better to generously give them one. I think His Majesty's strategy is wise. The goodwill of the House of Black and White in Braavos is an invisible, enormous wealth. Every Faceless Man who kneels, swears, prays, and meditates before the Many-Faced God will see that dragon glass candle. They will know that the dragon glass candle comes from the generous gift of the Citadel of Westeros. All the Faceless Men will remember it in their hearts, be grateful, and never forget it. This invisible, enormous wealth will never be overdrawn."

*

The Starry Sept.

Dozens of highly respected archmaesters lined up on both sides.

His Majesty sat in the center, even seated, he was taller than most of the archmaesters standing.

Lord Leyton stood on the King's right in the place of honor.

Grand Master Muren, the Grand Master of the Citadel, stood on the King's left in the first place of honor.

Three burning dragon glass candles stood on three small silver trays, the flickering flames seeming to have a life of their own.

Above the Citadel, the dragon Sheepstealer glided slowly, hovering. The dragon's eyes were sharp, looking down at the humans below.

If it hadn't been tamed, Sheepstealer would still be a wild dragon. For a wild dragon, the meat of humans and the meat of goats only differed in texture, but both were food. The dragon's mountain-like pressure covered the entire Citadel. If dragonfire were unleashed, the entire great Citadel would be burned into a liquid state and would never exist again.

This threat from the highest magical creature was tangible and qualitative!

Every entrance and exit to the Starry Sept had been guarded by cavalry, with only the main gate available for entry and exit.

On both sides of the gate, soldiers stood guard in formation, as if in wartime.

*

Grand Master Muren walked out of the hall, through several winding corridors, and arrived at the main gate of the Starry Sept.

"Knight, have there been any unusual people entering or leaving the gate?"

"No unusual activity, Grand Master."

Beside the knight were several archmaesters.

The Faceless Men's ability to disguise themselves was powerful, allowing them to easily impersonate any other maester to enter and leave. However, while changing faces was easy, answering questions about the face's owner's expertise, where they lived, how long they had been at the Citadel, and who their mentors were... was something the Faceless Men could not do.

Any maester, assistant, or apprentice who could not answer questions closely related to themselves would naturally be considered unusual.

Under His Majesty's supervision, the Hightower family's soldiers and the archmaesters joined forces to carefully check everyone entering and leaving at the only entrance, regardless of who they were, they had to answer a series of questions related to their origin, parents, learning, and personality. As long as there were any Faceless Men mixed in the Starry Sept, they would definitely be exposed by these meticulous questions.

Grand Master Muren was satisfied with the work of the maesters and knights after checking and inquiring about the situation. He said, "Continue the inspection and screen everyone in the Starry Sept."

"Yes, Grand Master."

"Knight, give me a horse. I am going to the Weeping Tower. His Majesty has ordered me to bring Archmaester Voggrave over. His apprentice Pate appeared this morning, but now no one has seen him again, and no one can find him. We already know that Pate took Archmaester Voggrave's key."

"Yes, Grand Master."

The knight ordered a reserve soldier working as a stable boy behind the pillars to bring over a warhorse. The soldier said, "Archmaester Muren, let me accompany you. Archmaester Voggrave has difficulty moving, and he may not be able to ride a warhorse steadily. I can serve him like Apprentice Pate."

"Alright, you come with me," Grand Master Muren said.

Grand Master Muren looked at the knight, who agreed to let the soldier go with him to bring Archmaester Voggrave to the Starry Sept.

Two men and three horses headed towards the Weeping Tower.

*

"Rory, are you planning to run away?" the accompanying soldier suddenly said something strange. He called Grand Master Muren 'Rory'.

"Arya, are you going to arrest me and hand me over to your king?" The Grand Master, called Rory, also said something strange.

"Don't you consider His Majesty's suggestion? Take a dragon glass candle back."

"The Mountain is not a trustworthy person. I would rather meet him privately than reveal my identity in the Starry Sept of the Citadel. His infamy is widespread, and a simple punch could shatter my head."

"The Mountain is not a despicable person. He is a great hero."

"The Seven Kingdoms' worst criminal, who commits burning, killing, raping, and looting, when did he become a great hero?" Rory's words were full of sarcasm.

"When he killed the Night King and saved the lives of the entire continent," Arya retorted coldly.

Rory paused slightly.

"He is not the Mountain of the past. He has long since transformed into a bringer of light. His past brutality and ferocity have been diluted by the gods when he risked his life to save the entire continent," Arya's tone was icy. "Rory, are you and the House of Black and White questioning the choice of the gods? The gods also include the God of Death and the Many-Faced God."

"Arya, I am acting under orders. I will not meet the Mountain."

"What if I were to invite you?"

"Oh? Do you have the ability to stop me?" Rory smiled, "Your Needle's swordsmanship is too slow and vulnerable."

"I want to try!" Arya said faintly.

"Then try!"

The air suddenly filled with killing intent. Suddenly, a silver light shot out from Rory's palm like a point of starlight, heading straight for Arya's abdomen.

Not the throat, but the abdomen.

Arya, riding on a warhorse, definitely wouldn't have time to dodge.

Arya didn't draw her sword.

Nor did she dodge.

A black shadow sword stretched out diagonally, with a soft 'ding' sound, knocking Rory's knife away. The shadow sword then turned, its sharp blade condensing in front of Rory.

Only then did Rory see a black shadow with Arya's outline floating beside him, holding a shadow sword in its hand.

"What sorcery?"

"Rory, all men must die," Arya said faintly.

"...All men must serve..."

"Can I invite you to see the Mountain with me now?"

"............"

*

Several days later, God's Isle, Braavos.

The House of Black and White.

Knock, knock, knock!

The imposing black and white gates of the House of Black and White were knocked on.

The person knocking was cautious, but also afraid that the people inside the courtyard wouldn't hear him.

The House of Black and White was very deep inside, and it was just when the sky was beginning to show a sliver of dawn.

After a long time, the gate opened a narrow crack silently, and a person revealed half of their face, a black eye expressionless, hollow and lifeless.

"Master, someone asked me to deliver these two things," the knocker was a fisherman of this generation, respectful and fearful of anyone in the House of Black and White, addressing them as 'Master'.

The person inside the door remained wooden and silent. The black eye seemed to have returned from the sky only after hearing the sound, and his gaze fell on the fisherman's face.

The fisherman trembled, stretched out his hand, and spread it open. In his hand were two very worn round iron coins. One side of the coin had a portrait of a person, and the other side was engraved with two sentences: All men must die, All men must serve.

The wooden half-face suddenly lit up with radiance, and the black eyeball suddenly became as terrifying as a blade.

The half-door was completely opened, and the person who had hidden most of his body behind the door was completely revealed, a pale yellow monk's robe, shriveled lips, shriveled chin, small nose, black eyes, this was a skinny old man, an elder in the House of Black and White, he took the two iron coins representing two disciples under the House of Black and White, "The person who asked you to deliver the things?"

"He told me he lived on top of the Titan's head."

"The top of the Titan's head?" the old man asked in surprise.

The Titan of Braavos is one of the nine wonders of the world, and also the gateway to the city-state of Braavos. The giant's two feet are two islands, and its body is a mountain. All ships, large and small, entering and leaving Braavos pass through the sea route between the Titan's legs.

The watch posts guarding Braavos are built in the Titan's eyes. The top of the giant's head is barren, smooth, and clean. The sea breeze blows, and even seabirds dislike stopping there, so it is not suitable for habitation.

But the fisherman said that man lived on top of the Titan's head.

There is no road to the top of the giant's head.