The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Lorath city-state is famous for its underground labyrinths. The ancient people who once worshipped the Blind God refused to accept the new faith and new immigrants, and they all entered the underground labyrinths to live a life of seclusion. This people gradually died out in the underground labyrinths after more than a hundred years.

During those hundred years, outsiders who entered the underground labyrinths could neither find a way out nor find the ancient people hiding in the labyrinths, and they all eventually starved to death in the maze.

Besides its unique aquatic resources, Lorath is also known for its famous underground labyrinths.

According to legend, the local people who built the labyrinths all died out in them.

But the Mountain believed that the art of building labyrinths was very likely passed down. The people who hid underground did not die out until after more than a hundred years. What did they rely on to live during those hundred years? They must have had contact with the outside world.

No people can survive and reproduce underground for a hundred years unless they trade food with the people above ground. As long as there is contact and communication between peoples, it is very likely that the art of building labyrinths will be passed down.

The Mountain had no good feelings towards the three princes of Lorath.

The three tall princes, dressed in bright silks, wearing rouge and powder, with their lips painted as red as a woman's, exuded the scent of perfume. Their words and deeds were full of feminine softness, which made the Mountain and his generals feel disgusted.

The Mountain did not exchange pleasantries with the three princes, and directly asked them for construction workers who knew how to build labyrinths.

He didn't even ask for the three princes' surnames.

This seemed too arrogant and very impolite.

The eldest prince said, "Your Majesty, I have studied the secrets of the underground labyrinths since I was a child, and I am fascinated by the greatness of the underground labyrinths. I usually don't have important things to do, I don't have to manage trade and government affairs, and I don't like riding horses, shooting arrows, and sailing to fish. I am only obsessed with the research of underground labyrinths. Is Your Majesty planning to build an underground labyrinth?"

"I want to build a labyrinth on the ground," the Mountain said, staring at the prince. His voice was full of oppression.

"Your Majesty, I can serve you, and so can my two brothers. They are all experts in building labyrinths."

The Mountain looked at the other two princes, and they quickly bowed.

"All three of you are proficient in the art of building labyrinths?" the Mountain asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, in Lorath, there are no masters more proficient in building labyrinths than us," the eldest prince said respectfully.

The Mountain felt curious about the three princes. Did these three princes have the blood of the labyrinth people?

However, the Mountain did not want to study the bloodline of the three princes' families: "Three princes, I want to build a huge labyrinth on the Iron Bank island to hide the military fortress and the location of the Iron Bank. I hope that without a guide, people who land on the island and enter the labyrinth will not be able to find the Iron Bank gate and the military fortress."

"Your Majesty, we need to go to the island first to see the geographical environment and location," the eldest prince said.

"Are you princes of Lorath, haven't you ever been to the Iron Bank island before today?"

"Your Majesty, I have been to the Iron Bank island, but the fortresses and various buildings on the Iron Bank island have been burned down by Your Majesty's dragon. We need to go to the island to see the current situation before we can make a more accurate design."

"Okay, I will go to the Iron Bank island with you," the Mountain said, and then stood up. "Governor, you come with me too."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Tyrion Lannister, the Imp, stood up and said.

Soon, Bean led the Kingsguard to clear the way, and the Mountain led Daenerys, Tyrion, the Imp, several Grand Maesters from the governor's mansion, General Ian, General Steven Clegane, Chief Commander Vincent, and several naval generals. The group left the governor's mansion, exited the governor's mansion square, and headed towards the Iron Bank island at a leisurely pace.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves rang out. A scout rode up quickly, rolled off his horse, knelt on one knee, and reported to the Mountain: "Your Majesty, a Westerosi legion is rushing here. They are flying Your Majesty's banner and calling themselves the Clegane Cavalry. The harbor guards dared not stop them and let them land ashore. I came ahead of them to report to Your Majesty."

The Mountain was both surprised and delighted. His cavalry had arrived? How was this possible? Unless Melisandre had seen some prophecy in the flames again. But Melisandre was in the Mountains of the Moon, and his cavalry was in King's Landing.

"Good, I understand. Go and bring them here quickly," the Mountain shouted.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the scout got up, jumped on his horse, and left like the wind.

