The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 124: Earning the City Gate

(It's on the shelves! Being straightforward, here are 5 updates first, automatically launched, once every 5 minutes.)

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Count Leo could hardly believe it!

It was as if in the blink of an eye, the Mountain's men were fully dressed, and outside, it was a slightly starry summer night.

The Mountain said, "Count, change your clothes, we'll wait for you."

Leo forced a smile, saying awkwardly, "Alright, I'll set off right away and go with you. But, Ser, from Golden Tooth to Crackclaw Point, it's all mountain roads, very unsafe at night, with wolves, shadowcats, and hunter's traps. The mountains are high and the roads are slippery, and the roads aren't official roads, very difficult to travel."

"We will light the torches for illumination. Summer nights are cool, perfect for traveling. There are indeed many wild beasts in the mountains, but beasts fear fire. If the Count is still worried, then I will stay by your side at all times," the Mountain's earnest expression made Leo feel like he was in a ridiculous dream.

"Ser, why must we leave tonight? I haven't even had time to prepare a congratulatory gift for you," Leo sought another excuse.

"Count, your presence is the greatest gift," the Mountain said, neither humble nor arrogant, without letting up.

Count Leo was helpless. He didn't want the Mountain to draw his sword in his room. The people around the Mountain were all full of murderous intent, with fierce faces.

"Alright, Ser, I'll accompany you on a trip through the mountains tonight. Wait a moment, I'll go change my clothes," the Count stood up and walked towards the inner room.

The Mountain tilted his head, and Chiswyck the Greathead, loyalist Polliver, and executioner Dunsen immediately followed closely behind the Count.

The Count felt his head instantly double in size.

He knew that with the Mountain's temper, if he didn't comply, it would inevitably cause a great deal of unpleasantness. Although the Mountain wouldn't dare to do anything to his life in the end, he couldn't do anything to the Mountain either. He was one of Duke Tywin's four important ministers, while the Mountain was Duke Tywin's tool of a son-in-law, the great god of slaughter in the West, having been by Tywin's side for twenty years. Recently, he had become even more popular with Duke Tywin due to a series of inventions.

Since the Mountain was sincerely inviting him to attend the wedding, then so be it.

There was no need to make an enemy of such a savage character as the Mountain over a joyous event!

Half an hour later, the drawbridge of Golden Tooth slowly lowered. The Mountain took the lead, Count Leo was in the middle, and the Clegane men guarded the Count in the middle of the group, as they embarked on a mountain road leading to the northwest.

Although it was a mountain road, the roads in the Westerlands were well-built due to the abundance of mountains and gold mines. Twenty-three torches were lit, like stars in the night, advancing rapidly on the mountain road with very low visibility.

The terrain of the Westerlands was high in the east and low in the west. The east was a continuous stretch of high mountains and ridges, and places without roads were very difficult to travel. Not a few mules, horses, and wild boars died from falls. But as long as there was a road, the quality of the road was very well constructed.

They traveled quickly all night, until dawn, when the group emerged from the mountains, and in front of them was a gently rolling hilly area. This indicated that they had entered the territory of House Marbrand. As long as they crossed the Tumblestone River in front of them, Crackclaw Point, the seat of House Marbrand, was about a hundred miles away.

Count Leo, having marched all night, was already exhausted. He said, "Ser, after crossing the Tumblestone River, Crackclaw Point is not far ahead. Let's make a final push. We can enter Crackclaw Point in a little over an hour to rest, eat something, and take a break before continuing."

The Mountain said, "Count, let's not cross the river yet, let's find a place to rest properly first." He spurred his horse into a side road, entering a primeval forest.

Before Count Leo could understand what was happening, he was surrounded by twenty-two Clegane men and rushed into the side road, entering a primeval forest.

The Mountain's group went deep into the dense forest, and finally found a place sheltered from the wind and with water. Everyone dismounted, fed the horses, spread carpets, and set up tents. Several archers went out to hunt, and soon killed several rabbits, a deer, and several small animals such as weasels and foxes. Everyone gutted the prey and quickly strung them on branches. Soon, the aroma of meat wafted through the air.

