The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Royal Palace Square was packed with people, not a single gap to be seen.

In the center stood a high platform, wide and tall, divided into four areas: the highest level was further divided into three sections – Royalty; Courtiers; Nobility.

At the very front was a low wooden platform, the executioner's block.

A heavy black guillotine blade hung high, and a basket for collecting heads was already in place beneath the executioner's block.

The locking board on the block was raised high, waiting to secure the condemned's neck before the blade fell, preventing them from struggling in terror before death.

The executioner was taking his position.

Following the herald's call, a squad of Unsullied soldiers emerged from the eastern palace, parting the crowd to form an inner circle around the onlookers, expanding outwards at a steady pace as more soldiers joined.

Thus, the crowd was pushed back step by step by the Unsullied soldiers.

Despite being crammed with people, the vast square was not boisterous.

Most of the watching citizens chose silence.

The guillotine was to fall on two prominent figures of Qarth, one of whom was the renowned Warlock Master Pyat Pree.

To the people of Qarth, the all-knowing Pyat Pree was akin to a god.

People could not easily approach a god; Master Pyat Pree had always been aloof, associating only with the King and nobles. His fame in Qarth surpassed even the King's, yet few commoners truly knew him. When Master Pyat Pree traveled, he rode in the most luxurious carriage, his face hidden behind curtains. The warlocks protecting him would not allow freemen to approach his carriage.

The other to be beheaded was the leader of the Thirteen, Master Khaji Mo Qerrin.

After the Unsullied soldiers formed a circular defensive formation, Grey Worm and Hero rode in slowly, their horses stopping before the executioner's block. They faced the sea of people, unmoving as mountains, their expressions like iron, hands gripping their sword hilts.

The sound of hooves echoed as Dothraki riders entered the square, led by two Khals, each commanding a hundred riders, all with short bows and swift horses, wearing yalaks at their waists, their long hair adorned with jingling bells.

The two cavalry units formed two guard squares in front of the execution platform.

The crowd to the south parted like waves as the nobles and wealthy merchants of Qarth arrived, escorted not by their family guards, but by Unsullied soldiers. A pair of spearmen with long spears and shields escorted the nobles onto the high platform, where they took their places in the nobility section.

Horns sounded, and the east and west gates of the royal palace opened simultaneously. King Gregor Clegane appeared, dressed in brocade robes, accompanied by Queen Jeyne Westerling, Daenerys Targaryen, Arianne Martell, Duke Gendry Baratheon, the Grand Master of the Alchemists' Guild, Jon Targaryen, Arya Stark, Weapons Master Tobho Mott, the long-faced elder sister of the Faceless Men, the Faceless Men junior sister Little Quaithe, the Red Priestess Quaithe, Asha Greyjoy, three Khals, Missandei, scholars, priests, and physicians… followed by a hundred Unsullied guards, clad in bronze armor and spiked helmets, carrying shields on their backs and long spears in their hands, the spears held upright, resembling a moving thicket…

Opposite them, through the other gate, appeared King Hoare's Queen, his eldest son, eldest daughter, and youngest son. Court warlocks also appeared, followed by only a few courtiers and a fifty-man guard.

The two royal parties moved towards each other, and when they were only a few feet apart, Queen Hoare took the lead, kneeling on one knee to pay respects to King Gregor and Queen Jeyne.

Following her, the Crown Prince, Princess, younger Prince, the two court warlocks, several courtiers, and fifty royal guards all knelt on one knee.

The court warlocks belonged to the House of the Undying, and they generally did not kneel before the King, only before the Undying Ones. But the House of the Undying had been destroyed by the King's dragonfire three days prior, the faith in the Undying Ones had collapsed, and the two Undying warlocks who had sworn lifelong service to the royal family had opportunely changed their rules, kneeling with the Queen and Princes to pay respects to King Clegane and Queen Westerling.

*

Gregor Clegane strode ahead like a giant, making the Queen beside him look like a little girl, albeit one wearing a crown.

Beside Queen Jeyne was Queen Hoare.

The group ascended the high platform under the guard of the Unsullied soldiers. King Gregor Clegane and Queen Jeyne Westerling sat on the royal jeweled chairs on the platform, while Queen Hoare of Qarth was seated on a stool to their lower right. The Queen's eldest son stood behind her, while the Princess and younger Prince, along with the warlock courtiers, went to the lower courtier section.

The courtier section was opposite the nobility section, two steps higher.

