The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 176: Lussell's Betrayal (3rd Update, Subscribe Now!)

King Robert was outwardly furious, but inwardly delighted.

Regardless of who won or lost, he was happy.

One was the beloved dog under his father-in-law's command, and the other was the beloved dog under Queen Cersei's command. Since both vicious dogs were seeking their own deaths, King Robert really wanted to cheer them on and encourage them, but he couldn't openly express his support and joy, so leaving them alone was the best course of action.

If both vicious dogs died together, that would be an excellent outcome, but the one thousand gold dragons he bet with his younger brother Duke Renly would be difficult to get back.

How could King Robert miss out on gambling in this kind of situation? Of course, he would never openly place a bet; he would send someone to place the bet for him, and then count the money in front of Duke Eddard after winning.

Would Eddard, that stubborn stone man with a bad temper, place a bet?

Definitely not!

Out of love and care for his good friend and brother, King Robert decided to help Duke Eddard learn two life-enriching skills: visiting brothels and gambling.

To make Duke Eddard fall in love with gambling, he had to let him experience the excitement and anticipation of gambling, as well as some foolproof little tricks. Yes, it would start with this duel gambling between the Mountain and the Hound.

King Robert was a warm-hearted person, especially towards his brother Eddard, who was not related by blood but was the most trustworthy. He decided: first, to eat and drink his fill, then have several military officers and courtiers secretly place bets for him, and then personally go to Eddard's residence to persuade him to take out at least fifty gold dragons to bet. Robert firmly believed that Eddard, a stone man, had no joy in his life, and now it was time to generously help him find some fun in life.

*

On the Ruby Ford, Duke Renly had already sent people to mark out a huge white circle in the center of the ford, and many bonfires would be lit around the white circle. Bundles of high-quality wood were prepared, and fire oil for ignition was also ready. Long tables were placed along the four sides of the arena. The west-facing east position was the highest, where King Robert and Prime Minister Eddard would sit. The long tables on the other three sides were slightly lower, where the royal courtiers, accompanying nobles, local nobles, garrison generals, and red-robed centurions would sit.

Although it was still early, the servants were already busy at Ruby Ford. Next to the Prime Minister's table, high-quality knitted bear-skin blankets were specially prepared for the two noble young ladies, Arya Stark and Sansa Stark.

As the host and big financier of this duel, Duke Renly naturally became the person in charge of the venue. Maester Lussell was responsible for inspecting the weapons and armor of both sides and announcing the rules of the duel.

In a knight's public duel, regardless of the outcome, once the duel ends, the previous grievances will be wiped clean. This requires a ceremony, which is usually performed by a priest from the Sept. Although there is a Sept in this small town, there is no high septon, only ordinary monks of lower rank.

But there is no need to worry about this, because His Majesty the King is present, so using the King's accompanying maester is actually a convention for knight duels. This is also a unique honor for maesters who are loyal to and follow the King.

*

Ten miles away from the famous Ruby Ford, there is a small ferry.

Yesterday, after Arya and her direwolf Nymeria attacked Joffrey on the Ruby Ford, they escaped across the river from this small ferry. Not far from the river is a forest that stretches hundreds of miles westward along the river, eventually connecting with the Whispering Forest east of Riverrun. Nymeria was driven away by Arya in this forest.

In the morning, after the King left the Earl's Hall 'throne' in a huff, Eddard Stark also left the Earl's Hall. He took Arya, the Northern guards, and Sansa's direwolf Lady, and rode to this forest to find Nymeria.

Hope is beautiful, but reality is cruel. The forest, hundreds of miles away, was too vast. Until sunset, Eddard and Arya, with the guards and direwolf, still couldn't find Nymeria. Similar to Arya's personality, Nymeria was also a 'tomboy' among wolves. After leaving her master, she may have quickly adapted to the real life that should have belonged to her—returning to the wilderness and forest.

As the sun set, no matter how unwilling Arya was, Nymeria still didn't appear in their sight. Even with Lady's help, reality was still real and cruel, and no miracle occurred because of Arya's feelings for Nymeria.

*

Outside the town, the Mountain and his cavalry were practicing swordsmanship.

With a great battle imminent tonight, a life-and-death duel, he dared not slack off at all.

Although victory was certain, the preparations that should be made must be done to the extreme.

Strategically despise the enemy, tactically value the enemy!

The state of the duel needs to be adjusted; the Hound's habit before a duel is to sharpen his sword. The Mountain had already sent his attendant Bernie to see that the Hound had locked himself in his room, carefully sharpening his sword.

It's not that the Hound's sword is not sharp enough; sharpening the sword is a very special way for the Hound to relax his body and mind.

The Mountain's habit before a duel is to keep doing low-intensity exercise, so that the blood, muscles, bones, and nerve reactions of the whole body are active and in a state of moderate excitement.

*

Night fell, and the Ruby Ford was brightly lit and noisy. King Robert sat in the highest position with great interest, accompanied by his good brother and Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Eddard Stark. Eddard Stark was not very interested, but under the pressure of His Majesty the King, he had to come to the arena to participate in this cruel 'duel festival'.

"Where did you go today?" King Robert asked Eddard in a low voice, with a face full of smiles.

"I went across the river to find a wolf for Arya!"

"Scare!" The King made an exaggerated expression, then leaned close to Eddard's ear, "I said, my Prime Minister, a wolf is a wolf, not a kitten or a rabbit. If you want to spoil your daughter, just raise kittens and rabbits for her. Raising wolves, what if something happens? A wolf is a wolf, especially a direwolf, a beast! You raise wolves for your daughter; something will happen sooner or later."

Eddard looked at his two daughters next to him. Arya was sullen, and Sansa was dignified and elegant.

"I didn't see Her Majesty the Queen; isn't she coming?"

"She tried her best to stop this duel today and even asked me to order the cancellation of the duel."

"Did you try hard to stop it?"

"Hehe!" King Robert gave a meaningful smile as an answer. He lowered his voice, quite得意, "I couldn't find you, so I bet fifty gold dragons for you, betting on the Hound to win! If you lose, you have to give me the principal of the bet; if you win, you have to give me a hundred gold dragons."

*

Outside the town, in the Mountain's camp.

A black-clothed man wearing a hood was led into the Mountain's tent by the Mountain's guards.

The Mountain, who was putting on his armor, looked at this mysterious visitor. He couldn't see the mysterious visitor's face clearly.

Under the gaze of the Mountain and the Mountain's men, the visitor slowly lowered his hood, revealing a handsome face. It was Maester Lussell.

The maester went straight to the point: "Ser Gregor, the Hound took a bottle of poison from me last night and smeared it on the blades of his sword and the tips of his crossbow bolts. He told me it was to deal with you."

"Oh!" The Mountain said, "In a knight's public duel, all weapons will be checked beforehand. He can't bring his crossbow bolts with him."

"Ser Gregor, maybe the Hound has arranged for other people to use crossbow bolts to deal with you in the dark. In short, this is an unfair duel against you. The Hound's real purpose is to kill you in public. The knight duel is just his excuse and cover."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"The Hound gave me ten gold dragons to buy the poison. After I gave him the poison, he took away all the gold dragons again."

Thank you to classmate 疯乱流 for the reward, thank you, handshake!