The Mountain looked at Daenerys and Tyrion Lannister, the Imp: "My cavalry is here? How could they be so fast?"

"Your Majesty, maybe the cavalry set off for here when we were still in the Mountains of the Moon."

"They must have had the navy's assistance," the Mountain thought in surprise. This news was too sudden, he had never expected it.

"This must be Queen Janei's order," Daenerys said.

She no longer dared to underestimate the magical power and predictive ability of a blood witch. The Targaryen family had produced a remarkable Bloodraven Brynden Rivers, and the Clegane family had produced a blood witch who could also see the future.

The Mountain stopped, and the group waited on the avenue not far outside the governor's mansion.

General Ian and General Steven glanced at each other inadvertently, and a strange feeling rose in their hearts. It was unbelievable that the Mountain's direct line of troops had suddenly arrived in Braavos. Crossing the Narrow Sea takes at least half a month, and generally a month.

Faintly, the sound of horses' hooves came from the distance. The sound was suppressed and heavy, as if it were thunder searching for a breakthrough in the thick clouds. It was faint, but it carried the power to destroy the world.

Perhaps it was the time of one heartbeat, or the time of two heartbeats, the suppressed and vague sound of horses' hooves suddenly broke through the blockade of layers of dark clouds, and the thunderous sound exploded in the sky, changing the color of the world.

Thump, thump, thump!

The sound of horses' hooves was like thunder, and it was unknown how many horseshoes were striking the bluestone ground.

The Braavosi mercenary corps had only more than ten thousand people, and they had never seen such a neat and uniform cavalry appear.

At the end of the avenue, several large flags appeared. The flags fluttered in the wind, as if clouds were traveling in the wind, coming very quickly.

Row after row of cavalry appeared on the avenue like a tide. Their armor was bright, and the vertical and horizontal queues were as neat as if they had been cut with a knife. The horseshoes struck the ground, making a dense sound like a storm.

Such power was the first time the Braavosi had witnessed.

On both sides of the avenue, pedestrians gave way to the side of the road.

Many people appeared on the streets far and near. They appeared on the roofs, balconies, windows, and on the ground. Everywhere was full of people, their faces were surprised and uncertain, watching this suddenly appearing majestic cavalry.

The Mountain was also riding on a horse. The Braavosi horse was not his warhorse. His warhorse was the Red Smoke Beast, one in a million.

The Red Smoke Beast was in the Mountains of the Moon and did not come to Braavos with this cavalry.

The three leading generals showed their outlines. The one in the middle was General Sweetmouth Rafford Clegane, with a friendly smile on his face. The one on the right was General Duncen Clegane the Hangman, with a cold and stern face. The one on the left, with a twitching right face and a bald head that looked a little neurotic, was the artist General Polliver Clegane.

Behind them was a cavalry that could not be seen to the end.

The warhorses of this team were much taller than the warhorses the Braavosi had ever seen. In more than four years of war, this cavalry team had grown from five hundred to three thousand people, and everyone had at least two warhorses. The empty warhorses carried javelins specially used for throwing. In addition to lances, longswords, short swords, daggers, armor, and helmets, each cavalryman carried a bow on his back and a quiver full of arrows hanging from his waist.

The Clegane cavalry were all-round soldiers. They could charge on horseback or fight on foot. They could fight in team formations or carry out solo raids. This was the Mountain's core force. This team filled all the Braavosi with admiration and fear. But such a team was not looked down upon by the cavalry of the Claw Peninsula.

The Mountain had two cavalry teams, and they both despised each other.

The cavalry of the Claw Peninsula prided themselves on being the Mountain's dragon cavalry - the Mountain conquered the Red Smoke Beast, and was the king of the Claw Peninsula.

The Mountain's direct cavalry were all-rounders, and even the reserve soldiers' salaries were as high as the official ordinary infantry's salaries.

The Mountain looked at the sudden appearance of this cavalry, and a big smile appeared on his face. Generals Ian and Steven had never seen the Mountain show such a smile.

Some complicated feelings rose in the hearts of the two generals. They looked at each other, their expressions stern.

Bean and his Unsullied Kingsguard were still guarding the Mountain's side.

The three horses suddenly accelerated and shot towards this side like flying.