The royal section was the high platform between the courtier and nobility sections.

The royal section had only three seats: the tallest King's chair, the most luxurious and comfortable Queen's chair, and the lower Queen of Qarth's chair. The Queen of Qarth's chair was noticeably smaller and had no brocade cushions.

Daenerys Targaryen and Arianne Martell remained by Clegane's side, while all the other courtiers and generals went to stand in the lower courtier section.

The Mountain sat on the high platform, a giant of a man, shaped like a beast. Thousands upon thousands of people in the square looked up at him, their eyes filled with awe.

This King from a foreign land had been in the city for nearly a month, keeping his promise not to kill any freemen, nobles, or wealthy merchants. However, three nights ago, he had suddenly used dragonfire to destroy Scorpion Gate and the House of the Undying.

This had shocked, frightened, and unsettled all the citizens of the city, and terrified the nobles and wealthy merchants, who did not know when the King would suddenly kill them.

None of the city's nobles, wealthy merchants, or citizens had seen King Hoare appear.

This made everyone even more uneasy.

Queen Hoare and the Crown Prince, eldest Princess, younger Prince, and court warlocks had appeared on the high platform, but where was King Hoare?

The nobles and wealthy merchants whispered on the high platform, exchanging glances and inquiring about the absence of King Hoare.

The eldest Princess and younger Prince kept their little mouths tightly shut, the two court warlocks by their side. Unlike the nobles and wealthy merchants, none of the courtiers or generals in the courtier section exchanged glances. They maintained a cold silence.

The Mountain raised his right hand, and the herald blew the horn. The commands to bring the prisoners were relayed one after another. From the direction of the palace, a team of Unsullied soldiers marched out with heavy steps, escorting two people: an old man with graying hair and dull eyes, distinguished by his blue lips, indicating that he was an Undying Warlock; and a tall, burly, dark-skinned noble, dressed in brocade, barefoot, with disheveled hair, chapped lips, and a haggard appearance. He was Master Khaji Mo Qerrin, the leader of the Thirteen, whom everyone recognized.

In the crowd, a young man suddenly leaped out, wielding a sharp sword and charging towards Khaji: "Pyat Pree, you scum warlock, I'll kill you!"

Two Unsullied immediately stepped forward, one using his long spear to strike the young man's shin, knocking him to the ground, while the other struck the young man's wrist, causing him to drop his short sword.

The young man screamed and struggled to his feet. A shield slammed into his head, immediately silencing his shouts, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Grey Worm remained motionless on his horse in front of the executioner's block, while Hero galloped over, leaned down, lifted the young man onto his horse with one hand, galloped back, and threw the young man to the ground like a dog, saying to the King on the high platform, "Your Majesty, this young man attempted to assassinate Master Khaji."

"Who is he?" The Mountain asked, his voice like a booming bell, easily drowning out the murmur of the crowd, imposing and dignified.

Hero did not know who the unconscious young man was.

"Your Majesty, he is Ser Jorah Foote, the eldest son of Lord Foote of the Twelve," a courtier said, bowing.

"Oh!" The Mountain said, "Hero, I want to question Ser Jorah Foote."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Hero jumped off his horse and slapped Ser Jorah Foote twice, waking him up.

"His Majesty wants to ask you something," Hero said coldly.

Ser Jorah Foote knelt on one knee towards the high platform, but before he could speak, a woman shouted from outside, "Your Majesty, please forgive Ser Jorah Foote's crime. The child was grieving over his father's tragic death and could not restrain himself from storming the execution ground. Please grant this reckless child a path to survival."

The Mountain said, "Who is shouting? Soldiers, do not stop her, let her in."

The Unsullied circle guarding the high platform opened a gap, allowing a woman with a beautiful face and noble bearing to enter.

The woman hurried to the edge of the high platform and knelt down on both knees: "Your Majesty, I am Lady Foote, Ser Jorah Foote's mother. I am willing to take Ser Jorah's punishment. Please leave a bloodline for the Foote family. By the honor of the Foote family, by the names of the gods, I am willing to do anything for Your Majesty, including offering my own life."

"Lady Foote, did you tell Ser Jorah about Master Pyat Pree's plot to murder the Twelve?" The Mountain said in a deep voice.