The Mountain took out snow salt from his personal food bag and sprinkled it evenly on the roasted meat. Everyone continued to barbecue until golden oil sizzled out and dripped onto the fire.

The aroma of the barbecue after adding snow salt was even stronger, and everyone kept swallowing their saliva.

Cloaks had already been spread out on the ground, and food such as bread, honey, seasoning packets, cooked dried meat, fruit wine, and various fruits were taken out and filled the large cloaks on the ground. Everyone sat on the ground, wrapped the fresh barbecue in oilcloth, and ate their fill.

Count Leo also put aside the small thoughts in his heart and stopped thinking about the Mountain's strange behavior. Since he was here to congratulate the Mountain on his wedding, he would just go along with his temperament. He thought it through, his mood relaxed, he ate meat in large mouthfuls and drank wine in large bowls. After being full of wine and food, he crawled into the tent, fell asleep, and slept soundly and comfortably. He woke up full of energy, truly the first good sleep in many years.

The Count crawled out of the tent. The other tents around him had already been packed up, and everyone was organizing their things. Looking at the sunlight outside the forest, it was already setting in the west. He had slept for almost a whole day.

A short while later, everyone mounted their horses and the group set off again, leaving the forest and heading towards the Tumblestone River. Fishing boats were already waiting here. The Count then realized that while he was sleeping, the Mountain had already sent someone to find the ferry.

The group crossed the river, and the road ahead was even easier to travel, with no more high mountains and ridges, just a hilly area.

The sun was setting, and the sky was getting late.

The Mountain had a large appetite, and he gnawed on dried meat and bread and drank fruit wine on horseback. Everyone was eating on horseback, and it seemed like they might be traveling all night again. If so, they could reach Casterly Rock by dawn.

Count Leo rode his horse to the Mountain's side, "Ser, Crackclaw Point, the seat of House Marbrand, is not far ahead. I have a good relationship with Lord Damon. If we pass by Crackclaw Point without going in, it won't look good on my face if he finds out."

The Mountain pondered for a moment, then said, "Count Leo, then let's go a little slower, and stay in Crackclaw Point tonight. We can also invite Lord Damon to attend my wedding."

"That would be best!" Count Leo was overjoyed.

A little over an hour later, at midnight, the group arrived at the foot of Crackclaw Point. The Mountain dismounted, not much shorter than the others on horseback. Count Leo, who had a good relationship with Lord Damon, rode forward and shouted to open the gate.

The captain of the garrison on the city recognized Count Leo's voice. The city gate opened wide, and the drawbridge lowered with a rumble. At the same time, soldiers ran into the Lord's castle to inform Lord Damon of Count Leo's late-night visit.

Upon hearing this, Lord Damon, in order to fulfill the etiquette of a host, hurriedly came out to greet him.

Outside, Count Leo was about to go up the drawbridge and enter the city when a hand grabbed his horse's rein: "Count, wait a moment, let the Lord come out to greet us."

The one who grabbed the rein was none other than the Mountain.

The Mountain and the Count were in the middle, surrounded by twenty-two Clegane men on their left and right. The torches in the Clegane men's hands were also extinguished one by one.

Count Leo felt surprised, but he couldn't forcefully insist on going in first. He said, "Alright, Ser, we'll wait for Lord Damon to come out to greet us."

Count Leo wasn't a bad person at heart. He thought that the Mountain wanted to show off, just like he had welcomed the Mountain into Golden Tooth. The Mountain, being such a strong and domineering person, held himself in high regard, and if he had such a request, then he would satisfy his vanity.

Lord Damon led a group of people out on horseback. As soon as he stepped onto the drawbridge, he saw the tall and burly figure of the Mountain at the head of the drawbridge. Although the Mountain had dismounted as a disguise, his size was simply too huge. Lord Damon felt a sense of foreboding and immediately turned his horse around. In the blink of an eye, the Mountain's greatsword was already unsheathed, and with a loud roar, his voice like thunder, his momentum like a galloping horse, he took the lead and rushed onto the drawbridge, heading straight for Lord Damon.