"Your Majesty!" From afar, the three generals shouted with a long-lost surprise in their voices.

Sweetmouth Raff, Duncen the Hangman, and Polliver the Artist rolled over like the wind. Before the horses had stopped, they had already jumped to the ground and knelt before the Mountain's horse.

"You three fools, get up," the Mountain scolded.

The three fools heard the Mountain's scolding as if they had heard the most beautiful music. They all got up together, their faces full of big smiles, like three blooming flowers.

"How did you suddenly come here?" the Mountain shouted. - But his eyebrows and eyes were smiling.

"Your Majesty, the Queen ordered us to come," Sweetmouth Raff replied.

Among the three, Sweetmouth Raff was responsible for speaking, Duncen the Hangman was responsible for taking action, and Polliver the Artist was responsible for collecting beautiful body parts to make into works of art.

"Oh, is there any secret in it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What secret?"

"The Queen believes that the Iron Bank will be unsafe after Your Majesty leaves Braavos."

The faces of Generals Ian and Steven changed slightly.

Governor Tyrion Lannister, the Imp, was also stunned.

Daenerys Targaryen's beautiful eyes swept across the faces of Generals Ian and Steven.

"The Queen must be mistaken. I have arranged for two of the most loyal and brave generals to be responsible for guarding the Iron Bank."

"The most loyal and brave?" Polliver Clegane, whose right cheek twitched, disagreed. He had always believed that apart from Duncen's bravery, he was the most loyal and brave general. "Your Majesty, I would like to get to know the two generals you have arranged."

"Polliver, if you want a fair fight, I'm afraid you are no match for them."

"I want to try," Polliver's right cheek twitched even more violently, and his right eye also began to blink. He was very tall, and his neurotic temperament was overflowing. Although he looked very ridiculous, none of the Braavosi soldiers, generals, and centurions laughed at him.

The general's cavalry was coming with a bang, their power was awe-inspiring. A general who can bring out such a murderous cavalry must not be as ridiculous as he looks on the surface. His Majesty is unmatched, and even His Majesty is very kind to him. This guy must be a very difficult ruthless person.

The Mountain looked at Ian, and Ian said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to try this general's swordsmanship."

"You are the general that His Majesty arranged to guard the Iron Bank?" Polliver asked, tilting his head. His neck seemed to be stiff and needed to be moved, but the movements seemed too mechanical.

"I am Ian, from the Eastern Free Cities, a gladiator by birth. I have sworn allegiance to His Majesty and am responsible for guarding the Iron Bank island."

"My name is Polliver, Ian, you are very valiant, even more valiant than Duncen. The scars on your face are too beautiful, I want to peel off your face to make a work of art."

Ian smiled slightly: "General is joking, as long as the general can beat the ax in my hand, you can take this face of mine."

"Is that a deal?" Polliver said with great joy. His eyes shone brightly, like a cat that had seen a fish.

Duncen the Hangman and Sweetmouth Rafford exchanged glances that were imperceptible. They were ordered to come, and the Queen had told them that the two generals arranged by His Majesty might collude to plunder the gold in the Iron Bank. If they could not arrive before His Majesty left Braavos, the wealth of the Iron Bank would be looted.

Looking at Ian's temperament, he was indeed full of murderous aura, his eyes were sinister, and the scars on his face added to his ferocity and cruelty.

The silent Imp was constantly thinking. He sent Steven to test Ian, and sent Ian to test Steven. This was a plan that he thought was very clever, but what he did not expect was that Steven and Ian had a drink together, and they actually opened up and reached a secret agreement when they were drunk and their hearts were pounding. That was to collude to loot the Iron Bank after the Mountain left Braavos, and then sail east through the Lorath Sea to become wealthy men, nobles, great lords, and even conquer a few island countries to become kings.

But very abruptly, the Clegane cavalry of Westeros suddenly appeared in Braavos. Listening to their words, it seemed that the Queen was a prophet, foreseeing that something would happen to the Iron Bank, and had actually arranged for such a cavalry to come to Braavos in advance.

This was very mysterious and unbelievable.

But, before their eyes, there were three generals from Westeros and their three thousand iron cavalry. One of the generals had already drawn his longsword against Ian.