"…Yes…Your Majesty…I am guilty…"

"During yesterday's secret meeting, I warned you not to reveal to your family the bloodbath in which Master Pyat Pree and Khaji Mo Qerrin colluded to kill King Hoare, the Twelve, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Ancient Spice Guild, and the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Tourmaline Brotherhood before the execution, yet you still violated the oath you swore to me."

The Mountain's voice boomed throughout the square, instantly silencing the murmur of the crowd.

Tens of thousands of citizens wondered if they had misheard.

They all knew that the King and Khaji had killed those people, and after annexing their forces and wealth, King Clegane had opened the gates and surrendered. But suddenly, King Hoare was absent today, and King Clegane was saying that Master Pyat Pree and Khaji had colluded to kill those people, including the King himself.

The real conspirator and executioner was not King Hoare, but Master Pyat Pree?!

The god of Qarth?!

How was this possible?!

"Your Majesty, after leaving the palace and returning home, I could not resist my child's questioning and told him the truth. I have violated my oath, please punish me severely, but please spare my reckless and impulsive child."

Queen Jeyne Westerling said, "Your Majesty, let us invite Lady Foote up and have her tell everyone the truth about the Thirteen's merchant association's bloodbath. Ser Jorah Foote is impulsive, but avenging his father is a passionate and brave act, and the lady is willing to bear severe punishment herself for her child, this maternal love moves me. The real culprit is Master Pyat Pree, and his lackey Khaji Mo Qerrin, not Ser Jorah and Lady Foote. Your Majesty, can I ask you for a magnanimous pardon for this child and the lady?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive them," an old man among the courtiers said, kneeling on one knee.

It seemed that this old man's relationship with the Foote family must be close.

The lady and the young man were both looking at the Mountain expectantly.

The Mountain's giant's might, combined with the grandeur of the high platform, was awe-inspiring and admirable!

The young man was full of blood, but as he approached the Mountain, his fearless courage was immediately frustrated, and as fear arose, his arrogance disappeared.

"Ser Jorah, you continue to kneel. Lady Foote, please come up to the platform and tell the people of Qarth the truth about the Thirteen's merchant association's bloodbath."

Lady Foote wept with joy. She was very grateful that His Majesty the King had forgiven them. She hurriedly said, "As you command, Your Majesty the King."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Jeyne said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the kneeling old minister said respectfully.

Thus, Lady Foote went up to the platform, first bowing to the King and Queen, then bowing to Queen Hoare, and then standing up, saying, "People of Qarth, I am speaking on behalf of His Majesty the great King Clegane, to explain to everyone the truth about the bloodbath in the Thirteen's merchant association's meeting hall. That bloodbath was not committed by King Hoare, King Hoare himself was also one of the victims…"

When Lady Foote said this, she looked at Queen Hoare, who lowered her head and wiped away tears…her shoulders twitching slightly…The Crown Prince standing beside the Queen hurriedly comforted his mother in a low voice.

*

After Lady Foote finished telling the truth, she stepped down from the platform. Tens of thousands of Qarthians maintained a rare silence.

They found it hard to believe that Master Pyat Pree was the planner and executor of that bloodbath. The Undying God, revered in the hearts of the Qarthians, was an executioner who had murdered the King of Qarth and all the city's great figures. And his sole purpose for killing was to surrender and protect his House of the Undying.

He had slaughtered all the pro-war and neutral factions.

*

Master Pyat Pree and Khaji Mo Qerrin were led to the executioner's block.

The people remained unusually quiet. No one shouted to kill them, but no one shouted to release them either. His believers were squeezed in the crowd, but not a single one appeared to kneel before him.

Lady Foote's statement just now was too shocking.

People still needed some time to digest a cruel fact.

Below the stage, Ser Jorah Foote's gaze was like a sword piercing the old man.

The young man suddenly realized that Pyat Pree was not a god, but just an ordinary old man with a weakened body. He had no dignity or brilliance, no aloof aura, and no awe-inspiring power to face death without fear. Only his blue lips reminded people that he was an Undying Warlock.

"Master Pyat Pree, do you confess your sins?" The Mountain asked, his voice calm.

"I am innocent, Your Majesty."

"Oh? Murdering the King is also innocent?"

The entire city's believers and citizens all hoped that Master Puli would say the words, 'I did not murder the king.' In their hearts, they vaguely believed that Master Puli's crime was forced upon him by King Clegane.

However, the old Puli's voice said, "Your Majesty, I killed the king to save the nobles, wealthy merchants, and free citizens of the entire city, and also to save the bloodline of the Horn royal family."